The guest check-in area for Storybook Dining at Artist Point is located just outside the entrance to the Territory Lounge.
When Storybook Dining first opened, there was a large American Indian type of "inked skin" artwork on the wall behind the check-in desk. It matched the style of the resort, but not the style of the restaurant. Now, there are reproduction paintings of various scenes from Snow White behind the desk.
A Giclée is a reproduction of an original artwork that is painted on a canvas. There are several on display behind the check-in desk at Storybook Dining.
The paintings behind the check-in desk at Storybook Dining bring a little bit of the Snow White vibe into the Wilderness Lodge's lobby area.
I'm not really sure how I feel about the Giclées that are on display behind the check-in desk at Storybook Dining. On one hand, it's a clever way to bring a little bit of Snow White into the lobby area around the desk. But on the other hand, this is all reproductive artwork that's for sale at the Art of Disney store... so it's kind of... "merchandise".
Each place setting includes a pre-printed card with each of the character's signatures - which also serves as a napkin ring.
The "story" is on the first page of the menu, which is inside a leather binder, that ten thousand other people have touched before you... which reminds me of bowling shoes. Maybe it's a good thing there's no bread service.
The trio of appetizers at Storybook Dining. Each guest at the table gets one shrimp, one chicken stuffed pastry nugget, and one min-bowl of soup.
All of the table's Wicked Shrimp Cocktail(s) (i.e. one shrimp per person) are housed in a plastic mason jar.
The Hunter's Pie (one per person) is a pastry shell filled with chicken. There's a very small jar of fruit preserves on the plate and a decorative green on each pie.
The Hunter's Pie is also supposed to contain Black Truffle, but if you were hoping to taste black truffle and come away saying "and now I know what truffles taste like", you'll probably be disappointed, these little guys mostly tasted like nothing, unless you put some of that Mott's Strawberry Applesauce on it... ummm... I mean, "Stone Fruit Preserves".
The little pot of WInter Squash Bisque is about four tablespoons large and is said to come with a Caramel Lollipop and Granola.
There's not really any mention on the menu about the marshmallow fluff on a stick with a couple whole grain seeds stuck on it. Oh wait... that's the Caramel Lollipop with Granola?
Mass protein piles are becoming more and more popular I guess... pictured here is a pile of bone-in chicken, potatoes, brussels sprouts, apples, and chestnut butter.
The Slow-braised Veal Shank was the highlight of my meal at Storybook Dining. It was a legitimately great entrée. I'm still not crazy about the plating here (i.e. "wilted greens" should never be placed under mashed potatoes)... but the roasted bone marrow in the center of the shank was a real treat.
The "Poison" Apple is a white chocolate apple mousse with a sour center.
The Fairy Tale Gooseberry Pie at Storybook Dining.
The Gooseberry Pie has a meringue on top.
The Miner's Treasure is a small glass filled with sponge cake, chocolate gems, and buttercream icing.
Sponge cake, choclate gems, and buttercream icing from the dessert plate at Storybook Dining.
After dessert is finished, the final course of Crackled Maple Popcorn with a Ganache Heart is served table side - which means each and every single tiny piece of popcorn and candy is pulled out of that box with tongs and placed on yet another plate. (I think the box is supposed to smoke, but at the end of the night... they don't seem to bother with that anymore.)
After the longest minute, all of the popcorn has been pulled out of that little box and placed on another plate so everyone at the table can enjoy this feast of popcorn.
Snow White at Artist Point's Storybook Dining.
Dopey at Artist Point's Storybook Dining.
Grumpy at Artist Point's Storybook Dining.
Grumpy at Artist Point's Storybook Dining.
The Evil Queen has her own backdrop at Artist Point's Storybook Dining.
The Evil Queen at Artist Point's Storybook Dining. "Vinyl, vinyl on the wall"... oh never mind.
The appetizer section of the menu. (Late Fall 2018)
The main entrée section of the menu. (Late Fall 2018)
The dessert section of the menu. (Late Fall 2018)
Table for six at Artist Point's Storybook Dining.
This is a table for four at Storybook Dining. The spinning tree serving platter stays on the table for the duration of the meal.
A closer look at a four guest table setting. That "spinning tree" does take up quite a bit of room on the table.
This view at Storybook Dining... isn't so enchanted forest-like. In fact, it looks a lot like the old Artist Point.
In the main dining area, there are a dozen or so tree branches "growing" out of the walls. (And a bright blue spotlight that was pointed at my head for the duration of the meal, but I digress.)
A pull back shot of the main dining area at Storybook Dining.
There are little lights in the tree branches that twinkle when the characters dance around to music - which happens every 15 minutes or so.
Oh for the love of all things Disney.... would you please turn off that blue light that's shining right in my eyes?? Is this an interrogation or a character dining experience???