Be Our Guest Restaurant: Take a Waltz Through The Beast’s Castle (and Try The Grey Stuff!)

Be Our Guest Restaurant is one of the most sought-after dining experiences in the Magic Kingdom if not all the Walt Disney World parks. Designed to take guests into the magical world of Disney’s classic film Beauty and the  Beast, the restaurant transports diners into a whole new world (and a whole new dining experience!) Unfortunately, reservations are difficult to get for Be Our Guest Restaurant – with good reason! It’s a beautiful, incredibly designed location in the heart of Fantasyland that serves French-inspired cuisine at a table service restaurant where you’re eating inside the Beast’s castle from the movie!  

With the limited reservations and the pricy menu, you may be wondering if Be Our Guest Restaurant is worth the effort (and the cost) to enjoy the experience. So let’s take a deeper look at one of the more immersive dining options the Magic Kingdom has to offer!  

Theming and Atmosphere 

Even from the outside, Be Our Guest Restaurant is an impressive sight! Tucked away along the back edges of New Fantasyland, the entrance to the restaurant is located beneath the foreboding façade of The Beast’s castle set atop a mountain. Crossing over a wide stone bridge, you pass gargoyles and beastly statues before stepping through the castle doors and into the main hall, where enchanted suits of armor may greet you  (if they aren’t taking a nap!). 

There are three unique dining areas: The Grand Ballroom, the Castle Gallery, and the  West Wing. Each is themed after a specific area of the castle: 

• The Grand Ballroom. The most recognizable room in the castle, the biggest dining area, is themed after the giant ballroom where Belle and the Beast share their first dance. One side of the room is designed to look like large windows overlooking the castle grounds. With a little Disney magic,  it looks like it’s snowing outside, adding to the romantic atmosphere. High ceilings, beautiful chandeliers, and gorgeous décor make this many people’s favorite part of Be Our Guest Restaurant. 
• The West Wing. This is themed after the Beast’s study. The Enchanted Rose is a focal point of this room, a bright spot in a dark, dreary atmosphere. This room is much darker than the other two,  as it’s designed to mimic a thunderstorm ‘outside,’ with rain effects against the fake windows.  Occasionally, there are flashes of lightning and loud crashes of thunder to accompany the ambiance. If you have toddler-aged children, this room may be a little too intense for them to enjoy a meal. Otherwise? It’s a lot of fun to explore.  
• The Castle Gallery. This is an original room that was designed to look like Belle’s private library,  though the walls are covered in paintings of Belle and the Beast spending time together. There is a larger-than-life music box in the middle of the dining hall with the twirling figures of the happy couple dancing atop it. This is a far more cheerful room and likely a great choice for a family dinner if the option is available!

One thing to note is that the high ceilings make it quite noisy inside. It can get very loud in Be Our Guest Restaurant. So don’t expect to enjoy a quiet, intimate dinner while you’re there. Even in the smallest of the rooms, the sound carries.  

While this is not a character dining experience, Be Our Guest Restaurant has one incredibly fun bonus not advertised in the restaurant’s description. The master of the castle – the Beast himself – often makes an appearance in the dining rooms during your meal. The costumed character walks through each room and waves to the crowd. Keep in mind that this isn’t a meet-and-greet. He will not stop at your table or pose for photographs with your family. Instead, he may wave and bow, “checking in on his guests” from time to time.  

Dining & Drinks 

Originally, breakfast and lunch were quick-service options in the park, while dinner was a table service dining location. That has changed, so even if you have eaten at Be Our Guest Restaurant before, you may want to take note. Since the summer of 2020, the restaurant does not offer breakfast at all. Instead, lunch and dinner are now both table service dining with a pre-fixed three-course menu for a single price. (Disney may decide  to change this in the future, so stay tuned for any updates to their menu!) The meal comes with your choice of an appetizer, entrée, and a dessert trio. You have your choice of beverage as well. 

They do include two plant-based options for vegetarian guests. The menu also offers a few gluten-free and allergy-friendly items. The menu is French-inspired, but you won’t find anything too extreme! Expect tasty, well-sauced dishes without too much spice. For anyone who has ever wanted to “try the grey stuff,”  you’ll be pleased to find that it comes with the dessert trio! It’s served in an adorable and edible white chocolate “teacup and dish” shaped like Chip, the precocious teacup from the film. And yes, it is actually delicious!  

The children’s menu does offer a few plainer options, like mac-and-cheese and sweet potato wedges. So you can find something for the picky eaters in the family. There’s also a seasonal fruit selection for dessert if sugar intake is a concern.  

Unlike most Disney dining experiences in The Magic Kingdom, you can order alcohol at Be, Our Guest. It’s one of three locations in the entire park (if you count the elusive Club 33, that is) where you can purchase any alcoholic beverage. While their drink menu is limited, they offer a large signature wine selection and a smaller list of beer or ciders. They also have signature non-alcoholic drinks, including refreshing lemonade flavors that you can even get in an adorable restaurant-themed souvenir light-up cup for an additional cost.  

When planning your visit keep in mind this is one of the most expensive Disney dining options in the Magic Kingdom. The price includes all three courses of your meal as well as a drink. It does not include alcohol or any other additions you may add. When it comes to the quality of the food, it can be hit or miss. The appetizers, including the French Onion Soup, are delicious! However, the entrees can sometimes be lacking and feel like mass-produced plates rather than a chef-created specialty. For Disney dining,  there are far more consistently great food options that are less expensive. They just don’t come in the  Beast’s castle.  

What to Expect 

Before you scramble for that reservation, here are a few of our notes on Be Our Guest Restaurant and the experience of eating there. 

Not Character Dining. It’s important to remember that this isn’t a character dining experience. If you – or any younger travelers in your party – want a magical princess experience, you may want to look at  Cinderella’s Royal Table in the Magic Kingdom or Princess Storybook Dining at EPCOT’s Akershus Royal  Banquet the Norway pavilion. 

Definitely Go Into the West Wing. If at all possible, get seated in The West Wing. Not only will you be subject to ambient thunderstorms outside, but you’ll also see the special effects in the dining hall – including the changing painting of the prince/beast and the life-size enchanted rose from the film. 

Pre-Fixed Menu. While in the past, Be Our Guest Restaurant operated with a larger menu. Currently, it is offering a  pre-fixed meal for a single price for lunch and dinner. So make sure to check out those menu options to make sure you’ll appreciate the food. 

Reservations Required. If you want to eat at Be Our Guest Restaurant, you need to plan for it. While there are occasionally a few walk-up reservations available, you’ll have to best luck if you get that reservation as early as possible! Even if you can’t snag that early reservation 60 days out (available if you are staying at a hotel on Disney property), keep trying! You’ll find that you can sometimes find an open table anywhere from a few weeks to a few days before your visit if you check the website at the right time.  

Overall Experience 

If you love Beauty and the Beast, you’ll love to Be Our Guest Restaurant. There’s something magical about walking into a beloved scene from a Disney classic that just feels so very Disney from start to finish. The Imagineers really outdid themselves, recreating moments from the film. The restaurant takes you out of the bustling theme park and deposits you in your enchanting surroundings. With the addition of the Beast’s mealtime appearances, Be Our Guest Restaurant does create a memorable meal for anyone who loves this animated classic.  

Though the food can sometimes feel mediocre by Disney Signature Dining standards and lacks the consistency found in other dining locations. Be Our Guest Restaurant is more about ambiance than the menu. Through the magic of Disney Imagineering, you find yourself eating at the Beast’s castle while watching the rose petals fall from the enchanted rose!

Cover Image

Photo: MouseEars TV Creative Team

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