Chef Mickey's with ASD

[suzyqqq27]

We are going to WDW in October and the rest of the family really wanted to do Chef Mickey's this year...even DD 5 with ASD. I'm very worried, though, as I've heard it's loud and chaotic. She definitely doesn't do loud or chaotic well. For instance, she can't go to school assemblies or they find her in the fetal position rocking with hands over her ears.

My husband thinks she'll be fine and that we'll just remove her if it's too much for her and take a walk where it is more quiet.

Are there any sections that are quieter? Any other tips?

We've been to WDW many times and I've always avoided Chef Mickey's and I'm almost dreading our trip because of this ADR but nobody wants to cancel but me.

Any advice?
Suzanne

 

[LilyWDW]

It is very loud and chaotic. I really wouldn't count on any section being quieter. You are on the middle of the contemporary and the restaurant is pretty open to the rest of the building. Add in the characters plus everyone going back and forth for food. Then they sometimes do napkin twirling and celebrations while you are there which only add to the insanity.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Yep, it is very loud at Chef Mickey's. It's also open to the resort and you can see and hear the Monorail overhead.

Maybe you can go ahead and make an ADR for later in your trip and go there for a visit a few days earlier? You can walk your DD around outside the restaurant and peek in to see what's going on. It will also give you a feel for how loud the environment is and what it's like with the Monorail going through. If you decide you won't be able to eat there, you can cancel your ADR with no issues.

 

[maroo]

Oh man - I don't think I would chance that.

I think the issue with Chef Mickey is that there is so much surrounding noise. The monorail is over head and you hear that and all kinds of things all around you in addition to the people eating (crowded restaurant) - getting up and down for food - occasionally breaking out into song.

If you do - ask for a table way in the back and you may be ok.

 

[maroo]

PS - I just searched for Chef Mickey's on You Tube and they have some videos on there that will give you a pretty decent idea of how loud it is.

 

[livndisney]

It IS loud. There IS a lot of activity. Characters coming and going, music and the twirling napkins every now and then.

I agree with the pp who said visit first if you can. There is really not a "safe" place iat CM. But if you did try and needed an escape-there are some nice couches one floor down for some quiet "down time" with little interuption.

 

[AJKMOM]

I made the mistake of taking my autistic son there and it was way too much for him to handle. He was excited to see the characters, but took a look at all the food and started gagging. There were kids running around, and it wsa loud.

He ended up eating a few pieces of bacon and a waffle. For $30.

 

[suzyqqq27]

I think I'm going to have to put my foot down on this one. I don't want a bad "episode" (that I could possibly prevent) if we don't have to. I think the visit is a good idea and maybe we could try that. If she's not going to handle it well than we're just not going to be able to go there. We've had trouble with Whispering Canyon Café and the Crystal Palace but she did great at the Garden Grill, Askerhus Princess breakfast and even Cinderella's Royal Table. We haven't done O'Hana's. Where else is Mickey? Anybody know? We also don't do the wait for him in MK because she can't handle being in line too well (she can't stand if people touch her or being "enclosed" by people). We do Fast Passes for what we can and trade off waiting in line for other things.

AJKMOM - she actually does better at buffets as far as food is concerned (not noise) because when she receives a restaurant portion of food (even a kids' meal) she is VERY overwhelmed at how much food there is. At a buffet, she can get a few things of her favourites in quantities that she's happy with.

Thanks again everybody,
Suzanne

 

[LilyWDW]

We've had trouble with Whispering Canyon Café and the Crystal Palace

And in my opinion, Chef Mickey's would rate up there in chaos of these two restaurants. I honestly thought personally Crystal Palace wasn't that bad noise wise, but Chef Mickey's is known to be one of the loudest restaurants on property.

 

[ireland_nicole]

My DD did well at CM's last week. We were seated in a room past the buffet; it's quite small and quiet especially compared to the main two rooms. I don't know if you could request it, but it's a possibility maybe? It was glass covered like an atrium and a few steps up and seperated by glass from the rest of the restaurant. But it was pretty easy for the rest of us to get to the buffet. It seated a few larger parties and some parties of two which is why most families probably don't even know it's there.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Another suggestion, IF you decide to chance it (and it IS loud) is to get the first seating of the day. I don't know if you are planning on doing breakfast or dinner, but our last time we had a 5:00 dinner ADR. The place was more than half empty when we first sat down. We also saw most of the characters in the first half hour, too since they didn't have a lot of tables to go to. It did get progressively noisier the longer we were there, but every little advantage may help. Not sure what time they open for breakfast.

 

[cerca]

I have not done Chief Mickey with my son because it is so crazy but have you thought about using headphones? We have used them before and they tend to help us. Also have you heard about the Guest Assistance Card? You get it at Guest Relations outside the park and it can be used for such things as finding a quiet place to wait so they don't have to wait in line where it is hard. Most times I have found the wait is shorter but a couple of times it was longer (but nice and quiet). At the Mickey tent it helped a huge amount...it really allowed us to see Mickey.

Good Luck and have a great vacation!

