Looking for info and reviews on Character meals at DL

[GoofyDisney]

We are headed to DL in the next few weeks, and we are looking for info and reviews on Character meals at DL. Would love to hear any info you have and your thoughts on food, service, charaters, etc.

Note: We ate at Goofy's Kitchen once for dinner and loved it. The food was good, the service was good and we had TONS of time with the Characters. Would love to hear if you have the same or differing opinions on this meal and others. I am simply uneducated as to any other character meals at the California parks.

THanks bunches!!!!!

 

[npoon]

We ate at Goofy's kitchen and I think that it is much better then before. The food was excellent and I would definitely go back. The character interaction was very good and we saw quite a few characters, Aladdin, Jasmine, Cruella de ville, Chip, Dale, Goofy, Pluto and they spent time at each table. About every half hour (?) all the characters go to the "front" of the buffet and start to dance, they invite all the children to join.
We went to Avalon Cove and was a little disappointed with the food. I don't mind the set pricing but I felt that the menu was very limited. I did not even see a pasta for the adults. The hamburger was so charbroiled that it was almost burnt. Characters included Chip, Dale, Pluto, and Ariel.
I would not go back to Avalon Cove, Lucky Fortune Cookie.
Where I would go back is Blue Bayou, Pizza port (tomorrowland), and Goofy's kitchen.

 

[supercarrie]

We did the Minnie and Friends character breakfast at the PCH Grill, Paradise Pier Hotel on New Year's Day. (Last year we ate NYD breakfast at Cindys in WDW...we needed something at least attempt to compare!) The food was good, lots of variety, and fresh. But there were only a few characters - Minnie, Max, and Daisy were the only ones we saw. Minnie led a dance with the children around the restaurant, although it was only about 1/2 full when we ate. We ate here as a 3rd choice, behind Goofy's Kitchen and the Storyteller Cafe at the Grand Californian (couldn't get last minute ressies.) I have done Goofy's Kitchen in the past, and would do it over this one, although this breakfast was fun as well.

I have eaten at Avalon Cove (recently renamed to Ariel's Grotto) and only saw 2 characters, which was disappointing. Goofy and Ariel, and Ariel sat in the lobby area and had an attitude. I saw a few others visit the patio area, but no more came over to our table. They also did a dance around the restaurant with Goofy for children. My friends and I thought the food was good, and liked the atmosphere and decor, but for a character meal, again, the number of characters wasn't very good compared to what we have experienced at Goofy's Kitchen. We would come back to this one again, though.

 

[peagreenid]

I can't believe it........are you saying we are going to almost be there at the same time, and NOT get to see each other. Oh how can this be........sniff....sniff....sniff....

Here I was blathering on to you about my trip, did I miss something in the coversation about you being there? Did I forget? Am I just old?

Are you staying at the Candy Cane again? I love it there so much, but our deal was just too good to pass up.
I've been digging and searching, looking for the same answers, the consensus is that Goofys is the best.
What dates will you be there?

smiles Patty

 

[GoofyDisney]

Actually, no not me. But me in spirit! My sis and bil and nephews are going on business. Ahhh So I will live vicariously through them and through you!!!!!

 

[dianedisney]

I have eaten at all the character breakfast venues and at Avalon Cove. Avalon Cove does have a set menu and set prices but I thought the food was good especially the French Onion Soup. The price I felt was very reasonable. There were plenty of characters when we were there; Chip & Dale, Minnie Mouse, Pluto, Goofy and Ariel. Below is my thought on the character breakfasts that are offered in order of 1st choice to 4th:

#1. Goofy's Kitchen: Disneyland Hotel, lots of characters, food good, upbeat decor and lots of character interactions whether dancing or at the tables.
#2. Minnie & Friends: Paradise Pier Hotel, not lots of characters but quite a few, food good, interaction with characters with dancing and table visits.
#3. Winnie the Pooh: Inside Disneyland Park, Winnie the Pooh characters only and lots of them. Plenty of photo ops at the tables, victorian decor.
#4. Chip & Dale: Grand Californian Hotel, very few characters, food very good, arts & crafts era decor, no table visits, not much interaction with characters. Overall rating: Boring not for kids.

These ratings are based on my experiences. If you want to do Goofy's Kitchen I suggest you make reservations 30 days out as they recommend. You can just arrive but you will have a wait time of anywhere from 30-45 minutes. This is the most popular character breakfast. Hope this helps and.....

Have a Disney Day!!

 

[hookedup]

Since we are locals with AP's we dont usually do the meals at the resort hotels but rather eat in the parks. Even when we do spend the night on property I tend to avoid the hotel restaraunts - not because there is anything wrong with them just because we like being at the parks and dont care about eating before they open.

My favorite is the Plaza Inn for breakfast at DL. I love it and have found it to be my favorite character dining at DLR. I suppose the reason why it is so uncrowded is because the folks who are going into the park right as it opens probably arent the ones heading to breakfast on Main Street for the most part. This makes for a great uncrowded and relaxing character breakfast. We love it and have made it a tradition for our family. It's an all you can eat buffet and the food is quite decent and a great variety. The last few times we went (in the late Fall) there was Pooh, Tigger, Eyeore, Piglet and sometimes Max or another character too.

We also do Avalon Cove (Ariels Grotto now?) quite a lot too. I have heard mixed reviews from others but in the 5 times we have had dinners there we have had wonderful experiences with lots of characters and tons of food. Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Chip & Dale and Ariel hangs out in the lobby.

I have lots of pictures on my homepage if you are interested I would be happy to e-mail you the link.