Tips for Character Dining

No trip to Walt Disney World or Disneyland is complete without a few character meet n' greets but these can quickly become a disaster if you're not prepared.

The best way to experience the characters is with a character dining experience. You have to eat anyway so you might as well double down and use your time wisely. It's a much more pleasant experience sitting down in the air conditioning eating while the characters come to you as opposed to standing outline in the blazing inferno of the sun hoping your line doesn't get cut before your turn.

So what do you need to know about character dining and how to maximize your experience? Here are my top 5 tips for character dining, formulated especially for traveling with extended family or in blended family groups.

• Have one person in charge of the camera. This person should be situated ideally to get those candid moments.

• Put all the kids on the outside. Pooh bear's buns will get stuck if he tries to squeeze in for a photo or autograph so be kind to Pooh's behind and put the little one's on the outside where they can easily access the characters.

• Stack your autograph books and have one person in charge. The autograph person is responsible for opening each autograph book to the correct page and keeping track of the pen for the character. Leave them all open and stacked together so after photos the character can make one stop and get everyone's books signed. This ensures no one is missing an autograph and the poor character doesn't have to worry about getting pen all over their pretty paws from a child wanting an autograph.

• Discuss the photo arrangements prior to your meal. If each child wants a photo alone with the character, know that before your dining experience starts and pick an "order" for the photos to be done in. It helps if you keep the same system for each dining experience. Starting from the youngest to the oldest is a great way to do it...because that little one won't be able to wait and will be trying to weasel themselves in!

• Be mindful of your children. No-one appreciates it when a random child pops into your family character photo. Nor do the characters appreciate having their tails, ears or other appendages abused and manhandled with sticky syrup ridden fingers.

These simple steps will make your character experience magical and can also help get the little one's to eat because we all know "the characters won't come unless you eat".