How to get to Chef Mickey's?

[reyn74]

I have an ADR at Chef Mickey's for 7am. So how do I get there that early from the All Stars Music resort? MK has extra magic hours that morning, if it makes any difference, so it opens at 8am.

I am taking 2 of my kids for a birthday trip, and we are going to Chef Mickey's for his birthday morning breakfast. We are so excited!!!

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

We had the same ADR time in May- only time we could get. We just took a taxi from POR to the Contemporary- cost us about $20 but got us there on time and was really easy.

 

[sunsetgrill]

If you have a car, you can drive into The Contemporary, leaving your car there if you want to go to the parks right after eating. Let them know you have a reservation at the guard gate. If not, check with the resort to see what time buses to the Magic Kingdom start. The bus will have to leave the resort no later than 6:20 to give you enough time. From the MK drop off, it's onle a 10 minute walk over. If it's too early for buses, a taxi might be the only other option.

 

[natcat117]

Last year we had a 7:00 AM reservation at Chef Mickey's and we stayed at POP. MK opened at 9 AM. There was a character breakfast bus that took us directly to the Contemporary. It was full of other people staying at Pop who also had reservations at Chef Mickey's.

At first I was worried our reservation was too early because we didn't have a car but it worked out really well.

 

[reyn74]

Thanks for the responses. I went through the reservations again, and ended up getting a 9:15am one. My little birthday guy is so excited to go to his favorite restaurant on his birthday!

 

[1tufgt]

Was passing through and thought I would ask this question, is it really ok to leave your car there if you plan on going to MK after Chef Mickey's?

Isn't the parking lot only for contemporary resort attendees?

 

[DisneyAdventurer]

Was passing through and thought I would ask this question, is it really ok to leave your car there if you plan on going to MK after Chef Mickey's?

Isn't the parking lot only for contemporary resort attendees?

I've never seen any problems with it before (i.e. did not see CMs walking around the parking lot making sure you had a CR pass), but it's technically not allowed. When you pull in, they'll give you a piece of paper with your reservation time at Chef Mickey's and you pull into the guest parking lot area. I did not leave my car there and I don't see Disney doing anything like towing your vehicle, but I know that the time is on there for the purpose of your staying at the resort for only a short period of time. Contemporary Resort guests pay for the proximity to the park. So it just depends on if you want to bend the rules...

 

[TiggerTrigger]

I've heard from several sources that the busses run early enough to make these ultra early ADRs. Some people have recommended talking to the concierge or front desk- others have suggested just telling the bus driver where you need to be and when so they make you their early bus run priority.

 

[catne]

Was passing through and thought I would ask this question, is it really ok to leave your car there if you plan on going to MK after Chef Mickey's?

Isn't the parking lot only for contemporary resort attendees?

Yes, it really is a big problem, especially at the Contemporary which is walking distance to Magic Kingdom. They will tow your car if you leave it there more than 3 hours unless you have a Contemporary Hotel guest parking permit OR you have paid to have your car valet parked there. Otherwise, they will tow...too many people try to leave their car there for free & walk over to the MK. Obviously if that was allowed the lots at the monorail resorts would soon be full of non-paying customers leaving no room for the people who are legitimate hotel guest there. So yes, they are especially vigliant with the monorail & walking distance resorts. I'm sure you'll get some posts from folks who have never had a problem parking there, but just so you know it's a very real possibility.

We stayed at the Contemporary in Jan 2009 and even though the lot was more than 1/2 empty, they were towing cars both days we were there. We watched from our balcony. Three cars one day, two the next.

 

[catne]

I've never seen any problems with it before (i.e. did not see CMs walking around the parking lot making sure you had a CR pass), but it's technically not allowed. When you pull in, they'll give you a piece of paper with your reservation time at Chef Mickey's and you pull into the guest parking lot area. I did not leave my car there and I don't see Disney doing anything like towing your vehicle, but I know that the time is on there for the purpose of your staying at the resort for only a short period of time. Contemporary Resort guests pay for the proximity to the park. So it just depends on if you want to bend the rules...

yes, they do tow cars. Cars parked in the hotel lots are not paying for parking: that's a loss of revenue to Disney. And a big problem when the lot fills with non-paying cars and the people who paid big bucks to stay in that hotel cannot find a spot to park their own car. Of course Disney will tow the non-payers. It's good business.

 

[1tufgt]

Yes, it really is a big problem, especially at the Contemporary which is walking distance to Magic Kingdom. They will tow your car if you leave it there more than 3 hours unless you have a Contemporary Hotel guest parking permit OR you have paid to have your car valet parked there. Otherwise, they will tow...too many people try to leave their car there for free & walk over to the MK. Obviously if that was allowed the lots at the monorail resorts would soon be full of non-paying customers leaving no room for the people who are legitimate hotel guest there. So yes, they are especially vigliant with the monorail & walking distance resorts. I'm sure you'll get some posts from folks who have never had a problem parking there, but just so you know it's a very real possibility.

We stayed at the Contemporary in Jan 2009 and even though the lot was more than 1/2 empty, they were towing cars both days we were there. We watched from our balcony. Three cars one day, two the next.

yes, they do tow cars. Cars parked in the hotel lots are not paying for parking: that's a loss of revenue to Disney. And a big problem when the lot fills with non-paying cars and the people who paid big bucks to stay in that hotel cannot find a spot to park their own car. Of course Disney will tow the non-payers. It's good business.

Thanks for the info.

You said valet? So if I decide to valet the car for our breakfast at chef mickey's and then head over to MK that is ok?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Thanks for the info.

You said valet? So if I decide to valet the car for our breakfast at chef mickey's and then head over to MK that is ok?

Ask before you leave your car, but generally yes. Valet parking is (at this exact moment, subject to change ) $12. That money goes directly to Walt Disney World, NOT to the valets. It's customary to tip.

 

[1tufgt]

Ask before you leave your car, but generally yes. Valet parking is (at this exact moment, subject to change ) $12. That money goes directly to Walt Disney World, NOT to the valets. It's customary to tip.

Ok, I guess it will be a game time decision. LOL

What time do the monorails start running? We have a 8:35 and figure it might just be best to drive to the TTC, park, hope on the monorail and get off at CR and then just hop back on it when we head to MK.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Resorts monorail would start by 7, for monorail resort Guests needing to get to other resorts or Epcot for breakfast. But don't hop on the monorail to get to MK later. Walk.

 

[goofy4tink]

You know...I probably should have taken a photo of it (but of course, I didn
't)...but I have been out on my balcony at BLT, MK view, each afternoon/early evening, watching the security car go around the BLT parking lot. He would get out of his car, and would check the dashboards of the cars. I did notice that he went over to one particular car and take down the info from the car. I would imagine that if the same car is parked, in the same spot, without a resort parking permit, then the security people may very well take notice of it and deal with it in some way.

It is NOT okay to self park at the CR and head to the MK for the day. Parking at resorts for park access is not allowed. You can't expect to eat at CM's at 7:30am, and then head to MK for the rest of the day...it will be noticed. I have seen it with me very own eyes.

 

[su_A_ve]

On CR, there's a separate area that they make you park if you have ADRs, and they will check their list.

Even if you stay at any other resort, you don't pay for parking at the parks, however, they will not let you leave your car at CR and they will tow you.

That said, no problems at any of the other MK resorts... I've parked at WL for the day if I had ADRs there...

 

[1tufgt]

Resorts monorail would start by 7, for monorail resort Guests needing to get to other resorts or Epcot for breakfast. But don't hop on the monorail to get to MK later. Walk.

So does that mean I can't drive to the TTC lot, park and hop on the monorail to CR but have to drive to CR instead?