ADR questions for Chef Mickeys

[Vegas2000]

My husband and I are taking our 7yo son to WDW for his first time ever and as you can imagine he is BEYOND excited!! We are staying at CBR and would like to make a ADR for Chef Mickeys for breakfast one day during our stay. We also have the disney dining plan and had intended to use it for CM. First question...when I go in to make the reservation, will they just hold it with my cc and then deduct it from our meal plan or what? Second question....we would like to make the reservation as early as possible, would we be better off taking a cab there or are there other options? Also, when we leave Chef Mickeys we will be heading to MK that day. Would we have to take a cab to MK or is there disney transportation that will take us there. We wanted to try to be there when they opened? Hope all this makes sense as I need to get the ADR done ASAP b/c we are going in June. Thanks in advance!!!

 

[moray26]

They will take your credit card when you make your ADR but they will not charge it unless you don't show up or if you cancel outside the allowable window.

The earliest reservation you can get is 7am...are you sure you're going to want to be up that early? I tend to make my reservations a bit later, and then if I show up early sometimes they can get me in earlier. You might be able to catch a bus to MK if MK has EMH that morning. Then you can just walk from MK to the Contemporary (about a 5 min. walk).

 

[TwiddleDeeTwiddleDum]

to the DISboards. How exciting, your first trip for your 7yr old

You can use WDW bus transporation to get to an early dining reservation from your resort. They generally start the buses approx. an hour & sometimes as early as 90 minutes before park opening depending upon time of year. Best to double check with your resort front desk, they can advise you if the bus will be running early enough for your time. Get to your bus stop early, and if there are mutliple bus stops at your resort, I'd recommend walking to whereever the first bus stops. (again your resort front desk can help with this) because most likely you will find a line of other guests wanting to arrive early for rope drop ceremony.

Taking the earliest possible bus to Magic Kingdom, once at MK, it is a short walk to the Contemporary Resort where Chef Mickey is located. If you have at least 15 minutes to spare, you can opt to ride the RESORT monorail for a little traveling fun. The Contemporary Resort is the first stop, exit and you'll see the Chef Mickey sign exiting the monorail inside the resort. It's a fun way to go

You can always take a taxi if you're nervous about your arrival time but I think you'll be fine with WDW buses

When you make your reservation, they will want a CC to hold your reservation. Your card would only be charged $10 person if you don't cancel within the time frame they tell you or if you don't show up. You can use your dining credits to pay for your meal.

Being your first visit, may I make a suggestion? JMHO but Chef Mickey is a very special dining event for a first visit and if you can't get the first available bfast time slot, you may find yourself in Chef Mickey's during the opening of the Magic Kindgom. The opening ceremony is also an exciting thing to see for a first visit and it starts about 15 minutes before official park opening. Mickey pulls up on a train and they "officially" open the magic kingdom.

You could try to book the latest possible bfast at Chef Mickey's, about 11:20 is around the last booking time, that way you can see the rope drop ceremony, enter Magic Kingdom and enjoy a few rides of your choice and see quite a bit in those first 90 minutes and then head over to Chef Mickey's for a later breakfast. Speaking from experience, they won't rush you out and you may find yourself getting lots of attention from the characters as the restaurant clears out. (Downside is you may not feel the buffet is quite as "fresh" as if you were first meal of the day)

Another suggestion since you're on dining plan, plan a DINNER at Chef Mickey's which averages about $10/more per person but on the dining plan, bfast & dinner are both one Table Service credit. Dinner starts as early as 5pm. You can enjoy the morning at MK, go back to your resort for an afternoon swim, and then go to Chef Mickey's for dinner before going back to MK for the evening.

One last suggestion, if you opt for dinner at Chef Mickey, inside the Magic Kingdom is the Crystal Palace, it is also on the dining plan, serves bfast, lunch & dinner. Granted you'd miss the opening cermemony, but if you book an early bfast at Crystal Palace, you get to enter Magic Kingdom EARLY and walk down Main St. before the general public, It's very cool to see the castle without a crowd of people around you, makes for great photos. If your reservation is an hour before park opens, you'll have plenty of time to eat and visit with Pooh and friends and then be leaving about the time the Magic kingdom opens to everyone else.

Have a wonderful trip

 

[Vegas2000]

Thank you SOOO much TwiddleDee...you made some very good suggestions that have me re-thinking some of my ideas!!! Its been 7 years since I've been so I'm not remembering much about park openings, etc. You've given me lots to think about. Thanks again!!!

