Dine with an Imagineer

[centurythree]

I was able to make reservations for this during our upcoming trip.

Is there anything special I need to know about this? How long does this typically last?

 

[PictureJumpr]

We do the lunch every couple of years, and have never had anything but an amazing time at it...

The lunch takes about three hours, give or take.

I have been toying with the idea of doing the dinner one but have not yet booked it... hmm... maybe next trip

 

[brittsmum1998]

I would love some info on this for dd10. How many people eat lunch and how much is it. Can someone point me in the right direction?

TIA,
Kim

 

[centurythree]

Thanks for the info!

Kim, I can tell you that this event is held Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the Brown Derby for lunch, and at Artist Point for dinner. Officially, the lunch is for those fourteen and over but if you're confident that your daughter is willing to sit through a three hour lunch, you might want to discuss your options with Disney Dining

I think that I've heard that there are slots for eight people plus the Imagineer, and that ADRs are pretty tough to get.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?Restaurant.ID=438

 

[BCV23]

Someone posted that the dinner will end soon. Don't remember when.

 

[PrincessMonkey]

Centurythree, how far in advance did you book your meal with the Imagineer? My fiance suggested that we should do this on/around his birthday in late February, but when I called, ADRs weren't open to book that far in advance (likely due to Imagineers' schedules).

I hope you enjoy your meal!

 

[Malibelle]

We are doing Lunch with an Imagineer on Monday 11/24....I can't wait. I hope we get someone good.

That reminds me. I want to put a list of questions together that I can ask if the chance comes up. Anyone have any ideas?

 

[PictureJumpr]

I would love some info on this for dd10. How many people eat lunch and how much is it. Can someone point me in the right direction?

TIA,
Kim

It really is meant for adult or nearly-adult folks - I would worry about your dd perhaps getting bored, even if she did like the lunch (it's a choice of things like grilled fish, thai noodles, steak served with mushroom soup and cobb salad as starters). For the two of us the bill including gratuity is usually about $140.

Centurythree, how far in advance did you book your meal with the Imagineer? My fiance suggested that we should do this on/around his birthday in late February, but when I called, ADRs weren't open to book that far in advance (likely due to Imagineers' schedules).

I hope you enjoy your meal!

You can book 30 days in advance, and while there are few places available we've never really had trouble booking it. Make sure they have your names spelled correctly because they will imprint your nametags before you arrive.

We are doing Lunch with an Imagineer on Monday 11/24....I can't wait. I hope we get someone good.

That reminds me. I want to put a list of questions together that I can ask if the chance comes up. Anyone have any ideas?

I have found that if you allow the imagineer to open the conversation by telling the group what drew them into what they now do, it tends to flow and time will fly. They will not tell you about upcoming un-publicized projects or anything top secret, but they can tell amazing anecdotes about the parks and the constructing/reconstructing process. The only tip I give folks I know who book this experience is to let the imagineer talk - I have been in lunches where an overly assertive member of the party tried to turn the event into a trivia contest or tried to monopolize the conversation with their own personal stories, and while we are there to enjoy the time as a group, I didn't book the lunch to listen to Bill from Paducah's college antics.

Our last time was last April, and we spent more than three lovely hours with our imagineer. He had a background in live theater, and told us how he went from there to imagineering. We all talked about our own Disney obsessions, and he asked everyone about their favorite rides and shows.. which led to a discussion of the revamp on haunted mansion and the history of the carousel of progress, and then we were interrupted by the HSM live show (which we had to sit through about five times) which led to a discussion of 'new' disney and younger afficionados, versus 'classic'... well... it was a long lunch.

 

[Malibelle]

Thanks for the tips!

 

[Luv4Disney]

DH and I would LOVE to do this, but the menu doesn't appeal to me at all. I would starve for the 3 hours I guess...

 

[PictureJumpr]

I took a friend who is a very selective eater to one a couple of years ago - she didn't want any of the entrees but they brought her a much larger cobb salad and two desserts so along with the rolls and butter she was okay.

I usually skip the dessert myself because it is frequently the grapefruit cake which i hate.

 

[vanillarum]

We did the lunch last Aug ('07) because my 16 yo DS wants to become an Imagineer. Our then 10 yo DD was there with us also. When we returned home we asked the kids what were the 3 favorite things they liked about our 10 day trip, my DD said that the lunch was her favorite thing ! Whoda knew ? She never said a word at the meal, except when the Imagineer, who was great, by the way (Kevin James was his name, and he is a senior graphic designer), asked everyone a question to start the meal ! It will be a must do for us from now on. Good luck.

 

[Luv4Disney]

I took a friend who is a very selective eater to one a couple of years ago - she didn't want any of the entrees but they brought her a much larger cobb salad and two desserts so along with the rolls and butter she was okay.

I usually skip the dessert myself because it is frequently the grapefruit cake which i hate.

I don't eat salad...so just desserts?

 

[PictureJumpr]

Hey, whatever works