Chef Mickey's Dinner- Obnoxious or Fun?

[DrRae2B]

I read somewhere that Chef Mickey's is a 'lively' atmosphere... I'm exploring ideas as to what dinner my family should do on the first night of our FIRST Disney trip. Kids will be 4 and 14 (sister) at the time.

We are a family who is annoyed by the clapping and singing waiters at local restaurants... Would Chef Mickey's dinner buffet leave us rolling our eyes? If any of you have had experience at this restaurant please chime in as to whether you found it to be kitchzy and obnoxious or fun?

Thanks for any input!

 

[kjd469]

The characters will visit each table and stop for photos if desired, but if you just kind of wave and smile, they won't stick around. It's a buffet...the only contact you will have with the wait staff is to serve your drinks and clear your plates. There is really no forced entertainment and you can certainly dissuade the characters from hanging around your table depending on your interest level. Our kids especially love the dessert bar there (o.k., my DH and I do too, LOL). There is certainly no frivolity like what you would find at Whispering Canyon Cafe. Enjoy!

 

[Stitchnut]

The characters will also have a "wave your napkin" dance which is announced ahead of time. Then if you want to participate, you can. It's optional though. Our kids are 7 years apart in age, one boy, one girl. They are now 8 and 15, and they both still enjoy dining at Chef Mickey's.

 

[DisnyMik]

My kids still love to go to Chef Mickey's @ 11, 18 and 21! They do a little dance kind of thing and everyone in the restaurant swings their napkin around. It only lasts a couple of minutes and it is fun. Not annoying to us. It is all in "Disney" fun and fashion!

 

[eva]

The characters will visit each table and stop for photos if desired, but if you just kind of wave and smile, they won't stick around. It's a buffet...the only contact you will have with the wait staff is to serve your drinks and clear your plates. There is really no forced entertainment and you can certainly dissuade the characters from hanging around your table depending on your interest level. Our kids especially love the dessert bar there (o.k., my DH and I do too, LOL). There is certainly no frivolity like what you would find at Whispering Canyon Cafe. Enjoy!

Totally agree. The only thing to add is that they do have a napkin twirl every so often with music as the characters parade around. But you don't have to participate.

Note: You may want to avoid 50's Prime Time Cafe and Whispering Canyon. Both have quite a bit of interaction and they might give you a hard time if you do not participate.

 

[NHTikiBeckie]

DH and I are the same way, but we had a good time at Chef Mickey's, we didn't think it was over the top at all. You might want to avoid Prime Time Cafe and Whispering Canyon if you do not like jokey, loud dinners though.

 

[DrRae2B]

Is Chef Mickey's really loud, though? I'm getting the impression it's somewhat like a dancey/party-ish type of place?

 

[eva]

Is Chef Mickey's really loud, though? I'm getting the impression it's somewhat like a dancey/party-ish type of place?

It is fairly loud. But the noise comes mainly from kids running around and people talking at their table, not entertainment.

 

[scard192]

We loved Chef Mickey's; great way to start off your vacation. We did
1900PF our 1st night because my 3 yr old DGD loves the Princesses.

 

[Microcell]

It is just your typical buffet most of the time, but then the characters will have that napkin thing to music for about 3 minutes or so then back to regular buffet dining.. No one forces you or nags at you to participate at all.

 

[Tricia1972]

Chef Mickey's is obnoxious fun. : To me the "Celebrate" with napkin twirling is the main event, and while you don't need to participate in it, it's impossible to miss or ignore that it's happening. It's also very loud while it's happening. It's certainly not the entire time that you're there, but it'll happen once or twice while you're dining.

Your family might be happier with Ohana or Boma for a fun/unique dining experience for your first night versus Chef Mickey.

 

[tesslor]

I think you will like Chef Mickey's. Yeah, they do the napkin thing, but you don't have to if you don't want to, and if you decide to participate you definately aren't the center of attention.

My husband gets annoyed very easily also. He hated 50's prime time and ruled out Whispering Canyon this year, but Chef Mickey's doesn't bother him at all, except the food.

 

[marcielm]

BTW, the "napkin thing" only happens about every 45 minutes or so... so you might only get 1 during your dining experience. Of course this is unless you get seated and they immediately do a celebration, then you might get one more right before you leave.

We had two, because we didn't want DS's b-day cake brought out as soon as we sat down, so our waited said to hang around for the next one. Note the blue napkins in the below picture. We were done eating, so I felt like we were taking up a table for about 5 minutes, but it was worth it to have the song & dance when they brought out the b-day cake:

 

[ltex]

In my opinion, if the Chef Mickey's 3 min celebrate, wave your napkin song is annoying you are in for a long week at the World.

 

[eva]

In my opinion, if the Chef Mickey's 3 min celebrate, wave your napkin song is annoying you are in for a long week at the World.

I was kind of thinking the same thing. To truly have fun in WDW you need to have a little corn (aka - korny) in you. But the funny think is that people often become korny when they get there!

 

[melisandes]

Hubby went without me. All I can tell you is that he loves it there. We are going again for Christmas. I think you will be ok.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Here is a link to a Youtube video at Chef Mickey's so you can see exactly what happens there every half hour.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyooElGguLI

 

[DrRae2B]

Here is a link to a Youtube video at Chef Mickey's so you can see exactly what happens there every half hour.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyooElGguLI

Oh WOW.

Thank you ALL for your advice, but I must say that this video was by far the best I've gotten-- it pretty much made my mind up for me! Thanks soo much.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Oh WOW.

Thank you ALL for your advice, but I must say that this video was by far the best I've gotten-- it pretty much made my mind up for me! Thanks soo much.

You're welcome.

 

[miprender]

Oh WOW.

Thank you ALL for your advice, but I must say that this video was by far the best I've gotten-- it pretty much made my mind up for me! Thanks soo much.

So what did you decide? Are you going to try it.

Personally I love these type of meals, but only in Disney. When we are out at a local resturant I too do not like singing HBd and all that.