Can Chef Mickey squeeze us in???

[lancerx]

Hi everyone,

Im here for some advice. A week ago I booked an ADR for Chef Mickey for breakfast (10:30) at the end of January. Being that the trip is coming up and its the first in about 10 yrs, I printed out my confirmation and low and behold, I booked it for 4 people and I need 5. I called dining and asked if it would be a problem to add 1 more. I was told that being there are no more open slots for the day, that they could not change it until a slot opened up. They said I can try to go that day and if its not filled to capacity, they may e able to fit my whole party, but if it is, its nothing they can do until another cancel.

So what do you think? With the time I'm going (JAN = low crowds) and the time (10:30 parks open at 9), do you think they would be able to fit one more? What has me worried is that there is no more open slots. Should I be concerned?

 

[ppony]

They might be able to get one more in, but don't equate January's low park crowds w/ low crowds in the restaurants that are most popular like CMs. Especially w/ free dining and these plans they have. We're going in a week and when I did a search for availability at the CR for any restaurants CMs (which we will NOT eat at anymore) showed up as no availability for the entire day I searched. Thankfully I wasn't looking to eat there, but it did show up as having no availability for a party of only 2.

 

[captinhookedondisney]

It really shouldn't be a problem.

I have done this a few times and they told me I would wait a few min, it was no big deal.

What the best thing to do is get to Chef Mickeys as early as you can to tell them about this little mishap, or try calling at 7 when they open. If you can't find a number call the contemporary and ask to be transferred to Chef Mickeys.

And obviously keep trying 407-wdw-dine and their web site

Good Luck.

 

[purple figment]

I would keep checking online multiple times a day to see if something opens up. You might have to be flexible on the time or even the day.

Also, you'll have to decide what to do if you can't get a res for 5 because CM's has a credit card guarantee. Is there one person who is willing to forgo the breakfast...or are you willing to pay the $40 penalty for skipping the meal? Unfortunately with this new cc policy you can't just show up or call the morning of and hope it works out.

 

[ElizabethB]

They squeezed an extra four people into CRT for us! I don't think you will have a problem.

 

[arcticdisneylovers]

I'm sure it won't be a problem. I would show up a few minutes early and nicely explain you have an extra person. I've seen people do that all the time and the CM don't bat an eye lash. They'll fit you in

 

[Terapin]

I had the opposite problem: 2 of our 13 went home earlier than expected. I just explained at the podium and it seemed no big deal. You get the next available table, so in some ways it doesn't really matter whether it is a 4-top or a table that can accommodate 5 with all the variables of people being early, being late, or having a smaller/larger party than expected, and no-shows factored in.

If they were tighter on table control wait times would be minimal. In our experience, some places we walked right in with our ADR and at others we waited 45-60 minutes. It really seemed like there was an ebb and flow, and your +1 party likely would be just folded into it all.

I really don't think it will be a problem. Good luck.

 

[sharadoc]

Did the CM on the phone check JUST your reservation time of 10:30 or did they check times around that as well? You can go online and check availability for just "breakfast" and it will show you available times for 5.

I'd be shocked if you can't find a reservation. If not, then I'm sure they will fit you all in.

We've gone in the past in late January and early February for a 10:30 breakfast at 1900 Park Faire, Crystal Palace and Tusker House. All of them were a ghost town, even when there's free dining. You should be fine.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'd be shocked if you can't find a reservation. If not, then I'm sure they will fit you all in.

I'd be shocked if they COULD find a reservation this late in the game.

And going from 4 ot 5 is a lot different than going from 3 to 4 or 5 to 6. It means they will need a completely different size table than the one they had assigned. Might work out if someone else shows up one short and they can swap. Or it might not work.

OP, keep trying. And I'd probably still chance it and show up with 5 hoping for the best. Just don't expect it to be a sure thing.

With CC guarantees now, I'm guessing they are indeed having fewer no-shows though.

 

[lancerx]

Thanks for all of the advice. I will keep trying to see if they have spots available. If not I will just get there early and hope for the best. Since it was my fault, if they cant let us all in, I'll just have to have my sister take pics lol.

 

[lancerx]

Did the CM on the phone check JUST your reservation time of 10:30 or did they check times around that as well? You can go online and check availability for just "breakfast" and it will show you available times for 5.

I'd be shocked if you can't find a reservation. If not, then I'm sure they will fit you all in.

We've gone in the past in late January and early February for a 10:30 breakfast at 1900 Park Faire, Crystal Palace and Tusker House. All of them were a ghost town, even when there's free dining. You should be fine.

That's the same way I thought with the time I was going( exact time as yours). But as the first poster said, I know now not to assume low park crowds = low crowds at the resort.

But I have been checking online (almost everyday) and the CM did check surrounding times for breakfast when I called; everyday and time so far is booked lol. But Im hoping that going in at 10:30 when all the parks are open will make some room for us all. But I'll keep checking and see if we can be pushed through when we get there

 

[E-P-C-O-T]

We have lots of friend and family in Fla and they join us for dinner all the time, at the last minute We never had a problem at Ohana's, Chef Mickey's or 1900 Park Fare and we have gone from a party of 4 to a party of 5 or 6.

 

[Abharmagic]

I would just go with 5 and see what happens- it's not like you are upping it from 4 to 8 or anything- be prepared for them to say no though, but I'd think they could accommodate your one extra guest.

 

[mom2rtk]

I would just go with 5 and see what happens- it's not like you are upping it from 4 to 8 or anything- be prepared for them to say no though, but I'd think they could accommodate your one extra guest.

I'm optimistic they will be able to accommodate.

But it's not really as easy as just squeezing in one extra chair. If they were at a table for 4, they aren't just going to pull up an unused chair from a nearby table. They have to keep the aisles clear for the characters to get through. This will depend entirely on whether a larger party that day shows up with fewer people and can be seated at a smaller table for 4, leaving their larger table for 5 or 6 available.

 

[sharadoc]

I'd be shocked if they COULD find a reservation this late in the game.

And going from 4 ot 5 is a lot different than going from 3 to 4 or 5 to 6. It means they will need a completely different size table than the one they had assigned. Might work out if someone else shows up one short and they can swap. Or it might not work.

OP, keep trying. And I'd probably still chance it and show up with 5 hoping for the best. Just don't expect it to be a sure thing.

With CC guarantees now, I'm guessing they are indeed having fewer no-shows though.

Yeah, somehow I missed that she said Chef Mickey's!!! That's a horse of a different color.

OP - maybe you could try and move to 1900 Park Faire? Or is the Fab Five the main reason you're going to CMs??