Dine or Ditch: Be Our Guest at the Magic Kingdom

The next restaurant to be reviewed in the Dine or Ditch series is one that's sure to raise some heated opinions on both sides. Be Our Guest is a fan favorite and one restaurant that was on the top of my list to experience in 2018. Would it live up to the hype?

The approach is promising.

Regardless of how you feel about it, one of the hottest meal tickets on the Disney property is Be Our Guest in the New Fantasyland section of the Magic Kingdom. Does this mean it has the best food, the most incredible atmosphere, or stunning entertainment compared to other locations found in the parks or resorts? No, it means that Beauty and the Beast is a much loved film and in all its forms continues to be a big draw throughout the multitude of Disney destinations. 

Behind door number 1? The movie's ballroom.

Having to get up early in the morning to make dining reservations when the central desk opens is not my choice in vacation planning. Yet, there's no way around it if dining in Beast's castle is at the top of your list as it was for mine in 2018 when we traveled with our youngest daughter and her family. Be Our Guest also made the list for our 2019 trip as we were traveling with a different daughter and her family, and they wanted to eat there as well.

The West Wing- dark, mysterious, and full of Disney charm.

The number one rule here to getting the reservation you want or one at all- "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again." Over and over. It took many attempts to get exactly what we wanted. Unfortunately, with the mess Disney's created by having to book everything in advance, you have to shuffle the importance of getting key Fast Pass attractions with the most coveted dining reservations. This challenge is the most difficult, most maddening, part of a Walt Disney World vacation! Is Be Our Guest worth it? Read on and make your own decision.

Our first visit was truly a magical experience. Our reservations were very late in the evening. In fact, it may have been the last seating time on schedule. Fantasyland was close to empty as parents took their kids home for the night. Even though we had two elementary kids with us, choosing this time was to our advantage. 

If you ask nicely, the cast member may let you in early

to take some photos- even if your reservation

is later in the day.

The approximate twenty minute wait gave us time to explore both the inside and outside of the castle and take some photos. 

We considered the ballroom, but decided to dine in the West Wing as our daughter's family had dined in the ballroom in the past. The atmosphere here is rich and rather private feeling in spite of all the tables. Toss in a thunderstorm outside, a magic rose losing its petals, and a changing portrait of the master of the castle, and it is a stunning environment. Added benefit was how quiet this location was, creating a very relaxing spot to eat. 

Beast in his dinner attire.

Once we were seated, I took the time to explore the other rooms and discovered a dinner only surprise: The servants of the castle introduced the master, who then proceeded to walk through the main areas before settling into a private meeting room so that diners could have an up close and personal character greeting. Be aware, this is something that is not done at any other time of the day. You'll see Gaston in the village, but Beast is only found here.

Our meals were just as wonderful as the surroundings! They began with a glass of sparkling wine and ended with the grey stuff. Yes, it is delicious! Service was attentive but not intrusive, and our staff was very much into providing a memorable experience for us and for the littlest diners without the slightest bit of a mess. (Inside joke.)

Was it expensive? Absolutely! Our dinner for two with "adult" drinks, dessert, tax and tip went far beyond the one hundred dollar mark. (Note this was back when the Disney Dining Plan counted this as one credit, not two.) We had other very memorable meals that trip, but this was hands down my favorite overall. Beauty and the Beast is my favorite animated movie, so the experience was something I did not want to miss. I was not disappointed. Definitely a "Dine".

Our next visit was not so "enchanting"...

Not in the movie, so this room wasn't even on the table as a choice.

By the time we returned a year later, Be Our Guest was two credits for dinner on the Disney Dining Plan. We were on the plan for this trip, but we opted for a lunch reservation instead, making use of a Quick Service credit. Was it a smart choice? Yes and no.

Excitedly, we entered the castle and were ushered past the suits of armor into a room where kiosks were set up to receive our meal orders. It was quick and efficient. If I'm not mistaken, these were placed in the exact same room where Beast sat at exclusive dinnertime character meet and greet. 

This time we ate in the Ballroom. It was difficult to find seating for our large group. The whole restaurant was filled with families. That in itself wasn't a problem as we were a party of seven with three kids. Part of the issue was so many kids - but not ours - were left to run around as they pleased, making it a very noisy and unpleasant experience. The general lack of consideration for others was rather appalling. 

Although the lunch offerings were decent and the food slightly better than average, the service was not very good. More than once, food was brought to our table that wasn't ours. And it was not delivered all together. I'm not sure this was the fault of the harried waitstaff as much as it was the system. We ate our meals and left as quickly as we came. Our daughter and her husband counted Be Our Guest as one of their least favorite experiences on the property... and I had to agree. It was not worth the time or the money. The contrast between first and second visits couldn't have been more stark. We probably won't eat here again unless it's with another family member who has not been there before. 

A Few Tips:
If you must eat here, try to obtain the reservation you want by getting on line early and/or try again up until departure date. If still unsuccessful, keep checking availability on the My Disney Experience App once you arrive on the Walt Disney World property.

If you're a big fan of the movie, eat in the Ballroom or the West Wing. Skip the Music Box room as it is not in the movie, but do take the time to explore each area. 

Wanting the full dinner experience? Use the Disney Dining Plan. Otherwise plan for a very expensive out of pocket meal- much more than it is worth. Choose lunch for a Quick Service credit or pay on your own. It's still expensive, but if you've got to see it for yourself, this is your best option. Take your time to explore the rooms in the castle and do not let anyone rush you- but do be considerate of others.

Dine or Ditch for Be Our Guest?  A very personal choice. If you've never eaten here, it's a "Dine" with some caveats. If you have, it's a "Ditch". Better experiences and food can be found elsewhere on the property with much less stress.

UPDATE: Disney confirmed today that this restaurant will no longer offer breakfast and will now only be table service. Makes the decision to Dine or Ditch even more difficult!

(Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)