Thanksgiving Breakfast & Magical Express

forsberg21 · May 25, 2015

We depart on Thanksgiving day but would like to book a Thanksgiving breakfast. Are breakfasts different on Thanksgiving? Also, we depart on Magical Express around 9:30. If I make breakfast reservation at a different resort, can I check bags at my resort but take ME from another? Thinking Ohana or Chef Mickey for breakfast. Any other suggestions?

amym2 · May 25, 2015

I can't help with breakfast menus on Thanksgiving, but at least as of a couple of years ago, you have to take the DME from the resort where you're staying. So you will need to get back to your resort. Unless you're staying in a resort that's walkable to breakfast, I wouldn't try to fit in breakfast.

Hopefully · May 25, 2015

DME must be taken from the resort you are registered and staying at. I don't think you have time for a nice Thanksgiving breakfast if you need to be picked up by DME at your resort at 9:30

5DisneyNuts · May 25, 2015

Where are you staying? CM starts breakfast at 7am and I believe Ohana starts at 7:30am. Depending where you are, you could book an early breakfast, and make it back to your hotel by taxi in time for ME. Nice way to end the trip!

momto3pirates · May 25, 2015

Just remember there are no resort to resort buses. You are going to have to connect at a park. Luggage services do not start to check bags until 6am I believe. You would have to get your luggage ready and checked in then catch a bus to a park then to the resort for breakfast. You would then have to finish breakfast with plenty of time to wait on a park bus, transfer to your resort bus, get to your resort, get your carry ons from bell services and be at the ME stop 15 minutes before your scheduled time. That seems like a lot of rushing around before the flight.

Alesia · May 25, 2015

forsberg21 said:
We depart on Thanksgiving day but would like to book a Thanksgiving breakfast. Are breakfasts different on Thanksgiving? Also, we depart on Magical Express around 9:30. If I make breakfast reservation at a different resort, can I check bags at my resort but take ME from another? Thinking Ohana or Chef Mickey for breakfast. Any other suggestions?

9:30 am???

If so, you do not have time for breakfast. You would need to be heading back to your resort no later than 7:45.

You cannot take DME from another resort.

5DisneyNuts · May 25, 2015

You don't think the OP could have 7:30am breakfast at CM and take a cab back to their resort in time to be there for a 9am bag retrieval and 9:30am ME?
I think that is doable (if they are willing to be at CM or Ohana at 7:30am). The taxi is what makes the difference. Relying on Disney transportation wouldn't be an option.

Alesia said:
9:30 am???

If so, you do not have time for breakfast. You would need to be heading back to your resort no later than 7:45.

You cannot take DME from another resort.

Alesia · May 25, 2015

5DisneyNuts said:
You don't think the OP could have 7:30am breakfast at CM and take a cab back to their resort in time to be there for a 9am bag retrieval and 9:30am ME?
I think that is doable (if they are willing to be at CM or Ohana at 7:30am). The taxi is what makes the difference. Relying on Disney transportation wouldn't be an option.

Nope. Breakfast is going to take 60 to 90 minutes. That simply does not leave enough time - even with a cab.

Planning on getting back to the resort 30 minutes before pick up time is incredibly foolish. Remember, the time you are assigned is the time your bus is scheduled to leave. You need to be at the platform, completely ready to go 15 minutes before. You need to allow ample time to get your carry-ons from bell services (I've had it take 30 minutes.) You need to plan on being back at the resort no later than 8:30. That means leaving the restaurant no later than 8:10 if taking a cab. And even that is assuming that the pick up time they're assigned will be 9:30. It could be closer to 9:15.

If you miss your bus, you are responsible for getting yourself to the airport. And Thanksgiving is the single busiest travel day of the year. Traffic will be bad and security lines will probably be very long. I wouldn't push the timeline.

5DisneyNuts · May 25, 2015

I don't disagree with your opinion. Any way you look at it, it would be tight. We've been going at Thanksgiving for the past 10 years so I'm aware of the crowds. Being at bell check @ 9am for a 9:30am pick up is sufficient. ME plans on an early pick up anyway to ensure plenty of time to get to the airport.

Depending on where the OP is staying, a 7:00am or 7:30am breakfast (assuming they have checked out and checked baggage prior to leaving) at CM or Ohana, spending an hour (which is a lot for a buffet), and back at resort via taxi by 9am. It is a nice way to end the trip but the timing may not be relaxing - and as you point out, any issues and you are taking a cab to the airport too!

Alesia said:
Nope. Breakfast is going to take 60 to 90 minutes. That simply does not leave enough time - even with a cab.

