5 Reasons Why You Need to Eat at 1900 Park Fare
The first time, I got caught off-guard. When the wicked stepsister flirted with me and asked what I hated about Cinderella, I wasn’t prepared. I stammered awkwardly as she tried to hide her disappointment at my lack of creativity. I had choked. I determined right then and there that I’d be ready the next time I ate at 1900 Park Fare.
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During my next vacation, I saw her again – or at least someone in the same costume. And I was ready! I’d prepared a list of five reasons I disliked one of the world’s most beloved princesses. I even quoted Portal 2! I felt like Ralphie in A Christmas Story, ready to show off my theme paper to the teacher.
I proudly handed it to the evil stepsister and she…looked at me like *I* was the villain. Apparently, she didn’t share the same sense of humor as her predecessor. Despite her character’s perception, this particular cast member was pro-Cinderella. I had taken my shot, and I had missed horribly. These are the chances that you take when you dine at the most devious themed restaurant at Walt Disney World. Here are five reasons to eat at 1900 Park Fare.
The Location
You’ll love your journey to 1900 Park Fare. To reach this location from the Magic Kingdom, you’re most likely to take the monorail. It’s one of the three Disney resorts with stops on the monorail line. As such, it’s easily accessible.
Of course, you may not be coming from Magic Kingdom. If so, you’ll take a bus or possibly even a boat to the resort. Either way, your destination is the same. You’re going to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, the most exclusive of all Walt Disney World hotels. It’s an award-winning property that rests beside Seven Seas Lagoon, making it easily recognizable from afar.
The Ambience
I’m factoring in two aspects of 1900 Park Fare in this discussion. The first is the hotel. Every moment that you spend at the Grand Floridian is glorious. This Victorian-themed hotel captures historic elegance in a modern setting.
To reach the restaurant, you must walk through the hotel lobby. It’s an exquisite interior featuring several eye-catching elements. A classic elevator transports guests up and down from the second floor, the location of the monorail station. A giant sitting area offers tasteful décor and the occasional holiday accoutrements. My favorites are the Easter and Christmas decorations. Finally, a live band plays at set intervals, making this hotel lobby a serene experience.
The ambience of the restaurant itself is also warming. It’s a tastefully appointed room highlighted by carousel –style model animals. Some of the tables are right beside these unique pieces, and they’re surefire conversation starters.
1900 Park Fare’s walls are even stylish and thematic. One side has a three-framed painting of a picturesque castle. Another wall’s upper portion is a three-dimensional mural centerpiece. It’s called Big Bertha, and it’s actually a turn-of-the century organ that looks nothing like an organ. All of the touches here are quirky in the best possible way.
The Breakfast
1900 Park Fare is an oddity amongst Disney restaurants. It isn’t open for lunch. It also features not one but two character meals. I don’t mean that the same characters wear different outfits at night, either. When you eat here at breakfast, you’ll interact with an entirely different group of Disney icons than at night. You’ll have to make some tough choices because of this. Many people prefer the food at breakfast to dinner, but I will fight anyone who says that the morning characters are better.
Please don’t let my dinner loyalism deter you from eating breakfast at 1900 Park Fare, though. The Supercalifragilistic Breakfast is a delight. You’ll spend time with five different Disney characters, six on the days when the Fairy Godmother appears.
Three of these characters are even relevant to 2018 Disney movies, so they’re quite timely. Yes, Mary Poppins, Winnie the Pooh, and Tigger are all available at breakfast. The other two are Alice in Wonderland and the Mad Hatter, who had their own movie release in 2016. The character engagements here are quite relevant, especially for parents of young children.
The breakfast food at 1900 Park Fare is about what you’d expect from a Table Service restaurant. The meal is All-You-Care-to-Enjoy (AYCE), with breakfast fruits and a carving station. You’ll find breakfast ham here along with one of the staples of Grand Floridian, Strawberry Soup. The Chef’s Favorites also include salmon, corned beef, omelets, and cheese blintzes.
The multifaceted morning menu offers plenty of jams that you can slap on your various breads and croissants. There’s even a flour tortilla option for the adventurous breakfast foodies. Boring eaters like me will find the usual assortment of pancakes, sausage, and bacon.
You can draw an easy conclusion from these food options. Since it’s a self-service place, you decide how much you want to eat. For most diners, however, 1900 Park Fare is a VERY heavy breakfast.
I should also point out that the restaurant serves a children-only “brunch” called the Wonderland Tea Party. It’s just tea and cupcakes, but your kids will get to hang out with the Mad Hatter and Alice at this unbirthday party.
The Dinner
Dinner at 1900 Park Fare is akin to Thanksgiving for a large family. Some of the people you’ll encounter here are friendly. Others are undeniably wicked. The conceit of Cinderella’s Happily Ever After Dinner is that her family still comes over for dinner.
When you eat here, you’ll see Cinderella and her Prince Charming loving their charmed life together. They’re all too excited to tell you about the jubilant nature of their relationship. This tremendous personal satisfaction sticks in the craw of the other three guests. Lady Tremaine and her daughters, Anastasia and Drizella, are the proverbial wicked stepmother and evil stepsisters. They’re also vainglorious, dim-witted, and painfully jealous of Cinderella. And you think your extended family dinners are sometimes uncomfortable!
The dinner entrees at 1900 Park Fare vary in bravado. The salmon and catfish dishes lack ambition, but the fish itself is impressively fresh and tasty. Other dishes like Mongolian Beef and Curried Chicken will satisfy more exotic palates. Savory dishes are the staple here, with Pork Masala and Butternut Squash Ravioli the most popular dishes. The Clam Chowder is renowned as well. Plus, Strawberry Soup is once again on the menu.
While Herb-crusted Rib-Eye is available at the carving station, I must admit that the dinner options here have never worked much for me. Since I’m ultra-picky, I find myself grabbing chicken nuggets and pizza off the kiddie station to fill up. Yes, the desserts are good, but 1900 Park Fare is better for foodies than for those of us cursed with basic palates. As such, I prefer breakfast for the food. As for the character dining experience…
Photo Credit: www.theintentionalmouse.com
The Improvisation
Look, there’s one main reason to eat at 1900 Park Fare for dinner. Lady Tremaine and her daughters are the most hilarious characters at Walt Disney World in my opinion. Disney carefully screens their cast members to select the ones with the perfect personalities for wicked improvisation.
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When you eat a meal here, you’ll engage in conversation with three women who are willing to say some of the most awful things about Cinderella. They hate that chick for stealing their man, Prince Charming, and their rightful places as royalty. Sure, they technically have that by marriage now, but it’s not the same.
The stepsisters in particular will play up their stupidity and vanity. They pose for truly terrible selfies and shriek at a pitch that could easily shatter a glass. They’re THE worst, and I mean that in the best possible way. These character interactions are in sharp contrast to the regular ones with Disney’s popular characters.
You’re not asking Minnie Mouse to hug you at this character meal. When you eat here, you’re angling for a slew of catty comments and some truly depraved behavior. It’s a kind of inimitable fun that’s only available at this particular restaurant, which is why you simply HAVE to eat dinner at 1900 Park Fare.
