Chef Mickey's no reservation

[avarysmommie]

We just booked our September Disney vacation today and of course Chef Mickey's is not available. I plan on checking every day in hopes of scoring someone else's cancellation, but if that plan fails we may try to just walk up. It would be a Saturday for breakfast...what would be the best time to get in without a reservation?

 

[WTP]

I would imagine that the earlier you arrive, the better your chances would be, but I wouldn't advise it.

Are you going to have kids with you, and are they going to be disappointed with either a wait or finding out they won't be able to go?

You may be able to secure a reservation after all. There is a 45-day mark at which the vacation packages have to be paid off. As people get close to that and get cold feet, reservations may open up. I'm looking to get into another popular restaurant and I'll be checking the reservations several times a day around the week 45-day mark for the date a want!

 

[KathleensKid]

I agree w/pp. Keep checking - especially as that 45 day mark approaches.
If you have children, I, personally, wouldn't try a walk up unless you are staying at the Contemporary. Otherwise you will travel there, be able to see into the restaurant and probably some of the characters and may not be able to eat there at all.
When we were at WDW with my kids, we did one meal w/o an ADR in Epcot - I walked up tp see if there was availability while dh had the kids busy with something else. When they said there was availability, he just brought to kids in. If there hadn't been availability, the kids wouldn't have even known I had checked and we just would have eaten somewhere else. Chef Mickey's is out of the way and, with kids, IMO, I wouldn't chance it.

Have a great trip!!

 

[Jabba20000]

I would say keep checking and if you want to walk up I would do it as soon as they open in the AM. I have seen them turn many people turned away when trying to walk up so I would have a plan B. Good luck!!!!!!!

 

[minnie mum]

Given that it's free dining plan in Sept, and they don't hold back tables for walk ins, I wouldn't chance it either if you have children. Unless you've got a really good backup plan.

Like the PPs said, just keep trying every day for a cancellation. Is there no availability at any of the other character breakfasts during your stay, or was CM a special favourite?

 

[Kitikat]

I was booking a trip for my son after he graduates boot camp in Nov...I only found a 7:20 am for the day they wanted breakfast...crazy

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

This wasn't during breakfast but a few years ago my family and I were able to there for dinner without any ADR's and waited around 30 minutes for a table.

 

[crabbygal902]

The PPs have given you great advice!

As a back up plan to Chef Mickey's if a walk-up doesn't work, you could probably get a walk-up at The Wave which is also in the Contemporary--but no characters are there. I have heard very good things about their breakfast, especially the buffet. You could also order a la carte, too.

Have you considered a less popular option than Chef Mickey's? We really enjoy Cape May character breakfast at the Beach Club. It is a much slower paced, relaxed atmosphere with pretty much the same buffet offerings. My favorite character breakfast of all is the 'Ohana breakfast at the Poly because of the great character interaction and the breakfast foods served family-style.

 

[avarysmommie]

Thanks for the insight, never thought about Ohanas will look into that one too.

 

[hannahdrewmom]

The first seating when it first opens is your best chance... it's at like 7 or 7:30 and many people have good intentions of getting up and getting there but fall victim to the late night the day before. Not that it's happened to us before....

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Actually, you best chance for walk-up is less than an hour before closing. Note that they do not break the buffet (or stop the characters) until the departure of the last Guest.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Keep checking especially now that you are reaching/about to reach your 45 day mark. I was able to find ADRs for 8 when last week there were only openings for 4. I'm 38 days out.

 

[Ciciwoowoo]

If your plans are flexible, I would try to head to Chef Mickey during inclement weather. We walked up and got in for a 6:30 dinner time once during a pretty good rain storm. I think a lot of the people who might have been scheduled ended up not showing due to the weather.

 

[psac]

Just keep trying. We booked a last minute trip less than 4 weeks out over 4th of July weekend, and of course there were no ADRs at first, but my wife checked a few times a day until she was able to get one on two different mornings! And then we ended up cancelling both the day before each one (long story), so someone looking really last minute could have snagged those as well.