What's YOUR favorite character meal?

AndreAggie

DIS Veteran
Joined
Apr 4, 2014
Messages
622
Trying to decide which character meal is the best option for our group...one kid, age 8 boy, parents and aunt, and grandparents. We did Surf's Up last time we were there in 2015. Not opposed to doing it again, but not against trying something new either.

Factors to consider:
-Cost
-Quality of Food
-Characters
-Character interaction

So what's been your favorite and why!
 
I'm interested to read the answers also! I'm heading to DLR for my birthday and have pretty much settled on a couple of nice meals - now trying to decide on a character meal. (Solo adult here. :) )
 
I have one in mind, but I really want to hear other reviews. We're only going to do one character meal and for 6 of us, it's not cheap. I don't want to leave feeling like I just threw away $200.
 
Honestly, with Ariel's Grotto gone, there aren't that many choices. My first consideration would be whether you want to do one during park hours or not.

Plaza Inn is my favorite just because of sheer variety of characters. It really can't be beat in that regard.

Many like Surf's Up because it's not as busy so characters have more time for plenty of interaction. But it's harder to get to and can take away park time.

Goofy's Kitchen is the only one offering dinner times. We love doing it on arrival night if we won't be in the parks.

Storytellers was nice, but the potentially low number of characters (3 or 4 sometimes) puts me off in spite of the food getting good reviews.
 

Our favorites have been Breakfast with Minnie and Surf's Up. The Minnie breakfast we have seen way more characters than any other character meal and have had way better interaction. Our last visit we had a 10:30 booking on a Saturday and we saw about 10 characters and had plenty of time to enjoy them - it was also great as it served as brunch and for the cost of it you want that meal to last you. That time of day too the place starts to empty out and the characters seem to almost be looking for people rather than the other way around. I believe it is also the cheapest of the character meals and it's cafeteria style which is likely the reason. However, the food quality is the same it's just less service in terms of getting your own coffee, beverage, utensils etc. I also like that its in the park - so you can get in early - get a bunch of rides done and then have your brunch when things start to get a bit busier and then off you go again with some fast passes to use up.
 
I get this question a lot from friends... Here are my thoughts:

-Cost - Storytellers/Plaza Inn/Surf's up Breakfast
-Quality of Food - Storytellers
-Characters - Plaza Inn
-Character interaction - Plaza Inn

While I enjoyed Goofy's Kitchen I felt like the character interaction and food quality were at the lowest of the 4 options which made me said. The characters were great and very nice, but it was really crowded and busy. So if felt like we got less time even though we still did have fun.

Here is my full review of all 4 Character breakfast options.
 
Trying to decide which character meal is the best option for our group...one kid, age 8 boy, parents and aunt, and grandparents. We did Surf's Up last time we were there in 2015. Not opposed to doing it again, but not against trying something new either.

Factors to consider:
-Cost
-Quality of Food
-Characters
-Character interaction

So what's been your favorite and why!
Plaza Inn. The most characters and the prettiest restaurant. We liked it a lot.
 
We liked surfs up. We came right at the end, so we had four characters interacting a ton due to the fact the place had started to clear out. The food was decent quality and like someone mentioned, it served as brunch for us!
 
Our favourite is Minnie’s breakfast at the Plaza Inn. The food was better at Storyteller’s but the overall experience was way better at Plaza.
 
I get this question a lot from friends... Here are my thoughts:

-Cost - Storytellers/Plaza Inn/Surf's up Breakfast
-Quality of Food - Storytellers
-Characters - Plaza Inn
-Character interaction - Plaza Inn

While I enjoyed Goofy's Kitchen I felt like the character interaction and food quality were at the lowest of the 4 options which made me said. The characters were great and very nice, but it was really crowded and busy. So if felt like we got less time even though we still did have fun.

Here is my full review of all 4 Character breakfast options.
I agree with this characterization of Minnie’s. It’s the only one I’ve been to. The food was mediocre and I don’t ask a lot out of food. Lol

There were tons of characters. So, if that’s your priority that’s where I’d go. I won’t be back to Minnie’s. I’m not into characters and I’m cheap.
 
