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Walt Disney World in Florida

Welcome to the Mumsnet Disney World forum UK, here you can share your Disney secrets for planning the perfect holiday to Walt Disney World Florida.

Original poster

Character meals

19 replies

Aria20 · 16/06/2023 20:49

We are booking WDW for October 2024. My boys will be 15&13 not interested in character meals but dd will be 6 so I'm considering me and her doing one. We will be staying in a villa not in a Disney hotel so would be looking to book a meal at the castle. Breakfast is a bit cheaper than lunch/dinner but the reviews all say the food isn't the best quality so I guess I'm asking is it worth the huge price? Is it a magical experience? Do you find out in advance which princesses will be there? Do they come and sit at your table etc? Can you take photos with them?

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CaveMum · 17/06/2023 19:54

Can’t answer as we’ve not been yet - first trip booked for next year! I’d say follow various Disney blogs/forums to get an idea about whether the Character Meals are worth it for you.

My gut says they probably aren’t the best quality food and are over-priced but it’s more about whether you are prepared to pay for the “experience” than the food.

Best blogs/forums I recommend looking at for tips/advice:

https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/

https://ziggyknowsdisney.com/

https://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/index.php

the disney food blog | food IS a theme park

Your source for Disney restaurants and food! We focus on Disney restaurant reviews, Disney snacks, food news, Disney Dining Plans, and more from Disney World, Disneyland, the Disney Cruise Line, and International Disney Parks!

https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/

mindtheGAAP · 17/06/2023 19:56

I'd recommend joining the Facebook group "It's Orlando Time", you'll get some well informed responses on there as well as pictures from blogs of the food etc.

Original poster
Aria20 · 18/06/2023 08:04

Thanks for the suggestions I'm not on Facebook but I'll join the others!

If anyone else has had a character meal please post your experience!

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LadyOfACertainAge · 18/06/2023 08:10

We’ve done character meals many times at Disney when my girls have been 4/8/10. 6 is the perfect age.

each of the princesses will come to your table and chat with your daughter, sign autographs and pose for photos. It’s a similar interaction to when you queue to see them. Sometimes there is something extra like facing or a conga line but I’m not sure post Covid whether they’d still do it.

if I had the money I’d pay for it, she’ll probably love having that time with just you too

ZenNudist · 18/06/2023 08:14

We went for lunch at DAK which turned out to be character meal and the food was excellent. Dc were 8 and 11 but really enjoyed it. Adults had fun too. I think the restaurant was in Africa. Characters were on safari. Micky Minnie Don daisy goofy.

Snowdropsarelovely · 18/06/2023 08:16

Not sure how it compares price wise but we did breakfast at Akershus in Norway at Epocot - it was decent food and plenty of time with the princesses. This was pre-covid though so not sure what they do now- worth a look though

BeyondMyWits · 18/06/2023 08:24

Snowdropsarelovely · 18/06/2023 08:16

Not sure how it compares price wise but we did breakfast at Akershus in Norway at Epocot - it was decent food and plenty of time with the princesses. This was pre-covid though so not sure what they do now- worth a look though

We also did the princess breakfast at Akershus at Epcot. Worth every penny. Food was lovely, had 5 princesses all spend time with loads of interaction, autograph signing and photo ops with the kids. Also had the great empty park photo op since we booked the first time slot of the day... before general opening.

Food was part hot served on a platter to the table, part buffet... fruit/yoghurt/pastries/waffles etc (pre covid, don't know if it has changed). Was expensive... but worth it for the experience.

LyndaLaHughes · 18/06/2023 08:26

Yes the character meals are worth it. You need to check which characters are there and prioritise the ones your daughter wants to see. We did the following last august

Breakfast at -
Topilinos
Hollywood and Vine
Cinderella's Royal Table

Lunch/dinner at-
Garden Grill
Artist point

We also did some other places like Sci Fi Diner, Cape May Cafe and Beaches and Cream.

We found the food to be really lovely and enjoyed every place we went to. We did have some dining credit which we used towards it. We were staying on site though.

roughtyping · 18/06/2023 08:32

We're going back next year, haven't been since 2014.

Last time we were there we went to Tusker House (in AK) for breakfast. The food was excellent - a good mix of unusual food and food DS would eat! - and the character interactions were fab.

We also did breakfast at Crystal Palace in MK (Winnie the Pooh characters) - I vaguely remember the food not being quite as good BUT we got into the park early for that 'castle picture'.

