DL questions! Mainly Dining options!

[stevehousse]

Is it just me, or do I seem to be having a hard time finding a character meal for dinner at DL? All I seem to find is breakfast with characters? Anyone have any info on where they do character dining for dinner? A little confused...

We are in the very early stages of planning our 2015 trip to DL for our family! I have been twice, but it was over 20 years ago, and my wife and kids have never been. We already have decided to book DL Hotel and get 5 day tickets.

We do know we want to eat at Steakhouse 55 and also Blue Bayou for dinner. I am looking for 1 character breakfast and 1 character dinner!

 

[Californian Elitist]

I believe Goofy's Kitchen offers characters during dinnertime.

 

[stevehousse]

I believe Goofy's Kitchen offers characters during dinnertime.

If they do then we definitely will do dinner there. I know u know a lot about DL, would u recommend Ariel's grotto for breakfast or lunch? How is the theming of the restaurant? Ariel is my wife's favorite so I was looking into it. Even though I do have 2 younger boys, they don't mind meeting the girls...

 

[Californian Elitist]

If they do then we definitely will do dinner there. I know u know a lot about DL, would u recommend Ariel's grotto for breakfast or lunch? How is the theming of the restaurant? Ariel is my wife's favorite so I was looking into it. Even though I do have 2 younger boys, they don't mind meeting the girls...

I've never eaten at Ariel's. I'm not a character/table dining person, I'm more quick service. I would ask @TP2000 or @GiveMeTheMusic .

 

[Disneyfanman]

Ariel's Grotto does characters for lunch, but dinner is a more adult atmosphere with no characters. It's table service and I have found the food pretty good. Goofy's Kitchen has the same atmosphere as Chef Mickeys with a similar buffet system. It's much smaller then CM and therefore feels less crowded. I have all adults now, but we usually have a meal there during a trip. You walk there through DTD and it takes about 10 min from the front gates(or you can take the monorail from Tomorrowland). If I had to choose I would always take Goofy's Kitchen.

There are others as well, but they are not as common as WDW.

 

[stevehousse]

Thanks! I've gotten the impression that there aren't a ton of dining options for table service there...we r fine with quick service for most of our meals. just wanted to at least have 1 character meal and the other 2 I mentioned previously.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Thanks! I've gotten the impression that there aren't a ton of dining options for table service there...we r fine with quick service for most of our meals. just wanted to at least have 1 character meal and the other 2 I mentioned previously.

You should be able to do both breakfast and dinner. There are five table service eateries in the two parks combined. There are also some in the hotels and Downtown Disney, of course.

 

[zooey]

Fun little story about Goofy's Kitchen... my fiance and I were touring the DL hotel in the afternoon when it wasn't very busy at all, and Goofy was hanging out in front of his restaurant waiting for people to show up. We were in the atrium taking pictures, and Goofy came out and played around with us for a bit. I didn't eat there, but whoever was playing the character that day was very good.

 

[westie]

Steakhouse 55 is great! Prime rib heaven. I'd also recommend Carthay Circle (huge steak) and get the world of color package. Well worth it.

 

[BubbaQuest]

There is an Ariel's meet-n-greet area inside Ariel's Grotto. I have seen her there during dinner, but I don't know if she has a scheduled time. It's definitely not a "character dining" experience, but it is nice to see her there before sitting down to dinner.

Of the three sit-down restaurants at DCA, Ariel's is the most "Disney". Carthay Circle is beautiful and worth a trip, but it you want something more cartoon-like, I'd pick Ariel's.