Not a big fan of the Character Meals... Where else to try?

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

After two trips, and CRT lunch, CP Breakfast, CM Breakfast, and TH Breakfast we are pretty much over character dining. From our experience,

1)interaction isn't all that great - we typically have much better conversations, and feel less rushed when meeting with characters in the parks

2)food isn't that great-I'd be willing to over look this if the kids liked it more, and if interaction was better

3)kids just dont seem to get as into as we hoped- maybe its the cramped area, maybe its everyone else in the restaurant watching them with the characters, I don't know.

4)DH isn't a big breakfast person. Most of the character meals are best at breakfast food-wis

5)They can get really expensive

SO- Are there any other meals (character or not) that you recommend we try on our next trip with the kids? I was thinking about TRex, not sure what else though.

 

[Jessica527]

I would recommending checking out places with other types of entertainment:

Raglan Road – DTD
Biergarten – EP
50’s Prime Time – HS
Whispering Canyon Café – WL

They all have their own unique entertainment

 

[jac0104]

TRex would be a great one for the kids. Mama Melrose's or 50's Primetime in Hollywood Studios; Biergarten and possibly Teppan Edo in Epcot; Tony's in Magic Kingdom; and Tusker House in Animal Kingdom are all good choices for in the parks. Rainforest Cafe is pretty good, and possibly something along the lines of Cape May Cafe for a fun experience

 

[Sgt Tibbs]

If you're looking for good breakfas, or lunch and dinner for that matter, places try Kona cafe, Grand Floroidian cafe and Whispering Canyon.

 

[Hobbes]

we (2 big kids!!) love Sci-Fi (and yes I know we're in a minority on that one) and San Angel (ditto)

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

Thanks! You're giving me good places to try

 

[lynn46356]

I'll probably list too many but here goes - Liberty Tree Tavern (lunch as its not a fixed menu), Teppen Edo, The Plaza, Kona Cafe, Ohana. Thinking about these is making me HUNGRY. Also, try one of the cupcakes at Starring Rolls at HS. Oh my goodness, the red velvet cupcake was sooooo good. We've enjoyed Whispering Canyon along with 50's Prime Time and Sci-fi. We are not a family of adventurous eates which you can probably tell by the above. Happy Planning!!!!!

 

[Sweet Melissa]

I think that there are some "experience" meals for kids that don't necessarily involve characters, and more importantly, are not buffets. Off the top of my head, the Coral Reef, 'Ohana, the Whispering Canyon Café, the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater and '50s Prime Time Diner come to mind.

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

kids like Ohana! But we've been there twice and are ready for something new!

LTT Lunch- now on the list- thanks!

WCC- Cant find anything on the menu DH would eat- not a BBQ guy

Mama Melrose- for sure with the F! package- loved Mama Melrose last time

Teppan Edo- I want to go to- however the kids are picky wont even have rice- ugh maybe I will force them

Coral Reef- have waivered, though may try it this time!

50/Sci Fi- thinking about em!

 

[buffettgirl]

oh that's too bad about WCC and DH because that is truly a fun one to go to if you get the right server. (though they do have a lot on the menu that wasn't BBQ...that is just one option, the BBQ skillet thing)

We're also not huge fans of character meal - we do one, and that's enough (we also don't really wait in lines to see the characters either, which I know probably has people pulling out the smelling salts )

50's prime time cafe is also another fun one.

I'm thinking though, with a 5 year old and 2 year old, most of the 'fun' is going to be lost on them. I'd pick a nice quiet low key dinner somewhere.

 

[Monorail Bob's dd]

Teppan Edo and Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater are 2 of my girls favorite places to eat in Disney, definitely worth checking out.

 

[maggiew]

kids like Ohana! But we've been there twice and are ready for something new!

LTT Lunch- now on the list- thanks!

WCC- Cant find anything on the menu DH would eat- not a BBQ guy

Mama Melrose- for sure with the F! package- loved Mama Melrose last time

Teppan Edo- I want to go to- however the kids are picky wont even have rice- ugh maybe I will force them

Coral Reef- have waivered, though may try it this time!

50/Sci Fi- thinking about em!

I had the roast chicken at WCC and really liked it. That might be an option for your DH.

I think they have noodles at Teppan Edo too besides rice. Maybe that can be substituted.

Here were the restaurants I was going to suggest:

Coral Reef for the fish
Sci Fi for the movies and sitting in a car
Chef de france for when Ratatoulle comes around (this is real quick though)
T-Rex is fun and has meteor shower or something
Rainforest Cafe is fun and has "thunderstorms" plus the animatronic things
Beaches and Cream might be fun to sit at counter plus the desserts aren't too bad
Teppan Edo to sit at grill and watch chef cook
Mexican sit down (can't think of name) but you can watch the boats go by

I like LTT for lunch, but its not really that entertaining for kids???

Maggie

 

[nkereina]

Trex is good for kids but I wouldn't do that with rainforest cafe. They are owned by the same company so they are along the same lines

 

[nicpries]

I went to Disney when I was 7 for the first time and meals have stuck in my head.

I loved Teppan Edo! So much fun for kids & Ohana for Dinner! There were so many run activities!

Have a happy trip. We will also be visiting in May.

 

[staceylynnga]

hoop dee doo revue, Boma (plenty for kids and all great options if they are adventurous). In our early 2009 trip, my then 18 month old also did fine at Kona Cafe.