Which character dinning experiences are the best for a 3 y.o.?

[we*love*disney]

We are planning our first trip for our daughter and we want to do 2, maybe 3, character dinning meals. She is not big into princesses yet, but loves anything to do with animals. Which would you reccomend and why? Thanks for your help!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Crystal Palace, Chef Mickey's and Tusker House.

 

[Hootch]

is your daughter shy? Some kids are a little intimidated by characters with the big heads. Most aren't though. My daughter certainly wasn't.

Definitely do Crystal Palace. You have Pooh, Tigger, EEyore and Piglet and what kid doesn't like them. The food at breakfast and dinner is good also. Choose at least one of Chef Mickey's, Donald's Safari Breakfast at Tusker House or the brekfast or clam bake dinner at Cape May. Each of these three has core Disney characters that most kids know and love.

CM - Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto and Goofy
Cape May - Minnie, Goofy and Donald
Donald's - Donald, Daisy, Mickey and Goofy

Another choice is Ohana breakfast which has Lilo, Stitch, Mickey and Pluto. Neither of my kids were familiar with Lilo and Stitch at three but it's a fun time and a good meal.

 

[we*love*disney]

Thank you so much for the sugesstions! I was thinking Chef Mickey's and Tusker House, but I wasn't sure if I knew all of which ones were out there. I will have to look into Crystal Palace too. I would love to take her to CRT or the one at Epcot with all the princesses, but I'm not sure how much she would be into it.

Isn't there also one with Playhouse Disney Characters too?

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Thank you so much for the sugesstions! I was thinking Chef Mickey's and Tusker House, but I wasn't sure if I knew all of which ones were out there. I will have to look into Crystal Palace too. I would love to take her to CRT or the one at Epcot with all the princesses, but I'm not sure how much she would be into it.

Isn't there also one with Playhouse Disney Characters too?

Playhouse Disney is Hollywood and Vine at DHS.

We did CRT and Akershus and DD just turned 3 but she loves the princesses. She loved both meals!!!!

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Tuskerhouse, IMO, has one of the best character interaction, Mickey, Daisy, Goofy. Really fun. The buffet is also good, your typical breakfast fare!

 

[Hootch]

daughter to CRT for the first time when she had just turned three. She absolutely loved it. She was so fixated on Snow White and Aurora during the meal that she basically ignored Belle. She didn't remember a great deal of it but enough to want to go back the next year. She really remembered that next trip well.

We're doing lunch again in June a little before she turns six. BBB opened in the MK since our last trip so we have an appointment for her before our meal.

 

[kamikazecat]

I have a 3yo boy and we have Ohana, Hollywood and Vine, Crystal Palace, and Chef Mickey's booked for him. I booked 1900 Park Faire for me because I heard the stepsisters were hilarious. Hope you have a great trip!

 

[ktlm]

My then 2 year 10 month old was not really into any of the princesses except Cinderella UNTIL we had lunch at Akershus. Ever since she has been an absolute Princess fanatic- all Princess all the time. We did Akershus, Crystal Palace, and Tusker House. She loved them all, but I would say that is the order of her favorites. The Princesses were great at Akershus and very good with the little ones. The character interaction with Pooh and the Gang at Crystal Palace was wonderful. They spent the most time with her of any of the character meals. We didn't get a very good table at Tusker House (very sandwiched in area) so it was hard for the characters to get to her and so they each only spent a second or two with her and we barely got a picture of each. That is why it was her least favorite. The food was really good though. People in other parts of the restaurant were having much better luck. I would do 3 character meals- a Princess; a Mickey; and Pooh- that gives a good variety. I would say do Chef Mickey or Tusker House, but not both since they are both Mickey meals. I don't know if your DD is a Minnie fan, but she is at Chef Mickey's, but not Tusker House. My DD kept looking for Minnie (her theory is anytime you see Mickey, Minnie is nearby) at Tusker House and was a little disappointed she wasn't there. Daisy is at Tusker House instead and she is really cute, but it just depends on which of them your DD likes best.

 

[kdnmom]

Choose at least one of Chef Mickey's, Donald's Safari Breakfast at Tusker House or the brekfast or clam bake dinner at Cape May. Each of these three has core Disney characters that most kids know and love.

CM - Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto and Goofy
Cape May - Minnie, Goofy and Donald
Donald's - Donald, Daisy, Mickey and Goofy

I thought there weren't characters at the clam bake dinner at Cape May. Am I wrong?

Thanks!

 

[MickeyNicki]

When our niece was 3 she loved the characters at Chef Mickeys but the food at dinner was terrible so I would go for breakfast instead. Her all time fave was Norway Princess Breakfast, that was a huge hit because her most cherished Princess was there, Ariel!

 

[Chevyscool]

My kids are big Playhouse Disney fans so they really enjoyed the Playhouse Disney Breakfast at H&V (at DHS). They watch Little Einsteins all the time so they had a ball seeing Leo and June.

Every year our "Never Miss" character meal is Donald's Safari Breakfast, formerly Donald's Breakfastsaurus. My two absolutely love it, and the food selection is pretty good...especially the juice!

Speaking of food, I think the best character meal for Dining and Atmosphere would have to be CP. The Puffed French Toast, made to order omelets and pancakes make the buffet a step above the others (for character meals).

Chef Mickey's is good, but since it's the most popular character meal (according to Disney Dining), it's usually always crowded...but if you've never done it, you should probably do it at least once.

I've heard good things about Cape May Breakfast, were trying it ourselves this fall.

So, I recommend Donald's at TH, Playhouse Disney at H&V and Crystal Palace.

Honestly, you can't go wrong with any character meal IMO, they're all pretty good.

 

[we*love*disney]

Thanks everyone. Decisions, decisions! I think "I" would really enjoy Akershus and I think once D got in there she would really enjoy it too. We have never done Chef Mickey's, except DH a long time ago, so it is our one "must do" for breakfast.

Oh and could you tell me if these character dining count as a TS meal on the meal plan or are they seperate? Thanks again for all the helpful info!

 

[Hootch]

character meals are one TS credit except CRT. It's two credits. That includes gratuity in the two credits.