UPDATE: Please note that as of February 25, 2015, Be Our Guest Restaurant began to accept Advanced Dining Reservations for lunch. For further information, please click here.
Last month I was so excited to bring you my “Everything on the Menu!!” review of dinner at Be Our Guest Restaurant.
Today, it’s time to head back into New Fantasyland for my very first taste of lunch at this must-do restaurant!
Because Be Our Guest Restaurant differs greatly from the run-of-the-mill counter service spots around Disney, I’m going structure this review according to how you progress through the restaurant. Follow the headlines, and it should all make sense. 🙂
We have a ton of great detail to cover, so let’s get right to it!
In Line!
Amid a backdrop of rugged, austere mountains of New Fantasyland, you find the bridge and gateway that ushers you into Beast’s enchanted castle, home to Be Our Guest Restaurant.
Now that the enormous eatery is officially opened, there are still extraordinarily long lines for lunch on many days, as guests await their turn to see inside and sample the food.
We know that Disney is testing a fastpass like system and a pre-ordering for Be Our Guest, so the lines may soon be a thing of the past. But, in the meantime, be sure you know when they begin serving lunch (usually around 10am or 10:30am) so that you can get there early.
Regardless, the line did move quickly (it’s about a 30 minute wait from the back of the bridge); and soon, I was walking into the castle.
Ordering Process
Once inside, you find pretty much exactly what you would expect: low-lighted spaces with beamed ceilings reminiscent of medieval European castles. Enchanted suits of armor guard the long entryway. At the end of the hall, you see the stained glass window depicting Belle and Beast’s famous dancing scene.
Listen closely, and you’ll hear the suits of armor murmuring to each other in French accents!
As you enter the ordering area, thoughtful touches tell you that you’ve arrived in the beast’s library!!
This ornate room is home to a cozy fireplace and Beast’s enormous chair. You’ll also find the automated ordering areas masquerading as stacks of books!
It’s to be expected that they are still ironing out some of the kinks in how this new concept works. So be prepared to wait in line to get in, and then for it to be a little confusing once you’re in the ordering area on busy days.
At lunch, when it’s your turn to order, you’ll be directed either to a cast member who will take your order (similar to a traditional Disney counter service location, like Columbia Harbor House) or to a self-serve kiosk, like those we’ve seen at Captain Cook’s and Pecos Bill’s — pictures here and here.
If you prefer one or the other, be sure to tell the cast member when you get to the front of the line. And don’t forget to pick up your Magic Rose! Your magic rose is programmed to help your food find you where ever you are in the restaurant!
Banners over the kiosks tell you which number you’re using, so if the cast member directs you to kiosk 1, you’ll look for this flag.
The kiosks themselves are dressed up as stacks of books and scrolls, and the screen itself is displayed on a scroll. I love this thoughtful touch. It’s just so fantastic that they’ve carried the themeing to these lengths.
You’ll find menus on the kiosks (pictures in a second), but there are also menus above the kiosks and posted outside the ordering area, so you should be well acquainted with your options before you’re up to bat.
The menu offerings for lunch, like dinner, are few. There is a good assortment, however, with salads, sandwiches, and vegetarian options all represented. You won’t find any hamburgers or chicken nuggets here.
Likewise, the “healthier for you” options continue on the Kids’ Menu. You can see the Mickey Check on four of the options, indicating that they’re choices which adhere to the Disney Nutrition Guidelines for Complete Meals.
We’ve been told that mac and cheese is now on the kids’ menu as well.
We have a tour of the kiosk screens here for you as well! The home screen lets you know that cash or voucher orders must be handled by a cast member.
Next, you’re asked method of payment — whether you’re using your Key to the World Card or credit, debit, or Disney gift card.
After that, you’re prompted to enter the number of guests in your party.
From this point on, the ordering process is similar to other kiosks around the resort. The pictures are a great touch, though. It’s always helpful to see what you’re thinking of ordering before you commit!
