Category: Table Service Meals

Free Dining is BACK for Disney+ Subscribers!

Walt Disney World has decided to start 2024 off with a BANG! They are offering FREE DINING to Disney+ subscribers! This is the first time Disney has offered Free Dining since before the pandemic closure in 2020.  In fact, the Disney Dining Plan in its entirety has been missing since then as well. We already had the good news that the Disney Dining Plan was back for 2024, and can be booked with your Disney vacation for trips starting January 9, 2024. But Free Dining? I wasn’t sure we’d ever get Free Dining offers again, given all the price increases and other changes since Walt Disney World reopened after the pandemic. But at long last, Free Dining is BACK! (at least, for Disney+ subscribers!).

Free Dining is BACK for Disney+ subscribers
Photo: Disney Parks

What is the Disney Dining Plan?

Let’s start here. Because it’s been years since the Disney Dining Plan was offered, many of you may not be familiar with the Disney Dining Plan.  Basically, the Disney Dining Plan offers a way for resort guests to prepay for most of their meals during their trip as they pay for the rest of their vacation. Since your vacation balance is paid in full by the time you go on vacation, if you include the Disney Dining Plan, you’ve also already paid for most of your meals by the time you go as well. A lot of people like the security of knowing their meals are already paid for and they find it easier to control their spending during their vacation. After your resort and your park tickets, meals are easily the most expensive part of your Disney vacation.  There are ways to save money on food on your Disney vacation, but that’s a topic for a different blog!

Minnie's Halloween Dine; Disney Dining Plan
Photo: Disney Parks

Is there only one Disney Dining Plan?

There are actually two different Disney Dining Plans. Both Disney Dining Plans are linked to your resort reservation. Whichever Disney Dining Plan you purchase, you are buying it for each person on your reservation staying in your room, and for the number of nights on your reservation. For example, if you are staying at Art of Animation for 4 nights, and you have two adults and two children ages 3-9 in your room, you would be purchasing 2 adult 4 night Dining Plans and 2 child 4 night Disney Dining Plans.

The Standard Disney Dining Plan includes:
      • One quick service meal per night
      • One table service meal per night
      • One snack or non-alcoholic beverage per night
      • A refillable resort mug

Important things to know about the Standard Disney Dining Plan:

      • Beverages are included with each meal
      • Guests under 21 years of age may order non-alcoholic beverages; guests 21 years old or older may substitute beer, wine or cocktails
      • Children ages 3-9 must order from the children’s menu where available
      • Plans must be purchased for the entire length of stay and for the entire party (ages 3 and up).
      • Meal credits expire at midnight on the day you checkout of your resort
      • Meals are non-transferable between members of your party
      • Resort refillable mugs are fillable at any self service beverage station at any of the Disney Resort Quick Service locations
      • Resort refillable mugs cannot be refilled at beverage stations inside any of the theme parks
Free Dining is Back Disney Dining Plan
Photo: Disney Parks
What’s Included in Each Meal?

Quick Service Meal: Quick Service meal credits can be redeemed for breakfast, lunch or dinner at any Quick Service meal location.  One Quick Service meal credit will entitle you to:

        • One entrée
        • One non-alcoholic beverage (or alcoholic beverage, for guests 21 or older)

Table Service Meal: Table Service meal credits can be redeemed for breakfast, lunch or dinner at any Table Service meal location.

At breakfast, one Table Service meal credit will entitle you to:

      • One entrée
      • One non-alcoholic beverage (or alcoholic beverage, for guests 21 or older)

OR

      • One Full Buffet (prix-fixe) or Family-Style Meal (prix-fixe)
      • One non-alcoholic beverage (or alcoholic beverage, for guests 21 or older)

At lunch or dinner, one Table Service meal credit will entitle you to:

      • One entrée
      • One dessert
      • One non-alcoholic beverage (or alcoholic beverage, for guests 21 or older)

OR

      • One Full Buffet (if available) or Family-Style Meal
      • One non-alcoholic beverage (or alcoholic beverage, for guests 21 or older)
Free Dining is Back. Disney Dining Plan. Character Meal. Snow White. Character Dining. Food.
Photo: Disney Parks
What Beverages are Included?

Alcoholic Beverages: Guests 21 or older may choose either one non-alcoholic beverage or one single serving mixed cocktail, beer or wine (where offered) as part of your meal.

A single serving alcoholic beverage includes items such as:

      • Beer or Cider
      • Sangria or Wine
      • Mixed Drinks and Specialty Cocktails

Non-alcoholic Beverages: Guests 10 or older may choose a non-alcoholic beverage (including specialty beverages where offered) as part of their meal.

A single serving non-alcoholic beverage includes items such as:

      • Milkshakes
      • Fresh Smoothies
      • Premium Hot Chocolate
      • Soda, Coffee or Tea
Star Wars Galaxys Edge Olgas Cantina Disney Dining Plan
Left to right, non-alcoholic drinks: Carbon Freeze, Oga’s Obsession provision and Cliff Dweller can be found at Oga’s Cantina. (Photo: Kent Phillips/Disney Parks)
What Counts as a “Snack”?

At most outdoor carts, Quick Service meal locations and select merchandise locations, snacks may include items like:

      • Frozen ice cream novelty, popsicle or fruit bar
      • 2 scoops of hand-scooped ice cream
      • Popcorn scoop (single-serving box)
      • Piece of whole fruit
      • Single-serve bag of snacks
      • 20-ounce bottle of Coca-Cola® products, including Dasani® water
      • 20-ounce fountain soft drink
      • Single-serve coffee, hot chocolate, hot tea, milk or juice
      • Cup of soup
      • Add on toppings or sauces (e.g. side of cheese dipping sauce)
Free Dining is Back. Disney Dining Plan. Dole Whip. Dole Whip with Rum. Snack
Photo: Brooke Hudson
What’s NOT Included?
      • Items served in a souvenir container (like popcorn or drinks)
      • Products that are larger than a single serving (for example, a box of donuts or a jar of peanut butter
      • Items that are considered merchandise (like bottle straps, glow cubes or bottle toppers)
      • Special dining events offered at some Table Service restaurants
More Magical Ways to use Table Service Meal Credits:

Character Meals: Table Service meal credits CAN be used for Character Dining. Character meals are usually buffet or family style meals and offer opportunities for your family to take photos and/or get autographs from various characters. Note: Disney PhotoPass photographers do NOT go around with the characters at Character meals, so plan on using your own camera or phone for all photo ops.

Chef Mickey's. Free Dining is Back. Disney Dining Plan. Character Meal.
Chef Mickey’s Character Breakfast Photo: Brooke Hudson

SOME Character Meals require TWO Table Service meals credits per diner, per meal.  These include:

      • Fairytale Dining at Cinderella’s Castle
      • Princess Storybook Dining at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall (at lunch and dinner only require two credits; breakfast is one credit)
      • Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White

Fine/Signature Dining: Some of Walt Disney World restaurants offer more of a “fine dining” experience or are higher end than your average Table Service restaurant.  Each meal at one of these restaurants will require TWO Table Service credits per diner, per meal.  Each meal will include:

      • One entrée
      • One dessert
      • One non-alcoholic beverage (or alcoholic beverage, for guests 21 or older)

Fine dining/Signature dining restaurants do have a dress code. Guests are expected to dress in attire that reflects the restaurant’s upscale and sophisticated aesthetic. No swimwear is allowed.

Fine Dining; Signature Dining. Disney Dining Plan. Food.
Photo: Disney Parks

Many restaurants are considered “Signature”. Be sure to check before making your reservations so you are not surprised by the two meal credit requirements.

Here are just a few examples of Signature Dining Restaurants at Walt Disney World:

      • California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
      • Citricos at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
      • Tiffin’s at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
      • Flying Fish on Disney’s Boardwalk
      • The BOATHOUSE at Disney Springs
      • Jiko at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Dinner at Be Our Guest Restaurant at the Magic Kingdom: Dining at Be Our Guest requires two Table Service meal credits for each meal.

Disney Restaurants Beast Be Our Guest
Be Our Guest: The Beast Does a Walk Through (Photo: Brooke Hudson)

Dinner Shows: Your party can enjoy family style meals along with live entertainment at a dinner show. Advanced reservations are required for any dinner show. Two Table Service meal credits will be redeemed for each person dining at a dinner show.

Pizza Pickup: You can stop by select Quick Service restaurants and pick up a “Pizza Meal”. Each Pizza Meal will use two Quick Service meal credits. A Pizza Meal includes:

      • 1 large pizza
      • 2 single serving non-alcoholic beverages (or alcoholic beverages, where available, for guests 21 or older)

Pizza Meals are available at the following Disney World Resorts:

      • Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
      • Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
      • Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
      • Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
      • Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
      • Disney’s Pop Century Resort
      • Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
      • Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside

What Does the Standard Disney Dining Plan Cost?

The Standard Disney Dining Plan is $94.28 per adult, per day. For children ages 3 -9, the Standard Disney Dining Plan is $29.69 per day.

Note: Prices for the Standard Disney Dining Plan are subject to change at any time, as are the participating restaurants and Disney Dining Plan rules.  Once you’ve purchased, you’re locked in, but until then–anything can happen.

California Grill.Dessert. Disney Dining Plan. Free Dining is Back.
Dessert at California Grill                                                                                                    Photo: Brooke Hudson
The Quick Service Disney Dining Plan includes:
      • Two quick service meals per night
      • One snack or non-alcoholic beverage per night
      • One refillable resort mug

Important things to know about the Quick Service Disney Dining Plan:

      • Beverages are included with each meal
      • Guests under 21 years of age may order non-alcoholic beverages; guests 21 years old or older may substitute beer, wine or cocktails
      • Children ages 3-9 must order from the children’s menu where available
      • Plans must be purchased for the entire length of stay and for the entire party (ages 3 and up).
      • Meal credits expire at midnight on the day you checkout of your resort
      • Meals are non-transferable between members of your party
      • Resort refillable mugs are fillable at any self service beverage station at any of the Disney Resort Quick Service locations
      • Resort refillable mugs cannot be refilled at beverage stations inside any of the theme parks
Free Dining is Back. Disney Dining Plan. Quick Service. Kids Dining.
Photo: Disney Parks
What’s Included in Each Meal?

Quick Service Meal: Quick Service meal credits can be redeemed for breakfast, lunch or dinner at any Quick Service meal location.  One Quick Service meal credit will entitle you to:

        • One entrée
        • One non-alcoholic beverage (or alcoholic beverage, for guests 21 or older)
What Beverages are Included?

Alcoholic Beverages: Guests 21 or older may choose either one non-alcoholic beverage or one single serving mixed cocktail, beer or wine (where offered) as part of your meal.

A single serving alcoholic beverage includes items such as:

      • Beer or Cider
      • Sangria or Wine
      • Mixed Drinks and Specialty Cocktails
Disney Cocktails. Drinks. Disney Dining Plan.
Photo: Brooke Hudson

Non-alcoholic Beverages: Guests 10 or older may choose a non-alcoholic beverage (including specialty beverages where offered) as part of their meal.

A single serving non-alcoholic beverage includes items such as:

      • Milkshakes
      • Fresh Smoothies
      • Premium Hot Chocolate
      • Soda, Coffee or Tea
Free Dining is Back. Disney Dining Plan. Snacks
Photo: Disney Parks
What Counts as a “Snack”?

At most outdoor carts, Quick Service meal locations and select merchandise locations, snacks may include items like:

      • Frozen ice cream novelty, popsicle or fruit bar
      • 2 scoops of hand-scooped ice cream
      • Popcorn scoop (single-serving box)
      • Piece of whole fruit
      • Single-serve bag of snacks
      • 20-ounce bottle of Coca-Cola® products, including Dasani® water
      • 20-ounce fountain soft drink
      • Single-serve coffee, hot chocolate, hot tea, milk or juice
      • Cup of soup
      • Add on toppings or sauces (e.g. side of cheese dipping sauce)
What’s NOT Included?
      • Items served in a souvenir container (like popcorn or drinks)
      • Products that are larger than a single serving (for example, a box of donuts or a jar of peanut butter
      • Items that are considered merchandise (like bottle straps, glow cubes or bottle toppers)

What Does the Quick Service Disney Dining Plan Cost?

The Quick Service Disney Dining Plan is $57.01 per adult, per day. For children ages 3 -9, the Quick Service Disney Dining Plan is $23.83 per day.

Note: Prices for the Quick Service Disney Dining Plan are subject to change at any time, as are the participating restaurants and Disney Dining Plan rules.  Once you’ve purchased, you’re locked in, but until then–anything can happen.

