Should we do a Character meal?

[growinupdisney]

My youngest is 2 almost 3. I wondering if we should schedule a character breakfast, dinner or lunch while we are there. My dh and I are back and forth on this. My oldest 2 children went we they were 4 and 7 they had a blast but they weren't nearly as expensive as they are now! I'm wondering should we do it this year or wait til she is a little older (4 or 5) and do it. We will be there the week that she turns 3(last day) At first I thought this would be neat B-day option just not sure it it is worth it or not. We will be there during spring break so prices will be higher too. As of now she doesn't even realize you can eat w/ the characters. We go about every year....should we just wait or go ahead and cough up the money for her b-day!

 

[pixeemom]

My youngest is 2 almost 3. I wondering if we should schedule a character breakfast, dinner or lunch while we are there. My dh and I are back and forth on this. My oldest 2 children went we they were 4 and 7 they had a blast but they weren't nearly as expensive as they are now! I'm wondering should we do it this year or wait til she is a little older (4 or 5) and do it. We will be there the week that she turns 3(last day) At first I thought this would be neat B-day option just not sure it it is worth it or not. We will be there during spring break so prices will be higher too. As of now she doesn't even realize you can eat w/ the characters. We go about every year....should we just wait or go ahead and cough up the money for her b-day!

i am assuming your not on the dining plan then? right?
i may not be the best person to answer this question because i always do the dining plan and i book all char. meals.....my youngest will be 2.5 when we go in march.....i've done char. meals when my 3rd child was 15 months old but of course i did it for my older kids....my kids love them...
i know as they get a little older i will most likely steer away from them but for now i am doing it because it makes it more fun and personal for them, IMHO...
its really up to you, if your not on the plan and its in your budget to do 1 meal i say GO FOR IT...

 

[Darcy03231]

We went yearly for several years and never did a character meal. The kids didn't even know they were there so they didn't miss them. We did see the characters in the parks. If you're one the fence over it I would skip it this trip. You can always do it when she's a bit older. Also, sometimes younger children can be afraid of the characters. I'd hate to pay all that money and then have her not want to have anything to do with them.

 

[goofy53073]

Character meals are a lot of fun for all ages My youngest was only 9 months old last time we went to WDW and she even enjoyed the character meals. But it all depends on the child, I have friends whose kids are afraid of characters. My children have never been afarind of any characters. The meals can be expensive so you have to consider that. I think it would be a great 3rd birthday treat!

 

[mickeymaker2003]

My youngest is 2 almost 3. I wondering if we should schedule a character breakfast, dinner or lunch while we are there. My dh and I are back and forth on this. My oldest 2 children went we they were 4 and 7 they had a blast but they weren't nearly as expensive as they are now! I'm wondering should we do it this year or wait til she is a little older (4 or 5) and do it. We will be there the week that she turns 3(last day) At first I thought this would be neat B-day option just not sure it it is worth it or not. We will be there during spring break so prices will be higher too. As of now she doesn't even realize you can eat w/ the characters. We go about every year....should we just wait or go ahead and cough up the money for her b-day!

If you do the meal before she turns 3, you won't have to to pay for her to eat at the buffet.

Breakfasts are much less expensive than dinner.

If she likes princesses, Askerhaus is the best deal if you go for breakfast. The meal price isn't much different than anywhere else, plus you get a photo package with a princess. It is in Epcot, so you'd have to plan it for a day you were already going to be there or have a park hopper ticket. You can celebrate her birthday (get her birthday button) a few days early. At 3, she probably wouldn't even know if you did her entire birthday on another day to better fit your schedule.

 

[stinkerbell2]

We did when my dd was only 2.5, but I gotta tell you, she is almost 5 now, and looks at those pics all the time!! We are getting ready to go back, and those pics really help her to remember what she can TOTALLY worth it!
Have fun

 

[3boys4me]

My youngest was almost 2 1/2 last year and he loved the character meals. ALso, like the op said the baby will eat free at a buffet.

 

[ireland_nicole]

I would definitely book a meal for her birthday; Personally, I think Chef Mickey's or Crystal Palace would be ideal, depending on her preference. The memories are priceless, and they spread a little extra pixie dust for birthdays. And like PP's have said, you'll have the pics of her 3rd B-day "party" forever!

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

If you are planning to have the kids meet the characters, this is the easiest way. AND you can sit down and eat while waiting versus standing in line.

We're going to do CM and Akershus next fall so we can avoid waiting in line at MK, AK for the common characters... DS3 is an autograph hound! Our first trip, he met Mickey 3 days in a row... this time, I'd rather focus on time in the parks instead of the seeing the same characters over and over.

 

[grace&philipsmom]

We absolutely adore character meals - my son did his first one at 6 months. I have the greatest picture of him sucking on Pluto's nose (germy I know).

I agree that Character meals are a great way for smaller kids to meet some of their favorite characters in a more relaxed/ less intimidating setting - plus you have to take a break to eat anyway. It is also nice to not have to wait in line.

 

[macmom3]

When our middle daughter turned 1 we celebrated at Crystal Palace and Tigger was at our table when we sang Happy Birthday to her. When she turned 2 we celebrated at Cinderella's Palace and Belle was at our table when we sang. Now when we go in May to celebrate her 4th birthday we will be eating at 1900 Park Fare with Cinderella. I know she sounds spoiled but we like to go in May and that when her birthday is.

 

[Wendy5055]

I think it may depend on whether or not your dd2.5 is comfortable with characters or "face" characters. My dd on her first visit was freaked out by the characters in the parks and wouldn't do the meet & greets in the parks...but she was perfectly fine with the character meals and nearly knocked over a table to get to the princesses!!!

After that, I scheduled every character meal we could and avoided the meet & greets. Now that dd is 8, I sprinkle in some signature dining.

We do the dlxdp so we do all table service (signature meals, character meals & dinner shows)...you may like something like Akershus Princess Dinner. Plus you get a free photo of your daughters all together with a princess.

 

[clairemolly]

We are going in Nov. for my youngest's 3rd birthday. We are doing the dining plan and are planning on doing 5 character meals (3 with the princesses) in our 8 days there. We also went when the oldest was that age and did 3 or our 4 TS meals as character meals. It is sooo much better than standing in line to see some of their favs!