What time ADR for Chef Mickey's?

[Ariel'07]

I am one of the unlucky ones that now has to wait until Oct. to book my ADR's We are going from Jan.30 until Feb.6. However, we are going to do Chef Mickey's, so I should be able to book that and CRT on Aug.3rd. What time should I book Chef Mickey's for breakfast if I want to catch rope drop at MK? We will be going on a Sat morning (Jan. 31) and the park opens at 9am. I was thinking 7:30ish?? Any suggestions?? I plan ahead sooooo early, so this 90 day ADR thing is KILLING me!!!

Also, we are going for my DD's 6th birthday. Her B-day is the day before we go home. Can we celebrate her birthday all week? If so, do we have the CM mark this down on all our ressies?

TIA for all your help! I don't know what I'd do w/out the DIS!!

 

[2crazy4disney]

I would go with 7 or 7:15 AM for breakfast because you want to figure about an hour for breakfast with the characters and then you have to get over to Magic Kingdom and up to the entrance. I would give yourself plenty of time to get over there.

 

[bellazachmom]

I agree with the previous poster ... 7 or 7:15am should do the trick. I think that I would go for a 7:15 and plan on arriving and checking in at 7:00.

You could probably make one for a bit later and be ok, but in my opinion there is not much worse than having to do the "Disney Dine & Dash" as we call it in our family!

I think that you will be able to enjoy your breakfast and character interaction a bunch more if you are not constantly looking at your watch.

As for your daughters birthday, certainly celebrate it all week long! I would make sure to mention it to every CM when you are booking each ADR so that it is noted all over the place. Also, make sure that it is noted on your room reservation. Looks like you are a DVC member so just call MS and have them note this. If your daughter has a favorite character make sure to mention this when you are checking in, a little bit of Pixie Dust will have a signed picture and card, along with a few balloons arrive in your room on her birthday!. (Make sure to give the front desk/concierge CM's plenty of notice and ask for birthday greetings for your daughter from "insert favorite character's name here" and they should be able to take care of the rest.)

Have a GREAT time!

 

[Ariel'07]

Thanks for the tips! I think you are both right, I don't want to do the "Dash and Dine" so I think I'll do 7:15. It's our first morning there, so we shouldn't be too tired to get up yet. The kids never let me sleep past 7:00 at home, they will be even worse in WDW!

As for your daughters birthday, certainly celebrate it all week long! I would make sure to mention it to every CM when you are booking each ADR so that it is noted all over the place. Also, make sure that it is noted on your room reservation. Looks like you are a DVC member so just call MS and have them note this. If your daughter has a favorite character make sure to mention this when you are checking in, a little bit of Pixie Dust will have a signed picture and card, along with a few balloons arrive in your room on her birthday!. (Make sure to give the front desk/concierge CM's plenty of notice and ask for birthday greetings for your daughter from "insert favorite character's name here" and they should be able to take care of the rest.)

We are not DVC members YET (I'm working on DH ), we rent points. But I did do this last vacation at the BWV and DD was soooooo thrilled. She was in princess heaven. I only celebrated her B-day on the actual day last time, so I'm glad it's not frowned upon to do a week long celebration!! Thanks for all the advice!

 

[bellazachmom]

Just so you know, the character picture/card and balloons are available at ALL Disney resorts, so be sure to ask for one for your daughter! If you are not renting points and just staying at a regular Disney Hotel just call and add the birthday notation to your reservation. When you check in, out of ear-shot of your daughter, just ask the CM about the card for your daughter ... the front desk will take care of the rest. We have done this numerous times and the kids have LOVED it! (Hubby suprised me with it one year, too!) Just let me know if you have any questions about it and I will try and help.

Have a great trip!

