Thanks to the WDWTools ADR Sniper, we were able to be among the first to enjoy lunch at Be Our Guest as the new lunchtime ADR system rolled out. Lunch at Be Our Guest is the first quick service meal that offers ADRs.
There was a large crowd (above) attempting to enter the standby queue as lunch began to be served at 10:30 am, but for the first time, they were being turned away as staff informed that standby was full and only guests with reservations were being admitted. Prior to the lunch ADR system rollout, all of these people would’ve entered a line that usually took up the entire bridge and expanded outward along the wall, often reaching half-way to Gaston’s on the other side of 7DMT. Those who were turned away were asked to check again later in the day to see if more standby availability had opened.
My reservation was at 10:35. I walked up around this time and after waiting a short while for a cast member with an iPad (the reservation check-in desk was not being used), I was checked in, handed a menu, and brought to a register just past the front entrance. This register is where guests with ADRs place their orders; if the guest has ordered in advance through Disney’s website, as I did, all he must do here is pay. The Beast’s study continues to host the registers for lunchtime standby guests.
While standby guests continue to receive a “magic rose” buzzer to mark their place, guests with reservations do not; I was simply handed a receipt and told to leave it out so the CM delivering food could confirm the order. I went and found a cozy spot in the Ballroom and enjoyed the view of the gentle snowfall out the window while I waited for my meal to be delivered.
After a few minutes, a cast member brought this delicious meal to me: a fried turkey sandwich and a cupcake topped with the ever-elusive “Grey Stuff”.
It was pretty good.
Although it can get pretty busy at lunch time, as you can see in the image of the ballroom below, the new system redirects standby guests to other areas of the park and makes it possible to enjoy the beautiful landscapes visible from the Be Our Guest bridge. Before the lunchtime ADR system, this bridge would be packed with standby guests waiting hours for their chance to get in and check out BOG for themselves. It’s even packed at dinner time, as dinner guests with reservations usually wait here too.
Lunch at Be Our Guest is a truly magical experience. The crowds are low, affording more opportunity to peruse the Beast’s castle, the pressure is off, and it’s very enjoyable. Strongly recommended for your next trip, and thanks to the new lunchtime ADRs and the WDWTools ADR Sniper, you can enjoy it without having to wait in a long line OR spending months refreshing Disney’s site looking for a reservation.
