Chef Mickey ADR before MK or DHS rope drop?

[slford00]

Hi all,

I'm relatively new to the forum and have appreciated a lot of the great advice available on here. I asked a similar version of this question a few days ago and apologize for cluttering the board, but our opportunities have changed a bit as a new reservation time became available.

We currently have reservations for breakfast at Chef Mickey's at 7:15 on two consecutive mornings -- one day on which we'll go to MK and the next will be at Hollywood Studios, and we will only keep one of these.

How realistic is it to make RD following breakfast at this time at either of the two parks? We have FP+ for TSMM, ToT, and Star Tours at DHS and my wife and I will single-ride RnRC (our two kids are too small), so it's not crucial that we get to DHS exactly at RD. It's much more crucial for my touring plan to be at MK at RD, but this is also much closer to Contemporary Resort so I'm hoping that gives us enough time.

We have FP+ for A&E and our other main headliners over two days at MK, so at RD we will be doing things like Barnstormer, Dumbo, etc., in Fantasyland. So again, perhaps we don't need to be in the very front of the crowd at RD, but I would like to be in the park as close to opening as possible.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give!

 

[practicallyperfect77]

Following as I'm interested in knowing how long bfast at Chef Mickeys takes.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Hi all,

I'm relatively new to the forum and have appreciated a lot of the great advice available on here. I asked a similar version of this question a few days ago and apologize for cluttering the board, but our opportunities have changed a bit as a new reservation time became available.

We currently have reservations for breakfast at Chef Mickey's at 7:15 on two consecutive mornings -- one day on which we'll go to MK and the next will be at Hollywood Studios, and we will only keep one of these.

How realistic is it to make RD following breakfast at this time at either of the two parks? We have FP+ for TSMM, ToT, and Star Tours at DHS and my wife and I will single-ride RnRC (our two kids are too small), so it's not crucial that we get to DHS exactly at RD. It's much more crucial for my touring plan to be at MK at RD, but this is also much closer to Contemporary Resort so I'm hoping that gives us enough time.

We have FP+ for A&E and our other main headliners over two days at MK, so at RD we will be doing things like Barnstormer, Dumbo, etc., in Fantasyland. So again, perhaps we don't need to be in the very front of the crowd at RD, but I would like to be in the park as close to opening as possible.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give!

Welcome to the Dis ! Unrealistic for RD at either park with a 7:15 ADR You could be in Chef Mickey's well over an hour or 1 1/2 hrs It's a good character meal and at that time of the morning in my experience you'll get nice time with the characters If I had an idea of when your FP+ times are at both parks I could better tell you which ADR to cancel

 

[slford00]

DHS FP+:
ToT 9:20-10:20
TSMM 10:25-11:25
Star Tours 11:40-12:40
--Goal was to arrive close to RD and ride RnRC with single rider/child swap (each parent goes once)

MK FP+:
Space Mountain 10:00-11:00
Peter Pan 11:00-12:00
Cinderella/Rapunzel M&G 12:00-1:00
--Goal was to arrive early and do 7-9 Fantasyland/Tomorrowland rides prior to the first FP at Space Mountain (Buzz, Astro, Dumbo, Pooh, Under the Sea, etc). We will be there before 7DMT opens and we have FP+ for A&E the 2nd day we're going to MK.

So breakfast at 7:15, finishing around 8:15-8:30 wouldn't get us to MK close to opening if we park and take monorail to Contemporary prior to breakfast?


A third option that just became available since my OP is to do Chef Mickey's for dinner around 6:30 on our second MK night, which should give us enough time to get back in time for MSEP/CBTM/Wishes, right? We'd have to leave and re-enter park, which isn't horrible. More notably, we'd have to pass up reservations for dinner at Be Our Guest at 4:30 PM to do dinner at Chef Mickey's... but we can always wait 10-20 mins for a late lunch at Be Our Guest on one of our days if we need to.