Planning on getting back to the resort 30 minutes before pick up time is incredibly foolish. Remember, the time you are assigned is the time your bus is scheduled to leave. You need to be at the platform, completely ready to go 15 minutes before. You need to allow ample time to get your carry-ons from bell services (I've had it take 30 minutes.) You need to plan on being back at the resort no later than 8:30. That means leaving the restaurant no later than 8:10 if taking a cab. And even that is assuming that the pick up time they're assigned will be 9:30. It could be closer to 9:15.

If you miss your bus, you are responsible for getting yourself to the airport. And Thanksgiving is the single busiest travel day of the year. Traffic will be bad and security lines will probably be very long. I wouldn't push the timeline.

forsberg21 · May 25, 2015

Thanks everyone. What is breakfast like on Thanksgiving? Is the menu, theming, atmosphere, etc different than the typical breakfast during this season? Specifically thinking about Chef Mickey & Ohana.

bigbabyblues · May 25, 2015

We had breakfast at Chef Mickey's on Thanksgiving one year, and it was the same as always.

The only way I would do it is if you are staying at the resort where the breakfast is. Too much chance of not being seated on time, server slow to bring the check, characters taking longer than expected to get to your table (unless you are ok with missing some of them), transportation issues, etc. If you miss the DME bus, you are on your own to get to the airport.

staceycrouton · May 25, 2015

I'm not sure that I would be able to enjoy myself with that tight of a time crunch. I would constantly be looking at my watch. Why not do a Thanksgiving Eve character dinner instead? It would be far less stressful and you'll be able to kick back and have fun. Then you can have a relaxing breakfast at your resort the next morning while you wait for Magical Express.

Alesia · May 25, 2015

forsberg21 said:
Thanks everyone. What is breakfast like on Thanksgiving? Is the menu, theming, atmosphere, etc different than the typical breakfast during this season? Specifically thinking about Chef Mickey & Ohana.

It will be exactly the same as any other day.

TheRustyScupper · May 26, 2015

forsberg21 said:
Thanks everyone. What is breakfast like on Thanksgiving? Is the menu, theming, atmosphere, etc different than the typical breakfast during this season? Specifically thinking about Chef Mickey & Ohana.

1) Breakfast-is-breakfast.
2) There will not be a menu change.
3) Although some character meals may have more "Pilgrim"-type costumes.

Nancyg56 · May 26, 2015

This is not a plan I would make. Breakfast is expensive, and 9:30 is an early departure, so when you combine the two all I see is stress. You will need to be at DME, ready to roll 15 minutes prior to departure, and conservatively, even with a cab, you need 30 minutes to get back to your resort, so you have to be paid and out of the restaurant by 8:30. My family has had one mad dash to DMS, and believe me, that will never happen again. Returning home filled with anxiety is not my idea of a last memory of my Disney vacation.

OP- I would plan on getting my bags checked first thing, and then enjoying a CS breakfast at teh resort I am staying at. That way you have no unexpected travel hassles to deal with, and you are in control of your own timing.

dpswift · May 26, 2015

5DisneyNuts said:
Where are you staying? CM starts breakfast at 7am and I believe Ohana starts at 7:30am. Depending where you are, you could book an early breakfast, and make it back to your hotel by taxi in time for ME. Nice way to end the trip!

I agree it is doable. We did this at Cape May a few weeks ago. We had a 7:30 am ADR ate and went to the giftshop with time to spare. If you are on time for an early ADR you should be fine.

If you are staying closer to EPCOT I think Cape May would be a good idea because it is quicker than Chef Mickeys. I would not try for O'hana the service there is incredibly slow.

wdwrich · May 26, 2015

Alesia said:
If you miss your bus, you are responsible for getting yourself to the airport. And Thanksgiving is the single busiest travel day of the year. Traffic will be bad and security lines will probably be very long. I wouldn't push the timeline.

I don't disagree at all about your advice to OP about breakfast at another resort, but the busiest travel day of the year is traditionally the day before Thanksgiving day.

KarmaCat · May 27, 2015

I'm in a similar boat, as we will have a predicted DME pickup around 10-ish from CSR (flight leaves at 1:00, so I'm assuming pickup time based on that), and I currently have an 8:05 breakfast scheduled at Tusker House. Wondering if it will be doable!

LilyWDW · May 27, 2015

No way. Not enough time at all. Yes, if everything goes 100% perfect that morning then you may be okay. Still cutting it close, but okay. But one little problem that holds you up and it won't work. NOT the way to end a trip.

Alesia · May 27, 2015

KarmaCat said:
I'm in a similar boat, as we will have a predicted DME pickup around 10-ish from CSR (flight leaves at 1:00, so I'm assuming pickup time based on that), and I currently have an 8:05 breakfast scheduled at Tusker House. Wondering if it will be doable!

It's not.

Well, I guess it's technically doable. You'll need to shove the food into your face as quickly as possible, be willing to miss most of the characters, and take a cab back to your resort. You would need to be in a cab by 9:00 at the latest. Even that is pushing it.

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