Originally Posted By wendebird We're traveling to Disneyland this July with our dance team. We just made reservations for Goofy's Kitchen on July 11th. We have a total of 49 people in our group! Anyway, I was a bit shell shocked at the price. Adults (ages 10 & up) are $44.06 with tax & tip. Kids ages 3-9 are $19.32. The last few years we've only done brunch which is much more reasonable. However, most of our group isn't arriving until that morning & the best we could do is gather for dinner. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone has been there recently for dinner & could you give me an idea of: 1. How was dinner? Good, so-so, excellent? 2. What was on the menu? 3. How was the service? 4. How was the character interaction? 5. The child & adult price breakdown. (how much is dinner, how much is tax & how much is tip) I need to figure out a whole lot of peoples bills & take out my 15% PAP discount. Our last trip to Goofy's was in September of 2007 & we were about the last seating for brunch. Our service was terrible (& you're forced to give a what, 18% tip?) The characters hardly came around. When they sang happy birthday to my daughter, it was as if someone asked them to kiss a frog. It was overall bad except for the food. I'm hoping it was just because we were the last seating & everyone was tired & ready to go on break. This time because of our group size, we're going to be first seating at 5 PM. I appreciate any help you can give me to my questions.
Originally Posted By sdlovesmickey We ate at Goofy's Kitchen in November over Thanksgiving for dinner and thought it was amazing. Aladdin and Jasmine are two of my DD favorite characters and they spent a lot of time with her visiting as a few other characters. She still remembers when Goofy and Max saw each other and ran at each other and did a belly bump greeting. She thought that was hilarious. The food was quite good too. There was so much variety (especially the desserts) and we sampled many dishes. My daughter is very picky, and so I appreciated the kids section of the buffet...there were several items on there she enjoyed. We had never been there before and I hope to now make it a part of our ritual at DLR every time we go. In fact I have reservations there for our trip in June.
Originally Posted By LuLu We had a late lunch there in March, and didn't have any service issues. The food ranged from OK to very good. (creme brulee was basically pudding with sugar crystals on it - maybe gourmet for kids, but for adults, not so much! :-D) The character interaction was very good with the little ones in our group. The adults were ignored, and my DD, who had chosen Goofy's to celebrate her 18th birthday, was ignored too unless we specifically asked the characters to pose with her. No biggie. As far as the bills, I'd suggest you let everyone pay for their own party. As you probably know, you pay before being seated. It seems like it'd be much easier that way. You may be able to find the price breakdown online somewhere. I know I found a pretty accurate menu somewhere online. Check the Disney Dining section, you may find more info there. Have fun!
Originally Posted By stitch4336 Goofy's kitchen is one of our traditions at DL! We were last there in Aug-07 and had a great time as always. Dinner is good with many choices to meet everone's tastes. The deserts are fun, dare I say "goofy" sometimes We've always had good service for a buffet restaurant too. The price may seem high, but given the buffet style, food options and the number of characters, we think it's fair. We love the variety and quantity of characters that are there too. We have a picture with Gepetto - not a character you see very often! Here's a link to their basic menu - dinner has prime rib! <a href="http://allears.net/dlr/din/menu/men_goofd.htm" target="_blank">http://allears.net/dlr/din/men...oofd.htm</a> Hope you have fun
Originally Posted By Liberty Belle I don't think I'll ever be back to Goofy's without kids - I've been twice and each time we were walked past even as we sat there with cameras at the ready. It irritated me no end. Hopefully, since you'll be a big group and have kids you'll have a better experience, but I wonder why the character interaction with adults is so much poorer at Goofy's compared with the other character meals?
Originally Posted By wendebird Thank you for all your input. sdlovesmickey, so glad your turkey day was wonderful. LuLu, if they want my discount, they're going to have to pay me 2 weeks before the trip. It would be way too confusing when we're all there checking in. I plan on making a spread sheet on who has paid & who hasn't. Also, we're a team, we all know each other, it's like an extended family. I don't think it'll be an issue. stitch, thank you & I'm so glad your experience was wonderful. LibertyBelle, that's pretty much been our experience. And the last time, we had 3 kids with us! It was one little girl's first trip there too.
Originally Posted By NJ AP A character advised the last brunch time as the best time for interaction (he was there). He and his friends did not disappoint. We had the best time! I am under the impression they are more tired at dinnertime. Unfortunately we really don't care for any of the food at the buffet, so we did not go back again this trip. Yes, have everyone pay their own way up front so you are not stuck with being the banker.
