Mickey not table side at Chef Mickey's trial 9/5 - 9/19

[DisneyWFan]

Message originally posted by DisneyWFan on 09-18-2010 at 10:31 AM:

Just saw this on another site

a major change has taken place at Chef Mickey's Buffet in Walt Disney World. This restaurant in the Contemporary Resort is one of the resort's most popular for several reasons - it's within walking distance to the Magic Kingdom, the monorail rushes by overhead while you dine, and the "Fab Five" Disney characters come greet you at your table. Well, not anymore. Mickey Mouse will no longer be greeting guests table-side. Instead, Mickey will pose for pictures near the front of the restaurant in the area that formerly held a photo op featuring a large plate and statue of Mickey. Your picture will be taken with Mickey and will be available for sale at the inflated Disney price of $29.95.

Posters on the thread said they were able to give their own cameras to a cast member to use, thus saving themselves the $29.95 cost of the photo.

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Message updated by Figment! on 09-21-2010 at 2:55 PM:

Moderator Note

The aforementioned change appears to have been a trial offering. It has been confirmed by a number of Guest reports (and several INTERCOTees below) that the Mickey Mouse Character offering at Chef Mickey's is currently table side.

[Ian]

Sigh ... maybe I'm a moron, but I really hoped it would never get to the point where WDW management would start sticking it to the kids just to make a buck.

This is just sad and pathetic. If I can confirm it to be true, they're definitely getting a nastygram from me. It's bad enough you already have to pay $40 to eat a low-grade Denny's buffet just for the rare privilege of your kids getting about 10 seconds with the Fab Five. Now you want me to fork over $30 more for the opportunity to get a pic with Mickey??

Come on ... is there no end to what you'll do to line your own pockets???

[BrerGnat]

Sigh ... maybe I'm a moron, but I really hoped it would never get to the point where WDW management would start sticking it to the kids just to make a buck.
...

It's bad enough you already have to pay $40 to eat a low-grade Denny's buffet just for the rare privilege of your kids getting about 10 seconds with the Fab Five. Now you want me to fork over $30 more for the opportunity to get a pic with Mickey??

Now, now Ian. Let's not overreact.

Nobody HAS to pay for a character buffet. The characters are in the parks for free for photo ops/meets. The character buffets are attractive to people who do NOT WANT to wait in the lines. You are ALREADY paying out the nose for this "convenience". I mean, seriously, those breakfast buffets are about 300% inflated in price over what they should charge for that food.

My guess is that too many people were "hogging" Mickey when he arrived at their table. This leads to other tables having either a very short time, or NO time at all with Mickey during their meal. That leads to complaining that they didn't get enough time with the characters, etc. I'm guessing, since Mickey is the most popular, they decided to have him hang out in the front, so EVERYONE could have a fair chance at having some personal time with him. Like was mentioned, the CMs were accepting personal cameras to take pictures, and as a parent you could certainly stand off to the side and take the pictures yourself. Disney doesn't force you to buy their photo...

Sorry, but as someone who has NEVER paid for a character buffet (and NEVER will), I just can't see a justification to complain about this policy change. Now, if they decided to have NO characters "roaming" and still called it a "character buffet", THAT would be worth complaining about.

[Ian]

Nobody HAS to pay for a character buffet.

A fair point ... I still find it distasteful, though, to invite someone to "Chef Mickey's", where they'll clearly be expecting some quality one-on-one time with Mickey, and then shove Mickey off in a corner somewhere hawking $30 pictures.

[honeebee86]

Honestly, I think Disney is doing this to take advantage of people. I have been to Chef Mickey's twice in the past 6 months and have notice a lot of people (including us) skip getting their picture taken. I think they are doing this because now the only way to see the most important character (to most) is to stand in line for the photo. A lot of people won't have a camera with them or even think to pull it out. So, then their only option will be to purchase the photo package if they really wanted the picture.

[gerald72]

Sounds similar to what is apparently happening at Donald's at Animal Kingdom. Donald now greets out front there, too.

As long as they allow you to use your own camera I don't have a problem with it. It might even be an improvement, especially if they would have a photopass photographer.
But if they barred all pictures except their own inflated price one, i would be upset. You are already paying for a character buffet, and to add a fee on top of that is just plain wrong.

The arguement of "you don't Have to go to a character meal" is a bad one. This kind of argument will drive people from going to Disney altogether.

[gerald72]

This is also similar to akershus. Belle stands at the entrance there. We didn't like that when we ate there. It's just another line to wait in. In fact, we skipped Belle and went directly to the buffet. We were hungry.
My daughter brought up a good point. She doesn't like when the photographers tell her how to stand in the photos. I also prefer the more natural poses when the characters come around to the tables.
Obviously Disney is doing this to sell additional photos. But I'm sure it'll drive a percentage of people away.

[BrerGnat]

But if they barred all pictures except their own inflated price one, i would be upset. You are already paying for a character buffet, and to add a fee on top of that is just plain wrong.

I totally agree with you here.

The arguement of "you don't Have to go to a character meal" is a bad one. This kind of argument will drive people from going to Disney altogether.

