Chef Mickey's breakfast vs. other breakfast

[aheaviside]

So I've done my research and it looks like a lot of people on this board have given Chef Mickey's a negative review for being loud, chaotic, and average to low quality food.

My question is: If I've staying in the Contemporary resort (only 3 days) with a 4 and 3 year old and want to do a character breakfast, is it worth it travel to Ohana, Crystal Palace or Cape May for another character breakfast when I have one in my home hotel?? Are the other character breakfasts that much better to make it worth the time to not eat in my hotel?

Any thoughts greatly appreciated!

 

[dskib]

Well I haven't been to the other 3 for breakfast, but I went to Chef Mickeys in September, and I just loved it. My little guy was just 3 and got to see the whole fab five and was in heaven. And I thought the food was really good too! Really good!! If we weren't trying out Crystal Palace this year, I'd do it again. DH is actually disappointed that we aren't going this year. And maybe it was where we were seated, but I didn't find it especially loud or chaotic - no more so than anywhere else. I'd give it a try for sure!

You could always schedule Ohana or Crystal Palace anyway, as they have different characters.

Have fun!
Deb

 

[gabzee]

We always go to Chef Mickey. We truly enjoy it. It has typical breakfast food. We also enjoy 1900 Park Fare. They have different characters than Chef Mickey and the food is very good! I hope you have a great trip!

 

[sharonabe]

There's also Crystal Palace at MK with the Pooh characters and Tusker House at AK with Donald & Daisy.

I think breakfast is going to be breakfast no matter where you go, so I'd make my decision on the characters your kiddos want to see.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Honestly I didnt like chef mickeys at all. it was gross. The quality of food and the selection was both horrible. The food wasnt even warm, it was lukewarm. Just awful. Prior to this meal, i also thought "its kind hard to screw up breakfast....how bad can it be?". Boy was i wrong!! Never again.
Also, for such a nice hotel the decor of the place is atrocious. Plus, the noise level is crazy. I dont mind noise, but i found this to be too much. The only good thing were the characters. My fave breakfast place is Ohana. LOVE this place. Food is yummy...esp the pineapple bread and lilikoi juice and the coffee!!! the characters are a riot. And the atmosphere is beautiful. I love the fact that its FAMILY STYLE all you can eat.
I have been to crystal palace, but lunch only. Havent tried the breakfast. But apparently this is a fave for many many people. so im dying to try it.

I honestly think your better off travelling next door to the poly or MK/CP for a better meal....in my honest opinion.

 

[Mom2HandR]

Definitely do Chef Mickey's! We were there in March - we loved the breakfast. Typical breakfast buffet, we did not experience anything cold or nasty. We had great character interaction with all 5 characters - lots of pictures and autographs, and that was lines we did not need to stand in for Meet & Greets. Plus the convenience as you are actually staying at the Contemporaary, vs. getting everyone up and out the door - even if it's just to the Poly.
We loved Chef Mickey's! Loud & chaotic... who cares?!

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

I have read a lot of unfavorable reviews about Chef Mickey's as well, but it is still one of the hardest ADRs to get. I wanted to change our ADR time and there are absolutely no available time slots for either breakfast or dinner for the entire week we are there. There are multiple available time slots for Cape May Cafe character breakfast and the Ohana character breakfast and I've read a lot of reviews that claim that the food quality and character interaction is better at these places. We are still determined to do our Chef Mickey's breakfast though because it seems like a "classic" character meal, especially with the fab five characters all there. I would like to try Ohana too, but we already have a Crystal Palace breakfast scheduled for later in the week and we have decided to limit ourselves to two character meals.

 

[Hootch]

at Chef Mickey's is not as good as other breakfasts, but it is the place where you can see the five big, traditional characters in one place. So while I don't think the food is great, we eat there our departure day every trip.

There are some food items that I enjoy. The challa french toast is really good as are the potatoes. In the end your kids will like the characters and you will enjoy watching your kids with the characters. I say go - especially since it is so convenient.

As an aside, the Contemporary is a great place to stay with kids that age. Being able to walk to and from the MK makes life so much easier. I know this from experience.

