Storybook Dining at Artist Point With Snow White--Our Review

On December 16, 2018, Artist Point, a Signature Dining destination at Disney's Wilderness Lodge re-opened as Storybook Dining with Snow White.

We had an Advanced Dining Reservation for 6:00 pm on December 26, 2018, ten days after their re-opening.

Getting to Disney's Wilderness Lodge is relatively easy.  There are boats from Magic Kingdom, The Contemporary Resort, or Fort Wilderness and buses from all other theme parks.  We took a bus from Disney's Animal Kingdom.

If you take a bus, you'll walk up the path and into the lobby near the store.  If you do this, you are directly across the lobby from the Artist Point check-in desk.  If you come into the resort lobby via the main doors, walk through the lobby and turn left just before the windows.  If you are coming by boat, as you enter the main building, walk up the ramp and you are right there--the check-in podium for Artist Point will be at the top of the ramp.

Reservation check-in podium

Ramp down to the walk-way to the boat launch on the right.

Ramp into the restaurant.  Bathrooms on the left just at the top of the ramp before entering Artist Point.

We arrived prior to our reservation--Disney recommends giving your party 90 minutes of travel time, which we do, and therefore sometimes arrive early.  Artist Point opened at 5:00 pm and we were seated shortly after, although our reservation was for 6:00 pm.

When we sat down, our table had a tree in the middle that is used for presentation and lovely red napkins with apple napkin holders that have the character signatures on the reserve side to take home.  We moved the tree to the side of the table so that we could see each other over the table and talk.

The menu has a leather cover, similar to Tiffins at Disney's Animal Kingdom.  We were using 1 table service credit each for the meal from the Disney Dining Plan.

The story of the restaurant.

Character signatures on the apple napkin holder to take home.

The appetizers were served on three plates that exactly fit in the canopy of the tree that was in the middle of our table, but we moved.  Know that the tree spins, but is heavy to move--the weight stabilizes the tree.

We were eating winter squash bisque with a caramel lollipop, Hunter's Pie that included chicken and black truffle with a stone fruit preserve in the jar, and wicked shrimp cocktail.  The winner was the squash bisque.  The boy ate all of the shrimp in the cocktail.

Since an adult beverage is included in with the Dining Plan for those over 21, the husband ordered the Enchanted Apple with Skyy citrus vodka, DeKupyer pucker sour apple and white cranberry juice and I ordered The Antidote with Bacardi Gran Reserva Maestro, agave, ginger beer.  The Antidote tasted like cough syrup so I took the husband's drink instead.  He didn't like The Antidote either, so they took it back and he ordered a Dead Rogue's beer, which hit the spot.

The boy ordered In the Clouds, which can also be an adult beverage.  The small water glass was placed on the table with pink and blue cotton candy sticking out of it.  The waiter had a science beaker--think potion--of blue liquid that he poured over the cotton candy making it dissolve.  The beaker was empty and the small water glass was half-full of a blue colored liquid--$4 for that one!  

Shortly after we ordered our meals, Snow White appeared at our table, but not before the fanfare.  Click here for the video.

While we waited for our food, I noticed that the banquette seating extended all the way to the wall on both sides of our table--that's the neighboring table in the photo above.

And even though there was seating, there were no tables!  I asked our server if the tables and seating were the same before the re-theming to a character meal and he said "yes."  What a terrible waste of space!  Not to mention, our table was wobbly!

The boy ordered the Cottage Seafood Stew with shrimp, bay scallops, mussels, tomato, fennel.  This was a difficult meal to eat as the mussels had to come out of the shells and the shrimp had to have their tails cut off.  He had a few bites and gave up.

The husband and I ordered the Royal Prime Rib Roast with horseradish mashed potato, hay smoked carrots, popover, jus.  The "jus" was brown gravy that was covering up the raw meat.  The husband said that the cow was alive when we sat down.  

Our server did not anticipate our needs by providing us with steak knives and we had to ask for them.  I took one bite and realized that the meat was very under cooked and asked for it to be cooked longer.  So did the husband.  Our plates were taken away and returned with the meat turned over and more brown "jus."  I couldn't stomach it. 

We now had the attention of two servers--the one we started with and the one who we asked to bring us steak knives.  They could tell we weren't going to eat the meat, but I did try the other items on the plate--the carrots were very good.  They asked if we wanted something else and we declined.  I regret not allowing them to try.  At this point, our opinion of the restaurant and meal had already been formed.

Another sticking point, literally, was that the syrup used to coat the glass to make the cinnamon and sugar stick to the outside rim of the glass of my drink was running down the stem of the glass.  Every time I picked up the glass for a drink, my hand would be sticky.  I did tell our server this so that he could pass it on to the bar tender.

