Character Dining - First time Visitor

[Yellow Strap]

We will be making our first trip to DLR next October. We have gone to WDW every year since 2004 and can't wait to see the original.
Our sons love Character meals (ages 14 and 6). Any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[Californian Elitist]

I'd recommend Minnie and Friends at the Plaza Inn. Good food and lots of characters.

 

[Tinkerfan4ever]

PCH Grill at Paradise Pier Hotel. Character breakfast. The interaction was better than any we have ever been part of at Disneyworld. The kids went up and did several dances with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Stitch etc. I highly recommend it!

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

I went to the Surf's Up breakfast at Paradise Pier, the food was decent and the character interaction was good. We saw similar characters as tinkerfan4ever.

 

[Cosmic Commando]

I'd recommend Minnie and Friends at the Plaza Inn. Good food and lots of characters.

Seconded. If you guys like characters, you'll probably enjoy it as there are characters from a whole bunch of different "families" that tend to be there. Fairy Godmother, Hook, Minnie, Pooh Characters seem to be the regular rotation. Plus, I think people often ignore the convenience of having a character meal right in the park. I say the same thing for Crystal Palace, and the Plaza is in almost the exact same spot. No trekking over to a hotel; that's the way to do it.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Seconded. If you guys like characters, you'll probably enjoy it as there are characters from a whole bunch of different "families" that tend to be there. Fairy Godmother, Hook, Minnie, Pooh Characters seem to be the regular rotation. Plus, I think people often ignore the convenience of having a character meal right in the park. I say the same thing for Crystal Palace, and the Plaza is in almost the exact same spot. No trekking over to a hotel; that's the way to do it.

Are not the majority of character dining places in the parks? They're all in hotels???

 

[Cosmic Commando]

Are not the majority of character dining places in the parks? They're all in hotels???

Every park has one or two. MK has Crystal Palace with Pooh characters and Cinderella's Royal Table, Epcot has princesses and Garden Grill, DHS has Disney Junior and Epcot has Donald's Safari breakfast. I think there's around an equal number between all of the hotels, and some of the more popular ones are at hotels... Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary is probably the most famous character meal at WDW. Swan/Dolphin, Contemporary, Beach Club, Fort Wilderness, Contemporary, Poly and Grand Floridian all have character meals. There could even be a couple that I'm forgetting.

 

[Yellow Strap]

Very cool suggestions! Thanks.

Anyone ever do a Character Dinner at DLR?

 

[thomas998]

I can't recommend the character dining at DL... at least not in any of the places we've tried. Goofy's Kitechen... horrible service, marginal food.... Ariel's Grotto... pricey for the quality of the food, fewer characters than other places... Plaza Inn... food is marginal, but you do get a nice variety of characters... Kind of depends on the characters that you are looking for as to where you would go.... But don't expect the food to be very good at all. There are places in DW that I would go to regardless of the characters because the food was good.... I can't say I've ever found a place like that at DL.

 

[Californian Elitist]

I can't recommend the character dining at DL... at least not in any of the places we've tried. Goofy's Kitechen... horrible service, marginal food.... Ariel's Grotto... pricey for the quality of the food, fewer characters than other places... Plaza Inn... food is marginal, but you do get a nice variety of characters... Kind of depends on the characters that you are looking for as to where you would go.... But don't expect the food to be very good at all. There are places in DW that I would go to regardless of the characters because the food was good.... I can't say I've ever found a place like that at DL.

Why post if you can't recommend anything, then? It doesn't help.

 

[thomas998]

Why post if you can't recommend anything, then? It doesn't help.

Consider it fair warning. If a bridge is out, I wouldn't let a bus load of people drive out to it... I would warn them if I could that the bridge was out.

I think most people that are only familiar with WDW and their character dining would want to know which places at DL aren't up to the same standard. If you had read my post carefully, I was quite clear in the ones that I had experienced and that were less than impressive.... It is certainly possible that I managed to only experience the 3 worst ones at DL... but I doubt it.

My only question to you is have you ever experienced the dining at WDW or are you only familiar with DL? If your only experience is with DL then what benefit would any of your opinions be to someone familiar with WDW?

 

[Californian Elitist]

Consider it fair warning. If a bridge is out, I wouldn't let a bus load of people drive out to it... I would warn them if I could that the bridge was out.

I think most people that are only familiar with WDW and their character dining would want to know which places at DL aren't up to the same standard. If you had read my post carefully, I was quite clear in the ones that I had experienced and that were less than impressive.... It is certainly possible that I managed to only experience the 3 worst ones at DL... but I doubt it.

My only question to you is have you ever experienced the dining at WDW or are you only familiar with DL? If your only experience is with DL then what benefit would any of your opinions be to someone familiar with WDW?

