What should we try with little ones?

[LuvMy3Monkeys]

Were going in Sept on the FD and although we went last month, we planned the trip 4 weeks ahead... so our pickings were slim. What we DID get was Chef Mickeys (although at 930pm), Donalds safari breakfast, 1900 park fare dinner, and crystal palace breakfast.

Everything else we tried was booked. This time I am planning and calling 90 days in advance. If you had a 6yr old, a 3yr old, and a 2 yr old..., where would you go? What is a must? We wanted to try for one of the fantasmic seatings, but quite honestly- I don't even understand how that works...

Bottom line is, I have been sitting on the couch, phone to my ear and super-hot laptop on my lap since 7am and I am just about over the top at this point. Everything I read, I read it 4 times and still doesnt know what it says. I feel like I'm losing my mind, crunching the numbers and planning the days out, without even knowing EMHs or anything! URGH!!!!!!

Please, someone rescue me! I just want to be there NOW!

 

[MickeyNicki]

Our nieces prefer the character breakfasts because they love the food and do not like the menus at the dinner TS.

We did 1900 PF dinner in January and the characters were a blast but the food was horrible

We also did CP and CM breakfast in Jan and March and they were both awesome!

 

[jlearn]

If your little ones like Lilo and Stitch, try the breakfast at O'Hanna in the Polynesian resort. It is not a buffet, but a sit down, family style meal. Stitch, Lilo, Mickey and Pluto come around and spend alot of time with the kids. We love the food.

The Fantasmic package is good. You choose from 3 resturants (Brown Derby, Mama Melrose and one other) each are priced out differently and you can use the Dining plan for it. The advantage is that you do not have to wait in a long line to get into Fantasmic. You get to your chosen resturant at the designated time, eat and then you will be escorted into the arena via a side stage entrance bypassing the long line at the front. It is open seating inside, but you do get in before the masses.

Here is the link to the dining package info for Fantasmic. Hope this helps.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/fantasmic.htm

 

[jlearn]

I was just reading another thread on the Fantasmic Package and found out that the side entrance is no longer used. Guests using the package get tickets for reserved seating and need just show up in the general line 45min to 1 hour before the show. When the general public goes in before you, you go in and get into a reserved seating area. I guess it beats standing in line 2 hours before the show.

 

[PrincessBelle39]

If they are playhouse disney fans, there is the Hollywood and Vine Play and Dine for breakfast and lunch. There is JOJO and Goliath and June and Leo from Little Einsteins. My girls loved this one. The kids actually get up to dance with the characters, not just having to wait for them to appear at the table. My eldest will be 7 this trip and is requesting this one again.

 

[howlongtillsummer?]

You will love your character meals.

We also like Play n Dine at Hollywood and Vine for lunch which was easy to book at short notice last year. It ain't fancy but super fun with singing and dancing with Jojo and the Little Einsteins.

The Garden Grill is interesting with a scenic view and good basic food (Chip and Dale, Mickey and Pluto).

I personally am not keen on character breakfasts as my daughter never eats much in the morning. A character lunch or even dinner is much more relaxing for me personally. Although we make an exception for the Safari breakfast which is fun!!!

I would keep trying for Chef Mickeys as half nine sounds very late for little ones. Good Luck

 

[commdoc]

You might find that what you have is too many character meals already. We booked the exact same group for our trip in 08 with a then 3DS but found after Chef Mickey's were "all set" with character meals. It was fun and we've done one each trip since, but too many maybe overload for some families. They can be a lot of picture taking and not much eating. Especially 1900! We thought that was very loud at dinner and the food was terrible. One you might want to consider is Akershus. You get a lot of time with the princesses but then are left alone for a while to just enjoy a quiet meal.

 

[Coconuts]

I agree with pp. We did 5 days and 4 character meals and that was too much for my kids(2 and 5). Last trip we were there for 8 days and did 3 character meals; that was perfect. When they were 5 and 2, we did Ohana breakfast, CM's, and Hollywood and Vine breakfast; they loved all of them. They each had kid participation where they could get up and move. We also did 1900PF dinner; that was very crowded and very loud. Garden Grill is a low key character dinner and character interaction is great.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Besides the character meals, which she loves, some of DD6's favs over the last 2 years have been:

'Ohana dinner
Biergarten
Coral Reef
Teppan Edo
Whispering Canyon Cafe

All places are kid friendly though, so if a menu strikes your fancy, go for it!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

The kids love the character meals - my kids favorites were Crystal Palace breakfast, Cape May Buffet Breakfast, Ohana Breakfast, Chef Mickeys for dinner and of course, CRT (we liked it better for lunch than breakfast).

Some of their non-character meal favorites are:

Coral Reef
Sci-Fi
Biergarten
Liberty Tree Tavern
Ohana Dinner

 

[PrincessBelle39]

I'm the opposite. You cant get enough character meals for me and my family. I figure that I am paying all this money to go to Disney, I want a Disney experience. I don't want to do restaurants that I could do anywhere.

 

[goofygal531]

I'm the opposite. You cant get enough character meals for me and my family. I figure that I am paying all this money to go to Disney, I want a Disney experience. I don't want to do restaurants that I could do anywhere.

I hear ya sista!

We booked 11 character meals (on the DxDDP). My kids LOVE dining with characters, it enhances their disney world experience.

I'm also not standing in line for 40 mins in the hot summer sun for a character photo op when I can sit in a/c and have them come to us!