It’s time to get back in line, as buffet dining is back at Chef Mickey’s in Disney’s Contemporary Resort. We stopped by to see how things were during breakfast.
The move, announced back in December, ends arguably the biggest change at the restaurant brought on due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since its reopening in July 2020, meals had been a family-style meal, meaning it is served at the table.
As it has since the reopening, Chef Mickey’s continues to use the Mobile Dine Check-In process through the My Disney Experience app. Once you get a text that your table is ready, you go to the Host/Hostess stand and wait for someone to take you to your table.
Reservations
Chef Mickey’s is one of the more most popular restaurants at Walt Disney World, whether for the breakfast or dinner buffet. For that reason, it can be a challenging reservation to secure. Reservations are available 60 days in advance, and can be booked using the My Disney Experience app or the Walt Disney World website.
Interior
Guests at Chef Mickey’s are back at the buffet lines, and they get a great view of a passing monorail every few minutes!
While the buffet is back in action, some stations are still decorated with merchandise, as they were during family-style dining.
Chef Mickey’s was busy, but not jam-packed.
Characters
Chef Mickey is stationed at the front of the restaurant, but guests don’t have their meet-and-greet with him until after they finish eating and paying. But if you’re antsy to see the mouse in all his splendor, fear not, as he does come out and dance with the other characters periodically during the meal.
Upon being seated, we were presented with an autograph card.
The card depicts Mickey, Minnie, Donald Duck, Goofy, and Pluto as they ride in the front of a monorail passing through the resort.
Character Interactions
As this is a character dining experience, Minnie Mouse and Goofy, clad in their chef’s outfits, stopped by our table to pose for pictures. While we were seated overlooking the convention center, the other side of the restaurant offers expansive views of Bay Lake.
For those wanting a photo op with the star of the show, Chef Mickey, you can do so after your meal is over and you have paid.
After paying, the waiter will stamp your receipt, and you take that with you to meet Mickey as you exit. You must have a stamped receipt to do the meet-and-greet.
We’d say the Chef Mickey meet and greet is worth the wait! While you get to meet 3 of the Fab 5, Mickey Mouse, is of course the star of the show.
Once you’ve gone through the meet and greet, a Cast Member marks your receipt so you can’t get back in line again.
Cocktail Menu
If orange juice, coffee and Coca-Cola products aren’t enough, there is also a cocktail menu available at an additional charge. Guests are given the cocktail menu along with their autograph card when seated. Guests can also order beer and wine. Please be aware that the cocktail section of the Chef Mickey’s menu does change occasionally.
Sparkling Cocktails
Traditional Mimosa – $14.50: Freixenet Blanc de Blancs Cava Brut and Orange Juice
Cranberry-Orange Mimosa – $14.50: Freixenet Blanc de Blancs Cava Brut with Cranberry and Orange Juices
Peach Bellini – $16.50: Frexient Blanc de Blancs Cava Brut, DeKuyper Peach Schnapps, and Peach Purée
Blushing Mimosa – $14.50: Freixenet Blanc de Blancs Cava Brut with Pineapple Juice and Grenadine
Specialty Cocktails
Chef’s Bloody Mary – $16.50: Grey Goose Vodka, Bloody Mary Mix, Worcestershire, and Tabasco Sauce topped with Bacon, Cheddar, and Olives
Salted Caramel Cold Brew – $14.50: Chocolate Liqueur, Heavy Cream, Joffrey’s Coffee™, and Salted Caramel Syrup topped with Whipped Cream
Hazelnut Cold Brew – $14.50: Frangelico Liqueur, Heavy Cream, Joffrey’s Coffee™, and Hazelnut Syrup topped with Whipped Cream
Swiss Chocolate Cold Brew (not pictured) – $14.50: Chocolate Liqueur, Heavy Cream, Joffrey’s Coffee™, and Swiss Chocolate Syrup topped with Whipped Cream
Seasonal Cocktails
Red Berry Bellini – $16.50: Freixenet Blanc de Blancs Cava Brut, Bacardi Raspberry Rum and Strawberry Purée topped with a Strawberry
Southern Honeysuckle and Cream – $14.50: Southern Comfort Whiskey, Agave Syrup, Hone and Heavy Cream topped with Honey Graham Morsels
White Chocolate Cold Brew – $14.50: Stoli Vanil Vodka, Heavy Cream, Joffrey’s Coffee™, and White Chocolate topped with Whipped Cream
Almond Cold Brew – $14.50: Frangelico Liqueur, Heavy Cream, Joffrey’s Coffee™, and Almond topped with Whipped Cream
Non-Alcoholic Beverages
Mickey Mouse Smoothie – $6.99: Frozen Minute Maid® Mango Smoothie and Strawberry Smoothie topped with Whipped Cream and Cookies ‘n Cream Crumbles
Cold Brew Coffee – $4.29: Featuring Joffrey’s Coffee™ Cold Brew topped with Whipped Cream and choice of flavor
Pomegranate Lemonade – $5.49: Minute Maid® Premium Lemonade with Pomegranate and Lime Juices
Pink London Spritzer – $11.00: Lyre’s Pink London Spirit, Grapefruit Soda, Pomegranate Green Tea, Lime and Mint
Minnie Mouse Smoothie –Frozen Minute Maid® Strawberry Smoothie and Vanilla Smoothie topped with Whipped Cream and a White Chocolate Bow
Watermelon Lemonade – $5.49: Minute Maid® Premium Lemonade and Watermelon
Hot Chocolate – $4.29 Topped with Whipped Cream and choice of Flavor
Agave Garden – $11.00: Lyre’s Agave Reserva Spirit, Cold-pressed Lime Juice, Passionfruit Papaya Green Tea, and Cucumber
Breakfast Menu: Buffet — $51 per Adult, $33 per Child
After nearly three years, it’s time to hit the buffet, and soon we hope to be able to do it again using the Disney Dining Plan.
