Two adults at Garden Grill - How is character interaction? How is food?

[Alice777]

We weren't thinking of doing any character dining since we are two adults but after reading about rotating room, I'm thinking of trying Garden Grill.

1. My son thinks because we are two adult, we won't have too much of character interaction? Has anyone experience Garden Grill with only adults?

2. Which food do you guys like better? Breakfast, lunch, or dinner? So far I've seen lot of reviews on breakfast but hardly any on lunch or dinner.

3. If it's worth doing ADR, I have to drop Chef de France ADR to add Garden Grill and I don't know if it's worth it. What do you guys think?

Thank you

 

[DaisyDuck001]

1. The characters visit every booth. Yes, all my visits there have been adults only.
2. Haven't had a chance to try their breakfast yet, and it looks like lunch is the same food as dinner. The dinner food is hearty, what most would call "comfort food". Personally I enjoy the views and the atmosphere there more than the food, but some people like the food too.
3. This depends on your taste and preferences. Based only on the food, neither one of these would be among my favorites, but I like Garden Grill for the experience.

 

[Alice777]

@DaisyDuck001, thank you. As long as food is not too terrible, I'm willing to try. I'm more into "experience", something we won't get at home than food.

I think I read there's 2 floors? Which floor is better for better viewing? Is there any particular place we should ask to be seated?

 

[DaisyDuck001]

Food is not terrible at all; I just happen to prefer some other types of food that are a little less heavy.

Not exactly two floors, but there are two tiers. I prefer the view from the outer tier. Beyond the choice of tiers, it makes no difference where you are seated, since the restaurant rotates.

 

[kwdw]

I've been as two adults for dinner. One of the chipmunks made sure we BOTH stood up and got our pictures taken - he wouldn't let my significant other not stand up to do a proper picture. It was cute watching him be coerced to stand up.

We thought the character interaction was great. We had a fairly late reservation - but the characters still gave us plenty of time. We were on the outer rim of the restaurant - and I do think that would be a better spot. Based on set up - you didn't really see that much of the interaction with the section next to you. So - we really liked it. Be forewarned - they tried to seat us at a "corner" booth where they can seat a party of two - where one of us literally would have had to sit on the crack between two sections of the booth. We said no way - and luckily - they had space to seat us elsewhere. Had they not moved us - we would not have stayed for the price of the meal.

For us - the food was better than expected. For "American" normal food - we thought it was pretty good. Loved the beef that was served. Even the salad was great - fresh, crisp. We ate a ton of bread (it came out warm) - and the fish dish was really good. I don't remember for sure - but I think we thought the stuffing was too salty - but I remember eating a lot of sweet potato fries and mashed potatoes. My significant other ate a lot of mac n cheese.

I haven't been to Chef's de France - so I can't compare. You go to Garden Grill for the character experience and family-style, AYCTE meal.

If the restaurant did NOT rotate - I can guarantee we'd be back as a couple at some point. But since I can barely make it through a meal in ANY revolving restaurant without getting a bit of nausea - it not on our short list - but only because of the rotation. The experience and food would bring us back.

 

[Alice777]

@kwdw, thank you for the tip on the seating. What would be the best way to describe where we want to sit?

Outer rim, half booth seats?

And also, who took your picture with both of you? I would love to get pics of the characters with both of us in it but didn't know who we would ask to take our pics.

I decided to keep Chef's de France and cancel one of the Italian restaurants instead. I had 3 I wanted to try but I think 2 should be okay since we never had "French" food and it's something I wanted to try.

 

[DaisyDuck001]

The rotation is my favorite aspect of this restaurant, because I enjoy the changing view of the scenery below. But, different strokes for different folks.

There is a roaming character handler who is sometimes available to take your picture with the characters. But, the handler may or may not be available when you need this, as they could be helping other guests visiting with one of the other characters.

 

[Stefecatzz]

I've gone twice with a friend who is normally not really into character interactions at all (neither am I for the most part) & we both loved it! The atmosphere, characters & food are good. I've only gone for dinner. I wouldn't say the food is outstanding but the character interaction & atmosphere more than make up for that IMO. FYI - Be prepared to be Stuffed!

 

[Alice777]

Are drinks (sodas, ice tea) part of the buffet price? We also have Boma and Biergarten ADR and I was wondering if all buffet includes drinks. Thank you

 

[kwdw]

@kwdw, thank you for the tip on the seating. What would be the best way to describe where we want to sit?

Outer rim, half booth seats?

And also, who took your picture with both of you? I would love to get pics of the characters with both of us in it but didn't know who we would ask to take our pics.

I decided to keep Chef's de France and cancel one of the Italian restaurants instead. I had 3 I wanted to try but I think 2 should be okay since we never had "French" food and it's something I wanted to try.

I don't think you can request seating - but maybe you can ask for outer rim/circle? It's all booths on the outside - though there are larger and smaller areas.

Okay - so I wasn't clear - we didn't get our picture TOGETHER with the character - each solo since the other one had to hold the camera.

 

[BrianL]

Are drinks (sodas, ice tea) part of the buffet price? We also have Boma and Biergarten ADR and I was wondering if all buffet includes drinks. Thank you

Soft drinks are included with the buffets. Some places even have specialty drinks (like the juice at Tusker House...it's just POG) that are included. I believe most have iced tea as well. Alcoholic drinks are of course extra.

 

[PamNC]

My mom and I went there in early June - just us... I'm 54 and she's 73. Character interaction was great. I didn't feel slighted at all because there were no kids with us. The food is mediocre to good. But, the price is ridiculous. Definitely not worth it to me and I won't do it again. It's gone up from the last time I ate there which was several years ago. It was over $100 for two people - which I find unacceptable.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

My husband and I did the breakfast this past June. It was our first time eating there and we enjoyed it a lot. We do like getting our pictures with the fur characters (not face characters to much) and we had all the characters come around to our table twice. Lots of fun!

 

[Blondie Wolf]

DH and I did breakfast and dinner, both options were delicious. Each set of characters has a cast member with them, a face person, you can ask them to take a picture of you and your son with the characters. Or you can do the 1:1 while your son takes the pictures. The character interactions are some of the best we have seen.