What would you choose? (Princess-related)

[Panonim]

We will be in DLR from Sep 23-Sep 26. We can only budget in one character breakfast. DD4 needs a princess visit at some point in the trip. I am trying to decide between 2 options:

1. Be at the park for opening (9 am) on the Friday, head immediately to Princess Fantasy Faire (which also opens at 9 am) to get our princess fix. The next day, Saturday, do the Mickey & Friends character breakfast.

2. Skip the PFF (or take our chances by walking by, and checking out the lineup) and just do other stuff on the Friday, then on Saturday morning do the Ariel's Grotto character breakfast to get our princess fix.

Option 1 means taking our chances with PFF, but as long as we're there early, we should be OK right (I'm hoping to not have to wait 1 hour in line)? Option 1 means we can also have a higher variety of character interaction, since we'll see the princesses at PFF, and some other characters (that my DS2 might be more interested in) at the Mickey & Friends breakfast.

Option 2 means we are guaranteed some great princess interaction at the breakfast, but we may not have many other good character interaction opportunities during the trip. And even though my DS is only 2, I am sure he would prefer to see Mickey rather than a princess.

What would you choose?
Thank you.

 

[PineapplePrincessCA]

I would definitely go with Option #2 and go to Ariel's Grotto.


We've been to the PFF twice and had totally different experiences. The first time, we went right after the park opened and still had to wait 1 hour. It was a slow (weekday) at the park, too. We waited for an hour and saw Snow White, Cinderella, and Cinderella's fairy godmother. OK, no offense fairy godmother, but you are NOT a princess! I would NOT have waited 1 hour in line to see her.

The shifts the princesses take are very short, so even if you peek over the big wall and see who is there when you get there, there is a very good chance there will be new princesses by the time you get to the front of the line.

On that visit, the princesses didn't really talk to my daughters at all. Just turned around the posed for pictures. It felt very rushed.

The second visit (on Monday) was MUCH better! Saw Ariel, Jasmine, and Belle. Ariel was WONDERFUL! Made my daughter's birthday to talk to her.

So my point is... you really don't know what you're going to get at PFF.

I've never been to Ariel's Grotto, but I know you're guaranteed the "top name" princesses and I believe they all stop to talk to each table. I would chose #2.

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

Ariel's Grotto!!!! No long line, no chancing getting only the lesser princesses... and much less park time wasted. You still have to sit and eat, but you have to eat anyway, and the food at Ariel's is really yummy!

Oh, and the lines are shorter for other characters around the park... so I am sure you'll still get a chance to see Mickey etc... without doing a meal. The Princesses are much harder to come by!

 

[mrswh]

Can I vote for option #3?

I agree with PP about PFF. You can go first thing in the morning and still wind up waiting an hour. And you never know what princesses you'll get. I think it's worth it to stop by PFF and see how long the line is, but I wouldn't count on it as your only princess interaction.

If I could do only one character meal, it wouldn't be breakfast - then you're using up all that light crowd time eating. I'd do lunch at AG or better yet, I'd do GK for dinner. Granted, the food will be worse for lunch or dinner, but you won't be wasting precious morning time. I'll be honest - AG isn't that great. We have been there many times and never had a great princess interaction. They seem to be in a rush getting to all the tables and never really stop to chat . . . they just sign the book, pose for the photo, and move along. I also am not a big fan of the food which is supposed to be "fancy" but, IMO is pretty low quality.

If you go to GK you will almost surely see at least 3 princesses, plus several other characters that will be fun for both kids. (Almost guaranteed are Minnie, Pluto and Goofy - the others are pretty random. We have seen Prince Philip, Alice, Fairy Godmother, lots of others there!)

There are also other princess meeting opportunities. If you go to the Drawn to the Magic Show (Hollywood Backlot at DCA, times are on the Times Guide) Cinderella is usually there and you can meet her after the show. Tiana does a little show and meet & greet in New Orleans Square at DL. You can also dance with the princesses at the Coronation Ceremony at PFF if you don't want to wait in line, or see them tell stories there. Jasmine (and Aladdin sometimes) are usually at Aladdin's Oasis in Adventureland several times a day. And allegedly Pocahontas hangs out in Adventureland though we have yet to run into her there.

