Okay, you may have read that title and thought, “Ouch!” — seems a little harsh, no? But lately, “Be our guest” has taken on a whole new meaning; Disney is practically begging people to be their guests and dine at the Beauty and the Beast-inspired restaurant.
The truth is, Be Our Guest Restaurant was once one of the hardest reservations to get in Disney World. Now, most days, it’s pretty easy to get a table at Be Our Guest. Why? Well, in the words of Lumiere, Cogsworth, and Mrs. Potts, “There’s something there that wasn’t there before.”
The good old days
Let’s take a trip down memory lane. When Be Our Guest first opened in 2012, the restaurant was well-regarded as one of the most stunning, immersive restaurants in the Magic Kingdom. In fact, we were among the first to dine at the restaurant way back in 2012!
Back in the day, this restaurant served a Counter-Service (fast-casual) Breakfast and Lunch, then switched to a Table Service (sit-down) meal for Dinner. Despite the fact that this spot only served Counter-Service meals at breakfast and lunch, guests still had to make Advanced Dining Reservations. It was that popular!
Not only that, but guests pre-ordered their meals using My Disney Experience before their dining date. It was a TOTALLY different dining experience — but we loved it. The food was delicious, and the meal felt like a good value considering the stunning setting, quality entrees, and overall popularity.
What went wrong
Unfortunately, Disney decided to change things up. In 2018, Disney changed its service. Now, the restaurant is regarded as a Signature meal with a prix fixe menu. Translation: MAJOR price increase.
Previously, the Table Service Dinner at Be Our Guest Restaurant offered an a la carte menu, but starting on July 27th, 2018, Dinner became a prix fixe, 3-course affair. Back in 2018, the meal was $55 for adults and $35 for children; today, it costs $67 for adults and $39 for kids. That fan-favorite Counter-Service breakfast is gone, and two heavy full-course lunch and dinner options have taken over.
Not only that, but dining reviewers started souring on the food. Thanks to that nearly $70 per-person price tag, guests are expecting some quality food (as they should!). Unfortunately, many feel that the atmosphere is the best part of the dining experience. We just can’t stomach those prices — or those heavy meals at 1:00 in the afternoon in the dead of summer.
Need more proof that the restaurant isn’t as popular as it used to be? We’ve seen Be Our Guest Cast Members walk around Fantasyland and advertise the restaurant’s open availability. In fact, we were once approached by a Cast Member one evening, and they offered us a table at Be Our Guest. Of course, this doesn’t happen all the time, but we have seen it happen in the past.
The truth is, many Disney guests just don’t want to pay a premium on top of an already high-cost vacation. If the Star Wars hotel was any proof, it seems like guest demand just isn’t there for those ultra-pricey experiences. Who knows, maybe Disney will change the menu someday to restore Be Our Guest to its former glory. In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more!
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Have you dined at Be Our Guest recently? Let us know in the comments!
Brad says
The title of this article is 100% accurate. The prix fixe menu is awful, and absolutely not what the consumer wants. Let’s hope that WDW management finally gets the message.
JoAnn says
Totally agree. Our first time, my daughter was able to have French onion soup and dessert. The last time we had to get 3 app, 3 meals 3 desserts. We simply don’t eat that much. Ever. It was a huge expense that I didn’t enjoy.
Bring back ala carte at dinner and qs for lunch.
Stephanie says
I will Not go to Be our Guest again! The food was way better right after the reopened for covid. I claimed best food on property. Went back in December and the food was Awful! The appetizers were so disgusting, I had to get Mac n cheese off the kids menu! Never again for almost $200 for 2 people! PS. Beast doesn’t even come to your table!
Disney Mom says
Went recently. The thing that made me decide not to return was being charged $70 times two for my kids’ macaroni and cheese. It was the same stuff you get from a box. My kids were 10 and 11 and despite ordering a kids meal from the kids menu, I was charged adult prices for their cheap boxed Mac and cheese. Felt soooo ripped off. Never again.
