If you're looking for the quintessential Disney Dining experience, look no further than Chef Mickey's. This character buffet encompasses the heart of Disney World and is, in my opinion, a fantastic dining choice (especially if you're looking to build a trip full of "classic" Disney experiences!). We don't visit Chef Mickey's on every trip, but we do make it a point to stop by every couple of years. The experience itself is simply Disney magic at its best. :)
Pros:
- Chef Mickey's is located inside Disney's Contemporary Resort, which is within walking distance (and is also just a short monorail ride!) away from the Magic Kingdom entrance.
- The location of Chef Mickey's makes it a convenient dining choice for families visiting Magic Kingdom (again, guests of Chef Mickey's can move between the park & restaurant on foot or via the monorail) as well as for families without park tickets. Because it's located within a resort, a valid park ticket is not needed to dine here!
- Chef Mickey's is action-packed and loud, and has the ability to accommodate large groups easily, making it the perfect location for extended family and friends, kids, and celebrations. There is so much to see and do that small children won't get bored easily, and loud kiddos (and adults!) simply blend right in. :)
- There is a PhotoPass spot at the front of the restaurant, which makes it easy to grab group pictures! These pictures are included in the Memory Maker package, but even if you haven't purchased Memory Maker, the photographers will still take the same exact photo with your personal camera or cell phone.
- It's a buffet. Enough said. :)
- It's a great place to meet a good number of characters. The "Fab Five" (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto, & Goofy) make their way through the restaurant, stopping at each table to give hugs, sign autographs, and take pictures. Dining experiences are our family's absolute favorite way to interact with characters!!
- Chef Mickey's is also a great place to celebrate birthdays! At designated times during the meal, a "birthday" song is played over the loudspeakers. All guests are encouraged to stand up, dance, and twirl blue cloth napkins in the air, and those with birthdays are given special yellow napkins to designate their special day. Birthday guests also receive a cupcake (complete with candle) and a birthday card signed by the Chef Mickey's characters. The whole experience is a lot of fun!
Cons:
As great as Chef Mickey's is, there are a few things to keep in mind when deciding if it's the right place for your family:
- It is loud, and between visits to the buffet and the large number of characters, things can get a bit chaotic. If you're looking for a quiet, peaceful dining experience, Chef Mickey's probably isn't for you.
- It's popular, so reservations are sometimes hard to come by. Remember, dining reservations can be made 180 days in advance, so it's a good idea to claim a spot as soon as possible if Chef Mickey's is on your list!
- The food isn't awful, but it's also not known as Disney's best. We've always enjoyed our meals at Chef Mickey's (breakfast is our favorite experience), but we're also not food connoisseurs looking for meals to satisfy our sophisticated palates. :) If you're a foodie hoping to dine on the best food Disney has to offer, you might want to consider something else!
That being said, Chef Mickey's is a winner in our book! If you'd like more information on Chef Mickey's (or any of the other dining experiences at Disney), or have questions or would like to chat about the possibility of a trip for your family, don't hesitate to reach out! I'm just an email away (heather@mmadventures.net).
