Some Iconic Additions to the “Indiana Jones: Adventure Series”

 written and photographed by Jonathan Keating

Review

DisneyBizJournal.com

August 31, 2023

 

Despite the box office performance of Dial of Destiny, the Indiana Jones merchandise train seemingly continues full steam ahead. 

The Adventure Series, a line of 1:12 scale highly detailed action figures in the same vein as Hasbro’s other toy lines, Star Wars: Black Series and Marvel Legends, features Indy and his surrounding cast of characters depicted in plastic form. The first wave, which DisneyBizJournal already covered, was mostly made up of characters from Raiders of the Lost Ark. With a new set of releases, the Adventure Series covers some familiar ground, as well as expanding into new territory. 

The least interesting of these new releases must be the Indiana Jones Temple Escape figure. Now, to clarify, this is not a bad release. In fact, it’s the same original (very good) Raiders of the Lost Ark Indy that was released by himself in the first wave. The “new” draw for this version is the inclusion of the pillar that holds the fertility idol from the opening of that film along with a few additional accessories. The problem with this figure is the price point. Retailing for $39.99, this release of Indy is almost double the price of the standard Raiders Indy. If that figure was hard to come by this might be a good release for those who missed out on the standard Indy. However, you can currently find that Indy for its retail price, so the “Temple Escape” release has a few interesting additions, but I would say it is not worth it given the price point. If this set eventually comes down in price, it might be worth picking up for a standard Indy and a small diorama piece. 

The only other new figure from Raiders is another variant of Indy. This is the Cairo version of Indy that appears during the iconic swordsman “fight” and chase for Marion throughout the streets of Cairo. This is a great figure. It does not seem like much at first – another slightly different version of our protagonist. But once you get it in-hand, there is a certain rugged quality to this particular version of Indy. It’s Indy in the midst of an adventure – not all cleaned and polished. This figure comes with a few alternate hands, the standard whip and gun, and a repack of the Raiders monkey that was originally released with Marion. Once again, the only thing keeping me from recommending this figure is the price point. Even more so than with Temple Escape Indy, the “extras” here do not justify (in my mind) the additional cost. Cairo Indy retails for $33.99 which is almost ten dollars more than the standard “Adventure Series” release.

 

Now, to move on to the positives (which is virtually everything else), this most recent wave of figures has dialed in on Temple of Doom as the movie that comprises most of the release slots. Three of the five figures are all from Temple of Doom. Two of those three are different versions of Indy. 

The first is the iconic look that most people will associate with that awesome theatrical poster for Temple of Doom, you know the one where he’s holding the machete and his shirt is all torn up. Awesome. It is also the same look that is featured at the end of the film on the bridge where he says, “Prepare to meet Kali…in hell!” Iconic. This figure is a fantastic representation of that look, coming with previously mentioned machete so you can recreate your own bridge scene. The other Indy look is the hypnotized Indy that I feel most people will simply deem shirtless Indy (ooh lala). Made for only completionists and Calista Flockhart, the shirtless Indy is an iconic sequence from Temple of Doom, but is still sure to give you some odd looks when purchasing or displaying. 

Finally, to add to the character roster beyond Doctor Jones himself, the final character from Temple of Doom is the best Indy sidekick: Short Round. Short Round is one of my favorite releases from all of the Adventure Series. Not just because I think he is one of the best parts of Temple of Doom (if not the best part), but also because they make up for the small stature of the figure by packing the box with accessories: removable jacket, removable New York Giants (not Yankees, sorry) hat, the first removable Indy fedora of the figure line and a whole host of other little additions that make the purchase well worth it. 

The other two figures in this most recent wave are both from the fifth and final Indy film, Dial of Destiny. One, of course, is Indy in his main look from that film. It’s an update on his iconic look from all films, except the figure is notably detailed to be older. This Indy does not feature the gun holster, and the whip has changed from the other releases to reflect the movie, but otherwise it is mostly similar to the standard release Indy. He comes with the adventure backpack (the one Disney got sued over) and a flashlight, both of which are featured in the third act of Dial of Destiny. 