The menus also include nutritional content for the dishes (!!!!!!!!!!), so if you’re watching your intake of calories, fat, carbohydrates, etc. you can easily compare your options.
Completely cool for those who want the info — and tucked away for those who do not via a dropdown system. 😉
Your can also see exactly what ingredients are included in that dish you’re considering — especially great for those battling food allergies.
Once you’ve completed your order, you’re prompted to swipe your card in the special card reader to the bottom left.
You’ll hold your Magic Rose to the card reader, too, so that it can store your information making it simple for your food to find you at your table. Just be sure to follow instructions and find your table immediately. Once seated, set your rose in the center of your table, and it does the rest!
And with that, you’re set!
En route to your table, you’ll find the beverage stations, complete with cups, lids, straws, and condiments.
The beverage counters are beautifully blended into their surroundings.
Seriously — look how pretty these fountain machines are!
Although your food is delivered to your table, you pick up your (real) silverware and napkins at stations near the beverages.
It was time to choose a table, but first, I’ll wander around a bit and show you the lay of the land!
Atmosphere
During lunch service there are three dining rooms available: the Ballroom, the Rose Gallery, and the West Wing. During dinner, only the Ballroom and West Wing are available (currently). This obviously means the space can accommodate far more guests for lunch.
The Ballroom is a nice spot to dine. You really do feel as though you just stepped into the movie when you look at it. One warning, though: because of soaring ceilings and lots of hard surfaces to the top, bottom, and sides, this space is ridiculously loud. That was very off putting for me personally, and a bit of a disappointment.
The detail is incredible, however.
And the snow falling outside of the picture windows is just lovely, and makes the inside feel almost cozy by comparison.
Hands down, we are hearing that everyone’s favorite dining room (including mine!) is the West Wing.
And why not? This is where the story of Beauty and the Beast really begins to unfold. Here, you’ll find the rose given to Beast by the beautiful enchantress.
The rose foretells Beast’s fate if he doesn’t fall in love, and cause someone to fall in love with him in return… . And during your meal, you’ll be able to watch the petals slowly fall from the rose!
You also find the portrait of the Prince that Belle stumbles upon when she goes exploring the West Wing.
And in true Disney fashion, the portrait transforms for a few seconds every 20 minutes or so! Watch as Beast takes the place of the Prince in the portrait!
The dramatic transformation is signaled by lights growing dimmer, and thunder increasing in volume within the room. Be aware that some babies in the space weren’t all that enchanted with the loud sound effects. 😉
And if you pay close attention, you’ll witness the change from Prince to Beast when the lightning strikes!
As I mentioned earlier, the Rose Gallery is mostly opened for lunch (although we have heard that it may be utilized for dinner at especially busy times.)
This particular dining room will not be found in the movie. Imagineers included it as an opportunity to pay homage to the film’s other characters, many of whom are included in portraits throughout the Rose Gallery.
The centerpiece is this beautiful, larger-than-life rotating music box. The story behind it? Maurice, Belle’s inventor father, created it as a wedding gift for Beast and Belle.
When you have the opportunity to dine at Be Our Guest, whether it be for lunch or dinner, be sure to carve out some time simply to wander around the space and take in all the marvelous detail. It truly is amazing.
Food Delivery
Once you choose your dining room, take a seat and set your magic rose on the table.
One of the coolest details about Be Our Guest is the way your food finds YOU! That magic rose really works, because shortly after you’re seated, your food wheels up to your table on a cute little rolling cart.
Hot foods are stored under the curved glass above, keeping them safe and clean as they traverse through the dining rooms. Cold items are kept in a lower compartment.
Eats
But it’s finally time to see what we actually had to eat!
We chose two wonderful dishes for our first trip to Be Our Guest for lunch. First up: the Braised Pork, Coq au Vin Style.
The dish of pork that’s slow-cooked for eight hours is rich and delicious, a perfect comfort food item, and an excellent option to represent this French cooking method.
