Is this overkill??

[BuenaVistaBound]

Heck, if you want to see all those characters, go for it. Kids will soon be flying the nest (at least your older kid) and then it could be too late. At the very least, capture the memories with photos now.

I agree with this. My kids are three and six, and are still wide-eyed when meeting characters. We're going for five days and have four character meals planned:

Dinner at 1900 Park Fare on day one
Lunch at Akershus on day two
Breakfast at Tusker House on day three
Lunch at Crystal Palace on day four

We don't have a lot of repeats on the list, other than Cinderella (a family favorite), so hopefully we'll avoid character fatigue

 

[Pooh&OurHunny]

Heck, if you want to see all those characters, go for it. Kids will soon be flying the nest (at least your older kid) and then it could be too late. At the very least, capture the memories with photos now.

Agree 100% with no waiting in character lines...could not do that!

Seems like you have lots of non-character places planned, too so you will get a break. And if any character breakfasts are early - before park opening- you will find those are not all that busy/hectic so not too bad. Besides, your kids are older, so not that big of a deal to do busy buffets. Go for it

Exactly! As I said in my TR or dining review one, for us it's kinda like the movie Polar Express - we'll keep ringing the bell as long as they can hear it!

I agree, if the kids enjoy characaters meal do it. We are going to almost all the ones you have listed and going to CM breakfast, Garden Grill dinner, cape may breakfast and Hollywood and Vine breakfast. We are not going to 1900 for breakfast and dinner (we have done it in the past and dinner food not good but if you never been go to it once for the characters).
Have a magical vacation.

 

[sharadoc]

Tusker House features Mickey, Donald, Daisy and Goofy while Chef Mickey's features Mickey, Minnie, Pluto and Chip & Dale. Chip & Dale are by far the easiest characters to get pictures with around the parks as is Pluto.

I don't think Chip and Dale are at ANY character meals, other than Garden Grill at Epcot. CMs last year was Micky, Minnie, Goofy, Donald and Pluto.

For us, we don't want to spend the cost of CRT or Akershus. Are all the princesses critical for your meet and greet? I like all the others on your list and we prefer character meals for meet and greets, too. I think it's smart to do it that way, rather than wait in line.

 

[ElizabethG]

Heck, if you want to see all those characters, go for it. Kids will soon be flying the nest (at least your older kid) and then it could be too late.

I was going to say something to that effect. We love the character meals. My kids are 8 & 6. We have future years to do other things. While they are interested in them and are having fun, we're going! Generally, we do only one TS meal per day. Last year they were all character meals. This year, all but one will be. However, we still have 8 character meals booked. Personally, I love the 1900 Park Fare dinner. It is one of my top 3 character meal experiences.

 

[WdwforLife]

I don't think Chip and Dale are at ANY character meals, other than Garden Grill at Epcot. CMs last year was Micky, Minnie, Goofy, Donald and Pluto.

For us, we don't want to spend the cost of CRT or Akershus. Are all the princesses critical for your meet and greet? I like all the others on your list and we prefer character meals for meet and greets, too. I think it's smart to do it that way, rather than wait in line.

http://allears.net/menu/menu_cmb.htm

I think they'd know. I researched before I gave my input. Kay? Thanks. Menu: updated March of this year, not last year (like you).

 

[blanq]

These are the character breakfasts I have planned:

1900 Park Fare (Breakfast)
1900 Park Fare (Dinner)
CRT (Dinner)
Akershus (Breakfast)
Chef Mickey's (Breakfast)
Crystal Palace (Lunch)
Tusker House (Breakfast)

It looks like we'll get Cinderella potentially 3 times and the other princesses twice. We'll get Mickey at lest twice and Pooh/Tigger Twice.

I just don't know how to cut it back. While I'm getting several duplicates, there are several things that appeal to me about each of those characters. Thoughts?

You asked, so I will respond. Yes, I think this is overkill. I could not handle all of those character meals/buffets. But, what I think does not matter. You should do what you want to do. Obviously, as you state, you don't know how to cut back and you want to see the characters that much. Go for it, and have a great time.

 

[catne]

http://allears.net/menu/menu_cmb.htm

I think they'd know. I researched before I gave my input. Kay? Thanks. Menu: updated March of this year, not last year (like you).

