dzneprincess
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- Joined
- Jun 25, 2001
- Messages
- 9,139
We are normally not morning people, however I had heard about the this character meal and wanted to try it. We had only been to Chef Mickey's and The Garden Grille before. We had very early PS for this, and it just started out bad. We stayed on site, but because our PS was before official park opening we decided to drive. We did not want to risk taking the bus from POP. When we got to the parking lot gate, there was no one there and they had cones blocking entrance? Finally we got frustrated, got out and moved a cone to get in. Then we unloaded our 4 children, on a particularly COLD windy February morning. There was a crowd of other people with PS waiting outside, we waited for at least 1o minutes (in the cold) at the front gates, before they started calling guests back. The hostess would take about 7 families back at one time. We ended up waiting about 30 minutes before we were called back. I was cold, but still not disatisfied, because I knew a great experience was coming. Boy, was I wrong. We walked into the restaurant and were seated at the table right next to the door! Of course, this was the main entrance door and was opened and closed MANY MANY times during our meal. We were freezing the whole time! We were also eating with a LARGE group of cheerleaders. They were actually not ill behaved or rude, but we did not get the attention from the characters that I am used to getting. Each character stopped at our table for a picture. We did not have autobooks, as my kids, have filled theirs. I feel that since I am not taking extra for each of my kids to get their books signed, that we should at least get some one on one time ( Just this past Monday 042004, me and my son were at Garden Grille and ALL the characters more than made magical memories!) This was not the case at Animal Kingdom. At one point my 10 month old got sick, and my DH took him to the bathroom to change his clothing. He missed Pluto, and he was the main reason we were at this meal. He was still in our "room" but was no longer at our table. My DH was gone for 5 mins tops. I asked our server if she could get him to come back around,as my baby missed him, and she told me that I had to ask the handler? You mean to tell me that she couldn't have siddled up to the handler and mention that my baby missed Pluto, could they please hit our table on the way out? They had to pass us again to leave, the way our table was situated. So I told the handler and showed her where we were sitting. She acted like it was a big inconvience, and said she would see. They did stop buy on their way out, but only long enough for my DH to snap an ackward picture of me holding the baby up to Pluto, not posed if you know what I mean. I think we can all agree, that the main reason for going to a character meal is for the interaction. The food here was blah, and definitely not worth the price. By this point I was very irritated and ready to leave. I do not recommend this meal at all. I was VERY VERY disappointed with it, and say skip it. If you must do a character meal, I highly recommend Chef Mickey's for breakfast or GArden Grille for lunch. ( This is my favorite!)
Does anyone know what we were supposed to do regarding the parking gate? I felt guilty just moving the cones to get in, I felt like I was doing something wrong, even though I have an AP and get free parking and we were staying onsite, and therefore got free parking! LOL THere was other people waiting as well, and I felt like since they saw me do that, that they were going to as well. As far as the character interaction depending on the restaurant capacity, I understand that. I just don't understand the difference in interaction at Chef Mickeys, Garden Grille or Park Fare ( I forget I have been here once before) which appear to me, at least, to be just as busy. Also, from the moment we were seated I knew I was not happy with the location, could I have asked for a different table, since they were still bringing the families in?
