There is a brand new Character Dining experience in Disney World’s Wilderness Lodge!
Making its debut this evening, Artist Point now presents a character dinner featuring friends — and one foe! — from the beloved Disney film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Snow White, Dopey, and Grumpy now meet and greet with guests throughout the prix-fixe dinner, which also presents a photo opportunity with The Queen!
For years, Artist Point served as the the signature dining option in Wilderness Lodge with a focus on the tastes and feel of the American Northwest. But both the setting and the menu have received an entire makeover for this new meal, bringing Walt Disney’s first feature-length animated film to the forefront of the experience in every aspect.
So it’s time to enter the Enchanted Forest… by way of Artist Point!
Artist Point
Atmosphere
And so, the story begins…
Storybook Dining Menu insert
Cast Members are waiting to bring you right into the story!
Cast Member Hosts
Storybook Dining Cast Member Name Tag Enhancements
Artist Point has been transformed into the Enchanted Forest from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs for this new character meal. If you’ve previously dined at Artist Point, you’ll recognize lots of elements of the decor such as the room’s signature lanterns hanging high above.
Artist Point Character Meal
Only now, woods of the Enchanted Forest fill the room and cover the ceiling (and it’s cool how these new elements fit in so naturally with the previously-existing earthy color scheme).
Artist Point
Those natural elements — also emphasized by the restaurant’s large windows capturing the Resort’s unique landscaping — expand to the table settings, where unique forest trays further set the scene.
Artist Point
Artist Point
And the table settings present each guest with their own “enchanted apple.” (More on this to come…)
Table Setting
Of course, the main thing that makes up the atmosphere at any character meal is…
Here come the characters!
Characters and “Show”
… the CHARACTERS!
Snow White
The fairest of them all, Snow White, will greet you at your table!
Snow White
So will Dopey…
Dopey
Dopey
… and Grumpy!
Grumpy
Grumpy
As mentioned, the three above will greet guests at their tables. But The Evil Queen is not exactly known for warmly approaching others 😉 , so she remains at her photo opportunity area where guests are welcome to pose with her.
Evil Queen at Artist Point
You can meet Snow White in the parks at meet and greet areas in Epcot and occasionally in Magic Kingdom, and she can also often be encountered at Disney Princess-themed Character Meals such as Akershus Royal Banquet Hall and Cinderella’s Royal Table.
However, typically the Dwarfs are only present at special extra-ticket events such as Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. The Queen can be even more difficult to find, and when she does make an appearance in Disney World it is likewise at special events such as the Club Villain party, which was previously offered at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
The Queen
In fact, meeting any of the Disney Villains is a somewhat rare experience, so meeting The Queen is quite a special thing (as she will no doubt remind you 😉 ).
Something to note: when guests are seated at the tables, they’ll find a character signature card at each setting (this is the “enchanted apple” I mentioned earlier).
Character Signature Card
Autograph seekers should note: Snow White, Grumpy, and Dopey will all still sign autographs for guests, but The Queen might not.
Now that we’ve seen our way around, let’s look into the final component of Storybook Dining with Snow White… the DINING 😉 !
Eats
The prix-fixe dinner for Storybook Dining at Artist Point offers guests their choice of an individual plated entree, along with shared appetizers and desserts for the table, with each course offering items themed to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
We’ll be diving into those shortly, but let’s start with a look at the drinks. Of-age guests may select a “Wickedly Refreshing Cocktail.” (For guests paying out of pocket — as opposed to using the Disney Dining Plan who will have one included — these drinks range from an additional $11.25 – $12.50.)
Wickedly Refreshing Cocktails Menu
The cocktails are also themed, of course, with options including The Smoking Mirror, The Antidote, the Enchanted Apple, Alchemy, Evil to the Core, and A Brew of Peaches.
The Smoking Mirror adds an unexpected rosemary smoke to Johnnie Walker Black whiskey — its strong flavor given a bit of a sweet-and-tart complement with wildberry and lime. The presentation is fun on this one with the smoking glass.
The Smoking Mirror
The smoke effect is cool to look at and lends a bit more “magic” to the enchanted atmosphere. But its the unique blend of flavors that make the drink even more memorable.
