5 Things You Will Love About Be Our Guest

Be Our Guest, one of the most popular restaurants on Disney property, has been a huge hit with guests since its opening in 2012. Part of the “New” Fantasyland expansion, Be Our Guest is the name of the restaurant that is inside of Beast’s Castle. To me, this is one of the best examples of Disney Imagineering at its finest, allowing an immersive experience where you can truly feel like you are entering the world of Beauty and the Beast. Be Our Guest serves all meal periods of the day; breakfast is served from 8-10am, lunch from 10:30 am-2:30pm and dinner from 4-10pm. A really unique feature is that breakfast and lunch are quick service, but serves as a full table service restaurant for dinner. This is a really neat option for those traveling on a budget that might not have had the chance to otherwise experience this restaurant!

If theming is your favorite part of a restaurant, especially for photos, this is the place for you! Be Our Guest has three themed rooms; The Grand Ballroom, The West Wing and The Castle Gallery. In the Grand Ballroom, you enter the formal setting of Belle and Beast’s dance with chandeliers and high ceilings. The mysterious West Wing is dark and enchanting, like the rose that you will find there. The Castle Gallery is Belle’s private library where the artwork will tell a tale of romance and features a life-sized music box of Beauty and the Beast. All this, and I haven’t even mentioned the food! Full of French flare and flavor, you’ll delight over multiple choices offered at each meals… which of course includes the Grey Stuff!

Even though this is all about reasons we love Be Our Guest, there is one thing that I don’t love so much. It is super-duper hard to get a reservation. I haven’t really found a formula for getting that hard to snag reservation, even if you plan 180 days out, it is still a hard grab! So, I suggest you just check back frequently in the dining reservation system and if you find a spot that works for your party, congratulations!

So what are the 5 things you’ll love most about Be Our Guest?

1. The Beast

If you are a character junkie, like me, finding Beast is nearly impossible. One of the perks of dining at Be Our Guest is an exclusive chance to meet and take pictures with him. Here’s the catch, he only appears at dinner! When we had our chance to meet him, there was a little girl dressed like Belle and he asked her to dance with him. It had me seriously wishing I was wearing a yellow ball gown! He also walks around during dinner, as it is his residence. It was a really great feeling, thinking you are actually part of the fantasy.

2. Wine and Beer

I have had some mixed feelings about alcohol being served in Magic Kingdom, but it was hard to argue a glass of wine when I was starving and staring down a beautiful strip steak. After all, it is French food and isn’t it a requirement to have a glass of wine with it? There is a 2 drink max and I have to admit that my darling nephew’s whining was not bothering me as much by the end of the meal….solved by my adult “wine-ing!”

3. The West Wing

This room feels exactly the way it should, as described to Belle when she first enters Beast’s castle. It is dimly lit and seems to have a “stay away” feeling. But, out of the three distinct rooms at Be Our Guest, this one definitely has the best theming. Every once in a while, a storm tears through that represents Beast’s anger and his curse. Thunder booms, lightening flashes and the portrait of Prince Adam turns into the Beast! Make sure you catch this! This room also contains the enchanted rose and its falling petals. This makes for another awesome photo opportunity at Be Our Guest! If this room is too dark and possibly scary, keep reading.

4. The Attention to Detail

If you prefer good lighting during your meal, there are two other dining areas that are just as amazing! The artwork in the Castle Gallery is whimsical and has scenes you remember from the movie and a few more that will definitely make you smile. The music box plays beautiful songs and has a life sized Beauty and the Beast. The Grand Ballroom is elegant and has a wonderful surprise in the windows; it snows! The Castle itself is simply magnificent. Check out the doors, tapestries, chandeliers, candelabras and more! The knights in armor are also a favorite photo spot! There is a delight around every corner!

5. The Grey Stuff

It’s a bit of a geeky Disney thing to actually want to eat something called the “grey stuff.” I couldn’t wait to try it. Lumiere and the Dishes assured me it was delicious! And, how! Truly it’s just a brownie in a shell of chocolate with an oreo cookie frosting, but it is so very tasty. I made sure to take very slow bites to make the experience last longer!