 

[kerickson]

Hi Ariel '07
I have a similar situation, we are going Jan 24-Feb 1. My DD 5th b-day is the 31st and I plan to celebrate all week!
I was going to book lunch at CRT on the 31st for her b-day, but I'm concerned about the crowds at MK on that Sat (it's the day before the Superbowl in Tampa) So I've decided to book the Princess lunch at Akerhaus instead. My plan is to go to MGM in the morning for the extra magic hours, then over to Epcot for lunch and stay through closing... I'm hitting up MK earlier in the week when I hope the crowds won't be as bad. My only concern now is that I have to wait until Oct to book it due to the reservation system upgrade. I did get Chef Mickey's on the 26th already
We joined DVC in Jan and love it!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Don't forget since Chef Mickey's is a very popular location even with a confirmed ADR time you might not get seated right on time, so it's something that might happen.

 

[Ariel'07]

I have a similar situation, we are going Jan 24-Feb 1. My DD 5th b-day is the 31st and I plan to celebrate all week!
I was going to book lunch at CRT on the 31st for her b-day, but I'm concerned about the crowds at MK on that Sat (it's the day before the Superbowl in Tampa) So I've decided to book the Princess lunch at Akerhaus instead. My plan is to go to MGM in the morning for the extra magic hours, then over to Epcot for lunch and stay through closing... I'm hitting up MK earlier in the week when I hope the crowds won't be as bad. My only concern now is that I have to wait until Oct to book it due to the reservation system upgrade. I did get Chef Mickey's on the 26th already
We joined DVC in Jan and love it!

I love the lunch at Akershus. This was one of our favorite character meals when we went in '07 (DD was turning 4 then). The princess interaction is awesome I'm sure your DD will LOVE it! This was my DD's favorite as she saw Ariel with LEGS! And as an extra bonus Ariel asked if we would be at the Pirate and Princess party the next night (which we were) and invited us to meet her at a special time. When we arrived, they took as through the back entrance at her Grotto, and lo and behold there was Ariel and Prince Erik with b-day gifts for my DD and also things for my DS. I couldn't believe it. I will never ever forget the look on DD's face. PRICELESS

I wouldn't worry too much about super bowl weekend. It was in Miami when I went two years ago. I went to MK that Sat. and walked on nearly every ride. The time of year we are going lends to less crowds

 

[kerickson]

What a great story about your daughter receiving gifts from Ariel and Prince Erik. Disney never ceases to amaze...

 

[ROEDISNEY]

I am one of the unlucky ones that now has to wait until Oct. to book my ADR's We are going from Jan.30 until Feb.6. However, we are going to do Chef Mickey's, so I should be able to book that and CRT on Aug.3rd. What time should I book Chef Mickey's for breakfast if I want to catch rope drop at MK? We will be going on a Sat morning (Jan. 31) and the park opens at 9am. I was thinking 7:30ish?? Any suggestions?? I plan ahead sooooo early, so this 90 day ADR thing is KILLING me!!!

Also, we are going for my DD's 6th birthday. Her B-day is the day before we go home. Can we celebrate her birthday all week? If so, do we have the CM mark this down on all our ressies?

TIA for all your help! I don't know what I'd do w/out the DIS!!

I rather be safe than sorry. I go with a 7:00 am breakfast then when your done walk to the MK. That's a 10 min walk . Taking the Monrail will take at least 20 min's.

 

[MissMagnolia]

We have ADRs on 1/9 for CM at 7:20 a.m. I don't know where we'll be staying yet - if it is at a value resort, do the busses run to MK (where we can hop on the monorail) to Contemporary? If we stay at WL, do the boats run?

 

[Ariel'07]

I rather be safe than sorry. I go with a 7:00 am breakfast then when your done walk to the MK. That's a 10 min walk . Taking the Monrail will take at least 20 min's.

I didn't know that walking was that much faster! Thanks for the tip! I think I will do 7 am. Does anyone know how we would get there from the BCV? Will a bus take us directly to the Contemporary or will we need to take some other way?? And about how long would that take? Should we leave around 6:30 am

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

We have ADRs on 1/9 for CM at 7:20 a.m. I don't know where we'll be staying yet - if it is at a value resort, do the busses run to MK (where we can hop on the monorail) to Contemporary? If we stay at WL, do the boats run?

