Garden Grill vs. Liberty Tree Tavern

[DisneyJoo2008]

Hi all

We went in LTT in 2008 when it was still a character meal. We LOVED every bit of it - the character interaction was FAB (especially as we were 4 adults!), the food was delicious and our server was great.

We're going next year for Mum's 60th Birthday and she mentioned going to eat at LTT again, but when I told her the characters are no longer there she was disappointed!

So on researching... it seems like Garden Grill could be a similar equivalent and we are trying to find somewhere new to eat in Epcot anyway!

She likes the idea of a revolving restaurant too!!!

What are your thoughts?

Thank you in advance!
Julie xxx

 

[amberg@eastlink.ca]

we've actually done both and i have to say i prefer gg over ltt! we did gg in october and booked it again and ate there and at ltt in april. not to say that ltt is bad, but i much prefer gg over it.

gg starts with warm rolls with honey butter or theres honey in the rolls i can't remember but omg it was to die for! we've had two different types of salads there depending on the time of year. but the ingredients are grown there in the hydroponics lab in living with the land. then it was turkey, roast beef and mahi-mahi. turkey had stuffing and cranberry sauce roast beef mashed potatoes. dessert was in october blueberry cobbler/crumble- and super yummy! in the spring it was strawberry rhubarb, whihc im not fond of so i ate the kids dessert that they didnt like, chocolate pudding and "dirt" oreo crumbs.

the character interaction was wonderful both times and they spent a lot of time with us. whihc i really liked over crt where the princesses rushed through with us. i was ery disappointed in that. i think in october we got to see them atleast twice each. it was great. we had a fab server named barry in october who would bring us drinks before we even got half way down the first one. he was great. ps one waiter in april was acutally serenading a 16 yr old who was celebrating her bday there. ds also had his bday, but got a quiet rendition of happy bday and a card signed by the characters.

we plan to book it for feb's trip too thats how much we love it! enjoy it if you give it a try.

 

[pixarmom]

Garden Grill has always been our three boys' favorite restaurant, although now they say that LTT was tied for first when it had the characters. (Without the characters, it's no longer tied for first!) In any event, Garden Grill is a great choice if you are looking for an alternative to the old LTT character meal! It's our arrival night tradition for every trip!

Food at GG is good, atmosphere is less hectic than most character meals, and it has the family style meals (instead of buffet) just like LTT. I do prefer the setting at LTT, but our boys really enjoy the slow rotation through the Land ride at Garden Grill. The character interaction is the best we've seen at WDW.

Have a great time!

 

[Mississippianna]

Never been to LTT, but we love Garden Grill. There's a link to my review with photos, from earlier this year, in my signature.

 

[HunnyJar]

Hi all

We went in LTT in 2008 when it was still a character meal. We LOVED every bit of it - the character interaction was FAB (especially as we were 4 adults!), the food was delicious and our server was great.

We're going next year for Mum's 60th Birthday and she mentioned going to eat at LTT again, but when I told her the characters are no longer there she was disappointed!

So on researching... it seems like Garden Grill could be a similar equivalent and we are trying to find somewhere new to eat in Epcot anyway!

She likes the idea of a revolving restaurant too!!!

What are your thoughts?

Thank you in advance!
Julie xxx

When Liberty Tree Tavern was still a character meal it was my favorite to visit. Such great character interaction and of course the food is yummy, but now that they are gone we actually prefer Liberty Tree Tavern for lunch. We love he fact that we can order off of the menu but it is nice that they still have the turkey meal should someone in the party want it.

Garden Grill was our favorite character meal in February. We saw all the characters multiple times and they spent a good deal of time with our family. Chip and Dale were very much in character as was Pluto and farmer Mickey. Our daughter was celebrating her first birthday at Garden Grill and it was her first time meeting any of the characters - it could not have gone better. The food was also VERY good and VERY fresh. Loved the salad the most. We also had really super service. Our waitress even offered to box up our dessert for us since we were so full from dinner. Great experience and cannot wait to go back next year with our new little one for her first experience with the characters.

