- Joined
- Feb 15, 2003
- Messages
- 23,213
Had our second dinner at Chef Mickeys during out last trip a few weeks ago. I must be missing something, because we can't figure out what all the "hype" is about.
Our first time (last year) our PS was the last of the evening and the characters basically went off duty about 15 minutes after we got there. We saw them briefly. We had the restaurant almost entirely to ourselves, and in fact by dessert we were the only ones left. So I concluded that our dismal time was due to the lateness of the evening and wanted to try it agian at a "normal" time!
I read descriptions of this character meal as "fun", " not to be missed", "do it every year", " must do" etc.... What did I miss????
When we arrived around 5:20 for our 5:30 PS the line JUST TO SIGN IN was way out into the hallway. There were at least 6 CM's standing around, but the line took almost 20 mins. to get checked in. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE to get a name, PS #, check the list and hand out a buzzer???? Especially with that many workers standing around????
The food was okay, nothing special. The "famous" mashed potatos had been whipped to glue like consistancy. The carved ham was dry and chewy. The prime rib had 2 choices, shoe leather, or still moo-ing. The kids did really like the mickyroni and cheese and the ravioli. The parents were not impressed with the grown up food! I did like one of the desserts and wanted to know what it was, but no one there could tell me, and didn't seem interested in going out of thier way to find out for me. The waiter was okay, not great. We often had to wait for drink refills and to get plates cleared away.
Character interaction was definitely not worth the money! My reason for wanting to pay the price for a Character Meal is to have better interaction than is available in the parks. We had a much better time with the characters at Toon Town Fair! Each one just did the "walk up, grab the autograph book, pose for a photo (better make it quick!), move on". I understand that they have to get to everyone and can't spend tons of time, but I paid a lot for that experience (and the food wasn't worth that money!) and thought we could expect a little "fun" while we were there. In fact Goofy was in such a hurry he was being RUDE and made my DD4 cry (I did complain to management and they tried to make it right--but it shouldn't have happened in the first place). Most of the characters came by our table 2 or 3 times. I would have much rather had one long visit rather than several hurried passes.
We didn't experiece any additional "fun". They did the napkin waving thing, but we couldn't really understand why, and all the workers had an "oh brother, time to do this again" attitude. I am sure the charaters were rolling their eyes "in there"! They didn't seem to be "into" it and enjoying the kids.
Was also upset with the rushed decision on buying the photograph. I like that they take your picture and let you buy it, but they came by just as we had got our salads and wanted a decision right then. I told him to leave it and let me think about it (I wanted to eat!). He came back few minutes later. I still hadn't had time to really look at the photo and think about it. And of course they don't bother to tell you that you don't have to buy the whole package. I had to be assertive to get him to tell me the price for just the 5x7 photo. Why can't they just have them in a central place to go and look at before you leave, or have you pay your server or a specific cashier after the meal?
The whole meal just felt "rushed" (except for when we signed in!). Get in, stuff your face, get the *&%$ out. This really ticked me off and caused the opposited reaction for us, we took a VERY long time.
Obviously we won't do this again, but I am just wondering what it is that all you who recommend Chef Mickey's get that we didn't????
PS: We have also done Donald's Breakfastasaurus and CRT and enjoyed them so this wasn't our first or only Character meal. I just can't see what is supposed to be so wonderful about Chef Mickey's????
Our first time (last year) our PS was the last of the evening and the characters basically went off duty about 15 minutes after we got there. We saw them briefly. We had the restaurant almost entirely to ourselves, and in fact by dessert we were the only ones left. So I concluded that our dismal time was due to the lateness of the evening and wanted to try it agian at a "normal" time!
I read descriptions of this character meal as "fun", " not to be missed", "do it every year", " must do" etc.... What did I miss????
When we arrived around 5:20 for our 5:30 PS the line JUST TO SIGN IN was way out into the hallway. There were at least 6 CM's standing around, but the line took almost 20 mins. to get checked in. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE to get a name, PS #, check the list and hand out a buzzer???? Especially with that many workers standing around????
The food was okay, nothing special. The "famous" mashed potatos had been whipped to glue like consistancy. The carved ham was dry and chewy. The prime rib had 2 choices, shoe leather, or still moo-ing. The kids did really like the mickyroni and cheese and the ravioli. The parents were not impressed with the grown up food! I did like one of the desserts and wanted to know what it was, but no one there could tell me, and didn't seem interested in going out of thier way to find out for me. The waiter was okay, not great. We often had to wait for drink refills and to get plates cleared away.
Character interaction was definitely not worth the money! My reason for wanting to pay the price for a Character Meal is to have better interaction than is available in the parks. We had a much better time with the characters at Toon Town Fair! Each one just did the "walk up, grab the autograph book, pose for a photo (better make it quick!), move on". I understand that they have to get to everyone and can't spend tons of time, but I paid a lot for that experience (and the food wasn't worth that money!) and thought we could expect a little "fun" while we were there. In fact Goofy was in such a hurry he was being RUDE and made my DD4 cry (I did complain to management and they tried to make it right--but it shouldn't have happened in the first place). Most of the characters came by our table 2 or 3 times. I would have much rather had one long visit rather than several hurried passes.
We didn't experiece any additional "fun". They did the napkin waving thing, but we couldn't really understand why, and all the workers had an "oh brother, time to do this again" attitude. I am sure the charaters were rolling their eyes "in there"! They didn't seem to be "into" it and enjoying the kids.
Was also upset with the rushed decision on buying the photograph. I like that they take your picture and let you buy it, but they came by just as we had got our salads and wanted a decision right then. I told him to leave it and let me think about it (I wanted to eat!). He came back few minutes later. I still hadn't had time to really look at the photo and think about it. And of course they don't bother to tell you that you don't have to buy the whole package. I had to be assertive to get him to tell me the price for just the 5x7 photo. Why can't they just have them in a central place to go and look at before you leave, or have you pay your server or a specific cashier after the meal?
The whole meal just felt "rushed" (except for when we signed in!). Get in, stuff your face, get the *&%$ out. This really ticked me off and caused the opposited reaction for us, we took a VERY long time.
Obviously we won't do this again, but I am just wondering what it is that all you who recommend Chef Mickey's get that we didn't????
PS: We have also done Donald's Breakfastasaurus and CRT and enjoyed them so this wasn't our first or only Character meal. I just can't see what is supposed to be so wonderful about Chef Mickey's????
Donald entertained us while we waited for our table and was very good with Kate. We got a pic with each character and bought the group pic they take after you check in. They dropped off the group pic about halfway through dinner and didn't come back to bug us for a good 15-20 mins, just as we were getting ready to leave. 
