How to get Chef Mickey's reservations at Disney World
Chef Mickey's brings Mickey and his pals to breakfast and dinner at Disney's Contemporary Resort. When bookings open, why the last few days matter, and how to catch a table.
Why Chef Mickey's reservations are so difficult to get
Chef Mickey's is a character buffet at Disney's Contemporary Resort, with Mickey Mouse and his pals at both breakfast and dinner.
Chef Mickey's reservations are especially popular with families who want a character meal centered on Mickey, so convenient breakfast and dinner times can disappear quickly.
If your date is full, the final few days before it are worth watching closely.
See How to get Disney World dining reservations.
What is Chef Mickey's?
Chef Mickey's sits inside Disney's Contemporary Resort, with the monorail passing by and views out over Bay Lake.
A 90-foot mural by Disney Legend Mary Blair looks down over the dining room.
Both meals are all-you-care-to-enjoy buffets, and each table gets an autographed card from Mickey and his friends.
It's in a resort hotel rather than a park, so no park ticket is needed.
When Chef Mickey's reservations open
Each date opens for booking 60 days ahead.
Guests staying at a Disney Resort hotel get a head start: They can book every night of a stay of up to 10 nights, starting 60 days before check-in.
See When do Disney World dining reservations open?
What time new Chef Mickey's dates appear
Chef Mickey's dates go on sale at around 6:00 AM Eastern.
Know whether you want breakfast or dinner before then, and have your party size ready.
What to expect at Chef Mickey's
Mickey Mouse and some of his favorite pals make surprise appearances in each of the dining rooms, moving through the restaurant and waving hello while music plays.
Disney doesn't promise a visit at every table, so expect a lively, moving meal rather than a set meet-and-greet.
If you're celebrating, Disney lets you add a cake order to the reservation ahead of time.
Why Chef Mickey's reservations disappear so quickly
A few things favor whoever books first.
Mickey at both meals
Several Disney World character meals have characters at just one meal. Chef Mickey's has them at breakfast and dinner, so both draw a crowd.
A monorail stop from Magic Kingdom
The Contemporary is one monorail stop from Magic Kingdom, which makes a meal there easy to fit around a park day.
Hotel guests book their stay at once
Contemporary guests, like all Disney Resort hotel guests, can book their whole stay on their first morning.
Can Chef Mickey's reservations become available later?
Yes, and across Walt Disney World, that is when most dining openings turn up.
Our data shows 73% of the 10,000+ Walt Disney World dining openings we detected appeared within the final three days, and 48% on the day itself.
Just 4% appeared between 20 and 44 days out, the quietest stretch we saw.
See When do sold-out Disney World dining reservations open up?
Why tables come free
Chef Mickey's charges a per-person fee for a no-show or a late cancellation, and for a change made outside its rules that ends in a cancellation.
That gives guests whose plans shift a reason to cancel in good time.
Best strategies for getting Chef Mickey's reservations
Here is how to put more tables within reach.
Be ready at around 6:00 AM Eastern on day 60
It's your first chance at the date, unless hotel guests have already booked it as part of their stay.
Watch both meals
Breakfast and dinner are both character buffets, so being open to either one gives you two sets of tables to watch.
Keep watching through the final three days
That's when most of the Disney World dining openings we saw appeared, often on the day itself.
Line up another Mickey meal
Mickey also appears at Topolino's Terrace, Tusker House and Garden Grill, so one of those can be your backup.
See How to get Disney World character dining reservations.
How an alert helps at Chef Mickey's
Those late openings tend to land while you're packing or already on vacation, when checking Disney's site is the last thing on your mind.
Park Drop monitors Chef Mickey's around the clock and sends Disney dining alerts by email and text the moment a matching table opens, with a direct link to book.
Set it for breakfast and dinner if either works for your group.
Chef Mickey's breakfast vs dinner
Disney serves both as buffets, with Mickey and his pals making appearances in each dining room, so the characters don't decide it.
The choice comes down to your day: Breakfast sets you up for the parks, and dinner suits an evening back at the resort.
Getting Chef Mickey's reservations without the stress
Missing Chef Mickey's on day 60 isn't the end of it.
Book early if you can, stay open to breakfast or dinner, and keep watching as your date gets close.
Chef Mickey's sits alongside the other character meals among the Disney World dining reservations Park Drop watches around the clock.
Frequently asked questions
What time do Chef Mickey's reservations open?
Around 6:00 AM Eastern, 60 days before the date. Disney Resort hotel guests can book their whole stay at once, up to 10 nights.
Are characters at both Chef Mickey's breakfast and dinner?
Yes. Mickey Mouse and some of his pals make appearances at both buffets.
Do you need a park ticket for Chef Mickey's?
No. It's inside Disney's Contemporary Resort, so a theme park ticket isn't required.
When do Chef Mickey's tables usually open up?
Late. Across Walt Disney World, 73% of the dining openings we detected appeared in the final three days, and 48% on the day itself.
Where is Chef Mickey's?
Inside Disney's Contemporary Resort, with views over Bay Lake and the monorail passing by.
Do you get autographs at Chef Mickey's?
Each table receives a card autographed by Mickey and his friends.
Can Park Drop alert me when a Chef Mickey's table opens?
Yes. Set an alert for your dates, party size and times, and Park Drop sends a text and an email the moment a matching table opens, with a link to book it.
