Chef Mickey Dilemma

[Scrufsmom]

We are going to WDW on July 27 and finally decided what restaurant to go too. Of course, my DD who is 8 and visiting us for the summer gets to choose where we go, cause this is for her. Well, anyway, we have choosen Chef Mickey Dinner Buffet but can't seem to get a simple reservation at a decent time. The first CM offered us 8:30pm and when I explained that was too late...her next response was just give the kid a snack. What!!!! You can't expect a child to wait almost 3 hours later for dinner when they are used to eating at 5:30pm.

Anyway, my question is what should I do? I can't seem to get a simple dinner reservation. She really wants to eat with Mickey, but doesn't want to do the breakfast thing. Any suggestions? I would be most appreciative.

Thanks,
Scrufsmom

 

[n2mm]

Sorry to say, this is why so many folks (especially me) called on the 120 day mark. I called in Feb to make my 5:00 PM reservation for our trip in 2 weeks. I was in WDW during an extremely slow time in January (after 9/11)--it does not get any slower than that. I didn't think PS was going to be a problem. Needless to say that I tried to get a PS for chef mickey's for an early seating for any of the 5 nights I was at the AKL, and nothing unless I wanted to eat after 8:30 PM. I have read many folks recommend you show up at 4:30 PM and hopefully they would take you as a walk in. I've never done this, mostly because if they couldn't I didn't want to see the tears coming from my grandson (and husband) because they couldn't get in. With most resorts at 100% occupany I've been trying to spread the word that priority seatings are going to be a must for anyone going this summer. I was there in May this year and watched as people were turned away at Hollywood and Vine and the 50s Prime Time because the restraurants would not take anyone without priority seatings and that was in early May. Good luck and keep trying.

 

[Scrufsmom]

Thank you for responding n2mm. Our only problem is that we get the little one for one month during the summer so many of our plans have to go on hold till a family discussion can be done. I knew that one should make advance, I mean way in advanced, ressies, but who could tell the future of the bookings.

My word when you hear that ticket sales, hotel room ressies, merchandise purchases etc are down....what would you expect?

I guess we will have to make several long distance calls daily up till the time of our departure to see if there have been any cancelations.

Wish me good luck?!
Scrufsmom

 

[Jordan's MOM]

What about another dinner character meal with Mickey if you can't get CM. I know that Mickey is at the LLT at MK, and at the Garden Grill at Epcot. Neither has the "fun party", but both are quite nice. I would try for a PS at one of these, keep trying for CM and also try showing up at 4:30 and see if you get lucky.
Enjoy this special time with your DD.


Jordan's mom

 

[ceecee]

Isn't Mickey at the Ice Cream social at Epcot......or am I mistaken???

 

[Erikarate]

I have a similar dilemma...I let DD pick a restaurant for dinner in honor of her good report card. Of course she picked Chef Mickey, but I too was unable to get anything before 9pm!!! The concierge staff at AKL can't even get me in!!! We were hoping to get a PS on 7/13 if anyone is cancelling. Maybe I should post this in a separate thread?

 

[holidaybarb]

If you really have your heart set on Chef Mickey's, take the 8:30PS. Then start calling every day about 10 days prior to your trip to see if you can get something earlier.

I thought of Chef Mickey's too late to get any PS at all and we had a large group - 18 people! But less than 1 week before our trip suddenly something was available and I grabbed it.

IMO 8:30 is better than nothing - you can even stay around to watch the fireworks. But maybe you'll get lucky and a better time will be available closer to your trip.

 

[Emme]

CALL A FEW DAYS BEFORE YOU LEAVE! I cannot stress this enough. They gave me the same line only 8:30, so I kept calling and nothing. Finally 2 days before we left BINGO any time I wanted magically opened up! This was Easter week too. So take what they give you (just in case) and then around start around 5 days ahead and see what you can get.

Blessings,
Emmy

 

[mmeb144]

I made our PS for the latest breakfast time that we could get and we had lunch there that day. If your little one doesn't like to get up, tell her that you will be visiting Mickey at his place, MK, for a little while before you go to Chef Mickey's.

Marie

 

[Epcotgal8]

As mentioned, KEEP TRYING! Even after you get there! There are cancellations and I have always "heard" that they hold some time slots until a couple of days prior. I don't know if they still do this or not and it may be luck of the draw but it's worth a try.

 

[MrsPete]

I think you'll find that your whole schedule will be thrown off at Disney anyway. My girls tended to take long naps every afternoon (and they're well past nap stage), which allowed them to keep going later in the day. We were very glad that we had purposefully planned our dinners a little late every day.

I'd do exactly what the CM suggested: give the kid a snack. Give the kid a whole meal, if you wish. Then let her just pick at the buffet and have dessert at 8:30.

I was just scrapbooking my Chef Mickey's pictures from our June trip. I knew my girls were having fun at Chef Mickey's, but I couldn't believe their faces in the pictures. It was clearly one of their favorite parts of the trip!

Don't skip Chef Mickey's!