Be Our Guest Restaurant FastPass+ Lunch

Recently I found myself planning a day at the Magic Kingdom and I was traveling with a friend who had never been to the Be Our Guest Restaurant. Since we were on the Quick Service dining plan and didn’t want to spend extra money when we had pre-paid for our meals, we decided to try out the FastPass+ option for Be Our Guest at lunch. I had heard about this opportunity from friends, but had never been able to take advantage of it myself.

There is not a whole lot of information out there from Disney directly as this is still considered to be a Beta test for the Be Our Guest FP+. So, I thought I’d share what information I have been able to glean from my own experience and from talking to others. Shortly after booking my resort package, I went to the website beourguestlunch.disney.go.com to start the Be Our Guest lunch reservation process. Before you do this though, make sure you have already setup an account on the My Disney Experience website and that you have linked your resort reservation to your profile. It is my understanding at this point that you need to have a resort reservation to be able to take advantage of this FastPass+.

bog 2

When you go to the Be Our Guest lunch site initially, it will encourage you to sign in with your MDX, ABC or ESPN account login. If you do not already have an account, it will ask you to claim your resort reservation if it doesn’t automatically recognize it as linked. You must use the twelve digit confirmation number (not your package 3AB12345, etc.), if you do not have this, you can get it by calling Disney Resort Reservations or by logging in to your MDX account and you can see it on your MagicBand order screen. After you’ve entered your confirmation number and first and last name exactly as they appear on your resort reservation, you will be asked for your date of birth then click on submit in the lower right corner of the screen.

bog

When you have signed in to your or account or created one and it has recognized you have a valid reservation at a Walt Disney World Resort, then you can start planning your Be Our Guest lunch by checking availability. Assuming you don’t already have plans, the only option will be to Select or Replace your FastPass+.

bog 3

 

On the next screen you will be taken to a calendar of dates starting with your resort check in date for five days. You have the ability at this point to select a date for Be Our Guest from the first seven days of your vacation or up to a seventh day within your arrival date. If your stay is longer than seven days you will need to wait until the second day of your stay to have access to the eighth day of your trip and so on one day at a time. If you have multiple resort reservations, you can click on the calendar to the right of the date to change to later dates.

bog 4

 

Once you’ve selected your date and determined there is a time available (be very aware there may not be availability and I also don’t have a definitive window on booking, but I’ve heard it changed recently to within 30 days), then you can proceed to confirm the guests in your party. It will always display all the guests in your room, but does have a disclaimer that you can reduce your party size upon arrival at the restaurant. On the next screen it will tell you if there are FP+ available at Be Our Guest for the day you’ve selected, or it will encourage you to select a different day.

bog 5

From here, if there were availability, you would decide between Direct To Table where you order your menu items ahead of time, or Expedited Arrival, which acts pretty much like a FastPass, putting you in a different line, but you still order what you want when you arrive. Since we had an idea of what we wanted, we opted to order our meal ahead of time, and after giving you a total, you can choose to use the dining plan and it verifies what you’ve selected is covered. There are some Be Our Guest menu items you may find not on the Direct To Table option like the substitution of chicken instead of tuna on the nicoise salad. If you are wanting to modify your menu items or if you have any allergies, then I would suggest just opting for the Expedited Arrival.

I booked my resort stay on August 8th and within five days received an email invitation to the Be Our Guest FP+. It essentially went through the instructions and disclaimers for the Be Our Guest lunch. The email looked something like this:

Bonjour Betsy,
Now for a limited time, you may be able to participate in a test for lunch at Be Our Guest Restaurant. Step inside the Beast’s enchanted castle and experience a meal unlike any before. You can select an arrival window and pre-order meals for your entire party* before arriving at Be Our GuestRestaurant and on the day of your lunch, with your MagicBand**, you’ll be able to breeze by the line, confirm and pay for your order.
To begin, follow the steps below:

  1. Log on to https://BeOurGuestLunch.disney.go.com using your Disney.com account.
  2. Enter your Resort Reservation Number to begin: 442201265310
  3. Select an arrival window and pre-order your meal
    (arrival windows are subject to capacity and availability).

Don’t forget to wear your MagicBand when you arrive at Be Our GuestRestaurant during your arrival window, and please enter the Disney FastPass+entrance at the beginning of the bridge. No matter where you dine at Be Our Guest Restaurant your food will be magically delivered to you! Bon appétit!