Grumpy was the next character, and last, to come to our table.  We were told when we checked in at the podium that Dopey "had worked all day and would not be joining us."

Dessert arrived at our table on the plates that fit on the top of the tree.  Selections included Miner's Treasures with green sponge cake, chocolate gems, and buttercream icing, Fairy Tale Gooseberry Pie, and white chocolate-apple mouse center "Poison" Apple.  We all tried all three and had no favorites.

Next our server donned white gloves and brought the black box (all smudged with fingerprints) to our table to serve us The Hunter's Gift to the Queen which featured crackled maple popcorn, ganache heart.  This was a tasty way to end the meal.

After paying our bill we made our way to see The Queen.  A Photopass Photographer was with her and he scanned our MagicBands after taking our photo.  

A stop at the restroom after we left Artist Point also told me that it was in need of an update/repairs.  There is another restroom just left of the main entrance into the lobby at Wilderness Lodge as well as one at the bottom of the ramped hallway that leads to the sidewalk that takes guests to the boat pier.

As an aside, I asked our server if he had worked at this location when it was Artist Point, before the transition.  He told us that he had worked there, for several years.  And, that in the transition, only  one new member of the restaurant team was hired as most members took the 3 week furlough (code for unpaid) while the restaurant was re-themed.

Pros:

• Location.  Wilderness Lodge is a Deluxe Resort that just underwent additions of Villas, Studios, and Cabins.  Adding a character meal to this location made sense as all other Deluxe Resorts, including the new Four Seasons at Golden Oak, have a character meal on site.
• Characters--the characters featured at Artist Point are rare and not easily found.  Snow White appears at EPCOT and in various Disney Princess meals in Magic Kingdom and EPCOT.  The Queen and Dwarfs are typically only seen at special events, parties, and parades.
• Price for the meal is $55 per person 10 years and up and $33 for children ages 3-9.  With the meal including appetizer and dessert the price comes in at a value. Beverages, adult or otherwise, are extra and rack up the total amount which is considered for tipping.  Our bill was $202.00.

Cons:

• Food.  We're not sure who this restaurant plans to serve, but with it being a character meal, children and families will be attending, yet the menu doesn't seem to cater to those tastes.  There wasn't one item that we left the restaurant wanting more.  In fact, we had another reservation for our trip in March and it was the consensus to cancel the reservation, which we did.
• Service.  Time wasn't the issue, but lack of anticipation.  Example, needing the steak knives or not realizing we had a sticky drink glass.  We did appreciate the offer to fix our food and again, I regret not letting them try.  There just wasn't anything else on the menu that was appealing or we would have ordered it the first time.  
• Lack of characters.  Not having the full set of characters to meet was disappointing.  The description of the restaurant indicates that guests will meet Snow White and a few dwarf and forest friends, plus a visit by the Queen.  Not sure who the "forest friends" are as we did not see any.
• Bathrooms adjacent to the restaurant need updated.
• Space wasted with banquette seating that doesn't have a table and the beautiful windows are not featured at night as the restaurant faces East.  And, the menu features liberal use of possessives-singular and plural.

Our recommendation--try, but with caution--and don't put this restaurant in ahead of any favorites.  It's the hottest reservation on Disney property right now, but there were empty tables all around us when we were there.  Not sure if some tables are held for the Wilderness Lodge guests to walk-up and get a table.  

This location, if it's going to be a character meal, would be a fabulous location for a breakfast.  The beautiful windows would be on full display in the morning.  That's our two-cents worth.

Let us know your experiences!

Disneyland Dining--Goofy's Kitchen

Goofy’s Kitchen is located inside the Disneyland Hotel.  It is actually inside the convention center area which is right of the pool and right of the “main tower.”  After walking inside the convention center, we turned left and found Cast Members ready to check us in for our reservation.

 Glad we had a reservation as the family in front of us did not and we witnessed some major fit throwing—several adults who may have already been drinking—and a handful a kids.  Something about they had purchased the voucher and thought that meant they could come anytime and eat.  It wasn’t pretty.  Anyway. . .

Before we were seated, we had a photo with the chef himself—Goofy.  The dining photo, which is included with Photopass +, is taken in an area themed to look like a kitchen.  We were then directed to our table.

Goofy’s Kitchen is a buffet style restaurant with a carving station, salads, hot side dishes, and of course, dessert including an ice cream machine.

 Goofy's Kitchen had Pomegranate Lemonade!  One of our favorite drinks we discovered at Walt Disney World!

