Last weekend my husband and I went to Disney Springs to see Beauty and the Beast, Disney’s new live action version of the animated classic. (The movie was wonderful, by the way!) We decided to head up to WDW for the movie so we could do some shopping, be immersed in Disney, and to try out AMC’s Dine-In Theatre.
Seating is reserved. The chairs are comfortable, but getting old; the leather is stiff and aging. They lean back but in a desk chair kind of way, not like the feet-up recliners you see in a lot of theaters these days. In front of you there’s a table for your food, which conveniently has a foot bar I found very comfortable to prop my feet up on. It’s not stadium seating at all, though; there isn’t much slope to the floor so I wouldn’t get seats too far in the back. Overall, the theater viewing room itself needs a refurb soon.
Our movie was at 11 AM, so we got there a little early to get our food order in right away. There are menus waiting for you, as well as silverware and 3D glasses, if needed. You can look at the full menu here on Disney’s site, but it offers a wide array of choices, including but not limited to burgers, boneless wings, nachos, sushi rolls, flatbreads, teriyaki bowls, mac & cheese, salads, wraps, tacos, chicken tenders, fish & chips, and doughnuts. You can also, of course, order traditional movie fare such as popcorn, candy, and drinks.
When you’re ready to order, you press a button at your table.
Shortly thereafter, a waiter arrives and takes your order. The food arrived rather quickly after that — we had everything, drinks, appetizers, and main course, before the movie started. The waiters were all extremely helpful, polite, and attentive. Definitely a little of the Disney spirit of customer service going on there.
Review: AMC Disney Springs 24 Dine-In Theatre at Walt Disney World Share on XYou don’t have to order early, though. And if you need anything during the movie, like a refill or napkins or dessert, just push the button and your waiter comes by again. This, though, was my biggest concern about a dine-in theater. I hate it when people talk, use their cell phones, or do anything distracting during the movie. It drives me crazy. People ordering food, waiters walking around, all during a Disney extravaganza and remake of one of my favorite movies, that I’d waited over a year for? Sounds like a recipe for disaster. Weirdly, though, it wasn’t at all distracting. The aisles are wide and the waiters really know how to be unobtrusive. It was fine, no problems, no distractions. Trust me, if there’s ANYONE this arrangement was going to bother, it was me, and it didn’t.
So, on to the food!
We ordered two appetizers, the first being the Crispy Brussels Sprouts. They were very nicely seasoned, crunchy-crispy, and the cheese was a nice added touch. I know everyone isn’t a fan of Brussels sprouts (though I don’t know why not!) but these were delicious.
We also got the loaded tater tots, and these were a little disappointing. The tots did have cheese sauce, bacon, scallions, and Ranch dressing, but not the way I’d imagined it — there was just a drizzle of each on top of regular old tater tots. Which are always yummy, but I expected something a little more decadent.
Both of us had burgers and fries as our entrée. The fries were pretty good, especially while they were still hot. Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, nicely greasy. The burger wasn’t exceptional, though. The bun was fine but the patty itself was overcooked and dry. My husband got the Royal Burger, which was loaded with bacon, brie, carmelized onions, sweet fig jam, and Royal sauce, and he didn’t notice that it was dry, given all those gooey toppings. A better-cooked burger to start with, though, would be a good improvement all around.
We had a great time at the AMC Dine-In at Disney Springs and would definitely go to a movie there again, especially a Disney movie, just to feel a little more immersed in the land of the Mouse. A few updates, a fresh coat of paint, and a better meat thermometer and I’d give it an A+, but even without those it’s a fun experience I can definitely recommend.
Speaking of Animal Kingdom, on The Walt Disney Company Q1 FY17 earnings call, Bob Iger announced that 
I recently had the chance to attend 
The party begins with check-in at the Liberty Riverboat dock, 45 minutes before the parade begins. However, as with most things of this nature at Disney, we were allowed in 15 minutes before that, at 2 PM, instead of 2:15.
There is almost no seating on the dock — just one bench right at the door — just tables scattered around for standing. You are welcome to go on the boat at any time, where there are seats to be found, but if you want to meet Tiana right away, you need to stay on the dock. Having said that, there’s plenty of time to go back and forth, and more meet & greet opportunities later.
After the parade, Tiana and Naveen rejoin the party and the Liberty Belle takes a cruise around the Rivers of America, circling Tom Sawyer Island. You can relax, meet & greet, and enjoy more snacks. Drinks and popcorn were available in ample supply.
Overall, we had a very nice time at the party. Cast members were above and beyond in regards to helpfulness and customer service. Treats and snacks were plentiful. The riverboat ride was relaxing, and it was nice to have a place to watch the parade from. But it wasn’t an ideal place. I can’t help thinking this special event would work better if, when it was time for the parade, guests were escorted off the boat and to a reserved viewing area on the street, much as they do for other parades, and then back onto the boat for the cruise. I still recommend the party the way it is, but think Disney should consider this small adjustment and improve the experience further.
We did it: last week we made the two-day drive (not fun) from Long Island and moved into our new house in Florida. I’ve gone from being a born New Yorker to a transplanted Floridian. There are a lot of reasons I’m happy about that, but I cannot tell a lie: being close to 
Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade is a fun, festive experience that is one of the highlights of the Very Merry Christmas Party. Mickey and Minnie start the parade and Santa finishes it (of course), with all sorts of festive friends marching in between — marching toy soldiers, reindeer, gingerbread men, and classic characters dressed in their holiday best . And on Main Street USA, there’s even snow!
The nightly castle projection show you love, but with a holiday twist. Past Christmas scenes have wrapped the castle in colorful bows and boughs, gift paper and ribbons, ornaments, candy stripes, strands of lights, and gingerbread.
The Christmas Party features a fantastic fireworks spectacular. Holiday Wishes is a festive show featuring a delightful score of all your favorite holiday and Disney songs.
A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas Show is a stage performance held near Space Mountain that lasts about 20 minutes and is held several times per night. It stars an eclectic mix of characters including Mike Wazowski from Monsters Inc. and Stitch. Part entertainment and part dance party, this show will get you moving!
Queen Elsa from Frozen appears twice each evening to get the Castle Dream Lights lit up for the night in a 7-minute show called “A Frozen Holiday Wish.”
Sweeten your night with this holly-jolly premium experience. For $79 per adult and $47 per child (age 3 to 9), this package includes a reserved viewing location for Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade on Main Street USA, followed by a private dessert party on Tomorrowland Terrace. The party features a host of holiday-themed cupcakes and desserts freshly prepared by our pastry chef, along with a bountiful buffet of sweet treats—like chocolate-dipped strawberries, chocolate mousse, ice cream, cheeses and fresh, seasonal fruits. Raise a cup of good cheer with sparkling cider, signature lemonades, specialty Christmas drinks, hot chocolate, coffee or tea, and then marvel as the sky above explodes with color, music and light with your reserved viewing of Holiday Wishes from the terrace.
Each year a special new Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom card is available only to partygoers. This year’s card features Goofy!