I'm interested to read the answers also! I'm heading to DLR for my birthday and have pretty much settled on a couple of nice meals - now trying to decide on a character meal. (Solo adult here. :) )

As a solo adult, make sure to let your server/host/hostess know that you want lots of character interaction (if you do). And let the handlers know, too, by your enthusiasm with the characters. Sometimes handlers and characters aren't sure what to make of solo adults (some people like interacting, some people like observing), and we've had posters here report feeling overlooked at character meals. (If you don't want lots of interaction, but would rather just observe, let them know that, too.)
Is there a specific character you really want to see? Sometimes that can determine your choice of meal. Stitch only appears at Surf's Up. Mickey is traditionally at Surf's Up, but I've read that he has recently been appearing at Goofy's, too. (You can double check on this. Mickey does not appear at Plaza Inn or Storyteller's.) For biggest variety and luck-of-the-draw feel, go with Minnie's -- lots of characters and you never know who might show up (other than Minnie, of course!).
Note your dietary needs on your reservation and tell your server, too. A chef should come out to discuss the food with you (or you can request this).
Storyteller's worked well for youngest's first character meal. It was quieter, the food was better, and he really liked animals. At that point, the energy at Surf's Up would have unnerved him and too many characters at Minnie's would have overwhelmed him. Storyteller's was a positive start (and he loved the waffles!), so he was willing to try the other meals as he got older.
 
As a solo adult, make sure to let your server/host/hostess know that you want lots of character interaction (if you do). And let the handlers know, too, by your enthusiasm with the characters. Sometimes handlers and characters aren't sure what to make of solo adults (some people like interacting, some people like observing), and we've had posters here report feeling overlooked at character meals. (If you don't want lots of interaction, but would rather just observe, let them know that, too.)
Is there a specific character you really want to see? Sometimes that can determine your choice of meal. Stitch only appears at Surf's Up. Mickey is traditionally at Surf's Up, but I've read that he has recently been appearing at Goofy's, too. (You can double check on this. Mickey does not appear at Plaza Inn or Storyteller's.) For biggest variety and luck-of-the-draw feel, go with Minnie's -- lots of characters and you never know who might show up (other than Minnie, of course!).
Note your dietary needs on your reservation and tell your server, too. A chef should come out to discuss the food with you (or you can request this).
Storyteller's worked well for youngest's first character meal. It was quieter, the food was better, and he really liked animals. At that point, the energy at Surf's Up would have unnerved him and too many characters at Minnie's would have overwhelmed him. Storyteller's was a positive start (and he loved the waffles!), so he was willing to try the other meals as he got older.

Thanks! Yeah - I've done character meals at WDW and generally had good interactions with the characters, so hopefully that will continue. The whole atmosphere of Storyteller's appeals to me...but I'm planning dinner at Napa Rose, so I'm not sure if the setting wouldn't be too similar. How difficult is Surf's Up to get to if I'm staying at BWPPI? That one has also been high up because I do love Mickey and Stitch...
 
... The whole atmosphere of Storyteller's appeals to me...but I'm planning dinner at Napa Rose, so I'm not sure if the setting wouldn't be too similar. How difficult is Surf's Up to get to if I'm staying at BWPPI? That one has also been high up because I do love Mickey and Stitch...

The atmosphere of Storyteller's and Napa Rose are similar in some ways -- wood paneling and similar color scheme, but they aren't super similar. And the food styles are quite different. You can look at photos on Google or on the DLR website to compare. Surf's Up won't be hard for you to find. Go through the Harbor bag check, through the esplanade and DTD to the GCH entryway by Sephora. Enter the GCH, go to the main lobby, and exit the front entrance. Follow the path to Disneyland Dr. (any CM at the hotel entrance can point you to the PPH across the street) and cross at the crosswalk. The PPH is right there. Enter that hotel and head to your right. Surf's Up will be at the end of the hall. When we went, there wasn't a PP photographer, so make sure to have your camera fully charged and ready to go. If you have MP and there is PP, your photos should be included.
On your way back, you won't be allowed to cut back to DTD through the GCH without a room key or a reservation for a restaurant there, so go out the back exit of the PPH. Follow that pathway through the parking lot, past the DLH, and through the bag check by EOS, right back into DTD.
ETA: On another thread it was mentioned that some CMs were not aware or clear about PP being included with MP. Be clear about mentioning that you want the digitial photos, not the physical photos, and make sure that you receive the digital download code.
 
Last edited:
Thanks everyone! This helps confirm my thought process too. I think we're going to go with Minnie's only because we've done Surf's Up before. Will hit the parks running early, then schedule a later breakfast reservation at Plaza Inn.
 
We have only done Goofys, Minnie's, storytellers and PCH Grill(no characters)

Most characters is for sure Minnie's. But we are not breakfast people and all they have is simple breakfast items for the extra price.
Storytellers we did brunch which was great food wise. They had some lunch items an breakfast items, but only a few characters.
Goofys is the family favorite and the one everyone chooses each time. By everyone i mean dd10 sisters (15,17) parents 50's and us 30's. the food is comparable to Storytellers but you get so many more characters.
 


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