Garden Grill dinner?

[ctnurse]

How's the food and the characters? DS 7 and I are going in august. We have done CP and CM and want to try somewhere new. I don't want a breakfast only cause I dont like eating a big breakfast. Just looking for some feedback. I'm guessing its not gourmet but this meal is for ds and characters. I was happy with CP and thought the CM was OK. Thanks

 

[momto2inKC]

It's our favorite character meal! The food has always been great when we've ate there. We've always been seated on the lower level and it's just so relaxing. The characters are a lot of fun and they always make it to our table 2 or 3 times before we're finished.

 

[pixarmom]

We have three boys (ages pre-school to pre-teen) and Garden Grill has always been their favorite restaurant at WDW and our arrival night tradition!

Character interaction is great, family style service (instead of buffet) makes the entire experience more relaxed and the atmosphere is low key compared with other character meals. We all enjoy the food - it's always been pretty good, but we think it has improved significantly in recent months.

We've been to both Chef Mickey's and Crystal Palace for dinner, but we prefer Garden Grill for food quality, atmosphere and character interaction.

Have a great trip!

 

[SabbyR]

I loved the food!! SO did my family, THe characters were great but I just found it very crowded as we were on the upper level. Its on my list to do again just not right away.

 

[pixarmom]

I loved the food!! SO did my family, THe characters were great but I just found it very crowded as we were on the upper level. Its on my list to do again just not right away.

This is a really good point. We have only been seated on the upper level once in many years, and it was definitely a different experience than sitting in the lower level booths. So now, we always arrive at least 10 minutes before our ADR, request a lower level booth when we check in and let them know we're willing to wait for the first available table on the lower level. I think it makes a difference in the entire experience and highly recommend making the lower level booth request!

 

[ctnurse]

Is the upper level what you can see when you walk past on the way to Soarin? Can someone tell me the difference?

 

[habg1]

The character interaction @ Garden Grill is probably one of the best, in my opinion.

The food is good, but I think the menu has changed since we've ate there. But I remember there was plenty. But my PICKY eater daughters didn't quite like the food.

Can't beat the rotating seating and the awesome changing backgrounds.

You'll enjoy it! Chip & Dale would sit with us and color on my kids place mats. I think I actually kept them! Corny, I know!

 

[aidtrismommy]

I wish we got to sit in the lower level. It was our first time eating there last month and we didn't really know there was an upper level. It was very tight up there. I backed into a server carrying dirty plates when we were meeting with one of the characters. We couldn't really see the Land ride and sort of wanted a view of that. The food was good and the character interaction probably the best we've seen.

 

[momto2inKC]

Is the upper level what you can see when you walk past on the way to Soarin? Can someone tell me the difference?

No, that's the lower/outer level. That is the best level, IMO. It has has high back booths and it almost feels like no one else is there The upper levels I believe are regular tables, someone correct me if i'm wrong...

 

[jwfla422]

How's the food and the characters? DS 7 and I are going in august. We have done CP and CM and want to try somewhere new. I don't want a breakfast only cause I dont like eating a big breakfast. Just looking for some feedback. I'm guessing its not gourmet but this meal is for ds and characters. I was happy with CP and thought the CM was OK. Thanks

We love GG! It's nice because you don't have to get up and go to a buffet and risk missing a character. The food is good and fresh. This was always a must-do some years back for lunch but they don't serve lunch anymore. But, if we plan to be in Epcot later in the day or at night this is usually our dinner spot. Feel free to check out my review with photos below. We always request lower level which is correct that it's the seating that you can see from outside the restaurant ) lots more to see and it has a more "open" feel to it. We've always been able to get it, you just need to request it when you check in. Keep in mind that this restaurant does revolve while you're eating but VERY slowly. Takes about an hr to do a full revolution. So, if you sit in the lower level you get a view of parts of the Land ride and the outer area of the Land pavilion.

http://disneydiningreviews.com/
(but look if you're hungry!)

 

[Mamu]

In 20 years of going to Disney May will be the 1st. time eating here. I've done the other Character Meals some I enjoy and return to frequently. We do not like Chef Mickey for dinner so we are trying GG. Need to see Mickey.

Thanks for the info on the different levels.

