Going to disney with a 4-year old boy in mid-April. He is a wonderful child, but has a very short attention span, and cannot sit still for more than 5 minutes through anything. I'm worried that if I take him to a character dining experience, he'll just run around chasing characters... What do characters do, anyway? Just walk around? Sit down and make you eat? Put on a show? Help.....
2007-03-28 04:05:35 · 9 answers · asked by curious1223 3 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Orlando
I totally agree with Lisa. If you do character dining, get reservations at the Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom. All character dining is aimed toward young kids, especially ones who want to "chase" them so to speak. During the meal, the characters will stop by each table and do pictures and autographs. They also get the whole crowd into the experience. For example, if you go to the Crystal Palace, they have a time where they put on music and all the little ones are invited to play follow the leader around the restaurant with the Pooh characters (and it's a small restaurant, so you are always able to see your child during follow the leader.) At Chef Mickey's, the characters will come out and dance and have everyone twirl their napkins in the air (when I was there with my 4 and 8 year old cousins, Donald Duck came up to our table and "scolded" me for not twirling my napkin as well. Haha.) The kids love it.
2007-03-28 14:19:32 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your little guy will be at home with the character breakfast. He will be in good company with the rest of the little ones running after the characters. The characters come into the dining area and are there to joke around with the kids (and parents) and you will have a chance to take pictures and get autographs from the various characters.
It is actually a little hard to get the kids to eat because they are more interested in the characters. The characters do not talk but will motion to you or their spotters will let you know if your child is getting out of hand. (They are very patience and have the skills to deal with the little ones)
I would suggest that before you do the character dining, you spend some time showing your little guy pictures of the various Disney characters. Some little ones get a little overwhelmed by seeing so many of them and standing so tall over them. When my kids attended the character breakfast years ago they were scared of the Pirate.
Have fun
2007-03-28 11:28:59 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I recommend dining at Chef Mickey's in the Contemporary resort for a character breakfast. Unlike the other posters, I have really enjoyed the food and fun at this breakfast. You are close to the Magic Kingdom, and can ride the monorail into the resort (which your son will LOVE). I have tried a couple of different dining options, and I think that one is the best. My daughter was 4 the first time we took her to one, and my son was 3 at the time of his first experience. This character breakfast has a huge buffet with just about every kind of breakfast food you can imagine, so there will be something for everyone to eat. The characters are Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and Pluto, with possibly Chip and Dale. You are encouraged to stay in your seat, as each character will come to your table for a visit, sign autographs, and pose for pictures. You son will love it! My kids love is so much that we have the same one scheduled for our upcoming trip (My daughter is 11 now, my son almost 7). They say that no trip is complete without going to breakfast with Mickey.
For more info, visit the disneyworld.com link below. There is a big section about character dining. Also, pick up the Birnbaum's guide to WDW. There is a section in the book for character dining, what characters are where, and what kind of menu you will have. I would make the reservations ASAP, since you are able to make them 180 days in advance and most of the popular times are taken rather quickly.
Have a great trip!!
2007-03-29 10:58:32 · answer #3 · answered by Natterjack9 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Character dining is not that formal, except maybe at the castle. You eat your meal, and then the characters begin to come out. They go table to table, saying hello, hugging, taking pictures... That's about it. If he can't sit still, maybe it's not the right thing to do this trip, or worth the extra money if you can't relax and enjoy. The main problem I see would be the fact that the tables are all pretty close together in every Disney restaurant. There's not much room for running around. You know, he'll see plenty of characters out and about in the park anyway.
2007-03-28 11:22:01 · answer #4 · answered by L J 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Believe it or not most 3 & 4yr olds have short attention span and lots of energy and all the Disney characters are aware of it! :) I would suggest going to a character meal in one of the parks as that might be easiest for you folks. Most are buffet style and have the characters come around to visit, pose for pictures, give hugs and sign autographs. Does he have a favorite character? Perhaps you can surprise him the morning or night of the meal!? That will keep his attention focused on meeting "so and so"!
Also I have to agree with the other poster who mentioned that they were disappointed with Chef Mickey's. I have been there quite a few times and they are the only restaurant that I was disappointed with - characters are great but their food the times that I went was not.
2007-03-29 08:13:33 · answer #5 · answered by ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take him!! Explain to him that while he eats the charaters will come around to his table especially to see him. Now he may not want to eat since he will be excited but that's a whole other issue. But dont' not go just because he is active. Character dining is a great experience not to be missed!
I like the one at the crystal palace. It's a buffet style so everyone can find something they like to eat. It's Winnie the Pooh and Friends.
Good luck and have a great trip.
2007-03-28 11:34:25 · answer #6 · answered by Lisa 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Back in 2005, we did the Chef Mickey's character dining with a 2 year old and a 6 year old. Although we took lots of great pictures of the various characters that came around, my wife and I didn't really get to enjoy the food. The kids don't really eat much; at least my 2 didn't. I spent more time helping them eat and making sure that they didn't wander off.
Not money well spent!
2007-03-28 11:23:29 · answer #7 · answered by SEAN B 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They have character dining at one of the hotels (the one the tram drives thru) and a restaurant I think they call Crystal Palace. Been a while, our son is now 15... I remember another one where the restaurant revolved around. All three our son LOVED the characters. And he was everywhere..
PS Don't pull on the characters ears and tails. They are very delicate and expensive costumes.
2007-03-28 21:21:59 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I just went with my 2 year old and I will not do another character dinner until he is at least 5 or 6. He was really bad for my husband and I. We had like 4 scheduled and didn;t even take pictures because we were too busy chasing after our child.
Don't do but maybe one.
2007-03-28 21:10:14 · answer #9 · answered by boohoo 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