Disappointed in Chef Mickey

[purpletiger]

Let me explain. We were at Disney last week and had a resey at Chef Mickey for dinner on Tuesday. When I booked the ADR I told them it was my son's birthday. I called and confirmed all my ADR's many times and reiterated the birthday. When we checked in at the podium I told them again. They lady said we have that down and the ticket was stamped in big red bold letters "BIRTHDAY". We got seated and our waitress took the stamped ticket. We ate, got to meet all the characters, our waitress gave us our ticket, I paid, she brought it back. So then the wait began. We waited and waited cause I always heard they did something special for birthdays. All the other tables had birthdays and they announced it and waived napkins in the air and the characters came to the table. At about the time I was going to get up to find out what the hold up was and our waitress then came out of the kitchen and noticed we hadn't left. She looked stunned with "OMG?!?! I forgot the birthday". She hurried back into the kitchen and came out with a cupcake and said let me got get Minnie. She went and whispered something and waiting again then Minnie came over. Only our table sang and my son blew out his candle.
You talk about frustrated. The only reason I booked Chef Mickey is for the "big birthday to do" they were supposed to do. If I had known this I wouldn't have tipped her so much.
I don't know what more I was supposed to do. This was our first visit to Chef Mickey and I will not be going back.
That morning we had his birthday breakfast at Crystal Palace and thank goodness that went really well.
Sorry for the long vent.

 

[mpetti]

I am so sorry you were disappointed. We have went many times to CM and never had a problem. I am so glad I read your post. We are going in Aug and during our dinner ADR at CM we are planning on celebrating our DS 7th birthday. This is all he talks about. I had it put on the reservation and they told me to let them know at CM when we check in. Also they told me we had to purchase a seperate cake which they could provide, but we had to pay extra for. All I wanted was a birthday cupcake and they the CM making the ADR told me they no longer do the cupcake. When we go I am going to double check and make sure I bring it to the attention of the waitress. We always like having a happy child at WDW. I am glad you at least had luck at Crystal Palace.

Maryann

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I am sorry to read that you were disappointed at how things were done.

 

[vicki_c]

I'm sorry your waitress forget - people are human.

But it's hit or miss on free celebration stuff - sometimes you get something, sometimes you don't, whether it's noted on your reservation or not. We did CM's on my son's birthday and he got a cupcake, but that was it - no special visits from the characters or extra napkin-waving or anything.

If you really want something to be sure to recognized, you have to make the arrangements for a cake yourself.

 

[Lynn5700]

Well at least you had a nice birthday celebration at Crystal Palace! Sometimes when you go in expecting things, you let yourself down. Next time just go in not expecting anything. You may be surprised by a CM, which I think is better any way. Or just bring your own stuff to celebrate, or you can get one of the packages disney dining offers now. I think they have a package where you can get a cake, and balloons at the table.

Did you like the food at least? We have had breakfast there before and loved it!!! I love Crystal Palace breakfast too!!! YUM!

 

[AreWeThereYeti]

That would be so disappointing, sorry it happened to you. We did a nice Birthday dinner at Chef Mickey a couple of years ago and a friend recommended that we go ahead and order a cake. I mentioned it often (as you did) and perhaps the celebration is bigger for those who do go a little farther and order a cake. This was for my DGD, there were ten of us in our party, and the waiter was so cute -- hiding behind her back lighting the candles! They sang and it was great fun. BTW, the cake was way bigger than the "will feed" size and we ended up giving almost half of it to the people at the table next to us! Didn't want to carry it around with us as there were still hours left at the Magic Kingdom.

 

[maxiesmom]

If you really want something to be sure to recognized, you have to make the arrangements for a cake yourself.

I have to agree. Disney recognizing birthdays is one of those things that everyone has gotten used to. It used to be a little pixie-dust,something special, and now people get upset when they don't get acknowledgement.

It never feels the same when you have to demand someone wish you a happy birthday anyways.

 

[disneygirlinnj]

it does suck but celebrations are not guaranteed and should not be expected.