How is it a bad argument? Honestly? It's very true. Like I said, in about 15 trips to WDW (and countless visits to DLR), I have NEVER eaten at a character buffet. To me, it boils down to the simple fact that the food is INSANELY overpriced, and after all, since the characters ARE available in the parks for "free", I see no value in the character meals. I can't eat more than one plate of food at any one given meal. I would NEVER pay $40 for a plate of eggs, fruit, and waffles. Sorry. Breakfast is the cheapest food to make...I can't even fathom spending close to $200 for my family of 4 to eat breakfast....for that kind of money, I better get endless Mimosas and caviar on my toast...

I know many, MANY people do see the "value" in skipping the lines in the parks, but that is a matter of choice. The way we handle this in my family is "you can stand in line for 30 minutes to meet Pooh and Tigger OR you can stand in line for 30 minutes to ride Dumbo." The kids choose. As an adult, I can certainly wait in line to meet my favorite character if I REALLY want to. If I see a favorite, and there's a short (or no) line, I'll hop over for a photo and a hug. If there is a huge line, I skip it. Simple.

I guess there are just two different kinds of theme park visitors: those who will do whatever it takes to spend some time with characters, and those who won't.

[Figment!]

For what it's worth, a few Character Cast Members have reported that this change is currently a trial offering.

Assuming that this is indeed a trial, Guests should be providing feedback either in-person or via WDW Guest Communications if they feel this change on a permanent basis would alter their plans for future visits.

Guest Communications contact:

e-mail address :
[email protected]

Postal Address:
Walt Disney World
Guest Communications
P.O. Box 10040
Lake Buena Vista FL 32830-0040

[gerald72]

I believe it is a bad argument because:

I personally like character meals. I don't like paying an additional $30 on top of inflated prices.
Then I hear the argument 'if you don't like it, don't go'
People not going to character meals isn't going to make them better. They should correct the problem to make it better, not say 'well then don't come'

it reminds me of a situation on the game Rollercoaster Tycoon. You had to keep you guests' happiness level over a certain percentage by turning your unhappy guests happy. You could also get the same result by taking all the unhappy guests and throwing them into a lake and drowning them, thereby only being left with happy guests.
It sounds like telling people not to come is more along the lines of the second option.

[Jordan0301]

This is pretty standard with quite a few dinning options isnt it?

Cinderella for a while outside CRT...Donald at AK...Chef Mickey's Dinner used to not have Goofy in rotation but at the front (sometimes with a cupcake station), Hollywood and Vine tried it with Minnie for a while. We were in talks to put Charming and Cindy in the lobby at Grand Fla instead of rotation. Things come and go in phases.

If Disney ever took away the option to use your own camera...it would be a travesty, but until that time, just say no thanks for their pic and use your free camera. Probably a better photo op than at the table anyway IMO.

[vizsla]

I will see if this is true. We will be at Chef Mickey's this Wednesday, I hope this is not what they are planning to do because I feel it is in poor taste to guests.

[BrerGnat]

People not going to character meals isn't going to make them better. They should correct the problem to make it better, not say 'well then don't come'

People not going to character meals (LARGE numbers of people) will definitely make Disney sit up and analyze WHY they are not coming. I doubt they would be happy with a 50% table occupancy at Chef Mickey's all of a sudden. The way that you enact change is to, first and foremost, STOP supporting something you disagree with. Money talks. Going, paying, and holding a grudge will only show Disney that you are nothing more than a sucker. And, they got you!

I still firmly believe that this change IS due to complaints about not getting one on one time with Mickey, not getting enough, feeling rushed, etc. The idea to charge $30 for the photo is nothing new to Disney. Souvenir photos are a HUGE money maker all around (I bet you have quite a few on ride cameras in your RCT scenarios...I do!). But, as mentioned, you can STILL use your own camera, and I really think Disney will never cross that line of saying that you can't.

If you don't like it, don't support it! Write to Disney and let them know that you won't. Only then will they get the point that something needs to change.

[DizneyFreak2002]

Apparently he is back to walking around the restaurant.. So either the testing failed (I.E. no pictures sold and many complaints) or there was an issue we know nothng about that caused this temporary placement... I think the testing failed...

[PalmettoKev]

Apparently he is back to walking around the restaurant.. So either the testing failed (I.E. no pictures sold and many complaints) or there was an issue we know nothng about that caused this temporary placement... I think the testing failed...

This is good news. Enough with the nickel-and-diming, WDW. We love you, but we all have budgets.

[JPL]

Considering that last June they wouldn't let me take a picture with my camera when it was the stupid plate picture. I highly doubt they will let you do it with Mickey since that is a much more likely photo to purchase. I am not a fan of the buy your pictures idea at a character breakfast. And for those asking about Phitipass this picture can not be put on your card and be purchased on the spot. Another reason I'm not a fan of it since I don't want to carry it around with me even if it's the best picture ever!

[DizneyFreak2002]

This is good news. Enough with the nickel-and-diming, WDW. We love you, but we all have budgets.

Very good news indeed.... Apparently the testing failed to sell more pictures... I love with a money grubbing scheme TDO designs FAILS..

[plutosnana]

They totally made yet another rip off!!!
And now no more mickey!!!

[DizneyFreak2002]

They totally made yet another rip off!!!
And now no more mickey!!!

Mickey is back making his rounds at the tables... So, Mickey is still there... Take a breath, relax LOL....

The scheme failed...

[Kim Possible]

Mickey is back making his rounds at the tables... So, Mickey is still there... Take a breath, relax LOL....

The scheme failed...

hahah it did!