Free Dining is Back. Disney Dining Plan. Quick Service Dining. Pandora Food. Satuli Canteen.
Photo: Disney Parks

Do the Disney Dining Plan credits come day by day?

Something to be aware of: all your Disney Dining Plan credits are available to you once you check in. You don’t have to use them each day if you don’t want to. Theoretically, if you like to eat table service meals for breakfast AND dinner, you could use all four table service meal credits in your first two days. Certain table service restaurants are considered “Signature” restaurants, and each meal there uses TWO table service meal credits. I have had clients that purchased 4 day Disney Dining Plans that used all their credits up in the first two days. I have also had clients that purchased 4 day Disney Dining Plans scrambling to use their snack credits up before they left for the airport.

Disney Dining Plan. Free Dining. Snacks.
Photo: Disney Parks

Planning and Organization Required

Using the Disney Dining Plan does take some planning. If you are purchasing the Standard Disney Dining Plan, I highly recommend you make reservations for your Table Service meals before your trip. (Note: If you book your trip through me, I take care of this for you). If you don’t make reservations before your trip, you run the risk of not being able to get into the table service restaurants you want to. Having a table service credit on your Disney Dining Plan is NOT a guarantee that you can actually get a table at a table service restaurant of your choice. This is a common misconception and can be very disappointing and frustrating for hungry guests inside a theme park discovering there is no availability at any of the Table Service options at that theme park that night.

Toy Story Round Up Rodeo; Free dining is back. Disney Dining Plan. BBQ. Food.
Photo: Disney Parks

There is always some table service restaurant somewhere on property where you can get in, but it may not be in the theme park or resort where you want to eat when you want to eat. Planning ahead sets you up for success. You can always make changes during your trip if you want to and if there is availability–but if you don’t make reservations before your trip, you definitely run the risk of not being able to dine where you want to dine.

Use them or lose them!

It is important to keep track of your Disney Dining Plan credits to make sure you don’t waste any or forget to use them. You’ve paid for these credits! The larger your party, the more difficult this can be–especially if you have older kids that you might split off from for meals. If this feels too complicated and you don’t want to have to pay attention or remember to use your credits, then the Disney Dining Plan is NOT for you. But with a little pre-planning, you can maximize the value of your Disney Dining Plan and not lose track of your credits. If you book your trip with me, I’m happy to help you with this.

Roundup Rodeo BBQ Menu cocktails drinks Disney Dining Plan
Photo: Disney Parks

How do you use the Dining Plan?

Using your Disney Dining Plan is super easy. In fact, most Table Service restaurant servers will ask you before you order if you are using the Disney Dining Plan.  You’ll just present your Disney Resort ID (Magic Band, Magic Band+, Disney Magic Mobile Pass or Key to the World card) to your server or cashier.

If you are dining with another family or group that is also on the Disney dining plan, you’ll want to make sure your server knows which meals should be redeemed on which Disney Resort ID.

You can redeem your meals and snacks in any order during your stay, until the number of meals and snacks associated with your package has been depleted. All unused meals and snacks and the ability to use your Resort-refillable mug expire at midnight on your package reservation checkout date.

Free Dining is Back. Disney Dining Plan. Roundup Rodeo. Toy Story Dining. Food. Table Service Meal.
Roundup Rodeo                                                  Photo: Brooke Hudson
How to Keep Track of Your Disney Dining Plan Credits

Your Disney Dining Plan is linked electronically to your Resort reservation.  You can check your Disney Dining Plan credits in one of three different ways:

        • Use your My Disney Experience app to view your remaining meals and snacks.
        • Check your dining receipts. Each receipt will print your remaining meals and snacks as of the time on that receipt.
        • You can ask at Guest Relations or your Resort Concierge to look up your remaining meals and snacks any time.
What About Gratuities?

Gratuities are NOT included in the cost of your Disney Dining Plan, except for at Cinderella’s Royal Table and dinner shows.

An 18% gratuity will automatically be added to your bill for parties of six or larger.

You will need to provide an additional form of payment if you add a gratuity and haven’t provided a credit card at check in to charge incidentals and other charges to your room.

For guests traveling from outside the United States, a 20% gratuity based on the total pre-tax cost of the meal is standard for Table Service meals. Servers in the United States are generally paid a very small hourly rate and the majority of their income comes from guest paid gratuities.  The last time the Disney Dining Plan was offered, Disney would print the cost of the meal on the receipt, along with suggested gratuity amounts to make it easy for the guests. I am assuming they will do something similar this time around.

But What About FREE DINING???

Ok, so now we’ve covered both available Disney Dining Plans, how they work and how much they cost. Periodically, Disney will run different “Free Dining” promotions where guests can get Free Dining by booking a particular type of full price reservation.

La Creperie de Paris Dessert Crepe
La Creperie de Paris Dessert Crepe (Photo: Linda Harkness)

Currently, Disney is offering Free Dining for Disney+ subscribers. There are some important requirements to take advantage of this offer:

        • Guests much purchase a nondiscounted 4-night, 4-day Walt Disney Travel Company package that includes a room at a select Disney Resort hotel and a theme park ticket with a Park Hopper option
        • Offer is valid for arrivals most nights between July 1, 2024 and September 30, 2024
        • Packages purchased for select Disney Deluxe Villa Resort Hotels or Select Disney Deluxe Resort Hotels will include the Standard Disney Dining Plan
        • Packages purchased for select Disney Moderate Resort Hotels or select Disney Value Resort Hotels will include the Quick Service Disney Dining Plan
        • Offer is available for booking beginning January 3, 2024

Is Free Dining a Good Deal?

Short answer? Sometimes. The key phrase to pay attention to is “NONDISCOUNTED package”. Another important phrase: “Theme park ticket with a Park Hopper option”. Keep in mind that if you are purchasing a four-night package, this means you are also purchasing a four day Park Hopper ticket–which is more expensive than the one park per day theme park ticket.

Should you cancel your 2020 disney world vacation

If you’re an Annual Passholder, this is not a good deal for you. If you are a Florida resident, you most likely can get better Florida resident discounts than the dollar amount associated with the Disney Dining Plan you would get as part of this package. If you’re in the military, you can often get better discounts than Free Dining.

In fact, there are often better discounts available during the same period of time. Generally, if Disney is offering Free Dining in any capacity at all, it usually means they’re not as fully booked up for that time period as they would like to be. That’s why they’re offering Free Dining–to book more rooms and more tickets. It’s important to evaluate any other available discounts to determine if Free Dining is really a good value for your party.

If you are a Disney+ subscriber and you’d like to travel to Disney between July 1 and September 30 and would like to get a quote for this Free Dining offer, please contact me. At the same time, I can check for other available discounts for you. Disney is verifying Disney+ subscriber status and there are a couple of extra hoops to jump through to take advantage of this discount, but if this fits with your travel plans, Free Dining COULD save you money.

Disney Dining Plan. Be Our Guest. Food.
Photo: Disney Parks

Bottom Line: Advantages and Disadvantages of the Disney Dining Plans

Advantages

      • You are able to prepay for the bulk of your meals before your vacation
      • Eliminates the guesswork of how much you’ll spend on food during your vacation
      • Reduces the amount of cash or credit you need to have on hand throughout your vacation
      • Easy to use–as long as you have a credit card attached to your Resort reservation for incidentals and other charges to the room, you will not need to provide a form of payment for any of the meals on your Dining Plan. You’ll just use your Magic Band, Magic Band+, Key to the World card or Magic Mobile to access your Dining Plan credits. Any gratuities can be charged to your room.
      • The My Disney Experience App shows your available meal credits.
      • Accepted by most Disney Table Service, Quick Service and mobile cart locations throughout the Walt Disney World Resort
      • Enables members of your traveling party to get meals and snacks without incurring out of pocket costs
New Restaurant Open at Epcot Regal Eagle Smokehouse
Great food can be found at the new Regal Eagle Smokehouse at the American Adventure Pavilion at EPCOT (Photo: Disney Parks)

DISADVANTAGES

      • The Standard Dining Plan requires some planning ahead, to ensure you have reservations for Table Service restaurants during your trip.
      • Can be challenging to make sure all your credits are used if you aren’t paying attention.
      • May or may not be a good value for your family, depending on how your family chooses to eat while on vacation.
      • Linked to the length of your Resort reservation.  If you are staying for seven nights and want the Disney Dining Plan, you will be buying the Dining plan for all seven nights, for all members of your party staying in that room on that Resort reservation.
      • Cannot mix the two different plans. You can either buy the Standard Disney Dining Plan OR the Quick Service Disney Dining Plan. You can’t buy the Quick Service Disney Dining Plan for the first five nights of your trip and the Standard Disney Dining Plan for the last two nights of your trip (unless you are changing Resorts and/or have a different Resort reservation for that last two nights.
      • Requires more spending before your trip–you’ll need to have your entire trip–tickets, Resort AND dining all paid for prior to your trip.
      • Gratuities are NOT included in your Disney Dining Plan purchase. For Table Service meals, you will need to either charge gratuities to your room, or provide another form of payment.

Questions?

Hopefully, we’ve answered any questions you may have about either of the Disney Dining Plans and about the current Free Dining promotion.  However, if you have any questions we haven’t answered, please comment below or email brooke@disneycastledreaming.com.

Brooke Hudson Disney Travel Agent
Ready to Plan Your Next Disney Vacation? I’m ready to help! Email brooke@disneycastledreaming.com

Work with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner

One of the advantages of working with an authorized Disney Vacation Planner like me is that I can check on all the available discounts, if any, during the time you want to travel, and help you to get the best available deal based on your needs. Another advantage is that if new discounts become available later that could potentially save you money, and you haven’t yet paid your final balance, your Disney Vacation Planner can go in and apply those new discount for you. Remember, working with a Disney Vacation Planner doesn’t cost you anything–Disney pays their planners to serve their guests. The guests do not pay anything to work with a Disney Vacation Planner–and we can help in so many ways. If you’d like more information on this, or would like a no obligation quote, please contact me at Brooke@disneycastledreaming.com.

P.S. Making your Disney Vacation More Enjoyable: Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs)

Roundup Rodeo BBQ – Restaurant Review

Roundup Rodeo BBQ Entrance
Roundup Rodeo BBQ Entrance. Photo: Brooke Hudson

Hollywood Studios has needed more table service dining options for a long time.  We were very excited when Disney announced that Toy Story Land was getting its own Western themed table service restaurant, Roundup Rodeo BBQ.  Roundup Rodeo BBQ opened in April fully booked, and it remains a popular table service option.  This is likely to be a hard to get table service reservation for months, if not years, to come.

 

Roundup Rodeo BBQ
Roundup Rodeo BBQ Photo: Brooke Hudson

Most of the preliminary reviews I read for Roundup Rodeo BBQ were positive if not glowing. We went into this meal primed to love it.  We were excited to have a new option for lunch or dinner, and I was thrilled to have secured a dinner reservation for our first planned Hollywood Studio visit of the trip.

The Good

Roundup Rodeo BBQ is themed perfectly to Toy Story Land.  It fits right in, and the decor feels very similar to Toy Story Mania or Slinky Dog Dash.  The design and decor of the restaurant itself, as well as the exterior waiting area and entrance to the restaurant area, are really well done and very cute.  The colors are bright and cheerful, and there is a LOT to look at.

Roundup rodeo BBQ
Linda in Roundup Rodeo BBQ. Photo: Brooke Hudson

The final design looks a lot like the original concept art Disney gave us when they first announced Roundup Rodeo BBQ was coming.  You can check that out Here or Here.

We absolutely loved the theming.  If you aren’t aware, the premise of Roundup Rodeo BBQ is that Andy has assembled all his toys in the backyard for a Rodeo.  There are audio tracks playing throughout your meal that feature Toy Story characters announcing various Rodeo events or activities.  A fun element is that every so often the Green Army Men will announce that Andy is coming, and all cast members in Roundup Rodeo BBQ (and lots of participating restaurant guests) freeze.

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Another good thing we liked about Roundup Rodeo BBQ is the price point.  Adults are $45 per person plus tax for all you care to enjoy, and children 9 and under are $25 per person plus tax, again for all you care to enjoy.  The food is served family style, and guests are welcome to request more food if they desire.  Meals include biscuits with jam, three salads, four meats, dessert and a soft drink, tea, coffee, milk or juice.  Specialty beverages are available for an additional cost.

The Bad

You can review the full menu for Roundup Rodeo BBQ Here.

Unfortunately, as happy as we were with the theming and the price point, we were disappointed by the food.  Specifically, we really did not like the entree options for this meal.  Disney has elected to go with hickory smoked for the entree meats, and hickory smoked is a very strong flavor.  I have no doubt that the meats themselves are of high quality; however the hickory smoked flavor overrode the taste of the meats themselves.  If you are a fan of hickory smoked, I’m sure you will love these meats.

