Aug 1 2014

Friday Favorites – Best Disney World Lunch Spot – Be Our Guest Restaurant

Update February 3, 2015: Beginning February 25, 2015, lunch reservations will be available for the Be Our Guest Restaurant in Magic Kingdom. A reservation can be made by calling 407-WDW-DINE or by visiting MyDisneyExperience.com. Guests will have the option to pre-order meals through My Disney Experience (between 30 days in advance up to five minutes before the reservation time) or menu selections can be made at the kiosks inside the restaurant upon arrival. For guests wishing to dine at Be Our Guest in the evening, a table service dinner will still be available and will continue to require an advanced dining reservation. Look for a breakfast option to be added in the near future.

For today’s Friday favorites, I would like to share with you my pick for the best Disney World lunch spot – Be Our Guest Restaurant. I absolutely love this place! Be Our Guest is a counter service by day and a table service by night restaurant located at Magic Kingdom set in Beast’s Castle from the Disney animated classic, Beauty and the Beast. In my opinion, this is the best place for lunch in all of Disney World. I love the menu and the elegant atmosphere!

Here’s everything you need to know about lunch at Be Our Guest Restaurant:

The Atmosphere

One of the things that I love about Be Our Guest is the beautiful detail and theming. There are three separate dining areas to choose from, each very distinctly designed. There is a smaller and darker West Wing room, a grand ballroom in the middle and a simpler but still wonderfully decorated room displaying gorgeous artwork.

The Menu

The lunch menu currently offers:

French Onion or Potato Leek Soup
Tuna or Chicken Nicoise Salad
Quinoa Salad
Croque Monsieur
Carved Turkey Sandwich
Carved Prime Chuck Roast Beef Sandwich
Vegetable Quiche
Braised Pork
Pomme Frites (French Fries)
Cupcakes: Master’s, Strawberry Cream Cheese, Triple Chocolate and Lemon Meringue
Cream Puffs: Chocolate, Tropical Fruit and Lemon-Raspberry
Sorbets: Lemon and Raspberry
Kids Meals: Meatloaf, Turkey Sandwich, Grilled Cheese with Tomato Soup, Mahi Mahi, Grilled Chicken, Pasta with Marinara Sauce and Slowed Cooked Pork
Beverages: Soda, Milk, Coffee, Water, Juice and Tea

For the official lunch menu, please check out this link.

Hours

Be Our Guest serves lunch from 10:30am – 2:30pm each day.

Pricing

Soups are about $6, entrees run in the $11 to $15 range, desserts are in the $4 to $5 range, kids meals range from $7 to $9 and beverages are about $3 each. These items and prices are subject to change and do not include tax.

Dining Plan

Be Our Guest counts as 1 counter service credit on the Disney Dining Plan for lunch.

Discounts

Be Our Guest does not offer any discounts at lunch.

Fastpass+ Reservations

If you are staying at a Disney hotel during your visit, have a My Disney Experience (MDE) account and have your 12 digit hotel reservation number, you may be able to make a Fastpass+ reservation for lunch at Be Our Guest. Click this link to login and check availability. This Fastpass+ window usually opens about 27 days in advance and you will only be able to book one reservation during the first seven days of your stay. This Fastpass+ will not count as one of your three allotted Fastpass+ and it will not appear anywhere, but in that linked website. Be sure to print out a copy of the Fastpass+ and your food order (should you choose to order in advance) in case any problems arise when checking in. If you are able to obtain a Fastpass+ reservation, you can bypass the long line and head straight for the check in area just to the left directly before the walkway into the restaurant. If you are unable to get a Fastpass+ reservation, just know that although the standby line is usually long, the cast members do a great job of moving it along quickly and there is plenty of seating available once your group is inside.

My Experience

During my most recent trip to Disney World, my family and I decided to try out Be Our Guest for lunch for the first time. Before leaving town, I went to the above link and secured us a Fastpass+ reservation. I went ahead and placed our food order knowing that we would be able to change it at the restaurant if we changed our minds. Just as I read on several Disney webpages, my Fastpass+ was nowhere to be found, except in that linked website. I checked it several times before our trip and each time, I was relieved to find that it was still there. I made sure to print out a copy just in case I had any problems when I arrived at the restaurant. When the day came and it was time for lunch, my family and I bypassed the enormous line and headed straight for the cast members just before the walkway. They directed us to a check in area on the left. My heart was racing as I headed over to check in, would my Fastpass+ actually work? It did! No problems at all! I gave them my name (I didn’t even need my printouts) and they told me to head on in. We then headed to the entrance of the restaurant where I scanned my MagicBand, a cast member handed us a menu and instructed us which line to enter. Within a few minutes, we were at the kiosk confirming and adjusting our order and then paying. Next we made our way to the dining rooms to find some seats. Despite how long the line was, there was plenty of seating available. We secured a table in the main dining room and then got our self-serve drinks. A few moments later, our food was magically delivered to us. Your MagicBand is used to find your location in the restaurant so that the cast members can deliver your food directly to you. Between the six of us, we had the turkey sandwich, the roast beef sandwich, the grilled cheese, the tomato soup and all of the cupcakes. Everything was delicious! This place will definitely be on our must-visit list on our next trip. It is expensive, but the food quality, convenience and atmosphere are worth it in my opinion.

