Circle of Parks Podcast: Talking all things Walt Disney World
Because there's far too much to see and do. We're here to help guide you through. We are a married couple with two boys age 9 and 6 talking all things Disney World. This podcast will cover the tips and tricks we've learned along our journey, history of the parks and attractions, and most importantly why and how Disney makes us feel how we do while in the parks and that it's ok to feel that way.
Circle of Parks Podcast: Talking all things Walt Disney World
Episode #213: Chef Mickeys Dining Review
Step into the heart of Disney dining magic as we take you behind the scenes at Chef Mickey's breakfast buffet in Disney's Contemporary Resort. Imagine savoring warm cinnamon rolls (possibly the best we've ever tasted!) while Mickey Mouse himself stops by for a selfie – all with the iconic Disney monorail gliding overhead through the soaring Grand Canyon Concourse.
What makes Chef Mickey's special isn't just the food – though the bountiful breakfast buffet delivers with everything from Mickey waffles to apple-filled beignets and a delicious hash brown casserole. The real magic happens when the Fab Five (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto) make their rounds, creating personal moments with guests of all ages. We were particularly impressed with how attentive the characters were, even circling back to interact with our table when a family member was briefly at the buffet.
Unlike some character dining experiences that can overwhelm with noise and commotion, Chef Mickey's strikes the perfect balance – festive enough to feel special but calm enough to actually enjoy conversations with your travel companions. Characters move efficiently through the restaurant, typically meeting each table within a 15-20 minute window, which means you can focus on both the interactions and your meal without constant interruptions.
At $58 per adult and $37 per child (plus tax and gratuity), this character breakfast represents a significant investment, but the combination of abundant food options, character moments, and the convenience of monorail access to Magic Kingdom makes it a worthwhile consideration for your Disney vacation. Whether you're revisiting a Disney dining tradition or creating new family memories, Chef Mickey's remains one of those quintessential Disney experiences that continues to delight guests decades after it first opened.
Ready to make Chef Mickey's part of your next Disney adventure? Contact Travel Planner Erica to secure your reservation and receive personalized guidance for your entire vacation.
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Hello and welcome to Circle of Hearts podcast, episode number 213. Today I am with Nolan, our youngest, and we are going to talk about our recent breakfast at Chef Mickey's. There is far too much to see and do. We are here to help guide you through, but before we do that we must talk Disney merch. So this week on DisneyStorecom there is a new Stitch pin from Lilo and Stitch and it is the 25th anniversary pin. I didn't realize it's been that long for that movie as well and it is priced at $14.99. And it is Alien Visitor. Stitch salutes our official Disney pin trading 25th anniversary celebration wearing a glittering blue shirt and a pin laden lanyard. He's ready to collect some more along with you. So Stitch is what only one in the series. So again, 25 years ago is when the movie came out, and this is to commemorate that anniversary, priced at $14 and 99 cents. And that is this week's Disney merch.
Speaker 1:So, as we stated, or as I stated, I am here with Nolan, hello, and so we are going to talk to you about our recent breakfast. We had on our trip that we just wrapped up a few weeks ago at Chef Mickey's, and it is located in Disney's Contemporary Resort and it is a character dining experience and usually one of those main go-to character dinings that a lot of people like to try. So before we dive into that, though, I just want to welcome everyone to the show. You're probably wondering, well, where is Zach? He's still in the room, but he is not going to be joining vocally on this podcast because he said I wasn't there, so he's letting us two do the talking. But just wanted to welcome everyone. You know, normally this is where we say I'm Zach, I'm Brittany, but today you've got me and Nolan and we just come to you every week to kind of break up your week, bring a little Disney to your day and your week.
