Universal Studios in Orlando

[Steve]

If you can find a special on the meal deal I recommend it. We did it and booked two character meals. My lil man loved it. You can get in to some of them without too much advance notice. We stayed at a economy Disney place and it was fine. We loved the free buses they provide when you stay at a resort hotel.

What do they do at the character breakfast? Is it just a visit tableside or what?

[ELVIS]

hey steve, my wife and mom took Jr, last Sept. he loved it! i know yall will have a blast. how old is little mama? Jr was 2 months shy of 4. he loved the dinner with the characters and such. i sadly missed the trip as i was in chicago for work.

god bless.

[Lyn]

Thanks so much Lyn and Michelle.

Any advice on eating? Most of the sites I have read say to make reservations months in advance and there are so many choices its very overwhelming.

Are the character breakfasts worth the money for our little Emma to enjoy?

I sent you all the info, check your pms!

Lyn

[Steve]

hey steve, my wife and mom took Jr, last Sept. he loved it! i know yall will have a blast. how old is little mama? Jr was 2 months shy of 4. he loved the dinner with the characters and such. i sadly missed the trip as i was in chicago for work.

god bless.

Emma is 2 1/2 now. I know it's a little young, but we're going on business and taking a few extra days while we're there for vacation.

I send you all the info, check your pms!

Lyn

Thanks so much!

[michelleCTSV]

Thanks so much Lyn and Michelle.

Any advice on eating? Most of the sites I have read say to make reservations months in advance and there are so many choices its very overwhelming.

Are the character breakfasts worth the money for our little Emma to enjoy?

Send me your email addy and I'll send you some info- i have a running 'tips' sheet i give friends and family with lots of tips since I get asked so much. LOL

You can now make advance dining reservations (ADRs) 180 days in advance. And if you want a few of the most popular restaurants (Le Cellier in Canada at Epcot or Cinderella's Royal Table in the castle), then you have to be on the phone at 7am at 180 days out- those popular ones fill up- i know it is crazy that at 6 months out you have to book it. That is for the popular restaurants if you want a good time during the busy season. you can book online (new as of last year) or call 1-407-WDW-DINE. I highly recommend making reservations if you go during a busy time (summer, holidays, spring break etc.). We've checked in for our reservation and overheard the cast member turn people away that have no ADR.

Character meals are great. Most are buffets or family style. They are pricey (unless you have free dining plan). But worth it! The characters will come around to your table throughout the meal- they have a 'path' in the restaurant they follow and go table to table, so you are guaranteed to see all of them- usually it is 4 characters. Our fave is Crystal Palace at the Magic Kingdom for breakfast- with Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore and Piglet. YOu can eat with Cinderella in the castle- Cinderella's Royal Table- this is the meal that books up solid at 180 days out- very popular and hard to get since every little girl wants to eat with Cinderella. Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary Resort is fun too- usually Mickey, Goofy, Donald, Pluto and Minnie. Character meals are a great way to see the characters and get autographs and pics without having to wait in long lines in the parks.
check out this site, and on the left is a nav that shows all the different parks- you can see all the restaurants and even view the menus to decide where you want to go.

What kind of food do you like? Do you want to do some nice sit down meals? Free dining is available for many packages through October, so check into that http://www.wdwinfo.com/discounts.html. It gives you a quick service meal, sit down meal and snack per day, each includes dessert and a drink. Epcot has some great restaurants in the World showcase (where the countries are), including Japanese, Chinese, French, Mexican etc. Some restaurants are 'nicer' and more high end, but kids are welcome at all and there is only a dress code at a handful of them, otherwise, it is just your shorts and tennis shoes! Some of our favorites are:

Le Cellier Steakhouse at Canada in Epcot
Crystal Palace character breakfast in Magic Kingdom
50s Prime Time at Hollywood Studios
Sci Fi Dine In at Hollywood Studios (for the atmosphere, food is okay)
Shula's Steakhouse (nice meal) at the Dolphin near Epcot
California Grill at the Contemporary Resort (this is a high end restaurant)
O'hana at the Polynesian for dinner (served up like Brazilian steakhouse)
O'hana character breakfast at the Polynesian (Stitch, Lilo, Mickey, Pluto usually)
Chefs De France at France in Epcot
Tusker House character breakfast at Animal Kingdom (safari Mickey, Donald etc.)
Earle of Sandwich is our favorite 'fast food' place at Downtown Disney

[michelleCTSV]

Emma is 2 1/2 now. I know it's a little young, but we're going on business and taking a few extra days while we're there for vacation.