Also from that film, the final figure in this wave is Helena Shaw – Indy’s goddaughter and adventurer in her own right. Like the release of Indy, they used the look she has in the third act of the film for the basis of this figure. She also comes with her own backpack and flashlight. Both are solid figures and, in my mind, the main figures people will want from Dial of Destiny. 

 

To go back to Temple of Doom, this wave’s build-an-artifact is the skull structure that houses the Sankara stones (note: if you pick up the whole wave you can get both the standard Sankara stones and glow-y orange scary ones). Not as impressive as the original wave’s Ark of the Covenant, this is still a worthwhile reason to pick up the whole wave and adds some life to your overall display. 

Finally, also from Temple of Doom, is the Club Obi-Wan Indy figure. This was not part of the most recent wave, but was instead a Target exclusive release. I had pre-ordered mine months ago, but Target inevitably cancelled my order. I was not alone in this, as it seems that Target is particularly terrible in terms of randomly cancelling people’s preorders. I still got the figure, but it was through a third party and was not officially through Target. It’s a shame that Target botched the release of this figure for so many because it really is an interesting addition to the line. Indy is sporting that inspired-by-Bond look from the best opening to any Indy film. The Club Obi-Wan Indy is a figure that is visually different in a sea of browns and tans.

 

There are still plenty of Indiana Jones Adventure Series figures slated to be released, but with the box office performance of Dial of Destiny I do wonder if this line is long for this world. Despite the mostly positive fan reception (myself included), does Indy still have the financial draw to sustain an entire collectible toy line? Hopefully the answer to that question is yes, but only time will tell.

 

The figures that are announced, but have yet to be released, include: Indiana Jones (Map Room), Marcus Brody & Rene Belloq (Ark Showdown 2 pack), Doctor Jurgen Voller, Renaldo, Dr. Elsa Schneider, Grail Knight, Henry Jones Senior, and Indiana Jones (Last Crusade). These figures can be pre-ordered virtually wherever you get your collectibles, with the exception of Map Room Indy which is another Target exclusive. 

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Jonathan Keating is a contributing writer and photographer to DisneyBizJournal.

 

Disney Announced “Ahsoka” Viewership … in an Unusual Step

 by Ray Keating

News/Analysis

DisneyBizJournal.com

August 30, 2023

 

Yesterday (August 29, 2023), The Walt Disney Company decided to announce its estimate for viewership of the first episode of the Star Wars show Ahsoka on Disney+. This was a very unusual step for Disney, which rarely – and I mean rarely – shares audience numbers for shows or movies on Disney+.

At StarWars.com, Disney announced “that Part One of Ahsoka, 'Master and Apprentice,' was the most-watched title on Disney+ this past week. The debut episode garnered 14 million views, making the series number one globally on the streaming platform.”

 

Kathleen Kennedy, Lucasfilm president, was quoted, “Ahsoka has become a fan favorite with people of all ages and it’s wonderful to see her continue to resonate with viewers in her very own headlining series. I want to recognize the fantastic work done by our creative team, led by Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau, the incredible cast led by Rosario Dawson, and our talented crew — and on behalf of the team and all of Lucasfilm, we give our thanks to all the fans who have been with Ahsoka on every step of her journey and to all those who are just learning about her now in Ahsoka on Disney+.”

 

So, why did Disney take this unusual step? It seems that there are two possible reasons. One is that the online buzz was saying that the Ahsoka debut numbers were unimpressive, and Disney had to move to counter that. Or, Disney wanted to take a small victory with some good numbers. Of course, it could be both.

 

Deadline reported the following on outside estimates of Ahsoka’s audience: “Samba TV reports that the Live+5 day viewership for the first episode of Disney+/Lucasfilm’s new series Ahsoka drew 1.2M households. Disney+ dropped the first two episodes of the Dave Filoni-created series on Tuesday, August 22. The second episode clocked 956K U.S. households.”