You really would expect to find this type of dish in a French castle! The meat was very flavorful and tender (but not mushy), and I enjoyed the veggies as well.
But I was most impressed with the mashed potatoes! As far as I could tell, these were real — lumps and all! they were great with the mushroom gravy.
And I simply HAD to try the Croque Monsieur. This was one of the dishes that caught my eye waaaaay back when we first reported on the menu at Be Our Guest Restaurant.
The grilled ham and uber-flavorful gryuere with bechamel sauce is a great grown-up sandwich. And considering I had my very first Croque Monsieur ever at the top of the Eiffel Tower, I’m guessing it’s also an excellent option for a French-inspired menu. And while I wasn’t absolutely wowed, it was very good, and worth the price.
The sandwich is served with pomme frites. They were basically fries with the skin still on — pretty standard, but good.
The multi-grain bread has a lovely, chewy texture that adds a little more interest to the sandwich. I’ve heard that some kids aren’t fans of this bread, so speak with a cast member before ordering if you need it on a different type of bread.
And with that, we were ready to call it a day!
Desserts and Soups at lunch are the same as they are at dinner, so be sure to check out our EVERYTHING on the menu review to see all desserts and soups! Note that these are a Disney Dining Plan snack credit if you’re dining at lunch!
Overall
A trip to Be Our Guest, whether for lunch or dinner, is an experience and an event. It’s very clear that Imagineers sunk a huge amount of time and energy to cover every detail imaginable. You really feel as though you have stumbled right into the animation of Beauty and the Beast.
And beyond that, the food that we have had has been great! The menu, while small, is thoughtful, with flavors that truly capture the French spirit. And while we didn’t get the chance this time to try the kids’ items — well, there’s always next time!
At this time, I would recommend braving the crowds to get to Be Our Guest. The excitement and hullabaloo is well deserved!
Have you dined at Be Our Guest yet? Leave a comment below and tell us about your experience!
Amanda says
This restaurant looks soo amazing!!! I know my Mom would just love love love it; Beauty and the Beast is her favorite movie! Thank you so much for such a detailed review!!
Sue says
We tried it during the soft opening, so the line was not so bad. One thing that surprised me was that the kids meals (at least then) did not include dessert. At home my kids rarely get dessert, especially at lunch, but on the dining plan we are used to getting them all the time.
I also ordered to Croque Monsieur and found it only okay, especially compared to everyone else’s meals. The steak sandwich my son ordered was much tastier.
Helen says
This restaurant looks amazing! Nice to see that the french onion soup can be bought as a snack on the DDP. Will def be stopping off here when I go in September
Tracy says
My husband and I waited about 40 minutes on the bridge at around 1:30 in the afternoon. I was surprised it was still so crowded. It definitely was worth the wait. I had the leek soup and port coq au vin. The soup was very good and so was the pork. I was given a huge amount of meat. There was no way I could have eaten it all. I am surprised by the sodium content, it tasted much more salty than what they report.
My husband had the onion soup and turkey sandwich. He asked for it without mayo and it still came with it. The server was amazing and replaced it immediately. He asked for mustard and after much searching they only found Grey Poupon, no yellow mustard anywhere. I don’t care for sandwiches and when I saw the baguette really didn’t want to try it but it was a soft perfect baguette. This was a very good sandwich. The onion soup is vegetarian and a bit bland but also good. I thought for lunch, the price, quality of food and atmosphere made this a wonderful addition to the Magic Kingdom. I can’t wait to go back.
Betsy says
I absolutely loved the entire experience of having lunch here. I got in line towards the end of the bridge around 10:45 on an average crowd day in December (the 21st) and was seated within 20 minutes. The short wait wasn’t a problem because it helped build the anticipation of seeing the inside of the castle.
My friend and I really enjoyed our food – we had the croque monsieur and the carved turkey sandwiches.
samantha says
I cant wait to eat here, its well and truly on the list! The theming also looks amazing.
