Minnie's Plaza or Goofy's Kitchen?

[GatorChris]

After reading another thread about Goofy's Kitchen, I figure I better pose this question before I book a reservation. Here's the skinny. I'll be at DLR all week, catching a concert Saturday night, then heading back home on Sunday. I wanted to do a character meal before we left. I had been thinking of doing a brunch at Goofy's - that way we more or less get lunch before we head home. However, there's a lot of angst at how the characters interact and I don't want to end on a bad note. I see a lot of good review's on Minnie's Breakfast, especially about how many characters you get. We have APs so getting into the park won't matter much.

What do you think? Minnie's or Goofy's?

 

[2tinkerbell]

With Minnie's you need to have a park ticket as it is inside DL at the Plaza Inn.

I called Disneyland dining today to check on my ADR's. The CM I was speaking with mentioned that the earlier you can go the better the character interaction. She said that the peak times for breakfast is between 8am to 10am when the park opens at 10am. She suggested that the first hour at Goofy's is the best timing.

That said, we had an ADR for Goofy's at the same time the park was opening (I believe it was 9am) on our last day. I found Goofy's to be great! The characters were good and it wasn't too overwhelming. I had an ADR for Minnie's at opening (I believe the first time is 10 minutes after opening either for MM/EMH or regular park opening). I found it a great time and the character interaction fun. However, we were also passed up with several of the characters. I mentioned to our server and she went and talked with someone and the characters came. I did notice that the lines for food were quite long and my DD stood for a long time in the omelet station. That didn't happen at Goofy's.

It is a tough call. When I read the reviews I was a little worried also. However, I decided that I would keep our Goofy's Kitchen ADR for our trip next week - just because we like it and it has become a tradition. I am not afraid to say something if the characters pass us up.

 

[707MickeyGirl]

Before out last trip I would have said GK, hands down. We've had some great character interaction there, including the Mad Hatter sitting down to dine with us and pulling a teacup of his own from his pocket. But this last time, we had a super early res at Minnie's and I've never had such a great experience. My 6 year old granddaughter was rockin' her homemade Doc McStuffins outfit and ALL of the characters came to our table repeatedly to see her. They wanted their heartbeats checked with the stethoscope, they got bandaids, they had their temperatures taken. They photobombed each other when I was taking pictures. Eeyore told Captain Hook (through hand signals with me interpreting) that he had no heart so the stethoscope would not help. Chip & Dale took the doctor tools and started examining each other and other guests. We saw Tigger, Pooh, Eeyore, Chip & Dale, Captain Hook, Minnie, and maybe a couple more. I'm sure being there early in the morning had something to do with how much time they spent with us, but every time they came back near our area, they came back to our table. Plus, the best part is that you're already in the park - not way out at the DLH. That won't matter if you're going home right after, but it's a huge plus when you're spending the day in the parks. I'm booking our ADR tomorrow for our November trip.

 

[Zbugz]

We've done Minnie's twice and Goofy's once. The character interaction was a little bit more fun at Minnie's for us, but Goofy's was still quite good. I have found that sometimes I need to ask that a particular character come see us, if I feel that we are being overlooked. This has worked well.

As far as food, Goofy's didn't impress me at all. It was okay, but nothing was, "wow, I want more of that" quality. While the food at Minnie's isn't as varied, I liked it better. This may be in part because of the lower cost for the meal.

 

[GPmice]

We had a really great experience at Minnie's. I believe it was the last sitting, so it was practically lunchtime. We had all the characters to ourselves, including Minnie, Chip (or Dale) and Captain Hook, which was really fun. I liked the atmosphere of being in the park. And, if you had the time, you'd be able to grab a quick final ride or shopping.

We've also tried Goofy's Kitchen and I wasn't that impressed. I really didn't care for the way they took our photo on the way in and then tried to make us buy it. Wouldn't it be more "magical" if this was just built into the $100+ I paid for breakfast?

 

[larina]

Have you considered Surf's Up (inside PPH) or Storytellers (connected to the Grand)? My family prefers them to Minnie's and Goofy's. If you are really set on those two, I'd go with Minnie's.

 

[mom2rtk]

Either can be great or less than great depending on where they seat you and your luck of the draw on which characters are there. I would choose the one that best fits with your touring plan. We love doing Goofy's on arrival day when we don't have a park ticket. Minnie's takes away some important early morning touring time.

Flip a coin and go with it. Either place can be on or off their game on a give day.

 

[roflclaw]

I've only done Minnie's so my choice is a bit skewed, but we've had SUCH a great time the four times we've done it. We always get the earliest available, which is usually right when they first open. That way I can more or less choose where I want to sit, they always start walking you to a seat but I ask if it's possible to sit in a different area/outside and they've never told me no.

We're a group of 2 and we choose to sit at the table right as you walk outside to the patio on the right. We were sat here our first time and it's the greatest spot because you get to see the characters both going inside and coming outside... and if they don't come over as they go in and out you can easily flag them down lol.

