Is dinner at Chef Mickey's really that bad?

[fitzperry]

We're planning a November trip. On our previous trips, we've rushed right to a park after checking in, but last time we had an early flight and the kids were exhausted, cranky and just plain done by about 5 p.m. So I was thinking of skipping the parks on our arrival day and doing a fun dinner at a resort. CM would be perfect, but I've read some pretty scathing reviews of the food and service. I'm not a huge fan of buffets, but at least you can usually find something palatable. How does the food compare to other WDW buffets, like Crystal Palace? Would you avoid CM and do 1900 Park Fare instead?

TIA!

 

[Amyrlin]

We enjoyed it a lot. I think like any buffet there will ber off days, but when we were there the food was fresh and plentiful and tasted good. It did get a bit noisey at times, but it was a nice fun place, I would think it to be a very good choice for the first night.

 

[CarolinaBlue]

I hope it's good because we'll be eating there for the first time during our August trip.

 

[justplaingoofy]

We've done both breakfast & dinner, and have made ressie's for Sept. to go back for Dinner... We love it

 

[kcashner]

We like Chef Mickey's and almost always do it for our arrival night. The service at most WDW restaurants has gone downhill over the last 10 years, but it seems to me that it has more to do with the individual server than with the standards in general. I'm not saying that it is terrible, just that we've noticed a slow decline from our earlier visits.

The food at Chef Mickey's is quite good. They usually have a chef carving roast beef and turkey, the mashed potatoes are good. There is shrimp cocktail, a wide range of salads, and a great dessert bar. There is the usual kid's buffet, and it features make your own sundaes. The atmosphere is fun.

Yes, the food at 1900 is a little better. The real difference is whether you want the Cinderella/Prince/mice crew or the Mick/Min/ Chip & Dale, etc. crew. We think Chef Mickey's is more fun.

 

[beattyfamily]

Chef Mickey's is a tradition for us if we're staying at the Cont.

Last trip, it was one of my DH's favorite meals and we ate at Le Cellier, MM, CRT, PSB, and CP.

We've always enjoyed the food there.

 

[loveysbydesign]

We're staying off-site at Windsor Hills and would like to do CM's on the day we arrive, (since we won't get to our condo til 2 or 3 we figured we wouldn't even try doing a park) how do we go about doing that since we're not on-site?

 

[fitzperry]

Thanks for your responses. I think we'll give it a try. To be honest, I haven't been to a single character meal, including CRT, where the food was anything to write home about. The character interaction is the key for us. If that is good and the food is decent, then we're happy. I love the CR, and my kids will be thrilled with a Mickey meal.

Also,

We're staying off-site at Windsor Hills and would like to do CM's on the day we arrive, (since we won't get to our condo til 2 or 3 we figured we wouldn't even try doing a park) how do we go about doing that since we're not on-site?

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe if you're staying off-site, the earliest you can make a reservation is 90 days before your meal. You should be able to park at the CR. I'm not sure if you'll have to pay for parking or not. Have fun!

 

[swankybeth]

Yes, I think dinner at Chef Mickey's *is* really that bad! It's worth going to only for the characters and atmosphere, but the food was not good. 1900 Park Fare has much better food. But if you go to CM knowing you'll have fun and be kinda disappointed with the food, you'll be okay.

 

[matt&jakesmom]

It has been a tradition for us on our past 7 trips to start with dinner at Chef Mickey's and end it with breakfast. We always find the food very tasty and enough selections to chose from. It is our favorite!!!

 

[beauty1125]

We have been to Chef Mickey's several times. I think the food has gotten worse not better. We went last August only because it was my nephew's birhday and he picked Chef Mickey's. I was very disappointed. The kids loved the characters but to be honest you can see Mickey in many other places in MK. We would go to 1900 Park Fare instead.

 

[justplaingoofy]

I know you were looking for something the 1st night, however they have a character Breakfast that is good and less $$.

 

[ds2Mom]

On our first trip to WDW, we specifically chose CM for our first night's dinner and were glad we did! The food wasn't anything to write home about, but I don't recall it being horrible.

We chose it for the overall mood, the characters, the napkin waving, etc. We thought it was a great first-night dinner location!

 

[hannah's dad]

We went in March and ate at 7 or 8 different TS restaurants and Chef Mickey's fell right into the decent, but nothing to get excited over category - for the food. Standard buffet as described by other posters - th emake your own sundae station was neat, though.

The atmosphere was fun, with the furry characters and the large open layout. The ride over on the monorail was also fun.

Lots of places we went had better food (Boma, Ohana, Carol Reef), but Chef Mickey's has a nice atmospere that seems right for dinner on arrival night.

 

[DisneyDork712]

My DH and I both loved Chef Mickey's! We ate dinner there on the first night of our Disneymoon last year. And when we go back with some friends this year, we're going to do the same thing! It was so much fun. We had a table in the back at the windows and we could see Cinderella's Castle from our table! The food was also really good. (We thought it was anyway!) The parmesan mashed potatoes were yummy and the desserts were delicious!

 

[clonetothebone]

We've done CP and CM and the food is pretty much the same. Not something you are going to remember but palatable. CM would be better if your kids are older simply because of the characters. Pooh, Eyeore and Tigger just don't do it for my kids anymore and the youngest is 6. The atmosphere at CM is loud when they are singing and parading around but I don''t recall it being overly loud when we were there.

 

[gopack]

The food at Chef Mickey's is fine for dinner. It is certainly not great, but it is good. However, from a food perspective I think 1900 Park Fare is much better. We usually do both.

 

[teacher31]

Went two years ago, and we'll be back this trip as well. Thought the food was good, interaction great. Only problem was that there were birds in there and freaked me out a bit. I'm still looking forward to it.

 

[MJB]

We have been to both and would, and do return to both. Each year

 

[eeyoregirl]

Everyone has their own opinions, but we think that Chef Mickey's is an excellent way to start a magical vacation. That's what we are doing on our first night! The atmosphere cannot be beat; it is so much fun! No matter how old you are, you feel like a kid.

We also love 1900 Park Fare; we usually go there for breakfast. The Crystal Palace is nice, too.

Do you want a rollicking, napkin-waving good time (CM), a more sedated, "civilized" meal (1900), or something in-between (CP)? It's your choice. In our opinion, it's all good!