Just a few thoughts . . .

And Mickey is pretty easy to find all over the place!

 

[CaseyK]

I'd say Ariels'. Guaranteed princess interaction. You can catch other characters all over the park- especially with it being Halloween Time right?
As for DS2- my DS is just about 2. His favorite character (when looking over pictures of our last trip when he was 5 months) is Lightning. Mickey you will see at Mickey's house as well. Plus, DS also LOVES looking at the pictures of the princesses too. He is such a ladies man. You could get some really great pics of your little prince with the princesses!
PS- We are doing Ariels for lunch in case the lines for PFF are insane. Last time we waited an hour and we met Cinderella, Belle, and Jasmin and we had already met Cinderella!

 

[Kayla's Mom]

Ariel's Grotto!!!! No long line, no chancing getting only the lesser princesses...

Actually we saw Wendy there once...but that was years ago. She was pretty offended because DH thought she was Belle (in her blue dress)

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

Actually we saw Wendy there once...but that was years ago. She was pretty offended because DH thought she was Belle (in her blue dress)

Yeah, we got the Fairy Godmother once too... but still 4 other princesses + her was way better than our 1.5 hr wait for 3 princesses 1st thing in the morning at PFF!

 

[pixiewings71]

Hands down, AG. I'd go for lunch tho, the food is better for lunch/dinner IMO. We've eaten there many times and almost always had great character interaction from the Princesses. They always chat at our table for a minute or two before moving on.

 

[Funball]

Id do mickey and friends breakfast!!!

 

[skiingfast]

I would strongly advise the Plaza Inn for the Mickey and Friends breakfast.

Do it before the park opens, you won't waste morning time and will get to see characters. Also you can get some pics going into the park with the very few guest also going to breakfast.

 

[atomsmom]

I was at Disneyland from Aug 16-21. We did Minnies for breakfast and the character interaction was FANTASTIC! the characters, not princesses, come to your table and play with you. They dance and really have fun. THe food was ok, but it didn't matter with so many fun characters. We didn't get our food for 40 minutes because of the constant stream of characters visiting. We saw Pooh, tigger, Eyore, Fairy Godmother, Raifiki, Hook, Chip, Dale, Minnie, and Max

I went to Aerial's Grotto for lunch. The food was really yummy (to me, my daughter never took a bite!, too excited). We saw Princess Minnie, Aerial, Snow White, Aurora, and Cinderella. They all came to the table (except Aerial, see her on way in) and visit for a few minutes. They give autographs and pictures, but the interaction isn't anything like what we had at Minnies. It was a rotation and you really only have a few minutes with each princess. The desert tray is really yummy!

We also ate at Goofys kitchen for breakfast. It took a long time for a character to even come to our table, but eventually they did. Both Cinderella and Aurora were there. They interacted for a bit, but still not like Minnies. We also saw Baloo, Goofy, Dale, and Pluto.

If your daughter really loves playing with the characters I say go for Minnies we had so much fun we went back a second time. We saw the same characters except for Pooh and Tigger. Brer Bear, Brer Fox and Rabbit were there in their place. It is such a fun, fun place. A couple of the characters remembered us. Fairy Godmother called my daughter by name.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I would strongly advise the Plaza Inn for the Mickey and Friends breakfast.

Do it before the park opens, you won't waste morning time and will get to see characters. Also you can get some pics going into the park with the very few guest also going to breakfast.

Plaza Inn is MINNIE and friends. MICKEY is at PPH.

OP are you doing the in park one?...that does NOT have Mickey.

 

[skiingfast]

Plaza Inn is MINNIE and friends. MICKEY is at PPH.

OP are you doing the in park one?...that does NOT have Mickey.

My mistake. Minnie and Friends at the Plaza Inn inside DL. I believe it also has Cinderella in it too.

 

[Panonim]

Plaza Inn is MINNIE and friends. MICKEY is at PPH.