 

How does that compare to other Star Wars projects on Disney+? Deadline reported:

 

“Ahsoka‘s first episode ratings are even with the first episode of the Tony Gilroy-created Star Wars series Andor, which also pulled in 1.2M households over its live+5 day. Andor debuted on Disney+ on September 21, 2022. However, the ratings for Ahsoka Episode 1 “Master and Apprentice” are down by 50% from the Live+5 day of Obi-Wan Kenobi, which dropped on May 27, 2022, with that Jedi force pulling in 2.4M households. Ahsoka Episode 1 also is down from the first episode of Season 3 of The Mandalorian by 29%, with that series from Filoni and Jon Favreau earning 1.7M U.S. households in its L+5D.”

 

Samba TV tweeted the following:

 

So far, on RottenTomatoes.com, Ahsoka has rated 89% fresh with critics, and 76% fresh with audiences.

 

__________

 

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com; and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries, the Alliance of Saint Michael novels, and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right? (Keating is a Disney shareholder.)

 

Consider books by Ray Keating…

 

• The Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries. Here are 18 books in the series now with the latest being Under the Golden Dome: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel and For Better, For Worse: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story.

 

• Order The Weekly Economist II: 52 More Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist. Kindle editions and paperbacks via Amazon here and signed books here. And don’t forget the first book in this growing series, i.e., The Weekly Economist: 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist. Signed paperbacks at RayKeatingOnline.com or paperbacks, hardcovers and Kindle editions at Amazon.com.

 

• Cathedral: An Alliance of Saint Michael Novel. Signed paperbacks and/or paperbacks, hardcovers and the Kindle edition at Amazon. 

 

• The Lutheran Planner: The TO DO List Solution combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement, inspiration and consolation from the Christian faith.

 

• Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York  –  signed books  or at  Amazon.

 

•  Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know is available at  Amazon  in paperback or for the Kindle edition, and signed books at  www.raykeatingonline.com. 

 

Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of Disney, Free Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.

“Disney’s Illusion Island” Review: Filling a Mickey-Shaped Void

 written and photographed by Jonathan Keating

Review

DisneyBizJournal.com

August 29, 2023

 

Disney has a long history with video games, dating all the way back to 1981 with the game Mickey Mouse, a release in Nintendo’s Game & Watch series. Of course, given the library that Disney has developed (both in-house and through acquisition) their licensed video games have expanded to include their iconic princess characters, Disney renaissance films, Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar and all the other various “brands” you can imagine that are umbrellaed under the Disney company. Despite working with numerous other notable video game publishers over the years (Sega, Atari, Activision, EA, etc.) and having virtually every Disney character you can imagine have some connection to a video game, Disney’s most recent video game entry comes back to what was established in 1981: Mickey Mouse and Nintendo. 

Disney’s Illusion Island was released exclusively on the Nintendo Switch in late July of 2023. The game revolves around Disney’s Fab Four set of characters (Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy) on a quest to become heroes by defending Monoth Island. Their hero’s journey is defined by collecting stolen artifacts (deemed Tomes) and returning them to the rightful owners. Of course, there are twists and turns along the way, but the game is more explicitly focused on gameplay than it is story. 

By my own admission, I was surprised by the style of gameplay for Illusion Island, having done no research as to what the game was before I started playing. I had seen some of the artwork and a few short clips, but I mostly went in blind in relation to the specifics of the game. From the little marketing I had seen, I assumed Illusion Island was going to be in the style of the Mario 2-D platformers. Instead, the game firmly fits in the Metroidvania subgenre. Sprawling maps, unlocking new abilities, frequent backtracking and exploration to find new paths – these Metroidvania hallmarks are all present within Illusion Island.

The player (or players, as Illusion Island allows for couch co-op with up to four players) begins by selecting one of the Fab Four. Note that the differences between these characters are purely aesthetic. They all play the exact same way and feature the same abilities – the only difference is that the form the abilities take corresponds to the personality of the character selected. Personally, I spent most of the game using Goofy as I felt his style was the most unique out of all four. 

