Chef Mickey’s breakfast timing question

[Masonmj84]

If we have an 8:30 ADR (party of 5), what’s a good guess as to when we’ll finish?

The reason I ask is that we are planning to do this on our departure day (Saturday before President's Day). We are staying at CSR and our flight was originally scheduled to leave at 2:20 pm. So we figured we’d still have plenty of time to get back to the resort to catch ME back to the airport.

Last night, we received an e-mail from the airline that the flight has been moved up to 1:30 pm. This means we will need to be back to CSR by 10:30 am to catch ME.

I am worried this will be cutting things a big too close, especially given what I’ve heard about long wait times (past ADR time) at Chef Mickey’s (and we can’t move the ADR up because the restaurant is already booked solid).

So I have a couple of thoughts on how to deal with this (and wanted to get some feedback):

(1) Stick with Chef Mickey’s (FWIW, we are first time Disney goers and wanted to hit this “classic”), show up at least 15-20 minutes early and tell the CM our situation (as well as the fact that we are willing to skip the photo with the Mickey statue). Hope that we can get seated early enough that, as a worst case, we’ll only have to take a cab back to CSR (in time to catch ME) as opposed to missing ME and being forced to take a cab all the way to the airport.

(2) Cancel Chef Mickey’s and book Cape May for, say, 8 am (which still has openings then). This would likely require us to take a cab to breakfast but should enable us to comfortably get back to CSR in time for ME. One reason I’m not totally thrilled about this option is that I originally booked Chef Mickey’s before the credit card guarantee rule went into effect and was hoping to avoid dealing with that. On the other hand, it would probably make departure day a lot less stressful.

I suppose another option would be to stay at CSR and eat at Pepper Market. However, we are on the DxDP and want to get optimal use of our credits. Moreover, we want to end our trip at a place where we get interaction with at least some of the Fab 5. We have an ADR earlier in the week at Tusker House, so we’ll get to see Mickey there but wanted to go to at least one place that has Minnie. So it’s either Chef Mickey’s or Cape May.

 

[minnie mum]

It will be tight, but I think you could still keep your CM ADR. Get there early. Up to half an hour early. Explain your situation when you check in and also with your wait person. Enjoy your breakfast but try not to linger. Then take a taxi back to your resort (try to leave the CR by 10 am).

In the meantime, stay on the lookout for a cancellation so you can nail an earlier ADR. Check daily. Cancellations happen all the time, so keep checking right up to departure day. Even at the resort, the concierge ought to be able to check for you. Good luck and have a great vacation.