 

[DisneyFamily123]

Food was delicious. Characters were a lot of fun. Lots of kidding around. Be sure to ask the characters questions or tease them a little bit. Call Chip and Dale by the wrong names, or refer to them as squirrels... ask them if they are hungry... offer some food... Chip I think tends to be a flirt... Be creative!

My review can be found at the link below. Have a great time! We did and we will definitely come back to Garden Grill.

 

[tr-ray]

We tried Garden Grill for the first time in December with my DD who is 2 and my nephew who had just turned 1.

The food was very good, and the characters came around a few times. Since it's family style and the only choice you really have is your drink, it was pretty low key. The night we went was busy - they were running behind so it took a little while longer than I expected, but it was still a good meal and a nice chance to sit down and relax.

 

[pixarmom]

No, that's the lower/outer level. That is the best level, IMO. It has has high back booths and it almost feels like no one else is there The upper levels I believe are regular tables, someone correct me if i'm wrong...

That's right! Someone posted a photo of the upper level on page 3 of this thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2629778

Also, we have a really picky eater and he loves the mac and cheese (I like many things at Garden Grill, but the mac and cheese is not one of them!), the bread, the mashed potatoes and the chicken drumsticks. (He also eats some veggies, but that's more our requirement than his choice!) We don't have personal experience with this, but I've read on the boards that people have asked for the old chicken nuggets and regular fries and Garden Grill provided them.

 

[alala]

I went last October with my husband, DD4, and DD6 (at the time). The food was good, not the very best food of the trip, but still very good. Everyone left full. I like the family style service, and they will bring more of anything if you want seconds.
The characters were GREAT - they came to our table multiple times. They took their time with each child and really made it fun. We were on the lower level in one of the booths, which have high backs, so you really feel like you have the character to yourselves when they're at the table. We're not going back next trip just because there are other things we want to try, but I'm really glad that we tried it.

 

[threvester]

How's the food and the characters? DS 7 and I are going in august. We have done CP and CM and want to try somewhere new. I don't want a breakfast only cause I dont like eating a big breakfast. Just looking for some feedback. I'm guessing its not gourmet but this meal is for ds and characters. I was happy with CP and thought the CM was OK. Thanks

My son and I have eaten here a couple times..last time will be just that..the last time..the food was TERRIBLE!..everything was incredibly dry and lukewarm at best..however, character interaction was excellent..great place to get pics with chip and dale..

EDIT: just noticed you are from CT too (duh...CTNURSE)...Go Huskies!!!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

The meat is salty and dry, the service is inattentive and uninspired. The characters are OK. The seating, if you are unlucky enough to be seated on the upper level, is cramped. The cubbies, which you can see on the upper level, are filled with junk. The Living with the Land soundtrack is irritating.

However, I enjoyed the blueberry buckle desert.

It was the single worst dining experience I ever had at WDW.

 

[Princess Sleepy]

Wow, Flightless Duck, you must have hit it on a really bad night. My family and I have eaten there twice in the last two years and really enjoyed it both times. Our service was great and the food was tasty. They brought us alternatives to things we didn't care for. The characters were FANTASTIC! Pluto played with my DDs and gave them big slurpy kisses. Chip and Dale taught the girls how to tell Chip from Dale and quizzed them on the second time around (We got to see all the character several times during the meal). Some of my best character pictures came from here. It is far more relaxing than any of the other character meals we have done. I will admit that we were seated on the lower level toward the close of Future World both times. I would recommend trying GG.

 

[Laketravis]

We at there our first night on our most recent trip (11/27/10).

The food was terrible, and brought out in ridiculously low quantities. Party of three, and a platter with two slices of turkey, one slice of fish, and one small beef medallion with an ice cream scoop size of stuffing.

While the view and character experience from the lower ring may be desirable, something that not many people notice (until you point it out to them) is that the condensation from the A/C vents directly overhead is dripping down onto your table, food, and drinks. This happens when you revolve into the facility and due to the large volumes of water require to operate the attraction.

Pretty gross once you realize it.

 

[DisneyFamily123]

We at there our first night on our most recent trip (11/27/10)...............While the view and character experience from the lower ring may be desirable, something that not many people notice (until you point it out to them) is that the condensation from the A/C vents directly overhead is dripping down onto your table, food, and drinks. This happens when you revolve into the facility and due to the large volumes of water require to operate the attraction.
Pretty gross once you realize it.

Yuk... did you say something to management? what was there response?