Just so you know...you can do all the "research" you want online, but the truth is both allears and wdwinfo are OFTEN very, very wrong on their info: these are both volunteer websites, not official sources at all and should not be used as "gospel" by any stretch. The only reports I believe these days are current restaurant reviews where the poster has loaded a photo of the actual menu. The "updates" on allears & wdwinfo are not reliable at all. We have checked "current" allears menus in the morning before going to a restaurant, jotted down what entrees we want & then arrive at the actual restaurant and find out that dish hasn't been on the menu for months...similar findings have occurred using wdwinfo menu info. A perfect example, in 2009, allears was reporting 'Ohana as updated every month for over a year...yet they were showing a menu that had changed the previous year. Poster after poster on this forum reported the new menu, posting pictures of the food, and even posting photos of the new menu...yet allears did not correct the error. Story was allears was supposedly getting a menu from an "official" source, so would not change the info on their website...but the "official" source was not bothering to check if the menu was changed, just continued to report the old one as "current." Another example, when Sanaa opened, allears reported incorrect prices on several dishes - way off, like more than $10 off...even when they could have checked the menu pdf on Disney's own website. So, take the volunteer websites with a big grain of salt...they're good "general" info, but the specifics, not so much.

here's a link to a current (June 2010) review of chef mickey's here on the Disboards...the poster has pictures of the kids with Mickey, Pluto, Goofy & Donald, and mentions they had pictures with Minnie too. No Chip & Dale...don't know the last time those two were at CM's but it's been the "fab 5" at CM's for the last couple of years.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2484432

 

[A_Princess'_Daddy]

These are the character breakfasts I have planned:

1900 Park Fare (Breakfast)
1900 Park Fare (Dinner)
CRT (Dinner)
Akershus (Breakfast)
Chef Mickey's (Breakfast)
Crystal Palace (Lunch)
Tusker House (Breakfast)

It looks like we'll get Cinderella potentially 3 times and the other princesses twice. We'll get Mickey at lest twice and Pooh/Tigger Twice.

I just don't know how to cut it back. While I'm getting several duplicates, there are several things that appeal to me about each of those characters. Thoughts?

It depends. If all of the meals appeal to you, then I say go for it. It doesn't really matter what others think, as you'll be the one at the meals.

On the other hand, if you're actively trying to cut back because you want to add other restaurants elsewhere, then I'd cut at least one of the 1900 PFs and either CM's or Tusker House.

We did both CRT and Akershus on our most recent trip, and I wouldn't have given up either. The castle is a magical experience, and should be done at least once, and the experience at Akershus was just as good (and the food was much better, IMO).

Have fun!

 

[Disney Geek]

My DD is the one who "rules" the ADR's and she picks almost only character meals so in my opinion, it's all about the kids and if they love characters then it's not overkill! Plus you will have a ton of pictures and autographs without having to stand in line so that's a major bonus!!! Don't rule out the breakfast with Lilo and Stich at 'Ohana if they kids like those characters, it's one of the must do for us! We like it much better than chef Mickey!

 

[Shreggor]

I ate at Park Faire once, and there was this adorable little girl sitting at the table next to us. After Cinderella etc. came over and visited and then finally left, the little girl proclaimed (rather loudly) "Finally, I can eat in peace!"

I suspect she'd had a week of nonstop character dining and just wanted to eat her chicken fingers undisturbed for a change

Seriously, drop some of the character meals. They're very expensive and feature so-so food. Do a few for the kids (and the big kids!) and then try a different country at Epcot or visit a different resort.

 

[PoohsFan1]

Heck, if you want to see all those characters, go for it. Kids will soon be flying the nest (at least your older kid) and then it could be too late. At the very least, capture the memories with photos now.

Agree 100% with no waiting in character lines...could not do that!

Seems like you have lots of non-character places planned, too so you will get a break. And if any character breakfasts are early - before park opening- you will find those are not all that busy/hectic so not too bad. Besides, your kids are older, so not that big of a deal to do busy buffets. Go for it

....I like your way of thinking

For our upcoming September trip we are on the DxDDP (be there for 7 nights) and have 6 character meals and lots of non character TS meals....

Character meals include:
- Akershus Breakfast
- Cape May Breakfast
- Donald's Breakfast Safari
- 1900 Park Fare Breakfast
- Crystal Palace Breakfast
- CRT Dinner

Non Character meals include:
- Chefs De France (lunch in hopes to see Remy)
- Tuto Italia
- California Grill
- Le Cellier lunch
- Yachtsman's Steakhouse
- Tony's Town Square
- Sci-Fi Dine In
- Liberty Tree Tavern (lunch)
- Captain's Grille Dinner
- Boma Dinner

So if your plan is overkill, then I am joining the club

 

[whitney37354]

Your plan looks like ours did. We ended up seeing Cindy three times, Mickey four. It was our first trip, so I have no regrets about it. We can eat at non-character meals on our next trip! You will get pics, siggies, & eat all at once.