During our March/April trip we decided to have breakfast at Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort to see how much it had changed as a result of COVID precautions and if it was still worth the cost.
Now you have to know that we are big character meal fans and have eaten at Chef Mickey’s pre-COVID. So we had expectations that it would be a let-down. We were so pleasantly surprised! This character breakfast still has the magic and gives you the feeling that things will go back to normal. Here is why…
So much atmosphere to take in!
Arriving by Monorail at the Contemporary’s station we took in the beautiful views from the middle of the A frame building while waiting for our table to be ready. Mary Blair’s murals are massive and colorful. Chef Mickey’s decor is cheerful and full of vibrant colors. It sets the mood for a great meal.
Food - different serving style but still plentiful and delicious!
In the past, Chef Mickey’s was a self-service buffet. Now your server delivers food to your table. Standing in line to get our food was not something we missed.
Our reservation was at 10:45 am so we were hungry. Our server brought us more food than we could finish! We had fruit salad, mini yogurt parfaits, harvest sweet rolls, fresh fried sweet fritters, eggs, bacon, brisket, banana bread French toast, a Celebration Mickey shaped pancake and loaded potato-cheese casserole topped with a Mickey shaped cheese.
We tried a bit of everything and it was all delicious!
Physical distancing - enough to feel safe and not too much to interfere with seeing Mickey and friends!
Tables are separated so each guest party is physically distanced according to CDC recommendations. However the way they are set up allows you a clear view of the characters as they visit your section of the restaurant.
This spacing also makes it easier for the characters to stand so that you can take a picture of your child and have a character in the background.
If you want pictures of the characters alone you can do that too with this setup.
Don't worry, the Fab Five come around a bunch of times and love having their photos taken!
Visits from Chef Mickey and the gang - multiple and lots of fun!
Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy and Donald all visit the various sections of the restaurant. Dressed in vibrant primary colored outfits, each character takes his or her time saying hello to every guest party.
The first visit gives you ample opportunity to take photos. On their second visit Mickey and friends dance to “Biscuits in the Oven,” a catchy tune that will be stuck in your head all day and then some! Check out our Instagram reel below for a taste of all the fun!
Having eaten at this character breakfast before we felt that the amount of character “interaction” this time was good. The gang kept us laughing with their antics and great poses! Just watching the children who were at the tables near us and how excited they were solidified that the character magic was still there!
The “No Rush” approach leads to a more enjoyable time!
From the minute we sat down at the table until the time we left there was definitely a “No Rush” atmosphere. Our server checked on us several times, but not to rush us out. We felt we could take as much time as we needed to eat, say hello to the characters and take in all the atmosphere.
A Souvenir of our visit - autographed card from Mickey and the gang!
One thing character meals have always provided was the ability to get an autograph or several autographs. We thought this could not be something that would be possible in a COVID world. We were wrong!
At the end of our meal we both received a pre-signed card from Mickey and the gang. It was a great ending to a wonderful meal/experience.
Final Thoughts!
So you should consider eating at Chef Mickey’s if:
You really want a character meal.
Want to have a nice, delicious, relaxed breakfast before hitting the parks.
Want to cross off one of the iconic restaurants off your bucket list.
You may want to pass on Chef Mickey’s if:
You are on a budget. Character meals come with a higher price, and this one if no different ($ 42 per adult, plus tax and gratuity and $27 per child, plus tax and gratuity).
If you are in a hurry and want a grab and go meal. We spent about one hour dining.
So you are probably asking would we do it again? Heck yeah! I can already hear “Biscuits in the Oven”!
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