Originally Posted By LuLu Wendy, did you check with Disney about allowing your discount for the whole group? I'm surprised if they said it was OK, but lucky for your group, if so. Just wouldn't want you to have to collect extra money if you arrive and find they won't allow the discount for everyone! I'm curious if you don't mind my asking, did you make a number of reservations or were you able to book the whole group? I called a couple times about booking a group of 12 to 20 and each CM told me no way.
Originally Posted By wendebird I was told as long as I paid for it, they would allow my discount, no limit to how many people. Yes, I made a reservation for 40. (We have 49) I have a call into the manager at the DLH right now to get approval for 49. I was told they do one seating a day for large groups. (Up to 40) The only time slot they take is the first seating of the evening. Which is 5 PM on the day we're visiting. Ya learn something new everyday. Of course I had to wake up before 7 AM on Mother's Day to nab that time slot. ;D
Originally Posted By LuLu Well, good work! The info I got was that there were only 3 seating times during brunch (or maybe it was all day, don't remember) for a group of 10. None larger. Maybe they changed due to complaints? Anyway, that's cool that you got it. I'll remember that for future! (hope they don't change it again!
Originally Posted By LuLu And that's cool on the discount too. I'm pretty sure I remember someone posting they were told there was a limit, something like 8 people per AP. (this was at a different restaurant I think)
Originally Posted By dlkozy I too have been told that there is an AP limit. I know that there is for sure one at FM because out of our party of 12 we had to produce 2 APs. Seeing as though EVERYONE had one-we should have made them give us individual bills!
Originally Posted By wendebird I'm not familiar with FM. One thing I've learned with Disney is that things change. What is the rule one month, is not the next. Which is why I ask every time. Being our party is so large, I do NOT want to be stuck paying that extra 15% for everyone. So I've called back 2 more times this week to confirm what I've been told. Every time I got a different CM & they've told me the same thing. How long ago was your experience dlkozy? Was it Goofy's Kitchen?
Originally Posted By frailejon My sister and I - both adults- went for lunch about 4 years ago and we weren't ignored at all; Baloo even took us by the hands and led us to the buffet!
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<Anyway, I was a bit shell shocked at the price. Adults (ages 10 & up) are $44.06 with tax & tip. Kids ages 3-9 are $19.32.>> Which is why I will never darken their doorway. Not with so many places nearby, many within walking distance.
Originally Posted By mele I've only been to GK about 3 or 4 times but only on our last trip (a few weeks ago) did they take our photo with Goofy and then come to our table later with a *package* of photos. We couldn't buy just one photo but a *package* deal for about $35. I don't really appreciate that kind of stuff so it was irritating. After paying for our meal, there were no places to sit while waiting (not a big deal). Finally we were able to sit down and wait. A few minutes later they called my name and we thought we were being led to our table. No, they were taking our photo. Of course, there was no place to sit again once we were done and we had to stand for more time. Then 3 characters completely ignored my daughter. They visited the baby at our table and walked right past her. We were only able to catch one (Alice) and get her to come back to the table. I could tell that my daughter's feelings were kind of hurt. :-( And the mac-n-cheese was gross...not the same stuff they used to serve. Just kind of irritating to lose our seats to take a photo that we didn't want and then feel pressured into spending $35 for (after spending $81 for 2 adults and a child). And then have multiple characters ignore my daughter. And then to not even have edible mac-n-cheese! (LOL) I'm not sure we'll go back again.
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains I take issue with the price cut off age - there is no way it's worth it for me to take my 5'2" 90lb son to GK and have to pay for him to eat an adult meal just because he's 12 - in Sept my DD will be 10 she is 51" and 55lbs - she still sits in a booster in the cars... but they will then charge her as an adult. I understand they have to pick an age but 9 seems just too young -
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains I would say pick an older age...like maybe 14 or so - I would say before that most would be lighter eaters...I am sure there are those that are young and big and eat alot but I think that is not in the norm...
Originally Posted By wendebird I have to say I agree on the age thing. My dd11 will only eat chicken nuggets & pizza & probably some dessert. It's crazy to pay that much for a child. I already lost 5 in my party because they don't want to pay the high price for their 11 year olds. ;(
