Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel, Stephanie!
It sounds like your family has a magical vacation coming up soon at the Walt Disney World Resort! My family and I cannot get enough Disney fun, so we love to not only visit the parks, but also check out the different resorts and the fun restaurants they each offer.
Your family is certainly welcome to make reservations at
Chef Mickey's even though you won't be staying at the
Contemporary Resort. In fact, I highly recommend that you do dine there. It's a super fun restaurant and a great way to meet Mickey and some of his friends without having to wait in lines. The characters visit each table, so you get to dine and relax with your kids while their favorite Disney friends come to visit them! My kids love character dining at Walt Disney World, no matter how old they're getting, and let's be honest... so do I! You're never too old to pose for a photo with Mickey Mouse! Plus, if you're headed to Magic Kingdom or Epcot after your meal, you'll get to ride the
Monorail (which runs right
through the Contemporary), and is a favorite of my kids. Even if we're not staying at a resort on the monorail line, we make a point of riding it anyway, because it's a Disney icon, and something we just
have to do!
Dining reservations open 180 days in advance, and many, like Chef Mickey's, are super popular, so make reservations as soon as you can to ensure you get the date and time you'd like. Have fun planning, Stephanie, and enjoy a really amazing vacation!
Marcy