 

*Offer is nontransferable, is only valid for those Guests listed on the Disney Resort hotel reservation, and is not for sale.**Guests who (1) choose not to wear a MagicBand, (2) wear a MagicBand but choose to pay with cash or meal vouchers or (3) need to make modifications to their order will be directed to the order room to proceed. One quick-service meal entitlement will be redeemed for Guests with dining plan packages.Valid park admission is required to enter Magic Kingdom® Park. Cannot accept early or late arrivals. Valid only on the date and time as noted on the Be Our Guest website and valid only for the duration of your Disney Resort hotel stay. This offer is valid for lunch only. Arrival windows are subject to capacity and availability. Operation hours of the restaurant are subject to closures and change without notice. Not valid for any admission to any Theme Park.Please do not reply to this email. This account is not monitored.If you have any questions, please stop by the MyMagic+ Service Center at Magic Kingdom® Park.

 

The day of our reservation we checked it at the podium for Be Our Guest at the foot of the bridge to Beast’s castle. The cast member scanned one of our MagicBands with an ipad and pulled up our reservation. We arrived about five minutes before the end of our half hour window, but we were warned they were going through some enhancements so we may have a 15-20 minute wait. We were instructed to queue up on the left side of a rope dividing the bridge since we had FP+, which seemed to indicate the right side was for the remainder of the standby line, which was cutoff already for the day at 1:10pm.

After waiting just a few minutes, we were at the entrance to Be Our Guest and the CM there asked if we had pre-ordered or just done the expedited arrival. We told her we had ordered already and were escorted inside to the left side of the hallway with the suits of armor. Only a few minutes later we were at the next podium and the CM there confirmed that we had ordered and directed us to the next CM at the register. Despite having ordered our meals ahead we decided to add a separate order of the potato leek soup using a snack credit and they just rang this up as a different transaction. We scanned our MagicBand, put in our pin to pay using our dining credits and went off to find a table.

All in all from checking in with the first CM to when we were seated was about 15 minutes and our food arrived less than five minutes later for our meals and about another five minutes after that for the separate soup order. The CMs at Be Our Guest had no trouble finding us simply by our MagicBands, so I was very happy and our orders were all perfect. The meal went very smoothly, other than the unexpected enhancement, but this only probably added five to ten minutes to our day total.

bog 6bog 7bog 8bog 9

Some things to know about the Be Our Guest FP+ is that it is a Beta test and neither resort nor dining reservations or the internet helpdesk have information about the test other than it exists. CMs have been instructed to direct guests to the website, which doesn’t have much more info in the FAQ, which I will include a link to here. The FP+ for Be Our Guest does not count as one of your three scheduled FP+ in advance per day. You are only able to schedule the FP+ once during your resort reservation. You can use dining entitlements, pay cash, credit card or room charge at the restaurant. If you cancel you will not be charged a cancellation fee, however they do ask that you cancel the reservation if you know that you are not going to be able to make it. Your reservation will not appear in your My Disney Experience account anywhere, nor will you receive an email confirmation of your booking. The only place to see your reservation is on the Be Our Guest Lunch website.

This is all subject to change as it is a test, but we enjoyed it and thought it was a nice way to save time while in the park enjoying other attractions. Have you done the Be Our Guest FastPass+ recently? What were your thoughts? Do you have any more questions about the test? If so, leave me a comment and I will do my best to find out the answer. Bon Appetit!

Follow us for more updates: Facebooktwitteryoutubetumblrinstagram

Exploring The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Sign

The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is the final and centerpiece attraction of New Fantasyland to open on May 28th at the Magic Kingdom, and I was almost giddy with anticipation to ride at the Walt Disney World Mine Train Event.

Not long after I moved to Orlando, construction began on New Fantasyland and having the opportunity to experience this attraction after watching it being built was amazing.

The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is a family coaster that oozes charm with mild thrills (between Big Thunder Mountain and Barnstormer), an entertaining interactive queue, and story that not only showcases the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs but next generation animatronics that are stunning.

When you first walk up to the Seven Dwarf Mine Train, the first thing that you notice is just how beautiful the queue is! The pathway is lined with trees (and fans) to help give some shade while you wait, and at night the area is lit just enough so you can see while not taking away from how a forest would feel at night.

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Cottage

Hands down my absolute favorite part of the queue are the three interactive areas, which you find once you have entered the mine’s wooden tunnel.

Doc has prepared a series of mining stations for us to explore while we are waiting.