Greg Nicholson says
The time commitment is just too much. Their reservations are always running 20 minutes behind schedule and then you are eating for 90 minutes. I don’t want my lunch in Magic Kingdom to pull me away from attractions for 2 hours.
I thought the food was good, but it does force you into heavier options which isn’t ideal if you want a healthier, lighter lunch. At the end of the day the time commitment was the biggest issue for me.
Grand says
100% agree. Loved the lunch French dip sandwich and the other single pick lunch and breakfast items of days past. Now the food is so-so at best and WAY overpriced.
Susan says
We have never gone to this restaurant, because until recently we were never able to get a reservation. And now, we don’t want to spend even more money on high priced meals in the parks, except on rare occasions like a fireworks dinner at Epcot (which, by the way, is good food compared to the joke that BOG has become. We just don’t want to spend a lot of time eating heavy food when we want to get to attractions – expeciallly after paying for premiums like Genie+, ILLs, and tickets. Disney needs to rethink their in-park dining. We’d rather spend our money on premium resorts for the extra perks and comforts after crazy long days in a park – and maybe one or two special meals. On our recent trips in the past year, we ended up canceling almost all of our big meal reservations because we are eating lighter and faster!
Tom Evans says
I am tired of all the pre fixed menus. These restaurants should be offering ala carte with an option for a special prefixed offering. This will appeal to more people, those who want the great deal of the pre fixed and those who just want a light meal or not to have to be forced to get a course they don’t want.
Jen says
I agree, bring back the original menu, options, and prices! Please don’t forget the dessert cart that was wheeled to your table… That was the most memorable part!!!! We still need Lumiere to guide us to our table, as well.
Pixie says
I feel like the over-priced prix fixe menu is spreading across WDW. We’ve always enjoyed a nice table service meal at lunchtime to have a break and get out of the heat. But the appealing, somewhat reasonable options are dwindling quickly. So quick service it will be for us!
Sue Loveall says
I absolutely agree that Disney ruined this restaurant. I loved the a la carte lunch there. Now all you can get is a very overpriced meal. Not only overpriced, but with very small portions. The last time I had dinner there our party of three had to get a snack after dinner to tie us over to the next day.
Joyce says
The worst part of the entire dinner meal – you only get a glimpse of the Beast. He doesn’t stop at the table nor can you have your picture with him. This is just another example of Disney Corp ignoring the “guests” entertainment value. They should put half the effort into pleasing all the guests, like the full effort they do to NOT Offend certain groups. And really Disney – the charge for children should be at the most 1/2 of an adult meal. Kids don’t eat much at all – until maybe they are teenagers. Then to start charging at the age of 3????
Robert says
I agree. The food and prices are awful. We refuse to go to this place that we once enjoyed. It’s been several years since we have been there.
Pam says
Bring back Chef Jerry! He can straighten out all of this. He is magnificent and a master in the kitchen! Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!
Marie says
My adult family of 4 including me had dinner there in January, 2023. It was awful!! We have been dining there since it opened and have seen the decline. Will not eat there again. It definitely has become a way over priced quick service sit down restaurant.
Sharon says
While I agree with the premise of this article, the price increase from $55 5 years ago to $67 now is not the massive increase the author purports it to be. It averages to a $2.40 increase per year or less than 5% annually. What should really be compared is the price of an average meal before they changed to the fixed priced menu. Then, the massive increase is real. But, I guess Disney got tired of people just ordering a donut and coffee so they could experience the restaurant. It likely cost them more in personnel costs since the donut and coffee order was treated the same as a full meal order.
Michelle Kuk says
Anytime Disney switches (or even has – talking about you Rodeo Roundup) a price fixed menu, you know the quality is bad. Low quality cuts of meat, luke-warm food. It’s a shame. We used to love Be Our Guest dinner, but won’t go anymore.
