Dine with an Imagineer?

[*NikkiBell*]

I'm trying to come up with a unique gift idea. It's our seven year anniversary next month. Last year I got us tix to Party for the Senses. I'm stumped for this year. Victoria & Alberts, signature F & W Festival dinners, and PFTS are all ideas. I just thought of Dine with an Imagineer and wanted some opinions.

As far as I know, this is still being offered at WDW. Does anyone have experience with it? Was it worth it? What restaurant do you eat at?

 

[WLfan]

This was my favorite thing I did at Disney in recent years (until the DWFB Meet ). We ate at the Brown Derby which is one of my favorite restaurants. There were maybe 7 other people with us and the Imagineer. It was really interesting. We got to ask a lot of questions, he told us some interesting facts and even pointed out some things he had personally worked on (like a pile of "shipping crates" outside of Dinosaur that has his dog's name inscribed on them). The food was great too. We were in a private room and had our own multi-course menu. At the end of the lunch, we received a signed collector's plate that had a picture of Mickey and "Dining with an Imagineer" on it. The only thing that bothered me was the one man at the lunch that kept telling the Imagineer that he might consider being an Imagineer as a hobby type of job after he retired. I think the Imagineer was getting insulted, rightfullly. I guess there's one in every group. It really was a great experience and I think it would make an excellent present. What a nice surprise. Have fun and let us know how it went.

 

[stitchlover]

Anyone have any clue what the age limit on this is? My daughter will be 14 at the time of our next trip.

 

[WLfan]

There were what seemed to be younger teenagers at the lunch.

 

[skunkvette]

DW and I did the Lunch with an Imagineer three years ago - absolutely loved it.

Two and one half hour with an Imagineer named Steve who was in charge of purchasing all of the props seen on Disney property including parks, cruise ships and hotels. Basically he traveled the world shopping for Disney.

Great storys and insight into his career with Disney, lots of interaction and questions.

The meal at the Brown Derby was excellent and huge. We had a private room, so conversation was easy. Price included a souviner personalized small cake plate (shipped to our home later) that is a special momento. Also, was the first time that I ever met a fellow DISer when she spotted my LGMH.

Great experience, highly recommended.

 

[WLfan]

Price included a souviner personalized small cake plate (shipped to our home later) that is a special momento.

They must have changed this. We received a large plate, but had to take it with us at the time.

 

[parrotheadlois]

Who do you call to make reservations for this? I'm sure we'll have time in November and I think Greg would love it,
thanks

 

[WLfan]

I can't remember who I called, but I'd try 407 WDW DINE first and if not they can direct you to the right number.

 

[fakereadhed]

I think it's well priced and something fun to do at least once. We really enjoyed it! My only complaint was in the back room at Brown Derby you could hear the flipping HSM going by what seemed like every 5 minutes.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I've done Dine with an Imagineer three times and loved it. You can do the lunch which is at the Brown Derby at DHS or there is a dinner at Artist Point at the Wilderness Lodge. I've never done the dinner, it's $110 a person over the $60 a person at the Brown Derby.

I love the lunch because it is a group of just 10 people, I think the dinner is 35 people max. Plus the lunch is at the Brown Derby and I just love the BD. Food is great and so far, the Imagineers I've had have been wonderful.

Personally, I think it's an adult experience, none of the lunches I've done have had any teens. I think the recommended age though is 14 and up. My niece is 15, but I don't think I'd take her for a couple more years yet. That is just me though.

You still get a nice salad size plate. It is clear with a gold Sorcerer Mickey in the middle and it says "Dining with an Imagineer" on it in gold script and the Imagineer signs and dates it for you. They will not hold it for you or ship it to your room. You have to either take it with you when you leave or you can have it shipped home, but there is a charge for that. The first lunch I went to, they were out of the plates, so we all had to write addresses down and then they shipped them to us for free, but that is because they were out of the plates. It came about 2 weeks after I got home.

You also get an engraved name tag that has your name on it and says "Dining with an Imagineer" and a personalized menu from the BD with your name, the date of the experience and the name of your Imagineer. Nice keepsakes.

I believe you book 60 days out and it's one of those things you need to get up and call at 7am for.
I was on the phone at 7am and got the last spot for the last one I went to. Since it's such a small group, it fills up fast. They have the lunch on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and the dinner is only on Thursday nights. The lunch is 2 to 2 1/2 hours and I THINK the dinner is 3 1/2 hours.

I think you and Beast would really enjoy it Nikki!

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I thought that they cancelled the Imagineer dinner?

 

[WaltD4Me]

I thought that they cancelled the Imagineer dinner?

Oh, maybe. I don't know. I did the Imagineer lunch late October of last year and when I called they asked if I wanted the lunch or the dinner, but maybe they have gotten rid of the dinner since then.


ETA: Seems they have, I just checked Disney's website and it now only lists the lunch.

 

[mommyceratops]

Just curious about this. I always wanted to do it. TLCoke has done it and she told me about it.... I want to do it sometime

 

[guynwdm]

I did it in October. I think there is an age limit on it. The imagineers rotate through doing the lunches. We did get a glass plate with the imaginering logo on it. It was very nice as well as a personalized namebadge pin. The concerige had trouble finding it in the reservations system and there was only one day that had a seat available during the week I was there. It was more than worth it. If you price out what you got with the meal and just ate there and ordered all that food, it would have cost more. I would say it is one of the most fun things I have done in the parks.

 

[tlcoke]

I really enjoyed the experience last fall and would do it again. I wrote a review on it on the Reviews site. We had a couple of teens in our group roughly freshman in High School age. The Lunch is at the Brown Derby in Hollywood Studios. It is limited to 8 people and is only offered on certain days during the week. You can reserve it through WDW Dine or on the Online Dining Reservation site.
The menu is a 4 course meal beginning with Lobster Bisque, their signature Cobb Salad, 3 main entrees to choose from and their Grapefruit Cake for dessert. I found the food ok, but I have picky tastes, and the limited choices were not to my liking. They will work with you if you have food allergies, just let them know in advance.

Even with my feelings on the food, I found it well worth the cost and Highly recommend it. The time with the imagineer is worth that much, IMO. You also get a Cast member looking Name badge and the Collector plate.

The Dinner is not listed on the Dining Reservation site, so I am thinking they may have discontinued it.

 

[WDWtraveler27]

i went last july alone and i was only 14 and i loved it but then my goal is to become an imagineer...if you guys go and you get jason say hello for me