only one character meal....

[osugal]

We've never done a character meal before. We like to stay club level so we don't do the dining plan....just an overkill for us. But, next year I would like to try a character meal. If you were picking just one - which would it be? Our kids will be 5 and 9 (boy and a girl). I love breakfast buffets but would like the best overall food and experience. Thanks!

 

[MickeyNicki]

We have done all the character breakfasts and with the exception of 1900 PF they are all wonderful. Our favorite is Cape May, the food is excellent and its fun to see the characters in their bathing suits

 

[Daisy-J&D]

We've never done a character meal before. We like to stay club level so we don't do the dining plan....just an overkill for us. But, next year I would like to try a character meal. If you were picking just one - which would it be? Our kids will be 5 and 9 (boy and a girl). I love breakfast buffets but would like the best overall food and experience. Thanks!

I guess it depends on who you want to see for Characters?

We've done everything except 1900 Park Fare and Chef Mickey. \

Tusker House for Breakfast is the best Character Meal for Breakfast FOOD that we've had, plus a great fruit juice. However, the characters were a bit rushed/hectic.

Crystal Palace had pretty good food too and we've always had amazing Character Interaction there so it would top Tusker House ONLY if Winnie the Pooh and Friends were an OK character Option.

Cape May is on my list of fav too, but personally, I found there to be a lot less choice for food. It seemed like a simple breakfast buffet almost more continental. Although, PP was right about the characters being adorable in their bathing suits. Also EXCELLENT Character interaction, possible the best we've had. The main issue we had with Cape May was location. It was a pain to get to for an early ADR before Epcot opened so we ended up driving and then had to move our car over to the epcot lot afterward. I suppose this would be a good option if you were staying at Beach/Yacht Club and were ok with the smaller buffet.

 

[smiths02]

We have done 1900 PF breakfast, Tusker House breakfast (x2), Hollywood & Vine breakfast, Chef Mickey dinner, Crystal Palace breakfast/lunch/dinner

The best food for us was 1900 PF and Tusker House

The best experiences have been at Crystal Palace...getting in the Magic Kingdom before opening was so much fun....and I really like the restaurant decor itself (although it is loud)...it was also nice to be out in the park just as the park was opening (we got so much done!)

If I wanted to see more classic characters...I would go with Tusker House *or* Cape May...I have never been to Cape May except for dinner (no characters) so I understand it is sooooo amazing....however, dinner is supposed to be so amazing as well and I didn't find it to be worth the hassle of travel (I don't know where you are staying).

 

[gabzee]

Do you have a character preference? Fab 5? Pooh and Friends? Do you have a specific park that you want to go to that day or are you flexible?

We really enjoy 1900 Park and Crystal Palace. Both have delicious food and great character interaction!

 

[tkme4ard]

if you've never done CRT I would suggest that. I think its magical if nothing else but to see /dine in the castle

 

[My2Qtz0205]

I know you mentioned buffet, but the food at the CRT breakfast was really yummy. (Stuffed french toast--oh my!) If you think a boy won't be wowed by the princesses, well, look at my TR (we went to CRT on our first day, so you don't have to scroll far). The smirk on my then-7 year old son's face as he was fawned over by Jasmine and Aurora was PRICELESS! We still talk about it!

 

[Disneyfreak616]

Overall best food and experience? Crystal Palace breakfast.

 

[goofyintoronto]

We have done all the character breakfasts and with the exception of 1900 PF they are all wonderful. Our favorite is Cape May, the food is excellent and its fun to see the characters in their bathing suits

So true! theyre too cute.

I love Cape May breakfast, as well as Tusker House & 1900 PF breakfast. I heard many great things about Crystal Palace as well....been there for lunch/dinner many times, trying breakfast this August!

I think you should pick based on the characters and which park you will be that day. Cause you cannot go wrong with any of the 4 i just mentioned.

 

[Iadoreeeyore]

We are trying Cape May Cafe since my son is a huge fan of the Mickey characters and we are staying at the YC. I have eaten at the crystal palace twice now and have had wonderful food there and great character interactions. As pp as mentioned it is really decided on what characters your little one want to see. I picked Crystal Palace the first time on my honeymoon because I am an eeyore fanatic. I tried to get into Chef Mickeys for my sons birthday and ressies were pretty impossible to obtain so we went back to CP. My son loved it even though his favorite is the fab 5! I am sure you will enjoy anywhere you pick! Good luck

 

[ttintagel]

I can't say enough good things about the Crystal Palace. All ages seem to enjoy it.

 

[cindydare]

We love 'Ohana at the Poly for breakfast. It is not a buffet, but it is served family style, and you get Mickey, Pluto, Lilo, and Stitch as the characters. It is the one meal that my DH requests each year.

Our favorite character dinner is the Garden Grill at EPCOT. It is also served family style and features farmer Mickey, Pluto, Chip, and Dale. We have had some of our best character interactions there with Pluto!

 

[Coconuts]

CP! This character breakfast is on our short list of must-do's each trip. Great food and characters, beautiful restaurant, and you're already in the MK so you can start touring as soon as your meal is done.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

Our fave character meals are Crystal Palace pre-park opening breakfast, 1900 Park Fare breakfast, Chef Mickey's breakfast, and Akershus lunch or dinner. We've done most of the character meals and from my research, Garden Grill sounds like a good one you also might want to consider.

 

[tkme4ard]

LOL the last time we went (Jan 2009) we did before park opening Crystal Palace bfast and it was our worst meal/character interaction. The food was just okay and we waited for EVER for the characters to come around. Poor Tiggers handler left him high and dry and he had no clue where he was going. It was a hot mess.

The only one we're doing this time is CRT. I'd have loved to do one of the others but our dining credits will only go so far. Last time we were on the deluxe, SO FUN.

 

[DW2010]

I would choose based on your kids favorite characters . We went to CRT back in 2010 for lunch and enjoyed it. This year DD stated she wants to see Alice so we're going to 1900 PF for breakfast.

 

[badblackpug]

All around, food and characters I would say Tusker House breakfast. My daughter (4) loves Aukhershus, but she is very into the princesses.

We have never had breakfast at CRT (we are this year) we have had dinner there. The characters were good, the food was average.

 

[osugal]

Thanks everyone! Great information. Crystal Palace sounds like a really good time and being in the MK would be perfect. Thanks.

 

[jg32268]

For the younger kids I would say Crystal Palace breakfast - all the young kids love Pooh and friends - for the older kids and adults I would pick Cape May - we had breakfast before our wedding cruise on the Magic. Goofy came by our table and gave us a chance to goof around before getting married - LOL