toddlers at character meals

[numberonenole]

I have been all excited about scheduling character meals for my two boys (at the time we go one will have just turned three and the other will be almost two), but then I realized it may be a huge struggle to keep them in their seats while they wait for the characters to come around. I think they will see Mickey and just want to run to him and then cry when we won't let them. None of us will have fun then. I'm curious how other parents have handled this. Please share! Thanks!

 

[crcormier]

We took ours when he was 2 months shy of 3 and it wasn't a problem with him. We just told him that he needed to stay sitting and wait because they were going to come right up to the table to visit him. Then we colored with him and such to keep him occupied when not eating.

 

[lady_hlh]

My DD was 3 the first time that we went and she didn't have a problem staying seated while we waited for the characters to come around. I think she didn't eat much though at those meals during our first trip because she was so excited about seeing the characters.

 

[carmiedog]

you know...we went to four or five character meals and there was never a problem with kids getting up and going after the characters. you'd expect it, no? There was lots of excitement and pointing, and kids would stand up, but didn't leave their tables. Amazing. Only once did a boy run to a character, and it was just one table over.

 

[PattnFmly]

We never had a problem with our boys leaving the table. I stressed that the character would come to our table and to be smiling and ready. But I agree, I don't remember them eating too much the first couple times, they were just too excited to eat!

 

[Kae]

The Cm's are real good at explaining to the little ones that the charaters well come to see them. Our favorite when the kids were little, was Cape May Breakfast around 10. It wasn't so crazy & they got lots of time with Goofy, Chip & Dale.

Kae

 

[jcc0621]

We took DS (1 week shy of 4 when we go this year). We did Restrauntasaurus when he was 11 months old, O'Hana when he was 23 months old, and last year @ 35 months old we did Crystal Palace and Hollywood and Vine. We were concerned (mostly last year) about the same thing. Whet we did: Kept him in a highchair until the characters approached our table, then we took him out for pictures and stuff. This worked really well for us.

 

[daandcb]

my boys were good....yeah they wanted to watch and wanted to run over a few times but we said if they got up, they may miss another character...so that worked. They are already asking who we are eating with this time!

 

[MinnieGi]

We have been to countless character meals with our little ones over the years and have never witnessed anyone running up to grab a character at another table. It is all quite orderly. The children all seem to understand the directions of waiting at their tables for the characters. Now once the characters actually get to our table my own kids hop on over as fast as they can to give the character a big hug and pose for pictures.

I also try to book for off-times like the end of the breakfast rush or the first seating of lunch. We always seem to get lots of character interaction that way.

Also if you think your kids may need some more movement instead of just sitting and waiting you might want to consider meals like O'hana's that have a parade around the restaurant or Play 'n Dine where they call the kids up to dance and sing with the characters.