10 Tips for Dining at Be Our Guest
Planning a visit to the “Happiest Place on Earth” and including a visit to Magic Kingdom’s Be Our Guest Restaurant is a Disney World rite of passage. In fact, no other eatery at Walt Disney World creates a fervor quite like this New Fantasyland restaurant set in a replica of Beast’s castle from Beauty and the Beast. Is it worth it? We here at MickeyBlog certainly think so. However, there are some tips and tricks to feasting at this coveted eatery. With that in mind we’ve created 10 helpful tips when it comes to planning a visit to Be Our Guest.
1. Consider Booking for Breakfast Or Lunch
Be Our Guest has all of the appeal of one of Disney’s luxurious Table Service eateries. However, if you’re new to the Disney dining game you may not realize that booking for Breakfast or Lunch is considered quick service dining. Not only does this mean that you can enjoy entrees at a fraction of the cost but those on the Disney Dining Plans can conserve your Table Service Credits as booking for lunch or dinner will only set each member of your party back 1 Quick Service Credit. Your orders are placed before you take your seats (either online or at one of the kiosks as you walk in) and is still delivered to your table. However, guests dining at Be Our Guest the quick service ways must fetch your own drinks, silverware etc. Seating for breakfast and lunch is on a first-come, first-served basis meaning you pick where you sit once you’ve finished the ordering process.
2. Order Your Food In Advance Using Your My Disney Experience App (Breakfast and Lunch)
When dining at Disney, a lot of visitors don’t like meals to eat into precious theme park time. That’s why it pays to know that if you’re dining Quick Service (breakfast or lunch) at Be Our Guest you can actually pre-order your food up to 30-days in advance using the My Disney Experience App. Simply head to the list of your dining reservations. Next to your Be Our Guest reservation you will see a pre-order button. This will take you to an online version of the Be Our Guest menu. Here you can preselect items for all members in your dining party. On the day, the staff at Be Our Guest will use your MagicBands or a Magical Rose handed out when you check-in to determine where you are in the restaurant and viola, the food you pre-ordered magically shows-up at your table! Its a great option for those wanting to avoid the kiosks or who want to expedite the dining process.
3. Look For a Coveted 8 am Breakfast Reservation
How does it get more coveted than a Be Our Guest reservation? An 8 AM Be Our Guest Reservation! Saavy Disney planners know that there’s a lot to love about nabbing an 8 AM breakfast spot at Be Our Guest in the Magic Kingdom. During normal operating hours (excluding Early Morning Extra Magic Hours), the Magic Kingdom does not officially open until 9 AM. For those lucky enough to nab an 8 am reservation, this means you gain access to Fantasyland before the park opens to the general public. Though the rides don’t officially open until 9 AM, Dining at 8 AM does mean that you should finish up your lovely breakfast in time to be among the first in line for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train or another Fantasyland attraction before the crowds start to swell!
4. Refill Before You Go! (Breakfast and Lunch)
As I mentioned above, when you visit Be Our Guest during one of their Quick Service sittings (breakfast or lunch) the meals are brought to your table but those wanting coffee, tea or soft drinks must fill up your own at one of the beverage stations located in each dining room. Don’t head back out to Fantasyland and into the Florida heat without refilling your cup before you go! Its the perfect way to save a bit of money and not have to dole out for expensive drinks for the first hour or so after your meal!
5. Be Mindful That Dinner at Be Our Guest is Two Dining Credits
When Be Our Guest first opened dinner here would set those on the Disney Dining Plan back 1 Table Service Dining Credit. However, last year Disney introduced a three-course menu for Dinner and raised the prices and the dining credits for dinner to 2 Table Service Credits per person. The menu is big on French fare with dishes such as Roasted Pork Tenderloin or Spice-Dusted Lamb Chops but is it worth it? If you are looking for one magical meal to have at Disney and cost isn’t an issue then a scrumptious dinner here may perfectly suit your needs. However, for those looking to save a bit of cash, Breakfast and Lunch offer a great way to experience the cuisine and ambiance of this beloved eatery at a fraction of the cost. Those looking for awesome character interactions would also do better to book Cinderella’s Royal Table which also comes in a 2 Table Service Credits but features lots of character interaction.
