Opinions needed re: Garden Grill

[3dog2kidmom]

Can I ask for your opinions please? Our first trip ever will be 12/25-29 and I have the following ADR's for me, DH, DS8, and DD6...

Chef Mickey's for Christmas dinner
CRT for breakfast on 12/26
Tony's Town Square on 12/26 (may cancel this one)
Garden Grill for dinner on 12/27
Spoodles for dinner on 12/28
and Sci Fi for lunch on 12/29

Chef Mickey's was a very recent add-on (I was lucky enough to get a reservation right after someone canceled once I decided we really should have a special meal on Christmas), and since then I'm having second thoughts about yet another character meal at Epcot. I need to check on other possibilities for table service dinner that night -- I don't know if we'd be lucky enough to catch another cancelation. DH would like to go to Le Cellier. My question is will the Garden Grill be a let down after Chef Mickey's? I haven't read too much about it on these boards.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Hanover]

We actually thought Chef Mickeys was a major let down after the Garden Grill. We were so pleased with our meal at GG and the great character interaction, we made sure to thank the manager and send a complimentary email to customer service at Disney dining.

We liked the food a lot better at the Garden Grill than Chef Mickeys. The character interaction was 100% better at GG. The characters at CM seemed to be rushed and didn't really spend a lot of time with our kids besides quickly signing their autograph books and taking a quick picture. Once they had visited they didnt' even bother interacting again, just gave the kids a wave as they passed to the next table. At the Garden Grill, the characters interacted each time they made their table rounds. They were very funny and our boys insist on watching the video of this part of our trip over and over again. The Mickey at Chef Mickey's also didn't have the costume's head all the way on and my sons both could see up her neck and see that a person was inside. This was the first time that they found out Mickey was a costume. My older son said that it was ok, he knew the real Mickey was at the Magic Kingdom and this one was just helping out!

I'd be willing to give Chef Mickey's a second chance another trip, but it's not on our ADR list on either of our next 2 trips in 2006. If you have to choose between the 2, I'd definitely go with the Garden Grill. Our boys also loved the Crystal Palace and Liberty Tree Tavern.They really liked the parade they do at CP a lot better than the napkin twirling at CM.

 

[DisneyHoneyMoon]

Personally, I'm a huge fan of Garden Grill. You get personal interaction with the characters in a more intimate setting. On the other hand, my wife doesn't like the food at Garden Grill so I'm in the process of trying to find another character meal to start frequenting! The food at Garden Grill isn't as good as Le Cellier, but I feel like I'm there to see the characters... if I wanted a 5 star meal, I can have that when I get home.

DisneyHoneyMoon

 

[3dog2kidmom]

Thank you both! I definately feel like we are going to Disney for the characters and just didn't want the kids to feel GG was a let down after Mickey's. This is what I needed to hear

 

[we3disneygo]

thanks for posting this info.

 

[The Sweetness]

At the grille, the food is served family style instead of buffet, but I certainly wouldnt call it a let down. It is different from CM's, but equally as good! I like the addition of constantly being rotating, and the characters are adorable in their overalls/ contry outfits

 

[jcemom]

We really like the Garden Grill! We're having dinner there on our arrival night next month...can't wait!

I think it's different than most character meals. The way the tables/booths are set up, facing outwards, makes it feel a little more private than most of the giant open dining rooms. The character interaction at GG was the best we've experienced anywhere. I haven't been there since they changed the food back to the new, old menu but I'm hoping it's as good as it used to be!

 

[annie1995]

We really loved the Garden Grill. The food was wonderful, the characters were great, and the kids loved the rotating resturant. It was kind of cozy for a character place. Now Chef Mickeys was a complete let down. The food was just so so, the only thing we liked was how fast the characters came to your table. I have read other peoples posts about being put in the so called back room of the resturant, and I can see how they would not like it. We were not seated there fortunately, but it really is seperated from the rest of the place. We liked Crystal Palace much better for dinner than Chef Mickeys, we actually ate there 3 times. Once for dinner, and twice for breakfast. Have a great trip!

 

[3dog2kidmom]

That does it -- we're keeping the GG time We are doing CM the first night because I wanted to ride the monorail and see the holiday decs at the GF then go to MGM after dinner *if* we can still get in. The Grille ressie I've had for over 2 months. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. Now I'm hoping Chef Mickey's isn't disappointing! At least it sounds like our experiences will go up from there.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Can I ask for your opinions please? Tony's Town Square on 12/26 (may cancel this one)

Thanks in advance!

You might want to think twice about cancelling that one. I haven't been there so I can't vouch for the food one way or the other but that day will be so crowded it might be nice to have a definite place to go. Just a thought, have a great trip! We will be there beginning the 28th, who knows we may bump into each other at some point!

 

[LEO_Magic]

We are eating at the Garden Grill for new year's eve for the first time. I just want to say thanks for all the info posted.

 

[3dog2kidmom]

You might want to think twice about cancelling that one. I haven't been there so I can't vouch for the food one way or the other but that day will be so crowded it might be nice to have a definite place to go. Just a thought, have a great trip! We will be there beginning the 28th, who knows we may bump into each other at some point!

Amy&Dan, thanks for the words of wisdom. We will definately be glad for a sure thing in the evening, and since considering this I booked an early lunch at Le Cellier on Epcot day for the same reason. One more reason why I love DISers. You all think of everything!