  • Jewel Sorting – Follow Doc’s instructions, etched into a nearby plank, and help match jewels by color and shape as they flow down a wooden trough—a.k.a. dozens of touch-screen video displays. Watch out for the slippery bars of soap that appear out of no where!!!

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Jewel Washing

  • Jewel Washing – After the jewels are sorted, grab ahold of a musical water spigot and start cleaning. Each spigot plays its own melody—heed Doc’s tips and you may hear a collection of familiar tunes! When you are running your hands under the spigots, it helps to think of it as playing a harp rather than holding your hand under a tap.
  • The Vault – Inside the door of the mountain, enter the center of the vault to find a collection of wooden barrels overflowing with glowing stones. Turn each barrel to see the ceiling above you transformed, and get all of the barrels going at once for a really great surprise.

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Signs

If you are using FastPass+ for this attraction, which is already available on My Disney Experience, you will skip all of these interactive elements and hop right in after The Vault. If it is a slower day or if you have time, I would totally suggest taking the scenic route.

Once you have made it to The Vault, you will notice that you are in the mine! Once your eyes adjust to the darkness make sure to a moment to look around, because the detail that has been lovingly poured into this attraction is amazing! The carved wood and miner’s equipment laying around is such a great touch.

Well, now we have come to the part that we have all been waiting on for many a long year…and that is the ride itself!

The first thing I noticed about the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is that loads quickly and efficiently. You can bring your bags on the ride, and there is a reasonably sized pouch if you would like to use it to stow your items.

The ride doesn’t waste any time, going right into twists and turns that really put a spotlight on the innovative mine train cars.

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Front Car

The track is definitely designed with the rocking motion of the mine train cars in mind, but just because they sway doesn’t mean that this is a bumpy ride by any means. There are five cars per train, and there is a difference in where you ride. The first two cars are probably my favorite, because you can feel the sway the most and get the most visually from the track.  Cars two and three are much more mild on the rocking, but the fourth car steps it up a little. And the final car is just a lot of fun, because you are whipped all over the track while rocking at a steady pace.

In the middle of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train you head inside to the mine, where you are greeted with some stunning animatronics! Their new animated faces are amazing, and their movement is fluid and wonderful.

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Animatronic

And before you know it, you are being called back to work whizzing down the most thrilling drop of the coaster before heading into some fun curves.

The ride ends with a familiar scene from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs that features pieces from Snow White’s Scary Adventure. I don’t want to talk too much about the end of the ride, because it is a great cherry on top of what is already a solid ride.

If I do have a ‘Best Tip’ for the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, it is that you should definitely ride it at night. On my nighttime rides I felt like the queue was more stunning, the animatronics popped more, and the views of New Fantasyland from the coaster are great!

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Cottage at Dusk

The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is a solid attraction, with mild thrills and memorable moments. I cannot wait for everyone to take a spin!

Can’t wait for the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train to open on May 28th? Check out the Miners Wanted Game, and then you can get your own Miners Handbook!

Disclaimer: I was an invited by the Walt Disney World Resort to receive a sneak peek at the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train as part of a media event, however all opinions and thoughts are my own.

Follow us for more updates: Facebooktwitteryoutubetumblrinstagram

Wordless Wednesday – Princess Fairytale Hall

Wordless Wednesday

September 18, 2013

Wordless Wednesday Princess Fairytale Hall

This week’s Wordless Wednesday takes us to Princess Fairytale Hall which opens today at Walt Disney World in love Magic Kingdom! We have posted even more pictures from our visit to Princess Fairytale Hall on our Facebook Page!

Follow us for more updates: Facebooktwitteryoutubetumblrinstagram

Wordless Wednesday: The Look Of Love

Wordless Wednesday May 1, 2013

Wordless Wednesday
This week’s Wordless Wednesday takes us to one of my most favorite details in New Fantasyland, the tile mosaic inside of the Be Our Guest Restaurant captures the look of love perfectly.
Follow us for more updates: Facebooktwitteryoutubetumblrinstagram

Wordless Wednesday – Eric’s Waterfall

Wordless Wednesday – January 30,2013

Wordless Wednesday
This week’s Wordless Wednesday takes us to New Fantasyland to Under the Sea ~ The Journey of the Little Mermaid which has an absolutely beautiful queue.