The Enchanted Apple will be a better fit, though, for those who prefer sweet/sour cocktails, as it mixes Skyy Citrus Vodka with DeKuyper Pucker Sour Apple with white cranberry juice.
Enchanted Apple
A Brew of Peaches is Buffalo Trace Bourbon made smoother with peach and raspberry as well as a rim of Brûlée Demerara Sugar.
Brew of Peaches
Non-alcoholic specialty drinks are readily available as well, and the offerings are also quite creative. And note that one non-alcoholic drink is included with the meal. (Guests on the Disney Dining Plan may also add an alcoholic drink as seen above or another non-alcoholic specialty as part of the inclusions to the Dining Plan from this year).
Non-alcoholic Specialties
Transformation Potion starts as a simple lemonade.
Transformation Potion
But along with it comes a bottle of blue “potion.”
Transforming Blue Potion
This, of course, is what makes the drink transform!
Transformation Lemonade
Kids — okay, and a lot of us adults, too — will love it! Plus, the drink comes with a sugary stirring stick!
Transformation Lemonade
In the Clouds is, to be sure, a total sugar rush, as it starts with a fairly substantial bunch of cotton candy.
In the Clouds
It’s poured over with Blueberry Monin.
In the Clouds
Voila!
In the Clouds
But now, according to the menu, the story really begins…
Shared Appetizers Menu
Shared Appetizers for the Table are a Winter Squash Bisque, Hunter’s Pie, and a Wicked Shrimp Cocktail.
Shared Appetizers for the Table
The Winter Squash Bisque is complete with a marshmallow lollipop and a bit of granola. And LOOK!
Winter Squash Bisque
It’s served in a black cauldron! Here you see the swirling of the caramel marshmallow lollipop into the soup. The lollipop is meant to melt in upon stirring and add its creaminess to the soup.
Winter Squash Bisque
The Hunter’s Pie is served in individual portions as well.
Hunter’s Pie
The chicken pies with black truffle have a ton of flavor, and are also served with stone fruit preserve to add some sweet to the savory goodness, if you like.
Hunter’s Pie
The Wicked Shrimp Cocktail comes complete with soy, miso, avocado, Thai chili, and greens.
Wicked Shrimp Cocktail
While the Hunter’s Pie and Winter Squash Bisque pair with each other quite naturally, the Shrimp Cocktail is a bit out there on its own. But, as the appetizers are shared for the table, it certainly does lend some variety, at least, to suit different palates and even offer some unexpected spice to the meal.
Each guest chooses their own entree for the meal. Adults select from Seafood Stew, the Royal Prime Rib Roast, the Brother’s Grimm Roasted Chicken, Magic Mirror Slow-braised Veal Shank, Bashful’s Butter-poached Snapper, and A Stroll through Nature.
Adult Entree Menu
The Royal Prime Rib Roast, I’m happy to say, lives up to its title!
Royal Prime Rib Roast
Not only was the Prime Rib wonderfully prepared (juicy, tender, and packed with flavor), but I also loved the inclusion of a traditional Popover on the side. The horseradish mashed potatoes were a strong complement here.
Royal Prime Rib Roast
The carrots were extremely smokey and not something I enjoyed, but the rest of this meal is highly recommended.
A Stroll through Nature is the only vegetarian option, so I’m glad to report that it’s truly a standout.
A Stroll through Nature
This gnocchi dish has an incredibly rich, creamy sauce, and it’s complete with butternut squash, arugula, sage, and plenty of parmesan cheese. We loved it, and have already heard from several people who dined at Artist Point tonight that they enjoyed it as well.
A Stroll through Nature
Magic Mirror Slow-braised Veal Shank is another great choice, honestly. It’s fall-off-the-bone tender and the jus/gravy had very concentrated flavor — truly exceptional.
Magic Mirror Slow-braised Veal Shank
The Celery Root Mashed was fine, but a bit watery.
Magic Mirror Slow-braised Veal Shank
Bashful’s Butter-poached Snapper is served atop a root vegetable risotto with wild mushroom and a citrus butter sauce.