So there you have it…my pick for the best Disney World lunch spot – Be Our Guest Restaurant!

What about you? Have you been to Be Our Guest for lunch? Did you use a Fastpass+ reservation? What is your favorite Disney World lunch spot? Please leave a comment!

Jul 23 2014

Daily Dose Of Disney – The Crystal Palace

Did you know that the architecture for The Crystal Palace restaurant in the Magic Kingdom was based on the Kew Gardens in England, the Crystal Palace in New York and the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers?

Jun 20 2014

Friday Favorites – Best Disney World Breakfast Spot – Boma

For today’s Friday favorites, I would like to share with you my pick for the best Disney World breakfast spot – Boma. I absolutely love this place! Boma is a buffet-style restaurant located at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. In my opinion, this is the best place for breakfast in all of Disney World. They have an amazing variety of tasty foods so even the most picky of eaters, like myself, can find plenty of things to try. We make Boma a regular stop every time we visit Disney World and when I was there twice last week, it was great as usual!

Here’s everything you need to know about Boma:

The Atmosphere

One of the things that I love about Boma is the calm atmosphere. You can sit back, relax and enjoy a nice leisurely breakfast before you head off to a fast-paced day in the parks.

The Menu

Items can vary day-to-day, but the buffet generally includes:

Fresh Fruit (Pineapple, Melon, Strawberries and Grapes)
African Fruit Salad
Yogurt
Bacon
Sausage
Hand Carved Ham
Hand Carved Turkey
Omelet Station
Plain Scrambled Eggs
Scrambled Eggs with Goat Cheese and Spinach
Hard Boiled Eggs
Breakfast Potatoes
Assorted Cereals
Quinoa
Oatmeal
Mini Muffins
Breakfast Breads
Mini Croissants
Cinnamon Rolls
Apple Pastries
Sticky Buns
Pancakes
Mickey Waffles
Bagels
Donuts
Bread for Toast
Bobotie
French Toast Bread Pudding with Praline Sauce
Grilled Tomatoes
Corn Beef Hash

They also offer a wide variety of beverages such as juice, coffee, milk and soft drinks. A non-specialty drink is included in the price of the buffet. The favorite choice here is “Jungle Juice” – a combination of orange, passion fruit and guava juices. Yummy!

Hours

Boma serves breakfast from 7:30am – 11am each day.

Pricing

Pricing varies based on the day of the week and the time of year, but in general for guests ages 10 and older the buffet costs $20 – $25 and for guests ages 3 to 9 the buffet costs $12 – $15. The price does not include tax or gratuity.

Dining Plan

Boma counts as 1 table service credit on the Disney Dining Plan.

Discounts

Boma offers a 10% Disney Vacation Club Discount, a 10% Disney Rewards Discount or a 20% Tables in Wonderland Discount.

Reservations

Reservations are recommended and can be made up to 180 days in advance. Click this link to check availability and to make a reservation.

Service

The service at Boma is exceptional! We go there so regularly that we often request our favorite servers that we’ve had throughout the years. We love Albert and Amin!

So there you have it…my pick for the best Disney World breakfast spot – Boma!

What about you? Have you been to Boma? What is your favorite Disney World breakfast spot? Please leave a comment!

Apr 11 2014

Friday Favorites – Best Disney World Character Meals

For today’s Friday Favorites, I’m going to share with you my picks for best Disney World character meals. Personally, I love character meals! Even though they are more expensive than a regular table service meal, they are such a fun experience and are well worth the additional cost in my opinion. What I love most about them is that you get great one-on-one interaction with the characters while you are enjoying your meal. You can take photos, get autographs and have a little quality time with your favorites. I feel like the time spent with the characters in this setting is so much more special and personal than at the character greeting spots. And this way you don’t have to spend additional time during your day waiting in line or using one of your Fastpass+ reservations to see the characters. So here are my choices for best Disney World character meals!

