Which to do - Plaza Gardens Birthday Party / Inventions Buffet + Cake??

[obscure]

As the title says we are pondering between booking the Plaza Gardens birthday party or having dinner buffet in Inventions restaurant and ordering DS a birthday cake (he'll be 6!). I've read on here that the cake is well presented by lots of characters at Inventions...

We are vegetarian if that has any bearing so the sweets at the party are unlikely to be ok for him to eat - though the cakes should be ok!

If we do the birthday party we may well go to Inventions too (I've heard good reviews - though nothing about the veggie selections!), but not have the cake. I'm hoping they are still doing the 20% off for 6pm bookings as that makes it sound like an ok deal!

So what would you DLP veterans recommend? Its my first trip with the children (and I've only been for a short day before when DH took me to Paris (where he proposed ) 5 years ago.

Looking forward to the trip soo much and I've been reading loads on here in an attempt to stop me wittering at DH about it (or telling the children as its to be a suprise!!!).

We are staying at the L'Elysee as that was the only hotel that seemed to have availability at the time we booked (we were going to stay at the New York and I booked then got a call a few days later saying 'oops we overbooked' - gah!)

Hoping its as easy as I've heard to get the RER / shuttle back and forth!

Sadie

 

[Cyrano]

Hi Sadie and welcome to DLP DIS board
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Can't help with veggie options but I'm sure others will be along to help

 

[bozzboy]

Can't help too much, but me and my girlfriend went to Plaza Gardens for a meal (20 euros without drinks) and were left feeling quite disappointed. Not too much on offer that was particularly appealing, and it all just seemed rather poor. There was a birthday party going on while we were there which looked quite fun. Genie was there dancing and all.

On another note, we were VERY impressed with the Ellysee Hotel. Wasn't expecting much at all, but the lobby and rooms are superb. There's a few nice hotels around, although it was a bit of a nightmare getting there off the plane.

 

[obscure]

Thanks for the welcome Reid & for the good comments on the hotel bozzboy (glad we made a good choice as it was a bit pot luck in the end LOL).

I think we're going to book a shuttle from Orly to get there (posted above about this) as I looked at Metro / RER from Orly and it'd take 1.5 hours! The VEA shuttle was similar price to a private one from greyshuttle! So if I get some good reviews on them I'll book through there It'd definately make it FAR less stressful!

Still unsure about the party / Inventions / what to do! I think we're going to take them to the wild west show on the evening of his birthday (it starts at 6.30 and the park shuts at 7 so we'll not be missing much and it sounds like they'd really enjoy it!)
Sadie

 

[Ware Bears]

Hi Sadie, welcome to the DIS!

The buffet at Inventions is absolutely delicious but I'm afraid I can't help with exactly how much is suitable for veggies or not, sorry.

The tea at Plaza Gardens has been recommended by quite a few DISers ~have you looked at our Restaurant sticky as there are some reviews on there.

 

[obscure]

Thanks Elaine,

I was pondering doing that as a final farewell to disney on the sunday (as we need to leave the park around 7.45pm) I hope to get a booking for 6pm (and also take advantage of the 20% off early tables!) - anyone know if the characters are around for the earlier dinner sittings?

I think we'll do the tea party - but whether we do the birthday party, or just the tea party, or now also pondering the breakfast I am still unsure!

LOL! Too many decisions to make!
Sadie

 

[Tinkerbell_1989]

hiya i deff think you shoul go to plaza gardens i had one about 9 weeks ago and i havent come back down to earth yet i loved it was the best part of my holiday i would HIGHLY recomend it to any one no matter what age the characters are great there espcialy towards the birthay boy or girl deff go for it the food was nice there wasnt really alot of meat there when we were there it was hash browns, bacon, eggs, sausage, croassants, and then all the cakey things let us no what you decide though x

 

[dee slack]

what times do they do the Plaza Gardens Birthday? Do you HAVE to book in advance? TIA

 

[Ware Bears]

I hope to get a booking for 6pm (and also take advantage of the 20% off early tables!) - anyone know if the characters are around for the earlier dinner sittings?