 

[Vegas2000]

Well.......it seems I'm too late for a reservation during our stay in June....they have no BF or lunch reservations available and the only dinner time they have available is at 8:45....soooo............just wondering if you might have some other suggestions on a good place for breakfast that has Mickey, Donald, Pluto, Minnie, etc there? I'm so sad!!! ='(

 

[KrazeeK120]

Well.......it seems I'm too late for a reservation during our stay in June....they have no BF or lunch reservations available and the only dinner time they have available is at 8:45....soooo............just wondering if you might have some other suggestions on a good place for breakfast that has Mickey, Donald, Pluto, Minnie, etc there? I'm so sad!!! ='(

Mickey & Friends visit Garden Grill at Epcot as well, and also breakfast at Cape May, I think. You may want to check...I haven't been to these meals (only read about them), so my memory may not be great.

Have you told your 7 yo about this trip yet or that he will see Mickey at a meal? If not, I MAY recommend checking out the Crystal Palace inside MK. Pooh & friends visit meals there. DH and I went there for dinner a few years ago, and even though we are just 2 adults w/o kids, the characters were great about interacting with us (which I loved - I'm just a big kid at heart!). I think your 7 yo would love this place. It's also a buffet, similar to Chef Mickey's, so he should be able to find things he likes to eat. Just a thought.

 

[madelyn]

One trip we had a large party (3 families) and were unable to get into Chef Mickey's and ended up trying the breakfast at 'Ohana at the Polynesian for the first time. The characters there are Lilo, Stitch, Mickey and Pluto. We enjoyed our meal there and if you aren't on the dining plan, the price is cheaper than Chef Mickey's.

 

[MaryPoppins1964]

Our favorite Breakfast is Ohana's. The characters do a parade with the kids and spend time at the table more so than some of the other restaurants. Our second favorite breakfast is Cape May Cafe.

After trying for 6 years to get a ADR at Chef Mickeys, we were able to get a lunch (opened lunch up during free dining plan) and I was telling the CM how long we had waited, and she told me they have a lot of last minute cancellations and to try walking in between 5 - 7. That was 2 years ago, so I am not sure how much that would hold true now that they require a cc, but it may be worth a try.

Enjoy your trip!

Cathy

 

[madelyn]

Garden Grill @ Epcot has Mickey and friends but only serves dinner from I think 4 to 8p. Oddly enough I was able to get a table for Chef Mickey's for our June trip but not a table all together at the Garden Grill.

Mickey & Friends visit Garden Grill at Epcot as well, and also breakfast at Cape May, I think. You may want to check...I haven't been to these meals (only read about them), so my memory may not be great.

 

[TwiddleDeeTwiddleDum]

Well.......it seems I'm too late for a reservation during our stay in June....they have no BF or lunch reservations available and the only dinner time they have available is at 8:45....soooo............just wondering if you might have some other suggestions on a good place for breakfast that has Mickey, Donald, Pluto, Minnie, etc there? I'm so sad!!! ='(

Don't give up keep checking the on-line system because cancelations do occur. Chef Mickey's does not serve lunch, just bfast and dinner. You can get bfast, lunch, dinner at Crystal Palace inside WDW but it is Pooh and friends, but we always enjoy seeing Tiger, Piglet and Eeyore.

If you have your heart set on the Mickey gang, Tusker House at Animal Kingdom has Donald as host with (I'm pretty sure) Daisy, Micky & Goofy for both breakfast and lunch. ALmost like the cast at Chef Mickey (Mickey, Minnie, Donald & Goofy) only Donald and his "girl" host over at Tusker House

Have not done bfast at TH, but we're doing character lunch next trip and if the food is like the dinner buffet, oh yum, it's great with african flare, and not to worry, there are kids pickins.

And as another person said, Garden Grill in Epcot has farmer Mickey. Also, not Mickey but CHip & Dale, Minnie & Goofy host a breakfast at Cape May at the Beach Club.

Here's some pixie dust I'm prediciting you're going to find a place to enjoy where Mickey will be. You've still got a good 60 days for it to happen. Think positive & good luck

 

[MaryPoppins1964]

Chef Mickey's does not serve lunch, just bfast and dinner.

For the past few years, they have opened Chef Mickeys for lunch during the Free Dining Plan offer in the fall which is what I was refering to. That is the only time we have ever been able to get a Reservation.

 

[TwiddleDeeTwiddleDum]

For the past few years, they have opened Chef Mickeys for lunch during the Free Dining Plan offer in the fall which is what I was refering to. That is the only time we have ever been able to get a Reservation.

OP is going in June so unfortuately this will most likely not be an option for her. Being their first trip she may not have realized that's what you were referring to and may have been confused if she thought she could book lunch.