No Need to Be Grumpy or Dopey – Just Go Enjoy Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White

by Disney Magic Diva

If you’re looking for a character meal that’s a little different than the typical buffet, you need to try Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White.  It’s an enchanting evening sure to please even the grumpiest person in your group!

When you enter the restaurant, you immediately notice it’s not your typical character meal.  It feels quaint and sheltered, not as bright and loud as most character meals.  Instead, there are twinkling lights in the trees whose leaves cover the ceiling.  You’ve unmistakenly entered a forest. And you may just get a glimpse of The Queen!

At your table you’ll find your napkin tied with an autographed paper-apple napkin ring. Soon, your server will bring a leather-bound menu, and explain what to expect during dinner in this magical forest.

Your table will have shared appetizers and desserts, and each person is free to select their own entrée from the menu.  As is typical for character meals, you will have visitors while you dine. Snow White, Grumpy, and Dopey will all make an appearance at your table and happily pose for photos and sign autographs.  The Queen is also in the dining room, but she does not move around to your table. Instead, you are encouraged to visit her as time allows, or after you’ve finished dinner.

After we placed our order, the appetizers arrived on an adorable and thematically appropriate tree stand. The mushroom bisque was our favorite.  It was served in tiny black cauldrons with a crispy mushroom stem. It was creamy and had a wonderfully full taste, delicious even on a hot Florida day.  The shrimp cocktail was served in an apothecary jar.  It was spiced a little differently than we’re accustomed to, and not much to our liking.  The third appetizer was Hunter’s Terrine – chicken, black truffle, stone fruit preserve, and house-made pickles.  My husband loved this dish – especially the pickles.

The children’s menu came with a different appetizer. They received a platter with veggies and dip, fruit, cheese, and bread along with a jar filled with the ingredients to make-your-own honey butter. They had such a wonderful time shaking the jar to create butter! Delicious, healthy, and entertaining! A magical combination!

For our entrée, my husband and I both chose the prime rib.  We were both very pleased with our meal – he requested rare and I ordered medium well. It was served with mashed potatoes, carrots, jus, and a popover. The meat was tender and prepared perfectly, and the potatoes were especially yummy with just a hint of horseradish flavor.

Other entrée choices are Cottage Beef Stew, Brother’s Grimm Roasted Chicken, Magic Mirror Slow-braised Pork Shank, Bashful’s Butter-poached Sustainable Fish or Sorceress Spell of Land and Sea.  There is also a vegetarian option – A Stroll Through Nature – consisting of asparagus, leeks, arugula, gnocchi, sage, and parmesan.

The kids both chose the Prince and Princess Pasta – one with marinara sauce and the other chose just buttered pasta.  Kids can also opt for a cheese sauce.  Other entrée choices are prime rib, vegetarian steam bun, or grilled chicken.

When I decided to book Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White, I was a little concerned after reading the menu online.  I wasn’t sure the kids would find something they enjoyed.  The menu sounded a little – fancy – for them, and I worried it wouldn’t be kid-friendly.  But we were staying at Wilderness Lodge, so it was extremely convenient, and it was a NEW character meal.  I just couldn’t pass up the chance to give it a try.

I was so glad we did! It is a little more “upscale” than traditional character meals, especially character buffets, but the kids really enjoyed the atmosphere AND the food.  It was a great choice!

Diva Tip: If your child is 10 or older, they are considered an adult on the Disney Dining Plan. However, they are welcome to still order from the children’s menu!  Our oldest granddaughter, who is 11, wanted the pasta and the server happily brought her an adult size portion! (For more tips on the Disney Dining Plan, check out Pixie Dusted Diva’s tips!) 

One of our favorite aspects of our dinner was the specialty beverages.  Our granddaughter ordered Transformation Potion.  It is lemonade served with a blue sugar stick and a blue potion on the side. As you pour in the blue potion and stir, the drink transforms colors. It was a big hit (and delicious!)

Our grandson tried a drink called In the Clouds – Powerade Mountain Berry Blast, blueberry, and cotton candy. The cotton candy was in one glass, and the liquid in a separate glass.  As you poured the Powerade over the cotton candy, you could watch the cotton candy melt.  He loved it!

Diva Tip: Remember – on the Disney Dining Plan an adult meal includes the option of an alcoholic or specialty beverage. Kids are entitled to a specialty beverage too!  Take full advantage and try something new!

While we were enjoying our meal, we had the chance to say hello to Snow White, Grumpy, and Dopey.  Each took plenty of time at our table, posing for several photos and signing autographs.  There was plenty of time to interact with each character, and we never felt like they were in a rush to get to the next table.

                                        

Soon after we had placed our order, we noticed there wasn’t a line to meet The Queen, so we had a chance to get photos and autographs from her too.  She did a wonderful job interacting with the grandkids – keeping in character without seeming too intimidating to frighten the little ones. There was a PhotoPass photographer present to capture the moment.

By the time we were ready for dessert, our littlest granddaughter was ready to leave.  As much as I hated to miss it, I didn’t want her to become too rambunctious, so she and I left and my husband and other grandkids stayed to enjoy dessert.

The desserts, like the appetizers, are shared amongst everyone at the table.  Each was sample size portions, so you could try them all! There was Fairy Tale Gooseberry pie (meringue and gooseberry tart), a “poison” apple (dark chocolate apple mousse with a sour center), Miner’s Treasure (sponge cake, chocolate gems, berry panna cotta) and The Hunter’s Gift to the Queen (maple popcorn with a ganache heart). This was especially fun in its presentation because the server opens a beautiful gold box (which must have dry ice in it,  because smoke comes out when it’s opened!) and uses tongs to serve the popcorn and ganache heart.  Quite the show!

We thought the desserts were all wonderful.  The gooseberry pie, naturally, was tart and not a kid favorite, but my husband enjoyed it. The poison apple was popular with everyone, and my oldest granddaughter really loved the Miner’s Treasure. (Since I had to miss the desserts, our wonderful server packaged up some for my husband to take with him so I could try them too!  How magical was that?!?)

Artist Point is located inside Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort. (Read my review of the resort, here.)    If you are staying on Disney property, you can get there by bus or, our favorite mode of transportation, a boat from Magic Kingdom. Remember, Disney busses do not travel from resort to resort.  You’ll need to take a bus from your resort to a park or Disney Springs, and then another bus to Wilderness Lodge.

Diva Tip: Don’t confuse Wilderness Lodge with Fort Wilderness!  They are different resorts so be sure to pay attention to where you’re going.

 

Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White is one table service credit on the Disney Dining Plan and advance reservations are highly encouraged.

If you’d like to try dining with Snow White, Grumpy, Dopey and The Queen, Patricia at All for Dreams Travel can make reservations for you!Contact her today, and before you know it, you’ll be singing “Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, it’s off to Disney we go!”

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