6. Speak Up About Any Seating Preferences You Have at Dinner
As I mentioned above, seating for breakfast and lunch is on a first-come, first-served basis. However, for dinner, a Cast Member will escort you to your seat. If you are splashing out on a three-course meal at Be Our Guest, don’t hesitate to let the staff know if you have a seating preference. Want to feast in the library, near the snowy window in the ballroom or in the gothic West Wing? It can’t hurt to ask. Though staff may not always be able to accommodate your request, I’ve found that more often than not they will be happy to spread a little pixie dust your way!
7. Persistence Is Key When It Comes to Getting a Reservation at Be Our Guest
If you are looking to dine at Be Our Guest (for any of the meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) it is imperative that you make your reservations as far in advance as possible. Be Our Guest is one of those restaurants that will book up quickly at the 180-day mark. For those looking to make reservations here are a few suggestions:
- Be online as soon as your dining window opens up! The early bird catches the worm when it comes to dining reservations. Onsite guests can book reservations for your entire trip from the 180-day mark. You can normally make reservations online from 6am or by calling 407.WDW.DINE at 7am.
- You should book breakfast and lunch in advance. That’s right, even though breakfast and lunch are considered Quick Service, Be Our Guest is the ONLY Quick Service eatery at Disney World where guests can and should make your reservations at the 180-day mark.
- You don’t need to book your dining reservations in order. As soon as your dining window opens up, head to the day you want to dine at Be Our Guest and book that in first. Then go back and try to nab your other dining reservations.
- Be flexible with your times. For those not trying to get an 8 am a reservation, having flexible dining times (even off-peak) increases your chances of getting a reservation.
- Don’t see the reservation you want at first? Keep trying! Dining reservations at Disney World are constantly in a state of flux. Just because you don’t see Be Our Guest availability at your 180-day mark doesn’t mean you’ve blown your chances of dining there. Check My Disney Experience every few days for sudden availability. You may be surprised at what will turn up with a bit of persistence!
8. Try The Grey Stuff- It Is Delicious!
Another Walt Disney World rite of passage is ordering up the Grey Stuff during your Be Our Guest visit. Though opinions remain divided on whether or not this treat is as delicious as the song suggests, this cookies and cream mousse is definitely worth a try. You’ll find it atop the Master’s Cupcake which you can order up at both breakfast and lunch. For Dinner, the new three-course menu comes with a trio of desserts that features this iconic treat.
9. Say Hello to Beast (Dinner Only)
Many first time visitors get confused as to whether Be Our Guest would actually be considered character dining. The answer is no. At any of Disney’s character dining experiences, the characters will typically visit each of the tables to mingle with guests, pose for photos, sign autographs etc. At breakfast or lunch at Be Our Guest there are no characters. For Dinner only, the Beast does make an appearance however, it’s a bit different from other character dining meals. He doesn’t visit each of the tables. Instead, throughout your meal he will pop into each dining room and give a regal wave. He is also on hand near the entrance to the restaurant in a side room where he will pose for a photo throughout the night. It’s easy to miss so if you’d like to capture a shot with Beast be sure to make a point to look for him on the way out!
10. Don’t Be Afraid to Walk-Up
I have had clients feel absolutely defeated at not being able to get a Be Our Guest dining reservation. However, if your schedule is flexible, remember that you ALWAYS have the option of walking up to Be Our Guest and asking to be put on the stand-by list. Will it mean waiting around for a while? – Probably. But I have had clients who have managed to walk into Be Our Guest for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It NEVER hurts to pop by during your stroll through New Fantasyland to get a sense of how long the wait might be! Even without a reservation, you may still be able to enjoy all this popular eatery has to offer.
For breakfast and lunch, Be Our Guest will typically set visitors back $15 – $34.99 per adult or 1 Quick Service Dining Credit. For Dinner, the cost is in excess of $60 per adult or 2 Table Service Dining Credits. Visit disneyworld.com for a complete look at the menus for all three meals.
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