Dine with Disney Imagineer

[Pikezh638]

So can anyone tell me if this is something worth doing? I have never done it, and the cost doesn't bother me. I couldn't find any posts on the forums about it. So anyone?

 

[Meriweather]

Loved it.....we did lunch on Jan. 11
There were 9 of us + the imagineer. The food was great....the conversation was great.
It lasted about 2 1/2 hours.
I plan on doing it again.

 

[Pikezh638]

Loved it.....we did lunch on Jan. 11
There were 9 of us + the imagineer. The food was great....the conversation was great.
It lasted about 2 1/2 hours.
I plan on doing it again.

thanks

I think we are going to do lunch at DHS

 

[discorsner]

We ate at the lunch on Jan 13 and we loved it also! We enjoyed the imagineer and the other guests. It really seemed like something different that we have never done.

We tried the dine with an Imagineer and the Keys to the Kingdom tour and we really enjoyed both expereiences. I was so happy that I booked it. It wasn't much more than a normal meal would be and it was a really good value. Even being disney veterans we learned so much.

My fav part was meeting other guests who are as disney crazy as we are.

 

[Seaislegirl]

We did Dine with an Imagineer in May 2011 and we absolutely loved it. We were a party of three - myself, hubby and daughter (then 11). She got so much out of it and used what she learned to report back to school to support that this was an "educational trip" (really, is any trip to Disney not educational?) Our Imagineer, Jason, was fascinating to talk to. He was involved in refurbishing the Mexico boat ride and was one of the leads on Bippity Boppity Boutique and the new Mickey Mouse meet and greet area of Town Hall. The food was phenomenal, and the setting (the Bamboo Room of Hollywood Brown Derby) was perfect for a an intimate gathering. I would highly recommend it!!!

 

[TinkerbellinLouisian]

Great post OP! Subbing as I have this booked for June 1 2012...

Thanks everyone !

Mary

 

[Sorcerina]

Thanks we are going to so that in October.
How many groups are there at one time?

Greets from Germany

 

[KuyaJeff]

I Dined with an Imagineer on Friday, January 27th. It was definitely worth the money to go with this experience. It was me and 9 other visitors...one was even a current Guest Relations CM! The food was great and the Imagineer was so engaging and giving us information that he could barely get through his food! While the meal's conversation was restricted to only certain/commonly known things due to the secrecy of upcoming projects...you still manage to learn a thing or two or at least get a new perspective on what Imagineers do.

I love how my Imagineer was an architect, it's my major. He actually knew one of my professors! He was actually a last minute substitute because the schedule imagineer had a scheduling conflict. It was amazing to hear how story-oriented he was. He's worked on the Sorceror's of the Magic kingdom, is working on the upcoming enhancements of Test Track and the post-cotton candy Guest Relations booth at Downtown Disney. It was ver informative with fun tidbits of information both professionally with Disney, passionately with the company, and a little insight to his life and inspiration.

The only thing that you can't really rely on is who's going to be dining with you. There was a family with us who understandingly had dietary needs/preferences. It was like they didn't even read the menu when making their ADR. The server and chef seemed to be very accomodating which was a plus. They had brought their young son who just spent most of the time playing with his silverware, zoning out and not exactly being the most respectful guest to the Imagineer...he was sitting right next to the Imagineer! Let's just say that I recommend people try to stick with the suggestion that their children be at least 14 years old. Sorry about the rant, but it kind of did take away from the dining experience. Don't let this, hopefully uncommon, experience discourage you from trying it! I definitely have no regrets!

 

[Pikezh638]

Great post OP! Subbing as I have this booked for June 1 2012...

Thanks everyone !

Mary

Thanks

Thanks everyone else. I am definitely doing this (providing they have an opening). YUP!

The only thing that you can't really rely on is who's going to be dining with you. There was a family with us who understandingly had dietary needs/preferences. It was like they didn't even read the menu when making their ADR. The server and chef seemed to be very accomodating which was a plus. They had brought their young son who just spent most of the time playing with his silverware, zoning out and not exactly being the most respectful guest to the Imagineer...he was sitting right next to the Imagineer! Let's just say that I recommend people try to stick with the suggestion that their children be at least 14 years old. Sorry about the rant, but it kind of did take away from the dining experience. Don't let this, hopefully uncommon, experience discourage you from trying it! I definitely have no regrets!

This is my only worry I hope we either 1) get them all to ourselves or 2) get them with some nice people.

 

[mrsksomeday]

We did Dine with an Imagineer in Dec. 2011 and loved it so much we booked it for our upcoming trip in May 2012. It was a fantastic experience. There are usually 10 people for the lunch, ours had 12. I wrote a little bit about it in our trip report here. I posted some pictures as well.

 

[Annal606]

We did Dine with an Imagineer in May 2011 and we absolutely loved it. We were a party of three - myself, hubby and daughter (then 11).

 

[Pikezh638]

We did Dine with an Imagineer in Dec. 2011 and loved it so much we booked it for our upcoming trip in May 2012. It was a fantastic experience. There are usually 10 people for the lunch, ours had 12. I wrote a little bit about it in our trip report here. I posted some pictures as well.

This is great thanks

 

[TDC Nala]

I agree this is not an event for children. It's around three hours long and pretty much consists of sitting around a table and talking to the imagineer while eating lunch. Teens, and preteens with an interest in the subject matter and/or the ability to sit for that long, will be fine with it but I have seen guests wanting to bring younger children.

If you have restless kids who want to get up or run around, small kids who might get bored with an event that primarily consists of adults talking, or kids who'd rather be out doing the rides, it's probably not the best event for them.

 

[dabrosis]

I have never even heard of this, but it sounds fantastic! How is something like this set up - is there somewhere online to learn more?

 

[mrsksomeday]

I have never even heard of this, but it sounds fantastic! How is something like this set up - is there somewhere online to learn more?

It is on WDW's website. Just type "dine with an imagineer" in the search there to get info. It can be booked online or you can call. It is offered Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 11:30am at Hollywood Brown Derby.

They have a dinner version at Flying Fish on the Boardwalk. It is more expensive, you have to pay for the collector plate, and according to what I have read you are not in a separate room.

 

[Pikezh638]

I have never even heard of this, but it sounds fantastic! How is something like this set up - is there somewhere online to learn more?

There is
Lunch @ Hollywood Studios
Lunch @ AKL
Dinner @ Wilderness Lodge (not sure if this is still around)

And then the Disney Site for this is
Disney Dine with Imagineer

 

[Sorcerina]

Read on one of the sites that you can make a reservation only 60 days in advance. Is this true? Or can can you do it on your 180 day window, as dates seems to be released through out the year.

Greets from Germany

 

[TDC Nala]

Lunch at AKL (it's at Sanaa, so technically it is at AKV, not AKL) is not lunch with an Imagineer, it's lunch with an animal specialist from the Animal Kingdom Lodge/Villas.

The dinner at Wilderness Lodge has been discontinued. More recently there was a dinner at Flying Fish, but no recent dates have been released for that dinner. Lunch at Brown Derby is offered Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

 

[Babbletrish]

I had a thread where I asked about this and Keys to the Kingdom. Everyone was raving about both, though I'd agree that neither would be particularly interesting for very young children and it helps to be a Disney nerd to really enjoy them.

 

[TDC Nala]

Young children aren't allowed on the Keys to the Kingdom tour, participants must be at least 16 years old.

There's no age limit for these meal programs. Disney recommends the Imagineer lunch for guests age 14 and up but they will accept younger children. Parents should be on the alert that young kids may not find the meals and the talking very interesting, though.