E
eeyore0062
Guest
Ever wondered what the character dining was like years ago? I found an Unofficial Guide from 1993.
Did you know that there was only one opportunity for character dining in the parks then? No dining in the castle with Cinderella, no breakfast with Donald at Animal Kingdom, no revolving with Mickey, Chip, Dale and Pluto at the Garden Grille... no, the only place you could meet and greet the characters while dining in a park was at the Stargate Restaurant (now the Electric Umbrella) at Epcot (then known as Epcot Center). It was, as it is now, a counter service that offered a character meal with no reservations required (yes, the took reservations back then), no set menu, and no obligation to actually buy anything thing. The characters were there just to meet anyone who came in. Characters usually included Goofy, Mickey, Minnie, and Chip and Dale. Although breakfast was served until 11 am, the characters were usually only there until 10.
However there were some options outside of the parks.
At The Disney Beach Club Cape May Cafe had a breakfast from 8 until 11 am. There were no reservations required, and the cost was (are you ready for this?) $12 for adults and $7 for kids 3-11. The Character in charge was Goofy.
Chef Mickey's was not yet at the Contemporary. Instead they had a character breakfast buffet at the Contemporary Cafe with Goofy from 8-11 am. The price: $10 for adults and $7 for kids. Again, no reservations were required.
The Polynesian had the Toangaroa Terrace. The breakfast itself was known as Minnie's Menehune and was served from 7:30 am until 10:15 am. Reservations WERE required here and the price was $10 for adults and $7 for kids.
1900 Park Fare then, as it is now was home to a character buffet hosted by Mary Poppins. It was held daily from 7:30 until noon. Reservations were required (would Mary Poppins have it any other way?) Prices here were a bit steaper, making the price for today not seem so bad... $14 for adults and $9 for kids.
Pleasure Island: Empress Lily... long before the Levi Family took over with Fultons, the riverboat housed at Downtown Disney (then known as the Walt Disney World Village) was home to 3 different restaurants. One having the character breakfast with Mickey. This meal was a set menu with eggs as the main dish. There were only 2 seatings... at 8:30 and 10 am. Reservations were required and the price was $10 for adults and $7 for kids.
Walt Disney World Swan: Garden Grove: These character breakfasts were only held on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 am until 11 am. This breakfast offered your choice of buffet or menu selection. Different characters appeared and no reservatons were required. The price was $11 for adults and $7 for kids.
By this time the Fort Wilderness Campground: Pioneer Hall had stopped having their character breakfast, although it was hoped at the time that it would be reinstated, it never was.
At the Walt Disney World Dolphin at Ristorante Carnevale there was a brunch buffet hosted by Chip and Dale. It was available only on Thursdays and Sundays, required reservations and cost (hold onto your hats for this) $17 for adults and $8 for kids. (would have loved to have seen that menu!)
There were only 3 character dinners back in 1993.
At the Grand Floridian at 1900 Park Fare Chip and Dale hosted a dinner buffet daily from 5 pm until 9 pm. The price was $18 for adults and $9 for kids. Reservations were required.
Mickey's Tropical Review at the Polynesian was actually a dinner show featruing Pacific Island dancing and the Disney characters. It was staged outdoors at 4:30 pm. The cost was $29 for adults, $22 for Juniors (12-20)** now where did that pricing go?**, and $13 for children 3-11.
Walt Disney World Village (otherwise known as Disney Village Marketplace, DTD, etc) was then home to Chef Mickey's Village Restaurant. Located in the vicinity of today's Rainforest Cafe, Chef Mickey appears amoung the diners. It was open for dinner from 5:30 pm to 10 pm daily. It was table dining and not buffet like todays version, and was known to have some tasty food. In fact, most people went for the food and meeting Mickey was just icing on the cake.
One thing that hasn't changed is the Character Campfire at Fort Wilderness Resort. Then, as now, Chip and Dale would host a sing along followed by a full length Disney Feature film. It was open to resort guests and was complimentary.