Roundup rodeo bbq meats
Roundup Rodeo BBQ meat basket. Photo: Brooke Hudson

Here are the meats you get with your meal: (Note there’s a plant based option that you can order instead of the meats—we did not try that option.)

Enjoy a Platter of all the Following House-Smoked Items

Evil Dr. Smoked Ribs | Buttercup’s Beef Brisket | There’s a Sausage in my Boot – Fire-grilled Pork Sausage | BBQ Chicken – with Style!
Roundup Rodeo BBQ menu smoked meats
Photo: Disney Parks

While I normally really enjoy barbecue, I have to admit that the overpowering hickory smoked flavor of these meats was NOT something I liked.  Rodeo Roundup BBQ provides three different BBQ sauces for guests to add to their meat selections, and I tried all three.  All three sauces were flavorful and tasty on their own, and offer BBQ flavors popular all over the United States.  One sauce was sweet (my favorite), one was tangy and the third had more kick.

I was hoping that adding the sauce would temper the overpowering hickory smoke flavor—this was most successful with the chicken, but it still didn’t make this a successful meal for us.

The ribs, in my opinion were inedible.  They were very hard, almost a beef jerky texture.  The beef brisket was cooked well, but again that hickory smoke flavor was so strong, the brisket was difficult to enjoy.  We had suggested to our waiter that he leave the fire grilled pork sausage out of our meat basket, since neither one of us are big fans.  Our waiter was insistent that we should try it—he said it was SO good, and that we really needed to try it.  So we did.  It was good, I’ll agree, but the andouille sausage I’d had the day before at Tucker House was better!

The Ugly

Roundup Rodeo BBQ menu sides
Photo: Disney Parks

I’m sorry to say that we found the sides even more disappointing than the meats were.  We were told to choose four options from the various side options available.  Sides offered include:

Mean Old Potato Salad

Homestyle Red-skinned Potatoes

The Married Spuds

Loaded Potato Barrels

The Claw! Veggie Slaw

(Plant-based)

Force Field Fried Pickles

Campfire-roasted Vegetables

(Plant-based)

Slinky Doooooooooog’s Mac & Cheese

Buckin’ Baked Beans

(Plant-based)

Cowpoke Corn on the Cob

Grilled Street Corn
The four choices we chose were Force Field Fried Pickles, Cowpoke Corn on the Cob, Campfire Roasted Vegetables, and Mean Old Potato Salad.  Of these, the best was the Mean Old Potato Salad, but it was kind of boring.
Roundup Rodeo BBQ Sides
Roundup Rodeo BBQ Mean Old Potato Salad
The biggest disappointment was the Cowpoke Corn on the Cob.  The description on the menu said “Grilled Street Corn”.  We weren’t expecting the corn to have so much “stuff” on it.  When we asked the waiter, he explained that it was “Mexican Street Corn”.  I have had Mexican Street Corn before, but it was nothing like this. I’m sure there are lots of different ways to make the dish, but I’m not sure this preparation is the best choice for such a large and varied audience that includes so many children.  I could see a lot of kids refusing to eat this corn.  The waiter told us that the corn can be ordered as just buttered grilled corn on the cob—that would likely be more appealing to a wider audience.
Roundup Rodeo BBQ Cowpoke Corn on the Cob
Roundup Rodeo BBQ Cowpoke Corn on the Cob. Photo: Brooke Hudson
We ordered the fried dill pickles just to try them — we weren’t expecting to love them, but we wanted to try them.  I thought they would be crispy, but they were soft and kind of soggy. We didn’t like them at all, but I can imagine that they would appeal to some people.
Roundup Rodeo BBQ Fried Pickles
Roundup Rodeo BBQ Fried Pickles Photo: Brooke Hudson
The campfire roasted vegetables were just ok.  We had high hopes for these as we both love roasted vegetables, but they were kind of soggy and not very flavorful.
Roundup Rodeo BBQ Campfire Roasted Vegetables
Roundup Rodeo BBQ Campfire Roasted Vegetables.  Photo: Brooke Hudson

Final Thoughts on Roundup Rodeo BBQ

We will most likely not be returning to Roundup Rodeo BBQ for a table service meal in the future, unless we hear they make changes to the menu.  While we loved the theming, the atmosphere and most of the cast members we talked to, the food just was not enjoyable for us.

roundup rodeo bbq biscuits
Roundup Rodeo BBQ Biscuits with Sweet Pepper Jam. Photo: Brooke Hudson

I loved the biscuit with the sweet pepper jam, and could have cheerfully eaten more of those—they were buttery soft, warm and scrumptious.  Another highlight for me was my adult beverage.  I tried the Rattler Rum Punch and loved it!

Roundup Rodeo BBQ Rum Rattler Punch
Roundup Rodeo BBQ Rum Rattler Punch. Photo: Brooke Hudson

We both got Billy’s Chocolate Silk Pie for dessert—that was a perfect sized portion, and all the dessert options looked terrific.

I’m glad we tried it, and we really enjoyed the environment and the theming.  I’m also really happy  that there is an additional table service restaurant available in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and specifically in Toy Story Land.  While I’m sure Roundup Rodeo will appeal to many families—please keep in mind the strong hickory smoke flavor—if your family does not like that flavor, this meal will not be the success it could otherwise be.

You Might Love it!

As I said at the beginning, I really wanted to love Roundup Rodeo BBQ.  I’m sad that I didn’t love it—and I’m even more disappointed that I didn’t even like it enough to return. Please keep in mind that these are my opinions, and your mileage may vary.  Anecdotally, I did talk to a few other guests during our trip that had also tried Roundup Rodeo BBQ, and they shared similar thoughts and opinions—but that could absolutely have gone the other way, I’m sure.

Roundup Rodeo BBQ menu desserts
Photo: Disney Parks

So, here’s the big question: Have you tried Roundup Rodeo BBQ?  What did you think?  If you haven’t tried it yet, do you plan to?  Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Happy Dreaming,

Brooke

Brooke Hudson Disney Travel Agent
Ready to Plan Your Next Disney Vacation? I’m ready to help! Email brooke@disneycastledreaming.com

Roundup Rodeo BBQ Menu & Opening Date

We have more information about the new table service restaurant opening soon in Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.  Disney has announced that Roundup Rodeo BBQ will open on March 23, 2023.  Note: Even though we are within the sixty day window, you cannot yet make reservations for Roundup Rodeo BBQ.  I’m sure Disney will make an announcement soon about when reservations will open up.  I’ll keep you posted!

Even more exciting, Disney has shared details with us about the Roundup Rodeo BBQ menu!  We’ve posted about Roundup Rodeo BBQ before, but we didn’t know anything about the menu at that time.  All we knew is that the restaurant would be table service and western themed.  We could be fairly certain there would be barbeque involved, given the “BBQ” in the restaurant name, but you never know! <wink>

Toy Story Land Table Service Restaurant Roundup Rodeo BBQ Photo: Disney Parks

Theming

Roundup Rodeo BBQ is a rodeo arena that Andy has created in the backyard for his toys.  All honorary toys visiting Andy’s backyard are also invited (that’s us!).  Andy has used a variety of his toys, games and playsets to create his Roundup Rodeo arena, and when we visit, we’ll all get to see the world through the eyes of Andy’s toys.

While we’re there, we’ll be offered house smoked meats, a roundup of sides, some sweet surprises and more in this western-themed family-style restaurant.

Roundup Rodeo BBQ Menu

First up, we will start with the Prospector’s Homemade Cheddar Biscuits.  These are served with sweet pepper jelly.  They look awfully good, don’t they?  Of course, I’m a sucker for biscuits of almost any kind….

Rodeo Roundup BBQ menu biscuits
Photo: Disney Parks

Salads

Next up, there are three delicious different salads for toys and honorary toys alike to enjoy.

    • Tomato Salad: Tomatoes, cucumbers, and pickled red onions tossed in a white balsamic vinaigrette and garnished with fresh dill (plant-based)
    • Rex’s Romaine and Kale Salad: Romaine and kale mixed with green apples, pumpkin seeds, and dried cranberries tossed with green goddess dressing
    • Watermelon Salad: Cubed watermelon garnished with freshly torn mint leaves (plant-based)
Roundup Rodeo BBQ menu salads
Photo: Disney Parks

Smoked Meats

Now comes the good stuff! (if you like smoked meats, that is!)

Guests can enjoy a hearty serving of house-smoked meats, including:

    • Evil Dr. Smoked Ribs: Fall-off-the-bone pork ribs, slow-cooked for hours in our onsite smokehouse
    • Buttercup’s Beef Brisket: Hand-sliced beef brisket, smoked then slow-cooked to juicy perfection
    • There’s a Sausage in My Boot: Spiced pork sausage fire-grilled over live oak to give it an added kick
    • BBQ Chicken – with Style! Chicken brined for 48 hours, rubbed with our secret backyard BBQ spice and smoked to tender juiciness
Roundup Rodeo BBQ menu smoked meats
Photo: Disney Parks

Plant-Based Options

No worries.  If you aren’t a meat-eater, there are savory plant-based offerings available upon request.

    • Slow-smoked Cauliflower topped with sweet harissa drizzle and crunchy walnut gremolata
    • Oven-roasted “Bratwurst” that is tender and juicy, sliced to perfection
    • Impossible “Rib Chop” seasoned with spices, then roasted and glazed with sweet BBQ sauce and skewered on a sugar cane “bone”

All entreés served with an assortment of sweet, traditional, and spicy BBQ sauces. 

Roundup Rodeo BBQ menu savory plant-based options
Photo: Disney Parks

Sides

Next up, there are a bunch of sides to choose from.  Guests can choose four sides for the table from the list below.

    • The Married Spuds: Loaded potato barrels drizzled with green goddess dressing, cheese sauce, and seasoned BBQ spices
    • Force Field Fried Pickles: Jumbo pickle spears coated with a dill-flavored breading and fried to perfection
    • Slinky Doooooooooog Mac & Cheese: Spiral pasta in a creamy house-made cheese sauce topped with crumbled cheddar crackers
    • Buckin’ Baked Beans: A traditional BBQ picnic favorite (plant-based)
    • Cowpoke Corn on the Cob: Grilled and seasoned with a chili-lime spice blend, cilantro, cotija cheese, and lime juice
    • Mean Old Potato Salad: Homestyle with red-skinned potatoes 
    • Veggie Slaw: Crunchy shredded veggie slaw that is a summertime favorite! (plant-based) 
    • Campfire-roasted Vegetables: A variety of roasted seasonal vegetables (plant-based)
Roundup Rodeo BBQ menu sides
Photo: Disney Parks

Desserts

Now, we get to the sweet stuff: Desserts!! These perfectly portioned chuckwagon desserts offer a sweet take on the BBQ picnic classics.  Guests can choose from a selection for the table.

    • Cupcake à la Forky: Forky is up to something sweet! A classic chocolate cake with a gooey chocolate ganache center topped with velvety graham cracker buttercream and a sugar cookie
    • Lemon and Blueberry Cheesecake: An iconic creamy dessert that balances the tanginess of the cheesecake with the natural sweetness of blueberries and lemon
    • Billy’s Chocolate Silk Pie: Layers of graham cracker crust and silky chocolate mousse topped with chantilly cream
    • Goat’s Apple Pie: A picnic classic! Tart apples and warm pie spices balance perfectly with the creamy sweet filling under a crumble crust
    • Gruff’s Peach-Strawberry Pie: With its silky sweet peaches and tartness of strawberries, this dessert is a fruit-centric delight! (plant-based)
Roundup Rodeo BBQ menu desserts
Photo: Disney Parks

Beverages

The Roundup Rodeo BBQ menu would not be complete without some craft cocktails and nonalcoholic beverages on offer.  Not to worry, guests feeling nostalgic for backyard picnics will find plenty here to enjoy.

Grown-up Craft Cocktails:

    • Snake Eye Margarita: Inspired by a summertime BBQ featuring watermelon, smoke, and a bit of spice!
    • Rum Punch: Rum punch with vibrant flavors of passion fruit and pineapple finished with a smoky spiced garnish
    • Chocolate with a Grown-up Twist: A blend of chocolate rum, horchata liqueur, cocoa, and flavors of toasted marshmallow
    • Frozen Peanut Butter & Jelly: A fun frozen twist on the classic peanut butter & jelly featuring peanut butter whiskey
    • Whiskey Lemonade: A fresh take on a strawberry lemonade made with Tennessee whiskey and Italian bitter aperitif
    • The Rodeo Mule: A classic “patio sipper,” this mule mixes vodka with fresh juices and ginger beer

A selection of beer, hard cider, and wines by the glass are available.

