Still can't decide - birthday dinner for a little girl?

[Fionasmommy]

I can't decide where to have dinner on my daughter's birthday. She'll be turning 5, and doesn't really have any specific favorite characters. They're all good!

I was thinking Chef Mickey's, because of the fun party atmosphere, but it's such a popular birthday spot that I think it might be packed and she won't get any special attention or time with the characters. She's an attention hog, you know.

1900 Park Fare sounds nice for a birthday, but we're doing CRT for lunch and I'm afraid that Fiona would notice if it was a different Cinderella and it would take away some of the magic for her. She's young enough to believe that Cinderella really is Cinderella and she lives in the castle.

So, what about LTT or the Garden Grille?

Or is there anywhere else that does a great job making kids birthdays special?

 

[Disneynutbsv]

I was going to say 1900 Park Fare...but if you are going to CRT...then that wouldn't work. Liberty Tree Tavern is nice and its not as buys as Chef Mickey's and they do make a big deal out of a birthday by decorating your table, a b-day cupcake and the waiters/waitresses sing to you as well.

Oh and your little girl is absolutely charming!

 

[Disneynutbsv]

What about Crystal Palace?? With Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore & Tigger. Its so nice and bright in there!

 

[pezpam]

Have you considered a birthday breakfast? There are several really good character buffets and it might be nice to start the day off in a special way. Plus, if she gets tired by the end of the day, no problem. I mention it because my DD just LOVES the character buffets and at age 5 would have been able to enjoy it all a bit better in the beginning of the day rather than at the end.

For dinner, maybe Rainforest Cafe? No characters, but it'd be fun. Prime Time might be a good option if she likes that kind of interaction - they sure aren't shy about making a fuss, anyway. Akershus would have princesses, but no Cinderella.

 

[Fionasmommy]

Have you considered a birthday breakfast? There are several really good character buffets and it might be nice to start the day off in a special way.

I wish we could!! But she's got an appt at the Bibbidi Bobbidi at 9.30 so I think we're only going to have time to grab something in DTD.

 

[Mike N Kathy]

How about whispering Canyon that place is really fun

 

[Crazy4Disney72]

We are going in 4 weeks to celebrate my DD's 6th birthday and we are having her birthday dinner at Chef Mickey's. Yes, it is very loud and every time I've been there, there have been several birthdays being celebrated, but that was DD's pick, she's been there several times and loves it. I think the Garden Grill in Epcot is not as crazy and every time we've been there, the character interaction has been better than at Chef Mickey's...not that it's bad at CM's, just seemed less rushed and a little more personal at GG. If DD didn't specifically request Chef Mickey's, we would have been going to the Garden Grill! Wherever you go I hope you have a wonderful time and your DD has a magical birthday trip!

 

[BabyMo]

LTT is one of my favorites. The food is tasty and the characters come around to every table- even if there are no kids- I think there will be plenty of special attention for her.

 

[jennifer293]

We are doing DD's 6th b-day at Whispering Canyon. I have never been there but I hear it is a "hoot" of a time. I will be sure to write a review after our trip!!!

Her b-day request was this:

She said,"For my birthday I wan't to wake up at Disney World, go ride the Tower of Terror and that night for supper I want to eat BBQ ribs"!!!!

I mean WHO COULD SAY NO TO THIS?????

 

[lovesdumbo]

I'm taking DD to WDW to celebrate her 7th birthday. Her choice was dinner at CP with Pooh. My DD isn't much of a breakfast eater so I've made a 2:10 ADR for Tea at GF and then we have CP dinner at 7:00Pm. We'll be out in time for Spectro at 9:00. I'm going to try to order one of those little castle cakes to have at the tea.

 

[lillygator]

How about the princess dinner in Norway? Cinderella isn't there....but an off chance one of the others may be.

 

[Wendy31]

If you want your DD to see Mickey on her b-day, then I would choose either the Garden Grill or Chef Mickey's.

I think the usual characters at LTT are Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Chip, & Dale. (Mickey is not normally there.) At Garden Grill, it's normally Mickey, Chip, Dale, & Pluto (I think).

I think you'd find the most characters at Chef Mickey's dinner buffet - Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Chip, & Dale. Donald Duck, I think, is in the lobby.

