Original Chef Mickey's

[TheDisDork]

When I was younger I remember Chef Mickey's as an amazing sit-down restaurant with the best spaghetti and meatballs in the world! In fact, I remember a lot of theming featuring Mickey with spaghetti. I remember it being in its own building in a less attraction-heavy area- it may have been what was once Disney Village? It was very, very different from its current incarnation in CR.

I was thinking about my favorite childhood memories at WDW and that kept popping up- but I was so young I don't know if that was my overactive imagination playing tricks on me! Did this version of Chef Mickey's ever exist? And if so, does anyone have any pictures of it? I'd love to see if my memories match up to reality- I remember it so fondly!

 

[minnie mum]

Don't have pictures, but Chef Mickeys has gone thru a couple of different incarnations. There was a Chef Mickeys in the old Disney World Village which was a stand alone building. I think this would have been back in the early 80s.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

The Empress Lilly was the original chef mickeys

it was housed in the "boat" now known as fulton's crab house at the marketplace

 

[SusieBea]

In my memory, Chef Mickey's was once housed in what is now Captn Jacks, a free standing building near the Rainforest Cafe in DTD. And the food was much better then.

 

[purple figment]

I agree, it was in a building on the shore of the lagoon and had a good menu. I remember being disappointed that the name was transferred to a CR restaurant, but not the menu.

It was never on the Empress Lilly - that had a steak restaurant (Steerman's Quarter) on one level and a seafood restaurant (Fisherman's Deck) on the other and a lounge.

 

[icc2515]

In my memory, Chef Mickey's was once housed in what is now Captn Jacks, a free standing building near the Rainforest Cafe in DTD. And the food was much better then.

I remember going to Capt Jacks when I was a kid with my dad. That was a long time ago when there was only the Magic Kingdom. We would sit there for hours and have steamed crab claws and Mickey Mouse cocktails. It was more like a bar back then I think.

 

[TheDisDork]

Once everyone agreed that it was in the Disney Village/DTD area I looked it up- it was actually almost right next to Capt. Jack's in what is now the Rainforest Cafe! It was called Chef Mickey's Village Restaurant and in 1990 became just Chef Mickey's
I'm desperately trying to find pictures of inside, but I definitely remember this from outside! I'm so excited that this was real!! I miss it so much!

 

[catheren]

Awww! I miss it too!! The food was soooo GOOD!

 

[tofubeast]

I totally remember that Mickey statue! Wow. Sadly, I never ate there.

Here are some other links re: the ol' CM I found on the internet.

http://makethemagic.ca/?tag=chef-mickeys-village-restaurant

http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/id22.htm scroll down

http://www.imaginerding.com/2008/02/daily-figment-161-chef-mickeys.html

 

[vakamalua]

Once everyone agreed that it was in the Disney Village/DTD area I looked it up- it was actually almost right next to Capt. Jack's in what is now the Rainforest Cafe! It was called Chef Mickey's Village Restaurant and in 1990 became just Chef Mickey's
I'm desperately trying to find pictures of inside, but I definitely remember this from outside! I'm so excited that this was real!! I miss it so much!

We LOVED that Chef Mickey's in Disney Village! I have fond memories of my son dancing around with Mickey when he was about 3 or 4 in the early 90s. We still have the Chef Mickey plastic placemat they gave him at dinner (picture of Mickey cooking with the castle in the background--the other side was red check pattern). In those days, all the restaurants had wonderful souvenir menus and other things for kids.

 

[pink5683]

I have souvenier cups from there that my son still uses on a daily basis!

 

[Coconuts]

I totally remember this CM in DTD, or Disney Village, or whatever it was called then. I remember that I loved it. I also loved the shops there before they changed it to DTD. Funny, I never really thought about it or have seen it mentioned on the boards.

BTW, does anyone remember a really upscale steakhouse that used to be at the Disney Village? I faintly remember eating there @25 years ago, but can't remember the name. I think it was a man's name.

 

[minpin3]

I love the pic of the statue.

 

[bradyloganmom]

We ate at that same Chef Mickey's in DTD on our honeymoon---20 years ago this week!!! Mickey was the only character there.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

It shared a stand-alone building with 24 Carats, a high-end jewelry store. It was torn down and the space used for Rainforest Cafe.

 

[BelleBeast]

I too have fond memories of Chef Mickeys in the village..The good ole days when food was exceptional and each restaurant had something totally different.

Does anyone remember Minnie Mia's Pizzeria?? That was the best. It was just a window with tables outside...it was our tradition to go straight there from the airport...

Aah Memories!!

 

[TheDisDork]

I love the pic of the statue.

That's my favorite too! It's adorable! I want to find an old menu, I remember the food being one the best meals I'd ever had.

 

[DisneyDreamersAreWe]

Okay, now that I've started walking down Disney's Memory Lane, does anybody remember this place...?

Way back in 1985 (i know, i'm old!) there was a beautiful sit-down restaurant right off Main Street where we always went for a great breakfast. I am 100% sure it wasn't CP. In fact, I know it was off on the right side of Main Street as you walked in. If i remember right, if was very bright, lots of windows, and had excellent food. I remember eating wonderful pancakes there, almost like it was yesterday. Anybody remember a place like this from that long ago? Know the name?

 

[sotoalf]

Okay, now that I've started walking down Disney's Memory Lane, does anybody remember this place...?

Way back in 1985 (i know, i'm old!) there was a beautiful sit-down restaurant right off Main Street where we always went for a great breakfast. I am 100% sure it wasn't CP. In fact, I know it was off on the right side of Main Street as you walked in. If i remember right, if was very bright, lots of windows, and had excellent food. I remember eating wonderful pancakes there, almost like it was yesterday. Anybody remember a place like this from that long ago? Know the name?

Would it be the old Town Square Cafe?

 

[DisneyDreamersAreWe]

Would it be the old Town Square Cafe?

Hmmm, might be. I know it was on the right side of Main Street (not sure how far down the street though). It was a real pretty place. Reminds me very much like how Crystal Palace and the Grand Floridian Cafe look now. Very bright, lots of big panel windows. But i know it's not around anymore, sigh.