For those that do not know, Disney World here in Florida, has opened a completely new part of fantasy land. The "New Fantasy Land" has three main areas, Ariel's castle, Snow White's home and mineshaft (opening in 2014), and Bell's French town with castle. It is an absolutely beautiful area that we have been counting down to the opening of. We were able to get a look at it back in November during our Disney trip, but the most exciting part had to wait until our last trip on December 31st. Yep, we went to Disney for New Years.
We were able to get reservations for Disney's newest fine(er) dining establishment back in October when the reservations opened, and I have been dying for December 31st to come.
Magic Kingdom on New Years has been a goal of mine for quite a long time. I have been crazy excited to go this year, and even more excited to try out a dining spot that has been labeled as having some of the best food in Disney. After being at Disney to welcome in the New Year, I would highly suggest everyone do the same at least once in their lives. It was incredible. Everything from the fireworks to the castle to the cast members was memorable. The crowds were massive, but nothing compared to New York... And most of them were quite a bit happier too. Plus, the park is open well after 12 and most people clear out around this time. We stayed after midnight and were able to walk onto Haunted Mansion, walk around the park with ease, get free cookies and hot cocoa, and join the late night dance party- all before 1:30. Epic.
The atmosphere at Be Our Guest is incredible. To get in, you first walk over the bridge guarded by giant gargoyles, Enter through large wooden double doors, and are welcomed in a grand (but dark) foyer. It really does seem exactly like the Beast's castle from the movie. There are three dining areas throughout, the Grand Ballroom, the West Wing, and the Rose room.
The Grand Ballroom lives up to it's name. It is massive and an exact replicate to the movie. There are three large, golden chandeliers, a wall with floor to ceiling windows, and a view of snow covered mountains with snow falling outside (we were there in December). It was beautiful.
The West Wing is exactly what you think it would be, all the way to the torn tapestries and the rose. It is the smallest room of the three and has a completely different ambiance than the other two, more romantic rooms. This room is dark with wood beams, the Beast's slashed picture on the wall, and chandeliers of pillar candles. The best part of this room is in the back corner where you can see the Beast's rose suspended under glass.
The third room we went into was medium in size and had pictures from the movie that look hand painted throughout. It was wonderful to see all the screenshots and be reminded of forgotten favorite parts while dining. But, the best part of this room was the life-size statues of Bell and the Beast dancing in the center of the room. The Rose room matches the grandness of the Grand Ballroom and the mystery of the West Wing with it's elegance and romance.
By the time we were in the restaurant and ready to order, we had already researched the menu and knew what was best. For our entrees we ordered the Sautee Shrimp and Scallops and the Thyme Scented Pork Rack Chop. Both were incredible.
The shrimp and scallop was served in a puff pastry with a lobster cream sauce. It was perfectly cooked and both the shrimp and scallops were larger than what I was expecting.
Although I did not eat the pork, the husband loved it and gave me some of the au gratin pasta to try. It was delicious! I would highly recommend both dishes and get either again.
The dinner was great, but the highlight of the meal was the dessert. A friend and Disney employee had tipped us off about a must have dessert. The Grey Stuff. Yes, from the movie. It is not on the menu and is only given for special events upon request. Our waitress was nice enough to give us one since we asked. I never knew grey stuff could taste so good. Creamy, chocolaty, and delicious... Don't believe me, ask the dishes ;)
Be Our Guest was a fantastic meal, and far less expensive than I was expecting. Whether you are a fan of the movie or not, the restaurant is not one to miss. I completely agree with all reviews that say it is the best food in Magic Kingdom. It is, hands down!