Meeting the Characters

[2sets]

Hi, I'm new, please bear with me!
I am taking my 2nd trip w/kids to WDW in late Sept/early Oct. Our first trip was May '08 and it was PHENOMENAL...we hardly had to wait in lines and got the character dining (princess breakfast and Chef Mickey's) we wanted with no problems. This time around, we cannot get ANY reservations and I'm seriously concerned about the crowds given the free dining planned being offered. My kids are only really interested in the disney princesses and the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse characters. So, the princess breakfast and Chef Mickey's enabled us to meet everyone, get fed and not wait in line.

How difficult/time consuming is it to meet these characters in the parks?
Is the grotto in Fantasyland the only place to meet Ariel?
How can we meet Snow White?
For a 3 year old girl, is it worth it to do the bibbidi bobbity boutique since she won't get to do the princess breakfast?
Is it more crowded than usual since the dining plan is being offered for free?
Given the characters my kids are interested in, does anyone have any other suggestions in place of the princess breakfast and Chef Mickeys?

We plan on going to Magic Kingdom 2 days, one day at Hollywood Studios and one day at Animal Kingdom. I have 2 4.5yr olds and 2 3yr olds Our last trip was so great I'm afraid of being let down this time

Thanks!!

 

[TinaLala]

How difficult/time consuming is it to meet these characters in the parks?Be prepared to wait in some lines. There's no guarrantee that you won't to be honest. I've been in Sept and it's not incredibly busy, but the free dining definitely makes it busy.
Is the grotto in Fantasyland the only place to meet Ariel?Yes
How can we meet Snow White?Snow White I believe you can see her at Cinderella's Castle, the Princess breakfast in Norway. Check out Allears.net they have a dining chart that shows what characters are where. Also you could see her at the Judge's Tent at MK and possibly at the Sorcerer hat area at the Studios. I think she might also be at Germany in Epcot.
For a 3 year old girl, is it worth it to do the bibbidi bobbity boutique since she won't get to do the princess breakfast?Doing the BBB isn't only about the princess breakfast - it's about them being a princess! Giving them that extra something while they are at the park - dressed up like a princess how amazingly special they feel.
Is it more crowded than usual since the dining plan is being offered for free?yes
Given the characters my kids are interested in, does anyone have any other suggestions in place of the princess breakfast and Chef Mickeys? Garden Grill at Epcot has Mickey, Pluto, Chip and Dale is a great place for lunch/dinner. They have a nice local farm menu. There's also 1900 Park Fare for Cinderella's Dinner where Cindy, Prince Charming, Fairy Godmother, sometimes Cindy's mice, Alice, Pooh and I've seen Mary Popins there too. It's a nice buffet that kids get 'dressed-up' for because it's special. Given the age of your daughter, what about Hollywood & Vine at the Studios for breakfast - Playhouse Disney breakfast - Jojo, Little Einsteins, etc. or what about Crystal Palace with Pooh and friends. There's also Donald's Restaurantasourus at Animal Kingdom for breakfast.

If you're looking for characters each park has a meet and greet section of their daily timetable that will provide you with who and when. There's also the Judge's Tent at Magic Kingdom, around the hat at the Studios, Camp Mickey and Minnie at Animal Kingdom and near MouseGears at Epcot. Again check the timetable to see special meet and greets. At Animal Kingdom there's side areas along walkways that have friends as well. My girls are 7 & 10 and we're going to the 1900 park fare for Cindy because it's usually not too crazy and the girls get to see Prince Charming with out going to the castle - which I think is over priced and the food isn't that good.

Don't worry so much about waiting in line just enjoy the time together. If your DD sees you getting stressed it will pass on to her. It sounds like you found the magic the first time (there's nothing like your first trip) and it will change with each time you go because you'll see new/different things. Just enjoy!

 

[jenb1023]

Keep trying on the dining reservations - things open up all of the time. Chef Mickeys is very popular as are the princess meals. It is harder to get ADRs during free dining.

If you can't get Chef Mickeys, I would recommend Tusker House breakfast at AK which features Mickey, Donald, Goofy and Daisy.

As for princesses, you mention you could not get the princess breakfast. Do you mean at CRT or PSB at Askershus (Epcot). I assume you mean CRT. They also have the princesses at lunch at CRT so you could try for lunch instead. If you decide to go to Epcot, they have the princesses at all three meals at PSB. Plus, at PSB you will often find Snow White as well as Ariel in her human form (most common at lunch and dinner). Another option is 1900 Park Fare at the GF which features Cinderella, Prince Charming, and the stepmother and stepsisters at dinner.

It is not that difficult/time-consuming to meet characters in the parks if you have a plan - though it is much easier/faster to do character meals. Character lines are usually the shortest first thing in the AM or during parades, etc.

The only place to find Ariel outside of the grotto is at PSB (though her appearance there is not guaranteed). We find if you get to the grotto shortly before it opens that there is not much of a line and they usually open it early.

Snow White can be found at CRT or PSB (appearances at both are not guaranteed). She can also often be found in Germany at Epcot and in the princess line at the Judges Tent at Toontown.

I think the BBB is definitely worth it if your DD is into princesses and girly things.

Hope this helps!

 

[2sets]

Thank you guys!!

I think what we'll do is on one day at MK, go straight back to Ariel and then to the Judge's tent. Last time we headed straight back to Fantasyland at opening and got on all the rides very quickly, so my only fear with that plan is missing that window. Then, I think, to the Judge's tent to see both Mickey/Minnie and then to the princess line. My other issue here is convincing my husband to see some characters before heading straight to rides! Does that sound good? I just want to make sure to get the character meeting done so I'm not worrying about not being able to meet them. But honestly, am I worrying too much?? I suppose I could pick one day to do Minnie/Mickey then the other for the princesses. My husband could probably take our boys on a ride or two so it would just be my daughter and I waiting for the princesses.

