Need Expert Advice Regarding Princesses

[Golfing Goofy]

OK all of you experts, here is my question. We are finally going for the first time ever to WDW and we are going with friends.

Of all the kids, only one is a girl. She is 5 years old. It is everyone's first visit to WDW. So, its pretty obvious that we all don't know what we are doing.


So here is idea #1:
We might want to do one character meal with everyone. So, I think that we could do 1900 Park Fare with everyone because it is not all princess and all the boys in our group should enjoy it with the step sisters. What do you think?


Idea #2:
Just us moms and the little girl want to do a princess character meal. Which one should we pick. As of today, Ariel is her favorite. Is there a meal that features Ariel?

Please help! I appreciate all your suggestions.

 

[PictureJumpr]

As for idea #2, we almost always see Ariel along with Belle, Snow White, sometimes Cinderella... at the Princess Storybook lunch at Akershus in Epcot (in Norway). A bonus for the guys is if they aren't going along, there are several really good other places (counter-service and table-service) available in the same park.

 

[Wendi2000]

We saw Ariel at dinner at Akershus this month. We also really enjoyed our meal there.

 

[ms*mountaineer]

I also recommend Princess Storybook in Norway. I have done breakfast there twice and we love it. We had Ariel for breakfast one time, but judging from posts I've seen that's not common. She is more common (but not a guarantee) for lunch.

Some people say they are not adventurous enough to try Norweigian food - I say go for it! It's part of the experience - check out the menu online and see what you think. Breakfast is wonderful, though.

 

[Tisha_PA]

Idea #2:
Just us moms and the little girl want to do a princess character meal. Which one should we pick. As of today, Ariel is her favorite. Is there a meal that features Ariel?

Please help! I appreciate all your suggestions.

My DD's favorite princess is also Ariel. When I booked my ADR's for March, the dining CM told me that Ariel only appears at lunch and dinner at Akershus, never at breakfast. I would suggest booking a lunch.

 

[chip007]

My DD5 was a big Ariel fan. (We're now transitioning to Belle.)

We went to lunch in Norway the past two years. Her review: "It was great. I got to meet Ariel with feet."

You should also know that Ariel has her own meet-and-greet area in the MK. According to DD: "It was great. I got to meet Ariel with fins."

What this means is that even if you do not go to Norway, or you do go and do not see Ariel, there is always a sure-fire way to see her (with fins) at the MK. Just be prepared, the wait can be exceptionally long, and much of it is outside in the sun/rain.

As for a general character meal that both girls and boys would like, I'd recommend Chef Mickey's. It's fun and colorful. There's singing and dancing, and Mickey and Minnie as well as Goofy and others. In other words, a little something for everyone.

Have a great time.

BTW, we're going back in February and I've booked Chef Mickey for the third time. No Norway this year since I was able to get breakfast at the Castle.

 

[Girly_Qs]

We also saw Ariel at Akershus for dinner, but the whole group was underwhelmed by the food (just sort of bland, IMO). IF we do Akershus again, it will definitely be for breakfast.

The best character interaction we had, by far, and the best meal according to our group was definitely 1900 Park Fare. They spent a LOT of time with my girls (vs. quick pose/snap/gone pic opportunity at Akershus, though we did see pretty much everyone there). Still pretty 'girly' IMO though.

As for the 'traditional' gang - our fave is definitely Chef Mickey's!

 

[koolaidmoms]

I personally like CP. It has the Winnie the Pooh characters neither girly nor boyish, they do the parade every so often and I like the adult buffet and the kids buffet.

On our trip to 1900 Park Fare for breakfast I thought it was rather small, dark and crowded. Being a pooh sized person myself we were with a group of 8 and it was difficult to get up and down as half of our group was seated in a bench seat and the tables were pushed together. So if someone on the inside wanted to get up - two or three people needed to move. JMHO.

 

[Golfing Goofy]

These are great suggestions! Thanks!

I am glad to know that it is more likely to see Ariel at lunch/dinner at the Norway place. I think we will try to do that. Do most of the girls go dressed up? We are debating the whole Bibbi Bobbiddi thing for her....Is 5 too young?

 

[ms*mountaineer]

Many of the girls will dress up for Akershus (and I would imagine for 1900 too!). I don't think 5 is too young for BBB - we haven't done BBB, but I've seen girls younger than 5 that have been to BBB. We always take princess costumes from home and my girls dress up for the meals. If your DD wants to keep the dress on afterwards as you go through the park, let her! The CM's will call her "your highness" on the attractions!

Not sure what else you are planning for the Akershus day, but it might be a good day to do BBB in the morning and then go to lunch at Akershus. Or do BBB during the day and go to 1900 for dinner.

 

[GatorLady]

Many of the girls will dress up for Akershus (and I would imagine for 1900 too!). I don't think 5 is too young for BBB - we haven't done BBB, but I've seen girls younger than 5 that have been to BBB. We always take princess costumes from home and my girls dress up for the meals. If your DD wants to keep the dress on afterwards as you go through the park, let her! The CM's will call her "your highness" on the attractions!

Not sure what else you are planning for the Akershus day, but it might be a good day to do BBB in the morning and then go to lunch at Akershus. Or do BBB during the day and go to 1900 for dinner.

