Review: New Lunch Menu at Be Our Guest Restaurant
Be Our Guest Restaurant in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World has a new lunch menu! In this WDW dining review, we’ll take a look at all of the new items via food photos, compare them to their predecessors, and share thoughts on how this counter service restaurant stacks up to the competition in light of the changes.
For starters, some quick basics. Be Our Guest Restaurant is the hot ticket in Magic Kingdom and has been since it opened several years ago. Guests step inside Beast’s Castle in a setting themed to Beauty and the Beast. The restaurant is a Disney Dining Plan participant as a one-credit counter service restaurant at lunch. It also makes our list of the best counter service values when on the Disney Dining Plan (again, for lunch).
Note that this is an update, rather than a comprehensive review of the full menu. For that, see our newly-updated Lunch Review of Be Our Guest Restaurant. In addition to that, we also have a New Prix Fixe Dinner Review and Breakfast Review of Be Our Guest Restaurant. Soon, we’ll also have an updated breakfast review…
This Be Our Guest Restaurant menu update could be viewed as a way for Walt Disney World to effectively increase prices without being overly blatant about it. Previously, the cheapest menu items were a pair of $13 items (Quinoa Salad and Vegetable Quiche), both of which have been removed with this overhaul.
In their place, a pair of $15 items have been added to the menu. Those are now the cheapest entrees (unless you count the soups–and I don’t). Existing items have also increased in price, with all of the sandwiches now priced at $16 and up (for sandwiches!). Be Our Guest Restaurant has always been higher quality than other Magic Kingdom offerings, but at these price-points, it’s difficult to justify unless you’re on the Disney Dining Plan.
We consider this noteworthy because last year’s Prix Fixe Dinner change was made along these same lines, upping the average cost as a way to reduce demand (and increase revenue) at this massively popular location. The big difference here is that the lunch changes disadvantage those paying out of pocket, rather than those on the Disney Dining Plan.
Conversely, thanks to a new entree, Be Our Guest Restaurant at lunch is now the best way to maximize your counter service credit value on the Disney Dining Plan in Magic Kingdom–and one of the best options in all of Walt Disney World. As you can see below, there are actually several good ‘bang for buck’ options for those on the Disney Dining Plan…
The previous Be Our Guest Restaurant menu ushered in a new era of counter service quality, and didn’t really need updating. There were (and are) a lot of fan favorites on the lunch menu at Be Our Guest Restaurant.
Fortunately, that still remains the case. Most of the tried and true favorites are still present at Be Our Guest, and several of the changes are lateral moves that will be at least vaguely familiar to Be Our Guest regulars. To us, this seems like a sensible approach and good compromise–freshen things up a bit while not trying to fix what isn’t broken.
The first new item is the Corn Bisque Soup: “Garnished with Corn, Bacon, Cilantro, and Chili Oil.”
Rich, creamy, and with a nice texture thanks to the corn and bacon, this is a solid starter…albeit maybe not on a hot summer day.
Still, it’s tough to compete with the tried and true French Onion Soup.
I’m not huge on soups so perhaps I’m rating this on that layer of cheese as much as anything else, but this is one of my favorite soups at Walt Disney World.
For entrees, our first new option is the Spring Chicken Salad: “Sliced Golden Beets, Roasted Peppers, Chilled Green Beans, Pickled Shallots, Carrots, and Herb Vinaigrette served with Thyme-Scented Chicken.”
This is pretty similar to its predecessor, but with chicken instead of quinoa. This is a huge upgrade in my estimation, and is probably being made as the quinoa ‘trend’ is mercifully beginning to end (there ought to be a law against quinoa…so I don’t have to eat it every other night). It’s a refreshing and interesting salad, but with so many good salads at Walt Disney World now, it’s not the ‘revolutionary’ entree it once might’ve been.
Next is the Spring Shrimp Salad: “Sliced Golden Beets, Roasted Peppers, Chilled Green Beans, Pickled Shallots, Carrots, and Herb Vinaigrette served with Citrus-Poached Shrimp.”
Basically, the same thing but with shrimp. It’s also $2 more expensive than the chicken version. Even if these were the same price, I’d opt for and recommend the chicken version. The shrimp is not particularly noteworthy, and isn’t as filling as the chicken. Still, if you prefer shrimp and want a salad, it’s a suitable option.
Sarah ordered the Cannellini Bean Cassoulet: “White Cannellini Beans with Onions, Red Peppers, Zucchini, Eggplant, Tomatoes, Garlic, and Fresh Herbs served with Broccolini and Crostini.”
Despite cassoulet being France’s take on casserole, we all expected this to be a cold dish. Probably based simply on the presentation (and the fact that it’s currently ridiculously hot in Florida); it just looks refreshing, doesn’t it?