OP are you doing the in park one?...that does NOT have Mickey.

We are currently booked at the Paradise Pier one - so Mickey, right?


To everyone else, thanks for all the tips! I am still so torn! The Minnie one sounds great. I am torn about Ariel's for lunch because it's so darn expensive. Is there any info on the prices of the AG breakfast?

 

[mrswh]

Yes, Mickey is at PPH. That is a really fun breakfast.

Here's what I'd do in your shoes: make several reservations and cancel the ones you don't want as you figure out your plan. There is no penalty for canceling (or not showing up at all, though I am sure they appreciate a call), and you can see how things are going. Go to PFF and check out the line - if it's short and your DD is satisfied with meeting 3 princesses there, you can cx AG, for example.

I think a lot of your experience just has to do with your particular day and time and random events. I see all these great reviews of the Minnie breakfast, but I personally vowed to NEVER eat there again. Our experience there was horrible. The food was not good, it was ridiculously crowded, we didn't get to see half the characters. So you kind of have to pick objectively, I think . . . based on the food offerings, price and characters - and then hope for the best!

Also, keep in mind that your DS eats free at any of the character meals. But, remember to point it out to your server - once I paid for DS when he was 2 because I had already signed the credit card slip before realizing they had charged me for his meal. (Where is the smiley with the person slapping his forehead?)

 

[Eeee-va]

What are your priorities for the first thing in the morning, and how fast can you move? When we visited and PFF opened at the exact same time as the park (without Magic Morning, I believe), the PFF line was quite short even 20-30 minutes after park opening. Now, granted, this was at a time when PFF generally opened an hour after park opening, but looking at the schedule, it looks to me like PFF still usually opens some time after the park. So IF you can get from the park entrance to PFF quickly (as in, you're one of the first at the entrance gates) and IF there's nothing else you want/need to do in the morning, then you might be able to get 3 princesses met right away, and for free. If you need to use that time for rides, though, then maybe not.

I've heard the princesses first thing in the morning are most likely to be Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora, though.

Does your DD have any particular favorite princess she NEEDS to see? If she must see Ariel or Belle, then Ariel's Grotto would be a good place to certainly see Ariel and almost certainly see Belle. Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora are also usually at Ariel's Grotto. If her favorite is Tiana you may be able to meet her in New Orleans Square (you'll probably want to ask a cast member when/if she's doing meet and greets then). Jasmine usually does a Meet and Greet with Aladdin in Adventureland.

If any princess/es will do, then I'd wager that just about every idea listed in the entire thread would work fine for you.

Have a great trip!

 

[Panonim]

What are your priorities for the first thing in the morning, and how fast can you move? When we visited and PFF opened at the exact same time as the park (without Magic Morning, I believe), the PFF line was quite short even 20-30 minutes after park opening. Now, granted, this was at a time when PFF generally opened an hour after park opening, but looking at the schedule, it looks to me like PFF still usually opens some time after the park. So IF you can get from the park entrance to PFF quickly (as in, you're one of the first at the entrance gates) and IF there's nothing else you want/need to do in the morning, then you might be able to get 3 princesses met right away, and for free. If you need to use that time for rides, though, then maybe not.

I've heard the princesses first thing in the morning are most likely to be Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora, though.

Does your DD have any particular favorite princess she NEEDS to see? If she must see Ariel or Belle, then Ariel's Grotto would be a good place to certainly see Ariel and almost certainly see Belle. Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora are also usually at Ariel's Grotto. If her favorite is Tiana you may be able to meet her in New Orleans Square (you'll probably want to ask a cast member when/if she's doing meet and greets then). Jasmine usually does a Meet and Greet with Aladdin in Adventureland.

If any princess/es will do, then I'd wager that just about every idea listed in the entire thread would work fine for you.

Have a great trip!

Hmmmmm...... I am hoping we can get a bright & early start and get to the park gates early, but with little kids you just never know right?! The reason I was hoping for a successful PFF on Friday morning is that PFF and the park both open at 9:00 am, plus there is NO magic morning that day. So yeah, it's dependent on how early we can get in line for the park.

