Hey There, Hi There, Ho There, Shannon!
You're as welcome as can be here at planDisney. Chef Mickey's holds a special place in my family's heart –– beginning with my niece's first birthday 20-some years ago, we've celebrated each grandkid's birthday there in the years since. For us, no Walt Disney World birthday celebration would be complete without dancing along with Mickey, Minnie, and the whole gang!
One of the things I love most about
Chef Mickey's –– besides the Character interactions and fantastic food options, of course –– is that it's perfect for dining with a big group. With tons of seating space, an upbeat atmosphere, and family-style dining, it's one of my favorite dining options for large parties. In fact, during our most recent birthday celebration, my family dined as a party of 13, so you shouldn't have any problem with the restaurant accommodating a group of 8-9 people.
That said, now that
hugs, autographs, and one-on-one photos with our favorite characters are back (YAY!), I have a feeling that Character Dining options, like Chef Mickey's, are going to be more popular than ever. For that reason, it might be a little more challenging to book an
advance dining reservation for your large group. Don't worry, though –– I've got some tips to help you find the perfect table for your party. If you're staying at
Disney Resorts Collection hotel during your visit, you'll be able to book dining reservations beginning 60 days before check-in, for your entire length of stay (up to 10 days). When that 60-day window opens, I suggest booking hard-to-get reservations, like Chef Mickey's, for the end of your visit and working backward –– since the reservation window won't be open to everyone at that point, you may have better luck finding availability on those dates. If you can't find a table for your entire party, I also suggest searching for two reservations for a party of four (or parties of four and five) around the same time. Once you arrive at the restaurant, you can request to be seated together or near each other –– while this isn't guaranteed, Cast Members always work hard to make magic happen for Guests and they can often accommodate your request. And finally, I recommend continuing to search for reservations, right up until you arrive. Dining availability changes all the time and it's not uncommon to see new reservations pop up, even as close as 72-24 hours in advance.
Thanks for stopping by planDisney, Shannon. If you think of more planning questions as your Walt Disney World Resort visit approaches, I hope you'll visit us again –– we're always here to help!
See Ya Real Soon,
Amy