Why Is Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort So Popular?

One of the most popular character breakfasts on Disney property is Chef Mickey’s, which is located in the Grand Canyon Concourse of Disney’s Contemporary Resort. It is almost always crowded, and if you are interested in taking it in you would be wise to get an Advance Dining Reservation (ADR) as soon as you are able to do so.

An adult breakfast costs $33, and each child costs $18. The price does vary depending on the time of the year and also the day of the week (weekday vs. weekend). Still, it’s quite expensive for a breakfast, don’t you think?

So just what is it that makes this particular character breakfast so popular?  Here are six reason that might explain its popularity:

1 – Location, Location, Location

Just as they say that “location, location, location” are the three most important things in the real estate business, you could possibly say the same thing about the restaurant business, too.

The Grand Canyon Concourse is a one-of-a-kind place. While other parts of Disney’s vision of the future (like Tomorrowland in the Magic Kingdom, and arguably Future World in Epcot) haven’t necessarily held up so well over time, the Contemporary Resort still has a forward-looking and fun feel. Monorails glide by overhead and stop at the station inside the building’s concourse. The open atrium soars skyward with hotel rooms all around. The shops bustle. Overall, the location has a feeling of being right in the middle of all the action. It’s not where you go for a quiet romantic dinner – it’s where you go for a loud, fun time.

Why is Chef Mickey's so popular?
Why is Chef Mickey’s so popular?

2 – Views

Closely related to the benefit of the restaurant’s location are the views it provides. Many window seats provide amazing views of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, as well as the Magic Kingdom which is just down the shoreline on the Seven Seas Lagoon.

3 – Transportation

Also closely located, to location (again) are fun transportation options available at the Contemporary. Of course you can park your car in the parking lot, but you can also arrive by monorail (and quickly get to the Magic Kingdom once breakfast is over). You can also take a boat from the Contemporary Resort to the Magic Kingdom. These ways of getting to and from the restaurant make it even more special.

4 – Photo Opportunity

As you enter the breakfast a Disney photographer will take your group’s picture near a small statue of Mickey in his best chef outfit. Sometime during the meal they bring a package of photos to your table for your consideration. The price is about $32. A bit steep, especially on top of the already-high price of the breakfast, but some people want to capture the memory.

5 – Food

Most people like the food at Chef Mickey’s. It’s pretty typical for a breakfast buffet that needs to serve an army of people, but the quality is good. You can enjoy fresh fruit and a selection of cereals like Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies, and Fruit Loops. Assorted pastries include muffins, bagels, croissants, rolls, and Danishes. Hot food is plentiful and varied and includes bacon, sausage, potatoes, omelets, scrambled eggs, breakfast pizza, pancakes, and the very popular Mickey Mouse waffles. You definitely won’t go away hungry.

6 – Characters

No character breakfast, of course, is complete without characters. And this character meal is where you get to meet the most famous Disney characters of all: Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Pluto, Goofy, and Donald Duck. These characters look like they are having a great time, doing the conga around the restaurant and stopping to spend time with their guests, taking photos and signing autographs. From joking to stopping for photos, you get to hang out with the Fab Five for quite a bit of time – far more than the typical “pose, smile, click, and move on” interaction of about 30 seconds you get at most character greeting locations.

Why Is Chef Mickey’s So Popular?

So all this brings us back to our main question – why is this particular buffet so popular? It’s for all the reasons above, but mostly (in my opinion) because of the personal time you get with the characters. Unless you have a heart made of stone, you will smile, laugh, and hug your favorite Disney characters. And that, many believe, is worth the price of admission.

Are you a fan of Chef Mickey’s?  Worth it or not?