Too many Character Meals???

[pumpkin71]

I am currently planning a visit to WDW with my family (3yr old/5yr old) and would like some imput. We are on the dining package, so I have booked many character dining experiences. We were in Disney last May and did the Illuminations dinner (not too many characters) and the 1900 Park Fare breakfast (absolutely fabulous). I am just concerned that I have gone overboard. Here are the plans...please comment and let me know.

June 26 - Cinderella Royal Table @ 8:25 & Chef Mickey @ 5:30
June 27 - not a character one, but we booked Le Ceillier in the Canada pavillion (has anyone been there...is it worth it?)
June 28 - Hollywood and Vine dinner package with Fantasmic (no characters?)
June 29 - Cape May Cafe @ 9 a.m.
June 30 - Restaurantosaurus @ 8:30
July 1 - 1900 Park Fare Supercalifragilistic Brunch @ 8 a.m.

Too much??? Okay??? Is there something that I should be going to that I am missing? Would really appreciate the info!

 

[Pixiedusttravel]

WOW! Can I go with you? Your list looks great. We ate at Le Ceillier in the Canada a couple of years ago, and it was nice. The ambiance(sp?) was really great, but the food is pretty much like any steakhouse(IMHO). I hope you and your family have a great time!!!

28 days to go!!!!!

 

[ncbyrne]

Good choices! There are no characters at the Hollywood & Vine buffet. You will surely appreciate Le Cellier, not sure about a 3 & 5 year old - and remember that Le Cellier will use 2 of the dining options.

 

[dmslush]

Can you ever have too many character meals??? NO!!!

 

[mommykds]

Looks good! If your little ones want to see "Pooh" you might want to add/substitute the Crystal Palace breakfast. That's one of our "must do's" each visit.

Have fun.

 

[zulaya]

DH looking over my shoulder exclaims, "Too many Character Meals?!?!? - Bite Your Tongue!"

 

[sarahandhannahsmom]

My DD's are 7 and 4 and here's our extensive list:

May 27: Chef Mickey's -Dinner
May 28: Princess Storybook Breakfast
May 29: Rainforest Cafe Dinner
May 30: Donald's Restaurantosauraus-Breakfast
May 31: CRT Breakfast and Crystal Palace Dinner
June 1: Hollywood and Vine (FDP)
June 2: Liberty Tree Tavern-dinner
June 3: 1900 Park Fare-Dinner

So needless to say, I don't think you have too many character dinners planned. My girls love to eat with the "stars" as much as going to the parks.

Have a great trip

 

[bradyloganmom]

This will be our 3rd annual "Thanksgiving with Mickey" and we tentativel plan on making PS's for the same character meals we did last year:
Liberty Tree Tavern
Donald's Breakfastasaurus
Chef Mickey's---2x--breakfast and dinner
Garden Grill
Crystal Palace

There's no such thing as too many character meals in my opinion! Our 2 sons will be 10 and 6 on our next trip--they love characters and eat well a buffets and family style restauraunts!!

 

[MSC]

Well, it sounds like the weight of opinion is against me on this one, but for what it's worth, I'd never want to be that scheduled at WDW, so that everyday, there is somewhere I have to be at a certain time.

And the prospect of getting my 3 and 5 year olds out of bed (much less me!) for an 8:00 breakfast after five days in the park sounds only a little more attactive than forcing bamboo shoots under my fingernails!

And we specifically didn't schedule a CRT breakfast as the first thing on our first day because we didn't really want to have to rush our DDs own Main Street without allowing them to stop and see or do anything so that we could get to our breakfast reservation on time. Thus we scheduled a lunch (which will by then be w/ Cinderella, too). And we scheduled only one other charater meal, breakfast the second day (but not too early) with the other princesses at Norway (close to our accom at the Dolphin). And both experiences are early in the week on purpose, so that we can be free the rest of the time to make it up as we go along.

I don't mean to sound critical - that's not intended at all. And I agree in principle with everyone else - character meals are fanastic and just as enjoyable for the kids as the parks are. I just hope you don't become too preoccupied with maintaining a schedule, instead of enjoying your vacation!

[Update: Check out this thread- case in point: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=772777]

 

[bytheblood]

I think you did a great job planning how to use your meal plan.

 

[tink2]

We've been to WDW 4 times in the past 5 years with little ones- character meals are a must for us! Character meals are a great way to see the characters and my kids have so much fun! Our trip this past Dec. our kids were 5 and 3 and we did 6 character meals in 5 days- some days having breakfast and dinner. I say go for it while they are little- one day they'll be bigger and too 'cool' for character meals! We also did the Fantasmic dinner package at Hollywood and Vine- no characters- there used to be a few years ago but oh well... We really like H&V b/c it has such a big variety of food and has always been good.
Have a magical time with your children!!!

 

[shellybaxter]

I don't think you can have too many character breakfasts. When we leave in just SIX DAYS ( ) we have six planned for nine days of travel. Our party will be Me, DH, DSis and Dniece

April 9th - Dinner and Liberty Tree Tavern
April 11th - Princess Storybook Breakfast
April12th - Crystal Palace Breakfast
April 14th - Dinner at 1900 Park Faire
April 15th - Breakfast with Chef Mickey
April 17th - Breakfast at Donald's in Animal Kingdom

I CAN'T WAIT!!!!