Roundup Rodeo BBQ Menu cocktails
Photo: Disney Parks

Nonalcoholic offerings:

    • Molly’s Frozen Iced Tea: A frosty concoction with iced tea and citrus flavors
    • Frozen Cocoa: A frozen blend of cocoa and vanilla topped with miniature marshmallows
    • Partysaurus Tex: Strawberry lemonade is even more fun when you garnish it with gummy worms!

Will YOU be Making Reservations?

So, now that you’ve seen the Roundup Rodeo BBQ menu, are you going to be making reservations for this table service restaurant for your next Disney vacation?  Mom and I are going down for our annual mother daughter trip in May. I’m planning to try and get reservations for that visit so that we can report back to all of you.  I also need to know if I want to recommend this restaurant to my clients in the future.

Toy Story Land table service Round Rodeo BBQ
Roundup Rodeo BBQ Concept Art

However, a new table service restaurant in Disney’s Hollywood Studios is very welcome!  I think this one is in a good location, and will appeal to a lot of families.  The Imagineers have done a great job so far in Toy Story Land; I love the details throughout Andy’s backyard.  I am very hopeful that Roundup Rodeo BBQ will not disappoint.  Time will tell.

If you’d like to visit Disney this year, I’d love to help!  Please contact me for a no obligation quote.  Email brooke@disneycastledreaming.com or call 630-538-1124.

Happy dreaming!

Brooke

Brooke Hudson Disney Travel Agent
Ready to Plan Your Next Disney Vacation? I’m ready to help! Email brooke@disneycastledreaming.com

Character Dining Returning to Cinderella’s Royal Table

I have some good news for you today!  Walt Disney World has finally announced when character dining is returning to Cinderella’s Royal Table.  Cinderella’s Royal Table was one of the most popular character dining experiences in Walt Disney World for many years.  As you may recall, when the parks reopened after the pandemic closure, character greetings and character meals did NOT return.  Cinderella’s Royal Table table service restaurant DID reopen for meal service, but without characters.  The restaurant has been open again for more than a year, but until today, there has been no sign of the character dining element returning.

Character dining returning to Cinderella's Roya Table
Sleeping Beauties at Cinderella’s Royal Table Photo: Disney Parks

Today, Walt Disney World announced that character dining is returning to Cinderella’s Royal Table on February 28, 2023.  The first advanced dining reservations for this character meal will open on December 28, 2022.

Disney Princesses Returning to Cinderella’s Royal Table

Many Walt Disney World visitors, adults and children alike, love to see Disney Princesses during their vacation.  The easiest way (and most economical way) to catch a glimpse of your favorite Princess is to watch the afternoon parade at the Magic Kingdom.  During this parade, you get to see many of the Princesses, along with their beaux.

Princess Cavalcade
Magic Kingdom Princess Cavalcade Photo: Brooke Hudson

You can also see Disney Princesses during the finale of Fantasmic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios each night.  Many of the Princesses are featured on water barges that pass in front of audiences near the end of the show.

Select Disney Princesses are also available for traditional Character Greetings.  However, the popularity of the Princesses can often mean really long waits to see your Princess.

A Princess themed Character Meal is a great way to combine meal time with Character Greetings, giving your family the chance to take pictures with the characters and sign autographs.  Character Dining has been GRADUALLY returning to Walt Disney World over the last few months, but the Princess dining options are few and far between and they’ve been among the last to return.

Storybook Dining with Princesses at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall at EPCOT

Character dining featuring Disney Princesses returned to EPCOT’s Norway Pavilion in early November 2022.  Akershus Royal Banquet Hall features Storybook Dining with Disney Princesses, and is a very popular Character Dining experience for Disney Princess fans of all ages.

Storybook Princess dining returning to Akershus Royal Banquet
Dancing Princesses at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall Photo: Disney Parks

Current pricing for Storybook Dining with Princesses at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall is $63 plus tax and gratuity for adults, and $41 plus tax and gratuity for children.  Coffee, tea and fountain beverages are included at this price.  Specialty beverages including cocktails, beer, hard cider and a variety of wines are available at an additional cost.

Click here to view the current menu.

character dining returning to Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
Storybook Dining at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall Photo: Disney Parks

Character Dining Returning to Cinderella’s Royal Table

Finally, diners wanting to see their favorite Disney Princesses during a meal at Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom can do so!  Beginning on February 28, 2022, the Disney Princesses will be back, visiting each table for pictures, interaction and photographs.  You might even get a visit from your Fairy Godmother!

Disney Restaurants Reopening Cinderella's Royal Table
The Fairy Godmother at Cinderella’s Royal Table                 (Photo: Brooke Hudson)

There is something so wonderful and magical about Cinderella Castle.  I’m willing to admit this is one of my absolute favorite Character Meals, and I’m so happy it’s returning.  This is one of the pricier Character Meals, so it’s not something we try to do every trip, but it is a very special experience.

Prior to going upstairs to be seated for dining, guests do have a brief moment for photos with Cinderella in the downstairs area of the restaurant.  Cinderella returned early this year, in a distanced capacity.  Later, the rules relaxed slightly.  Cinderella is NOT one of the Disney Princesses that visits your table during your meal, as she’s busy downstairs greeting her guests.

character dining returning to cinderella's Royal Table, Cinderella
Cinderella at Cinderella’s Royal Table                                   Photo: Brooke Hudson

Cinderella’s Royal Table is open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.  Character Dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table is NOT buffet style, like you will find at most Character Meals.

Character Dining returning to Cinderella's Royal Table
Cinderella’s Royal Table, 2013

Breakfast

Breakfast at Cinderella’s Royal Table inside Cinderella Castle is a lovely way to start your day at Disney’s Magic Kingdom.  If you can get an early reservation, you can even get into the park before it officially opens!  One of my absolute FAVORITE things to do in Walt Disney World is to get into one of the parks early, and see it without the massive crowds we’ve all gotten so used to.

Another benefit of choosing breakfast at Cinderella’s Royal Table is that pricing for breakfast is significantly lower than for lunch or dinner.  You can have the Character Dining experience inside Cinderella Castle at the best possible price.  Keep in mind–Character Meal pricing is generally much higher than you would pay for a regular non-character meal.  You are paying “extra” for the atmosphere and for the entertainment of seeing the Characters.

Current pricing for breakfast at Cinderella’s Royal Table is $45 plus tax and gratuity for adults and $29 plus tax and gratuity for children. Coffee, tea, fountain drinks, hot cocoa, juice or milk is included with your meal.  Specialty cocktails are available for an additional fee.

Click here to view the current breakfast menu.

Lunch and Dinner

At this time, the lunch and dinner menus and pricing are the same at Cinderella’s Royal Table.  It’s a bit of a heavier meal, so if you are planning lunch here, I would suggest going very light on breakfast, and planning a lighter dinner as well.  Especially during the warmer months, you may find this lunch best followed by a return to your resort for an afternoon nap or swim.

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Current pricing for lunch or dinner at Cinderella’s Royal Table is $67 plus tax and gratuity for adults and $39 plus tax and gratuity for children.  your meal includes coffee, tea, fountain beverages, hot cocoa, juice, lemonade or milk.  Specialty cocktails are available for an additional fee.

Click here to see the current lunch/dinner menu.

Advance Reservations Required

Cinderella’s Royal Table is one of those table service restaurants that you will never get access to if you don’t have a reservation.  You MUST make reservations in advance, and this is one of those reservations I would try to get the very minute your 60 day window opens up.  This is a hard reservation to get under normal conditions.  Now that Character Dining is returning to Cinderella’s Royal Table?  I suspect it will be even more difficult than usual!

Disney World and Disneyland Closing due to coronavirus
Photo: Brooke Hudson

Remember: If you get the reservation, you are also required to have both a park ticket and a park reservation for Magic Kingdom for that day.  Without those two things, you won’t be able to get into the park at all to use your reservation!

How to get that Reservation

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that I am a big planner. I’d rather spend time before the trip, making our plans and strategizing, planning ahead than to stand in really long lines during our trip, or not know where we are going to eat and when.  Your preferences may be different.  BUT if you are someone who wants to checkout Character Dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table, this is one reservation you absolutely MUST plan for.

Staying on Property

If you are staying on Disney property, your reservation window opens up 6o days before your first night in a Walt Disney World resort.  On that day, you will have the ability to make dining reservations for THAT first day, 60 days out, plus the duration of your stay at that resort, up to ten days.  Be ready to book online (or call, if you’d rather) at 7am Eastern time on that 6o days out morning.  Work on your reservation for Cinderella’s Royal Table first if you really want to dine there.  Be prepared to try alternate meal times, even alternate days.  Trust me, it is actually easier to rearrange all your park reservations than it is to get this reservation!

Cinderella’s Royal Table Entrance                          Photo: Brooke Hudson
Staying off Property

Don’t worry if you aren’t staying on Disney property–you still can try making this hard-to-get reservation at 60 days out.  The only difference is that you can only make reservations for that one day on the 60th day out.  If you were staying on property, you could try for every day of your trip at 60 days.  Staying off site, you are going to be trying one day at a time.  You can still be successful though!  Try breakfast, lunch and dinner for the day you are trying to reserve.  If that day doesn’t work, try the next day, and so on.  Hopefully you will get lucky!

What if it Works?  What if it Doesn’t?

If you succeed, kudos!  Feel like a champion, brag to all your Disney loving friends…and work on the rest of your desired reservations!  If you aren’t successful, you can try checking every few days to see if anything has opened up.  Good windows to try are 45 and 30 days out–if people are cancelling their whole trip, they are likely to do it no later than 30 days out.  It never hurts to keep trying.  Sometimes people will have booked “extra” reservations that they will later cancel, or sometimes a big party will become a smaller party.  You never know what may happen.

If this is a reservation you really want, good luck!  I hope you get it!

Character dining returning to Cinderella's Royal Table
Cinderella’s Royal Table                                          Photo: Brooke Hudson

Note: another strategy to consider if you DON’T want to do all the planning and reservations yourself–work with an authorized Disney Vacation Planner like me.  If you book your Disney Vacation through me, I will help with park and dining reservations for no additional costs to you.  I also offer detailed itineraries and personalized trip plans for a nominal fee.

Are you Excited to see Character Dining Returning to Cinderella’s Royal Table?

I’m curious if any of you are happy to see Character Dining returning to CRT?  Please comment below if this is something you’ve been looking forward to.

Mom and I had a wonderful dinner at Cinderella’s Royal Table during our Mother/Daughter trip in May.  We got to see Cinderella, but no other Disney Princesses at that time.  I probably won’t pull out all the stops to get that reservation again this year, as it’s a little too soon for a return visit.

I might try to see if I can get breakfast–that would be a different menu and a different experience.  But most likely, May will be too soon.  I bet those reservations will be really tough for the first few months, at least.  If not this year, there’s always next year.

What about you?  Are you going to try and get that reservation?

Happy Dreaming!

Brooke

Authorized Disney Vacation Planner
Ready to Plan Your Disney Vacation!

Toy Story Land Table Service Restaurant Coming Soon

At long last, Disney has provided us with an update about a Toy Story Land table service restaurant announced way back in May 2019.  Roundup Rodeo BBQ will be the first Toy Story Land table service restaurant.  Disney now plans for Roundup Rodeo BBQ to open in Spring 2023.  They aren’t committing to an exact date just yet, but I’m confident we will get an announcement in February 2023, if not sooner.  I’m betting Disney will want to have this Toy Story Land table service restaurant up and running in time for spring break crowds in March and April 2023.

Concept Art for Roundup Rodeo BBQ

Roundup Rodeo BBQ

Disney originally announced that a table service restaurant was planned for Toy Story Land way back in 2019.  Click here to read our original post about the announcement.

At that time, we hoped that Disney planned to open this restaurant in late 2020 or early 2021.  Unfortunately, this project was one more project pushed back significantly by the pandemic and subsequent theme park closures in 2020.  When the parks reopened, the halted construction projects were slow to resume.  Projects that DID resume seemed to progress much more slowly than similar projects had in the past.  No doubt, Disney was more cautious in light of the financial impact the park closures had on the bottom line.

Gradually, we have seen many of these projects finish and open, like Cosmic Rewind and Space 220 at Epcot.  Other projects are taking longer than planned but are starting to show signs that they will be completed soon.  For example, the long awaited Magic Kingdom attraction TRON Lightcycle/Run has been testing with actual people for the last week or two.  (More on that coming soon).

