This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Making the Most of Character Meals
Whether you are eating at a buffet-style restaurant or one where you order from the menu, the character meals follow the same basic pattern. A set list of characters makes the rounds to each table, stopping for photos and to sign autographs. The characters circulate frequently and are meticulous about hitting each table, so you don’t have to worry about being overlooked.
Character meals can be the single best experience for a child on a Disney vacation. There is something special about Mickey Mouse coming to visit you at your dinner table, as opposed to waiting in line for hours to meet him in a park.
I recommend that if you have kids, you get at least one character meal during your stay. I also think that you can overdo them. Don’t make every dinner a character meal; set aside some meals for discussing the day’s events. It will make you enjoy the vacation even more!
Understanding the Restaurant Listings
The restaurant listings include several basic codes for you to identify what is the right place for you. So what do these symbols mean? Some reflect cost per person; others tell you what meals they offer, and if they are character meals. Here is a quick key:
$ $0–10 per person
$$ $10–20 per person
$$$ $20–30 per person
$$$$ More than $30 per person
Open
for
Breakfast
Open
for
Lunch
Open
for
Dinner
Great
for
snacks
Open
for
a Character
Meal
Breakfast
Open
for
a Character
Meal
Lunch
Open
for
a Character
Meal
Dinner
Finally, the listing tells you what food type the restaurant serves, and then there is a brief description of what the atmosphere and food are like.
Things You’ll Need
Your Trip Card
Pen or pencil and paper