Chef Mickey's Questions.

[amycishere]

Right now, we have a 9pm reservation as that was the only time open during our trip. Would it maybe be a bit less noisy than? I know they close at 9:30. A member of my party said something interesting. Since the "characters" have been there for a long time won't they be tired, need to use the restroom, etc? I don't want to hold them up.

I've never done character dining before. Will someone tell us when the characters will be around so we don't miss them getting food? There are only two adults in our party(I can't help it, I love the characters) and I'm in a wheelchair and I'll need help getting the food. How long does the whole meal/meeting the characters take? Do we have to wait an amount of time for each one?

Thank you.
Amy

 

[FairyDust2008]

I don't think I would personally keep a 9pm reservation for CM. That is WAY too late to be eating. I would be sick eating that late. It is a buffet and you wouldn't be getting your money's worth because you wouldn't be able to eat even a normal meal. Also, if they close at 9:30, I would think the buffet would be VERY picked over and just the scraps pretty much left. I would cancel it and if they have no other good times, maybe try someplace else or keep calling until you get a better time. This is my opinion. I just wouldn't do that time at all. Goodluck

 

[FairyDust2008]

I've heard good things about the 1900 Park Fare dinner at Grand Floridian. Maybe try calling them and see if a better timeframe is available.

 

[amycishere]

Honestly, a HUGE reason I want to do this for the characters. We could just eat a light desert or something. I know that is late but that is the only time open.

 

[tigger536]

9pm is a pretty normal time for me to be eating, I don't think of it as late at all! The buffets at disney are replinished pretty frequently, I don't think you will have a problem with it being picked over. As for the characters being tired, they get breaks throughout the night. I think there are actors union rules about it or something, they typically get breaks every 30 min or so. So you should be good there too.

 

[Wendybird55]

I've never been to Chef Mickey's so can't be specific to your questions, but I have been to other character meals. I know the characters do come around to every table, but it's hard to predict when. I'm sure you can mention to your server or a CM that you don't want to miss the characters at your table and they can help make sure you don't miss them. Also I'm assuming that even though the restauarnt closes at 9:30 (chances are that's when they stop taking reservations) they're not going to expect you to eat your dinner in 30 minutes and won't rush you out. Plus I'm sure there will be other people there with late reservations.

Also, I am assuming the characters get breaks and there is more than one "Goofy" if you know what I mean so they can work on a rotating basis.

If you like characters and want an earlier reservation maybe try Liberty Tree Tavern dinner in MK. I know Minnie & Goofy are there - not sure about Mickey. It's also a family style meal so you don't have to worry about getting up to get your food and missing the characters. My sister went once and enjoyed it. I'm have an ADR for when I go in Sept. It might be easier to get a better reservation there then Chef Mickey. Also, there's the Land Grille in the Land Pavillion at EPCOT - that is another character dinner served family style so you don't have to worry about missing characters when you're at the buffet. I believe Chip n Dale are at that one as well as Mickey.

You can go to allearsnet.com to check out the menus if you want as well as all the available character meals and what characters are there.

Good Luck! Wendy

 

[mari360]

I loved CM when i went in May. My ADR's were for 8:50 pm and the character's were great. They come to your table even if you miss let's say donald teh first time he comes around he will come again. Another thing i'm not sure if it happens all the time but it was not that bsy when i was there so the manager came over to ask us if we saw all the characters and if whoever we didn't see he had com eover. also the food was fresh so you don't have to worry about that the restaurant closes at 9:30 but that doesn't mean they will come to your table to kick you out. I didn't leave CM until about 10pm the day i was there and there were still eople eating. You will have a GREAT time.

Another thing is to keep calling until the morning off your ADR they have cancellations so you might be able to get one. Just make sure not to cancel your current one until you get the other one.

