Jr. Chef Program at EPCOT Restaurants?

[ToTLaugher]

Does anyone know if the restaurants still allow kids to help prepare their family's meal? If so what is it like? We have done the toll house cookie program but we just recently heard a mention about this and was wondering if it is still around.

Thanks!

 

[disney queen]

 

[lillygator]

hopefully someone will have some more info.

 

[ToTLaugher]

Thanks for your support Disney Queen and Lillygator!

 

[GADisneyDVC]

This would be cool! Subscribing so I can find out more. Great question!!

 

[Dizneydaz]

I never heard of this, is it true? My DD6 loves the Junior Chef (Nestles). (Oh, and by the way, the one at WDW is far superior to the new one at Disneyland-it's outside, parents can't see or hear what's going on, and they have a big bee problem.)

Can't wait to hear about this-I'm subscribing!

 

[vsimeone]

Well... I don't think I'm going to be much help other than to tell you that we saw this done on August 11 when we were eating at LeCellier. There was a table one away from us with a rather large group - 8 or 10 people or so - and a chef came out and sat with them and gave the little girl a chef's hat. They were working on putting SOMETHING together and the family was snapping TONS of pictures. We asked our server about it and she told us that it was the Jr. Chef program but that's all I know!!!

I hope you get some better answers. I do know it looked like the family was having a lot of fun!

 

[ToTLaugher]

vsimeone - At least now we know it appears to still be around!

I guess I am not the only one who thinks it sounds cool! Hopefully someone will see this who has done the program and can tell us the details.

We don't go to WDW until November but I will be ask to ask about it!

 

[shyjade]

I have a friend who just returned from staying at Port Orleans (not sure which one) and her sons participated in a "Jr. Chef Program" at the resort. It's much different than the one I've heard about at Epcot; this one was a children's activity offered daily where the kids got to decorate cookies, received beads, etc. I saw the pictures...very cute...the kids were all wearing little chef coats and chef hats. They got little certificates for participating.

The Jr. Chef Program offered at Epcot is for the TS restaurants. Ask your server if your child(ren) can participate; they will get to help the chef prepare a portion of your meal (usually the desserts, salads or apps). Nothing dangerous (no knives/cooking). Somewhere on the DIS there is more info posted but I haven't found it yet...

 

[Mom2Ashli]

Very interesting. I really hope somebody has more information on this. I think DD would love to be involved.

 

[ToTLaugher]

Thankyou so much, Shyjade!

Do you know if the resort program was at POR or was it the one at GF? I would love to be able to offer that as an activity for my girls.

I will look forward to checking with our TS dinners at EPCOT!

 

[prestonsmomma]

OK now you have me intrigued. My DS loves to "help" cook. He would love to be able to do this. Is there an age limit??? And what is the cost???

 

[gigi1313]

found this dated 2002 at www.allearsnet.com

= = = = = = = = = = = = =
JUNIOR CHEFS PROGRAMS
IN EPCOT
= = = = = = = = = = = = =

Several interactive "Junior Chefs" programs are available each day in Epcot! Some are simply "luck of the draw," but others you can actually plan and participate in.

Junior Chef at the Garden Grill: The 100th child to enter the Land's Garden Grill restaurant each day is selected as the Junior Chef! The child gets to wear a chef's hat and jacket and help prepare a salad.

Restaurant Akershus Junior Chef of the Day: A child selected at random gets to wear a chef's hat and jacket, gets a tour of the Akershus kitchen and helps make a cookie at the dessert station.

Toll House Junior Chef Kitchen in the Land: Several times a day, children can participate in this fun program sponsored by Nestle, in which they make chocolate chip cookies from scratch! The program runs every hour on the half-hour and also teaches children about kitchen safety. There is a limit to the number of children who can participate so check before telling your young one.

In a related note, ALL EARS® Reader Jennifer Smith adds: My daughter was Chef of the Day at the Crystal Palace breakfast with Pooh and Friends. I asked how she was picked and was told they usually pick the kids that had priority seating made earliest. We made ours five months in advance.

 

[ToTLaugher]

Hmmm. So it sounds like it is luck of the draw at EPCOT. I guess we will have to see what happens when we get there. Hopefully one of the restaurants we will be at will be participating.

Thanks for the help Gigi1313!

prestonsmomma - age limit is a very good question. As to cost, the information given so far seems to imply it is free. That makes it all the better!

 

[mangosink]

subscribing

 

[Princess_De]

My kids would love to do this (and so would I)

 

[dreamergirl78]

I have not experienced this yet, but I was reading on another thread (not sure which one) where the posters said all you had to do was ask your server if your child could participate in the Culinary Adventures for Kids (Jr. Chef Program). They said the server will let you know if they can or not. There was no cost involved and the children got to help with salads, desserts, etc.
Anyway, sorry I don't have "official information" but I do remember reading this because I wrote it down on my "cheap/free things to do/see at WDW" sheet.

 

[brock]

This is great....I have DS 13 and 10....wonder if they could participate. They're at an odd age where the little ones always get picked, but they would be thrilled to do this.

Thanks, great post

 

[jenr812]

This sounds amazing!! My kids would love it. Hope to hear more...

 

[grimgrningghost]

we were at port orleans riverside in July and they did this every evening. I'm not sure what time they started but maybe sometime around 6. They set up a big table and went around finding kids in the dining room and asked if they would like to participate. They got a sugar cookie with icing and sprinkles to decorate and got to wear a chefs coat. They asked my neice 6 and neice 11 if they wanted to participate and they had a great time doing it.