Shelly

 

[gigi1313]

the only thing i would do differently is change the time of your breakfasts... we have found that we get significantly better character interaction when we make later ps for breakfasts... not sure why, but it's true... we also prefer to grab a quick snack in our room (nutrigrain bars or pop tarts) and then have an 11am meal and not eat again ('cept for the occasional mickey bar LOL) 'til dinner...

also, i'd switch my le cellier for HDDR, but that's just a personal fave!

as far as variety and such, it looks like you've got some great meals planned...

 

[mimif1]

My family LOVES character meals! We do as many as we possibly can. It really minimizes the character lines at the parks. My girls have the list of who they will probably see at meals, so they don't like to wait in too many lines for autographs. This next trip we are doing Donald's Breakfast, CRT, 1900 Park Fare for breakfast and dinner, CP, Princess Storybook, and Chef Mickey's. We're also doing HDDR and Spirit of Aloha, Rainforest Cafe, Brown Derby, Coral Reef and Whispering Canyon. We let each person pick two restaurants that they want and then we try to do as many as we can. Of course it does help that we're going on the old silver plan so they are pretty much covered by our wishes. We do most breakfasts and dinners at sit downs. My kids like the break and hubby likes the food! Of course, most of the plans can be changed if needed, but we like to have meals scheduled. With little kids, I don't like to take the chance of not getting in a restaurant or having to wait a really long time. I'm the only one who knows the total plan, so to DH and the girls everything seems spontaneous to them. It seems to work for us.

 

[mommykds]

I think you are fine...some kids like the characters alot, some don't..each family has there character meal limit I guess.

We are going to be there for 9 days & we are doing..

Chef Mickeys dinner
Crystal Palace breakfast
PSB Norway (either breakfast or lunch)
LTT dinner right before MNSSHP
Cinderella's Gala Feast dinner

All our other meals are sit down -no characters or counter service (we are on the MYW dining plan). This seems to be good for us. I am now thinking I'd like to fit Ohana in for dinner!

 

[Cookie Princess]

I am currently planning a visit to WDW with my family (3yr old/5yr old) and would like some imput. We are on the dining package, so I have booked many character dining experiences. We were in Disney last May and did the Illuminations dinner (not too many characters) and the 1900 Park Fare breakfast (absolutely fabulous). I am just concerned that I have gone overboard. Too much??? Okay??? Is there something that I should be going to that I am missing? Would really appreciate the info!

Enjoy the character meals now because when your children are pre-teen/teenagers, they won't be so excited to go to them! I am lucky now if I can sneak in 1 per trip. Can I come with you??

 

[ncbyrne]

Someone mentioned switching Le Cellier for HDDR. With two small kids I think that's a nice idea.

 

[Barb]

I agree, you can't have too many character meals. We leave in 13 days and have a nice list of character meals to look forward to:
Cinderella's Royal Table
Chef Mickey's
Donald's Breakfastasaurus
Norway's Storybook Princess Lunch
Crystal Palace

For us, eating at the different Disney restaurants is just as much fun as the rides and attractions.

 

[mybgirl]

I am currently planning a visit to WDW with my family (3yr old/5yr old) and would like some imput. We are on the dining package, so I have booked many character dining experiences. We were in Disney last May and did the Illuminations dinner (not too many characters) and the 1900 Park Fare breakfast (absolutely fabulous). I am just concerned that I have gone overboard. Here are the plans...please comment and let me know.

June 26 - Cinderella Royal Table @ 8:25 & Chef Mickey @ 5:30
June 27 - not a character one, but we booked Le Ceillier in the Canada pavillion (has anyone been there...is it worth it?)
June 28 - Hollywood and Vine dinner package with Fantasmic (no characters?)
June 29 - Cape May Cafe @ 9 a.m.
June 30 - Restaurantosaurus @ 8:30
July 1 - 1900 Park Fare Supercalifragilistic Brunch @ 8 a.m.

Too much??? Okay??? Is there something that I should be going to that I am missing? Would really appreciate the info!

THIRE only little for a sort time , enjoy your trip

I have a lot booked also.


TAKE CARE

AND GOD BLESS

MARY

 

[mybgirl]

I don't think you can have too many character breakfasts. When we leave in just SIX DAYS ( ) we have six planned for nine days of travel. Our party will be Me, DH, DSis and Dniece

April 9th - Dinner and Liberty Tree Tavern
April 11th - Princess Storybook Breakfast
April12th - Crystal Palace Breakfast
April 14th - Dinner at 1900 Park Faire
April 15th - Breakfast with Chef Mickey
April 17th - Breakfast at Donald's in Animal Kingdom

I CAN'T WAIT!!!!

Shelly

HI Shelly , I have a the same booked ,for my DS. All but without the STORYBOOK .


HAVE A GREAT TRIP

GOD BLESS

MARY