Georgeanne says
We were super lucky to have dinner here the Thursday before Christmas. Even luckier to be seated in the West Wing. As we walked through the ballroom, the cast member told us that the snow you see falling outside the windows was digitally lifted from the actual movie. No detail was spared! The food and service were unbelievable, with the potato leek soup and strawberry cream cheese cupcakes being standouts for me. It was also nice to enjoy a glass of wine with dinner. (I don’t think Walt would mind). Can’t wait to enjoy another meal here, and I’ll have to get back there for a special occasion so I can get the gray stuff!
Christa M. says
We have reservations for dinner at Be Our Guest for our June trip, but after this review, we are going to have to grab lunch there, as well!
Jennifer says
I’m planning to have lunch there on my arrival day Thurs 2/21
Amanda V says
We ate there on Thursday and it was great. The cast members told us it would be about 90 minutes to get in, but we probably waited only 45. My mom and I shared the steak sandwich and it was delicious. It was a little heavy on the garlic, but I liked it that way. We sat in the West Wing which was very cool and much less noisy than the ballroom. The food was delivered to us within minutes of sitting down. Overall, we really enjoyed the food and experience and it was worth the wait.
Tom C. says
We waited nearly 45 mins outside in the rain for lunch in early December. Yes, the location was very impressive, from the sheer size of the venue to all the extraordinary details that they included inside. However we all wished one of the Dining rooms was the Library and having paintings of actual children (of the folks who worked on the project) on the ceiling of the Ballroom, as opposed to cherubs, was a bit unsettling to look at and seemed oddly out of place. Ordering for six was a challenge and the people behind us were obviously (and vocally) annoyed. Once seated the food came quickly (too quickly perhaps) and the server was pleasant and efficient. Sadly the Pork that I received – though flavorful – was mostly fat and the vegetables were cold. None of the other offerings we had were viewed as anything special for the price and seeing how much food was left behind on other tables led me to believe that other folks agreed with us. Bottom line? sorry to say but while it was worth the visit for us just to see the venue the long wait and disappointing food will keep it off our ‘must do again’ list for now.
AJ says
Amanda — Ooh, when are you gonna take Mom?!?
Sue — I can’t wait to try the steak sandwich on my next visit. Thanks for the review!
Helen — I loved seeing that the soups and desserts are DDP items. Great for a snack (assuming the lines aren’t too long!)
Tracy — Thanks for your review!! I’m glad to hear that your husband’s sandwich was switched out immediately. Agreed that the onion soup isn’t the best I’ve had, but it’s a good option for counter service. Saltiness has been the main complaint at this restaurant, so I’m wondering when they’ll remedy that…
Betsy — Ha ha! You’re such a “silver lining” person! I’m not sure how many people could find the good in a longish wait for lunch. 😉 How were the carved turkey sandwiches?
Samantha — Yay! Let me know what you think about it when you go!
Georgeanne — Wow, so fun! I loved that potato leek soup, too! Thanks for sharing your experience!
Christa M. — Great!! Have fun at lunch AND dinner!
Jennifer — Yay! Enjoy!
Amanda V — That’s great that your wait wasn’t as long as predicted. Agreed that the West Wing isn’t as loud voices-wise as the ballroom. The thunder can get loud (from a kiddo perspective), but I’ll still choose that room every time. So glad you had a great visit!
Tom C. — Ha ha! I feel the same about the babies on the ceiling. Weird, right?
It kind of looks like a giant Angel Soft commercial up there. Thanks for sharing your experience; seems like you were feeling the growing pains of a new (and very busy) restaurant there, unfortunately. I’m waiting to see if Be Our Guest follows in the footsteps of other Disney restaurants as being an inconsistent place to dine. Based on your review, it seems like it may be.