Where is Roundup Rodeo BBQ located?

This new Toy Story Land table service restaurant will be located off to the right near the main Toy Story Land entrance.  If you’ve been in the parks over the last couple of years, you may have noticed the construction walls running on the right as you approach the Toy Story Land sign and the giant Woody.  (Don’t feel bad if you didn’t notice them or pay any attention–Disney doesn’t WANT you to notice them.  They want you to stay in the magic and not see any construction going on until the new attraction, shop or restaurant are completed!)

Toy Story Land
Photo: Disney Photopass

Toy Story Land Table Service Restaurant: Will this be a Character Meal?

No.  Disney has been VERY clear that Toy Story Land’s Roundup Rodeo table service restaurant will NOT be a character meal.  It wouldn’t surprise me if there were occasional Woody or Jessie sightings at this new table service offering, but don’t count on seeing any characters in person at this restaurant.

Disney Restaurants Beast Be Our Guest
Be Our Guest: The Beast Does a Walk Through (Photo: Brooke Hudson)

At Be Our Guest, the combination quick service and table service restaurant themed to Beauty and the Beast at the Magic Kingdom, the Beast occasionally will stroll through the dining rooms, allowing guests to catch a glimpse.  Generally, he will stop and pose for a few moments to allow for photos and then he moves on.

I could see Disney doing something like that with this new Toy Story Land table service restaurant–but probably not at the beginning, and maybe not ever.  It’s a great way to attract additional guests, but let’s face it: A new table service restaurant themed to Toy Story Land?  That’s a guaranteed winner! I’m guessing this will quickly sell out as soon as the reservation windows open.  Unless the food turns out to be terrible or something, this will likely be a very hot commodity for at least a couple of years.

Toy Story Land Table Service Restaurant Roundup Rodeo BBQ Photo: Disney Parks
Roundup Rodeo BBQ Concept Art

What’s the Story for Toy Story Land Roundup Rodeo BBQ?

One of my favorite things about Disney is the Imagineers.  There is a story for absolutely EVERYTHING at Walt Disney World. The details and theming are elements that keep fans coming back year after year, generation after generation.

Roundup Rodeo BBQ is no exception.  The Imagineers have crafted a story that enables this new table service restaurant to fit right in to the Andy’s Backyard concept for all of Toy Story Land.

Andy has decided to build a rodeo restaurant for all his toys.  He’s used his  Woody’s Roundup toys, his imagination and lots of his other playthings to create a fun atmosphere for toys, kids and even grown-ups to enjoy!

Toy Story Land Table Service Restaurant Roundup Rodeo BBQ
Roundup Rodeo BBQ, Interior Photo: Disney Parks

Disney has released a couple of photos of the interior of Roundup Rodeo BBQ, which makes me even more optimistic that this new Toy Story Land table service restaurant really is on track to open early sprint 2023.

I love the bright colors of Toy Story Land, and was happy to see that even though Disney Imagineers are going with a Western theme for this restaurant, they are still bringing in the familiar colors, characters and elements that we all love from other parts of Toy Story land.

Toy Story Land Table Service Restaurant Roundup Rodeo BBQ
Roundup Rodeo BBQ, Interior Photo: Disney Parks

Disney promised that we will find lots of fun elements in Roudup Rodeo, including game boards featuring characters from the Toy Story films, a steam train supported by colored pencils (shown in the photo above), a cardboard box with hand drawn (by Andy of course) audience members, and comic strips featuring Woody’s adventures on the dining room ceiling!

What will we eat at this new table service restaurant?

One of the most important question that comes up whenever we talk about Disney and a new restaurant is “what is the food going to be like?”

The short answer? We aren’t really sure yet.  Disney has been pretty vague so far, other than putting BBQ in the name of the restaurant. I don’t think I’m walking out too far on a limb when I say I think we can expect to have western and BBQ themed food!

Toy Story Land Table Service Restaurant Roundup Rodeo BBQ Photo: Disney Parks

Seriously though, all Disney has told us so far is the the food will be barbeque inspired comfort foods, served family style.  They’ve also said there will be platters of house-smoked meats, a roundup of sides and some miniature sweet surprises.  Beyond that, Disney isn’t telling.  YET.

I’m sure as we get closer to this new table service restaurant opening, we will get menus.  As soon as I hear more about the food, I will update you all.

What will it cost?

The next question is of course, “what is the price point for this restaurant?” Unfortunately, Disney is also keeping quiet on this topic as well.  At least for now.  However, based on theming and the location, I’m fairly certain the pricing for this Toy Story Land table service restaurant will be moderate.  I don’t think Disney is going for high end, white glove service for Roundup Rodeo.  I’m expecting to something in line with the Regal Eagle quick service restaurant in America at Epcot. (See our article about that location here.)  The Regal Eagle is quick service, so Roundup Rodeo BBQ prices will likely be a bit higher, but hopefully it will stay in this general range.  Of course I will keep you all posted as I learn more.

Toy Story Land Table Service Restaurant Roundup Rodeo BBQ
Roundup Rodeo BBQ, Interior Photo: Disney Parks

What do YOU Think?

Are you excited about this new table service offering in Toy Story Land?  Some of the challenges for guests in Toy Story Land are the lack of shade and lack of seating.  I’m pretty happy that an air conditioned table service restaurant is coming–I like to take a little time at lunch (or dinner) to sit in the air conditioning and relax and eat.  We like to recharge our batteries and since we are from the midwest, that Florida heat and humidity can really run us down sometimes.  So I am ALWAYS a fan when I can make reservations as part of my planning, and guarantee my family a chance to sit down in A/C and enjoy a meal.

I’m already reworking my plan for our annual Mother/Daughter Flower & Garden Festival trip to make sure I can try and get us a reservation at Roundup Rodeo BBQ.  After all, we have to do a review for all of you, don’t we?

Please let me know in the comments below if you will be adding this to your “Must Do” list or if you’ll wait and see how it turns out.

If you want to get planning on a trip for 2023 to visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios and investigate this new Toy Story Land table service restaurant for yourself, please contact me at brooke@disneycastledreaming.com for a no-obligation quote.

Happy Dreaming!

Brooke

Authorized Disney Vacation Planner
Ready to Plan Your Disney Vacation!

La Creperie de Paris: Another Reason to Visit France

La Creperie de Paris is one of the newest additions to EPCOT’s table service restaurant offerings.  Located in the “new” section of EPCOT’s France pavilion, La Creperie de Paris offers guests both a quick service option and a table service option.

La Creperie de Paris EPCOT
La Creperie de Paris (Photo: Brooke Hudson)

Counter Service

Crepes A Emporter by La Creperie de Paris is a quick service window connected to La Creperie de Paris.  At this quick service window, you’ll be able to enjoy both savory galettes and sweet crepes, as well as soft serve ice cream and ciders and wines.

Crepes A Emporter at La Creperie de Paris
The line for the quick service Crepes A Emporter at La Creperie de Paris (Photo: Brooke Hudson)

We observed fairly long lines for this quick service window every time we were in the vicinity.  It’s definitely a tasty and popular option, and worth the visit to this “back of France” area.  The new Ratatouille attraction is located back in this area of the France pavilion, and that is the main reason most guests flock to this area.  (Note: There are also new bathrooms back in this area–I like knowing where all the non-restaurant bathrooms are located!).

There is not much seating anywhere in this area, and crepes are not the easiest thing to eat while standing; however, if you are wanting something a little different to eat or for dessert, the offerings here are quite tasty.

My nephew Vinnie absolutely LOVED the dessert crepes here, and visited this quick service window several times during our October trip.

Quick Service Menu: Crepes A Emporter at La Creperie de Paris

Galettes (Savory Crepes)

Cream of Brie Cheese Galette $9.95

Ratatouille Galette (Tomatoes, Zucchini and Eggplant) $8.95

Bechamel, Cheese & Ham Galette $10.95

Crepes (Sweet Crepes)

Butter & Sugar Crepe $5.95

Housemade Hazelnut & Chocolate Spread Crepe $7.95

Red Berries Crepe $7.50

Vanilla or Chocolate Ice Cream Crepe $6.95

Glaces (Ice Cream)

Soft-serve Ice Cream in a Waffle Cone

Cidres (Hard Ciders)

Cidre Brut (Dry) $5.95

Cidre Doux (Sweet) $5.95

Petillants (Sparklings)

Champagne Malard Excellence Brut $15.50

Mimosa Sparkling Wine & Orange Juice $12.00

Kronenbourg 1664 French Beer $9.00

Vins (Wines)

Rose, Cotes de Provence $14.00

Chardonnay, Chefs Selection G. Duboeuf $7.50

Merlot, Chefs Selection G. Duboeuf $7.50

Cabernet Sauvignon $8.00

Boisson (Soft Drinks)

Assorted Beverages (Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Sprite, Fanta, Iced Tea, Lemonade $4.75

Evian Natural Spring Water $3.50

Perrier Sparkling Mineral Water $4.75

Our Thoughts

Overall, we found this quick service location to be good option.  Every crepe we tried was tasty, and we thought it was positive that there were a couple vegetarian options here.

Our favorite crepe overall was definitely the Hazelnut & Chocolate Spread Crepe.  This crepe was so tasty!  It’s very rich, though, so you’ll want to make sure you have some water or an alternative beverage.  (If you can get a scoop of vanilla ice cream for your crepe, that helps a LOT with the richness AND adds a lovely cold element on a hot day.  We discovered that wonderful combination at the table service restaurant, though.)

EPCOT France Pavilion New Addition
Photo: Brooke Hudson

I am not kidding when I tell you there really isn’t anywhere in this area to sit and enjoy your crepe.  That is the only real negative I have about this quick service location.  Much of the area back here is absorbed by the Ratatouille queue; there are a few planters with ledges where people frequently sit…but it’s not nearly enough room for everyone waiting in line at any given time.  There are a few tables on one side, and a few high top tables with no seating where you can at least set your food and drink down, but you can’t sit.  There is not a lot of shade in this area, either, so on a hot day, you would probably not want to stand around in the sun to enjoy your crepe and your drink.  But if you can stake out a shady spot and some seating, this quick service location is a definite winner for us.

Table Service: La Creperie de Paris

I much prefer eating at table service restaurants at Disney to quick service, I must confess.  I like knowing we will be able to sit down, in air conditioning, and be able to get a decent rest while we enjoy our meal.  After trying out the quick service window for Crepes A Emporter at La Creperie de Paris during our October family trip, I knew I wanted to check out the table service option for our spring Flower & Garden trip.

La Creperie de Paris EPCOT
La Creperie de Paris (Photo: Brooke Hudson)

I made all our dining reservations at the same time, 60 days out from our trip.  Fortunately, I was able to get every reservation I wanted with little difficulty.  For the purposes of this review, I have gone online several times to check availability, and while I can rarely find same day reservations, I can usually find something a few days out.  Weekdays are easier than weekends, of course, but I suspect with a little planning ahead, you should be able to secure a reservation for La Creperie de Paris.

Decor

This restaurant has a pretty modern feel to it.  It’s all beiges and whites, and fairly clean and simple feeling.  I think they were going for a French Bistro feel here, and my mom, who has been to several French Bistros in her travels, says this effort is successful.  We got a table right in the windows, so that was fun for us.  Avid people watchers, we loved the opportunity to people watch both inside and outside the restaurant.

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Bonus: One thing we really liked at La Creperie de Paris was that we got real menus!  Disney is still using the online menus at most table service restaurants where you scan a QR code with your phone and look at the menu on your phone.  I miss real menus!  La Creperie de Paris uses their paper menus as your placemat, and I like it!

La Creperie de Paris Menu

Service

Service was very good here.  We both felt the absence of the international program for EPCOT though.  We’ve always loved that the EPCOT restaurants were primarily staffed with team members from the country the restaurant was themed to.  That program was paused when Walt Disney World closed in 2020 due to Covid, and it has restarted only very recently.  As a result, there are very few international cast members back in EPCOT at this time.  While each of the service team members we met was terrific, I missed being able to talk to and learn from the international cast members in the restaurants.

The service was a bit TOO good, in fact.  We felt a little rushed.  We hadn’t finished our salads when our savory crepes arrived, and our dessert crepes arrived before we had finished our savory crepes.  However, on the positive side, my water glass was pretty constantly refilled — It was a hot day and I was very thirsty.

We were celebrating my mom’s birthday, and our server brought out some VERY tasty french vanilla ice cream for her birthday.  Mom suggested we add the ice cream to our hazelnut chocolate dessert crepes and WOW was that amazing! We both decided this was our favorite way to enjoy the hazelnut chocolate crepes by far!

