So, the "forecast" for the parks was not too busy, so why can't I get...

[wannabemini]

a stinkin' ADR for Chef Mickey's at ANY time during our stay??? Harumph!

I double checked with the "unofficial" guide website & it said that the parks are at "levels 5 & 6" during our stay--which made me think it should be possible to get a reservation for a dang character meal, but noooooo. Not one single seating in the duration of our visit, according to the chick who tried to help me on the phone.

Anybody know why everyone wants to eat w/ Mickey the 2nd week of June??

 

[NJDisneymom]

it is like that for May too. I thought I was picking a good time to go - kids still in school, spring breaks long over, etc. Crowd levels range anywhere from a 2 to a 6 during our stay and I can't get a Chef Mickey ADR for any meal, any of the 8 days we are there. I just don't get it.

 

[deakam]

If it is just Mickey you are after and not the food at Chef Mickey's maybe you should try The Garden Grill at Epcot. Mickey Pluto Goofy and Chip and Dale. The food was great. and it was not really crowded at all.

The Ohana breakfast with Lilo and Stitch also has Mickey and I think Mickey is also at the Tusker House Breakfast with Donald Duck.

 

[jm106]

When did you try to book? It gets booked far out. I had them but booked in early feb.(canceled and went with TH.) Disney has changed park hours to accomidate crowds so not suspecting low crowds in may. Keep checking, you might get lucky.

 

[mill4023]

Chef Mickey's is one of the most popular meals at Disney World.
People start booking 180 days out and it fills up pretty fast.
Although I am a little surprised that you can't find anything at any time during the whole week.

How many people are in your party?

 

[bjscheel]

I've got one on June 11! I booked reservations in March maybe? So not at 180 days. Keep trying! Get online and check several times a day- one call to Dining is not the final word.

As far as doing Garden Grill instead, that's not any easier. I did manage to snag that too, after checking online obsessively for 10 days, but not on the day I really wanted.

 

[hannahdrewmom]

I hate to tell you but Disney will still be crowded in June. In fact I've been that week and it's pretty crowded. Now it's not 10 crowded like the week after Christmas but it's relative. It's not uncrowded like September. You aren't going to be able to just walk on rides and into restaurants.
You are only about 8 weeks out right now. Those popular restaurants are going to fill up even during none busy times... and there is no way that I would consider the second week in June not busy. Kids are out of school and it is summer travel time for alot of people.

 

[LilyWDW]

Keep trying every day for a cancellation.

Chef Mickey's is one of the most popular dining experiences on property. It often will fill up very early on and thus be difficult to get into. However, people are always canceling so I would not give up hope.

 

[npcougar]

Don't forget some people make multiple reservations online until they decide their schedule. Then they don't ever cancel them so the times never become available.

 

[mill4023]

I think it was a month or two ago when Disney sent out a LOT of PIN code emails with offers for free dining that includes June. Anytime free dining is being offered, it's even harder to get ADR's at popular locations.

 

[mcd2745]

Don't forget some people make multiple reservations online until they decide their schedule. Then they don't ever cancel them so the times never become available.

That's how you end up with this at CM at around 6pm when it is supposed to packed and no ADRs were available:

 

[TDC Nala]

Anticipated park crowd levels are not always a good way to judge restaurant bookings, especially a very popular restaurant like Chef Mickey's.

 

[pmaurer74]

Check at the 45 day out mark when people cancel their reservations a lot of them opened around that time for us.

 

[mom2rtk]

And consider that Disney offered their very popular free dining promotion during many times of 2011 that had never had free dining before. That books restaurants quicker than anything.