Ariel's Grotto with Captain Mickey character meal is open for both lunch and dinner daily in Disney's California Adventure. This meal is located at Ariel's Grotto, with dining inside or outside.
Here you will find a set menu with many choices for both lunch and dinner. Prices in 2005 are $18.31per adult and $12.89 per child for lunch (11:00 to 3:30), and for dinner, $22.62 per adult and $15.07 per child (3:30 - 1hour before DCA closes).
The Captain Mickey character meal is the ONLY character meal where Mickey Mouse can be found. The Human Character, Rustworthy is the dance leader for this character meal. At least once an hour you can do the limbo or other dances in the outdoor gazebo. Rustworthy gives the call, and the characters and guests all join in to dance. This is a big highlight for many children at the Captain Mickey character meal.
In addition to Mickey, you will find Minnie, Pluto, Chip and Dale, and many times Goofy and Donald. The characters come to your table a quick pace; stopping for pictures and autographs. During a typical meal a family will see all of the characters at least once and have at least one dance with the characters. If you eat slow and stay for the full 90 minutes you are allowed then you should see the characters at your table at least twice with at least two dances.
The food here is in courses for which you pay a set price; with soup or salad to start and then the main course. At dinner there is also a dessert course included. This menu has been the same for many years, offering fare such as meatloaf, a cheeseburger, vegetarian pasta and a few other selections. The choices for children include macaroni with hot dogs, two mini hamburgers (the special of the day offered EVERY day), and the standard Mickey nuggets. Kids meals are served in a bucked, and the shovel is the ketchup holder. This is a toy the children can then take with them.
While the food here is not the best, it is edible and filling. Ariel's Grotto really needs to change the menu and offer different choices. The entertainment is wonderful, and the character choices and interaction is second to none. So stop in for some smiles, some food, maybe a beer or two, and a wonderful dance with the characters. Priority Seating is recommended, and reservations can be made by calling 714-781-DINE up to 45 days in advance.
The following reviewed is by disneydreamer of the DisneyMouseLinks.com forums
Ariel's Grotto, Character Meal located in DCA
Even with our Priority Seating, we did have a bit of a wait. We had also mentioned that we had friends with a 30 minute seating following ours that we were hoping to be placed close if possible.
Once seated, the characters were abundant & our waitress was there to get drink orders immediately. Out of 7 of us ordering I don't think any one got the same thing to eat. You get plenty of food at these meals; you get a appetizer of soup or salad, an entree which ranged from Caesar salads to pastas & then dessert. Which none of us had room for after such a huge meal. Everyone seemed to enjoy their dinners, but Derek did not like the Chicken Pot Pie, he said the sauce tasted funny to him. Anthony had Macaroni & Cheese & a Hot Dog cut up like an octopus, but he was way to interested in what was going on to really eat much. But when told to eat, he did eat all the mac & cheese.
We attended 3 character meals and I would rate this food wise as #1.
July 2005 Update
Are the Princesses moving? The most recent Disney Rumor is that the Princess Breakfast will no longer be at Plaza Inn. We do not tend to post rumors on this site so we called Disney Dining myself to get the scoop.
In mid August you can expect the Princess Breakfast to move from the Plaza Inn in Disneyland to Ariel's Grotto in California Adventure. This is a great move for the Princesses who will now have tables set in actual rows which makes it easy for them to visit each table. The Gazebo at Ariel's Grotto will be a great place for special pictures to take place if they set it up that way.
Don't fret about Captain Mickey because according to the nice people at Disney Dining they are just moving as well; and will probably be relocated to the Plaza Inn.
After the 50th Anniversary Celebrations this weekend, more answers should be forthcoming, and we will update as soon as we find out more details. Until then be assured that neither Character Meal is going away at this time.
September 2005 Update
The Princesses have moved to Ariels Grotto from the Plaza Inn (where Minnie and Friends now are)
Description of All Disneyland Resort Character Meals