Table Service Menu: La Creperie de Paris

Appetizer or Side Dish

Soupe du Jour (Soup of the Day) $6.75

Salad Maison (Mixed greens, tomatoes, onions, and vinegarette) $6.75

Prix Fixe Menu * (My recommendation for this restaurant)

Choice of Soup of the Day or Salade Maison; choice of one Galette with a glass of Hard Cider, Soda or Juice; Choice of one Dessert Crepe $34.95

Galettes (Buckwheat Savory Crepes)

Classique (Ham, Egg, Swiss Cheese) $16.95

Poulet (Chicken, Bechamel Cheese Sauce, Mushrooms) $16.95

Chevre (Goat Cheese, Spinach, Walnuts) $16.95

Saumon (Smoked Salmon, Creme Fraiche, Chives, Lemon) $16.95

Ratatouille (Tomato, Zucchini, Eggplant) $16.95

Savoyarde (Raclette Cheese, Carmelized Onions, Bacon, Imported Bayonne Home $16.95

Menu Enfant Prix Fixe Menu (Kids’ Prix Fixe Menu)

Choice of one Galette (Brie Cheese, Ratatouille, or Ham & Cheese) and choice of one Crepe (Sugar, Red Berries or Hazelnut Chocolate Spread) $14.00

Crepes (Dessert)

Gourmande (Hazelnut Chocolate Spread, Whipped Cream) $9.95

Banane (Banana, Caramel Beurre Sale) $9.95

Melba (Peach, Red Berries Sauce, Almonds) $9.95

Poire (Pear, Chocolate Ganache, Whipped Cream) $9.95

Pomme (Carmelized Apples, Caramel Beurre Sale) $9.95

Add-On’s (Each: Whipped Cream, Ice Cream, Sauce) $2.95

Add a Shot to Any Crepe (Grand Marnier, Rhum or Calvados) $7.00

Cidres (French Hard Ciders)

Brut $29.00 (Bottle) $5.95 (Glass)

Demi Sec $29.00 (Bottle) $5.95 (Glass)

Doux $29.00 (Bottle) $5.95 (Glass)

Rose $40.00 (Bottle) $7.50 (Glass)

Vins (French Wines)

Chardonnay $36.95 (Bottle) $7.95 (Glass)

Carbernet Sauvignon $36.95 (Bottle) $7.95 (Glass)

Merlot $36.95 (Bottle) $7.95 (Glass)

Rose de Provence $69.50 (Bottle) $14.95 (Glass)

Divers (Miscellaneous)

Biere Kronenbourg (Beer) $9.50

Champagne Malard $17.55

Mimosa $12.00

French Martini $15.75

Sodas, Jus (Imported Soft Drinks)

Evian $7.50

Perrier $8.50

Jus de Pomme (Apple Juice) $5.00

Limonade (French Sparkling Limonade) $5.75

Orangina (French Orange Soda) $6.25

Hot Beverages

Espresso $4.75

Cappuccino $5.25

The (Tea) $4.50

Cafe (Coffee) $4.25

Our Thoughts

We liked our La Creperie de Paris lunch very much.  I highly recommend the Prix Fixe Menu, which includes soup or salad, a savory buckwheat galette, a dessert crepe and a glass of hard cider, soda or juice for $34.95.  Both of us felt this was a good value, especially for a Disney table service restaurant.  Definitely choose the cider to maximize your investment.  Note: There is also kids Prix Fixe Menu for $14.00 that includes a savory galette and a dessert crepe.

At this time, La Creperie de Paris does not accept any discounts.  No DVC discount, no passholder discounts, etc.  This is pretty common for newer restaurants when they first open.  Most likely this table service restaurant will offer discounts at some point in the future, but while it is still new and very popular, discounts are unlikely to materialize.

La Creperie de Paris

Overall, we both our enjoyed our meals.  The salads were fresh and light, and the perfect size for an appetizer.  The weak link for both of us were the savory buckwheat galettes.  They were good, don’t get me wrong, but they were not great.  We both felt the flavor of the buckwheat crepe itself was a bit boring.  Mom and I also each felt our galettes were too dry and needed more sauce.

La Creperie de Paris Buckwheat Galatte

We enjoyed the environment, it was relaxing and comfortable.  The host  seated us almost immediately after we checked in, and we had a great seat in the front windows.  Each of us enjoyed our hard ciders; mom had the Brut, which is dry and really liked it.  I tried the Doux, which was sweeter.  I would definitely order this again.  The highlight of the meal for both of us was the dessert crepes.  We each had the Hazelnut Chocolate Spread dessert crepes, and we’d eaten about a third of our crepes when the server brought my mom’s “birthday” ice cream.  We both agreed that while the crepes was VERY good with whipped cream, the ice cream took it to a whole other level. It became OUTSTANDING.

La Creperie de Paris Dessert Crepe
La Creperie de Paris Dessert Crepe (Photo: Linda Harkness)
La Creperie de Paris Birthday Ice Cream
Mom and her dessert crepe with her “Birthday” ice cream!

I would definitely recommend you check out this table service restaurant.  Our meal was filling but not too heavy, and we felt recharged and ready to head back out into the 90+ degree heat of the afternoon, very satisfied with our meal.

Have you tried La Creperie de Paris or Crepes A Emporter by La Creperie de Paris for yourself yet?  If so, what did you think?  Please comment below, I’d love to read your thoughts!

Happy Dreaming!

Brooke

Brooke Hudson Disney Travel Agent
Ready to Plan Your Next Disney Vacation? I’m ready to help! Email brooke@disneycastledreaming.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Disney Restaurants Reopening

Walt Disney World is taking one more step back towards normal.  This week, more Disney restaurants are reopening.

Cinderella’s Royal Table

One of the most popular Disney restaurants reopening is Cinderella’s Royal Table.  This restaurant, “hidden” inside Cinderella Castle, is reopening September 24, 2020.  Reservations will open up on September 11, 2020.

A couple of things to keep in mind: the Princesses will NOT be visiting every table as they have in the past.  In addition, you will not take a picture with Cinderella before your meal like you used to.   The official release says “the princesses will be taking a break from their royal duties greeting guests”, so at least initially, there will be no royal visitors during your meal.  Perhaps in the future, the Princesses may come through the dining area so you can take pictures from a distance, (this is how Beast sightings are handled at Be Our Guest) but this is not confirmed.

Disney Restaurants Beast Be Our Guest
Be Our Guest: The Beast Does a Walk Through (Photo: Brooke Hudson)

At this time, it appears that Cinderella’s Royal Table is opening for lunch and dinner. It doesn’t appear that it will open for breakfast, at least not initially.

No pricing information has been released, but the cynic in me suspects it will be the same as it was before, despite the lack of character interaction and photo opportunities.

If you haven’t been to Cinderella’s Royal Table, it is a beautiful dining room. The food is fairly good, but it is a very pricey meal. In the past, Disney also required full payment at the time the reservation was made.  I don’t know if that will still be the case; we will find out once reservations open on September 11.

Cinderella's Royal Table
The Fairy Godmother at Cinderella’s Royal Table (Photo: Brooke Hudson)

Update: Reservations are Open

**Update: September 11, 2020:  Reservations officially opened today for Cinderella’s Royal Table.  In the interest of research, I tested booking a reservation for two adults for both lunch and dinner.  The price has NOT been reduced; it is $62.00 per adult plus tax.  In addition, Cinderella’s Royal Table is one of the few table service restaurants that requires full payment in advance in order to make a reservation.

Full Payment Required at the Time of Reservation

So book a table for two adults at Cinderella’s Royal Table for either lunch or dinner, the total cost that you must pay AT THE TIME YOU MAKE THE RESERVATION is $154.38 (including tax).  This is not a new thing; CRT has required full payment in advance for at least the last 10 years, probably longer.  I think this policy is due to the popularity of this dining location.  Disney wants to be sure you aren’t making a “maybe” reservation that might be canceled; you are DEFINITELY planning on keeping this reservation.  (Note: As with any other reservation, you ARE able to cancel a Cinderella’s Royal Table reservation and get your money back; however, your money is tied up from the moment you make the reservation until you either a) use the reservation or b) cancel the reservation.

My husband and I have eaten at Cinderella’s Royal Table a few times in the past.  One of my favorites was the morning after we got engaged.  All the princesses made a very big deal out of my ring (and my handsome prince!).  It was a lot of fun.

Disney Restaurants Reopening Cinderella's Royal Table Sleeping Beauty
Sleeping Beauty Greeting, January 2013

Is it worth it?

The quality of the food does not really warrant the $62/person price tag–it’s the added value of the experience that gives Cinderella’s Royal Table a boost.  Being inside the Castle, entering where you are not allowed to enter UNLESS you have a reservation–that’s pretty cool.  The dining room itself is nice, if rather loud.  They pack every table in the room (Most likely that is different right now due to Covid), and with the high ceilings, the sound really builds.  This is not a quiet, elegant dining experience.  It’s FUN, but not so much with the elegance.

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Honestly, it’s the combination of being in the Castle and the Princess interactions that have always made Cinderella’s Royal Table so special for us.  I don’t think the experience is worth $62/person without the character interactions.  Your mileage may vary, of course.

Gaston’s Tavern

Gaston’s Tavern in New Fantasyland returned to operations on September 4, 2020.  Guests have been enjoying the unique quick service menu at Gaston’s for a few days now.

Disney Restaurants Reopening Gaston's
Gaston’s (Photo: Brooke Hudson)

If you’ve never visited Gaston’s, the menu includes roasted pork shank, cinnamon rolls, mixed vegetable cups, mixed fruit cups, apple slices with caramel, and chocolate croissants, as well as some unique beverages and souvenir mugs.

It’s a fun place to visit, and in the past, was made more so by visits from Gaston himself. I’m not sure if those are still common, but I promise to check it out when we visit in November!

ABC Commissary

Over at Hollywood Studios, the ABC Commissary is reopening on October 8, 2020.  Disney calls the ABC Commissary “Fast Casual”, but it’s a pretty decent quick service restaurant with LOTS of indoor seating.  (Great when you need a break in the air conditioning!)

The announcement specifically mentions the Commissary reopening for lunch and does not mention dinner, so dinner service may not open for a while yet.  However, the ABC Commissary does support mobile ordering for your quick service meal, and is another option for burgers, sandwiches and salads.

Hollywood & Vine

Another Disney restaurant reopening at Hollywood Studios is the Hollywood & Vine family-style table service restaurant.  I have eaten at Hollywood & Vine TWICE in the last 10 years, and vowed never to return (found the food quality very poor, and the experience WAY overpriced).  However, our last visit was several years ago, so we may give this one another shot…eventually.  However, any additional Disney restaurants reopening are a good thing, so we’ll view this positively.

Minnie’s Seasonal Dining is scheduled to return to Hollywood & Vine starting Friday, September 25, 2020.  In seasons past, this was a character meal where the characters would come to your table.  Of course in this era of Covid and no character greetings, things will be different this year.  Hollywood & Vine will be decked out in Halloween glory.  Your party will be served a “monster” feast at your table.  Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse and  their friends will make appearances so you can wave and snap photos.  Unfortunately, there will be no table side character interactions, but you will be able to see the characters in their Halloween finery, at least.

Disney Restaurants Reopening Hollywood & Vine
Minnie Mouse Hollywood & Vine (Photo: Disney Parks)

The official release states there were be Halloween decor and music, as well as “scary” good food.  The jury will remain out on how “good” until the first guests start to report back to us.

Update: Reservations are Open

**Update: September 11, 2020.  Reservations officially opened today for Minnie’s Seasonal Dining at Hollywood & Vine.  I tested booking reservations over a few different days.  Surprisingly, several of the days I tried were already completely booked up.  This really isn’t too strange; with Covid-19 precautions in place, this restaurant is probably only reserving about 20-25% of it’s normal capacity.  It’s not a huge space, so it makes sense there weren’t that many reservations available to begin with.

Is it worth it?

The good news: this is NOT a dining experience that requires full payment in advance.  The bad news: This is still a fairly pricey dining experience, reflecting pricing that you’d expect with most character meals.  $35.99 – $59.99 (kids and adults), except you have no character interactions.  My bad dining experiences pre-date these Minnie Seasonal Dining events, and the updated menu sounds good, so perhaps the food had gotten better?  I will have to investigate and get back to you on that.  These meals include a salad (choose from two options for the table), an entree (choose from six entree options), and a dessert (choose from five dessert options).

What does this mean?

The good news is that Disney is trying to return to more normalcy, and they obviously believe they have enough business to support these additional restaurant locations opening up.

