Cafe Mickey - best time to eat in evening?

[Tinkjon]

I am in Full Planning Mode here We are planning to eat at CM one evening - does it matter what time, with regard to the character interaction? We were thinking of around 7-7.30pm - does that sound ok? I'm not sure if the characters come in shifts or are there continously... thanks in advance!

 

[wmoon]

Hello again.

We went at 6.30. There was a large queue for those with reservations and the lie without was basically turned away. Characters were out continuously. We saw Pluto, goofy, mickey, Minnie and eeyore.

I had printed some Halloween disney colouring pages from the Internet and put them together into a colouring book for DS (5). The characters seemed to like the fact he was colouring in pictures of them all dressed up and they all signed his colouring pages fr their character. DS was so chuffed and Pluto even tried to help colour with him.

We had the set menu, service was fine but slow and food was ok. When we left after a couple of hours it was still heaving and the queue outside was massive. I was glad we hadn't waited till after dreams but inventions was fine for the 8.30 slot, late for DS but at least no walk back to the hotel.....

I'm not really helping am I

 

[tinks_1989]

We went for 6pm the characters have just come out and it is a bit quieter (it does depend on what time park closes) If you are have the set menu I would allow atleast 2 hours for your meal. We have been 4 times and 3 out of the 4 we have been in there well over 2 hours

 

[Isila]

we went 17.30 and next time 18.00. This time I'll choose 17.30 again. You get seated, it's not so crowded, queue is not so big. And characters come soon. And I agree, not less than two hours. No rush, enjoy your meal and have fun with characters.

 

[Tinkjon]

Right, so after Dreams is out then. I don't mind the slow service in CM because it means more time with the characters - it would annoy me anywhere else though!

Thank you, all!

 

[cherrymarzipan]

We had a reservation for 19.30 on September 29 which was a Saturday and there was a queue but it moved quite quickly and we were seated quite promptly. Characters were out continuously and we saw Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto and Tigger and we had lots of interaction. I wished we had had an autograph book with us but Mickey found a piece of paper and wrote a lovely message for DS.

I checked our (telephone) reservation earlier on the day and was glad I had done so as they had completely miss-spelt my surname and the reservation was unrecognisable so it appeared that it had been lost until I gave them my christian name. It took a little time and the manager to get it sorted and would have caused panic if we had left it until the evening.

 

[DLPDreams]

Good question Tinkjon!

I am just about to book our meals and can't decide whether to go for CM after Dreams (we will only see Dreams 3 times so don't want to miss out one night). I was thinking of booking 7.45 pm to give us time to get out of the park (two adults can push on ahead if need be to get in line).

Is that time really a no-no do you think? I can see it is going to be busy and might not be the best with my parents (and the children) if we are left waiting in line fore ages and then waiting ages for food (I don't mind a wait but obviously I don't want to be e.g. 40 mins for a pizza!).... .

We never done CM at night, always lunch time but as the park is only open until 7 pm two days, we don't want to leave to go to lunch in the Village.

 

[Tinkjon]

We definitely got lots of attention from the characters when we went early, about 6pm, in the past. But it seems like there might be more of a buzz later when it's busy, at least? I decided to book for 6.30pm on the day we're at the studios (which close at 6pm anyway).

 

[Ware Bears]

We definitely got lots of attention from the characters when we went early, about 6pm, in the past. But it seems like there might be more of a buzz later when it's busy, at least?

You've hit the nail on the head - when we've been later ie after 8pm it's more lively in there but although the characters were great fun there's (understandably) not quite as much attention as when we've been at a quieter time.

 

[Hannikins]

I prefer going late. We went at 8.30 one visit and 9.00 the next. Both were fine and towards the end once there were less people in the restaurant the characters were still out and about.

Disney dreams had impacted on this though. With a late showing you'll see and influx just after the show and if that's late evening it won't be as quiet.