The boy found pizza and ribs.  The husband found fish.  And I found a shrimp pico de gallo and chips.  Seconds anyone? 

The characters feature Goofy at the beginning of the meal, and then Minnie, Pluto, Chip, and Dale make their way to the tables for photos and autographs.

There is a dance party parade every 30 minutes or so timed to the music.  Children can parade with the characters and guests wave their napkins in the air—very similar to Chef Mickey’s in the Contemporary Resort—click here to read more.

Bathrooms are located outside the restaurant in the convention center area—past the restaurant check-in kiosk.

The price for this meal is more expensive than the Plaza Inn—click here to read more-- as it was a “Premium” Character Dining Voucher.  Most likely the reason for this is the location rather than the experience.  We’re glad we ate here but we wouldn’t race back to do it again.

If using the Dining Vouchers ask at check-in how they are used.  We found different restaurants have varying procedures.  At Plaza Inn we paid using the voucher at the beginning of our meal, while at Goofy’s Kitchen, we gave the vouchers to our server. 

Disneyland Dining--The Plaza Inn

Sitting at the end of Main Street, U.S.A. before the turn into Tomorrowland, is the Plaza Inn, an iconic Disneyland restaurant.  Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily via buffet, guests can fill up and recharge.

We ate breakfast at the Plaza Inn aptly named “Minnie and Friends—Breakfast in the Park” on our very first day at Disneyland.

The park opened at 7:00 am for Extra Magic Hours—if you were a guest staying at one of the three on-site Resorts, or Magic Morning—if you were a guest staying at a “good neighbor hotel” and had a park ticket featuring Magic Morning.  And, we were there at rope drop and hit the park running.  By 8:40 am, the time of our reservation, we were ready for some sustenance.

We checked in at the podium outside of the restaurant with name and confirmation number in hand.  Good thing we had a reservation, as there were several guests waiting in line for an opening.  

The photo taken by the Photopass photographer.

Soon we were being called and were directed to get our photo taken by the Photopass photographer.  Guests who have purchased Photopass + get the print photo package along with having the photos digitally added to their Photopass account.  Otherwise, the print package is about $33.

We were then given a short tour of the restaurant and directed to our table, which was outside on the covered patio.  Note that the majority of the seating at the Plaza Inn is outside either covered or uncovered.  For us, our table was in a great location.  A family was seated at the table right beside us and they requested to move.  Hopefully, not because of us!

At breakfast there was a made to order eggs/omelet station along with many other offerings hot and cold.  My family is funny about how each of us approach a buffet.  The boy and husband dive right.  I on the other hand, take a closer look at all of the offerings and then make my selections.  So when I return to the table they are looking at my plate as if I went to a different restaurant.  They either return to get what I got or take samples from my plate.  A familiar question is “Where did you find that?” 

Characters and buffets make for some interesting timing and we know that.  So when we were seated, I stayed at the table to keep track of any characters that might be stopping by.  The boy came back with his plate just in time to meet the first character that came to our table.  I had already secured the autograph before the boy returned.  Whew!

When the husband has his plate and is ready to take over the camera and autograph book, I then go to the buffet.  We trade on/off throughout the meal for anyone who wants to make a return trip to the buffet or the bathroom.

Max--Goofy's son

Speaking of the bathroom, guests needing to use the facilities at the Plaza Inn have to leave the restaurant and use the restrooms just outside to the right on the way to Tomorrowland.   This was one of two “cons” we experienced while dining here. 

The other con was that Cast Members will not tell you how many characters will be greeting guests.  When I asked two different Cast Members I got answers like “several” or “5 or 6”.  The real answer is more like 11 and I think we met 10.  I then inquired as to why not tell us the straight answer.  Response:  “The characters change frequently and we don’t want guests feeling like they have to wait for all of them and can go when they are finished eating.” 

The characters were plentiful at Minnie’s breakfast.  We did keep waiting to see Minnie and she was the last character that we waited on to come to our table.

The cost of the breakfast is reasonable although we used one of our “Regular Character Dining Vouchers” to pay which included tax and gratuity. 

Fairy Godmother

I also talked the ladies at the table behind us into purchasing Photopass + as the Cast Member peddling the photo print package was trying to but wasn’t closing the deal.  I couldn’t help it and chimed in.  The Cast Member thanked me for helping her.  No problem!

Rafiki

When we were deciding on dining for our upcoming Walt Disney World trip, the boy chimed in about how this was the best character meal.  We heartily agree.  And, the food was good too!

Suzy--one of Cinderella's mice.

Dale