Anybody do a "Dine with an Imagineer" dinner? How was it?

[Janir]

As subject says, has anyone done a "Dine with an Imagineer" at either Brown Derby or Citricos?
If you did, how was it? I've eaten at both places before so I'm more interested in the Imagineer part of of, but
" if you really likes the food for your dinner at place X, why?
Looking to plan next trip and I got ADR's coming up.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

I've done it twice at the Brown Derby and really enjoyed it. I was interested more in the Imagineer part than the food but the food was good at the Derby. I was worried that I would get the same Imagineer as the previous time, but I didn't. Although the second time I was there there was a couple who had been with that particular Imagineer but he talked about some different stuff. Toy Storyland had just opened and he had worked on that and Pandora. The other Imagineer had worked at MGM/Hollywood Studios since it had opened and worked her way up. People are usually respectful of the other patrons ability to ask questions and of the time of the Imagineer. The second time I went there was one guy who tried to hog the conversation and was a little challenging to the Imagineer, like he asked him questions that weren't even related to the Imagineer's field or experience. Eventually the guy's family got him to ease up and he pouted (he was married and in his mid-30's) and spent the rest of the time sketching in his sketch book, but besides him everyone else was fine. I would recommend going if it is of any interest to you.

 

[Hakunamatata]

@Monty

 

[Monty]

I've done it at Brown Derby. Very entertaining. We had a young lady who had been a CP, then was a College Rep at her school. She had been involved in a number of different projects and told us lots of great stories. The food was excellent.

I was disappointed they've stopped signing plates for guests, but it was a minor aspect and certainly didn't spoil the experience.

 

[Beacon Joe]

Any thoughts on an appropriate age for diners? Would this be a good thing to do with a 14 year old interested in theme park design as well as engineering? Or are these lunches more targeted to adults?

 

[Janir]

Thanks for the replies!
Definltey gonna plan for it now!

 

[KBLovedDisney]

The hubs and I did this once back in 2016 (it might have been a year or two earlier than this; my brain is failing at the moment) at the Brown Derby. Our Imagineer was one of the guys working on Disney Springs back when it was still a work in progress. We got to hear the story behind it all. It was pretty cool.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Any thoughts on an appropriate age for diners? Would this be a good thing to do with a 14 year old interested in theme park design as well as engineering? Or are these lunches more targeted to adults?

There were some teens at the first lunch I did. I think there were two, one was interested and the other was just kind of there. I think if they are interested in listening and asking questions about the work than it would be fine. There might be an age limit though, I don't remember for sure, so you might want to check the website.

 

[Janir]

A casual look seems to show the Brown Derby ones are lunch oriented. But a look at the Citrico's doesn't show any upcoming Dine with an Imangineer's on the schedule that it would let me search for. Anyone know of the locations are seasonal or swap on some sort or schedule and if there are any dinner versions at either?

 

[dreamfinder]

We did lunch at the Brown Derby. Solid meal, intimate experience. Alot will come down to the Imagineer that you get. If might be someone who just works as a project manager, someone who works as a set dresser, or heck, even someone who just works the books. All depends.

I was disappointed they've stopped signing plates for guests, but it was a minor aspect and certainly didn't spoil the experience.

They stopped signing the plates? Do you still get the plates? Or was that dropped completely?

A casual look seems to show the Brown Derby ones are lunch oriented. But a look at the Citrico's doesn't show any upcoming Dine with an Imangineer's on the schedule that it would let me search for. Anyone know of the locations are seasonal or swap on some sort or schedule and if there are any dinner versions at either?

The Brown Derby is lunch only, and Citrico's is just dinner. And while Brown Derby is Mon Weds & Fri weekly, Citrco's is just the first Thursday each month. And they do change the schedule based on holidays. For instance, there aren't any scheduled for the last half of December.

 

[Janir]

We did lunch at the Brown Derby. Solid meal, intimate experience. Alot will come down to the Imagineer that you get. If might be someone who just works as a project manager, someone who works as a set dresser, or heck, even someone who just works the books. All depends.

They stopped signing the plates? Do you still get the plates? Or was that dropped completely?

The Brown Derby is lunch only, and Citrico's is just dinner. And while Brown Derby is Mon Weds & Fri weekly, Citrco's is just the first Thursday each month. And they do change the schedule based on holidays. For instance, there aren't any scheduled for the last half of December.

Thanks for the schedule! That helps a ton. I'll cross Citricos off completely and plan for a lunch date if I can manage it with our planned Batuu time.

 

[Monty]

They stopped signing the plates? Do you still get the plates? Or was that dropped completely?

Stopped giving the plates entirely.

 

[dreamfinder]

Thanks for the schedule! That helps a ton. I'll cross Citricos off completely and plan for a lunch date if I can manage it with our planned Batuu time.

As there are only the 12 seats, those ADRs book up almost instantly. So you would need to do it the other way. ADR then Batuu.

Stopped giving the plates entirely.

Boo. Of course, didn't lower the price any did they.