Chef Mickey's is, of course, a noisy buffet - but it's fun - napkin twirling, lively music, etc. And the monorail running above the restaurant is cool too. Sometimes the characters are a bit rushed at Chef Mickey's, and, from what I've read, the food on the buffet is typical buffet food w/ the exception of the mashed potatoes which are supposed to be really good. (We haven't eaten dinner at Chef Mickey's - only breakfast - so I can't say anything about the dinner buffet from personal experience. Chef Mickey's breakfast buffet has become our last morning tradition.)

Garden Grill is a sit-down restaurant, and the restaurant slowly revolves which I think children would find neat. And the food (served family style) generally gets really good reviews. The tables at Garden Grill are more "intimate" (not as crowded) than at Chef Mickey's too. And the character interaction is supposed to be a bit better.

We really enjoy LTT - it's become our first night tradition. We thought the food, served family-style, was good (except for the mac & cheese), although you'll find mixed reviews. Character interaction was really good too. Our DD just loved Minnie at LTT. Before we ate at LTT, she was a princess-only kind of girl, but, after LTT, Minnie became her absolute favorite! She now prefers Minnie to any of the princesses! And I think it's fun eating dinner in the MK - our kids' favorite park. However, I think the overall atmosphere at Chef Mickey's (fun, exciting, monorail, etc.) or Garden Grill (revolving restaurant) might be a bit more special for a b-day dinner.

Are you trying any other character meals while you're there?

Gosh! I'm sitting here trying to decide where I'd want my DD to have her b-day dinner, and I can't decide! What a hard decision! I'd definitely schedule a CRT breakfast or lunch like you already have (because a girl's got to have a princess meal on her b-day!), but I'd have a difficult time choosing Chef Mickey's, Garden Grill, or LTT for dinner. I'd pick Chef Mickey's for all the characters & the "fun" atmosphere. I'd pick Garden Grill or LTT for the food, the better character interaction (maybe), & because the food is served family-style as opposed to buffet (too much getting up & down) - but Mickey's at one (GG), & Minnie's at the other (LTT)... I'd want DD to see Mickey on her b-day, but I'd also definitely would want her to see Minnie. So, my initial choice would be Chef Mickey's, but she might get better character experiences at LTT or GG. I don't know... Maybe, since it's her b-day, the characters would be more attentive anyway.

Gee-whiz... could I have rambled any more...

 

[Finally_Talking]

We will be celebrating two birthdays. For one daughter, we are going to CM's for breakfast and HDD for dinner. For the other (turning 6), I made ADR's for CRT breakfast (she loves the princesses. We were supposed to take her last April but she came down with a stomach bug and had to stay with me in the room while her sister went with their dad).

ANYWAY - I also made an ADR for her birthday dinner at 1900 Park Fare. That's a good point about recognizing 2 different Cindy's...now I'm wondering if I made a mistake. We always at eat WC so that wouldn't be as special - I also don't think she'd love TOO much attention. I know she'll want to spend the day at MK. We've done brkfst and lunch at Askerhus before...they were ok but she'd like to eat at the castle.

Maybe the 2 Cindy's thing won't be a big deal - after all, she'll really only see her briefly in the lobby of the castle at breakfast - is that right? I'd also welcome any opinions on this!

 

[Fionasmommy]

I'd definitely schedule a CRT breakfast or lunch like you already have (because a girl's got to have a princess meal on her b-day!), but I'd have a difficult time choosing Chef Mickey's, Garden Grill, or LTT for dinner. I'd pick Chef Mickey's for all the characters & the "fun" atmosphere. I'd pick Garden Grill or LTT for the food, the better character interaction (maybe), & because the food is served family-style as opposed to buffet (too much getting up & down) - but Mickey's at one (GG), & Minnie's at the other (LTT)... I'd want DD to see Mickey on her b-day, but I'd also definitely would want her to see Minnie. So, my initial choice would be Chef Mickey's, but she might get better character experiences at LTT or GG. I don't know... Maybe, since it's her b-day, the characters would be more attentive anyway.

Gee-whiz... could I have rambled any more...

ROFL!! You just totally summed up my own thoughts about where to go!!

I'm really, really torn between GG, LTT and CM. They all have their bonuses, and it's hard to know which one would be best on any given night.

And while 1900 Park Fare sounds really fun for birthdays, my DD isn't really a Princess freak (yet?). Given the option, I think she'd choose dinner w/ Mickey or Goofy. Unless a Toy Story meal starts up - we'd be all over that!!

 

[mamaprincess]

Crystal Palace is nice. Then you wouldn't have to park hop to another park. I've never been to LTT but it always gets great reviews so perhaps that would be even more magical.