Next up: places that host Character meals now... what were they then?
Did you know that there was only one opportunity for character dining in the parks then? No dining in the castle with Cinderella, no breakfast with Donald at Animal Kingdom, no revolving with Mickey, Chip, Dale and Pluto at the Garden Grille... no, the only place you could meet and greet the characters while dining in a park was at the Stargate Restaurant (now the Electric Umbrella) at Epcot (then known as Epcot Center). It was, as it is now, a counter service that offered a character meal with no reservations required (yes, the took reservations back then), no set menu, and no obligation to actually buy anything thing. The characters were there just to meet anyone who came in. Characters usually included Goofy, Mickey, Minnie, and Chip and Dale. Although breakfast was served until 11 am, the characters were usually only there until 10.
However there were some options outside of the parks.
At The Disney Beach Club Cape May Cafe had a breakfast from 8 until 11 am. There were no reservations required, and the cost was (are you ready for this?) $12 for adults and $7 for kids 3-11. The Character in charge was Goofy.
Chef Mickey's was not yet at the Contemporary. Instead they had a character breakfast buffet at the Contemporary Cafe with Goofy from 8-11 am. The price: $10 for adults and $7 for kids. Again, no reservations were required.
The Polynesian had the Toangaroa Terrace. The breakfast itself was known as Minnie's Menehune and was served from 7:30 am until 10:15 am. Reservations WERE required here and the price was $10 for adults and $7 for kids.
1900 Park Fare then, as it is now was home to a character buffet hosted by Mary Poppins. It was held daily from 7:30 until noon. Reservations were required (would Mary Poppins have it any other way?) Prices here were a bit steaper, making the price for today not seem so bad... $14 for adults and $9 for kids.
Pleasure Island: Empress Lily... long before the Levi Family took over with Fultons, the riverboat housed at Downtown Disney (then known as the Walt Disney World Village) was home to 3 different restaurants. One having the character breakfast with Mickey. This meal was a set menu with eggs as the main dish. There were only 2 seatings... at 8:30 and 10 am. Reservations were required and the price was $10 for adults and $7 for kids.
Walt Disney World Swan: Garden Grove: These character breakfasts were only held on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 am until 11 am. This breakfast offered your choice of buffet or menu selection. Different characters appeared and no reservatons were required. The price was $11 for adults and $7 for kids.
By this time the Fort Wilderness Campground: Pioneer Hall had stopped having their character breakfast, although it was hoped at the time that it would be reinstated, it never was.
At the Walt Disney World Dolphin at Ristorante Carnevale there was a brunch buffet hosted by Chip and Dale. It was available only on Thursdays and Sundays, required reservations and cost (hold onto your hats for this) $17 for adults and $8 for kids. (would have loved to have seen that menu!)
There were only 3 character dinners back in 1993.
At the Grand Floridian at 1900 Park Fare Chip and Dale hosted a dinner buffet daily from 5 pm until 9 pm. The price was $18 for adults and $9 for kids. Reservations were required.
Mickey's Tropical Review at the Polynesian was actually a dinner show featruing Pacific Island dancing and the Disney characters. It was staged outdoors at 4:30 pm. The cost was $29 for adults, $22 for Juniors (12-20)** now where did that pricing go?**, and $13 for children 3-11.
Walt Disney World Village (otherwise known as Disney Village Marketplace, DTD, etc) was then home to Chef Mickey's Village Restaurant. Located in the vicinity of today's Rainforest Cafe, Chef Mickey appears amoung the diners. It was open for dinner from 5:30 pm to 10 pm daily. It was table dining and not buffet like todays version, and was known to have some tasty food. In fact, most people went for the food and meeting Mickey was just icing on the cake.
One thing that hasn't changed is the Character Campfire at Fort Wilderness Resort. Then, as now, Chip and Dale would host a sing along followed by a full length Disney Feature film. It was open to resort guests and was complimentary.
Next up: places that host Character meals now... what were they then?