I would love to do the Cinderella/Prince Charming at Park Fare thing or the princess breakfast at Epcot but Park Fare is booked and we're not doing Epcot. I really wanted to do the Tusker House breakfast but they're sold out too, bummer.

Meanwhile before the trip I am for sure going to keep trying for reservations in case of cancellations.

I do have Hollywood & Vine reservations, but my kids aren't into the characters at that one....in the end, does it matter? Is it still fun and worth it regardless?

As far as BBB goes, my 3yr old does NOT like getting her hair brushed, put up in a ponytail, anything by me. However given the experience in the castle and with the other girls that will be getting their hair done, do you all think it would be okay?? I was thinking I could even have her pick out a princess dress, shoes, tiara and everything right before or after. But, in one of these outfits, would she be too hot at the park...or should I skip the crazy expensive outfit? She would be able to wear the outfit later on for Halloween and just dress up fun.

Thank you all so much, I'm trying to relax about everything and remember that people go at the busiest times and still have a ton of fun!!

 

[ktlm]

It's WDW- you will have fun no matter what!! A far as the Princesses, you may want to rethink not doing Epcot. If the kids like Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Jasmine and Belle (blue dress), World Showcase in the afternoon is the easiest place to see them with the shortest lines. We had no line for Aurora and 2 people in front of us for Snow White. At least in May, these princesses all appeared daily in the afternoons. They are out for a while, then take breaks, then come back. I think guest services can give you the exact times. I have never seen Snow White in ToonTown. Every time we have been in the Princess Tent it has been Cinderella, Belle, and Sleeping Beauty. We saw Ariel at lunch at both CRT and Akershus (she appears in her ball gown). As far as I know, the only place outside of the princess meals to meet Ariel is in her grotto, which is also the only place to see her with her tail. I have never seen the line for Ariel's grotto at less than 45 minutes. We got in line when it said 45 minutes, and actually waited an hour. Also, the entire area outside of Ariel's grotto is a water/splash area, so be prepared for very wet kids. The line is out of the water, but at that age in that long a line, the kids usually take off for the water while the parents stand in the line.
Now that the reservation system is online, I would suggest that you keep trying numerous times a day to get a Princess breakfast or lunch. As far as BBB, I would be a bit concerned about that with a 3 year old who does not like her hair done. My 3 year old DD is the same way. From seeing the other girls in the park, I'm pretty sure she would go nuts with that hair. They do it extremely tight, I hear it is very hard to get out, and it can last for days. I pointed out a BBB done up girl and asked DD on our trip in May if she would like someone from Disney to do her hair like that on another trip and she told me "NO!". I'm not sure not doing BBB will save you from buying the crazy expensive outfit. We have brought Princess dresses with us both trips. Our 1st trip, she insisted on wearing costumes all day every day. Our 2nd trip, she wanted to wear her regular dresses, not the costumes we brought except for a Jasmine outfit we bought during the trip which she wore a full day. Even though we brought dresses, both trips, we ended up leaving with an expensive Princess get up anyway (i.e. Please Mama- I don't have a Jasmine outfit and she's my FAVORITE!)

 

[mom2faith]

Try altering your touring plan by a day or so.... I tried Tuskerhousr for a Saturday and it was a late breakfast, so I changed my plans and got an early Sunday breakfast instead.

Also, are you trying both online and calling? I found that sometimes things were not available online, but then I called and got it and vice versa.

 

[2sets]

That is a good idea about Epcot. Akershus is all booked now too, but I am going to add it to my list in hopes of cancellations. I think we could probably go to Epcot for 3-4 hours instead of a pool day. My kids are 3 and 4.5yrs old so I don't want to overdue it...but wouldn't Epcot be a more chill day?? Plus, I don't think there is a huge price difference b/t 4 & 5 day passes. We had planned on just 4 days over a week.

I'm definitely going to keep trying for reservations...thanks for the tip that sometimes online isn't in sync with calling!!

I would say that my daughter's favorite is Ariel, so we'll just head straight back to the grotto in hopes of shorter lines!

 

[jenb1023]

Our DD was 3 1/2, a little over 4 and a little over 5 on our three trips. We went to the parks every day on all three trips. Some days we would do a short day but we did the parks every day. So I definitely think you could add an Epcot day with no trouble.

 

[ktlm]

Did you go to Epcot on your last trip? It was my DDs favorite park after MK on both of our trips (she was 2 the first trip and 3 the second). I wouldn't call it necessarily a chill day. Our first trip we were at Epcot from opening to close and did not feel like we had enough time. I would call it more of a relaxed day. Epcot is not about running from ride to ride or show to show. It is more about exploring and just letting the little ones go at their own pace. In Future World, my little one could spend a ton of time in the area after the Imagination Ride. She also would spend a long time just playing in the water area by Mission Space. In World Showcase, she loved seeing all the Princesses. This last trip, she saw Jasmine and Belle, and then when we walked back by Beast and Genie were there with them too, so she wanted to get in line again. She loves stopping to watch the street entertainers, playing the drums at the outpost (a place she would probably spend all day if we let her); and going to the Kidcot stations in all the different countries. 3-4 hours would definitely not be enough for her, but she would take that over no time at all. Both trips we did the parks every day which is what she wanted to do. Of course, since you have to chase 4 kids, I'm guessing being in the park everyday will wear you out more than it wears them out!

 

[*Toadstool*]

Just wanted to say that my DD met Ariel at a character meal. I think it was Ankerhaus... I am not sure. It was a trip with my mom and dad, so I was not there.