Gaston's
Mom at Gaston’s (Photo: Brooke Hudson)

I don’t think things are returning to normal as quickly as any of us, especially Disney, had hoped.  However, even small baby steps in the right directions are positive.

If you are planning to visit the parks this fall, will you be visiting any of these Disney restaurants reopening soon?  Please like this post and comment below.

Happy Dreaming,

Brooke

Brooke Hudson Disney Travel Agent
Ready to Plan Your Next Disney Vacation? I’m ready to help! Email brooke@disneycastledreaming.com

P.S. Want more information about the reopening of Disney theme parks?  Check out this post.

 

 

 

 

 

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

I’ve decided to run a new series of posts focusing on Disney’s WIDE variety of resorts.  This week, I’m focusing on Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows.  Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort has long been one of my favorites.  Even when we don’t stay at the Polynesian, we often make sure to stop by and visit the Gift Shop, grab a snack at Cap’n Cook’s or to take a walk on the grounds.

It’s All About the Dole Whip

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is one of the few places outside a Disney theme park when you can get the beloved Dole Whip.  A creamy concoction of pineapple (or other citrus fruits) flavored dairy free soft serve, the Dole Whip has been a Disneyland and Walt Disney World MUST-DO since 1986.  Originally, you could only find the Dole Whip at a kiosk near the Enchanted Tiki Room.  Now, you can find them at larger, more permanent structures, and in more than one theme park.  However, you can’t find a Dole Whip at all the ice cream carts, popcorn stands or churro kiosks located throughout Disney, so Dole Whip feels a bit more like a treasure you have to hunt for.

Dole Whip
Dole Whips Anyone?                                                                 (Photo: Disney Parks)

Side note: Animal Kingdom features a Dole Whip window where you can add RUM to your Dole Whip.  You can also find this lovely rum treat at Disney’s Polynesian Resort.  Honestly, I think this might be what nature originally intended!

Of course, you can find LOADS of recipes on the internet (like this one), or buy the DOLE soft serve mix and make your own Dole Whips at home–but I think that takes all the fun out of it.  I love having treats we only get on vacation at Disney.

The Pineapple Lanai, located just of the lobby at the Polynesian Resort, features several varieties of Dole Whip.  Of course the traditional Pineapple flavor is there, along with Vanilla soft serve; you’ll also find Lime, which is served in a cone and topped with an orchid, and called the Te Fiti Cone (VERY popular).  Not on the menu, but available, is the Lemon/Lime swirl.  It’s pretty TART, though, so make sure you really love lemon and lime before going for that one!

Pineapple Lanai
Try the Te Fiti Cone or the Corazon Blanco Tequila Frozen Margarita Blended with Dole Whip LIME! (Photo: Disney Parks)

Periodically, they will also have special flavors or “themed” treats.  For example, in honor of the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, The Pineapple Lanai is offering a “Yoda” cone.  Basically, it’s a Lime cone with two white chocolate “ears”.

If you’re on the Disney Dining Plan, you can use a snack credit for a Dole Whip treat at The Pineapple Lanai.  Currently, a regular Dole Whip (Pineapple, Vanilla, or Swirl) is $4.99.  The version with coconut rum is $11.00.  Also available is a Pineapple float $5.99 and the Te Fiti Cone $5.29.  Finally, you can get your Float in a souvenir cup for $10.99, or your Dole whip in a souvenir bowl for $9.99.

Dole Whip Float
Dole Whip Float                       (photo: Disney Parks)

Now that we’ve got all that important Dole Whip information out of the way, I guess we should talk about the REST of the Polynesian Village Resort, hmm?

Take a Tour of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is a Deluxe Resort, located on Walt Disney World’s Seven Seas Lagoon.  The Polynesian Village Resort is one of the original two resort hotels at Walt Disney World when the Magic Kingdom opened back in 1971!  In April 2015, Disney’s Polynesian Villages Resort opened its Disney Vacation Club resort, Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows.

Watch this video to explore Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows.

Advantages of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

      • Proximity to the Magic Kingdom: Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows are located very close to the Magic Kingdom.  A short water taxi ride, two Monorail stops or a short bus ride gets you to the Magic Kingdom pretty quickly.
      • Monorail Resort: There are only three resorts actually ON the Monorail line.  Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. It’s hard to beat the convenience of being on the Monorail line.  Want to visit any of the other Monorail resorts?  Just hop on the Monorail?  Want to visit Epcot?  Just hop on the Monorail.  Want to go to the Magic Kingdom?  Hop on the Monorail.  Enjoying the restaurants and other amenities located at the other Monorail resorts is super easy when all you have to do is hop on the Monorail.
Polynesian Monorail
The Monorail Departs Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort (Photo: Destinations in Florida)
      • Design and architecture:  The Polynesian Village Resort has a “South Pacific” theme.  It’s about as close to Hawaii as you are likely to get in Central Florida.  The resort is lush and beautiful, filled with water features and has a very tropical flair.
      • Room Size: The standard rooms at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort are larger than the standard rooms at many other Disney resorts.  Standard rooms at the Polynesian Village Resort feature two queen beds and a day bed.  The rooms allow for five people and one child under age three.  Many resort rooms top out at four people, so the Polynesian is one of only a few resorts that allow for 5+ in a standard room.
Polynesian Resort Room
Photo: Destinations in Florida
      • Romantic: Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is one of the more romantic resort locations at Walt Disney World.  There are lots of beautiful spots to quietly snuggle and appreciate the scenery.  There are hammocks to relax in, and you can sit on the beach or near the beach and watch the fireworks over Magic Kingdom.  There’s even a picturesque spot where small Disney Fairy Tale Weddings are held.
Disney's Polynesian Romance
Photo: David and Vicki Arndt Photography
      •  Transportation: Disney’s Polynesian Resort gives you access to a wide variety of Disney’s free transportation systems.  You can use the bus system, the water taxi system, or the Monorail system.  You can take the Monorail to two other resorts, as well to Epcot.  From Epcot, you’ll be able to use the Skyway (after it opens September 29), boat or bus to visit Hollywood Studios.  The Skyway will also take you to four other Disney resorts.
      • Entertainment: The Polynesian Village Resort features a variety of restaurants and bars as do most Disney Deluxe Resorts.  However, there is a very popular attraction that can ONLY be found at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort:  Disney’s Spirit of Aloha dinner show is held nightly, and is Walt Disney World’s version of a Luau.  Guests enjoy an all you can eat tropical buffet, featuring Aloha pulled pork, Polynesian ribs, roasted vegetables and more.  The highlight is the entertainment: hula dancers, fire dancers, drummers and more!  (Note: You CAN use Disney Dining Plan meal credits for the Spirit of Aloha dinner show, but two meal credits are required per person.  Current regular ticket prices range from $66 – $78 per adult, $39 – $46 per child.)
      • Character Meal: Most Disney Deluxe Resorts feature character meals.    However, if you are a Lilo and Stitch fan, there is only ONE character meal for you:  the Character Breakfast at Ohana, at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.  You’ll not only find Lilo and Stitch at Ohana.  They’ll be joined by some of their Disney pals, dressed in South Pacific vacation outfits.   (Note: Disney Dining Plan meal credits may be used for this Character Breakfast; one meal credit per diner.  Regular prices range from $24.50 for kids, ages 3-9 to $40.47 for adults and kids, 10 years or older.)
      • Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto: a tropical tiki bar, Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto is a fun place to stop in for specialty cocktails, beer, wine or small plates.  Trader Sam’s offers a variety of non alcoholic beverages as well.  Many of the specialty cocktails are available in collectible souvenir cups.  The atmosphere at Trader Sam’s is fun and definitely worth checking out.

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Disadvantages

      • It’s Pricey.  There’s no getting around it, Disney Deluxe Resorts are expensive.  And the Deluxe Resorts on the Monorail are among the most expensive on property.  I’m not saying it’s not worth it, because if you can afford it, it’s absolutely worth it.  It’s hard to beat staying so close to the Magic Kingdom, being on the Monorail, and having great fireworks views from the beach.
      • It’s VERY Popular.  Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows is one of the most popular resorts on Disney property.  As a result, it can be very difficult to get reservations there.  If you’re hoping to stay at the Polynesian, plan to book as EARLY as possible–at least 1 year out, if you can.  This helps increase your chances of getting the reservation you want.
      • Rarely Gets Discounted.  Related to the popularity of this resort, the Polynesian rooms or room/theme park ticket packages are rarely discounted significantly.  If/when discounts like Free Dining include the Polynesian, it is usually for a very small number of rooms and goes very quickly.
Photo: David and Vicki Arndt Photography

Not Just Another Hotel

I think my favorite thing about Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is that when you are at the Polynesian, you KNOW where you are.  Full of unique sights, smells and sounds, it is clear from the moment you enter the resort that the Polynesian Village Resort is not just another hotel.  There is nothing “generic” about the Polynesian.  It’s special, and feels different than any other Disney resort.  Disney’s strength has always been theming, and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows do not disappoint.

Disney's Polynesian Village Resort Lobby
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Lobby                      (Photo: Destinations in Florida)

Have you ever stayed at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort?  What did you think?  Please comment below.

Happy Dreaming,

Brooke

Brooke Hudson Disney Travel Agent
Ready to Help Plan Your Next Disney Vacation!

Looking for a more economical option?  Check out this post about Disney’s Art of Animation Resort.

New Table Service Restaurant Coming to Toy Story Land

Exciting news this week is coming from Disney’s Hollywood Studios.  We’ve got a new table service restaurant coming to Toy Story Land!

We don’t have a date yet, so most likely it will be sometime in 2020 or even 2021.  However, additional table service restaurants are needed throughout the Parks, and I think a new one themed to Toy Story Land will be a welcome addition!

Rodeo Play Area

Apparently, Andy has decided to set up a new play area in the backyard.  This new area will be a rodeo play area, and lots of our favorite toys are very excited to join in the fun!

This new rodeo play area will feature western town and train station playsets, and lots of rodeo themed activities.

Toy Story Land's Roundup Rodeo BBQ restaurant
Toy Story Land’s Roundup Rodeo BBQ, Artist’s Rendering                                     (Source: Disney Parks)

Of course, this is Toy Story Land, so this may be a really unique rodeo.  Lots of toys that we know and love aren’t exactly “western” themed.  Mr Potato Head, Buzz Lightyear, Slinky Dog, the green army men and the dinosaur toys are all bound to add some color and very unique elements to the rodeo theme!

We don’t know anything about the food that will be served here yet, but I suspect it will be western themed–perhaps BBQ ribs and chicken?  I’m not sure, but I’m really excited to find out!

I think we WILL be able to count on a fun, family friendly atmosphere that will be lots of fun to visit.

Until this new table service restaurant opens, you can still find great food in Toy Story Land.  Check out Woody’s Lunch Box, a quick service restaurant that specializes in sandwiches, lunch box tarts and more!

Toy Story Land Restaurants
Toy Story Land’s Woody’s Lunch Box            (Photo: Disney Parks)
Toy Story Land
Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (Photo: Destinations in Florida)

I’ll keep you posted as more information becomes available on this latest addition to Toy Story Land.

What do you think?  Are you looking forward to a new table service restaurant coming to Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios?  Please comment below with your thoughts.

Happy Dreaming!

Brooke

Brooke Hudson Disney Travel Agent
Ready to Help Plan Your Next Disney Vacation!

 

Disney Travel with a Group: Challenges and Survival Tips

If you are in the midst of planning a trip or event for a large group of people at a place like Disney, for example a wedding, family reunion, vow renewal, or milestone birthday celebration, you are likely to discover some unique challenges.  Disney travel with a group is really fun, but can also have dangerous potholes you will want to look out for.

Transportation & Logistics Challenges

For example, is everyone staying at the same resort?  If not, transportation may be a challenge.  When we were planning our wedding, we ended up with people staying at four different resorts.  Planning transportation for wedding events ended up being one of our biggest challenges!  Depending on the size of your group, your travel agent (or planner for your group) may be able to work with Disney to get discounted rates for your group.  This tends to work for large groups, or groups who are also using Disney catered events, Disney Fairy Tale Weddings, etc.  But it’s always worth a try!  Try to choose one or two resorts that will work for your group. The best scenario is one resort.  However, depending on your group, you may want to offer resorts in different financial tiers to accommodate different budgets.

Of course, sometimes, people will just do their own thing, regardless of what you plan for your event.  If that happens, you then have to decide if you’ll include their transportation needs in your planning, or if you’ll make it their responsibility to get to the planned events.   But know there’s a good chance it will happen, and be prepared and decide early how you will handle this if it happens.

