Be Our Guest - Counter vs Table

[scoobygirl39541]

Hello all! I need your help again. We can't decide if we want to use a counter service or table service credit for BOG. We ate dinner there a few years ago and really enjoyed it, but never experienced lunch. Is the food quality similar? Is BOG considered a great valued counter, but rip off table? Or is the counter horrible, and the table amazing? Basically, what are your opinions on the 2 and which would you think is the better deal?

Also, I remember reading about the huge line to get into BOG for lunch, is it still hard to walk in for lunch?

Thanks!!

(currently we have an ADR for dinner on Dec 15, but since Disney changed their hours around, we're considering changing our days around as well)

 

[Tuvalu]

BOG is a wonderful option for lunch and we have found the food to be of higher quality than most of the other MK counter service locations. All the entrees and desserts are very tasty and the portion sizes filling. You also can pick which room you'd like to sit in, unlike dinner. And the utensils are stainless steel (not plastic) and plates are china, unlike other counter locations. So lunch here feels more upscale.

Yes, the lunch line can be long, but if you wait until 1 p.m. or later your wait won't be bad. And the line does move quickly, no matter what time you get in it.

 

[Demeter Tess]

I've eaten at BOG several times for lunch and just recently got to experience my first dinner there. I have to say, as nice as it was to experience a different side of BOG, I do think lunch service is the way to go. Much of the food is identical (I was actually RELIEVED that the green beans they serve for dinner are the same as those served at lunch -- they are my favourite!) and it's nice to be able to choose your own room and table. (We prefer to sit in the West Wing for lunch, but they were unable to accommodate that request for our dinner reservation.) As far as wait times go, we've always just lined up at 10:30am or thereabouts for the 11am opening. It's pleasant in the morning hours and they provide big golf umbrellas if the weather in inclement.

 

[cw1982]

Take a look at the menu... it's different at lunch. If those choices appeal to you, then go for it! The only other thing to consider, IMO, is whether or not anyone in your party is going to be disappointed about not getting a picture with the Beast, as he's only there at dinner.

 

[piglet1]

If it matters to you, bear in mind that beer and wine is only available at dinner.

 

[RubyLee]

I preferred the dinner menu to lunch along with the availability of alcoholic beverages but all that may depend on your group's preferences and/or budget. However, you can't request a specific room (cough.....west wing) when making dinner reservations but you can ask when you check in. We were in the main ballroom at dinner but managed to find a spot in my favorite room, the West Wing, at lunch!

 

[belledream]

They are both great choices in my opinion. I personally don't have any other "favorites" or "must do" table services at MK so BOG dinner is always on the menu for is. But we do lunch too! Love the tuna salad and the cupcakes are the best QS dessert you can find! If you have other priorities for TS, I would give lunch a go. If not, dinner might feel like the more complete experience

 

[wilkeliza]

BOG is a wonderful option for lunch and we have found the food to be of higher quality than most of the other MK counter service locations. All the entrees and desserts are very tasty and the portion sizes filling. You also can pick which room you'd like to sit in, unlike dinner. And the utensils are stainless steel (not plastic) and plates are china, unlike other counter locations. So lunch here feels more upscale.

Yes, the lunch line can be long, but if you wait until 1 p.m. or later your wait won't be bad. And the line does move quickly, no matter what time you get in it.

Just as a heads up we were there just last week and they no longer use stainless steel or china at lunch. The plates and utensils are now throw away but are higher quality than the regular disney parks paper plates.

I personally have had a better time at lunch than dinner. I've done lunch 5 times at Be Our Guest and dinner 3. All three times with dinner there has been something slightly off be it the service or the food. At lunch I've never had any problems. Of course I haven't ever had to stand in the up to hour long line since we usually get the pre-book a slot option so that could affect what we think of the lunch.

 

[disney4life2008]

Just as a heads up we were there just last week and they no longer use stainless steel or china at lunch. The plates and utensils are now throw away but are higher quality than the regular disney parks paper plates.

I personally have had a better time at lunch than dinner. I've done lunch 5 times at Be Our Guest and dinner 3. All three times with dinner there has been something slightly off be it the service or the food. At lunch I've never had any problems. Of course I haven't ever had to stand in the up to hour long line since we usually get the pre-book a slot option so that could affect what we think of the lunch.

Only a matter of time before the cheaper utensils and plates arrive. If I can do the prebook lunch I am going to try it out in August.

 

[LWB]

I have dined at BOG for lunch and for dinner. I actually preferred dinner - We liked getting to meet the Beast. It didn't seem as rushed. There were some nicer things on the menu. BUT having said that, I thought lunch was excellent. You're getting good choices at reasonable prices and you get to sit down and enjoy the atmosphere of this castle! I would definitely suggest when your window opens, try to get a FP for BOG lunch. It's not connected to the FP+ system so it doesn't count as one of your fastpasses and it will help you avoid standing in that long line outside! One more thing - you can enjoy some version of the grey stuff at lunch (on the masters cupcake) or dinner (on the brownie) - so that's great news for whichever time you choose to dine.