Artist Point Snapper
The snapper itself was super light and buttery, but I wanted more flavor from the dish. (I guess you could say it was a little too “bashful,” in that sense.) The root vegetable risotto made up for some of those missing flavor points, though. It’s a great addition.
Root Vegetable Risotto
The Brother’s Grimm Roasted Chicken is served with confit potatoes and roasted Brussels sprouts.
Brother’s Grimm Roasted Chicken
Apples and a lovely, creamy chestnut butter lend some variety to both taste and texture. This one was actually excellent, even though the chicken was in danger of being overdone (it wasn’t…not quite). I loved the confit potatoes, especially with the chestnut butter!
Brother’s Grimm Roasted Chicken
Though I would still recommend the prime rib and the veal over the chicken from the meat dishes, I did appreciate the more unique additions of the apples and butter to what is otherwise a fairly ordinary dish.
Children have their own Entree choices as well, known here as Grumpy’s Grub! These also include a Royal Prime Rib Roast and Grilled Chicken. Additional options are a Vegetarian Steam Bun and Prince and Princess Pasta with a choice of red or cheese sauce. Chicken Tenders (as you’ll find in small print) are also available by request.
Grumpy’s Grub Menu
Kids can also “Color the Queen” while they anxiously await their visits from Snow White, Dopey, and Grumpy!
Children’s Menu Activities
But back to the food… more specifically, dessert! There’s no need to make a choice here, because — like the Appetizers — these are Shared Desserts for the Table.
Dessert Menu
So everyone GETS. THEM. ALL!
Shared Desserts (with Dopey!)
Dopey, as you can tell, is especially proud of the Miner’s Treasure.
Dopey and Miner’s Treasure
This potted dessert layers sponge cake and chocolate gems with buttercream icing.
Miner’s Treasure
Though the colors are somewhat striking (like gems in the mine), the flavors are simple and classic.
The “Poison” Apple is made up of a white chocolate-apple mousse.
“Poison” Apple
It’s the bit of punch from the sour center that brings the “poison” here (though its definitely mellowed out by the super sweet mousse).
white chocolate apple mousse
Each guest also receives their own Fairy Tale Gooseberry Pie.
Fairy Tale Gooseberry Pie
The sweet and tart gooseberry filling is topped with plentiful meringue.
Fairy Tale Gooseberry Pie
So, if you’ve been keeping score, that’s three appetizers, one big ol’ entree apiece, and three desserts so far. That is to say, there is a LOT of food here. But we’re not quite done yet, with one more dessert to go.
The Hunter’s Gift to the Queen is the grand finale.
The Hunter’s Gift to the Queen
Your server will appear with a smoking box filled with crackled maple popcorn and chocolate ganache hearts. The presentation is a fun and fantastical way to end the meal.
The Hunter’s Gift to the Queen
And with that…
“The End”
… our first Storybook Dining at Artist Point with Snow White and friends comes to an end!
Overall
A few logistics: currently, Storybook Dining at Artist Point with Snow White is offered for dinner from 4:00 – 9:00 PM each evening. The out-of-pocket cost for Adults (ages 10 and up) is $55.00, and the cost for Children (ages 3-9) is $33.00. For guests participating on the Disney Dining Plan, the meal requires one Table Service entitlement. Storybook Dining at Artist Point does not currently accept Tables in Wonderland.
I have dined at Artist Point many times over the years during its time as a Signature Restaurant. I had enjoyed some really good meals there, but also had some less-than-memorable dinners. But one thing I can already say with some certainty after this first experience at the new Storybook Dining at Artist Point is that it is indeed memorable. With some rarely seen characters along with well-executed food that is also creatively and well themed, you can tell a lot of thought has been put into this new experience, and it doesn’t go unnoticed.
I know the original Artist Point had plenty of fans, and it’s a simple truth that character dining isn’t for everyone, so some guests will feel the loss of signature dining at Wilderness Lodge. But taken on its own, Storybook Dining knocks it out of the park as far as both character meals and prix fixe menus go. And those who are looking forward to this particular experience, I think, will be really pleased!
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What we have here is an oversized diorama of Snow White and the 7 Dwarves made out of a Prada shoe box. Feels forced.
