What character meal do you think will work for a solo adult traveler?

[Missy1961]

I'd like some opinions, please.

I'm thinking of doing a solo trip sometime next year---perhaps Sept. or Oct. I love character meals, but up to now, I've done them with kids (nieces & nephews). I have no problems with eating at a restaurant alone and I know I want to do a character meal. But I'm not sure which one I should do. So I'd love your opinions. I'm not that concerned about the quality of the food (but I won't be happy if the food is horrible). If you been to one where you noticed the character interaction was good with adults as well as kids, that would be perfect. Breakfast or dinner, buffet or sit down, that's not a concern either. I'd prefer one at the parks, but I can be swayed to go to one at a resort (especially a dinner). Thanks for your help!

 

[bigbabyblues]

I've never done a character meal (yet), but I've heard great things about Crystal Palace. I was thinking someone had posted a report about a character meal or two when they were eating alone, but I don't remember now who it was, or how long it's been.

Enjoy your trip, hope you find a great meal!

 

[Princess Michelle]

I've done Crystal Palace, Chef Mickey's and The Garden Grill with groups that were pretty much all adults and the character interaction at each one was just great! I've never done a CM alone so I don't have any personal experience with that but a friend of mine did Crystal Palace alone a couple of months ago and really enjoyed it. As an adult I never felt like the characters ignored me at any of these meals and have plenty of pictures to prove it! LOL If I had to rate them in order of how good the food was it would be Crystal Palace (lunch & dinner), Garden Grill (lunch), Chef Mickey's (dinner) and to be fair I only ate a salad at Chef Mickey's so the food may be wonderful, my salad was great but since it's all I ate I can't give much of a food rating there, I did like the nice selection of things they had for the salad, lots of meats, cheeses, olives, etc. In order of best character interaction it would be Garden Grill, Crystal Palace and Chef Mickey's would be tied. They are all great but the characters at the Garden Grill were sooooo much fun! Chip especially had me laughing the whole time I was there.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Don't forget you might get some answers to this from solos who've actually done it on the solo board. I've never done a character meal solo, still trying to get up the courage (only taken 6 solo trips but took me 4 trips to get up the courage to sit down dine solo!). Specifically, I'm thinking the Cape May Cafe CB looks good for a solo. Someday, I'll do it!

 

[SamanthaL]

I would say Cape May breakfast would be great. The character interaction is the best I have seen.
We tried Crystal Palace with our DD when she was 2 and even with a little one, not a single character came to our table! They passed us by throughout the whole meal!! We had to get a manager to make them visit us! Never again.
Cape May characters even stopped to say hi to my Nana while we were up getting food and they came by about 3 other times! DD was thrilled and so was Nana!

 

[SamanthaL]

Oh I forgot to mention Cape May has great food too! Krispy Cremes!

 

[LJC1861]

Having done several character meals as a solo traveler I can recommend Liberty Tree Tavern for dinner and Donald's Breakfastosaurous. Now, I did Donald's solo a few years ago and I understand that some on these boards feel it is a bit rushed, but I did have wonderful character interaction and server's who made sure that the characters visited my table. Liberty Tree was wonderful in terms of food and character interaction. Goofy put his hand in front of my face every time he passed. This made the little boy sitting across from me giggle hysterically every time and made my night as well.

Don't be shy, I am sure you will have a wonderful time at whichever character meal you choose.

Linda

 

[Penny2]

Another vote for Liberty Tree. Have done solo lunch and dinner and always had a great time! Someone will always take your picture if you want and the characters always stop....no matter that you are alone or in a group. I like the relaxed atmosphere...it's a nice break during the day!

 

[heffalump9]

I have to add another vote for the LTT as my favorite solo character meal, the food and interaction is great plus the atmosphere is more relaxed depending on the room you are seated in. No characters but one of my favorite solo spots is Boatwrights at POR (I love the crab meat stuffed salmon with asparagus).

 

[rwade428]

My sister and I (both most definitely above 18 YO) have made numerous trips to WDW and had character meals each and every time....We always have great interaction with the characters..

Our favorites that we return to time and again are Liberty Tree Tavern and Hollywood & Vine...

Have fun

 

[karebear1]

Here's another vote for Cape May- it's a great breakfast buffet!

 

[Terk-1]

I would recommend the following for solo character meals:

Breakfast: Crystal Palace or Chef Mickey's
Lunch: Crystal Palace
Dinner: Crystal Palace or Liberty Tree Tavern.

Dined for dinner at Chef Mickey's on my last trip and it was the worst meal I ever had at WDW. Dined at the 1900 for dinner on my last trip too and was very disappointed.

 

[Elysiannn]

As a solo traveler I've done Crystal Palace and Chef Mickey's. Both were fine. The food was good. I got enough character interaction. My only problem was getting someone to take the picture. At the Crystal Palace I had to ask a foreign family who thought it a bit strange for a 40+ woman eating alone to want to get picture taken with Tigger. Go Figure!

Chef Mickey's had more conventeers in it the time I went so there was lots of computer techy-guys really not interested in the characters but definitely into the buffet (which is great). It was a hoot watching them.

Personally I love character breakfasts cause it keeps me in the magic and in my kid-self. Have a good trip when you go! Ely