Walt Disney World With Kids (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [98]
In the Resorts
Cape May Café, Beach Club Resort—Seaside picnic breakfast buffet with Goofy, Donald, and Minnie. Breakfast only: adults, $19, children (3–9) $11.
Chef Mickey’s, Contemporary Resort—Party with Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto, and Goofy. Breakfast: adults, $27, children $14.
My Disney Girl’s Perfectly Princess Tea Party—For the ultimate princess experience, pull out your wallet, take a deep gulp, and head to the Grand Floridian for the Perfectly Princess Tea Party. The tea party includes a meet and greet with Princess Aurora from Sleeping Beauty, plus storytelling, sing-alongs, and a princess parade. (Needless to say, all little girls suit up in princess gear for this one.) Tea-party guests receive a special My Disney Girl doll dressed like Aurora, a ribbon tiara, bracelet, and princess scrapbook. The cost is $250 for one adult and one child aged 3–11. Additional adults are $100 each, and an additional child is $150. The tea party is offered from 10:30–noon every day but Tuesday and Saturday. Lunch is served, but with all the excitement, don’t be surprised if no one eats it. Reservations can be made at 407/939–3463 (407/WDW–DINE).
1900 Park Fare, Grand Floridian—Breakfast with Mary Poppins, Alice in Wonderland, the Mad Hatter, and Pooh and dinner with Cinderella, Prince Charming, the Evil Stepmother, and the Stepsisters. Several of our readers have given a special shout-out to Lady Tremaine and her daughters. “The evil stepmother is the only person in Disney who isn’t constantly smiling,” a dad from New York noted approvingly while a mom from Virginia added, “The stepsisters were loud, obnoxious, graceless, and a lot of fun.” Breakfast: adults $23, children $13. Dinner: adults $36, children $18.
’Ohana, Polynesian Resort—Luau breakfast with Lilo and Stitch, as well as Mickey and Pluto. Breakfast: adults, $25, children $14.
Insider’s Secret
The fact that the ’Ohana breakfast is the only character meal featuring that prankster Stitch makes it especially lively—and an especially good choice for boys who may have seen one princess too many. “Stitch took my brother’s Buzz Lightyear gun and engaged Pluto in a stickup,” one boy happily reported. “It’s a memory my family will cherish forever.”
In the Magic Kingdom
Cinderella’s Royal Table in Cinderella Castle—Medieval banquet meals in the perfect setting. Cinderella greets you downstairs and poses with you for a portrait. Included in the price are wands for girls and swords for boys. After the royal greeting, you’re escorted upstairs to meet the Fairy Godmother and at least two other princesses. Disney rotates them but Snow White, Belle, Aurora, and Jasmine are often featured. Be sure to confirm all this when you book because of the insane popularity of Cinderella’s Royal Table. Disney has changed this character meal more frequently than most, trying to figure out how to move people through more efficiently. If it’s any consolation, most of the families surveyed think this is worth the trouble, using terms like “magnificient” and “unsurpassed.” Breakfast: adults $48, children (3–9) $32. Lunch: adults $51, children $33. Dinner: adults $58, children $35.
Crystal Palace—Breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffets with Pooh and friends. “The food was OK,” says one mother from New Jersey. “Nothing special, but they did have a separate buffet for the kids filled with things they would eat. What really made our character meal worth it is that the Pooh characters came around to our tables and our 3- and 5-year-olds didn’t have to fight for their attention. The servers did a good job of keeping things orderly. When Tigger was visiting our table, a child from another family got so excited he ran up to join in. The server gently steered him back to his own seat, explaining Tigger would be there next.” Breakfast: adults $21, children $12. Lunch: adults $23, children $13. Dinner: adults $33, children $16.
In Epcot
Akershus in Norway—Breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffets in a castle setting.