Goofy's Kitchen

[Unca_Donald]

We're planning a familiy reunion at Disneyland for the first week of January. We're coming from all over the country. We'll have 10 adults and 8 kids. We'll be in the park on Tue-Thur. but I'm thinking of starting us off on Monday night with an inaugural dinner at Goofy's Kitchen.

Any warnings or words of encouragement? Anyone know the menu and prices? If you think this is an awful decision, I'd be interested in hearing your alternative suggestions.

(We're staying at a rental home a block or two away from Downtown Disney).

[snoozy]

Good choice! We love Goofy's Kitchen. I would suggest that you make a reservation. I would also suggest you don't forget your camera. GK has very good character interaction. They also do the macarana at certain times during your meal. Also make sure you bring a big appetite, its all you can eat buffet.

[Rameshki]

We're gonna eat there soon, is there anything i need to know or to bring? It's my second time ever at the park, and my first time at a place like Goofy's Kitchen. We've got a Breakfast paid for and will book it over the next few days.

[TimmyII]

It's the BEST place to eat for character visits! I used to work the Photo Spot at Goofy's Kitchen when I had shifts there! :) GO GO GO!!!!

[SubmarinemanKevin]

When did it open.. LOL?? I go every year and do not notice it..-head bangs- Anyways and is it still in the same spot?

[Mr. EPCOT]

I haven't eaten there for dinner there in a long time, since before it was demolished and relocated because of Downtown Disney, but I did eat there for Character Breakfast over the summer. I definitely recommend it! The food was great, and so was the character interaction! Also, I don't know anywhere else that serves pizza on their breakfast buffet. Good stuff! The restaurant isn't as cozy feeling as it was before it moved, but it's still very pleasant.

[snoozy]

We're gonna eat there soon, is there anything i need to know or to bring? It's my second time ever at the park, and my first time at a place like Goofy's Kitchen. We've got a Breakfast paid for and will book it over the next few days.

Bring your camera and a big appetite.

[snoozy]

When did it open.. LOL?? I go every year and do not notice it..-head bangs- Anyways and is it still in the same spot?

It is on the Disneyland Hotel property.

[Unca_Donald]

Okay, we're taking a pass at Goofy's Kitchen. I did make a reservation, but then they told me it was something like $35 a plate! For a buffet. I had just eaten lunch at a buffet that same afternoon and paid less than $8 a plate, so I did have some sticker shock. Then doing some more reading, it sounded like there was a mandatory 18% gratuity for your server. I thought, "A server at a buffet?" Turns out he/she brings you sodas. 18% on a $600 dinner tab for bringing me sodas! Ha!

But we'll still have a great dinner because we're renting a house about a block away from Disney, and so we just decided to do the obvious and eat in! It will be better than any character dinner could ever hope to be. And I'm guessing about $500 cheaper.

[pixie2dw]

Did you price Breakfast?? We always went at the last Breakfast setting because it was cheaper! :biggrin: but for the second time thru the buffet or the the poor camera person, you were able to get lunch items.:biggrin:

[ghoofie]

Goofy's kitchen is fun but expensive. We try to visit it for breakfast once in a while.

[TsWade2]

Does anyone know when it opens for breakfast? I'm planning to go to Goofy's Kitchen for breakfast.

[barley101]

I thought the price was crazy.. for PBandJ's.. and chicken nuggets.. and the characters were B-Level when we were there.. Mostly just Chip and Dale.. Goofy and Pluto.. it was fun.. but we're doing the princess dinner this time.. my girls should like that better! ??

[daisy66]

NO that dang gratuity is NOT manditory,they try to say it is,but my mom works with billing and when we went she told them to take it off.It is really all worth it,the bruch is best(breakfest and lunch)you can eat all you want the caracters come around to your table,that is where I got most of my autographs for my collection.You get to do the moccorana(sp?)with them.If not there then try a character breakfest,they have lilo and stich and a minnie mouse breakfest at the paradise peir.You kinda have to save up to make a good trip to DL,and it is worth it.

[disneydarling]

I have got to put in my 2 cents...