 

[Luvchefmic]

DHS FP+:
ToT 9:20-10:20
TSMM 10:25-11:25
Star Tours 11:40-12:40
--Goal was to arrive close to RD and ride RnRC with single rider/child swap (each parent goes once)

MK FP+:
Space Mountain 10:00-11:00
Peter Pan 11:00-12:00
Cinderella/Rapunzel M&G 12:00-1:00
--Goal was to arrive early and do 7-9 Fantasyland/Tomorrowland rides prior to the first FP at Space Mountain (Buzz, Astro, Dumbo, Pooh, Under the Sea, etc). We will be there before 7DMT opens and we have FP+ for A&E the 2nd day we're going to MK.

So breakfast at 7:15, finishing around 8:15-8:30 wouldn't get us to MK close to opening if we park and take monorail to Contemporary prior to breakfast?


A third option that just became available since my OP is to do Chef Mickey's for dinner around 6:30 on our second MK night, which should give us enough time to get back in time for MSEP/CBTM/Wishes, right? We'd have to leave and re-enter park, which isn't horrible. More notably, we'd have to pass up reservations for dinner at Be Our Guest at 4:30 PM to do dinner at Chef Mickey's... but we can always wait 10-20 mins for a late lunch at Be Our Guest on one of our days if we need to.

Ok I had to read that a few times and this is what I think :

Keep Chef Mickey for breakfast then go to MK and whatever you do in between after breakfast/arrival and your first FP+ time is a bonus The goal of doing 7 to 9 rides in between breakfast and 10/11 am is not going to happen

I would go to MK for RD on the other day you will be going there

Go to RD on your DHS day ( don't forget you have to cancel the ADR for Chef Mickeys for that day )

Keep the BOG dinner I have never eaten there for dinner YET ( going in Sept) but since it's a tough one to get & I have heard good things I would keep that one over Chef Mickey's for dinner ( I have had dinner there many times and always enjoyed it but would keep BOG as I said ) and don't forget you will meet the Beast after dinner

What do you think ?

 

[GrtWtNorth]

In my experience, for Chef Mickey's or any character meal, my family spends 45-75 minutes at our table, plus 5-20 minutes waiting to be seated. If you want rope drop at Magic Kingdom, you will have to arrive early and eat fast. You may also want to arrive much earlier than your reservation. In my experience, as long as you have a reservation that day, they will try to seat you as quickly as possible. (As the pirates say, ADRs are more guidelines than rules. I haven't tried this at Chef Mickey's, but I've been seated up to three hours early at other Disney restaurants.)

For my family, I plan character breakfasts late in the morning (10:30-ish), and just feed my kid a small snack in the hotel before hitting rope drop in the parks. You could also attempt this, but you should reschedule your conflicting FastPass(es).

As for going from the Chef Mickey's to Disney Hollywood Studios, that takes me about 40-60 minutes, depending on how far I have to walk through parking lots and how busy the parking entrances are. Buses will take a similar amount of time. When is DHS scheduled to open during your visit?

 

[ready2cmickeymouse]

I would be @ chef mickeys @ 7 on my MK day. We had a 7 adr in January and we didn't even have a wait to check in or to be seated. We saw all the charcters and was @ MK in time for rope drop. Don't forget you can walk to MK from the Contemporary. Walking is faster than riding the monorail. If you ride the monorail from the Contemporary it makes stops @ TTC,Poly, Grand Floridian before getting to MK.

 

[Zachsmom4]

I would be @ chef mickeys @ 7 on my MK day. We had a 7 adr in January and we didn't even have a wait to check in or to be seated. We saw all the charcters and was @ MK in time for rope drop. Don't forget you can walk to MK from the Contemporary. Walking is faster than riding the monorail. If you ride the monorail from the Contemporary it makes stops @ TTC,Poly, Grand Floridian before getting to MK.

This! We also had a 7am ADR for Chef Mickeys and made it to rope drop with no problem to the MK. There was no waiting to be seated. It worked out great. Good luck.

