Which Character meal was the best?

[MagicalMomAZ]

In your opinion, why was it the best? As far as characters & food, which was most worth the money?

 

[dizzyami]

First, I have not been to Goofy's or Minnie's. Beyond that it kind of depends on what characters you are in to. This is my opinion on the other three:

Princess lunch/dinner - this we actually loved - DD loved to see all the princesses. It was also a standard price for dinner - so while it was $20 a head - not horrible for dinner at Disney. Menu was very limited. I also loved this because we got a character meal without having to sacrifice what is in my opinion precious morning hours at the park. (We always do breakfasts the last day that we are leaving)

Lilo/Stitch - we loved this - and will be doing next trip. Buffett was good, we did not order off menu. This is a fun meal because the kids can get up and dance around in an area, and it was fun interaction.

GCH character breakfast - ok, a few characters - none too notable - chip, dale, brother bears, and a couple from lion king came by. No place to play - to me it was not that exciting. We are staying at GCH this year - and going to PP for a character meal.

We never have done Minnie's b/c I cannot bring myself to go to the restaurant when the lines for rides are shorter.

One more side note - while we have enjoyed the character meals - as this is our 4th trip, we are only seeing Stitch because my son, who really does not express excitement about anything loves Stitch. Also, as much as we loved the princesses, the pictures that we got were not nearly as good as the trip before when we hunted down each princess - if you have the time - you get a better interaction finding each princess - if you don't - it is a GREAT way to catch all of them at once!!

 

[minnietoo]

I've only been to two: Minnie and Friends and Storytellers.

The food at Storytellers beats M&F as I could order from the menu and keep on my diet.

The Chip n' Dale interaction was the best character interaction I've had so far - they spent a good amount of time with us and were a lot of fun. We brought little C&D stuffed animals (to add to the pictures) and they loved playing with them!

But the number of characters at M&Fs was more - and best characters (in terms of adult interaction) were Minnie, the Fairy Godmother and Chip. The rest did not really interact with us - although they did stop by to wave and see us. THey all seemed to spend a lot of time with the kids. I think if we would have made more of an effort to engage them - it would have been different.

I went for Minnie to M&Fs and got Minnie - and I was very happy.

I went for Chip n Dale to Storytellers and got Chip n Dale and some very good food.

So . . . I guess each place has a personality and a tone - so it will depend on what you are looking for.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

&

the food is wonderful...

 

[goaliewife]

Hands down in my opinion, GOOFY'S KITCHEN. We did Minnie's a couple of times also, but the kids loved Goofy's best.

We also did Chip and Dale and we were all disappointed in the character interaction. They did a conga line around the restaurant and then if you wanted pictures they posed up in the front by the food and that was it. They do not come around to your tables as they do at the other two. I think that the food selection is better at Goofy's Kitchen also. Much more interaction with the characters.

Haven't done Ariel's yet, so can't comment on that.

 

[ADisneyPrincess]

My experiences:

Goofy's: I took my then 9 year old niece for breakfast and we had very little character interaction. The place is quite large and there were lots of people there so the characters were kept busy and didn't seem to get around the place very fast. Food is good, great variety.

Lilo & Stitch: My niece loved this one because we had a lot of character interaction. We saw Lilo, Stitch, Minnie and Pluto. They all spent a lot of time with us and made it by our table a couple of times. I like this one because you can order off the menu or do the buffet. I prefer to order off the menu.

Minnie & Friends: Some adult friends and I just did this one on Monday. We loved it! Great character interaction, we saw Minnie, Pooh, Tigger, Eyeore, Rabbit, Captain Hook and the Fairy Godmother. Chip and Dale were there but didn't make it to our table. Captain Hook and the Fairy Godmother were the best. I liked the food selection even though it wasn't as extensive as Goofy's. They have made to order omelets, eggs, all breakfast meats, biscuits and gravy, french toast, waffles, fruit and pastries. They also have a machine to make hot or cold lattes or mochas. This one also offered a AAA discount which I wasn't aware of until we were paying. This was a nice surprise as it made the meal a bit less expensive and everything helps!

 

[hlbtimes2]

My families fav is Minnie and friends. We tried Goofy's last Oct and were disappointed. The character interaction was not at all what I was expecting. It was a quick trip around the tables for a pic. and autograph. We saw Donald, Aladdin, Snow White and Goofy. Donald came when dh and I were getting food, and MIL/FIL didnt take a picture. We had to ask for him to come back by- he acted a bit bothered by it. The food was ok. Lots of good desserts and kids choices.

I like that food at Minnies is not really served buffet style (its all you can eat, and its not table service, but they have some plating food at each station- no guests touching food and putting it back- Yes, I do have issues! ) We had great character interaction. They all stopped and played with my kids, played with the toys we had with us, etc. I also like not having to take the time to leave the park to go eat.

 

[TinkerbellTris]

GOOFY'S KITCHEN!!!! I've done character breakfasts, and dinners there. It has been the best 5 years in a row. (voted best in Birnabaums disneyland guidebook). The interaction is by far the best and the food is fantastic. Now I've compared them myself. We've done the lilo stich breakfast at Paradise pier, We've done the Ariels Grotto character lunch (this was by far the worst food we've ever had in DL) But 2nd to best interaction (wierd), and we've done the pooh and friends in DL (back when it was pooh and friends) and the food was rough. The only one we have not done was Storytellers. I've heard it was good though. SO Hands down Goofy's!!!!!!

 

[silence]

We've done Ariel's, Minnie's and Goofy's.

Our favorite overall was Minnie's. We really liked the food and loved the character interaction.

Ariel's was wonderful as well, but the food seemed limited to me. What we had was good, just with no "buffet" you don't get a lot of options. The character interaction was the best of all 3. We saw every princess, got plenty of pictures. They all had "set" routes so you knew exactly when they were going to be at your table. LOVED IT.