Speaker 1:If you're maybe returning from a recent vacation at Disney and you're experiencing the Disney blues, maybe kind of lighten that mood a bit. Or if you have one coming up and you're not sure what you want to do while you're there, we hope that some of our episodes kind of help you in deciding. You know, if you're kind of on the cusp of, okay, do I want to eat here or there? You know, I mean, everybody's taste buds and stuff are different, but maybe, with what we share with you, can help you make that choice of. Well, that might not be what's best for my family, or hey, that might work. I didn't know that they offered that as well at those dining locations, so let's dive right in. So first I'm going to tell you what Disney says about Chef Mickey's on the website.
Speaker 1:Prepare for a character filled all you care to enjoy breakfast or dinner buffet at Disney's Contemporary Resort. Chef Mickey's Buffet Character Dining Experience character dining in a delicious buffet meal in a bright, happy space as the monorail whizzes by, soak up the expansive views of Bay Lake and behold the stunning 90-foot high mural by Disney legend Mary Blair that overlooks the festive eatery. Each table will receive a special autographed card keepsake for Mickey Mouse and his friends. Throughout the dining experience, mickey Mouse and some of his favorite pals make surprise appearances in each of the dining rooms. See them move throughout the restaurant, waving hello as rollicking music fills the air. Now, before I say anything else, was it really loud in there this time? Not?
Speaker 1:really no, and I don't think even when we went before, we'd gone once before during the COVID times, and so it wasn't buffet, then it was family style, and both times, like, the music wasn't super loud. And there was one time while we were sitting there, where typically they play music and they dance around and wave napkins, and it wasn't all crazy. It was kind of you, you know, just very calmly done, don't you think?
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but you still got to see them, like, go around in the circle right Quickly. Yeah, they did it fairly quickly, You're right. So delight in a bountiful breakfast and savor delectable dinner fare. Start the day off right with a selection of some of your favorite breakfast dishes. Highlights include what do you think? One of the highlights is um beignets well, they did, have beignets what else mickey waffles mickey waffles name, some more sausage.
Speaker 2:What else do you breakfast?
Speaker 1:but they need to know. So they have sweet and savory bread, scrambled eggs, smoked bacon, sliced honey, ham and corned beef, hash, mickey waffles and more. And, as Nolan hinted just now, there were some beignets. What did you think about those?
Speaker 2:They were all right. The beignets they had, like this, apple filling in it.
Speaker 1:Oh, some of them did yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I don't know if that's how all of them are, but I got one of those and I just licked the powder off.
Speaker 1:Yeah, the powdered like sugar and stuff. Yeah. So besides the filling, though, was it good Like was it like your other beignets you've had, yeah, yeah, so there's plenty of more.
Speaker 1:Enjoy a rotating collection of Chef Mickey's signature offerings, such as buttermilk biscuits and gravy, which I did have while we were there and they were good, warm cinnamon rolls and oh, my goodness, I know you're probably thinking they are just cinnamon rolls. What's so good about them, brittany? But I think these are some of the best cinnamon rolls I've ever had. That was like my dessert. I waited to go to like the fruit and pastries area at the very end and they had just brought these cinnamon rolls out. They were nice and warm, just super, super delicious. Um, it mentions here a ham and cheese omelet and vegetable omelet, but while we were there, they just consistently had different types of omelets out on the buffet for you to get, and I did notice some ham and cheese vegetable and it looked like a few others. Egg, just the plain eggs, yeah, yeah, um, and then some other things to mention too. If you know, you have the pickier eaters and stuff. I mean they have like your. You know again, mickey waffles. They have some regular pancakes. They have fruit. They have, uh, you know, like cheese and cold meat set out and stuff as well, of course, the Mickey waffles, you know, and the pastries have muffins and there's some cereal and stuff. So I think there's a little bit something for everyone. They did have some onions and bell peppers with, like, some sausages as well, a little further down on the buffet. So again, something for everyone.