Mari says
Bring back the Quick Service breakfast and lunch. You don’t need a huge dinner at lunch time, especially at those prices and there are not enough quick service breakfast with reservations at the magic kingdom. It was great when it lasted buy I haven’t been back since the changes to a signature menu. Too many other great alternatives at much better prices.
Sandra G says
We always had lunch there until they switched to table service. Not worth the money for a menu that had almost nothing on it for my selective eater adult son (he has autism). They should bring back the types of dishes they had before, pork stew, sandwiches, quiche and salad, soup, cute desserts, etc. If they don’t want it to be QS, then make it a TS in the same price range as The Plaza. I’d pay for that.
Jp says
I too am tired of prix fixe menus. Please go back and stop nickel and diming. We are tired of it. We started cruising and are buying universal tickets this year. Trying something new. Disney changes are too much for us. You
Kathy says
We ate there last year and it was definitely not worth the price for lunch $ 70 per person. I go to Disney often and had never been able to get reservations and now I’m sorry I did, definitely not worth $280 for 4/for lunch! I advise don’t waste your money there are many very good restaurants and fast food places to eat!
Todd says
I considered this a one-and-done since the day it opened just for the environment. The food was never anything that special and the acoustics in the main room required yelling to speak across the table. Skipper Canteen easily is the best dining in Magic Kingdom.
phillysub1 says
Ate there once for dinner, and have no plans of going back. The thing about themed restaurants are that they are usually, “1-and-done”. You go there for the atmosphere, and then it’s like “been there, done that!”.
I felt that way for Space 220 and Cinderella’s Castle (although we did go to the Castle multiple times with guests who were never there).
Problem with prix fixe meals, they know that with the small choice of entrees, it’s practically guaranteed an entree will be selected. I felt that way when we went. We ordered the filet, and it came out cold! How does that happen? Maybe because the food was cooked ahead of time then set under a heat lamp? Very disappointing!
We told our waitress that we were not happy about it, and they comped our desserts (received a credit on the bill).
But, I experienced it, and have no plans of ever returning.
Jennifer says
Mmm that Croque Monsieur on the counter service breakfast menu was so good. We never went back once they switched to the prix fix menu, because we heard it was not good. This is the same reason we don’t do CRT either. The food is not worth the cost.
Gina F says
I agree with everything everyone is saying. I tell all of my friends not to waste time or money here. I also hate the pre fix meals. I like to be able to have more choices.
Richard Mercer says
When this restaurant was first announced, there was an email address (“known to but a few”) you had to apply to in order to get a reservation. It was some time before you could get a reservation using standard methods. I ended up eating there several times, the last time getting in as a walk-up(!) But it was always about atmosphere rather than food. Unusual for me, but I have always been a huge BATB fan.
FL-Dad says
Yes! We first dined there in the early days and had the dinner, which was magnificent. The Grey Stuff was great too! We also went there for lunch and loved the food and service (they brought your lunch order to you at your table). Once they started with the prix-fixe meals, we lost interest. Back when there was the original Disney Dining Plan, we used two meals to eat at Narcoosee’s. THAT is a restaurant worth every penny we spent on the Dining Plan! We would normally ring-up over $300 worth of food and drinks for two adults and one child. The DDP made it all worth it! I wish they would bring back the original DDP.
But back to “Be Our Guest” will never eat there again unless they return to how it used to be.
Sally Maxwell says
I am sad to say that I must agree with these diners. The food was not that appealing and Beast makes a quick run through the dining room. On the whole, I don’t object to a prix fixe menu but there weren’t many options for non-meat eaters. The room was loud and it was generally an unpleasant experience.
Karen says
I agree with the article 100%. It used to be a favorite of my family’s but when they turned it into a pricey prix fixe meal we stopped having dinner there. Absolutely loved the take out lunch they used to serve! It was wonderful!!! Who wants a gigantic expensive meal for lunch? Too heavy, too expensive and have not been back since the changes.☹️
What a shame…loved to eat there at Christmas time…the decorations used to be sooo beautiful!
