TheMouseForLess Restaurant Reviews

Ariel's Grotto Menu

Ariel's Grotto

Who: Aldersons

Where: Ariel's Grotto

When: September 27, 2009

What: Cioppino, Filet of Redfish, and the kids Mac&Cheese (and a couple of martinis).

Approximate Price of Entrees: $160

Rate the following (1-5, five being the best!)

Food: 4
Service: 4

Atmosphere: 3

Okay for Children: Yes, the character encounters were excellent.

Okay for Couples: A bit noisy for couples.

Be Sure To Try: I really enjoyed the Cioppino (spicy seafood bowl).

General Tips: Phone ahead for priority seating.

The Mouse For Less Tips: The built-in character encounters can save a lot of time if your kids enjoy the princess and Ariel characters (time is money).

Extra Comment: The food was excellent for park food and the service was great. Unfortunately the dining area was worn and dirty (food on the ceiling).

Who: Egan

Where: Ariel's Grotto

When: June, 2008 (review submitted April 29, 2009)

What: Lunch:We orderd one Kid's meal for my 4 year old son with the chicken tenders and the apple crisp for dessert. I had a Salad as a starter, the burger and chocolate cake.

Approximate Price of Entrees: for an adult and one Kid it was $55 including tax and tip.

Rate the following (1-5, five being the best!)

Food: 5
Service: 5

Atmosphere: 5

Okay for Children: Yes my son was shy about getting his picture taken with the princesses but he loved it.

Okay for Couples: Yes it is romantic as well.

Be Sure To Try: The Burger, Chicken soup and Pasta.

Who: Mom and the kiddos

Where: Ariel's Grotto

When: December 17, 2008

What: Lunch - Tritip for adult and child.

Approximate Price of Entrees: $35.99 for adults - total for 1 adult and 1 child with discount was $63

Rate the following (1-5, five being the best!)

Food: 4
Service: 5

Atmosphere: 5

Okay for Children: YES

Okay for Couples: If you are a couple that's really into Disney princesses.

Extra Comments: Menu has changed completely - and prices have gone up. Keep your camera ready. Daughter was disappointed that Belle was not included.

Who: Jette

Where: Ariel's Grotto

When: June 2008

What: Lunch.

Approximate Price of Entrees: $28.00 per person

Rate the following (1-5, five being the best!)

Food: 5
Service: 2

Atmosphere: 4

Okay for Children: Yes. an attraction for children

Okay for Couples: Depends on the couple, some view a meet & greet for kids.

Be Sure to Try: Salmon BLT

General Tips: Make reservation early.

TheMouseForLess tips: portions huge, we ordered our desert in a box.

Extra Comments: only received a 2 for service, forgot one of our meals, finally received when ready to go because of time limit, no apology, no discount. Food was excellent though.

Who: Memorial Day Couple

Where: Ariel's Grotto

When: May 2008

What: Lunch. Ship-Shape Cheesy Onion Soup, Boathouse Salad, Surf ‘n' Salmon B.L.T., Cove's Chicken & Biscuit Pot Pie

Approximate Price of Entrees: $27.99 per person

Rate the following (1-5, five being the best!)

Food: 2
Service: 4

Atmosphere: 4

Okay for Children: Yes. Children (especially girls) will love being able to talk to the princess characters. Each character came by to each table and took pictures/signed autographs.

Okay for Couples: Not really. This really is a kid's atmosphere.

Be Sure to Try: None. We really did not think the food was that good. The onion soup was okay, but I was the crouton that came with it was larger. The salad was ok. The fish in the Salmon BLT was a little tough, and the pot pie was not good.

General Tips: We sat outside, so we had a great view of the water, but overall there really was not much scenery to look at.

TheMouseForLess tips: None.

Extra Comments: Only go to this restaurant if you have children that want to see the Disney Princesses, and then make sure you have the autograph books for the characters to sign and your cameras ready for taking pictures.

Who: Powell and Brinkley

Where: Ariel's Grotto

When: September 2007 (submitted 4/29/2008)

What: Ordered the fish and chips, kid's mac and cheese, chicken caesar salad, and of course deserts

Approximate Price of Entrees: $60 for 2 adults, 1 child

Rate the following (1-5, five being the best!)