 

[916chipndale]

we went to garden grill in 2008 and are going back in 1 week. we LOVED it. the character interaction was amazing. the characters are mickey pluto chip and dale. mickey is dressed in farm clothes to match the theme. the characters came ariund 2-3 times each and were never rushed.it was really fun. also the food was amazing. the catfsh was very good as was the salad. the dressing was fanatastic. ask to be on the lower level though so you can see the scenery better.

 

[DisneyJoo2008]

Thank you all SO very much!!! Mum asked if that was the restaurant near the Land and I said no I don't think so - so she is going to be thrilled you can see bits of the Land with the slow rotation!!!
You've all 150% convinced me to go for it - I am so pleased to hear your great reviews!!!
Thank you again! xxx

 

[mom3sonstt]

We love the Garden Grill - haven't gone since they stopped serving lunch, though. My boys (17 - 21) have asked me to try to get us in again next trip. I tried at the last minute a year ago and couldn't get in - I didn't try this year. I had asked for suggestions on meals and no one mentioned it - then when we got to Florida they all asked when we were eating there . I told them nobody asked me to put in on the list At least two of the three said "but we always eat there" Apparently, even though nobody mentioned it in the many months ahead of time that I repeatedly asked for suggestions, i was supposed to know that they wanted to go there

 

[mickey2minnie1]

GG had fabulous character interaction. We went in late October, and I really think the characters came around 3 times while we were there. It was soooo much fun for all of us. Food was fresh, but sooooo much. Save room for dessert, lol.

 

[3smithboys]

We love the GG so much that we are going back there for our 18th anniversary in August with our boys! It's their favorite character meal.... they just love Chip and Dale - the character interaction with all of the characters there is great. The food is really good too - my DH ranks it as one of his favorite places to eat in all of WDW.... I also like that it is family style so I don't have to hop up and down to get food - that is nice after a day in the parks - I can just sit and relax....

 

[FlightlessDuck]

The Garden Grill was my single worst dining experience in Walt Disney World.

We were seated in the "upper level". The tables were cramped, the cubbies around the middle of the of the rotating circle were filled with various junk, the characters came around too quickly, the waiter barely spoke English, the Living with the Land sound track was too lound, and the food was barely passable. I hated the stuffing, but the beef and mahi mahi were pretty good.

If you want to go somewhere for a character meal with Mickey, I'd suggest Chef Mickey's. If you want a character meal in Epcot, I would suggest Akershus. If you want just somewhere new to eat in Epcot, I'd suggest anywhere else.

 

[Luvchefmic]

I highly recommend GG too & I think your Mom and family will love it...very very happy with the food and the whole "feel" of the restaurant...super character interaction too. IMHO everyone will LOVE it

 

[pixarmom]

We love the Garden Grill - haven't gone since they stopped serving lunch, though. My boys (17 - 21) have asked me to try to get us in again next trip. I tried at the last minute a year ago and couldn't get in - I didn't try this year. I had asked for suggestions on meals and no one mentioned it - then when we got to Florida they all asked when we were eating there . I told them nobody asked me to put in on the list At least two of the three said "but we always eat there" Apparently, even though nobody mentioned it in the many months ahead of time that I repeatedly asked for suggestions, i was supposed to know that they wanted to go there

I'm sorry that you missed GG, but I just had to say what a sweet story this is!! If our three boys are still asking to go to GG between the ages of 17 and 21, it would be so heartwarming! You must have created some wonderful and memorable traditions with them!!

P.S. And I can also see our boys expecting me to be a mind-reader on these things - and the oldest is only a pre-teen!

 

[Coconuts]

If LTT still had characters, then I would pick that. But since it's not, GG is a great alternative! The food is a step above the basic food you can get at every disney restaurant, the character interaction is great, and it's a little less hectic than some character meals. I hope you love it!