Magic Memories: Disneyland California Adventure Character Brunch
Mickey’s Tales of Adventure Character Brunch at Storytellers Cafe
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Have you ever thought of doing a Character meal at Disneyland?
There are a few options for location and meal of the day. We narrowed down our choice by reading other blogs reviewing each option (check out our Disneyland Trip Pinterest Board). We made our final decision by comparing food, location, and characters.
Making a Reservation
We called to make the reservations 60 days in advance. If you have a large party or a “must have” experience to book- plan ahead!
I let our extended family know about our plans, received confirmation of those interested, and found a day where those interested would be able to attend (not everyone was joining us every day).
Once a general number was figured out, I called the reservation line as soon as that 60 days date arrived. Really, I put it on my calendar and called at 7am.
Discounted Disneyland tickets really helped with budgeting in some extras when we planned our Disneyland Vacation.
The Food
The buffet style food included all of your typical brunch foods (breakfast and lunch items, fruit, salad, and desserts). I was very excited to see miniature Mickey Mouse shaped waffles with all of the toppings.
Honestly, we love buffets and we love brunch so the food was a big hit. Like many buffets, they take your drink order and come around for refills and to clear plates.
My dad is lactose intolerant, which we mentioned ahead of time and at check in. The chef himself came out to speak with my dad about which foods he could and couldn’t have. For those without a dietary allergy, the chef speaking to you personally is not a common occurrence. Usually the waiter staff goes and asks, then reports back with an answer to a specific food. Just another way Disney goes the extra mile.
One thing to remember: Don’t wait to go fill your plate.
I waited because I didn’t want to miss a moment of the characters coming around. After all, this was the kids’ first trip to Disneyland- I wanted to catch every moment.
We had no idea what to expect. From reading various blogs, I was under the impression that the characters stopped by for a few minutes to take a couple pictures and then moved on to the next table. You enjoy your food, and then that’s it. This was not true for our experience.
Pluto was there right when we walked up to our table, so I thought this was it for Pluto and we might see the other characters soon and then our turn was done.
Turns out the characters continue to come around multiple times. We had plenty of chances to enjoy our food, get multiple photo ops, and laugh about the various interactions.
At the end of the meal, my daughter and I were surprised with birthday cupcakes complete with a white chocolate “Happy Birthday” sign and Mickey Mouse shaped sprinkles. It was truly a Disney Magic birthday moment.
The Meet & Greet
The types of characters are a deciding point for many when making a character dining experience decision. We met Pluto, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Chip, and Dale.
Each one signed autographs, posed for pictures, and added in an extra bit of entertainment.
My aunt accidentally thought Chip was Dale (oops!), and his reaction was priceless. Chip gave her a big thumbs down. She was a good sport and everyone got a good laugh out of the mishap.
My cousin-in-law has stickers on her water bottle which was the center of attention from a couple of characters, including Mickey Mouse. He brought over the Storyteller’s Cafe commemorative pin to add to her sticker collection. It didn’t sick, of course, but it was a fun interaction.
Dale struck a pose with my brother, Minnie Mouse danced with the kids, and all of the characters were very good with the babies. I was so impressed at how the characters gave special attention to the kids, but still included the grown ups in their charades and photo opportunities.
At one point they brought out maracas for all of the kids and there was a dance line led by the characters throughout the restaurant. The kids felt so special being able to participate in such a fun way. You can see the video here on our YouTube channel.
I think it’s safe to say, this will be a repeat experience in the future. We may try another character dining option just to see how it is and maybe meet some unique characters, but Mickey and Minnie Mouse were our top choice this time around. Also, let’s face it- brunch has the best of all food groups: breakfast and dessert! Book your discounted Disneyland tickets today and make your own dining reservation*.
Head over to Facebook to see all of the photos from the Character Brunch, and take a look at YouTube to see the dancing and the parade.
Have pictures of your own? Comment below then join our free Travel Community and share your own adventures with the group.
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*Please note that some experiences are limited during 2020 due to COVID-19 related precautions.
