Chef Mickey's - Too Old?

[bkelly65us]

My kids will be going to Chef Mickey's breakfast on our next trip. I've been looking at several videos of the breakfast on YouTube and have now started wondering if my kids, aged 13 to 9, would be just a little too "old" for this character meal. Two of mine are at the "eye-rolling" stage. In the videos the kids all seem to be around 5 or so.

 

[Disneylvr]

IMHO you are never too old for Chef Mickey's! I saw adult couples dining there alone last week and having a great time. Before DD was born, DH and I dined there alone too. But yes, I can see tweens rolling their eyes on the outside at a character meals but I bet on the inside they are enjoying the fun and the food.

 

[tndisneyfan]

I think it just depends on your kids. DS is 13 and he hasn't wanted to do any character meals for a few years. I think the last ones we did was when he was 10 and he didn't really like them then.

If you think your kids will like it, go for it.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

We celebrated our DS's 13th birthday at Chef Mickeys on January 11th. It was a blast.

All three of us enjoyed ourselves immensely. Its just a fun place to be.

That said, we ALL went in with the attitude of "when in Disney, you're only as old as you want to be". Even my normally macho, sports-loving teenage son, who's already 5'10" tall and 165 pounds at the tender age of 13, was able to totally enjoy the whole Disney experience. We did five character meals in all, and the two table service meals we had that WEREN'T character meals just seemed....well, lacking!

Chef Mickeys isn't just for little kids. Its for anyone who wants to enjoy the magic!

 

[Shleedogg]

We went in Jan and didn't have any kids of the typical age with us, MIL and FIL in their 60s, DH, Niece24 and me in our 20s. The closest to kids we had were our niece who was 13 and our DD 2 mos. Our 13 yr old niece was having a great time, as were the rest of us! I think it's easier to enjoy and get excited about the original Disney characters than the princesses, etc. I think as far as a character meal goes, Chef Mickey is your best bet.

And if they're not into it, they don't have to participate. You never know though, they might surprise you

 

[lsg1]

My kids are 13, 18 and 21 and LOVE going to character meals. I guess it depends on the kid's and family's attitude towards it. It wouldn't be a complete trip for my kids unless we did a few character meals.

 

[Goofy4]

Then there's the upside of watching a character approach a teenager (and sending a pic to all his/her friends)

 

[maj42169]

We enjoy Chef Mickey's every trip. Our daughter will be 9 this summer, and she is excited about having Thanksgiving dinner there again, but we are all about the experience. You will find children of all ages there. You will see adults without children there. You will see older teens celebrating birthdays. You will see just about every age group.....Enjoy your meal and the experience.

 

[dreamsensei]

My kids will be going to Chef Mickey's breakfast on our next trip. I've been looking at several videos of the breakfast on YouTube and have now started wondering if my kids, aged 13 to 9, would be just a little too "old" for this character meal. Two of mine are at the "eye-rolling" stage. In the videos the kids all seem to be around 5 or so.

Some kids are fine, some kids aren't. The "typical" American teenager would hate you for taking them to this place at 13 (I know I did, it's been 19 years since I was 13).

You have to judge your child at this age for any activity, especially Disney. If they don't like to be hugged in public, prefer you not acting silly in public, etc...then they're not going to like a great deal of the Disney experience for kids because this hangup will make them prefer "cool" over "cute".

So, in reality, you actually have to answer this question yourself. I think by even ASKING if your kids are too old for this meal you know the answer already.

 

[marcyinPA]

NEVER too old!! My kids are also 13 and 9 and love the place!! It's a lot of fun, and honestly, you will probably find that your kids will do things in Disney that they would never do at home!

I was not able to get dinner ADR's for the first time in 4 trips, and my kids are going to be soooo disappointed.

 

[TillyMarigold]

When I was a CM my roommate and I took my sister, who was 14 or 15 at the time, to Chef Mickey's while my parents did their own thing. We had an absolutely amazing time. (This was also back when you could go up to see the fireworks just by asking, which was a bonus, but Chef Mickey's was worth it.) They did seat us farther from all the action where the characters come out (we had a window seat actually), but they still came over to our table.

 

[MickeyNicki]

DH and I are in our mid 30's and we loved CM! We are going back again in June, the food was very very good

 

[loralie]

We have only been to WDW twice and we went to CM and Crystal Palace both times. My kids feel like it is a tradition. I have 2 boys ages 13 and 11. For our trip in May...we are are starting our trip and ending our trip with Chef Mickeys. Dinner the first night and breakfast the day we leave. My 13 year old actually requested we go to Crystal Palace because he thought the food was great so we planned a CP breakfast one day so we can get into MK before it opens. They really don't care for the characters as much as they used to but they still think it is fun and want to go. They love buffets and having so many choices for food and deserts.

I would say try it and see how they do...if they are not that crazy about it don't do it for the next trip.

Loralie

 

[ilandrazdsw]

WHAT!!! It is possible to be too old for CM???

 

[ValinWV]

My two Oldest kids are 14 and 17 they went for the first time to Chef Mickey's last year and are looking forward to doing it again this year.

 

[mommycrawford]

It is a buffet, and giving children that age the independance to get their own stuff at will is attractive to them, but it is very boisterous, and last time I went I had to have our table moved out of the back room because entire families would flock to our two top it any character came nearand it was claustraphobic! Once we moved it was ok, but if no one has their heart set on it, the Dinner at 1900 Park Fare with Cindy's step mother and step sisters might be more their thing...the mother scolds, the sisters whine, and it's a good time!!...if you want characters (Cindy and the Prince show too.)

Perhaps Boma would be more enjoyable....No characters, but a sprawling buffet, and lots of ambience!

 

[DisneyTinkerbell]

We always go to Chef Mickey's for dinner our first night at WDW. And my kids, age 17 and 15, insist on going to Chef Mickey's the first night. And trust me, they would not hold back if they did not want to go.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Mine are 13 and 9. They had fun at Chef Mickey's. Just don't expect the 13 year old to twirl a napkin 'cause "it's just not cool, Mom".

 

[disneymom06]

Then there's the upside of watching a character approach a teenager (and sending a pic to all his/her friends)

PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[KatMark]

You are never too old for Chef Mickey's or any other character breakfast at Disney. We took oldest son for his high school graduation with his then girlfriend and it was one of their favorite meals--they had a blast (they were 18 and 17 at the time). Here is a picture you can show your kids to see that "older" kids like CM's too.