My whole entire family did a vacation in 2003 to DL, and we decided to give Goofy's Kitchen a try. The price did come as a shock :icon_shoc , however once we got inside, the price did not seem that outrageous. First of all There was quite a selection to choose from, both adult and kid favorites. We were able to get the kids to eat a decent meal (a first for that trip). Also there were sooo many characters. The kids autograph books were half way full by the time we left. We also saw characters that you hardly get to see in the park. The characthers did not just stop by for photo op and autograph, each character interacted with the children for a minimum of 5 min. Most interactions were longer (such as when Alice came and started feeding the baby, while the Mad Hatter cut in on my brothers phone conversation.)

Now this trip was 2.5 years ago, and we spent 4 days at the park. What do the kids remember... Goofy's Kitchen. They start telling stories of that trip, and 80% of them are from GK. Well worth the money if you ask me. We just started to plan another family trip to DL, and the kids and adults had only one request... to have breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen.

It may be expensive, but the memories are priceless!:old_wink:

[mad about the mouse]

We went to GK during our early December trip this year. We have been several times before, and when we bring the kids, or just hubby and I (basically when it's not a chick trip), it is a MUST. However, I must say, this last time I was a bit disapointed. (I even wrote to City Hall via email and never got a response...those staffing problems must be spilling over...) We had a 7:10 reservation for 12. Went w/my brother & sister-in-law. 6 in each family. We sat in the circular room, where you are not anywhere adjacent to the buffet. I must say that the character interaction in there is terrible. We had to keep taking our kids down to other people's tables to have some type of photo or interaction because very few came up there. Goofy and Gepetto did. Other than that, we had to drag our kids to see the characters.

We have had great trips before, and everyone loves GK. I would only suggest to go at an earlier time (we always went at 5:00 before, but due to the busy season, 7:10 was the earliest). You get a better seat for better character interaction, and the food is not all gone.

BTW- any suggestions on getting any type of response from Disney. After all, when you spend $130 on a meal for your family and have a poor experience, just an ACKNOWLEDGEMENT would be nice.

[HiddenMickey]

We went to GK during our early December trip this year. We have been several times before, and when we bring the kids, or just hubby and I (basically when it's not a chick trip), it is a MUST. However, I must say, this last time I was a bit disapointed. (I even wrote to City Hall via email and never got a response...those staffing problems must be spilling over...) We had a 7:10 reservation for 12. Went w/my brother & sister-in-law. 6 in each family. We sat in the circular room, where you are not anywhere adjacent to the buffet. I must say that the character interaction in there is terrible. We had to keep taking our kids down to other people's tables to have some type of photo or interaction because very few came up there. Goofy and Gepetto did. Other than that, we had to drag our kids to see the characters.

We have had great trips before, and everyone loves GK. I would only suggest to go at an earlier time (we always went at 5:00 before, but due to the busy season, 7:10 was the earliest). You get a better seat for better character interaction, and the food is not all gone.

BTW- any suggestions on getting any type of response from Disney. After all, when you spend $130 on a meal for your family and have a poor experience, just an ACKNOWLEDGEMENT would be nice.

Email them. They'll write back (eventually).

[Wendell]

I was there a couple years ago at a family reunion and every half hour or so they got all the characters together and did a Disney version of the Macarena. Maybe a little old, but fun to see all the characters dancing with the kids! Who knew Goofy didn't have two left feet?;)

[disneycraze045]

Goofy's Kitchen is an amazing experience! I've been there twice: once in 2002 and once in 2005. The food is amazing and the price is worth it. You may not see Mickey much, but the characters are so much fun to interact with.

Is dinner more expensive than breakfast or are they about the same? I've only been there for breakfast, so I wouldn't know.

Anyway, I DEFINITELY suggest Goofy's Kitchen for a Disneyland character breakfast.

[snoozy]

Dinner is a little more exensive but, its a buffet, you can get your monies worth out of it.

[disneycraze045]

One more thing, if you do have trouble getting a good seat in Goofy's Kitchen, try going at a less busy time in the year. Personally, I recommend March. It's the off season, more rides may be closed than usual, but the lines are really short and Goofy's Kitchen has more reservations open.

[snoozy]

^^ Good advice. Also go before regular meal rushes. For example 8am instead of 9am for breakfast and 5pm instead of 6pm for dinner. Always make a reservation.

[tigger248]

How far in advance can you/should you make a reservation? I'm planning a trip in May and am planning on eating breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen.

[snoozy]

You can make reservations up to 60 days in advance. Once you do make a reservation the week before you go it is a good idea to confirm your reservation.