Chef Mickey's: It's Not Just About the Food!

Have you ever left your favorite restaurant and thought, “Wow that was fun!” No? Of course not! Who gets excited about going to a restaurant, just to eat and leave? How would you like to hop on a monorail and arrive in the middle of the hotel that houses one of my favorite restaurants on Disney property? Chef Mickey’s isn’t just about the food. It is an experience in and of itself.

When thinking about Disney meals, I personally love the counter service meals. Something quick, simple and yummy will suffice for my family.  This changed a couple years back when I planned a large family get-together in Walt Disney World.  We knew we wanted to hit a character meal as this would be our son Bubba’s first time to “The World”.   I immediately thought “Chef Mickey’s sounds fun!”, so I made an ADR (Advanced Dining Reservation) right away.  Little did I know at the time, it would become a must-do!  

So, let’s enjoy a calm ride, and let the magic begin… Please stand clear of the doors. ¡Por favor manténgase alejado de las puertas!

We boarded the Monorail at the Magic Kingdom and enjoyed a short but leisurely ride over to Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Not only did it drop us off, but it took us right INTO the hotel! After departing the Monorail, we took an elevator down to fourth floor (stairs and an escalator are also available). We then checked in with the hostess 10 minutes prior to our ADR time as suggested, and had the above photo taken before we were seated. Adjacent to Chef Mickey’s is a comfortable area to sit while waiting for Chef Mickey to call you to your table. It offers a view of Bay Lake and is next to The Outer Rim Lounge as well where adults can enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail.

Our table in the large dining room, offered a great view of all the action going on. Every detail was planned out, from the bright red condiment holders, to the beautiful art on the walls. I felt immersed in Disney Magic!  Chef Mickey’s is served buffet-style. After our server took our drink orders, we were told that we could help ourselves at the buffet. There are adult beverages available during dinner, so be sure to ask your server for the list. 

Before we headed up to sample the delights the buffet had to offer, something magical happened! Guess who showed up to sign some autographs and take pictures?! None other than some of the members of the FAB-FIVE, Yup! Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto & Goofy! Minnie had on an apron while the guys donned chef coats and hats.

The buffet itself offers a wide variety of foods. There are 2 sides to the buffet which are identical and keeps the line moving. You start with make your own salad and work your way toward the main course. Main dishes for dinner include spiced rubbed sirloin of beef, roasted chicken with chipotle BBQ sauce and even salmon fillet with veggies and mango chutney. They also offer a fresh carving station and I was pleasantly surprised with the selection. There was a large variety of sides including steamed broccoli with cheddar cheese sauce, sautéed green beans tossed with tomatoes and onions, and parmesan mashed potatoes. The little ones could enjoy Chef Mickey’s mac and cheese, Goofy’s cheese pizza, Pluto’s chicken tenders and Minnie’s vegetables at a station just for kids.

One of my favorites!  My little goofball with Goofy!

We all made it back to our table to enjoy our meal and realized the Fab-Five were back out and greeting us all over again! This time, we were told to grab our teal napkins and start swinging them above our heads and the characters even joined in the fun!

Dinner was fantastic and as with any buffet, you were allowed to go back as much as you wanted. Even though our tummies were full, we all decided we had to have dessert after seeing this:

That’s right, it's an Ice Cream Toppings Bar! From gummy bears and M&Ms to sprinkles and crumbled cookies. Not only was there ice cream, but many other little treats too. How would you like an Oreo cookie with a mound of chocolate mousse on the top to make a hidden Mickey? We used 1 Table Service Credit per person for this meal. Yup! You heard me right…ONE. I truly believe this is one reason why I loved it so much, it wasn’t a punch to our Dining Plan. (The Disney Dining Plan is not currently available.)

Chef Mickey's is also an extremely popular choice for breakfast. Get an early morning reservation to start they day with Mickey and Friends and then hop on the monorail over to the Magic Kingdom for a fun-filled day. It's a very similar set up for breakfast, just with different menu items.

When I am on Disney property, I try to experience as many new restaurants as I can. There are a couple out there that I have to do each time I visit. In this case, Chef Mickey’s is one of those that I will visit over and over again!

*Post updated September 2020. Images are prior to social distancing and enhanced cleaning measures.
**Currently Chef Mickey's is doing meals family-style and without character interaction, but it's still a great place to stop for a meal in the heart of Disney's Contemporary Resort, only steps away from the Magic Kingdom.