When did character dining become so big at Disney restaurants?

[liquid17]

We loved the Empress Lilly!!

 

[Heathbarios]

We did "Breakfast with the Characters" on the Empress Lilly in 1984 or 85. The guy in the Pluto costume attacked every dad with hugs and high fives. There's a great photo of Pluto doing that to my dad - it's all Pluto and you can see my dad's smiling mouth and chin in the bottom corner. Also, the cast member making announcements and talking to everyone in line to pass the time asked everyone where they were from by show of hands. We eventually found out that he went to my mom's high school - his freshman year was the year after my mom graduated, so we spent the rest of the waiting time listening to Mom and the cast member chat about teachers and students they both knew. It was a great morning.

 

[leebee]

I remember taking DD to the character breakfast at Crystal Palace when she was 6. I nearly lost it when all she'd eat was a piece of toast. Imagine paying those prices for a piece of toast!! My sister talked me in off the edge, talked DD into eating a couple of strawberries, and I cooled down. Oh... I should mention this was in the late 1990s, when a kid's character meal at CP was around $10. Imagine getting CP breakfast for $10!!!
(I was going to take myself for a CP breakfast earlier this month... only $52 per adult!

 

[Boopuff]

Anyone remember when Liberty Tree Tavern had characters? I found a picture of my parents (early 90's ) and Goofy was in full pilgrim garb. My parents had the best time! That same trip we ate at CRT and I have a fave photo of my DD being embraced by Meeko! He was there with Pocahontas. I remember a very charming, Prince Charming escorting Cinderella throughout the dining area.

 

[mom2rtk]

I recently found a small bag of paperwork from our visit to the MK in 1999. Lunch for 4 (2 adults and 2 kids) was $49 plus tip. I'm thinking that outpaces inflation by more than a bit.