In any case, the hearty dish was a nice medley of fresh vegetables. It wasn’t really like a traditional casserole or stew; the vegetables were crisp and largely presented their natural flavor with a mix of herbs. Sarah loved this–it’s her new favorite lunch entree at Be Our Guest. I liked it but wasn’t as enthusiastic; still, I’d choose this over any of the salads (including the Tuna Niçoise Salad).
For my entree, I ordered the Braised Chicken (Coq Au Vin Style): “Coq Au Vin Braised Chicken in Red Wine with Bacon, Mushrooms, Roasted Asparagus, Blistered Heirloom Tomatoes, and Braised Leeks served with Mashed Potatoes.”
This replaces the braised pork. It’s been a while since I’ve had that, but I generally favor pork over chicken (and assume that would hold true here). Nevertheless, the red wine braise gave this dish a sense of sophistication I’d never expect from a counter service dish, and the chicken was incredibly tender.
Paying out of pocket (as we were), I have a really tough time justifying a $19 entree at a counter service restaurant. However, the quality of the entire dish is on par with a lower end table service restaurant, and I guess that’s “close enough” to what Be Our Guest Restaurant is at lunch.
If you were paying out of pocket at an actual Walt Disney World table service restaurant, this dish would be more like $25, so there’s also that. Moreover, it makes an exceptional use of a Disney Dining Plan counter service credit.
In any case, the Braised Chicken is now the best item on the lunch menu. It’s obviously totally different, but I’d choose this over any of the sandwiches. Those are now overpriced for what they are (especially the French Dip), in my opinion; this is a better value for what it is.
Finally, we have the new vanilla Crème Brulée topped with fresh berries for dessert.
This was the lone disappointment. The consistency and texture were both off, making it feel more like a cheap crème brulée imitator than the real thing. I’ve never been overly impressed by any of Be Our Guest Restaurant’s desserts (yes, even the famed “Grey Stuff”) and that trend continues. Skipping dessert at Be Our Guest and opting for some of the Best Snacks & Desserts in Magic Kingdom is recommended.
Overall, Be Our Guest Restaurant replaced about half of its lunch menu and the results are about the same…but more expensive. These are some pretty conservative beat-for-beat changes, and the new items are not markedly better or worse than what came before. That’s probably a good thing in this case (save for the price increases), as lunch at Be Our Guest Restaurant has been solid since it debuted–one of the few bright spots of the Magic Kingdom counter service dining scene. We’re hopeful that the upcoming changes at breakfast are more ambitious, as that menu has always been a bit “meh” and there’s definite room for improvement.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
Your Thoughts
What do you think of lunch at Be Our Guest Restaurant? Looking forward to trying any of these items? Do you wish there would be a more ambitious overhaul of the menu, or do you take a ‘don’t fix what isn’t broken’ perspective? Do you agree or disagree with our review? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
So Many Complaints !!!
Why Do You Even Go to WDW ???
Got rsvp for Breakfast and Lunch on late fall trip !
Sorry if honest assessments sounds like complaining. Disney employs some of the best chefs and cooks in the world and there are many places to eat and experience great foods. The Pork was quite simply the best dish on the menu and now they subbed in chicken to pretty universal disappointment. Yes, the Be Our Guest dining ambiance is some of the best in MK, but mediocre food should never be the trade off. I am in Disney from 6/30 to 7/7 and we have BOG lunch reservations like before. I appreciate the advance knowledge and experiences expressed here. Good AND Bad.
We ate here on May 31, probably just before the menu changed. We paid out of pocket. It was decidedly okay. The entrees were acceptable, but the desserts were a disappointment. The servers weren’t particularly enthusiastic. The bathroom was crowded. We ate without an ADR at the Skipper Canteen and we found the food to be a much better quality for only a few bucks more.
Termite
Never going Back. Been there three times over the past 4 years. First time the food and desserts were good. Second time in the dungeon was unappealing and the food was questionable. Went this past April and the (filet) steak was beyond salty. The salad was a wedge of lettuce. The dessert tray was a joke. Waitress said we could eat the edible napkin under the so-called desserts which weren’t enough to sniff of. Better go back to the original fair as they won’t see us there again.
My wife and I enjoyed lunch and dinner (before the prix fixe) change a couple years ago. This year while booking our ADRs (on the Dining Plan), Be Our Guest was available. We both looked at each other and said “meh”. Think we booked Plaza for lunch (all you can drink shakes? Cmon!) and stumbled into a 945 pm Cinderella Castle Dinner.
In short. We feel Be Our Guest is a nice one and done experience for the environment, but not for the food.
With that said, any ETA on the breakfast changes? Will you be reviewing, Tom?