Speaker 1:Now, if you go for dinner, this is dinner features a world of flavor with chef mickey's signature dishes. Begin with assorted salads, or peel and eat shrimp, then move on to delicious entrees and side dishes, like new york strip loin, barbecue, pork ribs, teriyaki, salmon, macaroni and cheese, vegetable stir-fry noodles, asian chicken salad, and save room to end your feast with pastry chef sensational desserts. So, um, just a little bit on some history before we really share our experience. All right, so the original chef mickey's opened in the early 1990s in the disney village marketplace, which is now known as Disney Springs. I did not know that. I wish Zach had a mic to talk to him more about this, but I didn't know that. I thought it was always in the contemporary. So that's interesting to know.
Speaker 1:Chef Mickey's officially opened in the contemporary resort as we know it now in 1996. Has had several refurbishments over the years, most notably in 2020, when it was converted to family style during the COVID pandemic, situated in the Grand Canyon concourse of the contemporary resort. And see, they even use the term concourse. I have always said that contemporary reminds me of an airport, and so they're even calling this the concourse. And so they're even calling this the concourse.
Speaker 1:The restaurant has a bright, open air layout with views of the monorail and features fun kinetic sculptures and plenty of Mickey themed decor.
Speaker 1:The theme of Chef Mickey's is that you're dining in Mickey's kitchen and the Fab Five is doing all the cooking.
Speaker 1:You'll meet the Fab Five here, including Mickey, minnie, goofy, pluto and Donald Between cooking all the wonderful food. The Fab Five will take breaks and lead a napkin twirling dance party and meet with guests, often a first stop for guests before heading into the Magic Kingdom. And I know several people that do make this part of their day when they are at Magic Kingdom, whether it's before the park, going for breakfast, or going a little bit later, after they've done a couple of things at Magic Kingdom, taking the monorail over to Contemporary and eating breakfast, then going back to Magic Kingdom, or breaking up their day later for dinner. It has become a rite of passage for most first-timers to Walt Disney World and Erica Travel Planner. Erica, she made these reservations for us. Thank you so much. You know, instead of all four of us going, zach and Ryan went to a certain other park in Orlando and this was me and Nolan day and she was able to make those dining reservations for us. So let's hear from Erica.
Speaker 3:Planning a Disney vacation can be overwhelming, but that's where our new sponsor comes in. You've heard us talk about her for a long time and now she's the official sponsor of this podcast Travel planner Erica with Wishes Co Travel Planning. As a travel planner specializing in Disney destinations, she takes care of every detail, from finding the best resort options for your family booking, dining reservations to park strategies and now offers a special, lightning-laying booking service to your park days. She truly offers top-tier service from start to finish and the best part is her planning services are free when you book your room and ticket package with her.
Speaker 1:We're thrilled to have Travel Planner Erica as the official sponsor of this podcast, and exclusively for Circle of Parks listeners. When you plan your next Walt Disney World or Disneyland vacation or your next run Disney racecation with Erica, you'll receive a Disney gift card based on the value of your trip on your arrival day to put towards your Disney snacks.
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Speaker 1:All right, I said let's hear from Erica, but I meant about Erica. So thank you again so much, erica, for everything you do and helping make these reservations possible, because it definitely was a busy morning there. When you first arrive, you need to check in with the first person, or, if they have the sign with the QR code, then you scan the QR code and you're basically letting them know you're there and then you will get a text message saying when your table's ready and you don't have to go to that first person, you go on to the desk that's a little bit down the little entrance hallway and they will get you seated. So keep that in mind. If you don't see a QR code, check in with the first person there at the entrance, but if the QR code is on a sign right there, that's going to be the quickest way to get you checked in. So the pricing for the breakfast buffet is $58 per adult, plus tax and gratuity, and the children's price ages three to nine, is $37 per child. So, nolan, tell us about your experience here.
Speaker 2:Amazing, the food was pretty good.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Now the eggs. I don't know if it was just the batch, but it was like a little wet.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, you don't like runny eggs. No.
