The "Be Our Guest" Lunch Experience

The lunch lines for Be Our Guest Restaurant in Magic Kingdom form early and can get quite long.  It's certainly popular, but is it worth the wait?  We were determined to try it out for ourselves.  Here's what we thought of the experience.

As soon as we planned this trip, it was decided we wanted to try and eat lunch at Be Our Guest to celebrate Lisa and Bella's birthdays.  We had eaten dinner here last summer to celebrate our anniversary and absolutely loved it!  

We knew that the line for lunch formed early, and that waits could be long.  But we'd also heard that it was possible to get a FastPass+ reservation for lunch.

At 60 days out, we were emailed about logging in to make our FastPass+ reservations.  To our disappointment, Lunch at BOG was not something you could select.

So how were all these people getting these lunch "reservations"??

I did some searching and found out that Be Our Guest was using a separate reservation system.  This system was reportedly by invitation only, but if you had the link, you could attempt to log in and reserve a lunch time for your trip.

I logged in and went through the prompts, only to be told there was no availability for the date I wanted.  I read online that the availability is sometimes not available until only a couple of weeks before your trip, so I tried again, and again... with no luck.  The holidays came and distracted me, and then we were just a week before our trip, and I remembered to check again...

BINGO!!

I was in!! 

An example of the time slot selection page for BOG FP+ Lunch

Our reservation was made, and I printed the confirmation screen as a backup.  On our Magic Kingdom day, we headed over for lunch and sure enough there were two lines.

One for FastPass+ and one for Stand-By...  We waited on a short line, and checked in with the CM at the booth for FP+.  She confirmed our reservation, and we proceeded over the bridge, bypassing the line and went directly into the hall with all the suits of armor.

There were menus here to browse as the line moved through the room and into the library, where you were asked how you were paying (room charge, dining plan, etc) and directed to either a kiosk or a live CM to place your order.

For lunch the Library is used for ordering.  At Dinner, it becomes the Beast Meet and Greet.

Once our order was placed, we were told to "find any table we liked, have a seat, place the receipt on the table, and our food would be brought to us."

We chose a table in the Rose Room.  The room is decorated with paintings all around on the wall, and in the center is a rotating music box figurine of Belle and the Beast dancing together in their Ballroom attire.

We wondered how they would find us.  I thought we were supposed to be given a magical rose which they would home in on... but then we realized that we were each carrying "magic" with us.... our Magic Bands! We surmised that the roses and bands utilize the same technology, so only guests without Magic Bands need a rose.

Disney stalked us successfully and delivered the food to our table, confirming the order against our receipt. It took a while to get our food, but not overly long.

I had the Croque Monsieur - Grilled sandwich of carved ham, Gruyere cheese, and bechamel with Pommes Frites. $11.19

Lisa had the Vegetable Quiche - mushroom, zucchini, bell pepper, onion, and chive quiche; served with baby lettuce coated with Champagne vinaigrette $8.99

We got Jackson the Macaroni Maurice
Whole-Grain Macaroni with Marinara Sauce and Mozzarella served with Seasonal Vegetables6.99

Bella got the Mickey Meatloaf
Turkey Meatloaf with Broccoli Florets and Zucchini served with Orange "Stuff" for Dipping. $8.49

The food was okay.  Lisa's quiche left her wanting more vegetables in it, as most of it was just egg.  My sandwich was good, just nothing I would go out of my way to have again.  The kids' meals were small.  At least Bella's came with 2 vegetables.  Jackson's "seasonal vegetables" were two pieces of broccoli.

The only thing that won high praise was the "orange stuff" in Bella's meal.  We all tried it and thought it was delicious.


We also ordered dessert.  We placed that order at the same time as our lunch, and it arrived along with all the other food, sitting there on the table and taunting us as we tried to focus on our lunch.

Jackson and I shared a Triple Chocolate Cupcake - chocolate sponge cake, chocolate mousse filling, and choclate ganache $3.19  I had eaten one when we had dinner here last summer, so I knew it was good.

Bella chose the Strawberry Cream Cheese Cupcake - vanilla sponge cake, strawberry mousse filling, and cream cheese icing $3.19  It looked amazing and she said it was delicious.

Lisa got the The Master's Cupcake - Chocolate Sponge Cake topped with Lumiere’s special “Grey Stuff” $3.19

She said it was sinful, and she didn't share it with us, so we have to take her word for it.

