How flexible is Chef Mickey if late for res? (early Feb)

[Seabean]

We're planning to arrive at WDW the first Friday in Feb next year. We have a tradition of always to going to Chef Mickey's on the first evening. However, because of the timing of the flight, we would need to make reservations at about 7:30pm, and even that's if everything for the flight/Magic-express/check-in goes right on time.

What if we make reservations for 7:30, but we're late by anywhere from 30 to 60 mins? How flexible is Chef Mickey on a Friday night (non-holiday weekend) in very early February?

 

[sunnyday123]

why not be safe and make them a little later? It's not really fair that other people would have to wait because you were late. There is usually a wait time, and you don't typically get seated at your reservation time, but I've never waited 60 minutes. And if I heard someone come in and say they were late, and expected to be seated before me, when I was on time, I'd be annoyed.

You could also have your first official dinner the first full day you're there.

 

[Pakey]

I can't speak for Chef Mickeys but we were 20 minutes late on our arrival night Boma meal and they would not seat us.

 

[LuvinDisney83]

We got really lucky the night we went to Chef Mickeys, it was a friday in late june ( we had a 7:10) reservation. We got mixed up on the monorails to get there and ran about 30 minutes late. They were able to still seat us, but we had to wait about 20 minutes or so.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

We had a 7AM reservation because we wanted the earliest as possible and we were going to have a rental car. THEN, the plans changed where we didn't have that rental car for this reservation but since we were coming from WL we though it would be OK since the launch from WL leaves at 6:45AM and only takes about 5 minutes to get to CR... that is, if you don't have a new guy.

We had taken the 6:45AM lauch 3 times in a row leaving at 6:42AM EACH TIME until we really needed it to leave on time but turns out, we were in a 'in-training' boat. Naturally, the boat got there late and we weren't checked in until 7:20AM but they didn't care, they told me, acting like it happened all the time.

 

[DisneyGrampa]

We're planning to arrive at WDW the first Friday in Feb next year. We have a tradition of always to going to Chef Mickey's on the first evening. However, because of the timing of the flight, we would need to make reservations at about 7:30pm, and even that's if everything for the flight/Magic-express/check-in goes right on time.

What if we make reservations for 7:30, but we're late by anywhere from 30 to 60 mins? How flexible is Chef Mickey on a Friday night (non-holiday weekend) in very early February?

I've never seen them not busy by 7:30-I think your chances are slim to none that you can be that late and still get in. I would suggest that you call them directly, if you're going to be late. Perhaps that courtesy might sway them in your direction.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

It seems to risky to me, I would either make the ADR for later, or plan on another night for Chef Mickey's.

 

[aubriee]

From personal experience I can tell you that they may turn you away. Several years ago we had a breakfast ADR there and was late because some marathon was going on and the buses had to go a different way to get to MK and there was a traffic jam. As soon as we arrived at the MK, we took off at a fast pace and walked over to the Contemporary arriving about 30-40 minutes late for our ADR. We explained what happened, but was still turned away.

 

[Mommy Poppins]

I wouldn't chance it either. Not Chef Mickey's, but several years ago we had an ADR for LTT for dinner and there was a problem with the monorail. We sat on the track for a good 20-25 minutes which made us about 30 minutes late for our ADR. They said they would try to fit us in, but it took almost an hour for that to happen!

I wish that we had just left and gone to a CS place, but the kids really wanted to eat there.

 

[Seabean]

Thanks folks. I actually went through the pictures of our last two vacations there and studied the time stamps to see where we were at various times throughout the journey (we take a LOT of pictures). I've alloted reasonable times based on that, but if there's a big flight delay or something, that offsets everything.

*IF* we do decide to take a chance and make a res, and we find while en-route we're running late and won't make it on time, how much time ahead do you have to call (via cell phone) to cancel?

Or must that be done 24 hrs ahead? In other words, if we cancel within 1 or 2 hrs ahead of the res, are we charged for the meal?

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) You should make later ADR's.
2) IF 30-60 minutes late, your ADR is canceled.
3) They may not be able to seat you.
4) This is a popular time for Chef Mickey's, and usually very busy.
5) Many times it is not practical to add another ressie into the mix.
6) Kind of like refusing a walk-up.

 

[Seabean]

Can a Chef Mickey ADR be cancelled on 1-2 hours notice without penalty, or does it require 24-48 hrs notice?

 

[DisneyGrampa]

Can a Chef Mickey ADR be cancelled on 1-2 hours notice without penalty, or does it require 24-48 hrs notice?

CM doesn't take a CC#. There is no penalty.

 

[chia92]

Can a Chef Mickey ADR be cancelled on 1-2 hours notice without penalty, or does it require 24-48 hrs notice?

I don't believe you need to cancel 24-48 hours in advance for Chef Mickey's. I think that is only for the TS meals that take a credit card when you make your reservation. I have canceled many TS meals 1-2 ahead and was never charged.

 

[Seabean]

Ok Thanks. I guess what we could do is make reservations for Chef Mickey, and if something goes wrong en route, we'll call ahead and cancel, and eat at Gasperilla Grill as Plan B (we're staying at the GF)

Let me ask you fine folks this... does this seem pushing it? The flight is scheduled to land at MCO at 4:30 and based on my photo timestamps it seems to take about a 2 hr gap between landing (getting baggages, Magic express, etc) and getting to the GF check-in desk (6:30) From there we can check into our room and be at the CR in an hour(7:30) So if our flight lands at 4:30, does a 7:45 ADR for Chef Mickey seem reasonable?

 

[DisneyGrampa]

Looks good! If for some reason you're running late, and you checked-in on-line, in advance, you should be able to ger your pkge fast, dump your luggage at bell services, and head off for CM without going to your room.