Which character breakfast? Help

[kosmonn]

I am planning our first trip in December and I am making our dining reservations. Which character breakfast would you recommend? I would prefer ordering from a menu vs. a buffet. Also which princess lunch/dinner is the best? Are there any character meals that are geared more towards boys? We were thinking of sending the girls to the princess meal and the boys to something they might like better. Any ideas??

 

[BillyFan]

Well, if you want a character breakfast with a menu, I believe your only choice is Storyteller's Cafe in the Grand. We LOVE it. It is so calm and relaxing, compared to the frenetic setting of Goofy's Kitchen. However, this is a meal with mostly B-list characters, with Chip and Dale being the stars. BTW, they have a buffet and menu there.
The only princess meal is Ariel's Grotto in DCA. At this point, they have breakfast, lunch and dinner. While the girls are there, the boys might enjoy Goofy's, or even some time at ESPN Zone in DTD.

 

[hookem81]

We just went in August, and our family (3 kids - 8, 6, and 1) really loved Breakfast with Minnie at the Plaza Inn. We were out there for over a week and decided to sleep in one morning and go to breakfast there at 10. We really loved it - it is a buffet, but a nice one. I would not really advise going to breakfast there right when the park opens because that is a great time to beat the crowds and get in a lot of rides before the lines build up.

We also did Ariel's Grotto for dinner. Of course, it was nice, but there was something lacking about it. The interaction with the characters is more spontaneous and unrehearsed at Minnie's Breakfast while the princess interaction is a little more forced at Ariel's Grotto. I also thought the food (from a menu) was not that great and was very expensive. The pot pie was not very good at all, and I remembered after I ordered it that someone on this board had warned against it.

We have not done any of the other character meals, so I am sure there are others who can help with that.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

You can also order off the menu at the Lilo & Stitch breakfast at Paradise Pier Hotel. They have a buffet, but Tink33 asked for a menu, and they gave it to her.

My favorite, as far as meal-wise, is the breakfast menu at Storyteller's Cafe. I had the huevos rancheros (very good), and my dd had the eggs benedict (she said very good).

 

[heatherleigh]

The only one we have done is the Lilo and Stitch breakfast. We plan on doing it again next week because we liked it so much. It was Polynesian themed, but they had regular breakfast items too. I loved the teriyaki salmon. It was sort of like a brunch.

 

[ShawnaF]

Love all the meals. Best menu is Storytellers, Ariels is ALL menu (at least lunch & dinner - and we like both!) Princess is definitely for the girls but the other character meals are really great for anyone - boys or girls, just depends on the characters your boys like best. I do, however, always take my nephews to Goofy's for the variety and age ranges we have.

 

[Mililani Mouser]

we went to the ariel's grotto for breakfast wednesday morning. it's great if you want pictures and autographs with the princesses (ariel greets you when you get called for your table, pic and autograph opp), then the royal announcer announces a princess every few minutes after everyone is seated. the princesses go to every table to take pictures/sign autographs. (cinderella, snow white, belle, jasmine). i was very disappointed with the food.

there was a 3 tier centerpiece with some fruit, bagels, cheese, pastries. then the main breakfast comes in one platter (they call it a family style setting), with bacon, sausage, eggs). i was not impressed, but my daughter had a blast taking pictures with her favorite princesses. my 6 yr old son was mesmerized by the beautiful ladies!

i do not recommend going for the food, we're going to goofy's kitchen tomorrow for breakfast, hope the food is better.

btw, $100 breakfast for 2 adults and 2 kids = ouch!!!

 

[twingirlsmom2]

We love Minnie's Breakfast for its location, food and character interaction. WE see Capt Hook, Briar Bear and Rabbit, Pooh, Eyeore, Pan, Wendy, Minnie, and the Fairy Godmother. Since my girls love Hook, he comes around many times which is fun.