 

[disney4life2008]

I have dined at BOG for lunch and for dinner. I actually preferred dinner - We liked getting to meet the Beast. It didn't seem as rushed. There were some nicer things on the menu. BUT having said that, I thought lunch was excellent. You're getting good choices at reasonable prices and you get to sit down and enjoy the atmosphere of this castle! I would definitely suggest when your window opens, try to get a FP for BOG lunch. It's not connected to the FP+ system so it doesn't count as one of your fastpasses and it will help you avoid standing in that long line outside! One more thing - you can enjoy some version of the grey stuff at lunch (on the masters cupcake) or dinner (on the brownie) - so that's great news for whichever time you choose to dine.

I am almost at 30 days out - is that when the BOG lunch FP+ opens up?

 

[cw1982]

I am almost at 30 days out - is that when the BOG lunch FP+ opens up?

It seems to vary. Once you get to 30 days, start checking once a day is the best way I've seen to catch it.

 

[disney4life2008]

It seems to vary. Once you get to 30 days, start checking once a day is the best way I've seen to catch it.

Thanks. I am debating on taking out the Plaza Restaurant all together (I know what I would get there is a burger and I would rather go to Pecos Bills - but I may just change the day) and instead doing BOG lunch the first day. I am still giving it some thought but I keep reading how wonderful The Plaza is.

 

[cw1982]

Thanks. I am debating on taking out the Plaza Restaurant all together (I know what I would get there is a burger and I would rather go to Pecos Bills - but I may just change the day) and instead doing BOG lunch the first day. I am still giving it some thought but I keep reading how wonderful The Plaza is.

I've heard good things about The Plaza. Honestly either would be a good choice!

 

[seahawk7]

I love BoG for lunch. We made a fastpass before we left for our trip and made another fastpass the day after we used our first fastpass. We never felt rushed at lunch and I would recommend BoG over the Plaza. I would try to make multiple fastpasses for BoG (but the first one has to be used before you can make another one). Hopefully this hasn't changed. We did this at the end of may-beginning of June. I never tried BoG for dinner.

 

[disney4life2008]

I love BoG for lunch. We made a fastpass before we left for our trip and made another fastpass the day after we used our first fastpass. We never felt rushed at lunch and I would recommend BoG over the Plaza. I would try to make multiple fastpasses for BoG (but the first one has to be used before you can make another one). Hopefully this hasn't changed. We did this at the end of may-beginning of June. I never tried BoG for dinner.

I wonder if people are knocking the Plaza now in favor of BOG? I think I will keep the Plaza for my first day (as I know I will starving since my arrival time is so early) and I will get the burger or cheesesteak platter followed by the banana split. I will try for BOG FP+ lunch on the EMHs morning for a early lunch (I am not sure of their times though).

 

[Tuvalu]

Just as a heads up we were there just last week and they no longer use stainless steel or china at lunch. The plates and utensils are now throw away but are higher quality than the regular disney parks paper plates.

Well this makes me sad

 

[Tinkerbell 8]

I am planning on going to BOG for lunch in November, I haven't eaten here yet but when I was there in 2012 I was able to get a sneak peek inside during one of the MNSSHP's and I LOVED it. I saw in one of the earlier posts that you can get a FP for lunch and it does not count against your 3 FP's for the park, is this still the case? Another question since I have not used the FP+ system yet, do you book the FP for the restaurant the same way you do for the rides?

 

[dreamfinder]

I am planning on going to BOG for lunch in November, I haven't eaten here yet but when I was there in 2012 I was able to get a sneak peek inside during one of the MNSSHP's and I LOVED it. I saw in one of the earlier posts that you can get a FP for lunch and it does not count against your 3 FP's for the park, is this still the case? Another question since I have not used the FP+ system yet, do you book the FP for the restaurant the same way you do for the rides?

It is still outside the regular FP+ system. You need to access it via a different URL, and enter your booking number. You can then choose the time and meal.

 

[iluvMainStMagic]

I wonder if people are knocking the Plaza now in favor of BOG? I think I will keep the Plaza for my first day (as I know I will starving since my arrival time is so early) and I will get the burger or cheesesteak platter followed by the banana split. I will try for BOG FP+ lunch on the EMHs morning for a early lunch (I am not sure of their times though).

I don't think people are knocking the Plaza in favor of BOG, it seems like it has always been considered good but "not quite a TS" even though it's considered a TS....and BOG is the latest and greatest, plus it has a Disney movie theme. Plaza sounds like a great choice for your first day lunch - nice assortment on the menu + you can order from the Ice Cream Parlor menu too, & super great location (on Main St, very pleasant atmosphere, inside so the weather won't matter and nice big windows for a Magical view - if the walls are down )

Just a thought - since you are planning on an early lunch at BOG on the EMH morning, if for some reason you don't get a lunch FP, and if you don't mind standing in line for a little while, you can get in line before the 11:00 opening (I think I've read 10:30 as a suggested time, but if you are in the area anyway, you can keep an eye on it, and get in if it looks like it's getting too long). Once it opens, the line moves along pretty well, and it seats a Lot of people.
Sounds like you have a good plan! Have a wonderful time!!