No Character Dining in Cowboy Cookout in October.

[Carrie_Cat]

What is Cowboy Cookout? Is it like Mickeys Backyard BBQ? I've been going to Dis twice a year for the past 7 1/2 yrs and hav nvr heard of this?

It's a restaurant at Disneyland Paris

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=43745295&postcount=33

 

[DLPDreams]

You know the more I read about the 'decisions' taken at DLRP these days, the more I wonder what those in charge are actually thinking .

I can't help thinking that it all comes down to money - Dreams and all the extra hours this summer have to be paid for somewhere!

Woodys Roundup was excellent - imo they should treat the Princess Pavilion in this manner. Why they stopped it, I'll never know.

Looks like we'll need to book our character meals as soon as we are able as although the park shouldn't be silly busy, the restaurants may be! We always do Cafe Mickey but it's not my fave place to eat - but we've always done lunch and quite fancy dinner this time - that might make a difference for us!

I am REALLY hoping that something else is going to be on to replace MWW. It will be interesting to see what Christmas decs/shows/extras they are going to feature this year - will there be any at this rate!!

PS - Interesting to read about the Dreams VIP meals continuing - depending on the where/what we might be tempted to book again for lunch somewhere. I can't see how dinner will work at all with the times as I can't see the park being closed much past 7 pm at that time of year for 2 main reasons - it is dark enough to show Dreams by then and it gets very cold at night .

 

[angel_nix]

That's a real shame. We arrive on the 30th Sept and with two young children, were more inclined to go for character meals to allow the girls to meet without the crush/wait.

 

[wmoon]

Not impressed. We managed to get the benefit of a bigger hotel discount and added meals as the difference, one of which is a pre paid character meal at cowboy cookout for mid october!,,,

We also have cafe mickey prepaid. Are these vouchers you get specific or can they be used in a variety of places?

 

[Figgygirl]

I did ask Dining reservations what would happen regarding people who have already booked and paid for CCBBQ with their Disney package, but she didn't know.

When the same thing happened to Lucky Nugget Saloon Character lunch buffet, people had their ADRs transferred to CC instead as far as I recall.

I really can't understand the decision to cancel MWW show this Christmas. They have the costumes and the set, so it is not like the cost of creating a new one. Maybe they don't have the performers who can skate!

 

[wmoon]

Thanks

Will phone and ask them. x

 

[DLPDreams]

I really can't understand the decision to cancel MWW show this Christmas. They have the costumes and the set, so it is not like the cost of creating a new one. Maybe they don't have the performers who can skate!

I don't understand this either, unless they are hoping to produce something else in its place? But, judging by recent cuts etc, I would think they won't! I'm still looking forward to seeing all the Christmas decs and the girls meeting the big man in red though! Please, don't let them cancel him too!

wmoon - I really hope you get sorted out - very disappointing and I wouldn't be impressed either that you read it on here first. The thing is when something like this happens, Disney should contact YOU to tell you about it and give you options/refund rather than you having to call them. They can't have that many people who have prepaid so it shouldn't be that difficult to contact people. IMO that is the difference between good customer service and the not so good that Disney seem to be dishing out these days!

It doesn't seem that they will be giving another (value) character dining option in the park acc to Carrie, which is odd as they have had one for a long time .

Character dinners are just becoming more and more expensive - not everyone can afford Auberge/Inventions and pricey brunches - especially if you have a big family - £150 plus for a meal is just out of some people's reach. I feel sorry for those people as they are literally being priced out of character dining - apart from Cafe Mickey that is (which is over subscribed at the best of times!) . And due to the lack of characters at times in the park, and then the inevitable scrums that occur when one does come out, families like that stand little chance of meeting anyone ! I really wonder what Walt would make of it all .

 

[Carrie_Cat]

I'm on the phone with the restaurant reservations in French and they are telling me that the characters are there until the 8th of November

She has just read me an internal memo that says that they can't take reservations for after the 8th of November but it is open until that date.

She also says that if there were any changes people would be informed ...

So what to believe

 

[Carrie_Cat]

Character dinners are just becoming more and more expensive - not everyone can afford Auberge/Inventions and pricey brunches - especially if you have a big family - £150 plus for a meal is just out of some people's reach. I feel sorry for those people as they are literally being priced out of character dining - apart from Cafe Mickey that is (which is over subscribed at the best of times!) . And due to the lack of characters at times in the park, and then the inevitable scrums that occur when one does come out, families like that stand little chance of meeting anyone ! I really wonder what Walt would make of it all .

It's a Disney thing though across the board though, look at the prices for character meals at WDW

 

[DLPDreams]

Yes but DLRP is a short break destination especially for Europeans. You can pick up relatively cheap breaks if you stay offsite or onsite at Santa Fe etc, book eurostar/flights early. If you are hoping to compare that 'bargain' price with onsite character dining you are in for a shock.

WDW is a different ball game when it comes to cost from Europe - it is never going to be cheap to get there (if you stay onsite and fly/pay for a family of 4) and as a longer holiday, you expect it to be more expensive (in my warped logic anyway!).

I've lost count of the amount of families we have spoken to who say DLRP is just way too expensive compared to WDW to eat etc. They are probably talking CS but most say once you are there it is cheaper . I wouldn't know, I haven't been yet .

