Why has character breakfasts as well as character dining becoming so popular and why hasn't there been any new character dining created?

[DodgerGirl]

It used to be that when families would visit Walt Disney World the character breakfasts and dining were fast ways of having the children meet their favorite characters without having to wait in long lines at the parks. But what I haven't figured out is how character dining and character breakfasts suddenly became popular at Disney Parks. Because I understand that there's excited children waiting to meet Mickey Minnie the princesses and other characters but I think in my eyes the characters are there to distract children from eating the food and how people pay big money for character dining i'll never figure out. The restaurant that I think is not worth the money in Walt Disney World and I don't know why Walt Disney World calls this restaurant character dining is Be Our Guest and the only character that appears there is The Beast at dinner and all The Beast does is walk around to tables and wave to guests and what Be Our Guest should've done in the first place was have Belle join The Beast and Belle would sign autographs and take photos with diners. How Be Our Guest makes money i'll never understand at all. A second restaurant that should have a character variety is Crystal Palace at both breakfast lunch and dinner and it seems that Winnie The Pooh is the popular character there but for the money that Crystal Palace is charging for character breakfasts and dining Crystal Palace should add more characters like The Mad Hatter and Alice In Wonderland and Aladdin and Jasmine and Peter Pan and Wendy rather than Winnie The Pooh characters because I guess if you have a child who's a Winnie The Pooh fan Crystal Palace is a smart choice for them. What I think Walt Disney World needs are more exciting character breakfasts like a Star Wars themed character breakfast or a Disney Fairies themed character dinner and breakfast in Fantasyland in Magic Kingdom. And Port Orleans Resort should have The Princess And The Frog character dining at Boatwright's. I can say if Walt Disney World were to lower the prices of the character breakfasts and dinners and add a character variety they could get even more popular indeed

 

[OKW Lover]

if Walt Disney World were to lower the prices of the character breakfasts and dinners and add a character variety they could get even more popular indeed

I believe that the current character breakfast venues sell out quickly. There doesn't seem to be a reason for Disney to lower the price to attract more guests.

 

[mort1331]

While I see the possibilities for more, different character meals,,,,the ones that are there do very well. There is a reason most sell out or close to it. For the additional cost of the meet, is almost equal to paying OOP for lightning lanes.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I don't think they just suddenly become popular! Kids love the characters. Heck, adults love the characters! And the price will settle in based on supply and demand. BOG, CRT for example are very popular, and expensive.

 

[Dug720]

The character dining at 1900 Park Faire got a new overhaul and it's Aladdin, Tiana, Mirabel, and Cinderella - which, I admit, is the most random grouping EVER. But it's new.

There are plenty of people - not just kids - who love the Winnie the Pooh characters.

I do wish they'd bring back the character breakfast at Trattoria (though I wish they'd replace Ariel and Eric with someone else.)

 

[FreeTime]

Character dining didn’t suddenly become popular. It was popular 20 years ago when I took my kids. I’d much rather pay for a meal and sit and eat while letting the kids enjoy the character interaction then waiting in line. Worth the money to me.

 

[mom2rtk]

Nothing sudden about it. Our first visit twenty years ago we couldn't get reservations at Chef Mickey and we were staying IN the Contemporary.

And they did recently completely reimagine the 1900 Park Fare character meal.

Until they stop selling out, the price isn't going down. Only up.

 

[Pyxie]

Disney does not call Be Our Guest character dining.

 

[VGCgroupie]

We have done a ton of character dining. We have loved it every single time and never regret the price paid except.... Be Our Guest.

 

[Lesverts]

Trattoria al Forno Bon Voyage Breakfast is the only one I can think of that has not returned in the time I have been going to the parks. Garden Grill has had the breakfast added and taken away a few times since 2015. There was a Star Wars character breakfast (that had amazing food) back in the Star Wars Weekends day at SciFi. There was the Star Wars dressed up Disney characters at Hollywood and Vine during that time too. But Kathleen Kennedy is no fun so that isn't allowed anymore.

I could see them adding a breakfast with different characters at Artist Point or bringing back Bon Voyage. I loved that meal. Those characters were amazing. Rapunzel and Tiana (the only saving grace of the new 1900 Park Fare) are easily the most fun Princesses to met. And I always enjoy meeting the princes.

 

[gatour]

Your first sentence answers your question. It is an easy way to guarantee seeing characters without standing in line. Since they sell out fairly quickly with current pricing there is no reason for Disney to lower the prices. It is simple economics, supply/demand in action. You raise prices to as much as the market will bear.