I think the dining experiences are absolutely worth it for those kids who love to meet characters.

Definitely check out Disney Food Blog as they have reviewed all Disney restaurants and have sooo much information.

2lsinllama · 18/06/2023 08:37

Agree with pp that Akershus is much better for princesses than Cinderella’s Royal Table. Ours are too old now (and past the age where they can dress up 😞) but we always enjoyed that one.

Original poster
Aria20 · 18/06/2023 13:01

@LadyOfACertainAge I'm sure she'd love it... I'm just a bit Confused at the cost as I've already planned to do the bibidee bobidee boutique which is $200 on its own!!

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Original poster
Aria20 · 18/06/2023 13:05

Oh I've just read the other replies I did look at the Norway one in Epcot but wasn't sure if my fusspot would eat the choices!!
I hadn't realised there was one at animal kingdom too so I'll also look at that - I did a meet and greet with safari minnie and Mickey at animal kingdom 9 years ago with my boys but didn't realise was a character dining there too!

Thanks all - best get saving I suppose Grin

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Original poster
Aria20 · 18/06/2023 13:08

Oh also sorry to ask another Q... if I go just me and Dd who will take photos for us? DH will most probably go on some big rides with our older boys instead!

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2lsinllama · 19/06/2023 09:19

Aria20 · 18/06/2023 13:08

Oh also sorry to ask another Q... if I go just me and Dd who will take photos for us? DH will most probably go on some big rides with our older boys instead!

There will be a ‘character handler’ around who can take photos, or your server. Or just ask the folks at the next table - we loving doing that for people.

tellermorrow · 22/06/2023 15:52

We went to wdw in January with my 18 month old and had breakfast at Ohana at the Polynesian resort. This was the best meal I've ever had on property (we've been 3 times in the last 10 years).
We had ample time with each character (Mickey, Pluto, stitch and lilo), my little one even had time to fall asleep Plutos nose 😅. The food is beautiful, a great selection, I'm vegan and my partner eats meat and all of our food was amazing.
The Polynesian resort is gorgeous to just walk around and has some nice shops.
You can get the monorail or walk (or possibly boat, but I'm not sure) from the Poly to the magic kingdom as well. We went to magic kingdom first to get our sons hair cut, so you could combine with the bibidi bobbidi boutique day? We booked for 11.50am which was great so more like a lunch for the day, and we ate so much there was no need for an evening meal.
Highly recommend, worth every penny.
We also did the character meal at animal kingdom for lunch which was good but in comparison nowhere near as good as Ohana. The food was ok, quite exotic choices which was nice. It is buffet style though, and the whole atmosphere seemed more chaotic. The service didn't seem as efficient either, although it was still very friendly. You do get to meet Mickey, Daisy, goofy and Donald.
Next time we'd love to try garden grill, as the food looks fantastic. I think they have recently reopened their breakfast which I imagine will run through until lunch time as well. Plus it's in Epcot so would be good to book before park opening to get in early then straight into ride queues!

MaryShelley1818 · 19/07/2023 13:53

I've been visiting WDW since 1989 and done a LOT of character meals!
Been to Chef Mickeys, Beauty and the Beast Castle, Tusker House, Cape May, Crystal Palace. All absolutely worth the price tag, great food and greater characters.

We've booked for next year after a 9yr break and taking DH, DS6 and DD3 for their first trip.
We're doing Chef Mickeys breakfast (the ultimate meet with the Big Five!) Crystal Lunch (I love Winnie the Pooh and DH loves Prime Rib 🤣) and then Akershus for the princesses for DD.

MumofSpud · 19/07/2023 22:40

I have done the Princess lunch (can't remember the exact name) twice with DD

The first time I didn't realise how expensive it was - we had been quoted the wrong price !
But.... it was amazing - the characters came to everybody and spent so much time with them!

boismint · 27/10/2023 16:29

Just another point of view. If you have a confident child who likes to talk to the characters the extra time spent at the meals are more likely to be worth it. Mine found it a bit daunting chatting to them for long as charming as they are so we got plenty of time just in the normal line ups. Personally I have never been impressed by the food in the meals and found it takes a lot of time out of the day when I have my own ideas what I want us to do. I am also not into big three course meals in this context. I’d rather spend the money on Genie+ to be able to lightning lane whichever characters you can (which isn’t all of them) and the time on queuing for those you can’t.

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