Speaker 2:But I like scrambled eggs, it's just that not so runny.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and that's one thing. You know this is a buffet, so you know sometimes it is going to be, you know, a little more overcooked when it comes to eggs or a little more runny, but you know they're going to be the eggs you get at Disney. Did you enjoy the bacon?
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you didn't get a Mickey waffle this time. No, no, but you did go back a few times. Yeah, well, he saw the beignets and that kind of took over the the Mickey waffle. But I was surprised, um, about that too. So sorry, zach was making a face like wow, he didn't get a Mickey waffle. Um, now tell us a little bit about the characters, because one came to the table when I was up at the buffet again, right, oh yeah Mickey and yeah Mickey.
Speaker 1:So I got a selfie with him yeah, I left my phone at the table, so if that happens, he gave me a face.
Speaker 2:He was like where what he was pointing to your chair. He's like where's mom?
Speaker 1:at I said going to get more food, yeah and then didn't you say, when I came back he was like, oh, like, rubbing his belly, like getting more food.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and let me tell you guys, like I love that they still interacted with him, even though he was the only one at the table. I mean, I was just right there next to where we were sitting at the buffet, but I love that he still like interacted with Nolan. The selfie was probably like one of the best pictures we got that day. Honestly, it was really cute. I'm old enough.
Speaker 1:He probably, he probably, if it was like a little kid maybe circle back around, and he still circled back around, which I really appreciated that like a few minutes later he came by when I was there and took pictures again with Nolan and with me and interacted, and so I was glad that he still circled back around. So one thing I want to say too is when we first sat down did we see characters for the first little bit?
Speaker 2:No, they're like towards the side of the contemporary, like where that seating is, and we were like at the back of the contemporary.
Speaker 1:Yeah, well, inside the restaurant, yeah, so they circle around like section by section. You know, in different restaurants do this differently. Sometimes all characters are spread out and you're waiting several minutes, even 15 minutes in between seeing some characters. I like how this was done. I don't know if it's all the time, but the day that we went, so they, most of them, were in the area he just explained off to the side. Um, but then once Mickey came around when I was at the buffet and when I sat back down, like the rest of them were coming through like every probably three to five minutes and so you get it. You know, you get the pictures and everything out of the way fairly quickly and I like that you do that that way because it's not like, oh, let me have a couple bites of food or let me take a chance on going to the buffet or not, because you don't know how long it's going to be between characters. It they. I think we got pictures within what?
Speaker 1:15 minutes of all of them probably 20, okay, maybe 20, um, and, but I like that and you know, definitely. You know interactive again, not super loud, like when we went to Disneyland and Goofy's Kitchen, nothing like that whatsoever. I think Zach was wondering if it would be that way. Um, now that it's back to buffet here at Chef Mickey's, but Zach and Ryan were like it is too much. Um, so it was to me for Chef Mickey's like I think they did a very good job, like it was very calm.
Speaker 1:You could hear what you were saying to people around you. Uh, I did have pog juice. They have pog juice to drink there and that's the. What is it? Pomegranate, orange and guava, yes, and it is so good I probably drank three of those glasses that day. The food I really enjoyed. They also had a hash brown casserole. I don't know if it's a regular thing on the buffet or not. That was really good. I went back for seconds on it and I'm kind of picky when it comes to biscuits and gravy and I really enjoyed their biscuits and gravy here. So, um, what? Who was your favorite character that you met?
Speaker 2:Pluto.
Speaker 1:Pluto, pluto or Mickey, pluto or Mickey. Yeah, and then Donald, he was fun to interact with, and Goofy's so super tall, isn't he? Yeah yeah, so do you. You were all ramped up to talk, so do you want to say any more about Chef Mickey's no?
Speaker 2:That's all. If we did this right after the trip, I would know more. Okay, but I don't.
Speaker 1:Do you like that you get to take the monorail to get here?
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I like that too, you can also take a boat from Pauly, that is true, and wilderness Well, to Magic Kingdom.