Overall, it was a nice way to celebrate the birthdays of our 2 special girls.  The atmosphere of Be Our Guest is absolutely amazing!  I think from now on we'll be going for dinner to get the whole experience though!

Have you eaten at Be Our Guest?  Do you prefer their Lunch or Dinner Experience?

Disney Movie Collection Giveaway

Beat the winter blues and snuggle up with a great Disney movie...or 19!

We've teamed up with an amazing group of bloggers and pages to bring you this Disney Movie Collection Giveaway! One winner will receive 19 Disney movies! Here's a glimpse at what you'll receive.

The Little Mermaid- Love Our Disney

Toy story 3 -Peace Love Disney

The Incredibles - Disney with Dana

Cinderella - The Benson Street

Monster's University- Home is Where the Mouse is

Brave - Temporary Tourist (w/ Homeketeers & a Party Printable Set)

Babe's in Toyland - Homeketeers

Lady and the Tramp - Your Magical Vacation

A Bug's Life - Fearlessly Creative Mammas

Muppet Treasure Island and Great Muppet Caper (release 12/10/2013) - Disney Film Project Podcast

Wall-E - The Disney World Files/Magical Moments Vacations by Carra Saigh

Wreck It Ralph-Disney With Babies Toddlers & Preschoolers

Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland-  Disney Obsession

Iron Man 3- Rarely Tidy

Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue - MousekaTools

Aladdin-DisneyDose.com

Tinker Bell DVD- Started with a Mouse

Mary Poppins 40th Anniversary 2 disc set  - Dragondreamer's Lair

Disney 4-Movie Collection: Herbie (Love Bug/Herbie Goes Bananas/Herbie Goes To Monte Carlo/Herbie Rides Again) - On the Go in MCO

Add  popcorn and some candy and you are all set for a movie marathon. And be on the lookout for some great movie night ideas to go along with our movie, Monster's University.

Enter via the Rafflecopter below and don't forget to read the fine print!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Fine Print
Winner must be a US Resident 18 years or Older
Winner will be notified by email and will have 24 hours to respond to claim their prize or another winner may be chosen.
Movies will be sent individually from each blog sponsor. Winner's address will be shared with all blog sponsors (18). If winner does not agree to have his/her address shared with all sponsors, another winner will be chosen.

Wordless Wednesday - The Disney Letter "S"

This week's theme: The Letter "S"

Disney Security

While scrolling through my pictures looking for "S" shots for this week, I came across this pic that I just took this past weekend.  This is a Disney Security Guard checking bags at the entrance to Magic Kingdom. 

These Cast Members are some of the very first you encounter at the parks.  As guests, we too often regard them with annoyance at having to stop and waste our precious park time to have our bag inspected.  We get more annoyed if they are being too thorough in their duties, making us wait longer.  We may even feel that they are violating our privacy when they look into our bags and see what personal items we have stowed in there.  It's a thankless job these men and women do, yet they do it with a smile.

These moments we "waste" waiting to pass through security should be a time to reflect on one of the reasons we keep going back to Disney year after year.  Where else in the world can we go where we feel so safe??  

And it's not because we feel like these men and women are hovering over us, watching our every move like hawks.  In reality, the security bag check is often the only interaction most guests will have with Disney Security.  Yet this is only one layer of Disney's security system. The vast security network throughout the parks and resorts is largely unnoticed, and I think we all prefer it that way, right?



So the next time you pass through a bag check to enter the parks, give Cast Members like a Nathan a smile, and a "thank you."  It's the very least we can do for all they do for us.

Special Thanks to Deb at "Focused on the Magic" for hosting the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop.  If you've hopped here, please feel free to look around, Like us, Follow us, Email us, or Subscribe to us.  Then be sure to use the link above to return to the blog hop and check out the other great blogs participating.  Thanks!

My Disney Side - The Fashionable Party Planner

Welcome to those of you joining me from 400 Miles to Disneyland and those of you just hopping aboard.  I am the Final Stop on our Magical Blogorail.

I am honored and thrilled to be joining the Red Loop this month as a Guest Blogger. This month's theme is Disney Side. Your Disney Side is the side of you that laughs more, screams more and just plain lives life to the fullest. For me, I bring my Disney Side out in 2 ways.

Disney Side in the Park: The Fashionista

When I'm at Walt Disney World, you might see me looking like this...

My Disney Side in the parks comes out  through what I'm wearing. 

