One Year Old!

[Calvinosaurus]

My DS turns 1 in March and we will be celebrating at WDW! We could not get ADRs for Chef Mickey's, so we have went with Whispering Canyon instead. So it will be the three of us plus 4 grandparents.

Do you think Whispering Canyon is a good place for a one-year-old's birthday party?

 

[daisyduck123]

to your DS!!

Whispering Canyon Cafe (WCC) is a fun place to eat, but you can't really compare it with CM (Chef Mickey's) as they are 2 totally different dining experiences.

CM is a character meal with buffet & many characters.
WCC isn't a character meal & it's not a buffet.

We love both of them, but for different reasons.
(Ate at CM 4 times & at WCC twice in 2006)

If you really want a character meal, I recommend trying for the Crystal Palace in MK.
There are several others also.

If you do stay with WCC, your group will enjoy the meal, it's just a different experience.

 

[diz8297]

ITA w/previous poster. Ironically, WCC was the first Disney restaurant my then 14 month old little guy ever ate at!! It is a fun atmosphere, but there aren't any characters. Then again, he might not get so overwhelmed. Have a wonderful time!!!!

 

[baybemama]

I would say it is better for a 3 or 4 year olds birthday. When we were there, the wait staff was extremely friendly, borderline boisterous, and often had the small children get out of their seats and parade around the restaurant. And I consider the food mediocre.

My top suggestion for a 1 year old's birthday would be Liberty Tree Tavern. The food is great for kids AND adults(it's family style and they keep it coming at your request) and the characters frequent your table throughout the entire meal.

 

[KayleeUK]

Our DS (aged 10 1/2 m at the time) enjoyed it, but loved the charcters even more.

 

[MiniGirl]

Hollywood and Vine is another good character meal for young ones. It is all the Disney Playhouse characters and is at MGM. Just another option.

Have fun whichever you choose.

 

[stacy6552]

IMHO, Whispering Canyon beats out Chef Mickey's anyday. You'll have a great time.

 

[Hannathy]

I think you should go where ever you and the grandparents want to eat! Let's get real folks. A 1 yr old will not remember anything and the mashed potatoes or macaroni it will be eating will be the same at WCC or a Denny's! It will be entertained by being with people it likes and looking at the lights or people around it. Go where you want get a cake or cupcake for pictures and for it to play with and sort of eat and quit fretting. Now if it was it's 3rd or 5th then I would be more concerned whether your child would like it.

 

[MSSANDRA]

If it's all about the baby, choose a Character meal. We are not huge fans of WCC and it is really loud if you want to enjoy family time. Another choose if you are looking for really good food but a fun place would be Coarl Reef. Baby would like watching the fish and food is really good. I really would however choose a charcter meal. Crystal Palace would get top votes but we also like the LLT at MK, and donald's breakfast at AK.

 

[beautybelle]

To the OP I think its great that you are planning something nice for your babys first birthday (other than a "cupcake" thrown its way) If you want my opinion I would do CM with the characters. My DD is getting ready to turn one next week too and we have a big birthday planned for her. Have a good time and Happy Birthday to you little one. hugz

 

[Ariel8676]

When we celebrated my DD's 1st b-day in November we had breakfast at Crystal Palace...she LOVED it and so did my 5 and 4 yo dd's..lol They decorated the table, sang happy b-day and brought out a cupcake for her and a card signed by Pooh and the gang.....oh and the food was really good too!!!
Happy B-day to your little guy!!!!!

 

[Calvinosaurus]

Thanks for all your responses. I probably should have mentioned that at least one grandparent is just driving over to WDW for dinner, so we are looking at restaurants outside the parks. I did try to get reservations at CM but there was nothing open for the night we wanted. WC was our second choice and I think that we will be fine for us. We do love the WL!

Besides, my mother-in-law's birthday is the same week... So maybe the nice folks at WC can do something special for her as well ...