Although the interactions DBF and I have are not the norm (he draws the characters and we stay the entire breakfast) we usually see most of the characters instantly when we sit down. Sometimes you don't even get to start eating before you've got 2 or 3 of them coming around.

Another great thing about going as early as possible is that they're more likely to come back to your table and interact with you some more. On our trip in July, Tigger took my boyfriend away and in the meantime Hook came around and was my date for a while sitting in his spot. The table we sat at has a window to the inside right next to it and later on Hook was walking around inside and making faces at me through the window. (well..yknow as much as he can) There wasn't anyone sitting at the booth that's inside where the window is and as I was telling my boyfriend about Hook wanting to be my date again he came to the window and when Chris looked to see, he (Hook) hit the glass with his hook like he was gonna attack him. It was the best part of our breakfast and we talk about it all the time.

This is super long BUT my vote is for Minnie's!

 

[allsaintsatx]

Goofy's Kitchen is our favorite. We love Minnie's and SU, but we would pick GK as our desert island character breakfast.

 

[wdwfan22]

Many of these replys say that they could only do Minnie's at park opening. Last time I was there we had an reservation for 50 mins before the park opened. Do they not do that anymore? I asked this on another thread, but only got one response.

 

[jomarsou]

Many of these replys say that they could only do Minnie's at park opening. Last time I was there we had an reservation for 50 mins before the park opened. Do they not do that anymore? I asked this on another thread, but only got one response.

I'm a bit confused about this as well as I went to book the other day and the first time to come up was 8.30 (on Saturday 22 November). The times went up in half hour increments until 11am. Is the whole thing Minnie's Breakfast? And people come and go during that time?

 

[Zbugz]

Many of these replys say that they could only do Minnie's at park opening. Last time I was there we had an reservation for 50 mins before the park opened. Do they not do that anymore? I asked this on another thread, but only got one response.

If there are EMH at DL, Minnie's will open 50 mins. before the official opening time. If there is no EMH at DL, it will open at 20 mins. before the official opening.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

I will always go to Minnie over goofy unless doing dinner at goofy. Minnie we had good chr interaction and good food. i wish we could do it this time but we cant.

 

[wdwfan22]

If there are EMH at DL, Minnie's will open 50 mins. before the official opening time. If there is no EMH at DL, it will open at 20 mins. before the official opening.

Thank you so much for clearing this up for me!

 

[BayGirl22]

We had a really great experience at Minnie's. I believe it was the last sitting, so it was practically lunchtime. We had all the characters to ourselves, including Minnie, Chip (or Dale) and Captain Hook, which was really fun. I liked the atmosphere of being in the park. And, if you had the time, you'd be able to grab a quick final ride or shopping.

We've also tried Goofy's Kitchen and I wasn't that impressed. I really didn't care for the way they took our photo on the way in and then tried to make us buy it. Wouldn't it be more "magical" if this was just built into the $100+ I paid for breakfast?

This is the way we do Minnie's every time, its more of a lunch for us. If you are still around on the way out sometimes the characters will linger a bit. One time they all lined up together and let us take group pictures. We have done EMH/Rope drop at DCA and made it over to Minnie's in time for a late reservation.

As for the pictures, that is not unique to Goofy's. Most of the character meals take a picture (exception is Storytellers) and its always taken on the way in. If you have PhotoPass+ you get the prints and the digital copies as part of your package. Minnie's has the same setup, except IIRC Minnie is NOT in the picture with you. At Goofy's there's a character in the picture. So for some the setup at Goofy's may be preferred.

OP: The decision from me would be based on whether this is a park day or not. If you are in the parks then do Minnie's since its right there. If you are not in the parks Minnie's is not an option. We've had good experiences at both.

 

[Blue32]

This is the way we do Minnie's every time, its more of a lunch for us. If you are still around on the way out sometimes the characters will linger a bit.

If you wanted to do this, what time would you make the reservation for? And if it is toward the end of the reservation period, how long will they allow you to be in the restaurant and partake of the buffet? Thanks.

 

[jomarsou]

If there are EMH at DL, Minnie's will open 50 mins. before the official opening time. If there is no EMH at DL, it will open at 20 mins. before the official opening.

So if you have an 8.30 reservation at Minnie's you can still get in even if you don't have access to EMH? (Sorry for all the questions!)

 

[wdwfan22]

So if you have an 8.30 reservation at Minnie's you can still get in even if you don't have access to EMH? (Sorry for all the questions!)

Yes. There is a special line for those going in early for breakfast. I did this the last 2 times I was there a couple years ago. Since it has been a while, I wanted to verify they still did this, and according to zbugz, the do.

We are quick eaters, so we make an 8:10 reservation, and are usually done with a few minutes to spare before the park opens to the general public.

 

[707MickeyGirl]

So if you have an 8.30 reservation at Minnie's you can still get in even if you don't have access to EMH? (Sorry for all the questions!)

The line to get in early for breakfast at Minnie's is the far left line and it has a sign above it that says "character breakfast" or something like that.

 

[jomarsou]

Thanks so much! I'm finding this whole planning business very confusing!