Group Composition Challenges

The composition of the group can also present some challenges.  Is your group a mixture of families with kids and young singles or couples?  Or perhaps a mix of adults and children of all ages and interests?  Does everyone know each other already, or does anyone know each other at all?

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Depending on what you are planning, you may just have specific events to worry about, and outside of that, everyone will be on their own.  For example, you can plan a wedding and wedding reception for your guests and then leave on your honeymoon.  Or you can plan a Family Reunion that is all about one specific afternoon or evening event.

Alternatively, you may have a situation where you will have some “official” events, usually paid for by the planners, but you may want to spend more time with everyone outside of the “official” events.   You may want to plan a “Get to Know You” casual event near the beginning of the trip, if your group involves a lot of people that don’t know each other.

For example, very large families, traveling to a reunion; corporate events with multiple branches coming together; even weddings often face the challenge of lots of invitees who don’t know each other.  A casual ice breaking event is often a great way to get everyone to get to know each other and start talking before the more “official events” begin.  Again, this will depend on your group, your budget, and the purpose of your gathering.

Do NOT Bring a Stick and a Pole or a Megaphone!

The first thing you have to accept is that in a place like Disney, it is going to be impossible to try and keep large groups together for any substantial period of time.  In a daydream, it can be lovely to imagine your group of 40 people joyfully going from attraction to attraction, stopping for Mickey bars and Photopass pictures along the way.  However, the reality? Doesn’t really work that way.  We’ve all seen the tour groups following the guide with flag on a pole, marching gleefully through the park chanting first thing in the morning…but have you seen them later in the day?  They usually look lost, miserable, and frustrated…and those chants?  Not so cheery.

The reality: Trying to move even a small group of 5 -7 people all together is like herding cats.  (For those of you who don’t have cats, it’s REALLY REALLY INSANE).  Throw in another 10+ people and you will all lose your minds and end up hating each other.  Honestly, I swear it’s true.  So, please trust me on this.  Let the idea of all staying together for long periods of time GO.

Playing in line (Photo: Brooke Hudson)

Instead, plan specific activities to try and do together, and tell everyone up front that you’ll meet for these specific activities, but the rest of the time is their own.   Some of the group may naturally end up staying together for chunks of time, but I think you will find, for the most part, the large group will break up into much smaller groups of 2 – 5 people.

Something Important to Consider… 

(Or: How to avoid having your group plot your murder…)

Is your group going on vacation to Disney and attending your event(s) while they’re there, or are they attending your event(s) and visiting Disney when there’s time after/around your event(s).  It’s a good idea to know the basic perspective that the majority of your group will have.  If everyone is viewing this as their vacation, and they’re fitting in your event(s), you will need to be super careful about how much time you try to “take” from their vacation—or you are likely to run into resistance and push back.

Even though your wedding or Grandma’s birthday may be the most important thing in the world to you (and probably Grandma), not everyone in your group will have that same perspective.  It’s important to know your group, and what their goals and wishes for the trip are—this will help minimize disappointment and hurt feelings on all sides.  And ideally, keep the death threats to a minimum. 

[Note: the author assumes no liability, expressed or implied for any actual death threats, actual or implied that may or may not arise from any of the advice provided on this blog.]

Optional Get-Togethers

When we were planning our wedding weekend, we really wanted to try and spend as much time with all of our guests as possible.  We had “official” events, of course—the welcome dinner, the wedding, the reception and the dessert party that we knew everyone would be attending, but we hoped to get more time with everyone than that.

So, we decided to plan some optional “extra” meet-ups, in hopes that everyone would come to at least one or two of these and we would get more time with everyone.  For our group, we focused on meals.  We booked large group Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs) for one or two meals each day, depending on the day, at favorite restaurants we wanted to share with people we loved, and invited everyone to join us.

Chef Mickey Character Breakfast at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Sci Fi Dine In
Via Napoli, Italy, Epcot
Chef Mickey’s Character Breakfast Photo: Brooke Hudson
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Character greetings have been canceled. Character meals are most likely canceled, too. (Unconfirmed)

Logistically, this is a bit of a headache, as with Disney’s cancellation fees, you have to plan ahead for this, and get people to commit at least 36 hours ahead of the meal, so you have time to cancel…but we ended up with 10-20 people at several of our meals and it was AWESOME.  In our case, everyone did separate checks, but there are lots of different ways to handle this.  If everyone is on the dining plan, you can use table service credits.

Alternatively, to help everyone budget (and confirm those commitments!), you could have everyone prepay a fixed amount toward the meals they’re joining before the trip, and have one person responsible for paying the bill and collecting any overages.  If you need help brainstorming ideas, reach out to me, I’m happy to help!

Attraction Meet-Ups

Another idea is to plan a particular attraction at a particular time, and all meet up and do that together.  This can be challenging for more popular attractions that need Fastpasses.  However, you can coordinate everyone’s Fastpass reservations to schedule them into the same range, or at least try and get them to overlap for at least a 30 minute window.  Attractions that are “shows” are good for this, like Mickey’s Philharmagic, Muppets, Carousel of Progress, etc.  You want to make sure you’ve picked something that everyone in your group can enjoy.  If anyone is too little to ride, or won’t be comfortable or won’t enjoy it…maybe think about doing something else instead.

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in the rain Photo: Linda Harkness
Wedding Trip: Toy Story Mania (Photo: Brooke and Frank)
Super Patient Kids Waiting in Line (Photo: Brooke Hudson)

I’ve planned for some groups that had success meeting at slow moving rides with lots of other stuff going around it, so the group stayed together for a while.  For example: One group I worked with had 17 people, including several small children, and a senior in a wheelchair.  They met at Finding Nemo at the Living Seas in Epcot at 9:15 am, and then explored the Livings Seas Pavilion more or less as a group, attending Turtle Talk with Crush as a group, and then went to Lunch at Coral Reef as a group.  After that, they split off into smaller groups or families until the next day.  This worked for them, and they managed to get a big group PhotoPass picture by the fish near the entrance of the Finding Nemo attraction (all part of my plan, haha).

Photo Meet-Ups

Still another idea is just to meet for a Photopass picture periodically.  For example, suggest everyone meet at the Partner’s statue at 1:15pm to check in.  You take a big group picture, see how everyone is doing, and then everyone goes on about their day.

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Epcot! (Photo: Disney PhotoPass)

Your meetups don’t have to be in the parks, either.  You can plan a group pizza party around the pool at your resort for everyone to unwind at the end of a busy park day.  Or even just plan to meet at the resort at 2pm by the pool for everyone to go swimming or enjoy some relaxation time.

Ideas for Group Meet-Ups or “Extra” Events:

  • Hoop-de-do Revue
  • Photopass location meet-up for a group picture
  • Meet at an all-ages attraction. Some great choices include:
    • Walt Disney World Railroad
    • It’s a Small World
    • Carousel of Progress
    • Finding Nemo (the attraction)
    • Living with the Land
    • Muppet Vision 3D
    • Finding Nemo the Musical
  • Resort activities. For example:
    • An afternoon pool party
    • Participate in the Disney movie night at your resort
    • Plan a resort photo shoot, either with a Disney Fine Arts photographer, or your own photographer (I have recommendations, if you need help with this).
  • Parks/Resorts/Disney Springs or All of the above: Plan a game or activity for the whole group that people can help each other with, talk about, etc.  I’ve had a lot of success with customized Photo Scavenger Hunts.  They can be short: targeting one afternoon, and one park or resort.  Alternatively, they can span several days, and include several sections and some scheduled meetups for pictures etc.  One obvious benefit is that you, as the planner, will end up with a lot of great “extra” pictures from the Photo Scavenger Hunt that you might not have gotten otherwise.  Your guests will have so much fun trying to complete the tasks, they won’t even notice they’re suddenly in a lot more pictures than they might have otherwise been in.  It’s sneaky, but it works!!
    • Click HERE if you’d like to visit my Etsy store to contact me about designing something specific for your group.
  • Work together to “make a gift” or “create a basket” for the guest or guests of honor if your event revolves around a birthday party, anniversary party, wedding etc.
    • For example, for Aunt Edie’s 85th Birthday, you could have a scrapbooking party.  You could set up tables with paper and photos and scissors and decorations, and have each table make a couple of pages for a scrapbook to be presented to Aunt Edie at her party.
    • For a wedding, you could have everyone contribute a recipe and make a recipe book with family pictures as a scrapbook type project, similar afternoon or evening gathering.
  • Ride Mix-In: One of the highlights for our guests for our wedding weekend was a ride mix-in we planned after our dessert party ended at Epcot.  Our guests were treated to a surprise ride on Soarin’ right at the end of the night.  They rode with other park guests (they were “mixed in”), but our group got their own row.  It was a fairly economical option for us, and a big hit for our guests.  Check with your event planner or travel agent if you think that’s something you may want to consider.
Soarin' Post Dessert Party Ride Mix In Disney travel with a group
Soarin’ Post-Dessert Party Ride Mix In

There are lots of ways to get together, without trying to walk lockstep, 10 people across, through the Magic Kingdom for 8 hours straight.  Everyone vacations differently.  Some people like to GO GO GO, and basically run from attraction to attraction.  Others like to meander, looking at all those special details, perhaps without any destination in mind at all.  Many of us fall somewhere in between.  The point is, you won’t be able to make ANYONE happy if you try to make EVERYONE happy.

Key Considerations for Planning Group “Extra” Events or Meetups:

  • How many? Decide how many group “meet ups” you want to plan.
    • A good general rule of thumb is 1 or 2 events per day, maximum.
    • Take into consideration your specific group and the reason for your trip.
  • Get Input: Talk to other members of the group to get their input before you finalize your plans.
    • Maybe the majority of your group has no interest in getting together very often.
    • Find out what expectations people have, and what they’d like to do.
  • Budget: Make sure you know what kind of budget you are working with. If you’re planning attraction or photo meet ups, budget isn’t an issue, as long as everyone has a park pass.  However meals have budgetary impact.  And don’t assume that everyone will have a park pass—find out.
  • Where: Decide whether your meet ups will be in the parks or at the resort, or a mixture.
  • For Whom: Try to consider what is important to MOST of the group.  Remember this meet up isn’t about YOU, it’s about the group getting together.  You want to be sure you aren’t just choosing something that YOU like without considering if everyone else would really like it. (Even if it’s an event around your wedding.  Unless it’s actually a wedding event, try and make the other events more about the group and togetherness, rather than just about you and your fiancé).
  • Prioritize Guests of Honor: If you are celebrating someone’s birthday or anniversary, keep THAT person in mind. If it’s a family reunion, keep the most senior members of the family in mind.  Reunions tend to be more for the grandparents and the great grandparents than for the kids—even at Disney!
  • Take Pictures: wherever you meet up, how often you meet up, whatever you end up doing…make sure there are a couple of different people in charge of taking pictures. After the trip is over, and everyone has returned home to their regular lives, perhaps in different parts of the country or even the globe, you will have these pictures.  These pictures will be special memories that will instantly bring all of you back together.  Try to make sure that you have some casual pictures of as many people in your group as possible.  Even if you are waiting in line for an attraction, try to take pictures of people being together.  Have a couple different people in charge of this, so that no one person ends up in NO pictures because they are always taking pictures of everyone else.
Heading to Toy Story Mania (Photo: Brooke Hudson)
Outside the Voyage of the Little Mermaid theater. Photo: Brooke Hudson
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It’s All About the Attitude!

DECIDE You are Going to Have a Great Time

Group events and Family reunions can sometimes be fraught with tension and drama. Even in happy places on vacations, there are sometimes hurt feelings or someone behaving badly or someone who missed their nap and is crabby, etc.  You have to decide that no matter what, you are going to have a great time.  Don’t let the little irritations get you down.

If there’s a Guest of Honor, try and help them have that same perspective if you can.  So much of what happens to us in life is a direct result of our attitude and our expectations.  If you EXPECT to have a great time, most of the time—you will.  When you EXPECT to get in a fight with you father’s second cousin over Saturday’s football game…you probably will.  DECIDE to have a good time, no matter what…and you WILL!

Disney travel with a large group

Disney travel with a large group can bring you magical memories that will last a lifetime.  As long as you plan ahead, and have the right attitude, traveling to Disney with friends and family may be the best vacation of your lives.  If you need any help planning your trip, or would like my advice on herding cats, please contact me at brooke@disneycastledreaming.com.

Happy Dreaming!

Brooke

Disney Launches Free Dining Authorized Disney Vacation Planner
Ready to Plan Your Disney Vacation!

P.S. If you’d like to read more about Advance Dining Reservations, please check out this post: Planning Ahead: Advance Dining Reservations or this post: Making your Disney Vacation More Enjoyable: Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs).