7 Things We Love About Chef Mickey’s

Can you imagine not having to make a reservation for character dining? As hard as that is to imagine today, reservations weren’t necessary when Chef Mickey’s originally opened, before character dining became a “thing.” Before finding a home at the Contemporary resort, Chef Mickey’s was a stand-alone restaurant (not a buffet) located at Disney Village (now Downtown Disney). The restaurant relocated in 1995 to make way for the Rainforest Café.

7. Close proximity to the Magic Kingdom

Disney transportation is great, but it takes a good deal of time to get from one place to another. Chef Mickey’s prominent location in the Contemporary makes it one of the more convenient resort restaurants for parents with children. You can plan a brunch or dinner reservation there and not have to leave the park for the entire afternoon. In fact, you can easily walk to the Contemporary from the Magic Kingdom, skipping transportation hold ups altogether.

6. A great excuse to visit the Contemporary

The Contemporary is a Disney World icon in itself, and any excuse to visit it is a good one. The building’s unique A-frame is something to behold, and its views out onto Bay Lake are fantastic. Be sure to take a look at the now defunct Discovery Island from the window! If you feel like shopping, you’ll find some nice gift shops at the Contemporary as well.

5. The monorail

The monorail track runs through the middle of the Contemporary. It glides into the building and stops just above Chef Mickey’s, making this already cool location even more exciting. Why not plan to arrive in style for your meal reservation by taking the monorail from Epcot or the Magic Kingdom right into the Contemporary?

4. Fun family atmosphere

Do you like singing, dancing, and waving your napkin in the air during a meal? If so, you’ll enjoy the antics of Mickey and his pals during your visit to Chef Mickey’s!

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3. Something for everyone to eat

Chef Mickey’s isn’t cooking up the ultimate foodie experience; you’ll have to save your taste for unique eats for the World Showcase or perhaps Animal Kingdom. However, it does what it sets out to do well: provide an American buffet that should suit everyone’s needs. There are plenty of kid-friendly choices here, so there shouldn’t be any difficulties getting the kiddos to eat. Breakfasts will have staples such as cereal, pancakes, eggs, and fruit, as well as more interesting choices like the frittata, biscuits and gravy, and a tofu scramble. At dinner, you’ll find lobster mac and cheese, ribs, and chicken dishes. Don’t fill up too much- you can’t miss the sundae bar!

2. One meal, five characters

This is a one-stop-shop for anyone who wants to meet the fab five (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto) all at once. Though you can find all of these characters at many locations around Walt Disney World, knowing that you will have pictures with all five just from one meal definitely makes the character hunt a bit easier on the rest of your trip! The crew is even dressed in chef attire, making them extra cute!

1. Memories that last a lifetime

As a child, meeting your favorite characters is something that you don’t easily forget. I still remember the first time I met Mickey Mouse, in Chef Mickey’s. Back then (in the 1990’s) the restaurant was located at Disney Village (now Downtown Disney, soon to be Disney Springs). Seeing your children have a character meal experience is worth every penny you pay for the meal, and may be one of the highlights of your entire trip.

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