Sarah @ Running at Disney says
Having new found food allergies and sensitivities, I LOVE that the kiosks show you the ingredients of each dish. This will make if very easy to rule out certain items very quickly.
That braised pork looks amazing…can’t wait to try it!
AJ says
Sarah — I thought that was awesome, too!! Hopefully that’s the wave of the future for WDW counter service!
Sydney says
I love that they give you the option to see the ingredients but the thing that gets me is that I can never figure out how to take off or substitute certain things such as cheese.
AJ says
Sydney — Agreed. I think that you’ll need to go to one of the cast member ordering stations versus a kiosk to make special orders.
Chris says
My family and I ate lunch at BOG twice during our Dec trip (15-22). We waited about 30 mins each time. We were in line around 10:30 each day and didn’t mind the wait at all. We were in the Ballroom and then the West Wing. Our hands down favorite was the West Wing. My wife had the vegetable quiche and then the turkey baguette. She loved both, especially the quiche. My 12 yr old daughter had the steak sandwich both times and really enjoyed it. The second time it was a little over done, but she still liked it. My 8 yr old son didn’t really want anything from the kids menu so he had the lemon cupcake and then the raspberry lemon cream puff. He munched on popcorn while we waited in line. Haha. Finally, I had the Croque Monsieur both times and really enjoyed it. We’ll definitely be going back on our next trip in Oct, hopefully for lunch and dinner this time!
Tony says
I will leave these 2 short comments and thoughts. The food for lunch is yummy in taste but NOT on the wallet, its a little over priced even for Disney.
The ordering process needs a serious over haul and many more ordering machines. The madness and confusion of the guests delays the ordering way to long. The guests really dont know what to do even when there are instructions. The family of 6 in front of me took almost 15 minutes to place their order when all said and done. If you dont know how to operate a computer or smart phone stay out of the line.
Kristina says
I do hope to convince the rest of my family (husband and 2 girls) that we really need to wait it out for lunch here. We’ll be visiting next week so if they comply I’ll let you know what my girls think of the kids menu options (my 7 year old is picky like dad and my 5 year old is adventurous like her mom)
Elle says
Somehow, even with all the news about the new Fantasyland and the new BOG restaurant, I missed the fact that it’s also a place where you can go without reservations. BOG looks like a restaurant I would love to visit, but my pickier son wouldn’t like anything on the menu. I’ll have to go without him.
Beth says
DH and I loved our BOG lunch in December so much that we repeated it 3 days later, 30 minute wait and all!
Both times we got two soups and split the veggie quiche. First visit we also shared a chocolate cream puff, but the second time we skipped dessert because we really wanted an ice cream cookie sandwich at Sleepy Hollow instead!
We thought everything was delicious,but we both liked the potato leek soup better than the french onion. It was really the stand out item for us.
We ate in the Rose Gallery both times and found it to be wonderfully relaxing, much quieter than either the Ballroom or the West Wing. I would really recommend it to anyone looking for less noise.
Tracy says
The painting of “cherubs” on the ceiling of the ballroom are paintings of the children of the designers? That would explain so much. I even overheard the table next to us commenting on the paintings.
Jarrod says
Hrm. That is NOT a croque monsier. Regardless of what Disney calls it. Croques have bechamel and cheese on top, and ham/mustard in the middle. That is a ham and cheese panini (at best).
Another overly-positive food review fron a team that, it has become more obvious, knows little about food.
Deb Ragno says
That braised pork looks great.
AJ says
Chris — So glad you enjoyed the West Wing, too! Thanks for the great feedback on the quiche; I need to try that next time!
Tony — Agreed that the cost is high and that the ordering process is chaos. I wonder if, once the “newness” dies down, it will be easier to get in and the number of ordering stations will be more in line with the demand. Did you experience the smartphone ordering? Would love to hear what you thought.
Kristina — Sounds great! I’d say weekdays should be slightly easier since there may be fewer locals now that school is back in. Would love to hear what the girls think of the kids’ menu!
Elle — Yep, you can go for lunch with no reservation! You can also have snacks at Gaston’s Tavern with no reservation. Enjoy!
Beth — So glad you enjoyed!! And I like that you chose the ice cream cookie sandwich for dessert instead! 😉
Tracy — Yep! They’re kids of the imagineers who worked on the restaurant!
Jarrod — Thanks so much for your insight! My croques in Paris were so long ago that I don’t remember the exact construction. And in response to your second comment, it’s very true that I’m not a trained food critic, and I’ve made no claims to be. I just love food and love sharing about what’s new at Disney. Our goal here is to offer visitors an idea of what restaurants might be best for their families based on menus, atmosphere, and our own personal experiences. My opinions are just that, which is why it’s so important to hear from guest reviewers and commenters as well! 🙂
Deb Ragno — Doesn’t it?? I really enjoyed it, and was so surprised by the quality of the potatoes!
DisneyBabies Jenn says
We have a dinner ADR for next month and I had about changing it to just lunch, but I’m thinking I’ll stick with dinner to avoid that line! Can’t wait – it all looks amazing!
Sandra says
We ate lunch there the week after Thanksgiving. After we rode the Little Mermaid ride, we bolted over to the line, which was already getting quite long. Just after 10:30, they began letting people in a few at a time. The decor is definitely wonderful; you don’t feel as though you are eating in a QS place (they seem to be calling it fast casual though). I agree that many people were confused by the ordering process–but not us, since we use similar kiosks at several places at home. I thought ordering was easy, and liked all the information offered. Since we were on the DP, it was pretty quick to slot in our choices, pay and take our receipt.
A CM then welcomed us and indicated we could sit wherever we liked. We sat in the room with Belle and Beast dancing (Rose?) After choosing a table, I got our drinks (refillable!) and in about 10 minutes, our food arrived. I had the quinoa salad as I wanted a veg dish. It was pleasant if not overseasoned; the salad greens themselves were underdressed but tasty. My son got the ham and cheese sandwich, and being a picky soul, refused to eat the lovely bread (it tasted good too). He did devour the ham and his fries. We choose the strawberry and chocolate cupcakes for dessert, each topped with a fresh berry, good and just the right size.
After eating, we strolled through the other two rooms and took a picture at the Rose Window near the exit. All in all, it was a very nice experience. The dining room was reasonably quiet, given the crowd, the food good enough, and the service better than I expected. I know we’ll go there again next trip–although I think Mr. Picky will have to stick with the turkey.
Scott says
We had two quick serve lunches and one dinner at Be Our Guest during the week of December 9. It was by far our most favorite during our stay. The food was amazing and well worth the dining credits.
I would recommend eating here if you are able to get in. The wait for lunch is well worth it.
JoAnn says
I can’t wait to try it in November.
Jennie says
I had the chance to peek inside during a special opening on our family trip in October. The decor was beautiful! My husband and I are heading back to Disney World at the end of January. No dinner reservations are available, so we wanted to have lunch on our arrival day. What time do they stop serving lunch?
Emily says
Already got my ADR for dinner here in June! CANNOT WAIT.
Essie says
We got to eat lunch here on our trip in late Nov. and it was definitely one of the highlights of our vacation! I had the carved turkey sandwich which was so big that I had to take half with me. The food was delicious, the service the best and the surroundings in the Ballroom were just magical. We all loved it; it’s now on my absolutely ‘must do list’ for every trip to come. I have no interest in dinner, but will always dine here for lunch. Thanks for your article; it brought back a big smile!
Essie says
PS: The line moved surprisingly fast.
Debbie says
My husband and I ate at BOG for lunch in mid December, 2012. I felt as if I was walking into the movie. I enjoyed the theming, details, and presentations. We will return on other visits to work our way through the selections and various dining rooms. I LOVED eating with real silverware. Plastic ware has always been a bone of contention, for me, at the quick serve locations.
The line was long, as was to be expected the first week of the official opening of new Fantasyland. It moved along at a good pace and from the end of the bridge to table was about half hour or so. We picked seats in the Ballroom. As others have stated it is noisy and beautiful. We wandered through the other rooms after lunch. I liked the West Wing and adored the Music Box room.
One has plenty of time and opportunity to decide what one wishes to order before arriving at the terminals. There were malfunctions of several terminals the day we were there and we were redirected to a cast member station to order, so sadly, I can not comment on ordering, although it appeared simple enough.
We ordered the French Onion Soup, the Tuna Niçoise Salad, the Croque Monsieur and the Lemon Meringue Cupcake. The onion soup was a sweet and bland cousin to a real version. I felt it was made for a child’s palate. Mayhap, they need to have Remy, from Ratatouille, come over and teach the Beast’s chefs how to season dishes.
We would not have the soup again. The salad and sandwich were tasty although also Disneyfied quick serve versions of the classics. The tuna was perfect; the rest of the salad was good. The sandwich was good and large enough to share, for us, with an additional side. The cupcake was sweet and refreshing.
It may not be an every visit lunch stop solely because of the price. We will certainly return to try out some of the other menu choices. All in all, it is a wonderful addition to the Magic Kingdom’s restaurant arsenal.
Mrhub says
Hi AJ ! Great review.
We were able to get in for dinner on Nov. 25 and we were very impressed. I had the Mussels Provencal & Thyme Scented Pork Rack chop and the wife had a salad and the Grilled Strip Steak . It was all very good ! I do agree with you about the Ball Room being loud. We were seated against the wall on the opposite end of the room from the windows. But all in all, it was very good, enough that we have ADR’s for Jan 29 when we are back at WDW again! Hope to catch you some time.
Deb says
Dear AJ, I have loved following your blog. Our family just got back from a week at Disney (12/29/12 – 1/5/13). We used your different suggestions all over the parks! We had made our BOG dining reservations on the very first day you could call. We tried to get in for lunch on Thursday, but changed our mind when we were told the line was 90 minutes, since we had our dining reservation. We got there for dinner about 30 minutes early, and were glad we did since we had to stand in a very long line just to check in. We were called in right away and we sat in the Rose Room. Our server told us they had just opened it on Christmas for dinner. It was beautiful and nice and quiet. We all had the steak for dinner & we agreed it was one of the best we have had – right up there with Le Cellier and Kona Cafe! We each had different desserts and they were all wonderful. My 22 year old daughter was in heaven, and getting to meet the Beast after dinner was just icing on the cake!! Speaking of which, we were celebrating our 30th anniversary and my daughter’s birthday – so our server brought us 2 orders of “The Grey Stuff” – and it is delicious!! She told us it is for b’day & anniversary celebrations “only”! Over all, it was a wonderful experience and my daughter said next time we are going for lunch and dinner – maybe twice!!!
Jennifer says
I know I’m a little late to this article but I have a question…
What’s to stop anyone from just grabbing a cup for a soft drink without having paid for it? It appears to be all self-service. Does a CM check your receipt first? Does the CM who delivers your meal see that you’re drinking something you didn’t pay for? Or is it all on the honor system? Not sure why I’m worried for Disney, I guess I’m just curious.
Great article, BTW.
Carl B. says
Is it possible to just by-pass the line and walk in to take a look at the place? Would anybody stop you?
AJ says
Jennifer — Funny story about that! I was thinking the same thing — couldn’t anyone just grab a cup and get a drink, even if they didn’t pay? So I asked a cast member specifically if there was anyone checking receipts at the drink areas since it seemed like people could just take advantage of the system. She said no, and said “Why would you ask that?” I told her that it seemed like a flawed system, and she told me (in a not-so-nice tone of voice) that if people started taking advantage of the situation that Disney would put a stop to it. Not sure what that means, but there ya go! 😉
Sherry Soukup says
AJ, you’re awesome! How professional you are and very considerate, even when others are not! Thanks for all this wonderful information!
Corey says
Whoever is putting the nutritional info together for Disney needs to work on their math skills. Maybe I’m the only that it jumped out to, but there is no way a dish with 40g of fat only has 492 calories – it’s 668 based on their nutritional breakdown. The fat alone is 360 calories.
catherine says
You can’t enter without going through the ordering room. So you will have ordered and paid for your drink before you even enter the dining rooms. I don’t know how they’d stop people who ordered food but no drink from taking a drink. The only way they could stop it is by ending the self-service.
No, they don’t allow people in to just look around.
Can anyone confirm that there is regular old mac and cheese on the kids menu now?
Sarah says
Not sure if anyone mentioned this, but I’m curious, do you clear your own table (at lunch)? I know your food is brought to you, just wondering if it’s also cleared for you.
Stephanie says
Wondering if we can order snack items at lunch or if it’s mandatory for everyone in the party to order a quick serve meal at lunch?
Maureen P says
Hey AJ,
You rock and I am salivating over your review.
A little confused though. I know you can use your quick service credit on the DDP for lunch but when I saw your pics of the menu, it seems as if you can only order the soup for lunch on the DDP. Can you order anything on the lunch menu as a quick service credit on the DDP?
Thanks and love this and your podcast.
AJ says
Maureen P — You can use your quick service credits for any entree, dessert, drink at Be Our Guest for lunch. The purple DDP icon indicates items that are available for a snack credit.
Cindy Kay says
I would love to try the pork, but can’t eat green beans (Disney’s grn bns make me sick for some reason). Can you ‘special’ order a quick service meal at BOG… braised pork without green beans? Or get a plain turkey sandwich w/o anything on it? TIA
Gretchen says
You can order on your SmartPhone?
How does that work?
TIA
Disneyrama says
Make sure you order everything you want before you sit down, it’s impossible to add a coffee or water!!!!!!
The new Be Our Guest Restaurant was definitely worth our lengthy 40 minute wait to get inside, however they do not make it easy to add a forgotten item, like a coffee. A simple add-on should be allowed at the table with a server. Please, please don’t make a customer go back in that wretched, chaotic ordering area for a coffee. (The other customers didn’t appreciate it either, they thought I was cutting in line… I didn’t know where to stand!)
Grandmama had decided she would like a coffee to go with her Croque Monsieur & chocolate cake, and she would give me her Coke. I mentioned it to our table server and was told to go back up front to order. I decided to get her coffee at the same time I got the Coke, forks, knives & napkins (to save time,) make her comfortable at the table, then go stand in line & pay. When I did so, I was accosted by another server by the drinks, telling me he knew I hadn’t paid for that coffee. I KNEW THAT!! I knew it would take me 10-15 minutes before I was again at the table with my 9 year old niece, and her grandmama, so I chose to make them comfortable before I left … Utter nonsense & upsetting!!!! Fix this problem!!!!!
I’m sure I’m not the first this has happened to!!! One scent of that coffee brewing and any number of people will want to add it to their order too!!!!!!!! I left the place very emotionally drained and frustrated.
Cynthia says
My husband & I went to Disneyworld after Thanksgiving 2012, we had the free dining but Be Our Guest was full and we couldn’t get in. I wanted to eat there soooo bad. A friend of mine told me that if I would go early and wait I might be able to get in. I had my husband wait at the resort and I went and waited in line for 2 1/2 hours and they came out and told me I could get it, I called my husband and he caught the bus and l just as he walked up they called us back! It was everything and more than I thought it would be. It was “AWESOME”, The dining hall was unbelievable, the food was to die for! It was worth the wait, I would to it again! And when the Beast walked in, I almost cried! It was an awesome experience. I would suggest to anyone, if they can’t make reservations to go early and wait in line, I went about 4:00p. It’s worth every minute I waited!