is Chef Mickey's food that bad?

[Havana]

Is Chef Mickey's food that bad?
We are three adults who want to go for the dining experience, but don't want to regret not having a good decent meal.
Do you leave Chef Mickey's disappointed in the food selections or quality?
Is there usually a wait to be seated?

 

[GingerJay]

I think it depends a lot on your tastes- I'm not too terribly discriminating and I find it fine- it is a buffet, though and they always have their unique issues, but we make it a point to eat there EVERY trip and we've never left hungry, sick, or unhappy Have fun!!

 

[ilovejsparrow]

It's not the best food on property by any means, but I've never had a huge problem with the food. I find the loudness the worst part of CM. When you go to a place like CM, you're paying more for the experience than the food, IMO.

 

[goofy4tink]

I used to be a huge proponanat of Chef Mickeys...not so much anymore. My last few meals there have been mediocre at best. I have had less than stellar service....don't think I need to grab our server as she passes by, to get a refill, after waiting for 15 mins with an empty glass. I have no issue with kids, but to have them running all over the place, as if it were a playground is beyond irresponsible. Parents need to monitor their youngsters. I had at least 4 experiences with kids running into me when I had a full plate.
And the food has been a letdown lately as well. They just haven't had the selection that they have had in the past. And when I've gone up to get a slice of beef, it is miniscule and very fatty. I am not hard to please at all..but give me food that is reasonable.
For the price they charge for the dinner buffet, I doubt I'll be back again any time soon. We used to eat there at least once on each trip, but not anymore.

 

[autismgoesdisney]

Personally, I wouldn't go to CM for the food. I go because my kids want to see those characters. If I wanted the experience of seeing the characters AND food, I'd go to Tusker House for breakfast!

 

[namblazejewskiv28]

For me, it's ok.

 

[Havana]

Hmm, I was thinking of trying Kona, maybe my family would be more satisfied with that choice instead.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

This is a place we go usually on the first night when we go with my nephew because he loves it. It is a great place to get pumped for your visit.

Loud, fun, exuberance. The food isn't awful, but there are better places for food at WDW.

 

[Zife]

I think I agree with everything that's been said. It's not great food, but it won't make you sick, nor have I ever been unhappy with my choice when we left.

If it weren't for the characters though, I wouldn't go back. There's just much better food to be eaten at WDW. But, my wife and I love character meals (feel kind of silly lining up to se a character when you're 25), so we go back each time we're at the World (along with a few other character meals).

Also, I just remembered, there's a pasta dish there we like so much, we got the recipe for it and make it at home now

 

[Zife]

Woops, double post... anyway to delete them?

 

[jharrowell]

As others have said the food is ok, but nothing special, if your just going for the food there are better places, like say a Boma Breakfast, and cheaper places, you could go off-site to a Ponderosa and get a similar level of food IMO.

It is, or at least was, a great character breakfast though. Not tried it since the change that puts Mickey only out front so I can't comment on the latest version of the character meal.

 

[tluvstink]

I think the food is good, not great, but good. I love the mashed potatoes Having said that if it weren't for the characters I don't think I would go but I think everyone should try it at least once.

As long as you have an ADR you shouldn't have to wait long to be seated.

 

[MichaelColey]

It's decent for a buffet (somewhat better than Golden Corral, Ryans, Ponderosa, etc.), but it seems kind of pointless without kids. Why not go to a nice off-site restaurant?

 

[disneychick0412]

DH and I have been there many times (only for breakfast) and enjoy ourselves. I agree with the poster who said that it is a good place to go for adults who don't want to stand in line with all the kids to see the characters.
The breakfast food is your typical breakfast fare, and is decent. We are not picky eaters at all.

 

[KarBear]

I would not go to CM if I didn't have kids, bc the characters arethe only reason to go, I am not picky by any means but the food was like Old Country Buffet, the green salad wasn't even great. Servers were good and kids were not running all over like wild dogs...but the food was just ok..would I go back maybe bc it's one of the only dinner charater dinners...but that would be the only reason.

 

[TaraPA]

You menioned that you wanted to go to CM for the "dining experience" - do you mean the characters? That is about the only reason to go to CM, as others have stated. The food is mediocre at best, in my opinion. There are far better character experience (dining or not) on property than CM.

You also mentioned Kona - there are no characters there, but if you're just looking for a "dining experience" you should be far happier at Kona. Much better atmosphere, service & food quality.

Everyone has their own preferences & opinions, but I would honestly not ever eat at CM again! On the flip side, breakfast at Kona is a MUST for us every trip.

 

[Sleeping Becca]

My family loves CM, I think it is awful.

Still we go just about every trip, it is great to be able to get the fab 5 without standing in line.

I find the food disgusting quite frankly. However the mashed potatoes are good, I will admit that. I do find enough to eat, last trip the potato salad was good as were the soup selections.

 

[TaraPA]

I find the food disgusting quite frankly.

I'm glad you said it first - I wanted to but figured I'd get flamed for it! I've never had dinner there - just breakfast - and it was almost inedible! Runny scrambled eggs (they had a greenish tint to them), bland potatoes & dry, poor quality danish & breads - for over $30! I went back a 2nd time last year & it was exactly the same. Never again!

 

[mkleinbe]

I am a CM hater. I won't go back. The food was yuck and the cleanliness (or lack there of) of the buffet really got to me. I hate the overpriced picture that doesn't even have a character in it at the beginning, the service is mediocre. It's just not something I'm willing to put myself through, even for my girls. I most certainly wouldn't go if I didn't have kids.

Now Tusker House in Animal Kingdom, that's a whole different story. If you're wanting a character meal with Mickey and Pals, then that's the place to be! WONDERFUL food, great service, and beautiful setting.

I have very strong opinions on Disney dining both good and bad...

 

[elleinad16]

Aww, this is definitely a dining experience that should be done!

The first time I went was in May 09' as group of 5 Adults and 1 child (age 3). We had the BEST server that went out of her way to create a delicious drink-concoction (it was like pink lemonade and tea or something) for our whole table and kept bringing it to us in pitchers. She even brought out a cake for my 21st Birthday and a mini cupcake for the 3 year old. We were the last ones out of the restaurant that night and she sat down with the 3 year old and colored with her and a special crayon.
We all loved the food and even picked off the kids station (LOVE the Mickey-roni and cheese!) It can be a really filling buffet.
The characters were a blast. We had a girl in our party that just graduated college and Chef Mickey came over to her, rolled up a napkin, and presented it to her like a diploma.
It was the extra special touches that made that experience awesome!

Fast forward to May 2010...This time we went as another group of 6, but this time all adults. (4 previously dined at Chef Mickey's; 2 never been to Disney World)

I could tell that the 2 girls in our party that had never been to Disney before didn't quite know how to react, seeing as this was their first time seeing characters and it was quite loud.
But we all ordered cocktails and they came back with HEAPING piles of food from the buffet. By the end of the night they were hugging the characters like crazy and went back for about 4 helpings of food!

I say you can't loose by at least TRYING Chef Mickey's. I love it! (We're even wanting to add it on to our Disney Wedding dining itinerary and have it as our farewell brunch with all of our wedding guests!