We probably won’t all agree on these, but in planning future trips with Grands in tow, what....in your opinion...what .are the best Character Meals and the ones not really worth the time. Please tell me if it’s food and/or characters that make your opinion. We have been to Chef Mickey (which is the Grands and my DH’s favorite breakfast spot), Crystal Palace for breakfast and dinner (not exactly my favorite on both categories), Cinderella’s Palace (met everyone’s favorite princesses, but food was over priced for dinner), Hollywood and Vine (it was ok, but didn’t make the final cut as a “returning hit” on our last visit), Ohana (this families fan favorite for breakfast and dinner. Characters are cool,too), oh and we can’t foget BOG, for quick service and dinner. I really liked it and I think it’s the only meet and greet for The Beast. I wish there was a way to get Belle there, too. I understand that it gets tricky having so many of all characters having their own meet and greets around the park, but would be nice.
"Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved." — Pooh, Winnie the Pooh
We have done The Garden Grill and Hollywood & Vine Halloween character meal. For two adults with no kids, The Garden Grill was the perfect amount of characters without being too much. There were four adults that did the Hollywood & Vine meal and we didn't like it too much. The kids here were uncontrolled, loud and too many.
Prior: Offsite most every other years from 1972 - 2000
Most recent: Offsite 2001 & 2003 / ASM 2006 / Offsite 2009 / Poly 2011 / POR 2013 / CR 2014 / GF 2015 / DS Hotel 2017 / BC 2017 / POR 2018
We did a lot of character meals when the children were younger. Our favorites were the Garden Grill (love Chip 'n Dale!) and the Soundstage Restaurant (which is no longer at HS, MGM at the time - Aladdin and Pocahontas were our 2 visits there...Jafar was fabulous!) Aside from Chef's Mickey's and 'Ohana, which we always went to, 1900 Park Fare was a nice change. We want to try Tusker House on our next visit.
WDW Sept 1995 Contemporary - WDW July 1997 Polynesian - WDW July 1998 Polynesian - WDW July 2000 Grand Floridian - WDW July 2003 Grand Floridian
We have done The Garden Grill and Hollywood & Vine Halloween character meal. For two adults with no kids, The Garden Grill was the perfect amount of characters without being too much. There were four adults that did the Hollywood & Vine meal and we didn't like it too much. The kids here were uncontrolled, loud and too many.
I felt the same way at Hollywood and Vine. It was more of a “tolerance” than an “experience”.
"Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved." — Pooh, Winnie the Pooh
I'm back, sorry it's been awhile. I think the character meals are a hit or miss just like all the other meals. Depends on the cast members having a good day or not. Yes Hollywood and Vine is noisy, but, it is our family favorite, and we are without young children. We do the lunch not the dinner. Crystal Palace is terrible, glad I was not the only one that thought it Missybee. 1900 Park Fare was great at one time then the food went down hill last Sept. We enjoy the buffets and just go with the flow dealing with characters and noise. Tusker house was good, then, we had 2 terrible experiences their. like I said, it all depends on the cast members having a good day. terrible we spend all that money to find out someone hates there boss or job.
We have done a few in the family and with friends and broke it down this way:
Must do at least once a trip: Ohana (We try to do both Breakfast and Dinner each visit) Garden Grill or Chef Mickey (always one or the other, but three trips in a row with both)
Like to do: Tusker House (when we have a full day at Animal Kingdom - where we fell in love with Jungle Juice) Crystal Palace (Breakfast Only!!!!! Did lunch once and hated it!)
Sometimes: 1900 Park Fare (Just for the Strawberry Soup & the mad hatter) BOG (not impressed with dinner- we preferred the value of lunch)
Have not done: Askerhus Bon Voyage (Maybe this coming summer) Cape May Cafe (Planning to do this coming summer)
Never again: Hollywood and Vine CRT (Good meal but only be back if the wife gets a Princess urge again)
It's amazing how some meals are so great and a guest enjoys it enough to recommend it to others, then someone else has a totally different experience and would never return. We only did the Garden Grill once and would never do it again, the food was straight from the grocery stores frozen cases, we walked out. Same with 1900 park fare, we always enjoyed it, then the food was so bad our last time. The salmon was in squares that you buy in the frozen case and tasted just like it. Salmon doesn't come in squares.
We have never had a bad experience with Hollywood and Vine and hope our experience continues, we are running out of places we like. For us, the Studios has better restaurants than the rest of WDW.
I'm back, sorry it's been awhile. I think the character meals are a hit or miss just like all the other meals. Depends on the cast members having a good day or not. Yes Hollywood and Vine is noisy, but, it is our family favorite, and we are without young children. We do the lunch not the dinner. Crystal Palace is terrible, glad I was not the only one that thought it Missybee. 1900 Park Fare was great at one time then the food went down hill last Sept. We enjoy the buffets and just go with the flow dealing with characters and noise. Tusker house was good, then, we had 2 terrible experiences their. like I said, it all depends on the cast members having a good day. terrible we spend all that money to find out someone hates there boss or job.
Must be you have a thick cloud of gloom over top of your head sometimes Mike....I have NEVER had as many complaints since 1971 as what you have had just since this forum started, I think WDW has great cast members who for the most part love their jobs and try to make every guests experience as magical and special as they can.....Please try to remember this is a site people will visit when looking for advice and hints to have a great experience....can we keep it a bit more positive.
second star to the right and straight on till morning
I'm back, sorry it's been awhile. I think the character meals are a hit or miss just like all the other meals. Depends on the cast members having a good day or not. Yes Hollywood and Vine is noisy, but, it is our family favorite, and we are without young children. We do the lunch not the dinner. Crystal Palace is terrible, glad I was not the only one that thought it Missybee. 1900 Park Fare was great at one time then the food went down hill last Sept. We enjoy the buffets and just go with the flow dealing with characters and noise. Tusker house was good, then, we had 2 terrible experiences their. like I said, it all depends on the cast members having a good day. terrible we spend all that money to find out someone hates there boss or job.
Must be you have a thick cloud of gloom over top of your head sometimes Mike....I have NEVER had as many complaints since 1971 as what you have had just since this forum started, I think WDW has great cast members who for the most part love their jobs and try to make every guests experience as magical and special as they can.....Please try to remember this is a site people will visit when looking for advice and hints to have a great experience....can we keep it a bit more positive.
will do, thanks for the advice, I forget from time to time