Ariel's Grotto seating indoor or outdoor ??

[macfam5]

I am thinking of booking Ariel's grotto for breakfast for me and my DD 4 next month.

Would you choose indoor or outdoor seating??

 

[Queenbillabong]

I am thinking of booking Ariel's grotto for breakfast for me and my DD 4 next month.

Would you choose indoor or outdoor seating??

I would choose indoor If the water is drained, there is no nice view sitting outside, and you can see the princesses as they come around more inside.

Have a great time!

 

[Sparkleshine]

Yup, definitely indoor. No point in being outside with the water drained.

 

[macfam5]

Yup, definitely indoor. No point in being outside with the water drained.

Good point, thanks for the update...I just reserved indoor seating!

 

[pixiewings71]

Well, the Princesses come around the inside and outside exactly the same. They start inside and end outside. But yes, with the lagoon being empty and all the work going on just go with the inside seating.

 

[alvernon90]

I can't speak to what it is like to sit outside with the water drained, but keep in mind that if you sit inside it will be LOUD! The whole princess meal is something of a hellish experience, my advice would be not to go at all.

 

[macfam5]

I can't speak to what it is like to sit outside with the water drained, but keep in mind that if you sit inside it will be LOUD! The whole princess meal is something of a hellish experience, my advice would be not to go at all.

We have done many character dining experiences between WDW and DL, including all of the princess ones offered in WDW. They may be somewhat loud but seeing your children's face light up and the smiles that go ear to ear is worth it

 

[alvernon90]

We have done many character dining experiences between WDW and DL, including all of the princess ones offered in WDW. They may be somewhat loud but seeing your children's face light up and the smiles that go ear to ear is worth it

If you've enjoyed other character meals, you'll enjoy this one. Don't forget to ask Belle what book she is reading right now!

 

[FairyDust2008]

I chose indoor seating as recommended by a CastMember when I was making my reservations. I think it is good to be inside with the exception of the Celebration Roundup and BBQ which we booked too. I saw where they had the little seating with the canopies like overhead. I think it really depends on your preference though. I think you'll have fun either way because, HEY! YOU ARE AT DISNEYLAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[pixiewings71]

I can't speak to what it is like to sit outside with the water drained, but keep in mind that if you sit inside it will be LOUD! The whole princess meal is something of a hellish experience, my advice would be not to go at all.

Oh man, it's so not a hellish experience at all!! We love eating at the Grotto. In fact DD12 wants to do the Grotto for her 13th bday. We have eaten both in and outside, we actually prefer outside normally and we ate outside in March. It wasn't bad at all, even with the construction, they have a barrier around the railing so you aren't distracted as bad and it really didn't affect our dining experience at all. But the OP has a smaller one so I thought indoor would be better in her case.

 

[alvernon90]

Oh man, it's so not a hellish experience at all!! We love eating at the Grotto.

I should qualify my statement, as it sounds a little harsher than I intended it to be. Certainly the staff at the restaurant does the best they can given the task before them, and unlike some DISers I thought the food was pretty decent by Disneyland standards. Also, even as a pushing-middle-aged man I will freely admit that the young women playing the princesses are so beautiful and glamorous that it's hard not to get a little caught up in the fantasy of it all.

I went into the meal expecting that it would be relaxing and easy as pie: you just sit there and eat your meal and the princesses come to you. But it seemed to me that many people there took it much too seriously and were very active rather than relaxed. All around us was a swirling chaos of people who were on a mission for autographs, the perfect photo, the ultimate magical experience and they were going to do whatever it took to make it happen. It was like trying to relax in the middle of a military operation where you have the vague sense that you should be doing more but you don't know what or why.

Plus, the way some of the little girls were dressed went way beyond "playing dress up" and into a place I found creepy and disturbing. Seeing them and their mothers (who tended to be the field generals in the above-mentioned military operation) made me feel sad for the girls, and I also felt a little smug, and consequently I felt guilty for feeling smug, which made it even harder to relax.

It's all about what you like, I guess. Some people think it is hellish to go to ESPN Zone during a Lakers game, but others find it fun and energizing. For me, the princess meal was on the hellish side. If that's your thing, then enjoy!

 

[alvernon90]

One more note about Ariel's Grotto: there is not much traffic in the men's room. If you are at DCA and nature calls, it is probably the cleanest, quietest, nicest place to go!

 

[pixiewings71]

I should qualify my statement, as it sounds a little harsher than I intended it to be. Certainly the staff at the restaurant does the best they can given the task before them, and unlike some DISers I thought the food was pretty decent by Disneyland standards. Also, even as a pushing-middle-aged man I will freely admit that the young women playing the princesses are so beautiful and glamorous that it's hard not to get a little caught up in the fantasy of it all.

I went into the meal expecting that it would be relaxing and easy as pie: you just sit there and eat your meal and the princesses come to you. But it seemed to me that many people there took it much too seriously and were very active rather than relaxed. All around us was a swirling chaos of people who were on a mission for autographs, the perfect photo, the ultimate magical experience and they were going to do whatever it took to make it happen. It was like trying to relax in the middle of a military operation where you have the vague sense that you should be doing more but you don't know what or why.

Plus, the way some of the little girls were dressed went way beyond "playing dress up" and into a place I found creepy and disturbing. Seeing them and their mothers (who tended to be the field generals in the above-mentioned military operation) made me feel sad for the girls, and I also felt a little smug, and consequently I felt guilty for feeling smug, which made it even harder to relax.

It's all about what you like, I guess. Some people think it is hellish to go to ESPN Zone during a Lakers game, but others find it fun and energizing. For me, the princess meal was on the hellish side. If that's your thing, then enjoy!

That's DBFs favorite part, pretty girls dressed like Princesses. LOL You guys would get along great! lol
The chaos is yet another reason we like to sit outside, there are usually less people out there so it's less chaotic. Oh and the food, did you have the old or new menu? Just wondering, the new menu (we ate there in March) was amazing!!!! So good!

 

[alvernon90]

Oh and the food, did you have the old or new menu? Just wondering, the new menu (we ate there in March) was amazing!!!! So good!

We went less than a month ago, so we were definitely on the new menu. I wouldn't go so far as to call it amazing, but it was pretty good. I didn't feel like the meal was a ripoff, and at Disneyland that is high praise indeed.

I would say the food is as good as or better than Blue Bayou, but the price is much more reasonable. If it was a nice quiet sit-down restaurant like BB, I'd definitely go again.

 

[pixiewings71]

That's what I felt about the new menu, it's more in line with what you're paying. I had the pasta and man, that was amazing!! DBF had the ciopinno (sp) and it was good too. Much better choices.