Dottyanna says
Agree with all comments. We used to go regularly when we could preorder our QS meal and cost was reasonable. Haven’t gone since and don’t intend to unless they change back to QS for breakfast and lunch.
Michael says
We ate there many (10-15) times when it first opened. We went once after the menu changed, and vowed never to return. Too expensive, time consuming and heavy for a day at MK.
FL-Dad says
Todd wrote:
“Skipper Canteen easily is the best dining in Magic Kingdom.”
Agreed. However, they got rid of the Crew Stew (Seafood Stew) which was my favorite. Their gluten-free offerings have also decreased, which leaves very little for my wife to eat, so we don’t eat there anymore either.
Tracy Smith says
I know this has nothing to do with dining but prices are crazy for trading pins too! A 5 pack of mystery pins used to be $27.99 just 2 years ago. Now that same pack of pins is $39.99! I’m glad that the Star Wars hotel has to close! That should tell them something! Although they aren’t going to listen!
Steven says
100% agree with the above comments, Prix Fixe are just a way to service cheap mass produced banquet type food and over charging for it. This is a signature restaurant there should be a chef preparing the meals individually. Also they stopped breakfast which we loved, the Croque Madam was delicious. And please stop defending Disney by saying people would just go to the atmosphere and buy no food that is crazy, maybe a few did that there are other remedies for that instead crap food. Quick example, the last time we went there my girlfriend’s chicken was over cooked and very, not edible. We said something to the waiter and he said, I quote, “you should have ordered the steak” and walked away. We will NEVER go back. If Disney keeps going to Prix Fixe menus and the quality continues to drop we may start eating off site. Disney I hope you are listening.
Holly says
Our party of 3 were guests in 2021. We knew it was expensive but decided to treat ourselves anyway. We LOVED the food! The Filet was so tender (like butter) The sauce superb, dessert great. We were well satisfied with our meal and the experience.
Janet C says
The castle is beautiful with it’s themed dining rooms, so I went many times, as difficult as it was to get in, for the quick-service breakfast and lunch when the food was really great. It really was! The breakfast was overpriced (at a flat $22 for any entree including the croissant doughnut), but the food was good. The lunch was reasonable and so so good with the pork au vin and that lemon meringue cupcake. I took my husband to dinner when it became the prix fixe menu with the Beast walking through (which for us adults with no kids is ideal, actually, to see him without having to take time to “meet” him), and was terribly disappointed in the food, limited menu, and price, of course.
It was my chance to get my husband interested in going to WDW with me, and he didn’t complain but did not love it. He has never been back to WDW, and that is normal for a grown man with no kids but could be at least partially because of that expensive, lousy dinner.
jackie delaney says
I agree with all of the above. I finally went to Storybook at Artist Point and the entertainment and food were completely worth the price. The wicked witch was great and the food was absolutely delicious. Cant wait to go again. The Be Our Guest needs a change. The food needs an overhaul and I honestly thing Belle and Beast should BOTH be there and maybe have a dance together and both visit guest. Hopefully Disney is reading these comments!!
Pam says
No pre-fix meals
Patti says
I had tried to get a reservation at Be Out Guest every time my family went since they opened. I finally got reservations for our visit in March. I was very disappointed as the food was not good. It is definitely 2 visits in one, first and last.
Barb says
When paying $67/person for a meal, I expect a “fine dining” experience. This was not it. Was there in late May with my husband, adult daughter, 3 kids ages 9,14 and 17. The food was good but too much for the younger kids who did NOT want mac and cheese for dinner! The Beast waltzed in and walked around the center of the restaurant, coming nowhere near most tables…once. That was it. No photo op or even a wave. The room was as loud as a school cafeteria, and NOT the experience we had 9 years ago, when the napkins were folded like roses, the Beast paid the kids a visit, and we could order a la carte. Waste of money.