I think my point was, Disney seem to be taking away the 'value' character dining options (whether it be at WDW or DLRP) which is unfair to those families who can't afford £150 plus for a meal . So, I'm guessing the tea party is going too and not being replaced - another cheaper option. Cafe Mickey is going to be rather full (more than normal) if that is the case!

We'll probably see more of what we had on our last trip to CM. A woman literally taking photos through the window of our character meets inside . I though they were the paparazzi!

 

[DLPdaft]

Yes but DLRP is a short break destination especially for Europeans. You can pick up relatively cheap breaks if you stay offsite or onsite at Santa Fe etc, book eurostar/flights early. If you are hoping to compare that 'bargain' price with onsite character dining you are in for a shock.

WDW is a different ball game when it comes to cost from Europe - it is never going to be cheap to get there (if you stay onsite and fly/pay for a family of 4) and as a longer holiday, you expect it to be more expensive (in my warped logic anyway!).

I've lost count of the amount of families we have spoken to who say DLRP is just way too expensive compared to WDW to eat etc. They are probably talking CS but most say once you are there it is cheaper . I wouldn't know, I haven't been yet .

I think my point was, Disney seem to be taking away the 'value' character dining options (whether it be at WDW or DLRP) which is unfair to those families who can't afford £150 plus for a meal . So, I'm guessing the tea party is going too and not being replaced - another cheaper option. Cafe Mickey is going to be rather full (more than normal) if that is the case!

We'll probably see more of what we had on our last trip to CM. A woman literally taking photos through the window of our character meets inside . I though they were the paparazzi!

I think DLP has always been more expensive for food generally, whether its CS or TS, than WDW. I don't think its true either that the UK benefits from comparably cheaper deals for DLP than for WDW. WDW and the area its in means there are many many more attractions, which means many many more options for eating out. The US generally is cheaper to eat out than here in the UK, so again much cheaper than eating out at DLP. Even if we're comparing theme park meal costs, the American parks would win hands down with cost, comparing like for like.

I personally think the only real value character meal is Cafe Mickey (even before Cowboy Cookout started) but not having the set menu. I did like the Lucky Nugget saloon for the character lunch, that wasn't too bad for price (similar to the Cowboy Cookout lunch price), but the tea party, for what you get, really is very expensive.

 

[MissP]

I'm on the phone with the restaurant reservations in French and they are telling me that the characters are there until the 8th of November

She has just read me an internal memo that says that they can't take reservations for after the 8th of November but it is open until that date.

She also says that if there were any changes people would be informed ...

So what to believe

I was told on the phone that although the CowBoy Cook Out is still open in October/November - There will be no characters attending as of the end of the 1st October (so far)!

Think they are all crossing lines - suppose we will have to wait till closer to the date!

 

[daiseyirl]

It such a shame as we luved cowboy cookout in may. Dd1 loves toy storey so meeting woody was the highlight of our tip, jessie wasnt there tho:--(.

 

[wmoon]

Will leave it just now and phone nearer October, maybe by then they will all be saying the same thing. x

 

[Figgygirl]

I'm on the phone with the restaurant reservations in French and they are telling me that the characters are there until the 8th of November

She has just read me an internal memo that says that they can't take reservations for after the 8th of November but it is open until that date.

She also says that if there were any changes people would be informed ...

So what to believe

Very odd, considering our poster on the TA DLP forum was not able to book Character meals at CC for 7th October, and a Cast Member who works there has told me that it is no longer Character Dining after 1st October, but still open as an ordinary restaurant.

 

[Carrie_Cat]

Very odd, considering our poster on the TA DLP forum was not able to book Character meals at CC for 7th October, and a Cast Member who works there has told me that it is no longer Character Dining after 1st October, but still open as an ordinary restaurant.

The CM's don't always know what's going in unless it's their service and even then I've heard some stories

The cm on DCP have it with characters until the 8th of Nov

It's a wait and see scenario yet again and it is more than infuriating but oh so typical of the (mis) communication and non standard practise that they specialise in at DLP

I'll phone again a couple of times and see if they are singing to the same hymn sheet

 

[Figgygirl]

Having been to WDW five times we found ordinary fast food restaurants in the parks good value as the portions are large and we could share two meals between 2 adults 2 kids plus drinks.
Character Dining there is horribly expensive though, and you need to book about 6 months ahead.
DLP is not cheap by any means, but for some people a 3 day trip there is affordable, whilst a 2 week or longer trip to WDW with food and spending money is beyond their budget.
I was desparate to see Disneyland when I was growing up, but no way my parents could afford it. At least with DLP more kids from Europe now have the chance of some Disney Magic.

 

[Figgygirl]

The CM's don't always know what's going in unless it's their service and even then I've heard some stories

The cm on DCP have it with characters until the 8th of Nov

It's a wait and see scenario yet again and it is more than infuriating but oh so typical of the (mis) communication and non standard practise that they specialise in at DLP

I'll phone again a couple of times and see if they are singing to the same hymn sheet

Thanks Carrie. Will post if I hear any more as well.

 

[Figgygirl]

When I phoned dining reservations to check this myself a few days ago, at first the lady said that there were Characters there until November. When I then asked why someone could not book lunch or tea there for 7th October she went quiet, then said she would have to ask someone.
She came back and then said that CC would have no Characters after 30th September. Then I asked what would be happening in November, and she said they are not told that far ahead.

 

[tinks_1989]

Glad they are there till 30th September hoping to go here on our next trip.