Cinderella’s Royal Table If you have someone in your group that likes princesses, this is the place to go! You will be treated to an elegant meal inside Cinderella’s castle in the Magic Kingdom. You will begin by getting your photo taken with Cinderella herself (this is included in the price of your meal and will be brought to you at your table) and then you are off to the dining room. Throughout your meal various princesses will visit you at your table for photos and autographs. This is a plated meal that you can choose from a small menu. The food itself is usually rated as average, but this meal is really about the experience of dining in the castle. They can even arrange a special celebration for your own “princess” for a birthday or engagement! A reservation here is difficult to come by and needs to be booked as soon as your 180 day window opens up.
Crystal Palace This location serves a buffet style breakfast, lunch or dinner and is located in the Magic Kingdom. The restaurant itself is a beautiful combination of greenery, white woodwork and glass. It makes you feel like you are dining in an elegant greenhouse. Here you will get the pleasure of visiting with Winnie the Pooh and some of his friends (usually Piglet, Tigger and Eeyore). They will come by your table for photos and autographs and about once an hour everyone can participate with the characters in a Friendship Parade around the restaurant. The food here is traditional American fare and there is even a kid’s buffet. To make a visit here more special, book a reservation as early as possible in the morning. You will be allowed into the Magic Kingdom before it opens and you can get some amazing pictures on Main Street and of Cinderella’s Castle with no crowds. Also, if you are finished eating early enough, you will be one of the first ones to the attractions as soon as they open.
Chef Mickey’s Located at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, this is one of the most popular character meals in all of Disney World. This restaurant serves up a buffet style breakfast or dinner filled with American cuisine. As with most of the character meals, the food is tasty and plentiful, but it is much more about the experience. The location offers beautiful views of Bay Lake and the exciting sight of the monorail speeding along just above you! Here you will get to hang out with the Fab Five (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto and Goofy) when they come by your table for photos and autographs. Every so often the song “Celebrate with Mickey Mouse” starts playing and the entire restaurant erupts in celebration complete with napkin twirling and dancing! This place is loud and full of excitement. Definitely book this reservation at 180 days out!
Garden Grill This restaurant is located in the Land Pavilion in Future World at Epcot. Not only is this a character meal featuring Mickey, Pluto, Chip and Dale, it is also served up in a rotating restaurant! That’s right…this place spins while you are eating offering magnificent views of the Living with the Land ride. I love that attraction, so that makes this restaurant even more special to me. The meal here is all-you-can-eat served family style right at your table. This choice was especially attractive to me when my kids were really small, because it was so nice to have everything come to me, characters and food included! It was so much more relaxing, because I didn’t have to juggle two little ones through buffet lines with plates, cameras and autograph books all at once. The menu here is simple with rolls, salad, beef, turkey, fish, veggies and cobbler for dessert. Be sure to request a booth for the best views of Living with the Land and put your kids on the ends so that they will have easy access to the characters as they come by.
‘Ohana Located at Disney’s Polynesian Resort, this restaurant offers a unique dining and character experience. ‘Ohana meaning family is a great place to bring your whole gang to hang out with Lilo, Stitch, Mickey and Pluto. The atmosphere here has a Polynesian flare while offering spectacular views of the Seven Seas Lagoon and the Magic Kingdom. The characters come by your table for photos and autographs and about every 45 minutes there is a fun-filled parade to join in. The food here is yummy and served all-you-can-eat family style right to your table. While this restaurant serves both breakfast and dinner, the characters are only present at breakfast time. The food includes breakfast breads, fruit, bacon, sausage, eggs, potatoes, biscuits and Mickey waffles. Being a huge fan of Hawaii, I love this place!

There you have it…my picks for best Disney World character meals! Be sure to click on the restaurant name to be taken to each place’s official website for more information and to make reservations. I hope you enjoy your meal and time with the characters as much as my family!

What about you? Do you have a favorite character meal? Please leave a comment!

Apr 3 2014

Disney World Planning Basics: Dining Options

A big part of many people’s Disney World vacation is all the delicious food to eat! There are so many dining options (literally hundreds), it can be overwhelming! So here are some of the things that I do when planning where to eat on my trips.

At about seven months before my vacation, I start researching the table service restaurants where I would like to book an Advanced Dining Reservation (ADR – Disney World’s version of a reservation). You can book ADRs 180 days in advance and some of the most popular restaurants and character meals fill up very quickly, even the first day they are available! A great place to start your research is Disney World’s official website. On this page you can filter your search by location, type of cuisine, guest rating and cost. This site offers basic information about each restaurant including the current menu and prices. Once I have narrowed my options down, I like to check out The Disney Food Blog. This unofficial fan site is amazing! They have incredible photos, reviews, menus and other guest comments to read, to help you make your final decisions. Then at exactly 180 days out, I go back to Disney World’s website to make my Advanced Dining Reservations.

I like to research counter service restaurant options (places that don’t accept reservations) before my trips as well. If you haven’t been to Disney World before, it is not like a typical amusement park, where you find basically the same food at every restaurant. Even Disney World’s counter service restaurants have lots of variety from place to place. When I travel to Disney World, I am usually traveling with a group and it always includes my young kids. Everyone knows how hard it is to make a decision in the spur of the moment with lots of people including hungry kids! So before our trips, our whole group likes to discuss possible places to eat. Again The Disney Food Blog is our go-to website to figure this out. We check out the photos, menus, reviews and comments to get an idea of where we might like to eat in each park and make a list. That way when everyone in our group is hungry, we just check our list and head to the nearest counter service restaurant we have already preselected. It saves so much time and energy!

How about you? How do you go about choosing where to eat in Disney World? Please leave a comment!