 

[dzorn]

So I've done my research and it looks like a lot of people on this board have given Chef Mickey's a negative review for being loud, chaotic, and average to low quality food.

My question is: If I've staying in the Contemporary resort (only 3 days) with a 4 and 3 year old and want to do a character breakfast, is it worth it travel to Ohana, Crystal Palace or Cape May for another character breakfast when I have one in my home hotel?? Are the other character breakfasts that much better to make it worth the time to not eat in my hotel?

Any thoughts greatly appreciated!

Yep I would travel to any of them before eating at CM again. Our favorite is Cape May. If you can get an ADR at CP before park opening you can get some nice pics infront of the castle usually with no on in them but you.

I think the only thing CM has going for it is you usually see 5 characters. Others 3-4. I would rather have good food.

Denise in MI

 

[aheaviside]

Thanks for everyone's thoughts. I'm still confused (we live in New Orleans and are real foodies so it's just hard for me to eat anywhere knowing going into it that the food is average or below) but may just try it for the convenience factor and my kids would prefer those characters to Lilo/Stich at Ohana. I don't think they even know who Lilo and Stich are. It's just breakfast so hopefully we can find something decent to eat!

I'm also going to try for an 8 am breakfast at Cyrstal Palace too. That's probably enough character meals for mom and dad in a 3 day period!

Any other opinions would be great!!

 

[MickeyNicki]

We really enjoyed our CM breakfast, it was dinner that was terrible. Ohana has a great breakfast too but our favorite character breakfast is Cape May

 

[tinkgurl]

We just took my 3 1/2 year old to Hollywood & Vine at DHS and loved it. He had so much fun! It was one of our best meals of the trip. If they love Little Einsteins, Special Agent Oso, and Handy Manny, this is the place to take them!

If they're wanting to meet Mickey and some of his friends, then Tusker House at AK is another great character breakfast.

 

[2Tiggies]

CM is not our favorite character meal, but that is only because we prefer others over this one. I don't regret eating there and would do it again if my daughter wanted to.

Honestly, all character meals are loud and chaotic. You throw a whole bunch of people into a restaurant with freely roaming characters on the loose and guests up and down all the time between their tables and the buffet .... it's going to be a bit crazy.

I think part of the problem is unrealistic expectations. It is one of the first places that comes to mind when you hear the words 'character meal'. It is the one place you can meet all the Fab Five in one sitting. Given the amount of time you would spend lining up and waiting to meet each of those characters one by one in the parks, I don't think you can beat this in terms of time saving.

Reviews are subject to each individual's personal experience, preferences, dislikes, expectations and tastes. Personally I am rarely put off by 'bad' reviews. If you haven't been and would like to try it, I would have no hesitation in booking it.

 

[XGrumpy1]

I think the critical part of your question is "is it worth the time?".

It will no doubt add precious time to travel elsewhere. You only have a limited time. Don't waste it going to get better eggs!

Eat what you like at CM, don't eat the rest and plan an early lunch or snack. Most of all get lots of pictures with Mickey and the kids.

 

[sotoalf]

If the answer to the question, "Is it worth the hassle?" is, "You should have seen my kid's face when h/she saw the Big Five," then yes. But is it good food? Not really.

'Ohana has better food and more interesting character selection. But the choice is yours.

 

[Day-Day]

What transportation will you use if going to another resort for breakfast?

Your kids will probably not notice a difference in the food and will likely enjoy any of the characters the same unless they have a real favorite. It is just so convenient to go with Chef Mickey's if staying at the Contemporary. I don't think its worth the hassle to go somewhere else with a relatively short vacation time. You can work in the other meals on some other trip.

We liked Cape May a little better; not so much the difference in the food, it just seemed a little more calm. We had a car and were not staying at a resort that had a character breakfast so it didn't really matter where we went from a travel standpoint.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

If you plan on going to Epcot or DHS, then Cape May is not that much out of the way. Take the bus to DHS and get on the boat to Y&BC.

The food and atmosphere is better. Minnie, Goofy, & Donald are there.

Donald gave Chip & Dale the boot some time ago.