We've had bookings at 6pm, the characters tend to turn up about quarter past.

 

[jillrobinson]

hash browns, bacon, eggs, sausage, croassants,

At the Birthday Party ???

We had the character tea party a few years ago at PG and it was good, at that time it was all sweet dessert foods, no savouries at all.
I believe that menu has now changed. IMO the Plaza Gardens is a really good value for money character meal although we did find other
people's children following the characters around the tables

Inventions has on the whole good reviews, but it's far more expensive, we had booked it last time but as DS wasn't well, we cancelled because
it would've been a waste of money really, but we may do it
next time if I can come up with a good enough reason for a celebration

Don't know if you've considered Cafe Mickey obscure, my DS had his 7th Birthday there and we had a fabulous time. Again it's on the more
expensive side but the character interaction is great.
DS had Mickey and the Genie bring his cake

it was a very memorable evening.

 

[A Small World]

what times do they do the Plaza Gardens Birthday? Do you HAVE to book in advance? TIA

There are usually 2 sittings per day at aound 4.00 and 5.30 ish.

You do need to book but we booked the day before at City Hall in Summer. When we got there they didnt have any record of our booking and we had lost the slip of paper thay gave us with the booking on, however they were able to accomodate us.

I would certainly recommend it. There were some savoury and lots of sweet things to eat and loads of characters. Well worth the money.

 

[dee slack]

thanks! I'll give 'em a ring!

 

[BONITATIME]

For what they are charging I am not sure Innovetions is a good idea for you. There are some salad cholices but my recollection is they tend to have something you wouldn't eat in them There will be at least 1 item for main course that is vegetarian but i think it is pasta.
The tea birthday party seems to be fun. We usually do the ordinary tea and the birthday children seem to enjoy themselves. They get a present ( Mickey plush ) and a cake.
I liked the idea of Cafe Mickey as they will bring a cake (extra charge) and you have characters. Even if you don't have the cake I am sure they would do something.

 

[obscure]

Thanks Leanne,

So glad that they have a little savoury stuff too _ I have to say that was one of the things putting me off a bit as we don't eat much sugary stuff at all in day to day life!

I don't mind them havng a bit but not 1.5 hours of solid cake eating *bleurgh*

Sadie

 

[obscure]

Thanks Jill - your son looks very happy

I'd not heard of cafe mickey - another thing to choose from LOL!

Can't really justify doing the party and dinner with cake - perhaps we could do dinner on the day we leave (though we have to be away from the park by around half 7 so not sure we'd have time to have a proper character meal experience - some places say the characters don't arrive till 6.30 or so.

Looks like cafe mickey could more value for money than inventions for us as we'd not be partaking in the expensive offerings off the buffet but the children would still get the characters...

So many things to consider!

Is it essential to book at cafe mickey (some places have suggested its v busy) - DH isnt so keen on pre-organising stuff, though I've overuled him on the wild west show & whatever we do for DSs birthday!

Sadie

 

[obscure]

Thanks Nikki

Just what I needed to know I did wonder if there would be much to choose from at the buffet, as whilst I don't mind for cheap meals out in the UK (lunch buffets etc) it'd be very frustrating for an expensive meal!

When you say you normally do the ordinary tea - is that the non birthday version at plaza gardens? I'd not realised they got a gift with that one. Is there much different between the birthday tea party and the usual tea party? Or is it just the cake! Is there anything separating the 2 from each other, or more characters or anything like that at all?

Thanks for all the info - really helps!
Sadie

 

[A Small World]

Its not a different time its just some people book it as a birthday tea in which case they get a cake and the birthday child a present. Everyone else in there is just having the normal tea. From what I understand only the birthday person pays the birthday price and the others the normal tea price but I may be wrong on that.

When we went in July there were about 6 groups celebrating birthdays amongst allt he other groups. The cakes were brought out individually and Happy Birthday was played/sung. However to be honest most people werent paying much attention to the fact it was someones birthday so dont expect the whole tea party to sing or anything.