Be Our Guest Review | Magic Kingdom Dining

Dining inside Beast’s Castle at Be Our Guest Restaurant in Magic Kingdom was once a highlight of our Disney World vacations. From the stunning ballroom to the thrill of entering the world of Beauty and the Beast, it offered an experience unlike any other.

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However, after several visits over the years and watching the menu and pricing evolve, we’ve found ourselves a bit disappointed. And we no longer recommend this restaurant the way we used to. It is actually one of our lower ranked restaurants at Magic Kingdom at this point.

These are our honest thoughts about dining at Be Our Guest, how it’s changed, and why we believe there are better dining options within Magic Kingdom. Author’s Note: I likely will only return to Be Our Guest Restaurant one more time with my newer camera to get updated photos, however we do not plan to return here as a family.

Overview of Be Our Guest Restaurant

Be Our Guest Restaurant opened in 2012 as part of the New Fantasyland expansion in Magic Kingdom, and it quickly became one of the most sought-after dining reservations in all of Walt Disney World. 

Inspired by Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, the restaurant offers a regal ambiance, letting guests dine inside the Beast’s enchanted castle. It originally operated as a quick service option for breakfast and lunch and a table service for dinner, but in recent years it has shifted to a prix fixe table service model for all meals.

When this dining experience first launched, we were enchanted. It was immersive, more fairly priced, and offered a unique combination of atmosphere and quality. But unfortunately, it seems to be lacking at the current price point.

Ambiance and Layout

One thing that Be Our Guest still does very well is atmosphere. Walking across the stone bridge and through the castle doors truly feels like stepping into the movie. 

The interior is divided into three themed dining areas:

• The Grand Ballroom, with high ceilings, chandeliers, and faux falling snow outside the windows.
• The West Wing, darker and moodier, featuring the enchanted rose.
• The Rose Gallery, a quieter space with artwork and a rotating statue of Belle and Beast dancing.

Each room is beautifully themed, and it remains one of the most visually immersive restaurants in Magic Kingdom. If ambiance alone made a restaurant worth it, this would still be a top pick.

Be Our Guest Menu Selections

Be Our Guest offers a prix fixe menu for lunch and dinner, which includes an appetizer, entrée, and dessert trio. Menu items include options like French onion soup, filet mignon, and pan-seared sea scallops.

The food quality is generally good, but not quite what I would expect at the price point. The portions are modest, and while the presentation is nice, we’ve found the meals don’t always justify the high price. If you have dietary restrictions or picky eaters in your group, the limited menu may also be a drawback.

Sadly, while the “Grey Stuff” is still “delicious,” the dessert trio has lost a bit of its novelty with repeated visits. The original iteration of this meal was absolutely the best!

And with Gaston’s Tavern right next door that is home to the Grey Stuff cupcake, we actually prefer making it our must visit stop on our trips now! 

Other Preferred Dining Options

If you’re debating this one and trying to plan a budget friendly trip, we would recommend planning to visit Gaston’s Tavern for some Beauty and the Beast inspired snacks instead.

Here you’ll find some great snack options and a charming location, if you’re just wanting a little “taste” of Beauty and the Beast inspired dining. They have a giant Cinnamon Roll, Grey Stuff Cupcake, and Creme Brulee Croissant that are sweet treat favorites.

Then planning a true character dining experience. Some of our favorites include ‘Ohana and The Crystal Palace for breakfast, Tusker House and Garden Grill for lunch or dinner.

You’ll find the pricing at all of these to be comparable to a meal at Be Our Guest, and they have multiple characters that come around to the table to greet you. 

Reservations and Planning

Reservations for Be Our Guest Restaurant are highly recommended and can be made up to 60 days in advance (plus length of stay for Disney Resort guests!) through the My Disney Experience app or Disney World website. This continues to be one of the most popular dining experiences in Magic Kingdom, so availability can go quickly. Especially for prime dinner times!

Meal Pricing at Be Our Guest

Dining at Be Our Guest requires an advanced reservation and they do book up fast, despite the mixed reviews in recent years. It is on the higher side of dining prices at Magic Kingdom.

As of 2025, the prix fixe meal costs $70+ for Adults (ages 10 and up) and $41+ for Children (ages 3-9). This is a set price regardless of what you order.

This does not include gratuity or any alcoholic beverages, which can raise your total significantly. For our family of four with children both in the 10+ range, it again would come in at the pushing $400+ range to dine here, just like Space 220 at EPCOT. If I’m paying $400-$500 for a family meal, I just expect more.

For this price point, many guests expect a full character dining experience, but we always like to make a point of making sure you know that is not what you get. The Beast may briefly appear and walk through the dining room, but he does not stop for tableside visits or photos like traditional character meals at Disney World.

Also, it is a common misconception that you can see Belle at this meal, and in fact, Belle has never appeared at Be Our Guest restaurant since its opening.

Rating Be Our Guest Restaurant

It’s hard to say this, because Be Our Guest Restaurant used to be one of my absolute favorite restaurants. It just simply rates at a 2 out of 5 stars for me right now. After multiple menu revisions and continuous price hikes, it no longer provides the value or experience that it once did. 

When you consider what you’re paying, the limited interaction with characters, and the reduced flexibility of the prix fixe menu, it just doesn’t hold up for our family. We will enjoy the memories we had here, but this isn’t one we plan to repeat at this point. 

If you’re going for the ambiance and have never been before, it may still be worth trying once. We put this in our one and done category (much like Space 220!). For returning guests or families choosing just one or two table service meals during your trip, we think there are much better options at Magic Kingdom, such as Liberty Tree Tavern, Tony’s Town Square Restaurant, or Cinderella’s Royal Table (which at least includes princess meet-and-greets for approximately the same price).

Learn more about character dining at Walt Disney World in this article! And to help you plan your day at Magic Kingdom, these are some of our favorite articles below!

• Ultimate Guide to Character Dining
• Dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table
• Tony’s Town Square Restaurant Review
• Character Breakfast at The Crystal Palace
• Liberty Tree Tavern at Magic Kingdom