Jess

 

[clanmcculloch]

We did well at CM. DD12 can basically handle a certain amount of stimuli per day. If we want to be able to do chaotic meals then we have to account for that stimuli in her total load for the day meaning less park stuff. For us, going for the first dinner seating after a nice long swim/resort break works well (swimming is a sensory soothing activity for her so it helps reset the stimuli load for her a bit). We were in the same back room as maroo which I think probably did make a difference. You've got a bit of insulation from the noise of the resort/monorail with that wall and it's a much less visually imposing area since it's smaller and more contained.

 

[kelbel5355]

I wend last Nov w/ my ASD son 4 years old than. He's 5 now. The first Character meal I took him to was Crystal Palace and he did fine. Something about the Crystal Palace, it's like a great warm up to the other character meals.

My son did have a few moments that required me leaving the restaurant to get him to refocus. But all in all I don't think it was a bad experience for us. I took him to a quiter location in that I could find which was on some benches behind the stores next to the windows. It worked for me though b/c he loves monarails so watching them relaxed him.

 

[suzyqqq27]

Thanks again for the information. I will definitely check out the "back room" on our visit and ask a CM if we can specifically request that area.

I have read a few times on here about people using headphones and I'm definitely going to look into them. I think they would help for things like Fantasmic, fireworks and Philharmagic which she finds too loud...or earplugs. I can't believe I didn't think of them on my own. It's a shame too because she LOVES Ariel and she can't enjoy Philharmagic because of the noise level.

About the GAC - I got one once because I was an insulin dependant diabetic while I was pregnant and being out in the sun really made my blood sugar take a dive. I HATED the looks I got from people (even Disney CMs which really surprised me) that said, "what's wrong with you?". I didn't look disabled and my daughter doesn't look disabled. I would like a quiet place to wait for rides but I might hurt somebody if they gave "that look" to my daughter.

Thanks though,
Suzanne

 

[AJKMOM]

Thanks again for the information. I will definitely check out the "back room" on our visit and ask a CM if we can specifically request that area.

I have read a few times on here about people using headphones and I'm definitely going to look into them. I think they would help for things like Fantasmic, fireworks and Philharmagic which she finds too loud...or earplugs. I can't believe I didn't think of them on my own. It's a shame too because she LOVES Ariel and she can't enjoy Philharmagic because of the noise level.

About the GAC - I got one once because I was an insulin dependant diabetic while I was pregnant and being out in the sun really made my blood sugar take a dive. I HATED the looks I got from people (even Disney CMs which really surprised me) that said, "what's wrong with you?". I didn't look disabled and my daughter doesn't look disabled. I would like a quiet place to wait for rides but I might hurt somebody if they gave "that look" to my daughter.

Thanks though,
Suzanne

It doesn't hurt to get the GAC and use it if necessary. You should probably make up your mind to not let those "looks" bother you. What's important is what works for you, your DD and the rest of your family. If I need to use our GAC, I just keep walking and if someone wants to say something to me, they will be sorry. No one picks on my son, that's for sure. The GAC is for people who need the service, if they didn't want to honor it, they shouldn't offer it. But it is the reason we return to WDW every year.

FYI- I have a friend who does use her GAC to have her special needs daughter go ahead of others in the Meet and Greet lines. I didn't know that was an option, but it is.

 

[JulieWent]

If you're looking for good character interaction in a peaceful setting, consider Cape May at the Yacht Club for a character breakfast. Can't remember if Mickey shows up, but all the other big five characters are there. It is very peaceful, and there is a lot of interaction because it is not crammed full of people.

We have always found this to be a great place for character dining. We also second Crystal Palace as being a good place for kids withe sensory issues, but it is in the middle of MK and so not quite as peaceful as Cape May.

Julie

 

[SAGE]

It doesn't hurt to get the GAC and use it if necessary. You should probably make up your mind to not let those "looks" bother you. What's important is what works for you, your DD and the rest of your family. If I need to use our GAC, I just keep walking and if someone wants to say something to me, they will be sorry. No one picks on my son, that's for sure. The GAC is for people who need the service, if they didn't want to honor it, they shouldn't offer it. But it is the reason we return to WDW every year.

FYI- I have a friend who does use her GAC to have her special needs daughter go ahead of others in the Meet and Greet lines. I didn't know that was an option, but it is.

the GAC is very helpful in the Meet & Greet lines. Speaking of "looks", you should see some of the ones I've gotten!! Yup..standing in line with my 6'2" ASD son along with all the little kids waiting to see Mickey.
What I'm a suppose to do? He loves Disney & that's why we keep coming back.

 

[AJKMOM]

the GAC is very helpful in the Meet & Greet lines. Speaking of "looks", you should see some of the ones I've gotten!! Yup..standing in line with my 6'2" ASD son along with all the little kids waiting to see Mickey.
What I'm a suppose to do? He loves Disney & that's why we keep coming back.

Mine is 21, 5'10" with size 13 feet. Loves all things Disney, and Chuck E Cheese. He is definitely out of place with the kindergarteners. Oh well.

 

[SAGE]

Mine is 21, 5'10" with size 13 feet. Loves all things Disney, and Chuck E Cheese. He is definitely out of place with the kindergarteners. Oh well.

.... you know the situation exactly!!
As long as we can laugh and keep our sense of humour.