Which time would you go to Chef Mickey's?

[chwilk]

Chef Mickey's is a must do for our trip in November. My 9 year old would pick it over any other restaurant. I have a reservation for 7:15 am b/c it's all I could get. Today I checked and was able to get an 11:25 time. I have them both now (will cancel one in the morning). Which one would you keep? I'm worried about getting up that early for a long day at MK (it's me my DD 3, DM, and DS 9) but am not sure we will be ready to leave the park at 10:45-11:00 to head over to the restaurant either. Which one would you keep? We cannot do it on another day so it has to be one of these times. Thanks!

 

[squirrel]

What are you doing the night before? What resort are you staying at and will you have your own transportation?

I personally would go for the later reservation. If you are using a disney bus you will have to be out at the bus stop at 6 am to make sure you are on the first bus to the Magic Kingdom/Contemporary Resort.

 

[2Tiggies]

Are you able to get the family up and ready for 6 am? Some people do well in the mornings and for others it is just an impossible task.

If you can do it, I would personally keep the early one. We've done CM early and you are more likely to be seated punctually as they haven't run long enought to accumulate a back-up (if that is going to happen at all). I also wouldn't want to break away from the parks for a late morning ressie. It kind of cuts the day up and leaves little point going to the MK beforehand anyway, unless they have morning EMH and you are going in early.

However, as the PP pointed out, if the morning rush doesn't work for you, then rather go with the later one. You didnt say where you are staying.

 

[jenniferyawn]

Don't forget that you can take the monorail from MK to the Contemp. where CM is if you decide to go early! It's pretty quick on the monorail. But remember that it may take you a while longer to get seated. With a 3 yo I probably wouldn't go for the 7:15 time. Last time we went to CM and took a 9:00pm res because it was all we could get. I knew we'd be miserable, but thought the kids would get over their tiredness and be excited. I was wrong. They were really tired, it took forever to get a seat, and they didn't eat a thing. I guess my message is this: listen to your instincts if you think your family won't enjoy getting up that early and getting out, keep the 11:25. You can spend am at the hotel swimming or resting, then go. Or spend the morning at MK taking in the sights. Have a great time!

 

[LMO429]

I usually dont mind waking up early for at least one character breakfast. Depending on your resort you could just take a cab then having to deal/wait with the buses that early in the morning.

 

[Hootch]

also recommend the 11:25. I can get my kids up for an 8:00 AM EMH opening but a breakfast, even a character one, is a lot more difficult.

We did an 11:25 ADR this past trip on our departure day and it worked out great.

 

[momtomatthew]

I would do the early one. We have booked an early (7:10-7:15) ADR at CM for our several trips and it works great. We do it our first morning at WDW, so we aren't exhausted. We do that, get seeing Mickey and friends out of the way, and then head to the MK for RD. But, we are morning people, so it works for us (We also take a cab to the Contemporary to cut out the wait for the bus)

 

[jb01]

If you are all morning people then I would use the 7:15. Otherwise you will all be groggy and I would use the 11:25.

 

[kangaand2roos]

You know your family the best. for my family it would be a no-brainer. We would definitely go fo the 7:15 (and in fact have done just that on several occasions!) You have plenty of time to eat your breakfast without rushing and still make it to the MK for rope drop!

That being said, we ar morning people and are frequently awake well before 6:00 am, without alarms. If you (and more importantly your kids) are not, then go for the later one. If you are going to have a late night the night before, go for the later one.

I hate to waste good park time for meals, and the later time will cut into prime-time, but it al depends on what your plans are for the day.

One good thing about an early ressie is that they haven't had time to get backed up and my experience is that we have been seated on time or even early when we have the really early times.

 

[chwilk]

Thanks for all of your help. I'm cancelling the 11:25 one. We are staying at Pop and will have a car so we won't have to mess with the buses. It will just be the 2nd day of our trip so I think we will be OK. Thanks again!