Is Chef Mickey's that bad?

[Gummie Bears]

I've read awful reviews about Chef Mickey's and wondered if anyone has been recently and if it's that bad?
Some say the food isn't good and the characters don't stay for long. We have reservations for dinner, would breakfast be better?
Thanks!

 

[Pink Mouse Ears]

We thought it was fine in June. It was typical buffet food- just what I expected. I didn't think it was any different from Crystal Palace. Everything seemed clean. The characters didn't seem to rush- they took pics and played with DS- and made it to our table twice before we left.

 

[scootch]

Chef Mickey's is our favorite, and we prefer dinner over breakfast. It is the only character meal that we plan every single trip.

 

[Micca]

I think the character interaction is very good. The food? Meh. It wasn't like OMG I'm gonna hurl, it was just "fair". There were one or two items that were actually pretty good--the mashed potatoes and the fried chicken. You'll be ok with the salad & desserts too.

 

[poohbearbt]

I think the character interaction was great but I didnt enjoy the food at all. Of course that was several years ago so take it for what its worth.

 

[jennyf2]

We've been a few times & enjoyed it. It's a FUN place to eat. The food is typical breakfast buffet food & IMO the characters do seem a bit rushed but I have never missed out on a picture

We make a point to go for breakfast every trip

 

[Tony NY]

I never had a bad exprances at CM character interaction are grate I have been lucky to have them come to my table at lees twice and some times three times depnding on where they seat you but as far as food goes it all depends on you if you are in to breakfast then it all good but if your in to dinner it all good too you still have sum grat character interaction..

 

[ABE4DISNEY]

We ate there in October, and I hate to tell you it was not good at all. My dh and I both said that out of our last three trips it was our worst dining experience, and we were disappointed. The food was just really bland and the restaurant was dirty. The character interaction was great though. Luckily--because it is a buffet--we were each able to find one thing that we really did like, but I couldn't believe that we were struggling to find good things to eat. We have done CP, Cinderella's table, Boma and GF and I would say ALL of those experiences were awesome. I mean, I don't expect to like everything in a buffet, but to only find one or two things?? Crazy. Maybe it was an off night or perhaps breakfast is better.

 

[leshunlenese]

i was there for breakfast in october and we all enjoyed the characters and the food was not bad at all, it was good typical breakfast food, even my 12month old enjoyed it. never been for dinner though

 

[pmaurer74]

We have not been for dinner though I have heard it is bad but we just loved the breakfast and I thought the character interaction was fine. I think I ate about 15,000 calories!

 

[Nadjalu]

OP, we ate there for dinner on 2/4/11 and found it to be quite good. Yes it is buffet food, but I thought it was a notch above.
Nothing was bland, the restaurant was clean and the servers good.

Yes it is loud, but what buffet isn't???

I have nothing bad to say about this place. We have been several times and have not had a bad experience.

Not sure why people have such a bad time....

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

For dinner I thought Chef Mickey's was ok, however compared to other buffets in WDW I would have to say Boma at the Animal Kingdom Lodge is the best one.

 

[dislover8943]

We love chef Mickey s. But, we have only been for breakfast. Last year we went to crystal palace for dinner and didn't like the food at all. ( we love the breakfast though). So in MY opinion we have better luck with the breakfast.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Our Ratings of Chef Mickey's: (rev 1/17/11)
. . . food price value: C-
. . . food quality: C-
. . . food quantity per serving: A
. . . food prep speed: B
. . . food selection: B
. . . seating quantity: C
. . . seating comfort: B
. . . eatery atmosphere: B-
. . . eatery convenience: B
. . . staff friendliness: C
. . . staff helpfulness: C
. . . character interaction: B

NOTE: As with most character meals, you are paying
for the characters, and possibly atmosphere, but not the
food. Food is ample and tasty, but quality only average
or even slightly below. Unfortunately, we believe the food
quality has gone down hill significantly lately.
Currently, CM is highly disappointing.

 

[melbiel]

Before we did CM the last time we visited, I had many people tell me how great it was, so we were very excited. Unfortunately, we were very disappointed. The whole set up is in an open kind of room that just reminds me of a school cafeteria. Kind of bare and cold and white. The food was just there. Not horrible, but certainly not great. My kids loved the ice cream bar for dessert but otherwise barely ate anything.

We thought the characters were cute, especially b/c my littlest one at the time loved Mickey Mouse, but for the life of me, I can't understand how people can say they actually LOVE it. It certainly wasn't anything the impressed me whatsoever, and I would never say that we had to do it again. I think that was the only thing during our entire trip that really disappointed. I honestly don' know how people can say that it is a really great time. Aside from the characters walking around, I felt like we were eating in a (loud and crowded) cafeteria with mediocre food. Plus, most of the characters at CM we encountered in the park anyway, which really made it not worth it. If you are totally desperate to see the characters up close for a few seconds, I guess I could maybe see doing it, but otherwise, there is absolutely no way I would ever tell someone they should do CM.

 

[MissDisneyTeach]

I've been for breakfast and dinner...it's my favorite character meal so far!

 

[MistressMerryweather]

We have never left thinking, "good grief that food was *terrible*!" It just isn't great. You know, just fine. It's also hit or miss. Every once in a while the buffet is great. It's all dependent on what the chef has on hand to use.
We've been there before when the characters were really rushed, but we've been there before when they spent extra time and really made our kids feel special.
I say, don't over think it. Just go and have a good time. Our kids wouldn't forgive us if we went to Disney World and didn't go to Chef Mickey's at least once. So it must be more than just fine to them, regardless of the hit or miss that we see.

ETA: Oh, and we like early dinner the best.

 

[Castillo Mom]

CM is great for character interaction. As for the food, we've had breakfast there twice and dinner once. Breakfast was ok, dinner not so much. You've gotta try it at least once for the experience but I'd recommend breakfast.

 

[tybella]

We ate at Chef Mickeys February 9/11 and it was wonderful the character interaction was excellent we had all 5 characters come to the table and take individual pictures with all 6 kids lol also I thought the food was quite good for a buffet we left with no negative comments it was well worth the money

 

[mackait0307]

We go to Disney every year and Chef Mickey's was ALWAYS on the MUST DO list. However, after our last two visits (breakfast 2009 & dinner 2010), it will not be on my list anymore. The food was not up to par and the characters we so rushed, they didn't even wait long enough for me to get my 2 year old out of the highchair for a picture. Hopefully for all the negative reviews, they will "spruce" up the place (and service). Lots of luck and most of all enjoy your vacation!