CHEF MICKEY'S vs HOLLYWOOD & VINE

[live4him]

We have a 10:40 reservation @ Chef Mickey's during STAR WARS WEEKEND....I asked for suggestions on whether or not I should keep this ressie or replace it with something in Hollywood Studios..The feedback I received convinced me it is more important to go to the park so my DS (8) could enjoy Star Wars.....What do you think about a character brkfst @ Hollywood & Vine? Are the characters popular enough that my 2 DS (8 & 4), would even recognize them? How is the food? Through past reviews that Ive read, it seems Chef Mickey's would be a more popular chioice...However, this would put us getting back to the park after lunch......What should I do? I have other character meals with Mickey, so that part wont be missed, I m just not sure where to eat brkfst in the park.....Please help.......Thanks so much!!

 

[waltdisneyworlddreamer]

My children loved H&V. They were 4 and 9 at the time. The characters are from Little Einsteins and JoJo's Circus. These were two of my little one's favorite shows. I have a great picture of him dancing around the restaurant holding onto Goliath's hand. This is a rare moment considering how shy he is. We thought the food was great. There were a lot of choices. I would say go for it!

 

[pumba]

I think if you want ot be where the action is for Star Wars....then going to H & V is the best choice.....
We are anxious to try this out for breakfast in a few weeks.......

 

[Coconuts]

If Star Wars is more important to the kids, then I would do H&V and spend the whole day in the park. Your younger one will probably love the characters.

CM is also a great experience, something I think everyone should do. If you can get another ressie there, then do it, or at least make sure you get the kids there on another trip. This is one of my kids favorite meals.

 

[bangzoom6877]

We did the breakfasts at both H & V and Chef Mickey's on our last trip. We enjoyed both breakfasts equally! They were both excellent. Excellent food AND character interaction with the kids AND the adults!

As far as H & V, they do some songs and dances which some kids love to get up and do with the characters, and others enjoy watching from their tables. They do this on both sides of the restaurant, 2 characters and workers from the restaurant on each side of the restaurant, so everyone can see and/or participate! It is done very well, and done often enough that everyone gets to see it at least once. But not so much to make it annoying. They have a nice balance. Characters also come around to tables and are very good with the kids. If your kids know Playhouse Disney, they will know these characters, although JoJo's Circus is no longer airing on Playhouse Disney so I wonder how much longer she will be there, or if they will replace her with another Playhouse character. Little Einsteins are still airing and are very popular!

The food at H & V for breakfast was excellent. They had the basics, like bacon, eggs, Mickey waffles (a big hit with my kids), hot and cold cereals, fruits, danish and pastries. But they also had more unique choices, but I am sorry, I can't remember the specifics at this point! I do remember though, that they had dessert available at the breakfast buffet! There was really something to eat for everyone! The service was also good, the waitress kept our coffee filled (a MUST for DH and me!), cleared plates in a timely fashion, and she was very nice to the kids. We had an 8:05AM ADR and we got out of the at 8:45, 15 minutes before rope drop! And my son participated in the dancing with the characters! Yet we did not feel rushed at all. So it is quick but not rushed.

I highly recommend H & V for breakfast! We are going there again on our next trip!

 

[MJAJmom]

If you want to do SWW, then you need to stay inside the DHS park that day. I would suggest an 8am ADR for breakfast at H&V or make a lunch ressie around 12:45. The Star Wars activities don't start until 9am, then there's the parade around 11:40am. So you don't want to miss the parade.

So much going on at SWW that it so hard to make time to eat!!!!

H&V was lots of fun for my 2 boys. Characters were Leo and June from Little Einsteins and JoJo and Goliath. DS3 loves little einsteins so this was a must-do for him - he was in heaven. Buffet food is pretty decent.

 

[JMD]

I would get something to eat at MGM.

 

[vtwep]

We've done both and enjoy both. But as others have said, I would recommend H&V if you are doing DHS that day. It's Jo Jo and Goliath and two of the Little Einsteins. In 2007, my DD was 4 at the time and LOVED it. Food was fine too. 2008 we did Chef Mickey's before a day at MK. That was a lot of fun too - and obviously different characters (Mickey & friends). Food was about the same - it was good. I'd do H&V on DHS day, and if you want another character breakfast, Chef Mickey's on a MK day. Have fun!

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

We did H&V and didn't care for it at all. The food was just barely OK. We had a 10:30 ADR, so close to the change-over to lunch - they closed one of the lines right after we sat down and that made the other line quite long. The characters came by once.

We've had Chef Mickey's twice for dinner and liked the food and the characters.

In your situation, I'd probably try to get CM for another day, or for dinner, and just have something quick on your DHS day, either at your resort or on your way into the park. With how busy DHS is likely to be for SWW, I wouldn't waste park time sitting in a character meal.

 

[sarahk0204]

an ADR might be the best way of having somewhere to sit down to eat lunch.

We are going to SWW with our girl/boy twins who are 5. We have a lunch ADR at 50's post-parade. We are doing H&V as well, but that is earlier in the week. We are going to SWW for the parade and to see characters like Jedi Mickey. We are not going for the actor FP autographs or the special collectible items, so we see our TS as a nice break and not taking up too much park time. It really depends on how the OP wants to do SWW with her family. Character meals do take up a lot of time though, so I can see where someone wouldn't want that cutting into SWW time. To each his own, right?