Speaker 1:Oh, yes, and then catch the monorail over yeah. Yeah, so would you eat here again for breakfast?
Speaker 2:Yeah, yes, if we had one here, yeah.
Speaker 1:Well, if we took a longer trip to disney again and had time would you three days at least.
Speaker 1:At least three days, okay so you would eat here for breakfast again, okay. Would you want to try dinner one day? Yeah, okay. Well, while I'm talking about dinner, let me look at the pricing for it as well. Again, just a reminder breakfast is $58 per adult, $37 per child ages 3 to 9, plus tax and gratuity. And so dinner? Okay, dinner pricing is $69 per adult and $44 per child.
Speaker 1:And we mentioned earlier, you know, they're going to have a salad bar, they're going to have carving stations, they're going to have different pastas, they're going to also offer plant based, seasonal inspired dishes, macaroni, stir fry, okay. And then they offer some non alcoholic beverages, some cocktails, hard ciders, beer, all of that stuff. The beer and hard ciders and everything is a little on the pricey side, I would say. But you know, if that's your cup of tea, then go right ahead. Some of the cocktails are going to be like a blood orange margarita, a mojito, a cold brew, martini and more. So we have not gone during dinner.
Speaker 1:I feel like I haven't heard a lot about dinner here. I feel like you hear more about breakfast. I think that's just how people choose to do it when they're incorporating it more in their Magic Kingdom day. But it can easily be done for dinner as well by taking the monorail from Magic Kingdom. So my favorite character was Minnie Mouse. Yes, and I tried to get decent selfie. I should have had just Nolan take the picture because she was posing. She knew what I was looking for in the selfie. It was super cute. Loved her outfit. She made I believe she said she made the desserts.
Speaker 1:So, she did a really good job on the cinnamon rolls especially so would I choose to eat here again. Um yes yes, I think I would too. Yeah, it was a good experience. It might just be me and you each time, but it was a good experience. So, and would I try it for dinner if it fit into our day? Yes, I just I don't know. I think it's easier to try it for dinner If it fit into our day. Yes, I just I don't know.
Speaker 2:I think it's easier to do it for breakfast. Chef Mickey's for dinner for me doesn't come to mind for dinner. Yeah, like dinner is like at resorts, like maybe at the Polynesian. I forgot what that's called, the restaurant where they have the chocolate mousse oh uh, geyser point at wilderness lodge.
Speaker 1:Yeah and yeah, yeah yeah, those come to mind first at resorts before here. I get that and you know those are going to be a little cheaper. For pricing too. I think the dinner pricing here is pretty expensive and you would probably eat from the kids buffet which would be like chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, stuff like that.
Speaker 2:Also. Now that comes to mind is at Coronado Springs what's that place called? We ate there when they were at.
Speaker 1:The other park. That we don't say on the podcast.
Speaker 2:No, no, no, no, they were at Geyser Point.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so Rick's Sports Bar.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that was really good.
Speaker 1:It was all right. I think we could find some other restaurants to eat at better.
Speaker 2:The wings were good.
Speaker 1:Okay, all right. Well, good, all right. Anything else you would like to say before we go Nope, nope, so you would eat here again. Mm-hmm, we go, nope, nope, so you would eat here again. You enjoy the restaurant.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And would you recommend other people eating here?
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, okay. On a scale of five stars, five being the highest, what would you rate it? Six, all right, all right, so thank you for listening. All right. So thank you for listening, and you can support our team by booking your next trip with Travel Planner Erica. You can visit her at wwwtravelplannerericacom. She's on Facebook and Instagram. At Travel Planner Erica. You can email us at circleofparks at gmailcom. Our website is circleofparkscom. We are on socials Facebook, instagram, x. At Circle of Parks. Leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and please share us. So we will talk to you in a week and I believe we will be rating the Disney resorts we have stayed at. So talk to you soon. Bye.
Speaker 2:Bye.