Be Our Guest Restaurant Review

As a frequent traveler to Walt Disney World, I’m always looking forward to new attractions and shows, but most importantly, new places to EAT!  The Fantasyland expansion brought new castles to Magic Kingdom, one of which belongs to the Beast (of Beauty and the Beast).  The restaurant is called Be Our Guest Restaurant and serves both quick-service lunch or sit-down dinner.  I have partaken of both and below I review my visits for you.

Sit-down Dinner:

Be Our Guest Restaurant opened the week of November 18, 2012.  My husband and I were attending a Grand Gathering for a family Disney Wedding.  Although, we were traveling with our children, we were only able to snag a reservation for two.  Being the good parents we are, we took advantage of our built-in family babysitters, Grandma and Grandpa, and allowed the grandparents to enjoy the Disney Magic on their own with their grandchildren and have a date night together!

We dined there on Thanksgiving evening, 2012.  Since Be Our Guest is a Disney restaurant located in the Magic Kingdom, I chose not to get to spiffy, since I would be walking and riding the attractions.  There is no need to wear your best attire, since dress is “park” attire.  

The attention to detail of the restaurant is outstanding.  It has been awhile since I’ve viewed the Beauty and the Beast movie, my daughter is now 10, but what I remember was spot on point.   Restaurant check- in was prior to crossing the bridge to the castle door.  Gargoyles line the bridge on both sides to the entrance.  Inside, there are three different dining areas:  The West Wing, Belle’s library and the grand 2-story Ballroom.  When you visit The West Wing, be sure to go to the far back to see the enchanted rose.  Also, be sure to visit the hall of armor on your way out of the restaurant.  Keep your ears open.

My husband and I were seated in the Ballroom under the magnificent chandeliers and had a view of falling snow out the windows.  The ambiance is of warmth and peace, although it was quite noisy with the carts of food being pushed around and the clanging of silverware and dishes.  I was disappointed that the tables did not have tablecloths and this seem to add to the noise.

The Beast walked through the hall on more than one occasion and you were allowed an audience with him after your meal (to take photos).

The restaurant has a French theme and is the only restaurant in Magic Kingdom that serves alcohol.  It is served only with dinner and is limited to French wine and beer.  It seemed kind of naughty to be ordering alcohol in the MAGIC KINGDOM, but hey, when in Rome….

My husband ordered the French Onion Soup and the Rotisserie Cornish Hen with Roasted Fingerling Potatoes and Seasoned Vegetables.  I had a Garden Salad and Grilled Strip Steak with Garlic Herb Butter Pommes Fries.   I have to say, I was a little disappointed by the menu selections.  The food was just fine, but nothing spectacular like the view out those 2-story ballroom windows. 

For dessert we split the Triple Chocolate Cupcake and Lemon Meringue Cupcake.  Again, these were “just okay” but nothing to write home about.

Our server was knowledgeable and her service was great, but considering that the food prices were high, Disney needs to work on both the menu selection and quality.  It’s off - way off for such a high-profiled restaurant in the newly expanded Fantasyland.  However, I will give them the benefit of the doubt, knowing that it was their first week open.  I would book another reservation and include my children on our next visit.

This restaurant is on the Dining Plan and also on Tables in Wonderland.  To book your sit-down dinner reservation please call (407) WDW-DINE or book online at www.disneyworld.com/dine.

Quick-service Lunch:

In order to eat lunch at Be My Guest restaurant, I suggest you decide if you are going to eat early or late and line up accordingly.  I choose to eat early and got into line around 10:30am.  I choose to visit while attending a runDisney marathon weekend. 

Guests were lined up almost to the entrance of Voyage of the Little Mermaid attraction when I got into line.  We were told the estimated wait-time would be 45-minutes.  I did time the wait myself and that was accurate.  The cast members pass out menus so that you can make your lunch selections prior to time of ordering. 

Guests are placed into two different lines – cash and credit card.  They then self-order from a computer kiosk.  It is self-seating for lunch and guests are located by their “rose” left on their tables. 

I choose the Tuna Nicoise Salad for lunch and a Coke.  The salad is a warm seared tuna steak with chilled green beans, potatoes, olives, roasted bell peppers, tomatoes, and hard boiled eggs for $13.49.  I thought the salad quite delicious.  It was light and tasty.  The tuna was cooked to perfection – medium rare and enough salad dressing was given (on the side) to add, but not overpower the greens.   I would recommend the restaurant for lunch.  You cannot get an exceptional salad like that anywhere else in the Magic Kingdom and I would choose to stand in line again to have another. 

All in all, I think that Be My Guest Restaurant should be on your list of restaurants to patron on your Walt Disney World vacation.  I think that if you are not able to secure a dinner reservation, that lunch would be fine for a first visit.  I think a foodie, might be better off securing another restaurant for dinner and should only dine at lunch.  However, fans of Beauty and the Beast should definitely reserve a dinner seating to spend as much time in the Ballroom as possible!