 

[EltonJohn]

Well, if you want a character breakfast with a menu, I believe your only choice is Storyteller's Cafe in the Grand. We LOVE it. It is so calm and relaxing, compared to the frenetic setting of Goofy's Kitchen. However, this is a meal with mostly B-list characters, with Chip and Dale being the stars.

Chip & Dale B-list???? There are no "B-list" characters in Disney!

 

[ubaisore]

I have to say that for "atmosphere" the Minnnie breakfast at the plaza is hard to beat...we have had a grerat time...the lilo and stitch at PP is great as well..some dancing with the kids etc.... storytellers had the best food though (and I agree that it is "less popular" characters that show there)
goofys kitchen is kind of kid friendly..the food is just average...but we did get a lot of photo ops....
we had dinner at Ariels last year and we will not go again...cold food, bad food and rushed time with princesses all led us to stay away YMMV of course...

 

["Got Disney"]

I have to say that for "atmosphere" the Minnnie breakfast at the plaza is hard to beat...we have had a grerat time...the lilo and stitch at PP is great as well..some dancing with the kids etc.... storytellers had the best food though (and I agree that it is "less popular" characters that show there)
goofys kitchen is kind of kid friendly..the food is just average...but we did get a lot of photo ops....
we had dinner at Ariels last year and we will not go again...cold food, bad food and rushed time with princesses all led us to stay away YMMV of course...

I concure.....with everything said here and I have been to all of them over and over. My kids are 11 and 14 and they prefere the Grand because of the food. When they were younger we would hop between them all.

do you have children and if so how old are they...they may help us hel you to narrow it down.

 

[CoolKidWoot]

The Minnie Breakfast is the best, mainly because its all you can eat! NOMNOMNOMNOMNOMNOMNOM!

 

[ubaisore]

The Minnie Breakfast is the best, mainly because its all you can eat! NOMNOMNOMNOMNOMNOMNOM!

Storytellers, Goofy's and Lilo and Stitch are allyou can eat as well

 

[kosmonn]

Thanks for all your responses. We will have my twins who are 5 (boy and girl) and my friend's 9 year old daughter and 11 year old son. After reading your responses I think we will do the Plaza Inn for breakfast. I am really worried about Ariel's Grotto, it seems like several people have had bad experiences there. I am still undecided on that one, I really want the girls to see the princesses, I guess I'll have to think about it.

 

[joeysmommy]

We tried Lilo and Stitch last month and to me it was just ok. My kids were a little bored. The island hopping game was cute..a little like musical chairs but with Hawaiian islands on the floor.
But only Lilo and Stitch came around for photo ops and they didn't interact with us much at all. Posed for a picture at our table, signed the autograph book and left. Minnie and Daisy were up at the front of the restaurant and did not come to your table. We went up to get their autograph and picture which irritated me.
If I wanted to wait in a line for that I could have done it in Toontown for free(well..not free-nothing in DL is free, but not for the price of a character meal).

Last year we did Goofy's Kitchen which my kids thoroughly enjoyed. It was a little more chaotic, but more exciting. The character interaction was much better too. Even after our time with the characters at our table Chip n Dale and Pluto came back over a few times to play.

We might try Minnie's next month but I don't like to waste time in the park at a character meal. But since the park opens at 8am, a 10am character breakfast might not be too bad.

 

[pixiewings71]

We have eaten at Ariel's Grotto twice, both times it's been a wonderful experience!! Great food, fun interaction with the Princesses, Cinderella is DD 7's favorite, she took extra time with her and posed special just with Jade, the other Princesses were fun too. Princess Jasmine is DBF's favorite, she posed with him for a special picture too! LOL We are going in Dec. for DD7's 8th b-day, we told her she could pick where we ate, she picked Princess breakfast with NO hesitation!!

We did Lilo and Stitch last year for breakfast (our first trip) and we had a great time, all the characters came around to our tables and posed with the kids and signed autograph books, the kids played the island game and they had a blast. This year we did Goofy's Kitchen, when we were leaving they asked if we could do Lilo and Stitch again next time. They much preferred Lilo & Stitch over GK.