I agree with ms*mountaineer. We did BBB for DD's 6th birthday in June and had Akershus scheduled for dinner later that day. DD6 wanted to keep her dress on and she did get a lot of extra attention from CM's. Even on the bus, the driver made an announcement about there being a princess on board!

We really enjoyed our meal (Ariel was there). It's a great deal too if you are on the dining plan (1TS) since you also receive a photo package. Picture in my signature is from that package.

 

[TNMouseFan]

Just a suggestion but if you do BBB make sure you have plenty of time to get to Epcot. If you do BBB in the castle it is a bit of a walk back to the bus area and then to Epcot. I would do BBB early and maybe an early dinner at Akershus. You'll want to do lots of pics with the castle after BBB too I'm sure so account for that time. (it was my DD5s dream to ride the teacups after BBB so that we did...3 times...)

We did BBB and then Dinner at the castle (since they are in the same area).

We just took our dress to Akershus another day and changed before lunch (Ariel was there as well as Belle, Alice, Jasmine (def. DHS fav), and Aurora.

But my philosophy is whatever they want to do at Disney, they will do at Disney. (within a few limits of course)
If she wants Ariel and you are able to do it, go for it! Just plan a little extra travel and walking time.

 

[Golfing Goofy]

Thanks everyone. I will tell my friend and then she can decide which one her daughter wants to do. Also, thanks TNMouseFan for the heads up regarding the photos at the castle. I didn't even factor that time in .... and I am certain that we will be taking a ton of photos.

Its going to be so fun for me to hang out with "the girls" at WDW - a little break from Pirates and all that boy stuff....

 

[mickeyluv'r]

In additon to BB at the castle, there is one at DTD. From my pov, getting from either BBB to lunch is going to be a challenge. I guess many have done it, so it's doable....but our family has always done our own dresses. You can get glitter hairspray (a.k.a. pixie dust) at many costume, or party stores. I've even seen it at my local CVS.

I also just wanted to mention that 'for the boys' there's also the Playhouse Disney meal at HS. It might make sense to split up that am, if the boys grumble at princesses. The boys could dine early at HS, and you could meet up in Epcot.
IMO, the best park to be dressed as a princess in though is MK, which makes 1900 a great choice. The GF is also a great place to be dressed as a Princess, and a beautiful place for photos! If you are there early, or need to do any last minute changes...the boys can watch cartoons in the lobby. There's also the very real chance you'll get to see a bride (adult princess) in the lobby. Once while waiting for a bus from GF, we got to see a bride go by in the Cinderella coach!

If you do decide to change out of the dresses, there is the option of stowing them in a locker near the entracne of MK.

 

[Mamide2]

I think Cinderella's royal table and Crystal Palace are great options for character meals. I was not impressed with the bfast at Akershus. DD loved meating all the characters of course.

 

[GatorLady]

I would do BBB early and maybe an early dinner at Akershus.

I think this plan works out best, I wouldn't mess with trying to do a lunch.
We did BBB at 8:15, got some pictures there, then did all the rides in Fantasyland. When it started to get too hot (we were there in June) we went up to the Exposition Hall and had the photopass photographer take pictures there in the little area they have set up with a settee.

Then went back to the resort for an afternoon rest, put our dress back on and headed over to Epcot for dinner (we did 6pm because we knew we would be taking a break). No rushing necessary and we were still able to get lots of great pictures and lots of rides too.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

Here's my $.02

BBB, no, 5 is not too young and in fact is perfect. We did it in 2006 with all 3 of our girls who were at the time 4, 7 and 12. It was amazing and the photos are beautiful.

I debated it this trip, cost wise I was thinking of cuttting it. My grandma said I'd regret not doing it so we did again with DD6 and DD9. So glad I did it again, what was I doing even thinking of not doing it? We did it on Thanksgiving morning first appointments of the day at DTD then headed over to have their photos taken. The next morning we had breakfast at CRT (we do it every trip and LOVE it). Their hair looked just as good the next day but we popped into the castle location for a bit more pixie dust. Then Saturday night we went to Akerhaus for a late dinner and their hair still looked almost perfect for their photos with Belle. I don't know how long it would have lasted as they could not resist the pool any longer. But it holds up really well for a long time, especially if you wrap their head in towels and/or toilet paper to sleep.

CRT, we eat breakfast there ever trip and always will, the food is great and we love being there. We have never felt rushed at all. In fact this trip I ordered the slipper dessert for my girls and said we'd better hurry (we were the only ones still there), our waitress told us to take our time and enjoy it.

We tried Akerhaus for the first time this trip and I am so happy we did. The girls loved it, we went not caring if we liked the food or not, but our DD6 is named after Ariel (middle name) and one of her sisters (first name) so she really loves her and while she loves seeing her in the grotto, she wanted to see her with feet. So, we went. It was DH favorite meal (he had the salmon) and while I did not like the pasta I ordered, the salad bar and desserts were great and we would go back again in a heartbeat when on DDP, otherwise I don't know if we would only because of price, we would have paid $22.95 for a kids hot dog!!! But on DDP, it is a great deal especially with the photos included.

Can't comment on 1900 PF, we are not fans of GF so we have never tried it.

Have fun!!!!