CHEF MICKEY'S

Just a forewarning, I may get emotional talking about our next breakfast Character meal, because this one is near and dear to my heart. I grew up going to Chef Mickey's as a child, and then continued the tradition with my own children, as you can see above, and I just have to say, there is something about this character meal, that just keeps you coming back for more.

Back in the pre-COVID-19 days, Chef Mickey's was a buffet style character meal, with loads of options. However, now, it is a sit down family style type meal, and it is my top choice for a Character breakfast with young kids. Not only do they have kid friendly food choices, but the characters also sing and dance and get the kids involved. The characters here are what I like to call the Fab five, and they include Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto and Donald Duck. One of the great things about the characters here, is that you get to see them more than once, which is awesome. The last time we went, we got to see and interact with Minnie and Mickey three times, and with Goofy, Donald, and Pluto  four times. To me, this is worth the steeper price tag alone.

Yes, the prices here are not cheap. At $59/adult and $35/child, you will definitely be feeling that one afterwards, especially if you have a larger family like myself. However, if you can budget for it, I would absolutely recommend doing so.

Unlike Ohana's, Chef Mickey's is definitely more loud and high energy. After all, it is geared more towards families with children. So if you are going as a couple, or adults only, just be prepared for this. However like Ohana's, it is an all-you-care-to-enjoy meal and can be accessed via the Monorail as well.

Chef Mickey's is located in the Contemporary Resort, which is located immediately next to Magic Kingdom, and if you don't want to take the Monorail, there is a walking path that connects to the Park, which is a great benefit as well. If you decide to walk, just know you will need to take the elevator up to the second floor to get to the restaurant. The ambience is much more robust and lively compared to Ohana's. It was also recently update with new Incredible themed rooms and has some beautiful Mary Blair murals and paintings throughout the main areas of the resort. 

Now, let's talk about the food. My daughter has Celiac Disease and cannot eat Gluten. However, Chef Mickey's made her feel incredibly special with all of the options they had available to her, all while bringing her her own dishes and extra portions. My daughter said she hasn't left a restaurant feeling that full in a very long time, and she loved it. It is her favorite restaurant right now in all of Walt Disney World. So if you or anyone in your family has any allergies, I would urge you to please check out Chef Mickey's because they did an amazing job accommodating to my daughters needs. 

The meal itself came with so much food. We had fresh fruit, pastry and yogurt parfaits, followed by mickey waffles, sausages, bacon, eggs, cheesy potato hash and the best banana bread french toast I have ever had in my life. You also get to choose your drinks here, including some alcoholic specialities like Bloody Mary's and Mimosa's! Compared to its buffet predecessor, the all-you-care-to-enjoy meal wins by leaps and bounds. Although there are less options than with the buffet, including that fun cereal bar, the quality of the food has improved immensely.

So, in the end, I can genuinely say the Ohana's vs. Chef Mickey's Breakfast battle is a tough one to call. They are two extremely different experiences and although similar in location and class, you just cannot compare the two. For me, however, personally Chef Mickey's wins by a mile. With it's fun atmosphere, character interaction, great food, and allergy accommodations, I have yet to find a better Character meal in all of my years going to Disney World. 

Don't let me sway you one way or the other, though. Why not go check both of them out for yourself and just enjoy the magic.