Review: Storybook Dining at Artist Point with Snow White Character Meal in Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Hi everyone!

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is the setting for Storybook Dining at Artist Point with Snow White, a new character meal that is located in Artist Point, the former Signature Dining restaurant. It is a prix fixe meal, currently $55.00 for adults and $33.00 for children 3-9 plus tax and gratuity. It is just one entitlement on the Disney Dining Plan, which I think is a good value. Plus we received a 10% WDW Annual Pass discount.

When we arrived to check in, we were told that Dopey would not be there because he was working in the mines that night. We decided to cancel and reschedule, but by the time we finally figured out what we wanted to do elsewhere for dinner, Dopey did arrive and Artist Point seated us. The name of the meal includes Snow White, so she should be guaranteed – that was something that was emphasized to me 20 years ago when I worked at the Disney Reservation Center (a character named in the meal title should always be there). But each of the characters is so unique – especially Dopey, so hopefully they can make sure he is there too most nights. Someone on Twitter said that Grumpy wasn’t there the night he first planned to dine.

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Before going into my written review with photos, we also have our Mousesteps Weekly YouTube Show #295, where we talk about the experience.

We were seated at the back of the restaurant, near an entrance where the characters come and go. It was actually a fantastic location because of that – especially as characters were announced. The decor is really nice inside Artist Point, and I’d recommend dining after dark to be able to see the lighting better. Because it’s also decorated for Christmas right now, the wreaths make the restaurant look even more beautiful.

The napkin “ring” is an apple, with the names of the four characters who should be at the dinner on one side.

The Evil Queen was announced.

When we were sat, there weren’t many characters in sight. But the restaurant isn’t huge and not all the tables were full, so they seemed to come around pretty quickly – Dopey, Grumpy and Snow White stop at tables and we were told when to meet the Evil Queen at her backdrop. Each character stopped at our table twice while we were there. It was a relaxed meal, not rushed at all.

This is what the exterior of the menu looks like.

There isn’t a lot to the inside. There is a story about the dinner to come.

Apparently there was a page of drinks not in our menus, so there were a total of three “Wickedly Refreshing Cocktails” – the Enchanted Apple, the Evil to the Core, and the Transformation Potion (the last being non-alcoholic). No beer or wine menu page or other cocktails were noted. Underneath the drinks is the shared appetizer list, and I’d be surprised if some items didn’t change seasonally.

This page has “The Core of the Story Entrees”. Guests can choose one. There are also “Sweet Endings Shared Desserts”. I didn’t really understand the shared part as much because there is one for each person as far as appetizers and desserts – except the shrimp jar, there is one jar.

That is it for the menu, with “The End” at the end.

Dopey arrived to the table.

He checked out the different appetizer items.

Here is our video with all the characters.

Snow White also soon arrived.

I ordered the Evil to the Core, with Patrón Silver tequila, habanero, blackberry and orange juice. It was a good drink, but a little sweeter than spicy.

The three appetizers were brought to the table.There were two small cauldrons of Winter Squash Bisque with a caramel loli & granola; two mini Hunter’s Pies with chicken, black truffle, and stone fruit preserve, and the Wicked Shrimp Cocktail with soy, miso, avacado, Thai chili and greens. Noted on some menus (and the Disney Parks Blog from October) online is a From the Garden appetizer including fruit and vegetables. It may be just for kids, but I would have taken that over the Hunter’s Pie.

The Winter Squash Bisque with caramel loli was creamy and what a bisque should be. This is a small portion, really a sample size of it as other appetizers and desserts are.

The Hunter’s Pie was tasty but didn’t really taste like chicken inside. I’m not really sure what flavor stood out, but I’d not have realized chicken was inside if not listed on the menu. The stone fruit preserve was probably the best part of this dish and there wasn’t a lot to spread it on. So while I thought this was fine, I would swap it out for vegetables, fruit and a roll if I could.

Jeff said the Wicked Shrimp Cocktail was his favorite appetizer, with large shrimp. He had both since I don’t eat seafood.

Grumpy stopped by the table and lived up to his name. The characters overall here are very unique, the only one I can think of that you can meet easily elsewhere would be Snow White.

Every so often, a song plays – like The Silly Song – and the characters dance. It’s a fun part of the meal.

I ordered the Brother’s Grimm Roasted Chicken with confit potatoes, roasted Brussels sprouts, apples and chestnut butter. This was a really nice dish, I especially liked the potatoes and Brussels sprouts – those were perfectly cooked and the chicken was as well. I took half of it home – the size of the entree was really pretty large.

Jeff ordered the Slow-braised Veal Shank with celery root mashed and wilted winter greens. It was very tender and did not need a knife.

This is the Enchanted Apple drink, with Skyy Citrus Vodka, DeKuyper Pucker Sour Apple, and White Cranberry Juice.

There is a sliced apple inside.

The lighting is really quite nice, and the restaurant looks very similar but with some changes like the tree branches. The lights do change color.

We were told that it was time to see the Evil Queen. There was no wait for her, and I didn’t see one all night. The backdrop is really nice and I have been asked if she meets in the Territory Lounge – she doesn’t, she meets inside Artist Point.

Here is our video with the Evil Queen.

She poses with the Magic Mirror.

Dessert included Miner’s Treasures, which is a sponge cake with chocolate gems and buttercream icing. It reminds me of a cupcake in a jar, a sweet dessert that may have been my favorite.

There was also this “Poison” Apple with white chocolate-apple mousse, and it is supposed to have a sour center but it didn’t seem very sour.

Fairy Tale Gooseberry Pie with meringue and gooseberry is next – I don’t know that I have ever had gooseberry before, and it was actually quite a treat.

There are three desserts, but then one last one after we received these.

The last dessert was The Hunter’s Gift to the Queen, which includes Cracked Maple Popcorn and a Ganache Heart – and what appears to be dry ice inside. The server put gloves on for it and it’s quite the presentation. It is an unusual dessert given the story, but also the chocolate was quite delicious.

Our server dished out the popcorn and hearts.

This is the serving size.

Our server was Stephanie, she was excellent. Each Cast Member wears a special nametag.

I recommend reservations for Storybook Dining at Artist Point. While the restaurant was not completely full when we dined, I think it was partly because of everyone being in the parks instead of resorts. This will be an extremely popular meal as more guests find out about it.

Here is a look into a different section of the restaurant.

There is also a nicely designed children’s menu. The entrees include the Royal Rib Roast, along with a Prince and Princess Pasta, Vegetarian Steam Bun, and Grilled Chicken. Chicken Tenders are available on request, which is a good option. The “Shared Appetizers” here do include the From the Garden appetizer that looks delicious.

 

Snow White merchandise can be purchased both in the Wilderness Lodge mercantile and near the restaurant.

The overall experience of Storybook Dining at Artist Point with Snow White was terrific for the current price. Honestly, I hadn’t eaten at Artist Point in a number of years, it was a more frequent restaurant experience for me back in the late 1990s and early 2000s. I know that this is a loss for those looking for a Signature Dining experience in the setting of what is one of my favorite resorts, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. But for those who love character dining, it will be a welcome addition with harder-to-meet characters and decent and unique food offerings.