Reassure me! Chef Mickey's!

[BaileyWhite]

- first trip to Disney
- 6 year old daughter

I'm very apprehensive about spending almost $500 on 2 character meals and a dessert party.

We are doing the Happily Ever After dessert party and 1900 Park Fare w/ Cinderella..

We will be meeting Talking Mickey @ Magic Kingdom.

I'm not crazy for wanting to skip Chef Mickey's right? My daughter loves Mickey, but I don't know how I'd explain how Mickey talks at magic Kingdom and not at Chef Mickey's. and I've read so many negatives!

She is also looking forward to seeing Cinderella and Prince Charming. We're not skipping that one. Or the dessert party.

So, I guess I just need reassurance that I'm making the right move by canceling chef Mickey

 

[Alesia]

Chef Mickey's is incredibly underwhelming. You aren't missing a thing.

 

[hsmamato2]

She'll be fine. In fact don't even mention what you won't see to her, just tell her what you will be doing

 

[DisneyWorldbuff]

Skip it... trust me.

 

[mamamelody2]

You'll be fine skipping it. The only reason we went on our trips is because we had free dining. We enjoyed it, but definitely not a "must do." The cost is pretty ridiculous.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Cancel Chef Mickey, that cost is egregious considering you'll already meet talking Mickey and your other reservations. She won't miss out.

 

[howlongtildisney]

I'll be the lone Chef Mickey's supporter. We went on our arrival night after having some room assignment drama. Had an absolute blast! But I also have two boys who are all about Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

 

[monorailmom]

Another vote in favor of Chef Mickey's! We went so many times when our kids were younger...and did it again just a few weeks ago. My DD 19 and DS 16 had a blast swinging their napkins and seeing the characters. All of the food we had was excellent, despite bad reviews that I also read everywhere. We had a great time! (we had brunch, if that makes any difference)

As far as Mickey talking then not talking....I don't think parents always need to have all the answers. Maybe he only talks in the Magic Kingdom because it's, you know, "magic". May seem simple, but sometimes simple can work with kids!

I wouldn't immediately write it off. If it ends up not working out, you're still in Disney World, and everything is going to be magical anyway!!

 

[disny_luvr]

I'm another vote in support of Chef Mickey's. We go every trip and it never disappoints. My boys always pick to eat dinner there on their birthday. We like the food and always have excellent character interaction. Chef Mickey's doesn't get a lot of love on the DIS and me and my DH can't understand why. We always have a great time there.

 

[kymom99]

There's always next trip.

 

[leebee]

I'd skip the dessert party, keep Chef Mickey's and 1600 Park Faire.

 

[msmayor]

Chef Mickey's is a tradition for us...we go for breakfast. First time when our oldest was 5...last time when she was 23. Magical every time for us...

 

[MinnieGi]

Chef Mickey's used to be tradition for us because the kids ALWAYS wanted to do it, however on our last trip in Nov. 2016 afterwards even our kids said they did not care to do that one again! The food was subpar at best, we felt rushed, character interaction was ok but not as good as prior trips. We also did Crystal Palace that trip with Winnie the Pooh and even though my kids would not describe themselves as Pooh fans, loved this meal much better. Food was very good, waitress was very attentive and so were the characters!! Both meals we had a party of 13 with 6 kids of varying ages and everyone really enjoyed Crystal Palace!

 

[HopperFan]

I would cancel. Honestly I wouldn't go back if I were using Free Dining. There are too many options for meeting those characters fairly easily. The prices for these mediocre meals has gotten out of control. Keep your 1900 and Dessert Party, that will be plenty of magic.

 

[3 DD love princesses]

I'd cancel chef mickeys and do tusker house in ak. Better food and service and similar characters

 

[QueenIsabella]

The nice thing about your DD's age is, she has no clue what's available, or that you had to make some difficult choices. You need to do what fits your schedule and budget--she won't be the wiser. Personally, my family likes Chef Mickey--but, as a family of 6, it costs $300. So, we have to weigh that against an enjoyable meal. You're also already seeing Mickey, so she's not missing out. There are many other restaurants that gear towards that age that could be fun, too--Rainforest Cafe, Crystal Palace, Tusker House, BOG (if you can get it!). My kids always loved Biergarten in Epcot, too--lots of music and dancing.

 

[Capang]

Chef Mickeys was a surprise hit of our last trip. I nearly cancelled after reading all the reviews but we were glad we went. The food wasn't bad. The characters were fun and the location was neat. If you are going to be there while it is located elsewhere during refurb then I'd skip. Otherwise skip the dessert party and keep CM.

 

[jen7233]

If price bothers too much, I'd skip. If you just look at it price wise as being just part of the Disney trip experience, then go.

 

[Marionnette]

- first trip to Disney
- 6 year old daughter

I'm very apprehensive about spending almost $500 on 2 character meals and a dessert party.

We are doing the Happily Ever After dessert party and 1900 Park Fare w/ Cinderella..

We will be meeting Talking Mickey @ Magic Kingdom.

I'm not crazy for wanting to skip Chef Mickey's right? My daughter loves Mickey, but I don't know how I'd explain how Mickey talks at magic Kingdom and not at Chef Mickey's. and I've read so many negatives!

She is also looking forward to seeing Cinderella and Prince Charming. We're not skipping that one. Or the dessert party.

So, I guess I just need reassurance that I'm making the right move by canceling chef Mickey

I would just tell my child that Mickey can speak in the Magic Kingdom because IT'S MAGIC!!!!!!!

But if money is a factor, Cinderella and Prince Charming can be met at the GF for the Princess Promenade. No charge and more actual time with the two (although there are no other characters like there are at the dinner).

IMO, the dessert parties are over-priced (like most Disney experiences) and the views of the fireworks are not the best.

I can think of a number of better meals for spending $500 on, but everything is up to personal preference. We always did buffets with the kids when they were young because there was very little wait for them to get their food once we were seated. It's no fun going to a TS restaurant, sitting at a table with a hungry child after waiting 20 minutes for your name to be called to be seated and then waiting another half hour before the server puts a plate on the table. It was worth the money just to avoid that!

 

[pearlieq]

You aren't missing anything skipping Chef Mickey's, especially at dinner with a small child. The food is passable, but with all the other character interactions you're going to have, it's just not worth the money to sit in a loud, crowded, nondescript room and have Mickey take pictures at your table.