From ears...

 to shirts...

 to my accessories...

and even bags...

I am decked out in Disney Style. Sometimes my toes are Disney-fied as well.

My Tinkerbell Toes and Bella's Minnie Toes

Disney Side at Home: The Party Planner

At home I show my Disney Side through the Birthday parties and movie nights I plan for my family. I love planning parties (in fact, I think I missed my calling in life). When it comes to one of my Disney themed parties, it's anything goes. 

We dress up...

 

we go on Safari...

Animal Kingdom Night

and we play games!

Bella's Toy Story Mania Birthday Party

But, the highlight of all my parties has to be the food/dessert tables. Here are some of my favorites.

Bella's Princess Tea Party Birthday

Lilo and Stitch Movie Night

Toy Story 2 Movie Night

Jackson's Mickey and Donald Have a Farm Birthday Party

Animal Kingdom Theme Night

Winnie the Pooh Movie Lunch

I'm currently working on a Frozen themed party for my daughter's birthday. 

Thank you for joining Magical Blogorail Red this month. We will be back on February 6th with an all new theme. Keep checking in with our blogs in between loops to keep up to date with our Disney news, photos and stories. If you are looking for more Disney magic, you can make your way over to The Magical Blogorail website to see all our members and their blogs, as well as all our previous loops.

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1st Stop ~ The Disney Point

2nd Stop ~ Magical Mouse Schoolhouse

3rd Stop ~ Disney Donna Kay

4th Stop ~ 400 Miles to Disneyland

Final Stop ~ Home is Where the Mouse Is (You are here!)

Christmas All Year 'Round

Every Christmas it takes more storage totes to put the decorations away

Today is the day that Christmas goes away in our house. The tree comes down.  The ornaments, garland, wreaths, candles, figurines, and other decorations all get packed away and stored until it's time to bring them out the following holiday season.  

It's kind of depressing, actually.  I wish it could be Christmastime the whole year through.  Maybe that's why I appreciate the fact that my favorite vacation destination has a few ways I can get my Christmas fix, no matter what time of year it is!

Winter Summerland

Santa's License Plate on his "Winterbago" at
Winter Summerland Miniature Golf

As the story goes, one Christmas Eve Santa was flying over Florida and saw something he couldn't believe: Snow!  He decided to build a retreat for his elves in this magical location, including an elf-sized golf course. The elves were divided on whether the course should celebrate the warmth of sunny Florida or the North Pole, so they built two: A Summer course and a Winter course.

Depending on your mood, you can choose to put through barbecues, swimming holes, and sand castles on the summer course, while listening to classic summer tunes with a sprinkling of The Beach Boys' Christmas hits.  Or you could choose the cooler side, complete with ski slopes, frozen ponds, and snowmen!  If you've got the time, take advantage of the second round in a single day 50% discount and do both!

Disney Christmas Shops

It's always Christmas where you find this snowman
 in Disney Hollywood Studios

One of our favorite family traditions is to pick up a new Christmas ornament for our tree on every visit to Walt Disney World.  These make great souvenirs because when it comes time to decorate our tree, we pause as we take out and hang each ornament to reflect upon the magical family vacations we've had.

There are four Christmas Shops in Walt Disney World

• Disney Days of Christmas - Downtown Disney
• Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe - Magic Kingdom
• It's a Wonderful Shop - Disney Hollywood Studios
• Die Wiehnachts Ecke - Germany Pavilion, Epcot

3 out of the 4 require park admission, but Downtown Disney is free to enter, but leave your wallet behind if you don't want to be tempted to buy!  Whether you want to escape the Florida sun for a bit and pretend it's December, or if you want to pick up a holiday keepsake, or something Disney for your holiday decor, or to even get a unique holiday greeting card photo op, these Christmas shops are there for you, 365 days a year!


Want to read more about Winter Summerland, Disney Christmas Shops, and everything Christmas at Walt Disney World?  Then check out WDW Magazine!! They devoted an entire issue to the "Most Wonderful Time of the Year" at the "Most Magical Place on Earth"!

How does a little Christmas at Disney sound to you?

We're Going to runDisney! What were we thinking???

It's Marathon Weekend at Walt Disney World, and among the thousands of runners descending upon the resort  are these two under-prepared, and somewhat nervous newbies to the experience!

Last year at this time, we had no idea that right now we'd be days away from boarding our flight down to Orlando to partake in this annual event.   How did we get to this point?  Well...