 

[slford00]

Ok I had to read that a few times and this is what I think :

Keep Chef Mickey for breakfast then go to MK and whatever you do in between after breakfast/arrival and your first FP+ time is a bonus The goal of doing 7 to 9 rides in between breakfast and 10/11 am is not going to happen

I would go to MK for RD on the other day you will be going there

Go to RD on your DHS day ( don't forget you have to cancel the ADR for Chef Mickeys for that day )

Keep the BOG dinner I have never eaten there for dinner YET ( going in Sept) but since it's a tough one to get & I have heard good things I would keep that one over Chef Mickey's for dinner ( I have had dinner there many times and always enjoyed it but would keep BOG as I said ) and don't forget you will meet the Beast after dinner

What do you think ?

I just reviewed my touring plan that I drew up that day (I've gone full commando mode planning this trip). The goal is after RD to hit the following with minimal early wait:
- Under the Sea +/- Ariel's Grotto (if little to no wait)
- Barnstormer
- Dumbo
- Winnie the Pooh
- Mad Tea Party
- Astro Orbiter
- Buzz Lightyear Ranger Spin

Hopefully hitting those early would knock out pretty much all the Fantasyland/Tomorrowland rides that we don't have FP for with short early AM waits. We would then proceed to our first FP ride (Space Mountain 10:00-11:00).

I don't think we have to be front of the massive crowd right at opening to hit most of those at a reasonable time, but I do realize that's pretty ambitious and getting there at 9:30-10 to start won't cut it.

I think we'll probably show up at Chef Mickey's around 7, hopefully get seated a little early or at least by our ADR time (7:15), spend about an hour there, and then walk back to the park.

 

[slford00]

In my experience, for Chef Mickey's or any character meal, my family spends 45-75 minutes at our table, plus 5-20 minutes waiting to be seated. If you want rope drop at Magic Kingdom, you will have to arrive early and eat fast. You may also want to arrive much earlier than your reservation. In my experience, as long as you have a reservation that day, they will try to seat you as quickly as possible. (As the pirates say, ADRs are more guidelines than rules. I haven't tried this at Chef Mickey's, but I've been seated up to three hours early at other Disney restaurants.)

For my family, I plan character breakfasts late in the morning (10:30-ish), and just feed my kid a small snack in the hotel before hitting rope drop in the parks. You could also attempt this, but you should reschedule your conflicting FastPass(es).

As for going from the Chef Mickey's to Disney Hollywood Studios, that takes me about 40-60 minutes, depending on how far I have to walk through parking lots and how busy the parking entrances are. Buses will take a similar amount of time. When is DHS scheduled to open during your visit?

Wow, that sounds like DHS following Chef Mickey's really isn't an option. DHS opens at 9 that morning.

About how long would it take to walk from Contemporary to MK, plus having to get through gates at a very busy time in the AM?

 

[slford00]

I would be @ chef mickeys @ 7 on my MK day. We had a 7 adr in January and we didn't even have a wait to check in or to be seated. We saw all the charcters and was @ MK in time for rope drop. Don't forget you can walk to MK from the Contemporary. Walking is faster than riding the monorail. If you ride the monorail from the Contemporary it makes stops @ TTC,Poly, Grand Floridian before getting to MK.

Does the monorail only go in one direction in a circular route? In what order are the stops? What time does it start running from TTC? (I ask b/c we would park at MK/TTC and then take the monorail to Contemporary before breakfast).

 

[Itinkso]

Does the monorail only go in one direction in a circular route? In what order are the stops? What time does it start running from TTC? (I ask b/c we would park at MK/TTC and then take the monorail to Contemporary before breakfast).

Yes, one direction.

