What happens when you arrive way too early at Chef Mickey´s?

[mexican-mouseketeers]

Hi, here is the situation, we will be arriving on sept. 1st, our plane is supposed to land at 15:35, but with inmigration and Magical Express I think it realistic to arrive at the Contemporary Hotel at around 5:00 p.m..

We have advanced reservations for Chef Mickey´s at 8:00 pm. bit I am thinking now that we will be famished when we arrive at the hotel at 5:00 p.m. and would much rather eat dinner early. Here is the question:

If I have an 8:00 p.m. AR, and arrive around 5:00 p.m., what are our chances of being seated so ahead of time?

Or, if I am lucky enouhg to change the AR to an early seating and our plane lands later and we arrive at Chef Mickey´s an hour late, will they still admit us?

TIA

Julie

 

[Amy&Dan]

They will probably not seat you an hour late unless they aren't busy. That's a tough call. I would suggest you send someone down to the hostess podium (it sounds like you are staying at the Contemporary) as soon as you arrive. If they can't seat you right then, they might be able to get you in a bit earlier than 8:00. Chef Mickey's is very popular and since that is during free dining they will likely be busy however. You can always get a snack to eat in the room so you aren't dying of hunger by 8:00!

 

[jwfla422]

It will probably depend on how busy it is, unfortunately it's not often that Chef Mickey's isn't busy. Normally it's slower that time of year but with the free dining I doubt that will be the case.

I can tell you we had breakfast ADR's for 10:20 last week, we arrived around 10:00 and still waited until 10:20 to sit. People that were waiting after we checked in were seated prior to us which lead me to believe that they were seating in order of the ADR's and not in order of the arrival of the diners.

You might want to go to the food court and have something when you arrive maybe as an "appetizer" if you really have your heart set on Chef Mickey's that night.

 

[jel0511]

First off, it seems like you're only allowing an hour and fifteen minutes at the airport, including clearing immigration, and getting to the resort, which with no stops is about a 35 minute drive to the Contemporary. I think probably 6 or 7 o'clock is a much more doable estimate. I'd keep your ADR as it is and if you're worried about being hungry, just grab a snack in the airport before boarding Magical Express.

 

[eeyoreiscool]

They will only hold your ADR for 15 minutes past your time and then they will give it away. I also think that 8:00 is probably more reasonable if you are getting in at 3:35. Recently it took about an hour to just get our luggage and then there was another 30 minute drive. Then there will be time to check into your resort and get your bags to the room.

 

[princess-rn]

I agree..I think that you will be fine. It took us much longer than we thought to get through baggage claims, get transferred to the hotel and get checked in. I agree with either getting a snack at the airport or at the CR when you get there. CM is wonderful and you do need to be hungry when you get there.

Have a great trip!

 

[mexican-mouseketeers]

Thank you all!

What I think we will do then, is eat something at the airport, since we will only have our carry ons, take our time, and then take Magical Express, get our rooms, and be at Chef Mickey´s at about 7:30.

Julie

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) There is very little chance of early seating at Chef Mickey's.
2) They are just simply too busy.
3) Arrive close to your scheudle time.
4) A few minutes early, they let you sit in the bar area, sometimes.
5) Otherwise, you get a beeper, and can wonder the Contemporary.

 

[bleeps]

Just to add that there are wonderful, wonderful shops in the Contemporary on the same floor as Chef Mickey's -- so by keeping your 8:00 time, grabbing a snack at the airport, and still potentially arriving a little early -- if they can't seat you, you will NOT be bored while you wait (and indeed you can get a beeper so you know exactly when to head back to get seated).

 

[mickeyfan2]

If I have an 8:00 p.m. AR, and arrive around 5:00 p.m., what are our chances of being seated so ahead of time?

Unless the restaurant is not booked you will end up waiting until about 8 pm for your seating. What if everybody who got an 8 pm ADR really wanted a 5 pm ADR but all the 5 pms were booked when they called. If they sat everybody as they arrived then the 8 pm ADRs would be seated before the 5:15 ADRs and that would defeat the purpose of the ADRs. It would become more like a first come first serve basis. Maybe get a small snack at the airport to hold you over until your 8 pm ADR.

 

[shasess]

Actually you could always explain the situation to a CM at Chef Mickeys and they very well may work you in as a walk in if they are not busy. The only reason I would think that they would make you wait is if they are turning away walk ins. I'm sure that situations like this happen fairly frequently and I'm sure they will be as accommodating as they possibly can be. It doesnt hurt to ask and if they say "no way" then you can simply do as another poster suggested and take a look around the Contemporary. Have a good trip!