As for the princesses, her favourites are Ariel & Belle, but I think she'd be happy with any princess. But if AG is almost a sure thing for both Ariel & Belle, well, I think I am leaning towards doing AG. I like the pp suggestion of making a couple of reservations, and cancelling one depending on how PFF goes!

Thanks again everyone for the insight!

 

[pixiewings71]

Hmmmmm...... I am hoping we can get a bright & early start and get to the park gates early, but with little kids you just never know right?! The reason I was hoping for a successful PFF on Friday morning is that PFF and the park both open at 9:00 am, plus there is NO magic morning that day. So yeah, it's dependent on how early we can get in line for the park.

As for the princesses, her favourites are Ariel & Belle, but I think she'd be happy with any princess. But if AG is almost a sure thing for both Ariel & Belle, well, I think I am leaning towards doing AG. I like the pp suggestion of making a couple of reservations, and cancelling one depending on how PFF goes!

Thanks again everyone for the insight!

Ariel is always at her Grotto so you are guaranteed 100% to see her. We have eaten at AG probably 10-15 times and we've only had Pocahontas and Mulan once, the same time, we've never had Princess Minnie or the Fairy Godmother. The one time we had Mulan & Pocahontas my girls were soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo excited because they'd never seen them. That time we also had Snow White & Belle come to the table so I can safely say that we have Belle every time we've eaten at AG. Which is good because Belle is DD14's favorite Princess, Cinderella is DD10's.

I've been to Minnie & Friends and it's GREAT!! the character interaction is so amazing BUT there are no Princesses there. The closest we got was Alice. So while the amount of time you get with the characters at Minnie & Friends may be better your Princess chances are much better at AG. We did the bfast at PPH when it was still Lilo & Stitch, we maybe saw 1 Princess there, we also ate at Goofy's Kitchen (which sucked and we won't go back) and saw Snow White, she was pretty cool because she was the same Snow White we'd seen the day before and she remembered the girls. Oh as we were leaving GK (after getting the looks from the server that our time was up, we were waiting for characters to come to our table but where we were seated they simply did not stop, they just walked by us on their way out to take a break, they waved but never stopped) we did see Cinderella coming in and we did ask her for a quick autograph but otherwise we only had maybe 3 characters actually stop at our table, including Snow White. So my suggestion for Princesses is still AG.

 

[Eeee-va]

But if AG is almost a sure thing for both Ariel & Belle, well, I think I am leaning towards doing AG. I like the pp suggestion of making a couple of reservations, and cancelling one depending on how PFF goes!

That sounds like a good idea to me. I can't guarantee AG will have Belle, but I've never once read about anyone noting that Belle was NOT there. (When we visited, Ariel and the other 4 most common princesses to be there--Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora--were there.) Ariel is a guarantee, though it's not a very LONG meet and greet with her and you only get one photo (which they try to sell you later).

When we went in June 2010 (which was a different time of year, granted) the schedule seemed to be that they had Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora for the first hour or so, and then rotated to Ariel, Belle, and Tiana. IF that's still the case (which is a huge if), then you MIGHT be better off getting in line 30 minutes or a bit more after PFF opens. Then again, IF you get there when the park opens, then 3 princesses with almost no wait is hard to beat, no matter who they are!

In December 2009 we met Ariel, Belle, and Jasmine. I'd say it's fairly common for the newer princesses to be together, but sometimes they do mix things up.

 

[CrazyDuck]

Strange... the last 2 times I did Ariels for breakfast (Oct 2008 and Feb 2010) we had the exact same princesses... the big 4; Cinderella, Snow White, Belle and Aurora. I thought maybe they switched to only the big 4 because of the whole "Disney Princesses" marketing blitz... I'd prefer if they were to only have the big 4 because prior to my last 2 visits there was one time when we went we had; Jasmine, Mulan, Pocahontas and Princess Minnie... Now of those 4 I think only Jasmine was an actual princess but it didn't bother my DD3 so I let it go...