James

I got swept up in all the hype over Marathon Weekend last year because I actually knew a few Dis Dads that were running.   It turned into a Dis Dads Convention, full of bacon and Dole Whips and lots of fun.  If there was going to be another one, I wanted in!

It's not easy for us to vacation in January, given that Lisa is a teacher, but when I proposed going, she was intrigued at going to Disney near her birthday, and she told me "If you run, we can go." I took that as permission to start training and booked our room for the weekend. 



In March, I ran my first official race, a charity 5K race in honor of the families of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT.  

It was a great experience.  It was a milestone in my training for runDisney,  it was for a great cause, and I got to meet several great guys from the Dis Dads who also attended. 


Unfortunately, my knee gave out on the final stretch and I would need to have surgery the following month.

During my recovery, registration opened for Marathon Weekend.  I lowered my aspirations and set my sights on the Half Marathon.  We wanted to also sign the whole family up for the Family Fun 5k, but with no more stroller division, it wasn't feasible.  Lisa still signed up for the 5K, and we signed Jackson up for the 100 meter dash and Bella for the Mickey Mile.


By the summer, I had recovered from my surgery, and was ready to resume my training after we returned from our Disney vacation.

Our 2013 trip to Disney!!

In August, my knee said no to running and swelled up again... I would need a second surgery in October, and 8 more weeks to recover.  The second surgery also found that my knee would never be 100%, and that I'd have to manage the pain and discomfort going forward.

recovering from knee surgery #2

In that respect, getting older stinks!

I haven't been able to train as much as I wanted, and now my goal is simply to cross the finish line. I'll be doing more of a mix of running and walking as opposed to the original plan of running the whole race.  I can't help but be concerned about how my knee will hold up.  The longest run/walk I've managed up to this point has been 8.5 miles.  



Lisa

The fact that the whole family could not run together in the 5K was definitely a blow to Lisa's spirits, but she still committed herself and impressed me by getting out there and running. Unlike me, she doesn't have a history of competing in sports, so she is totally brand new to the concept.

I think my setbacks have understandably also affected her motivation and it's been more difficult to find time in a busy schedule and the colder weather to keep at it.  

But I think the biggest obstacle for Lisa is herself.  I get the sense from her that she doesn't think she fits in, that she's not a "runner".  But I think that's why runDisney is such a perfect fit for her. It's not about whether or not she can physically do it.  She proved that by getting out there and running around our neighborhood.  

examiner.com

I hope she'll see that running brings together people from all walks of life, in all shapes and sizes and abilities.  I hope the magic of running in Disney will ease her doubts, and she won't feel so alone out there.

I know she'd feel better if we could have done it together, but Bella, Jackson, and I will be there to cheer her on, and I know you will all be cheering her on too!

How will we do?

Well, you'll have to stay tuned for that.  It will be a short, but very unique trip for us.  We've got our runs and plans to celebrate both Bella and Lisa's birthdays while we're there!  Be sure to follow along on twitter, facebook, and instagram! It should be a magical weekend...  And hopefully we'll all come back with some bling to show off!

Have any of you ever run at Disney event??  We'd love to hear about it!! Leave your stories, tips and words of encouragement in the comments!! 
Thanks for stopping by!

Pancake and Pajama Party- Family Fun Friday

On Monday, our daughter, Bella will be turning 7. For her 6th birthday, we threw her a Pancake and Pajama Party for her and her friends. 


This is a fun and budget-friendly party idea. We asked the girls to come over on a Sunday morning dressed in their pajamas. The party space was decorated with blankets, stuffed animals and paper chains.

We used sheets as table cloths for the pancake bar and the kids table. Colorful tissue balls hung from the ceiling to give the party space a fun and whimsical feel.

The girls visited the pancake bar first. They had a wide variety of toppings to choose from.

We also treated them to some yummy goodies! 

There were Sunny Side Up Egg Cupcakes...

...Fruity Pebble Cereal Treats...

...Bacon and Egg Chocolate Bites...

... and Cinnamon Bun Lollipops!

The Birthday Girl loved her breakfast buffet!

After breakfast, the girls decorated pillowcases and made Fruit Loop necklaces while they watched a movie.

The girls got to take their pillowcases, necklaces and water bottles home as a favor. 

This was such a fun and easy party to plan. All the girls had a blast and it was a party that Bella will never forget!

Thanks for stopping by! If you're looking for even more party ideas, check out our Party Ideas tab!