Disney TidBits: Be Our Guest Restaurant

We ventured over to Be Our Guest Restaurant in the Fantasyland Area of Magic Kingdom recently for a birthday/Mom's Day celebration dinner. I was lucky enough to find a reservation for four people within a few days of when I searched, which is rare. If you plan to go, book early on Disney's reservation page https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/ because every time I check the wait has been over month! Breakfast seems to have more availability than dinner.

The Beast wanders through the rooms during dinner and is available for pictures in an area near the entrance to the restaurant. We didn't get a picture because the line was pretty long when we were finished with dinner, but when we walked by on our way in, there was only one person (should have gone then!).

I requested seating in the "West Wing" when I checked in for the reservation which increased our wait time by a few minutes but it was WORTH it! There are three dining areas in the Beast's castle - West Wing, The Rose Room and the Grand Ballroom.

As we all know, the West Wing is the portion of the castle where the Beast resides and it is OFF LIMITS to Belle and anyone else. It is dark, messy and in ill repair. A picture of handsome Prince Eric (before he was turned into the Beast) graces the fireplace, however, it appears the Beast has slashed it in anger. The picture magically turns from Prince Eric to the Beast during a loud thunder storm that occurs every 15 minutes or so as you can see in the 10 second video, below. Sorry my pictures are a little grainy, it was dark in this room and a flash really changed the atmosphere of the room.

Watch Prince Eric turn into the Beast!

Below, the Beast's enchanted rose is on display on a table in the West Wing. The petals flutter to the bottom of the glass case during dinner.

The Beast's fits of rage are evident in the West Wing, which has slashed tapestries and furniture strewn about.

I have to be honest, generally I am not a huge fan of Disney's food, but I love the ambiance and detail that the themed restaurants provide. Since I have such low expectations for the food I am always pleasantly surprised when I enjoy the food at all, and the dinner at Be Our Guest Restaurant was much more than just enjoyable.

We started with the charcuterie board which includes sausages, cured meats, cornichons, pickled onions. The meats and cheeses were well selected along with a large loaf of warm, crusty bread that we devoured. For dinner, I ordered the sauteed shrimp and scallops baked in a puff pastry with lobster sauce. It had plenty of shrimp and scallops, I honestly couldn't finish it because it was so much food and it really was wonderful. My husband ordered grilled strip steak with garlic herb butter (medium) and unfortunately it was very chewy, but our server graciously took it back and later produced a much better steak, it was probably the cut of meat on the first try. Our son, Dean, age 10, ordered the kids' steak and his was very moist, tender and deliciously perfect. This child is notorious for not eating (he is Ralphie's brother from "A Christmas Story" - every family has a kid who won't eat) so it says a lot that he actually DID eat his dinner. Lance had the coq au vin braised pork which was succulent and delicious, served with mashed potatoes and asparagus.

I was busy eating, and didn't take very many pictures of dinner, but dessert... I grabbed some pictures of the wooden cart they bring around. I ordered the strawberry cream cheese cupcake (pink cupcake in the picture) and I can't find anything wrong with a cupcake and cream cheese frosting. :)

Dean tried the grey stuff and it WAS delicious!! It is the second treat from the left, above. Lance ordered a triple chocolate cupcake and again - no complaints!!

In short, this is one of the best Disney restaurants and we will be going again! I already have a reservation in place for Dean's 11th birthday, he chose this restaurant over the Sci-Fi Dine in Restaurant at Hollywood Studios, which surprised me. This time we are going for breakfast though because that was the only reservation available a month out (July) but I am eager to try it out! Yes, it is pricey but it is a special occasion sort of place for my family and well worth it.

More pictures from the other two rooms. First the Grand Ball dining room. This is the where Belle and Beast dance at the end of the movie, a very romantic ballroom with huge chandeliers and a high ceiling. The end window to the outside is pretty and the staff says it is "always snowing".

The Castle Gallery (or "Rose Room") is the third room, it is Belle's private library. It is a beautiful room adorned with ... roses, of course! :) There are also paintings of the cast of Beauty and the Beast decorating the room. The centerpiece is a romantic Beauty and the Beast figurine that twirls and dances eternally.