 

 

Follow us for more updates: Facebooktwitteryoutubetumblrinstagram

Disney Parks Blog Be Our Guest Meet Up

Entering New Fantasyland for the Disney Parks Blog Meet Up
Entering New Fantasyland for the Disney Parks Blog Meet Up

Recently we were fortunate enough to be one of the lucky few to successfully register for the Disney Parks Blog meet at the Be Our Guest Restaurant in the Magic Kingdom. Those of us in attendance were treated to a grand evening in Disney’s newest counter/table service restaurant. Shalon and I had a great time at this exclusive opportunity. If you look closely, you can spot Shalon and me in the pictures and video on the Disney Parks Blog post about the night here.

We were greeted outside the Magic Kingdom at the registration table by Cast Members welcoming us to the event who gave us each complimentary tickets to the park good for that day or the next. They also told us that we were randomly selected to get autographed posters signed by the artist at the party. In addition to these we received Fast Passes to be able to experience the new attraction Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid.

As we entered the New Fantasyland area of the park, we were guided to queue up before the bridge to the Be Our Guest Restaurant. We met up with our friend Vickie, wife and social media director of Steve Barrett, the Hidden Mickey Guy, and invited her to join us. We were ushered in and were promptly seated at a table right in front of the stage.

Entering Be Our Guest
Entering Be Our Guest
Rose Napkin
Rose Napkin
Disney Parks Blog meetup agenda
Disney Parks Blog meetup agenda
Disney Parks Blog Meet Up menu
Disney Parks Blog Meet Up menu

Before the speakers started, we were greeted with excellent service from our server Melissa. I was thoroughly impressed with the presentation and quality of the food. During the meal we heard Thomas Smith from the Disney Parks Blog, Imagineer Chris Beatty and Executive Chef Mike. After dinner they we were all available for meet and greets along with other Imagineers in the West Wing.

L'amour Vrai
L’amour Vrai
Thomas Smith
Thomas Smith
Chris Beatty
Chris Beatty
Executive Chef Mike
Executive Chef Mike

The highlight of the evening for me was the amazing meal to which we were treated. It started with the beautiful light up goblets serving L’amour Vrai: all natural fruit juice punch with wild berry extract and lemon lime foam. Fresh warm rolls and butter started the meal off right. For an appetizer I had the potato leek soup and Shalon had the french onion soup. Both were fantastic! I love this soup just as much as at Rose and Crown where it is my favorite appetizer there. My entree was the incredible pan-seared salmon on leek fondue with creamy saffron crushed potatoes and Shalon ordered the thyme-scented pork rack chop with au gratin macaroni, seasonal vegetables and red wine jus. I don’t even like pork chops and I tried some of Shalon’s and loved it. The meat was so juicy and tender and my salmon was cooked to perfection.

Potato leek soup
Potato leek soup
French onion soup
French onion soup
Salmon
Salmon
Pork chop
Pork chop

Dessert was a thing of sheer brilliance, especially on Shalon’s part. Having just come off of a Disney Cruise, she was accustomed to being able to order multiple desserts and figured it wouldn’t hurt to ask here. Melissa was very nice and accommodated our request, so we each had two desserts. I started with the strawberry cream cheese cupcake with vanilla sponge cake, strawberry mousse filling and cream cheese icing, then tried the gluten-free, no sugar added lemon-raspberry cream puff filled with lemon custard. I actually preferred the latter to my surprise! Shalon had the chocolate cream puff filled with chocolate mousse topped with whipped cream and then her favorite the triple chocolate cupcake with chocolate sponge cake, chocolate mousse filling and chocolate ganache. We even got to try the grey stuff.

Dessert cart
Dessert cart
Strawberry cream cheese cupcake and lemon raspberry cream puff
Strawberry cream cheese cupcake and lemon raspberry cream puff
Chocolate cream puff
Chocolate cream puff
Triple chocolate cupcake
Triple chocolate cupcake
The Grey Stuff
The Grey Stuff
Lemon meringue cupcake
Lemon meringue cupcake
The Grey Stuff by goblet light
The Grey Stuff by goblet light
Be Our Guest ballroom
Be Our Guest ballroom

Once the meal concluded, we were free to roam about the restaurant and take pictures and meet with the Imagineers and chef to ask any questions. Also, to our surprise, we were also given the opportunity to have our pictures taken with the Beast in the library. Shalon and I won signed copies of the poster all guests received at the Disney Parks Blog meetup and were able to meet the artist, Jeff Maurer, to get them personalized. On the way out we were given our choice of cupcakes to go so I got the triple chocolate cupcake which was the best dessert I had.