We have done Goofy's 3 times. First time was the BEST...second was just OK and the last time was HORRIBLE. The first two times we went for breakfast and the last time for dinner. The character interaction was miserable but the food has always been fine. We won't do this one again.

 

[minnietoo]

I like that food at Minnies is not really served buffet style (its all you can eat, and its not table service, but they have some plating food at each station- no guests touching food and putting it back- Yes, I do have issues! )

And my family thinks I'm the only one who doesn't like eating at buffets for that very reason. I am glad I am not alone!

 

[hlbtimes2]

And my family thinks I'm the only one who doesn't like eating at buffets for that very reason. I am glad I am not alone!

I've just seen to many people, mainly kids, put things back. Or sneeze on the food. Its just gross.

 

[TwingleMum]

Where is Minnie & Friends???

 

[ZeusNike]

We like them all but our all time favourite is Goofy's Kitchen! We go at the end of breakfast/beginning of lunch and get two meals (good thing we walk so much at DL!).

 

[MagicalMomAZ]

hlbtimes- YUCK! I've never noticed that & don't know why I was naive enough to think it doesn't happen....I may be skipping buffets for a loooong time! Besides, I eat too much

 

[acpalmer]

Where is Minnie & Friends???

At the Plaza Inn on Main Street--inside the Park.

We were there in June, though, and although at the omelettes there was someone plating, there weren't servers plating anywhere else, it was all serve yourself. So something was either different that day or it has changed from when others were there or has changed to that in the last few months.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

At the Plaza Inn on Main Street--inside the Park.

We were there in June, though, and although at the omelettes there was someone plating, there weren't servers plating anywhere else, it was all serve yourself. So something was either different that day or it has changed from when others were there or has changed to that in the last few months.

nope it had to be something going on that day because over at the area where they serve the hot food is where the servers give it to you....the muffins, cereal and sweet stuff you do serve yourself...and let me tell you...if I saw someone ( I dont care who it was) touch food and then put it back you can be assured I would say something to them or their parents...I cant stand that stuff...but honestly Ive never seen it as many times as Ive gone to the breakfast buffets at Plaza Inn

 

[lucky1]

Double post - Sorry

 

[kjhgarden]

I don't have any personnal experience yet in character dining but I have read a lot of reviews from various DL sites. I have found good and bad reviews for all the character dining except for Lilo and Stitch. Although a couple reviews complained about only seeing 4 characters but went on to rave about the food and character interaction.

We decided on two Ariel's grotto for a late lunch and Lilo and Stitch for Sunday Brunch. Ariel's because we have four DD's and they love Disney princesses. We know not to expect a lot out of the food but look forward to a sit down meal where the characters come to us. Lilo and Stitch because my boys like Stitch and people have said it is less crowded than Goofy's (a plus for my DH)and the Hawaiian atmosphere apealed to us.

Sounds like any character dining can be hit or miss on any given day.

 

[lucky1]

Here is our experinces: (Lilo and Stitch would be my vote if you only had 1 to go to)

1. Lilo and Stich (Minnie and Pluto too), Good Character Interaction. Also had a hawaiian camp counselor that would teach the kids a dance and then place games with the kids. Also like that the area is small enough that you can see the action and see your table when at the buffet. I generally hate buffets but this is one of the best. I love the hawaiian foods. My 4 year old loves fish for breakfast and I love the coconut scones YUM.

2. Goofy's Kitchen (Dinner) - Different Characters each time we have been. Always good character interaction. Buffet is okay, but as I said I am not much of a buffet person and this place would be so much better if it was served family style verse a buffet. The dining room is so big that you may be very far away from the action (Character dancing) or the buffet.

3. StoryTeller (Breakfast) Chip, Dale, Pluto and Meeko. Good chacater interaction and they had a camp counselor that would play a game with the kids and play hid the muffin with Meeko. The tables were very close together and it made it difficult to get the kids in and out for the character interactions. Buffet was good, lots of veggies for breakfast which I like. (Lilo and Stitch still wins on food for me).

4. Ariel's Grotto (Lunch) terrible Character interaction. They rushed the princesses through the dining room. It was a pause at the table, sign a book and smile for a picture and then move on. Would not stop and talk. They also did not space their visits between princess, so sometimes they would stackup at one table. Food was table service with fixed menu choices. Food was not really that great.

Experinces long gone

5. Soap Opera Cafe (Lunch) This was one of the worse Disney experience that we had. We went went when DCA first opened and since I had watch AMC, I thought this would be great. Also figured it would be like 50's primetime in WDW. There was no actor interaction and really nothing that made it seem like a unquie experience. The food was very terrible. Removing this was the right thing to do.

6. Aladdin's Oasis (Lunch) This was one of the best experinces I have had at Disneyland. http://www.yesterland.com/oasis.html We saw it on the Disney today on our visit to the park in 1993 and decided to splurge on this. It was $21/person. Wonderful show along with a very good dinner. Capped off with a Chocolate lamp with Mousse for dessert. I wrote to Disney to tell them how much I enjoyed this show and that I wanted to take my family back there but they never responded.

 

[ADisneyPrincess]

6. Aladdin's Oasis (Lunch) This was one of the best experinces I have had at Disneyland. http://www.yesterland.com/oasis.html We saw it on the Disney today on our visit to the park in 1993 and decided to splurge on this. It was $21/person. Wonderful show along with a very good dinner. Capped off with a Chocolate lamp with Mousse for dessert. I wrote to Disney to tell them how much I enjoyed this show and that I wanted to take my family back there but they never responded.

I loved this one too! Good show and really good food. I wish they would bring something like this back.