 

[FairyDust2008]

I personally wouldn't pay that much for a little dessert If the buffet closes at 9:30 and your reservation is a 9:00, it just wouldn't be worth it for me, but to each their own

 

[twinspluscade]

I personally wouldn't pay that much for a little dessert If the buffet closes at 9:30 and your reservation is a 9:00, it just wouldn't be worth it for me, but to each their own

Well....technically the buffet probably won't close at 9:30. . I imagine as long as people are sitting there and eating they'll keep bringing the food out.

OP, we ate at Chef Mickey's our last trip, and had a blast! Very colorful, and the characters were fun. My kids got such a kick out of it because Donald tied Goofy's tale in a knot in front of our table (without Goofy knowing). Months later and they still bring it up.

 

[amycishere]

Thanks everyone who posted positive responses! Unfortunately, Liberty Tavern is completely booked the night we will be at MK so I'm sticking with Chef Mickey's. I'm soooo excited!!!

 

[Cindy's Mom]

A member of my party said something interesting. Since the "characters" have been there for a long time won't they be tired, need to use the restroom, etc? I don't want to hold them up.

For some reason this sentance makes me chuckle....its not as if Mickey and Friends are getting off of work at the factory and are crabby toward the end of a day....there are several of each characters assigned to each character meal. They take turns going out and as a PP stated...union rules state that they must get a break every 30 minutes...so during one Mickey's break, a different Mickey comes out.

While dining that late wouldn't work for my family, I've read on the boards that sometimes this is where you'll get your best character interaction.

 

[GazerBeam]

9pm is a pretty normal time for me to be eating, I don't think of it as late at all! The buffets at disney are replinished pretty frequently, I don't think you will have a problem with it being picked over. As for the characters being tired, they get breaks throughout the night. I think there are actors union rules about it or something, they typically get breaks every 30 min or so. So you should be good there too.

Like the OP, we're just two adults and no kids. We tend to eat later on vacation, we wouldn't bat an eye at a 9pm reservation. Honestly anything earlier than 7 is hard for us to make. Though we've never done a character breakfast, but we're going to try crystal palace for breakfast on our next trip.

GB

 

[amycishere]

I read a review where they try to sell you a $31 picture when you arrive-what?

 

[mari360]

yeah they take a pic of you at the beginning before you sit and then they come to your table and try to sell it to you. You don't have to buy it but they do offer it.

 

[amycishere]

So you can bring your own camera correct?

Is the photo by them really good quality or something? Does it have all the characters in it?

How good is the dinner food?

 

[kileybeth]

oh my goodness, we almost never eat before 7pm at home ever and often closer to 8pm. We call it European dining folks. If you ever visit Italy be prepared to start your meal around 7 or 8 or 9 and then the experience goes on for about 3 hours!!

We have 4 kiddos, they all ate at CM with us last visit. Late ADR's around 8:30 I think (and we had to hustle to get in there on time, Monorial broke down, we were running late anyway, I ended up buying my DD2 a clean outfit in the gift shop and dressing her in the restroom!) We had fantastic character interaction, fantastic selection on the buffetts, and never left until almost 10pm.

They take a picture on your way to being seated. Later they come by and show it to you. No high pressure at all. They leave and let you think about it. the package usually includes not only your family pic (8x10)but a pic of characters(8x10) as well. and lots of smaller shots(5x7s, 4x6s). Nice collection. They do this at Ohanas as well.

Our ADR's this time for CM? 9:30pm only thing left and I know it will work out fine.

 

[logansmummy]

Honestly, a HUGE reason I want to do this for the characters. We could just eat a light desert or something. I know that is late but that is the only time open.

We run by a very tight ship at home, our schedules are always so strict, but when we are on vacation anything goes. We actually find ourselves eating that late alot while at Disney, but that is because we are going nonstop while there. My suggestion to you would be to go whatever park you were planning that day later in the afternoon, then you will be super duper hungry and maybe catch some rays at the pool earlier in the day? Trust everyone eats at nutso times, the characters will be there too, not to worry, they get plenty of PEE breaks.