Ariel's Grotto 11:30 LUNCH..Help!

[nunzia]

OK, so I booked at Ariel's Grotto for breakfast 60 days out. I had to call yesterday to make a change (my 24 yo DS can't go..work stuff) ...anyway, I asked the gal at Disney Dining if 11:30 was breakfast, becasue it sounded late to me, but when I first made the reservation I was told it WAS breakfast. Well, it's not..it's lunch (and a better value..LOL)
Anyway, I looked at the lunch menus (quite a bit more money for this better value) and not much looked so great. I remember horror stories here about the food, but what is lesser of all the evils? I love chicken pot pie, but I think there was more nasty reports on this than other things. I hate fish, so what's the best choice?

 

[silence]

My hubby HATED the pot pie. I had the burger I think....that's an option right? and it wasn't bad. My mom had the salad. It was way too much food for any of us.

 

[Disneyluvr2]

I had the burger also and it was good. I also had the French onion soup and it was good too. The portions are HUGE! It's really too bad you can't share. We only ate 1/2 our lunch and took the rest back to hour hotel room and put it in the fridge. Then we went back at dinner time and finished it off. That way it really is a good deal because you get two meals in one!

 

[ballarinamom]

I thought the pot pie was good. There was just so much of it. I like onion soup ut this one did not have alot of gooey cheese which makes the soup so awesome. DH had the meatloaf and liked it fine. I think most of the food complaints come because it is the least yummy place.
Don't forget they give a 10% AAA discount

 

[tinkerbelt]

I really like the French onion soup, and the Cobb Salad. I tried the salmon BLT and it was gross (though you don't like fish, so no worries!).

 

[seattlebusymom]

I go for the burger and my hubby the salmon sandwich. The kids most look forward to the plate of cotton candy at the end. One word of warning is it is a long meal. We have done it 4 times and when traveling with grandparents it was a good rest but when we went with another family not so into characters it got to be too long. Have fun!

 

[RuthieT]

We went in December for Lunch and my DH had the Burger and I had I believe some pasta think.. Don't remember to be honest. But I do know that we really didn't care for the food.

 

[cccdisney]

We ate there in March. I had the pot pie and it was really really bad! My DD is 10 and ordered the cheesebuger (she HAD to order from the adult menu). It was way too much for her so I had some of that instead. It was okay but certainly nothing special.
Haven't done breakfast there and don't know if we will. We had been to Ariel's Grotto many times in the past and this last time was by far the worse. Not sure if we want to try again since it is so pricey.

 

[dizneekrazee]

Wow! I just checked out the menu and didnt remember how expensive it was! It has been about 5 years since we have eaten there. Maybe it has gone up in price (as with everything else at the DLR).

I know I will definately be reconsidering after reading some of these reviews!

Brandy

 

[nunzia]

I was pretty stunned by the price too! (is this the one that includes tax and gratuity? I will slap taht AAA card down. I think DVC has the same discount too) I was really hoping for the breakfast, since I like breakfast food, it's a bit cheaper and since it's served family style you all just share. We are eating there after we check out, then hang out in the parks until about 5:30 before we go to the train.
My son is thinking of going to the beach that day! I am freaking out thinking he will miss the train. How long is the meal? I told him I thought about 1 1/2 hours. Would he have time from 1:00 to 5:00 to take a cab to the beach and get back? His wife and kids have never seen the ocean, so he's determined they do.
Thanks for the advice. Maybe the 27.00 burger or meatloaf then...

 

[pixiewings71]

I've had the burger, the chicken cesear salad, and the pasta. I love the french onion soup, it's really good! I haven't been too disappointed with my choices, we don't go for the food, we go to see the Princesses but the food isn't horrible.
DBF has had the meatloaf, the Salmon BLT and the burger, he had no complaints either. We haven't tried the pot pie but none of us are fans of that particular dish anywhere. lol
The kids love it there, they always switch off what they eat but they always have the apples with caramel for dessert, no cotton candy for them!

 

[december]

I really like the French onion soup, and the Cobb Salad. I tried the salmon BLT and it was gross (though you don't like fish, so no worries!).

Ok, why is it gross!!!!! This is what I was planning on getting, since I've read on these boards that it is good. I need details!!!!

And I'd also like to know if tax and tip are included in the price?

And what is the cotten candy that someone's kids liked? Haven't read about that!

 

[pixiewings71]

I don't remember seeing the cotton candy on the menu.....ever....lol I think they stopped doing it.

DBF had the Salmon BLT, he liked it. It wasn't the best ever but he had no complaints.

Seriously though, if you guys don't like what they bring ask your server if you can get something new, I'm sure they aren't going to argue if your food is yuck.

 

[nunzia]

UPDATE!
I called Disney Dining to see if they maybe had cancellations or breakfast availability at Ariel's Grotto for another day of our trip. Naturally, no, but the CM said she'd let me know if there was a cancellation. UH HUH>>OK>>
So....two hours later she calls me and there was a cancellation at breakfast (10:00) on Friday, so we have breakfast and the son can do the beach on Sat no worries. I am very impressed with this CM! and will write a postive comment about her when we get back. Bacon and eggs here we come! Thanks all

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm glad that worked out for you!!!!!

 

[tinkerbelt]

Ok, why is it gross!!!!! This is what I was planning on getting, since I've read on these boards that it is good. I need details!!!!

And I'd also like to know if tax and tip are included in the price?

And what is the cotten candy that someone's kids liked? Haven't read about that!

The salmon was really slimy, and fishy tasting when I had it. And it was really greasy. There is 15% tax & tip added to the bill...so it is a little more than the advertised prices, or that's how it used to be.

The cotton candy wasn't on the menu...they just brought it out with dessert. It was a big plate piled with fluffy, pink cotton candy!!

 

[cccdisney]

I don't think they bring out the cotton candy any more. At least they didn't in March. The children picked a dessert from the children's menu.

 

[winegirl]

I go for the burger and my hubby the salmon sandwich. The kids most look forward to the plate of cotton candy at the end. One word of warning is it is a long meal. We have done it 4 times and when traveling with grandparents it was a good rest but when we went with another family not so into characters it got to be too long. Have fun!

So exactly how long is it? We have 11:40 reservations for lunch in a couple of weeks.

Jackie