I only went EVERY year at lunch for the PORK entree !! What a disappointment they took it off! Maybe if Everyone complains like when they brought back the Steak with Mac + Cheese at Mama Melrose– they might bring back the Pork. Everyone please write in to bring back the Pork!!!
Thanks for the review. The braised chicken looks delicious. Do you know if we can switch the mashed potatoes (i am not a fan) for something else (salad or pomme frites)?
Thanks
Yes, I was just looking at the new menu and I saw an option for the dish with “no mash,” with pomme frites instead.
Now I know why I got a September reservation after trying for a month. Was going for the pork but still nice to have a counter service reservation. Glad I have free dining otherwise probably would not eat there
” It’s a refreshing and interesting salad, but with so many good salads at Walt Disney World now..”
I would love for you to tell us where and what are the so many good salads at WDW now.
Would you recommend the Coq au Vin over the Tuna Nicoise Salad?
I had the Tuna Nicoise Salad only once, but it left me hungry, and that was with a dessert too. I may have been given a skimpy serving. I usually get the Braised Pork, and am sorry to see that replaced. I really enjoyed it.
I really would like to know where the good salads are, please.
I’ve had good salads at both Skipper Canteen and The Plaza.
One thing worth mentioning – the soups used to be a snack credit on the dining menu but no longer are. We were there the week before Memorial Day and were disappointed that the soup was nothing considered a snack.
Soo disappointed that the Braised Pork is gone as is the Leek soup. Will give it a try on a future trip, so will see then.
Boo. The braised pork was my favorite and the reason we ate at Be Our Guest 3-4x on our 5-6 day visits. Good news for others visiting when we do is it looks out Be Our Guest days are over. So disappointed. 🙁
I still think this is one of the most over hyped/under whelming dining experiences in Disney. It’s fine and all, but it still feels like a themed cafeteria to me (yes the West Wing is more striking…but you can’t count on a table there). The new menu doesn’t seem like it would do much to change my opinion, except solidify my position that I won’t pay out of pocket to eat here again. I feel like people get too worked up over getting an ADR here like it’s going to make or break their trip. Again, not that it’s even bad…it’s just not worthy of the hype or hassle (in my humble opinion which is worth little to nothing).
I just looked at the Plaza lunch menu and the sandwich prices there are similar or higher, so it’s not just a tax on Be Our Guest like I’d thought. Food has just gotten really pricey at WDW.
I thought the pork dish was about the only thing here that justified the high price. I’m not a fan of mushrooms or asparagus, so I’m sad to see the change to chicken. (The thyme-flavored pork chop they used to serve at dinner was also perhaps my favorite non-signature meal on property. It is also missed.)
I’m with you on the dessert menu. Not horrible, but you can do much better for sweets int he Magic Kingdom.
Thank you for the review of the braised chicken. I am going there twice next month and was thinking about getting that. I usually get the turkey sandwich so figured I would switch it up one of the days. I’m looking forward to trying it!
Really disappointed to see the potato soup gone…we always split the croque monsiuer and the soup.
Meh. I suppose I realize I live in a really expensive part of the world when I don’t flinch at all at the prices, but this will make me grimace when I buy lunch today. But the menu is super Americanized. For the prices, wait times and experience, I would expect a French meal. This isn’t that. This is the kind of menu I’d expect to see at an airport that is trying to act like it’s worldly.
So there. I said it.
“But the menu is super Americanized.”
I think that’d be a fair comment about many/most Walt Disney World restaurants, even those in World Showcase. It’s doubly true with counter service meals…and this one is in Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom, which generally has the most crowd-pleasing fare.
In other words, I don’t think you’re saying anything controversial or surprising.
Lunch looked inherently better than the dinner we had there. There were five of us and no one was happy with the dinner. The steak I got was thin cook within an inch of its life and was very shoe like . It’s a beautiful dinning room and was exciting when the beast made his appearance but I would not go back for dinner or probably lunch.
to me this place was a on and done just to see the inside..I always thought the food was only so so and way too high priced for what you get.
We are here using a counter service credit as part of our trip on a “Free Dining” plan last September.
We are here at lunch as we “scored” a reservation amid the scramble.
I have mixed feelings about it since it is much a hot ticket. The food was overly salty which was only countered by the fact we helped ourselves to free refills (we have no idea if this is permissable).
Since it was lunch time there were no charactets and it seemed like a massive hall (canteen) with no special atmosphere or magic to it.
Since it is only a counter service I suppose that technically it represents good value if using credits, but if you are paying cash I would begrudge paying the premium. Either way I will skip it next time.
“The food was overly salty which was only countered by the fact we helped ourselves to free refills (we have no idea if this is permissable).”
Food being overly-salty is a common problem at Walt Disney World. I’ve never noticed it being especially pronounced at Be Our Guest, but don’t doubt for a second that you experienced that.
As for refills, yes, they are allowed.