Gary says
That’s the new Disney mantra raise the price till the customer squeals and then raise it another 10%
Mari says
Anyone who has only been to Be Our Guest under the present Prixfixe menu missed a great experience, When BOG first opened with Quick Service Breakfast and Lunch, and Table Service supper the food for all three meals was excellent. Plus meeting the Beast in the parlour during or after dinner was a great experience for adults and children alike.
E.B. says
Years ago (pre-COVID) we had a land and sea vacation. I told my family “Let’s skip the fine dining in the parks because we will eat well on the ship – and it’s already paid for.” That’s what we did and it was awesome.
Ever since, we graze through WDW on snacks and quick service restaurants. We eat well, have a blast doing it, and save loads of time and money. I highly recommend it.
Jabroniville says
lol, a pretty brutal indictment. But I do agree that the MASSIVE prices are a killer, especially when you just want to take in the atmosphere! Though when I went in November on pretty mid-crowded days, it was so hard to get a reservation I was stuck getting lunch-time meals as there was NOTHING available for dinner. So I’m not sure if the lack of crowding is a very recent phenomenon or what.
I never did get to see the “early days”- in 2014 I was too late for a reservation, and I’ve only been going since 2019, so I never saw it without a prix fix menu. But yeah, those are kind of a pain. Very much a “we only want high-value guests here to spend money; not just sip one drink and then wander around taking pictures”.
I did find that the Beast went right to my table- he even shook my hand!
Essie says
I hit the BOG restaurant on a lucky soft opening. We loved it. It was lunchtime and I had a wonderful cold turkey sandwich and my friends also had sandwiches. We all had cupcakes for our dessert. It was so good and wasn’t that expensive at all. I’d eat there again in a second, but not with heavy hot meals, certainly not with those high prices. I’d rather do quick service (which lunch at BOG was at that time), or just do snacks.
Walt says
We loved the pork and turkey sandwhiches for lunch years ago.
We will not be back. I spent more for lunch for 8 then dinner at Wilderness lodge for 12. Very disappointed.
Jennifer Reed says
Totally agree! My family goes to WDW almost every year, and Be Our Guest used to be one of our favorites. My kids still ask to go, and I have to remind them how bad it’s become. There just isn’t much for my picky eater, and none of the food is impressive. What a disappointment! Disney ruined a great thing.
Renee says
I used to really love their lunch offerings. The turkey sandwich was so good! The full 3 course meals are just too much in the Orlando heat–and I usually go in the fall or winter! I can’t even imagine eating that at 3PM in August!
Hope says
Heck bring back the great quick serve lunch option! Better yet also make it mobile order ready! The restaurant is beautiful and our family has very fond memories of dining there in earlier days. We won’t visit until they prefix is gone!
mousetrippers says
For our first trip to Disney in 2014, I wanted to experience everything since I thought it would a “one and done” trip. I tried desperately to get an ADR to BOG because B&TB is my favorite Disney movie, but no such luck. Much to my surprise and delight, I received an email to try quick-service lunch there. We were ecstatic!! I had the French onion soup, hubby had a sandwich, and my two daughters were able to choose what they wanted. Of course we had dessert too, and the grey stuff cupcake really was delicious! It was a magical experience. When we went again a few years later, it was the prix fixe menu. I balked at paying those prices but I selfishly wanted to experience BOG again. My daughters were not happy with the food options available and ended up wasting most of their meals. We did manage to get photos with the beast afterwards so is was partly worth it, but sadly, we haven’t been back since because it’s just too cost prohibitive and the menu too restrictive. If I go on an adult trip with my hubby or my mom, mayyybe I would go back, just for the experience. I wish Disney would restore BOG to its glory days of QS breakfast and lunch and dinner that had more options with different price points. Then I wouldn’t hesitate to go each trip!