Chef Mickey's on arrival day?

[heather13]

We arrive in Orlando airport around 9:15 am. We're taking Magical Express and staying at CR. I'd love to eat at Chef Mickey's when we arrive, but not sure what time to aim for with reservations. Have two small kids so I don't want to wait around at the hotel for an hour since our rooms certainly won't be ready (unless there's something fun to do at the hotel that doesn't require swimsuits).

Would you just show up and see if we can get in upon arrival? Would you go straight to the MK and do CM for dinner? Or alternatively we have Crystal Palace reservations for 1:20 that day - my kids aren't huge fans of Pooh anymore but we could just keep that instead. The other character meal we'd have then is CRT the next day. Both kids love Mickey Mouse Clubhouse so I think they'd have a better time there, but with only 3.5 days and one of those days slated for AK it's going to be tough to fit it in any other day.

 

[maxiesmom]

I wouldn't plan on any characer meal until later that night. There is the very real possibility that your flight could be delayed, and it would be horrible to miss your first characer meal.

If everything runs right, you don't have any wait for a ME bus, and you are one of the first resorts dropped off, it will take about an hour and a half to get to your resort.


I really think you should try and get into Chef Mickey's for dinner.

 

[pigletto]

Our first day plan is similar. We arrive in orlando around 10am. I booked our Chef Mickeys at 5pm when it opens for dinner. I didn't want to chance having a minor delay and rushing to a lunch reservation. For lunch we will likely just grab something at the resort food court or go to Downtown Disney for a few hours, and leave ourselves plenty of time to get over to Chef Mickeys. In your case I would head to the MK and coem back for your dinner reservation, it's really not too far.

 

[heather13]

That makes a lot of sense - thanks!
So then it doesn't open until 5 pm for dinner? I've been wondering if they closed at all in the middle of the day or if it was a constant stream of people from morning til night.