 

[all4disney98]

That is too bad that it didn't go the way you expected. We celebrated my DD's 2nd birthday at CM too. She received a special placemat signed by all the characters and a cupcake. Nobody sang to her and none of the characters came by (expect for the normal rotation etc.). I truly think it is up to your servers discretion on how birthdays are treated and it probably depends on how busy they are. We were happy that she was treated a little special on her "day" and that is more than we could expect or hope for.

I hope your son wasn't too disappointed. Pretty cool to have celebrated his birthday at WDW though!!

 

[DisneyMim]

We celebrated my son's birthday in WDW for many years. In the early years when he was little they made a HUGE deal out of it. IMHO over the years as more and more people celebrated birthdays there it has become very hit or miss. I can tell you that personally my family has seen this. When Chef Mickey's left DD and went to it's present location it changed. My son became disappointed that Chef Mickey didn't come over to our table with a cake and all the characters and sing just to HIM. Now it's more of a napkin waving celebration for the whole room at the same time. Yes they should have brought your son a cupcake with a candle and he should have been part of the celebration that is done every so often in the restaurant. What they do is whatever character is around your table at the moment goes over to your table. Your waitress just goofed! (sorry Goofy!) I think the place has become so popular that the poor waitstaff is overwhelmed. Now that being said, on our last vacation this past Feb it was my husband's birthday and for the whole week cast members were wonderful!! We were really surprised because we have become so used to NOT expecting much over the years. Bottom line is that I really think that it is hit or miss now. The best thing I think parents can do is to arrange for a cake etc. That way nobody will be disappointed.

Enjoy The Magic!!

 

[Stinky_Pete]

IMHO over the years as more and more people celebrated birthdays there it has become very hit or miss.

Enjoy The Magic!!

OP - I'm sorry to hear you expected something and it didn't come through for you.

IMHO the internet has ruined the Disney Magic. It used to happen spontaneosuly and was special. Now people read about experiences that happened to others and are disappointed that it didn't happen to them. It's probably not part of the regular procedure so it's up to the CM, the situation at the time, etc. If it happens...it's magical!

I've celebrated birthdays at WDW, it's been noted on my reservation, and the special things I had read on the internet that happened to others didn't happen for me either. I still had a fabulous time.

Here's a little story: I used to be able to go to the barber shop at the Magic Kingdom for a haircut with practically no wait. The last time I was there I had to go back many times to avoid the (now) long wait because, as the barber said "Everyone knows about us now because of the internet."

That's why when I have a "magical moment" I never divulge it here.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The waitress 'goofed', true - but she caught the goof herself when she came out of the kitchen and noticed the OP's party had not yet left:

At about the time I was going to get up to find out what the hold up was and our waitress then came out of the kitchen and noticed we hadn't left. She looked stunned with "OMG?!?! I forgot the birthday". She hurried back into the kitchen and came out with a cupcake and said let me got get Minnie. She went and whispered something and waiting again then Minnie came over.

 

[Neesy228]

We were there for a birthday earlier this year and in the 8 sit down meals we enjoyed, all were noted as a birthday, and he got a special cupcake at two places. Tusker House and Akershus. No singing, napkin waving or characters...we were pretty happy when someone acknowledged it at all. I mean, really, Disney is being pretty nice this year - we got free cupcakes and a free gift card to spend on his birthday!

Like others have said, I'm so sorry you were disappointed, but sometimes it's better to go into something expecting nothing, and then you're pleasantly surprised when something DOES happen!

I hope you had a great trip regardless!

 

[Will316]

Sorry to be the cold water, but I think you are overreacting a little bit. You ate, met the characters, sounds like had a good time. Probably not worth bashing the place because you didn't get a cupcake. Maybe I'm just low maintainence.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

OP - I'm sorry to hear you expected something and it didn't come through for you.

IMHO the internet has ruined the Disney Magic. It used to happen spontaneosuly and was special. Now people read about experiences that happened to others and are disappointed that it didn't happen to them. It's probably not part of the regular procedure so it's up to the CM, the situation at the time, etc. If it happens...it's magical!

I've celebrated birthdays at WDW, it's been noted on my reservation, and the special things I had read on the internet that happened to others didn't happen for me either. I still had a fabulous time.

Here's a little story: I used to be able to go to the barber shop at the Magic Kingdom for a haircut with practically no wait. The last time I was there I had to go back many times to avoid the (now) long wait because, as the barber said "Everyone knows about us now because of the internet."