Glad the food was good. Still think the Whispering canyon cafe would have been a better location for this.
While it looks nice, this leaves WL as basically the only deluxe resort without a signature dining restaurant. (Beach Club too but they have Yacht Club and Yachtsman right next door)
AJ – has this affected the Territory Lounge at all? I was told by a castmember that they were expecting the Queen meet and greet to be in the Lounge, and the Lounge would close permanently leaving Geyser Point as the only “lounge”. Hoping this is not true!
Thank you so much! We were anxiously awaiting a review from opening night. Can’t wait for our February reservation.
I have been waiting 20 years for a Grumpy autograph, will be worth the money for us!
So disappointed about the character dining. There are lots of people out there that don’t have kids and enjoy Disney as an adult. It takes away from what was previously a nice romantic dining option for 2 adults. Wish they kept the characters out of the only nice restaurant Wilderness had.
This was one of my favorite restaurants in Disney. I was really disappointed when I heard this news.
I agree with everything in your post; I ate there last night and felt that the overall experience was fantastic. I would add that it is probably the best character meal I’ve ever enjoyed. Be Our Guest is equal in atmosphere but the food not as good. It’s too bad we had had a big late lunch otherwise we would have enjoyed the food even more. The great thing is that due to the restaurant’s layout and acoustics the atmosphere was not loud, and the service did not feel rushed or crowded. It did not induce the typical anxiety of other character meals. This is a total must-do experience for true Disney fans with or without kids.
I’ve loved dining here for previous anniversaries, but your review has me OVER THE MOON about dining here again and experiencing something new and fun.
Is the seafood stew entree cioppino?
Just wondering what the gluten free options are for this experience including appetizer and dessert?
I’m generally not a character dining person, but this looks interesting.
I love Signature Dining, but Artist Point was always a weak option compared to the others.
Looking forward to trying this next year.
Can’t wait to try it this summer! Hope I can an ADR!
I hope they have some fat beef cattle lined up and ready to be hung up to dry out and complete its tenderization process because my husband and I are bringing our daughter, her husband, and their children to dinner the first week in February and some of us NEED that prime rib dinner!
I can’t wait to try this. The menu looks great I am VERY picky. So I hope that Gnocchi is still on the menu in September 2019.
The characters look awesome and I love The Queen so can’t wait to interact with her. I know my 3 year old will love this Character Meal.
I was hoping somehow, some way the salmon and berry cobbler survived, but I should have known better. Some of this looks interesting visually, but beyond the soup and some of the dessert, nothing speaks to me enough to want to eat here.
Disney really should be ashamed of what they’ve done to the resort. Those of us who only stay at Wilderness Lodge when we go to WDW now have nowhere to eat a normal, nice, sit down dinner in our resort. I shouldn’t have to take a boat to the Contemporary to get a decent meal sans characters.
I love the dwarfs and welcome opportunities to meet Villains, and I also don’t mind going to character meals. But this was a horrible location for this when the only other option is the zoo that so often is Whispering Canyon. I know they don’t care though, because they’ll undoubtedly make more money. Just really frustrating.
I am beyond excited for this! I seriously cried reading your review. Snow White has always been my favorite princess. The food looks amazing! Thanks for the great review!
If there is a table with only 2 adult diners, will we get all those deserts? I like character dining. I think it’s fun and I like the Snow White theme.
I agree with many others (and hinted at by the author of the article)–WL is now a deluxe in name only. Artist Point was a gem. Sure, you could get the infrequent off meal, but that’s true anywhere at Disney except perhaps V&A’s. No place for adults who DON’T want a character meal to grab an upscale, romantic dinner. And what transformation did they really make? They threw up some fake greenery, added cutesy serving trays, and you have a character meal. I understand this was most likely a decision to make money; however, there were other options available to them instead of removing the only nice, quiet adult restaurant on property. Those would have cost too much, I guess. Instead, they will now charge you $55 for prime rib. Or chicken. Or vegetables. I will miss Artist Point. I will not patronize The Restaurant Formerly Known As Artist Point.
Snow White is my all time favorite Disney Princess. Can’t wait to dine with her and my second favorite dwarf Dopey (Doc is my favorite.)!
