Chef Mickey for Dinner

[mom2AidanAndEli]

I'm in the never again camp! We've done dinner twice and breakfast once, always hoping it would get better. It didn't.

If you like Golden Corral, you'll be okay with the food. Otherwise, yuck.

But the worst part is the cleanliness--or lack thereof. For some reason, parents feel no need to supervise their children here. Kids running around between tables. Running up to characters when they're visiting with another family. I've seen kids at the buffet, reaching in with bare hands. I've seen them take something out, change their mind, and put it back. The food ends up mixed together, spilled everywhere. And the staff just seem extremely slow at cleaning/maintaining. Then you get to the dining room where there's enough food strewn about the floor to feed my family of four! I know it's a character meal, but we've been to many others and this is by far the loudest, most chaotic, messiest one I've seen.

 

[SnipsNSnails]

We always have dinner there the first night of our trip. It's great to see the characters right at the beginning of the trip. We always have fun there and the kids LOVE it. The food is definitely not memorable to me, but I don't remember it being horrible either.

 

[ckcnj]

Character interaction is really good. I wouldn't call the food great, but also not terrible. I have stayed at an all-inclusive in Mexico and I work in a hospital and the food in both of those places is far, far worse. I thought the character interaction was just as good and the was better at Tucker house. But the food is more exotic, if you like that. I had pretty good chicken curry, Jasmine rice and naan there.

 

[ckcnj]

Oh another good strategy for a buffet is to make your reservation early in the time slot for a meal (say, 4pm if dinner is 4 to 7) so stuff is more untouched when you get to it.

 

[williamscm3]

We eat there every trip. Sometimes breakfast and sometimes dinner. It's fun, kids love it, and I honestly don't think the food is bad at all. It's an iconic Disney restaurant and I would give it a chance before ruling it out completely. You may love it!

 

[southjerseymom]

If your guys are younger - go for it! Chef Mickey's for dinner has been our "go to" restaurant since 2003. You get the Fab Five in one place. No need to see them at the parks because you just had dinner with them LOL. When our guys were little this was the place that we could have a bottle of wine and enjoy our dinner because the kids were entertained. This will be our first trip we are not doing Chef Mickey's. Kids are a little sad to lose the tradition but the price is too high for 4 "adults". But I would go back in a heartbeat with little guys!

 

[pens4821]

We love it. We aren't Disney regulars and go maybe once every five years, but this is always a must for us. The food isnt amazing but we enjoy it and are always get full. Noisy? Yeah I guess but it's the most fun dining experience I've ever had. The excitement is great. The character interaction is great and we've always had great service.

I do agree with the naysayers that it's too expensive, but what isn't at Disney? I wouldn't go multiple times a year, but for our special Disney trip it's a must go every time.

 

[Disneylover99]

It's not a "must do", but I like CM a lot.
We always book an early ADR, so we never find it too crowded or noisy. Food has always been hot and tasty. Character interaction has always been excellent.

 

[CCxmas]

I got the Minnie's Holiday Dine without Fantasmic for the first night of our trip. I also have Akershus and 1900 Park Fare with Cinderella. Not wanting to go crazy with the character meals. Is Chef Mickeys really worth trying to fight to get a reservation?

 

[Disneylover99]

I got the Minnie's Holiday Dine without Fantasmic for the first night of our trip. I also have Akershus and 1900 Park Fare with Cinderella. Not wanting to go crazy with the character meals. Is Chef Mickeys really worth trying to fight to get a reservation?

According to most people, no.

 

[JZCubed]

Any recommendations on whether it is worth it or good at dinner? We do not want to do a lot of breakfasts so we thought about dinner here. Can you see any of the firework shows from here?

If your goal is to have a great Character interaction - may be the best without princesses.

If you goal is fireworks - nope.

If your goal is food - nope.

Mostly same Characters, maybe not as much fun, but certainly better food - Tusker House.

Fireworks - CA Grill, Narcoossee's, and O'Hana (?) - no Characters.