If you stay at the All Star Resorts or Pop Century which are the Value Resorts they do have buses which go to the Magic Kingdom. From there you could either take the walkway to the Contemporary or the Resort Monorail. Personally I would walk it because the walkway is located right by the Magic Kingdom bus station, so it saves a little bit of time. Also courtesy of Robo here is an overhead view of the walkway from the Magic Kingdom to the Contemporary, so you can see how close it is.

If you happen to stay at the Wilderness Lodge you can take the blue flag boat right to the Contemporary. Also the hours for that boat is from 6:45 AM - 11:30 PM.

 

[MissMagnolia]

Thanks so much - I see the boats from WL should be running then, but will we get a bus from a value resort by 7:00 a.m.?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

You're welcome and yes the buses should start running at 6:30 AM, so you can get on them before 7:00 AM if you stay at a Value Resort.

 

[goofy4tink]

I agree with the previous poster ... 7 or 7:15am should do the trick. I think that I would go for a 7:15 and plan on arriving and checking in at 7:00.

You could probably make one for a bit later and be ok, but in my opinion there is not much worse than having to do the "Disney Dine & Dash" as we call it in our family!

I think that you will be able to enjoy your breakfast and character interaction a bunch more if you are not constantly looking at your watch.

As for your daughters birthday, certainly celebrate it all week long! I would make sure to mention it to every CM when you are booking each ADR so that it is noted all over the place. Also, make sure that it is noted on your room reservation. Looks like you are a DVC member so just call MS and have them note this. If your daughter has a favorite character make sure to mention this when you are checking in, a little bit of Pixie Dust will have a signed picture and card, along with a few balloons arrive in your room on her birthday!. (Make sure to give the front desk/concierge CM's plenty of notice and ask for birthday greetings for your daughter from "insert favorite character's name here" and they should be able to take care of the rest.)

Have a GREAT time!

Just a note...we are DVC members and stayed at BWV with another mom and her dd to celebrate both girls turning 13. It was noted when I booked our villa, it was mentioned when we checked in by the CM who checked us in..he gave both girls birthday buttons. So I knew it was on our reservation. But, there was never anything else done by the resort....no balloons, no card..nothing like that. I always try to arrange anything special myself, even if it means paying for it. That way I know something 'magical' is going to happen.

We have ADRs on 1/9 for CM at 7:20 a.m. I don't know where we'll be staying yet - if it is at a value resort, do the busses run to MK (where we can hop on the monorail) to Contemporary? If we stay at WL, do the boats run?

Buses start by 6:15-6:30. It's actually quicker to walk to the CR from MK rather than the monorail. The bus drops you off much closer to the CR. If you choose to take the monorail, you have to walk in the opposite direction of the CR, then wait for the monorail to come. It usually takes about 8 mins to make the walk, via the sidewalk, to CR from the bus area of MK.

 

[MissMagnolia]

Thanks everyone - what would we do without the disboards!!

 

[Ariel'07]

Just a note...we are DVC members and stayed at BWV with another mom and her dd to celebrate both girls turning 13. It was noted when I booked our villa, it was mentioned when we checked in by the CM who checked us in..he gave both girls birthday buttons. So I knew it was on our reservation. But, there was never anything else done by the resort....no balloons, no card..nothing like that. I always try to arrange anything special myself, even if it means paying for it. That way I know something 'magical' is going to happen.

We stayed at the BWV for my DD's 4th B-day. My Dad and DH actually went to the conceirge desk the day we arrived and mentioned her birthday. They asked who her favorite princess was (Ariel), and viola, a few days later on her b-day, DD had balloons and a card from Ariel. Very sweet. You are absolutley right though, nothing is guaranteed. If you want something for sure, you have to make your own "magic"