Food: 5
Service: 5

Atmosphere: 5

Okay for Children: Definitely a must for little girls who love the Disney princesses. My niece (age 2) loved that all the princesses came to her table to say hi and get pictures taken. The only downside is that for a child that age when she saw another princess in the area she tended to avoid the princess that was talking to her after the initial meeting. But this would be my recommendation for any family with children who love the princesses.

Okay for Couples: Yes, only if you want to see the characters. This is definitely geared for the "younger" fan. No, if you're looking for a quiet romantic getaway.

Be Sure to Try: The fish and chips were exceptionally good and the chocolate cake is a must for chocolate lovers. For something different from the normal park food get one of the salads they have to offer. They're all excellent.

General Tips: Definitely call ahead for priority seating if you have a preference of time and location of your seats (inside or outside) and if you have an annual pass use it to save money.

TheMouseForLess tips: Use the annual passport for a discount. Other than that there aren't any MouseForLess tips offered.

Extra Comments: This is probably the best place to come to have one on one time with all the Disney princesses. Other original characters (chip and dale, goofy, and of course mickey and minnie) did make appearances but they might not be there at all times. Call ahead for character availability if you're looking for a specific character.

Who: Family of 4

Where: Ariel's Grotto

When: December 2006 (submitted 6/20/07)

What: Kids macaroni & cheese plate with hot dog shaped like octopus, french onion soup, shrimp cobb salad, half-pound burger, rocky road dessert, peach cobbler.

Approximate Price of Entrees: $75 for entire family

Rate the following (1-5, five being the best!)

Food: 3.5
Service: 4

Atmosphere: 5

Okay for Children: Yes. Our girls (age 3 & 7) loved the fact that every Disney princess came to our table and took pictures with them & gave them autographs.

Okay for Couples: Not really. This place is definitely for families with little girls, for that "magical" dining experience. There are far better restaurants for couples at the park.

Be Sure to Try: Food was not too great. Our soup was lukewarm, everything was average, tastes like a typical "cafeteria" food. The kids LOVED their mac & cheese though, due to the presentation.

TheMouseForLess tips: Don't forget your annual passes for a discount.

Extra Comments: This is a great place if you have little girls that love Disney princesses. Food is very mediocre and it is way over-priced. But it was well worth it to see the smiles on our little girls' faces and their autograph books filled with photos & autographs without having to wait in a long line. This restaurant is definitely for the magical Disney character experience, you don't come for the food.

Who: the6x

Where: Ariel's Grotto

When: June 29, 2005

What: Dinner

Rate the following (1-5, five being the best!)

Food: 4.5
Service: 5

Atmosphere: 5

Okay for Children: Yes, especially for the Character Meals
Okay for Couples: Yes, beautiful outside seating with view of the pier

Be Sure to Try: Chicken Caesar Salad

General tips: Make priority seating for the character meals & be ready to get up & dance !!

TheMouseForLess tips: don't know any

Extra Comments: There were plenty of characters, which I would call the "original" characters, who would come to your table and then would get you up to dance. If a character doesn't make it to your table, just let the wait staff know....we had that problem with Minnie Mouse and she came and brought along Mickey and Pluto to do a family photo.

Who: The Walsh Family

Where: Ariel's Grotto

When: May 30, 2005

What: We had lunch. I had the salmon blt. The boys had the chicken and the Octo-dog

Approximate Price of Entrees: $50 for a family of 3

Rate the following (1-5, five being the best!)

Food: 4
Service: 5

Atmosphere: 5

Okay for Children: Yes! We had Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Donald, and Dale all come to our table...more than once! They and a captain also let the kids around the restaurant in a dance...and did the limbo with them!
Okay for Couples: Yes...if you want to see the characters. The food was good enough. It isn't exactly a romantic get-away, though!

Be Sure to Try: The salad was such a NICE change from theme park food!!!

General tips: There doesn't seem to be any problem getting in to Ariel's Grotto...but if you strongly prefer to be inside or outside, you might want to include this when you make your PS call!

TheMouseForLess tips: They're going to charge you whether you order for everyone or not, so saving money isn't an issue. One fun thing, they serve cotton candy for dessert!

Extra Comments: I LOVED the convenience of having all the main characters come right to our table. We had an 11:30 seating, one of the earliest times. It was nice because we had the characters to ourself at first!