Chef Mickey's on MK Day or Epcot Day?

[jpin_4477]

Hi,
Trying to decide between 2 times for our Chef Mickey's meal. My kids are 6 and 4 and my son (4) is most excited about having a meal with Mickey and all his pals.

Option 1 (Arrival day, planning half day at Epcot):
Flight gets in at 9:50am. Expecting to be at Wilderness Lodge by 11:30 at latest for check-in.
Would take boat from WL to Contemporary
Chef Mickey's at 12:55PM for Brunch
After the lunch, monorail to TTC, then monorail to Epcot
Hoping to be at Epcot by 2:00-2:30 because first Fastpass in Epcot at 2:20PM-3:20PM
See attractions 2:30-6
Dinner at Coral Reef at 6:15PM
Back to resort for evening

* With this option, I like the idea of heading to Chef Mickey's right after arrival as the first thing to get everyone in the magical mood. As long as the flight is on time we should be ok to get to CM on time and even have an hour to wander around the Wilderness Lodge first and get acquainted with it. Plus, I have heard that CM is better food at breakfast, and the brunch includes many breakfast food items. A little nervous that we will lose a lot of park time at Epcot since otherwise we would head straight to Epcot after checkin but if the meal gets the kids fed and excited for the trip at the same time it might be worth it.

Option 2 (Magic Kingdom day):
Breakfast at Be Our Guest before rope drop
Lunch QS
Stay for Festival of Fantasy Parade
Take a break after parade (in park or back to Wilderness lodge?)
Then either monorail to Contemporary from park or boat to Contemporary from Wilderness Lodge
Chef Mickey's at 5:10PM for Dinner
Head back to resort for the evening

* I think this option could work but I am a little concerned that the kids will be too exhausted after going rope drop to parade to really enjoy the dinner. Would plan a break after the parade but there's not much time 3:30ish to 5:10. Plus I've heard the dinner food and experience is not as good? If we don't do Chef Mickeys this day we will just head back to resort after the parade and have dinner at the resort that evening.

What would you do? Any insights appreciated!

 

[Disney Khaleesi]

The thing is, there's no guarantee your flight will be on time, and it would be stressful having to worry about missing your meal at CM.

CM is so close to MK, it makes a lot more since to do it on your MK day.

 

[LoopyDoopy]

I wouldn't suggest CF for brunch or dinner. Too bad you couldn't have gotten BOG for dinner or lunch and CF for breakfast, although getting in the park before rope drop is an advantage.

 

[caliope]

I'd do CM on a MK day or perhaps your departure day for breakfast? The location is just so convenient to MK, it makes the most sense. How many MK days do you have?

 

[jpin_4477]

I think you all are right. It is so close to Magic Kingdom. We have 2 Magic Kingdom days so I will look to see if there are any breakfasts for that one. Otherwise, I think I will keep the dinner. Thank you all!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I would not do CM on your arrival day. There may be delays plus there is no way you will make it to EP by 2:30 pm with a 12:55 pm CM reservation. That's only 90 minutes between, hopefully, sitting down to eat, eating and meeting the characters, taking two monorails and getting through security. It's just not possible. If you really want to meet Mickey on arrival day, I would try to switch your Coral Reef dinner to Garden Grill in EP.

Perhaps try for a later CM on your MK day so you have more downtime at the resort. Or, can you do breakfast there on your last day? Or, even consider doing Tusker House on an AK day. Mickey and most of his friends are there and the food is so much better.

 

[jpin_4477]

I kept thinking that there was enough time, but I think you are all right about avoiding an early ADR on arrival day. So many things could go wrong and that would just be stressful. Thanks all, again!

 

[Robertfam08]

Option 2, for sure. We always do Chef Mickey's on a MK day after an afternoon break. We have our meal with the mouse and then head back into the park for the evening. Works great! You may consider a later reservation though or plan to stay in the park for sure, because after the parade that won't leave you with much of a break. (We are typically heading out around 2:00 and make our reservation for 5:30. Even then we end up getting just a little over a solid hour at the hotel after transporting our crew and leaving early for dinner. It's basically enough time to get refreshed for the second half of the day.)