I could understand if you recommended at least one option, but you go and start off your response with "I can't recommend character dining at DL." Great way to start off. It came off wrong.

To answer your question, no, I'm not familiar with WDW dining, but the OP didn't ask for options that reflected WDW options. They simply asked for suggestions. They want to try something new and you're trying to steer them away from that.

 

[thomas998]

I could understand if you recommended at least one option, but you go and start off your response with "I can't recommend character dining at DL." Great way to start off. It came off wrong.

To answer your question, no, I'm not familiar with WDW dining, but the OP didn't ask for options that reflected WDW options. They simply asked for suggestions. They want to try something new and you're trying to steer them away from that.

I'm trying to insure they don't go with the same expectations for quality and service that they are accustomed to. If you ever experienced WDW and their level of quality and service you would not even try to defend DL. They are light years apart...

I was actually trying to be polite in my original answer, as the truth is at Ariel's Grotto I managed only about 20 minutes after having the shrimp before having to make a mad dash for the nearest bathroom... But because I wasn't 100% sure it was caused by the food, I didn't bring that up.... It could have been something else, but I do know exactly where I ate that entire day and the day before and they were all at Disney.

 

[Californian Elitist]

I'm trying to insure they don't go with the same expectations for quality and service that they are accustomed to. If you ever experienced WDW and their level of quality and service you would not even try to defend DL. They are light years apart...

I was actually trying to be polite in my original answer, as the truth is at Ariel's Grotto I managed only about 20 minutes after having the shrimp before having to make a mad dash for the nearest bathroom... But because I wasn't 100% sure it was caused by the food, I didn't bring that up.... It could have been something else, but I do know exactly where I ate that entire day and the day before and they were all at Disney.

I'm not defending Disneyland's dining at all. You are not getting the point I'm trying to make. If I've made up my mind about going somewhere and I ask for dining suggestions, I wouldn't want someone telling me any and everything BUT suggestions. If someone didn't have suggestions, or at least A suggestion, I would wonder how they thought they were helping me.

Yes, your approach was polite, but again, it doesn't matter, since you're not actually helping the person. The OP wanted suggestions for character dining, and you didn't give them that. Instead, you did the exact opposite and talked about how much you didn't like the character dining options at DL, a place they've never been before. Okay, great, you don't like it. That's completely fine. The OP would like to hear about good character dining options. If you can't suggest anything, then don't bother helping, because it's no help at all. You were polite, but your motives were off.

 

[coachwnh]

I'd recommend Minnie and Friends at the Plaza Inn. Good food and lots of characters.

Totally agree! Best character dining experience in DL!!!!

 

[coachwnh]

Very cool suggestions! Thanks.

Anyone ever do a Character Dinner at DLR?

We have done the Plaza breakfast two summers in a row. Always great. I have to say, Surfs up at Paradise Pier was the biggest dud ever. Goofy's Kitchen was also a solid experience. The breakfast at CA Adventure was just OK as far as characters go. The food has always been decent at all of them, but if you are looking for the chance to see 10 plus characters at one dining experience, then I'd go with the Plaza.

 

[Californian Elitist]

We have done the Plaza breakfast two summers in a row. Always great. I have to say, Surfs up at Paradise Pier was the biggest dud ever. Goofy's Kitchen was also a solid experience. The breakfast at CA Adventure was just OK as far as characters go. The food has always been decent at all of them, but if you are looking for the chance to see 10 plus characters at one dining experience, then I'd go with the Plaza.

This is what a helpful post looks like!

 

[coachwnh]

This is what a helpful post looks like!

Thanks @raven24 . I know the difference between WDW and DL dining and I have to say the best character dining experience we have ever had was at the Plaza in DL. We have been AP holders in WDW for about 5 years and travel there several times a year. Being an AP holder in DL for the first time this year doesn't make me an expert, but I feel I can help. I'm not at your level with expertise in DL, but I like to help when I can.

PS I hope you are enjoying Halloween in DL! We loved our first WDW Halloween!

 

[Californian Elitist]

Thanks @raven24 . I know the difference between WDW and DL dining and I have to say the best character dining experience we have ever had was at the Plaza in DL. We have been AP holders in WDW for about 5 years and travel there several times a year. Being an AP holder in DL for the first time this year doesn't make me an expert, but I feel I can help. I'm not at your level with expertise in DL, but I like to help when I can.

PS I hope you are enjoying Halloween in DL! We loved our first WDW Halloween!

You are awesome for even trying, and I think your suggestions were lovely!

I very much enjoyed my Halloween! I swear, I cannot keep up with your trip report, but I'm so happy to hear you had a great time! Hopefully there will be more WDW visits during Halloween in the future.

 

[Yellow Strap]

Thank you all again. We will probably go with the Minnie and Friends at The Plaza!

Plus all responses were helpful!