Thanks so much!

that's a fine age- we took Will at 2 and most recently at 3. We are booked again for October. He loved both times. he really got into the characters more this time and had a ball.

You might want to do a character meal with the princesses for her.....the best ones are:
1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian (characters can vary from Cinderella and Prince Charming to Alice/Mad Hatter to the evil stepmother and step sisters from Cinderella- i think they vary from breakfast to dinner)

Aeskurush at Norway in Epcot- breakfast is best- usually with Belle, Ariel, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and sometimes Cinderella

here's a few pics of Will loving the character meals!

[94form2000z]

What do they do at the character breakfast? Is it just a visit tableside or what?

Michelle has got your ? covered. I would not pass up the free dining if you can get it.

An example pic of one of our dinners:

[Steve]

Send me your email addy and I'll send you some info- i have a running 'tips' sheet i give friends and family with lots of tips since I get asked so much. LOL

You can now make advance dining reservations (ADRs) 180 days in advance. And if you want a few of the most popular restaurants (Le Cellier in Canada at Epcot or Cinderella's Royal Table in the castle), then you have to be on the phone at 7am at 180 days out- those popular ones fill up- i know it is crazy that at 6 months out you have to book it. That is for the popular restaurants if you want a good time during the busy season. you can book online (new as of last year) or call 1-407-WDW-DINE. I highly recommend making reservations if you go during a busy time (summer, holidays, spring break etc.). We've checked in for our reservation and overheard the cast member turn people away that have no ADR.

Character meals are great. Most are buffets or family style. They are pricey (unless you have free dining plan). But worth it! The characters will come around to your table throughout the meal- they have a 'path' in the restaurant they follow and go table to table, so you are guaranteed to see all of them- usually it is 4 characters. Our fave is Crystal Palace at the Magic Kingdom for breakfast- with Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore and Piglet. YOu can eat with Cinderella in the castle- Cinderella's Royal Table- this is the meal that books up solid at 180 days out- very popular and hard to get since every little girl wants to eat with Cinderella. Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary Resort is fun too- usually Mickey, Goofy, Donald, Pluto and Minnie. Character meals are a great way to see the characters and get autographs and pics without having to wait in long lines in the parks.
check out this site, and on the left is a nav that shows all the different parks- you can see all the restaurants and even view the menus to decide where you want to go.

What kind of food do you like? Do you want to do some nice sit down meals? Free dining is available for many packages through October, so check into that http://www.wdwinfo.com/discounts.html. It gives you a quick service meal, sit down meal and snack per day, each includes dessert and a drink. Epcot has some great restaurants in the World showcase (where the countries are), including Japanese, Chinese, French, Mexican etc. Some restaurants are 'nicer' and more high end, but kids are welcome at all and there is only a dress code at a handful of them, otherwise, it is just your shorts and tennis shoes! Some of our favorites are:

Le Cellier Steakhouse at Canada in Epcot
Crystal Palace character breakfast in Magic Kingdom
50s Prime Time at Hollywood Studios
Sci Fi Dine In at Hollywood Studios (for the atmosphere, food is okay)
Shula's Steakhouse (nice meal) at the Dolphin near Epcot
California Grill at the Contemporary Resort (this is a high end restaurant)
O'hana at the Polynesian for dinner (served up like Brazilian steakhouse)
O'hana character breakfast at the Polynesian (Stitch, Lilo, Mickey, Pluto usually)
Chefs De France at France in Epcot
Tusker House character breakfast at Animal Kingdom (safari Mickey, Donald etc.)
Earle of Sandwich is our favorite 'fast food' place at Downtown Disney

that's a fine age- we took Will at 2 and most recently at 3. We are booked again for October. He loved both times. he really got into the characters more this time and had a ball.

You might want to do a character meal with the princesses for her.....the best ones are:
1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian (characters can vary from Cinderella and Prince Charming to Alice/Mad Hatter to the evil stepmother and step sisters from Cinderella- i think they vary from breakfast to dinner)

Aeskurush at Norway in Epcot- breakfast is best- usually with Belle, Ariel, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and sometimes Cinderella

here's a few pics of Will loving the character meals!

Wow Michelle, amazing information! Thanks SO much! Sending a PM with address now.