Help with Chef Mickey's ADR!!

[mommy4]

Ok, so I can't make up my mind about our Chef Mickey's ADR. We currently have a 11:20 ADR for November. We are going to be at MK that day. However DH says that maybe it would be better to get an early ADR that morning. There is currently a 7:15 and 7:30. We are staying at POP and rely on WDW transportation, so I'm a little concerned about getting there on time. Also, I really like to watch the opening at MK.
Help me decide what to do!!! Another option is to go to Chef Mickey's on our Epcot day.
Help!!!

 

[TinkerKell-ey]

I like to make any ADR's outside of the parks early or late. They tend to take a lot of time. 7-7:30 is really early though If your family is an early rising one, it sounds perfect...except you'll probably miss opening.

You could go straight to MK in the morning for opening and a few rides, then monorail over to CR for your current ADR, then head back to MK. This is probably easier than getting up so early!!!

 

[gillenkl]

those times are really early when relying on disney transportation. I'd do as previous poster suggested or eat at the Crystal Palace on your MK day.

 

[Mickey's biggest fan]

You could go straight to MK in the morning for opening and a few rides, then monorail over to CR for your current ADR, then head back to MK. This is probably easier than getting up so early!!!

I agree with this. We are doing early ADR at CM but we have a car to get us from the POP to the CR. If I had to rely on Disney transportation, I would opt to go for the RD, enjoy some rides and then head for a late breakfast. Just my 2 cents....

 

[AuroraMeansDawn]

Is it a morning EMH at MK? If so the early ADR might be a problem but I'm thinking, hopefully correctly, that the earliest ADR would still get you to MK by 9:00 a.m.

We booked a 7:05a.m. CM breakfast and it's a 9 a.m opening at MK so rope drop seemed doable to us. I planned on an hour to an hour and a half for breakfast then using the walkway to the MK. Seemed like we'd have plenty of time. Am I wrong? I'm sure someone will chime in and tell me.

My thought process was that with the first am ressie that we'd get in fast, be near the front of the line when the characters came in and would be out. Of course my "kids" are 16 and 17 so interaction will be a quick photo and a hug so we won't be too long.

If it is an early EMH though I'd keep the late ressie. You'd have 3 hours to hit the headliners, time to go back to CM for a nice "brunch" and I've heard it's much quieter late in the morning and that the interaction is much better.

Hope you have a completely magical vacation!

 

[arctic_bunny]

We had a 7:05 at CM when we were staying at All-Star Movies. We were got there at 7:20, we sooooo rushed, plus the kids broke down at MK - my oldest screamed from Tomorrow Land all the to the buses. It was awesome. We ended up back in our room where they and my DH slept all afternoon and I did laundry by the pool. Although I really enjoyed my "alone time" I wouldn't recommend it as a fun day at the parks! This time, I had a choice between 8:40 and 9:20 - and took the 9:20!

 

[mommy4]

Wow! Thanks for all of the quick responses! It is not and early EMH day at MK. I was worried about trying to get there that early too with Disney buses. We are early risers, but to get all 4 kids ready that early sounds a little scary! We have been to Crystal Palace several times and Chef Mickey's for dinner, but we were trying to do something a little different.

Well, I guess I'll just keep our current ADR. We are planning on being at MK all day and staying to watch Spectro and Wishes that night and we have 3 days total there, so I guess leaving for our ADR isn't that big of a deal.

 

[JoePa4Ever]

We've stayed at Pop the past 2 years and had Chef Mickey breakfast adrs at 7:30 am both years. We used Disney buses without any problems. If you use Disney buses, I would suggest getting out to the bus stop no later than an hour before your adr time. There will be buses starting at 6:30 am & sometimes even as early as 6:15 am, but they are infrequent and unpredictable that early in the morning. Sometimes the bus driver will take you directly to the Contemporary (this happened 2 years ago) or he/she will take you to MK & you'll have to take the monorail to the Contemporary (this happened last year). Both times though, we had no problem making our 7:30 adr. Last year after CM, we went to MK and were there in plenty of time to see the opening show.

 

[AuroraMeansDawn]

One more thought. Taxis. When we have an early early ressie at a resort the lowering of the stress factor by taking a cab is WELL worth the cost of the fare. It was something like $15-20 to take a cab from the AKL to the Beach Club for a 7:05 Cape May Reservation and it was worth every penny.

I am not much of a believer in purchasing "stuff" so much as "convenience." Money spent to make my life easier and more enjoyable is money well spent and appreciated longer than another tshirt in the drawer.

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

We just came back from our first trip last week-

We had a 7:05am ADR at Chef Mickeys on our first full day of the trip- staying at Port Orleans Riverside

While it was EARLY- we LOVED it (thanks to JoePa for the recommendation)!!! The food was pretty good- the character interaction was great. We were seated ten minutes after checking in, and thats with taking the picture with the statue first. Our kids had a BLAST

I recommend taking a taxi from your resort to the Contemporary- we did- it cost us 15$ and allowed us to sleep in 30 minutes later.

If you do the 11:15 you will have to leave the park shortly after arriving which may be hard on the kids.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I would just take a taxi to the Contemporary and picked the 7:15 AM ADR, because it should give you enough time to eat and see all the characters and you should make the Magic Kingdom for it's 9:00 AM opening. However you should also know since Chef Mickey's is very popular sometimes they can get behind on their ADR schedule and there could be a chance you will need to wait past your ADR time.

 

[TwiddleDeeTwiddleDum]

Your ADR time of 11:20 is my favorite time to go to CM for b-fast. I like to do MK rope drop & ride until 10:45, collect 1 or 2 FP's in the process and then walk over to CM's. Usually DH meets us there. He likes to sleep in, DS & I like to do MK early. Everyone is happy.

Tell your little ones that Mickey wants to meet them for b-fast but that you have to go over to his hotel. I'm sure they'll be excited to go find him

 

[chocovrdmicears]

Your ADR time of 11:20 is my favorite time to go to CM for b-fast. I like to do MK rope drop & ride until 10:45, collect 1 or 2 FP's in the process and then walk over to CM's. Usually DH meets us there. He likes to sleep in, DS & I like to do MK early. Everyone is happy.

Tell your little ones that Mickey wants to meet them for b-fast but that you have to go over to his hotel. I'm sure they'll be excited to go find him

I think this is a great plan.

 

[Belleandtinker]

On our last trip, we used a taxi just for ease sake. It took of ALOT of pressure and made for a better day.

Check with the front desk to see how fast you could get a taxi in case the bus doesn't get their in time. I'm not sure if taxi's are "on call" at your resort, but worth checking out.

 

[TinkGirl]

Your ADR time of 11:20 is my favorite time to go to CM for b-fast. I like to do MK rope drop & ride until 10:45, collect 1 or 2 FP's in the process and then walk over to CM's.


That's perfect! You can get there when the park opens, enjoy an uncrowded MK and go eat just when the crowds start pouring in. The fastpass idea is great. My family would probably need a light breakfast prior if we had to wait until lunchtime to eat.