The Beast in his castle
The Beast in his castle
Beauty and the Beast music box
Beauty and the Beast music box
Artist Jeff Maurer
Artist Jeff Maurer
Me and the Beast
Me and the Beast

The evening was absolutely amazing from the atmosphere to the food to the service. From previous experience at the restaurant in dress rehearsal mode, I was very impressed with the level of the presentation of service we received. I cannot wait to go back and try some of the other items on the menu like the sauteed shrimp and scallops and mussels provencal. This was yet another magnificent production put on by the crew at the Disney Parks Blog and I look forward to future events they host. I hope you all get a chance to experience this great addition to New Fantasyland!

Gaston's Tavern
Gaston’s Tavern
Prince Eric's Castle
Prince Eric’s Castle
Follow us for more updates: Facebooktwitteryoutubetumblrinstagram

Light Fixtures of New Fantasyland

I am a sucker for details and New Fantasyland doesn’t disappoint with the amazing new light fixtures throughout this section of the park! While I’ve said from the get go the thing I’ve most been looking forward to was Be Our Guest Restaurant, these architectural nuances are incredible. I will highlight some of my favorites here, but will also include the video montage of all 113 pictures I captured during my recent tour.

One of the things that most impressed me was how many different styles of light fixtures appeared in New Fantasyland and how each individual one seemed to perfectly reflect the theme of that particular location. For instance, the lights on the bridge to Be Our Guest restaurant, which is set in the Beast’s castle, are strong and masculine looking. They present a foreboding aura that both beckon you in with their light, but also warn you of the potential danger ahead.

Be Our Guest light fixture
Be Our Guest light
Be Our Guest bridge light
Beast’s Castle
Be Our Guest chandelier light fixtures
Be Our Guest chandeliers

The light fixtures in and around Maurice’s cottage, where the Enchanted Tales with Belle attraction is housed, are full of whimsy and innovation, much like the man himself. Outside the cottage and in his workshop are some of the most creative uses of lighting to be found in New Fantasyland so far. Then, once you are transported to the Beast’s castle, the ornate details are showcased in the beautiful chandeliers, and of course with Lumiere.

Enchanted Tales with Belle queue light
Maurice’s Cottage light
Maurice’s Cottage lamp
Inside Maurice’s Cottage
Maurice’s Workshop light
Enchanted Tales with Belle wrought iron
Enchanted Tales with Belle chandelier
Lumiere

Belle’s village and Gaston’s Tavern in particular provide more flair in their choices of light fixtures. To no one’s surprise, antlers are used in Gaston’s decorations throughout his tavern with several different styles of lighting, including a large chandelier, complete with coonskin cap. One of my favorite lights was actually found in the restroom in the village. It was a gorgeous orange hue and fit in with much of the wrought iron work in the surrounding area.

Gaston’s chandelier
Gaston's Tavern light fixtures
Gaston’s Tavern
Light outside Gaston’s
Light in Belle’s Village restroom

I think the area that I was most entranced with was Prince Eric’s castle and the queue for Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid. This is where my absolute favorite light fixtures were found. Everything is so incredibly well tied in with the nautical theme. Having lived twenty plus years of my life within ten minutes of either the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico, I’ve been constantly drawn to the water. The lights appear to have been kissed by either the bright orange of the sun or the soft blues and greens of the sea. I can appreciate so many elements that were incorporated in this attraction’s exterior and queue.

Prince Eric’s castle
My favorite light in the Little Mermaid queue
Favorite light again from below
The Little Mermaid queue lights
Nautical lights with interactive crabs
Bucket light
Little Mermaid queue lights
Construction wall light

Overall, I think the Imagineers have hit a home run with all of these intricate details. This is what Disney does best, sell the story in the details. There are even semi-permanent light fixtures sitting atop the construction walls that separate New Fantasyland from the work being done on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train coaster. I am absolutely in love with these details. Is this area of the park directed at me? No. Will I be spending a great amount of time here? Not necessarily. However, I can appreciate it all in the grand scheme of things and will continue to see where this transformation takes one of my favorite parks. In the meantime though, I will be happy exploring the amazing expansion that we have been given at the Magic Kingdom.

 

httpv://youtu.be/OdEAMkdpSzs

Follow us for more updates: Facebooktwitteryoutubetumblrinstagram