This is another good reason to visit the Wilderness Lodge.
@Kelly – if things are as they were in November, both the salmon and the berry cobbler were on the bar menu at Territory Lounge. We were told at the time that it might be temporary so maybe they won’t be on the menu.
We are set to go in May. I have 2 kids. It looks like a great character dining but I am a little concerned with the food options. The Appetizers don’t seem kid friendly. Am I wrong on this?
Are there any gluten free options?
Hmmm….the food options actually look pretty boring. And where are the other dwarves?!
Is any bread served with the dinner?
I agree with many of the previous comments. Whispering Canyon would have been a better location. Some of us without children enjoy options for adult dining.
Mo, the chef typically will come into the dining room to discuss any food allergies and put together a meal that works for you! Make a note of it when you make your ADR, and then mention it to your server.
Kimberly, yes. Our dinner was for two.
Steve and Nicole: It has not impacted Territory Lounge at this point.
When the appetiser and deserts say shared for the table do you get a small portion of everything each? There will be six of us dining.
Thanks
Judy D., we didn’t specifically note this, but in our experience, the chefs would be able to meet your needs. Note it in your ADR, and let your server know, if he/she doesn’t already. You could try calling Disney directly ((407) WDW-DINE) or reach out to Special Diets ([email protected]) to see if they can tell you, but your mileage sometimes varies on that front.
Steph, appetizers and desserts will be plated as you saw them in the post, but of course yours would be sized up for six diners. Ours was portioned for two people, if that helps you get an idea of what to expect.
Lee, there is no bread served with the dinner. It can’t hurt to ask, if you’re really looking for some to enjoy. 🙂
For those mentioning it should have been put into Whispering Canyon, you don’t really understand. Artist Point very rarely was full with many tables remaining empty meaning the restaurant was losing money. Whispering Canyon is almost always full, so there is no reason to change that. A business (whether you like it or not) must continue to make money and not lose it, hence a change to Artist Point had to be made. I’m sorry you are losing what you love, but obviously not enough others loved it to keep it profitable.
Hi Sarah! Was the root vegetable risotto an actual risotto with root vegetables? Or was it root vegetables diced up?
R, the Root Vegetable Risotto was risotto with small diced root vegetables mixed in it.
Did you try the seafood stew?
Tara, no, AJ didn’t try the seafood stew.
This sounds like a great value for those on the Dining Plan!
I am not a character dining type of person, and haven’t eaten at Artist Point in years, but after reading your review, my sister & I are dying to try this! As soon as I saw it, I sent your review to her. My husband & I are going to WDW the end of March into the first week of April, and my sister & I are flying in a few days ahead of time to enjoy a few days of girl time, so are doing things the guys wouldn’t be interested in, like the Grand Floridian tea, and eating at Be Our Guest. When we saw this, we knew we had to add it in! Luckily, I found a great reservation at a great time after searching for two days! Thanks for all your wonderful reviews, and all you do!
We enjoyed this dining experience last night. You were right – prime rib was the way to go. Husband had the gnocchi which was packed full of flavor.
The poison apple has a hidden Mickey on the bottom, says cast member Sean, who was very helpful as he stopped by our table.
Can adults order from the children’s menu? I really want to eat here, but I’m super picky. TIA
Carol, typically adults can order from the kids’ menu.
Thank you for your wonderful reviews AJ! My husband and I have been recently watching a lot of your videos on youtube and we love them! We are so excited to experience the Snow White dining during our next trip! We do not have kids, so our trips are always just the 2 of us, but we absotulely LOVE character dining! It still can be a romantic dinner! Thank you for your review!
Uh-oh……….another character meal I need to add to our plans! This sounds so fun:). Thank you for the review!
What is the average wait time if you don’t have a reservation? We are taking a last minute trip and REALLY want to eat here!
This looks like great fun! What is the charge for kids under 3? Will they need to share or will they receive their own meal? We’re going on the Dining plan in September. Thanks!
Rebecca, kids under three are allowed to share with another diner, but if you want to order the something separately, you’ll pay the child’s price for that. Have a great trip!
Everything was great but the smoking mirror drink. It tasted like you were licking an ash tray!