Not Participating in Character Experiences

[coltsfanatic]

Odd question here..is it possible to do a character lunch/dinner without actually having to endure the characters?

We're thinking about doing Tusker House for lunch next year before we leave for TL (versus a Boma breakfast/Sanaa lunch-lots of extra travel time!) but saw as of Dec. 4, it will be changed to a character lunch.

Has anyone heard if it will be similar to the breakfast, where I hear you just take a picture at the beginning and then relax for the rest of the meal? Or have you previously had non-character experiences at any other character buffets?

Thanks a bunch!

 

[wdw4rfam]

I have heard that if you just tell your server when you are seated, they will let them know, and the assistants just usher the characters right past your table.

 

[MrsLS]

Just tell your server, but if they do come around while you are at the table, just say hi or wave. They will get the hint that you don't want to take a picture or interact with them.

It might be harder if they were face characters since they would talk to you. We are 2 adults and went to 1900 for breakfast once with the both types of characters and with the face characters we just went with it (talking with the mad hatter, alice) and it was fun but I'm sure if we weren't interested in talking or taking pics, they would have moved along quicker than the 1-2 minutes that they were standing there at our table.

Or if you really don't want to even wave or whatever, make sure you are at the buffet when you see that they are next to your table. If you are worried about not being able to relax and eat as you say, its really not a huge inconvenience having the characters there. There's only 1 of each, so maybe 4 or so total and you will see each once, maybe twice if you are a slow eater in the hour you are there, so its not like you can't relax and have a nice meal.

 

[nkereina]

We did Tusker House breakfast and skipped the photo with Donald at the beginning. Mickey, Goofy and Daisy were inside and came to our table, so there are characters inside as well who make the rounds. We just smiled and waved and they knew to move on to the next because we were not interested. Not sure if the lunch will be the same format but a nod and wave to signify move along is pretty much sufficient. We did this at the Ohana breakfast too.

 

[coltsfanatic]

Thanks everyone! It's not that I don't like the idea of character interaction, but for example, at CP, we felt that the characters took away from the delicious food! Plus, I rarely eat out since I'm a vegan, so I definitely want my time to be as relaxing as possible and especially because they are supposed to have great food! Telling the server sounds like a great idea!

 

[danielephant]

yeah just dont talk to them when they come by! I do with that AK had more dinning options

 

[madalex]

Plus, I rarely eat out since I'm a vegan, so I definitely want my time to be as relaxing as possible and especially because they are supposed to have great food!

There are a lot of restaurants at Disney that have great food and that are much more relaxing than any character meal (even if you don't want the interaction with the characters, all the kids around you will; they will be very excited and boisterous and there will be a certain amount of hustle and bustle as the characters come around). So, if you really want a relaxing meal without character interaction, going to character meals may not be the best way to accomplish that goal.

 

[nkereina]

There are a lot of restaurants at Disney that have great food and that are much more relaxing than any character meal (even if you don't want the interaction with the characters, all the kids around you will; they will be very excited and boisterous and there will be a certain amount of hustle and bustle as the characters come around). So, if you really want a relaxing meal without character interaction, going to character meals may not be the best way to accomplish that goal.

True - each character meal I've done involved "parades" with the characters and children around the restaurant. At TH in particular, they gave each of the kids instruments and walked around the restaurant with a character leading the way. Not relaxing but wasn't annoying either.