Charcuterie
First up is a section of cold offerings, where guests can pick up a colorful plate to start their journey. There’s also a cute display of breads, including one shaped like Mickey’s head.
For charcuterie, a variety of cheeses, meats, and smoked salmon are complemented by crackers and bagel chips.
We weren’t impressed with the charcuterie; it’s “just” charcuterie. This may be a lighter way to start the meal, but it is something you can skip if you aren’t into deli meats and cheese.
Hard-Boiled Eggs, Quinoa, and Toppings
There are also capers, diced red onion, hard-boiled eggs, tomatoes, quinoa, and more.
The quinoa was very good. It had fresh fruit and onion in it. It’s a nice take on quinoa. It’s very soft in texture, with the crunch coming from the onion.
Fruit and Yogurt
For dairy lovers, there’s no shortage of yogurt and fruit.
Cups for the yogurt can be found to the right, just before the kids’ station.
Kids’ Station
The station offers potato barrels, scrambled eggs, and chicken sausage. (Don’t worry, adults can help themselves too!)
The scrambled eggs are basically batch eggs. There’s nothing fundamentally wrong with them, as they’re your typical Disney eggs. The potato barrels are nice and salty, with a little crunch. The chicken sausage from the kids’ station is really chewy and nicely spiced.
Bacon, Sausage, and Beef Hash
The next station is for meat lovers, with bacon, pork sausage, and corned beef hash.
The pork sausage cuts like butter using a knife. Otherwise, it’s your typical pork sausage. The bacon is crispy.
The standout on this plate was the corned beef hash. There’s a lot of salt from the diced corned beef.
Frittata & Tofu Scramble
Next up is a frittata, as well as a tofu scramble.
The plant-based eggs of the tofu scramble are inoffensive, but it’s enhanced by Impossible sausage, spinach, and fresh peppers. It’s a great plant-based offering and one of the best things about the buffet. It certainly beat the frittata, which wasn’t good at all. It tastes like a slightly melted block of cheese. The goat cheese is very sharp, bitter, and way too overpowering. You can skip this.
Pancakes, French Toast Sticks, & Mickey Waffles
There’s plenty of Celebration Pancakes on the griddle. (We don’t think we can eat that many.)
There are baskets of French toast sticks and Mickey waffles.
The pancake is perfectly fluffy, thanks to it being freshly made on the hot griddle. There’s a little sweetness to them. The French toast sticks are a little tough, but good enough to have. They’re thoroughly covered in sugar. The Mickey waffle is made well. The crispy exterior is complemented by a soft inside. They’re very enjoyable.
Carved Ham and Beef Brisket
For more meat, check out the carved pit ham and beef brisket.
There’s an au jus to accompany the meats.
The brisket is vile. It’s absolutely terrible. The inside is brittle, and the texture is scaly. Definitely pass on this. On the other hand, the ham is tender and juicy. The au jus is on the sweet side and a great accompaniment to the ham.
Fruit Compote Toppings
Next are a couple of fruit compotes and bacon, likely intended for the pancakes, waffles, and French toast. But there’s no judgment if you, say, want to top your ham with them.
Oatmeal & Cheesy Grits
There’s also a station that’s home to oatmeal and cheesy grits.
Hash Browns, Biscuits, & Country Gravy
Don’t forget those side dishes! There are hash browns, biscuits, and country gravy.
Butter, Marmalade, and Jellies
When we see butter, orange marmalade, and grape and strawberry jelly, we know we’re entered… The Pastry Zone.
Banana Bread Pudding
For a sweet finale to the meal, check out the warm banana bread pudding.
Danishes, Croissants, Cinnamon Rolls, Turnovers, and Muffins
Of course, there are also Danishes, mini croissants, cinnamon buns, turnovers, and Minnie Muffins, decorated with red, yellow, black, and white sprinkles.
Moving to pastries, the Minnie Muffin is a cranberry chocolate chip muffin. It’s soft and easy to eat. Our turnover was guava flavored. It’s soft, flaky, and very refreshing. We were impressed with the bread pudding. The caramel sauce is fantastic, but don’t overdo it. It’s salty-sweet. It’s a very well-made banana bread pudding. There are fresh chunks of banana throughout, which we enjoyed.
The croissant is good enough, but nothing special. It’s buttery and flaky, as was the apple Danish. The pastry is perfect, but the apple filling tasted artificial. The cinnamon roll is better than the ones at Gaston’s Tavern in the Magic Kingdom, but it was still the stalest of the pastries available. Skip this.
Be sure to keep an eye out for special touches on the buffet line, like this display of bread, complete with a floral piece featuring Chef Mickey’s loco.
Overall
All in all, it’s good to see Chef Mickey’s fully bounce back from the impact of COVID-19. As with all buffet meals at Walt Disney World, there are some hits and some misses. We think this one has enough hits to earn a return visit.
Are you a fan of the buffet at Chef Mickey’s, or will you miss the family-style dining? Let us know in the comments!
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