That's why when I have a "magical moment" I never divulge it here.

I agree.

If the OP hadn't read what everyone else got then maybe she wouldn't have felt so entitled to that extra "pixie dust".

I have read that people put "birthday" or whatever to try to get extra's which probably ruins it for everyone else.

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

OP - I'm sorry to hear you expected something and it didn't come through for you.

IMHO the internet has ruined the Disney Magic. It used to happen spontaneosuly and was special. Now people read about experiences that happened to others and are disappointed that it didn't happen to them. It's probably not part of the regular procedure so it's up to the CM, the situation at the time, etc. If it happens...it's magical!

I've celebrated birthdays at WDW, it's been noted on my reservation, and the special things I had read on the internet that happened to others didn't happen for me either. I still had a fabulous time.

Here's a little story: I used to be able to go to the barber shop at the Magic Kingdom for a haircut with practically no wait. The last time I was there I had to go back many times to avoid the (now) long wait because, as the barber said "Everyone knows about us now because of the internet."

That's why when I have a "magical moment" I never divulge it here.

While I agree with what you have said here, I do think that Disney themselves have openned up this can of worms by saying "What Will You Celebrate?" and they put these little celebratory spots on their DVDs. Many of us have seen the spots about the little Treasure Box birthday cakes you can order, albeit you must pay extra for them, but it does set one up for the expected extra. I too am sorry that the OP didn't get the extra Pixie Dust she was expecting, but so many people on here have stated that they got special stuff and the word spreads and yes people do expect it. I don't and if we get an extra special something then that is great, but Disney has put this out as their marketing plan this year, so it does lead the less informed (or maybe the somewhat informed) to think that they might get a little extra for a special celebration.

 

[catne]

Sorry the child was disappointed...bummer when you have to sit through watching other kids getting "celebrated" and your child gets skipped.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

I have read that people put "birthday" or whatever to try to get extra's which probably ruins it for everyone else.

I tend to think this has something to do with it. It seems like everyone is celebrating something all the time. The OP said "all the other tables" had birthdays. So many people say they celebrate their birthday the whole week they're there, at every meal, even when it was months before or after. I generally don't care what date other people choose to celebrate their occasions, but it's gotten to where it seems like everyone is celebrating something every day! If nearly every party in the restaurant is celebrating a birthday or anniversary or whatever, the CMs simply don't have the time to make a big to-do over every one of them.

Sometimes it's the CMs fault, too. As I've been making my dining reservations, each time, the CM ask if we're celebrating anything. When I say no, they keep at it. "Are you sure?" "No birthday, anniversary or other special event?" I almost feel pressured to make something up!

Then, the year we did CRT on my dd's birthday, the Disney Dining CM told me that all the princesses would come to the table and sing to my dd! In that case, it was a good thing I had the internet (and the DIS) and knew this was NOT the case. If we had gone in expecting that, we'd have been sorely disappointed.

I am sorry you were disappointed, OP.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

OP - I'm sorry to hear you expected something and it didn't come through for you.

IMHO the internet has ruined the Disney Magic. It used to happen spontaneosuly and was special. Now people read about experiences that happened to others and are disappointed that it didn't happen to them. It's probably not part of the regular procedure so it's up to the CM, the situation at the time, etc. If it happens...it's magical!

I've celebrated birthdays at WDW, it's been noted on my reservation, and the special things I had read on the internet that happened to others didn't happen for me either. I still had a fabulous time.

Here's a little story: I used to be able to go to the barber shop at the Magic Kingdom for a haircut with practically no wait. The last time I was there I had to go back many times to avoid the (now) long wait because, as the barber said "Everyone knows about us now because of the internet."

That's why when I have a "magical moment" I never divulge it here.

This is exactly my feelings. It's unfortunate wihen going to Disney isn't special enough. We never fight for the front seat on the monorail or rush to the front to be picked. It seems so many people expect these little extras. Everyone can't wake up Tinkerbell, etc.

We now relax and let the magic happen.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Sorry the child was disappointed...bummer when you have to sit through watching other kids getting "celebrated" and your child gets skipped.

You know - it doesn't appear the child was disappointed. It appears the mom was.