TTC > Poly > GF > MK > Contemp > TTC

 

[katew449]

While I feel that RD @ mk is easiest bc it is closer, i do feel the need to remind u to remember to enjoy your ADRs. Especially if you have little kids, you don't know what they'll love the most. Chef mickeys may be their fav part and if all you're thinking about is getting out of there for fp, you'll miss it!
I say this, only because I'm doing the same thing. Then I asked my son what he is most looking forward to (he's 3) and he said to ride a bus. I realized that I need to stop obsessing, and enjoy every moment, bc he will lose his mind over everything. Even breakfast with Mickey Mouse

 

[Skywise]

Walking time from Contemporary to MK depends on your pace - I'd say guesstimate however long it takes you to walk from the entrance to space mountain and then double it.

(Probably 10 - 20 minutes). In the opening hours, taking the monorail from Contemporary to MK will definitely be longer.

 

[Luvchefmic]

OP I still think those approx 7 rides are not going to happen Just being realistic Yes get there by 7 and by that I mean you are at the restaurant podium at that time

As far as the monorail I can't really address that as I rarely am ever on it

What we do is drive over to Contemporary eat get back in the car and drive over to TTC You parking then taking monorail over and monorail or walk back over is a plan too 6 of one 1/2 dozen the other doesn't matter

When are you going ? Are you staying on or off property ? How old are your children ?

Totally agree with poster Katew449 ( Welcome to you too ! )

A character meal is a not so inexpensive experience and it IS an experience You're going to see characters right there why rush ?

 

[Skywise]

OP I still think those approx 7 rides are not going to happen Just being realistic Yes get there by 7 and by that I mean you are at the restaurant podium at that time

As far as the monorail I can't really address that as I rarely am ever on it

What we do is drive over to Contemporary eat get back in the car and drive over to TTC You parking then taking monorail over and monorail or walk back over is a plan too 6 of one 1/2 dozen the other doesn't matter

When are you going ? Are you staying on or off property ? How old are your children ?

Totally agree with poster Katew449 ( Welcome to you too ! )

A character meal is a not so inexpensive experience and it IS an experience You're going to see characters right there why rush ?

Y'know I think if you pay for valet parking at the Contemporary you can park there all day (which is as much as TTC parking unless you have a discount/AP pass)

 

[Luvchefmic]

Y'know I think if you pay for valet parking at the Contemporary you can park there all day (which is as much as TTC parking unless you have a discount/AP pass)

Yes you can pay for valet parking at any resort IF they have room of course and they don't have any restricted parking rules due to special events etc Don't know what OP has in the way of admission ticket or where they are staying etc I didn't even think to mention it though as I never used valet anywhere, just go park in the regular lots

 

[Nancyg56]

OP- I may be a tad out of line, but I have to caution you. I love character meals, but I have to say that today teh experience may be smooth and you get in and out in a timely manner. Tomorrow your characters seem to take forever to reach you, and the time you scheduled is now double. This happened at Tusker House. Thank goodness my DGD was 11 and did not mind not meeting and greeting every one there because we would never have gotten out. Had this been a first experience, we would have waited, and missed getting to teh Safari first thing. Just be prepared, so you do not find yourself getting frustrated, and stop enjoying the meal.

Also, be warned that while you may manage all of the attractions you have planned that morning, I sincerely doubt it will happen. I would encourage you to try to enjoy each one as you get to it, and try to avoid watching the clock to get to the next. I was guilty of this one on our first trip back when my DGD was 4. MY sister IL and I were hauling like the wind to the next attraction, trying to pull the rest of the family along. Thank God DH made it clear that nonsense was going to stop. Now. Never to happen again. It is very easy to get invested in a schedule, and lose track of all the wonderful magical things to experience between one attraction to the next.

 

[gabrielacsarti]

I will go to Chef Mickey's at 07:15 a.m. and want to rope drop MK too. I think it's totally possible in my case because I want to arrive before 07 a.m. so it makes the process of seating faster. I'm going with my mother and we are adults, so it makes things faster too... we eat a little bit in morning, so the breakfast is much more for character experience than for meal.