Once you select your character, you begin the game with the ability to run and jump. As the game progresses, the player also unlocks other abilities such as double jumping, rail-skating, hovering, ground-pounding and swinging. There are no ways to “attack” the enemies found on Monoth Island. Instead, the gameplay is made up of finding ways to platform around or avoid entirely the various enemies the player will encounter. Similarly, in the few boss fights that occur throughout the game, there are objectives that the player must complete opposed to directly “fighting” the various characters. 

 

While Illusion Island falls squarely in the Metroidvania category (a subgenre often known for being challenging), this is most certainly a family friendly take on this style of gameplay. In fact, many parents or older siblings may find this to be a wonderful couch co-op experience to introduce younger gamers to this genre. Illusion Island will never be outright difficult or confusing for the seasoned gamer, but it does exist as an excellent entry point for younger players or those with no experience with Metroidvania style games. 

From my limited video game experience, Illusion Island reminds me the most of the Rayman series of games. This includes gameplay, but also the visual style has a strong resemblance to the Rayman series. In fact, in my research for this review, I found out that Aj Grand-Scrutton, the creative director of Illusion Island and CEO of the game’s developer Dlala Studios, cited Rayman Legends and Ori and The Blind Forest as inspirations for Illusion Island. I would describe the art style for Illusion Island as a cross between Rayman and the character designs for Mickey and friends that debuted in 2013 with Mickey Mouse Shorts. While not exactly the designs featured in Mickey Mouse Shorts and “Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway,” it falls closer to those designs than what some fans may expect as “classic” Mickey.

 

However, I think these designs in Illusion Island are an improvement over the often-controversial designs found in the previously mentioned projects. The Illusion Island team does a good job of taking what does work about the Mickey Mouse Shorts designs and making them feel a bit more classic (Goofy, in particular, gets an improved look). However, if fans are expecting a Mickey Mouse video game that explores iconic locations or side characters from Mickey’s 100 year history – they may be disappointed. Outside of the main four characters, all other characters are original creations for this game. In the same vein, the locations are new to both Mickey and the player. Some may be disappointed by this, but it allows Illusion Island to have an identity unique to itself. This does not mean, though, that the game is void of easter eggs and references to Mickey’s history.

 

On the topic of art direction and design, Illusion Island features eleven fully animated story cutscenes. These are a welcome addition to the final product. Whereas the developers could have simply put cutscenes at the beginning and end (or omitted them entirely), the animations being sprinkled throughout the game help bring it to life. It also helps that these cutscenes (and the writing in general) is often funny. Whoever wrote the interactions between the characters understood that the humor would need to appeal to families – meaning both the target demographic of younger players as well as something for parents or older siblings. This shines through in the cutscenes, with full voice acting from the Disney-approved voice actors, but comes through in the text-only scenes as well. 

 

The value of collectibles in Illusion Island will depend on the player’s level of interest in Mickey Mouse’s film history. For me, this was the highlight of the game. The two noteworthy types of collectibles in Illusion Island are hidden Mickeys and Mickey Memorabilia. The hidden Mickeys are a fantastic, if not obvious, addition to the game. Made famous throughout the Disney Parks and a whole host of additional Disney media, Illusion Island sprinkles hidden Mickeys throughout Monoth Island as a motivator for players to find and photograph. 

Beyond this, what I think made the exploration truly enjoyable, was the addition of Mickey Memorabilia. Pieces of Mickey’s long film history have been hidden across the island in gold bags. This covers a wide range of Mickey shorts from the 1930s all the way up to 2020. The memorabilia includes various props and trophies that are heavily featured in famous Mickey shorts and films like The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Mickey and the Beanstalk, The Three Musketeers, Potatoland and so many more. These additions to the game prove that the developers were not just simply making another licensed Disney game, but were folding in 100 years of storytelling from Disney. 

Disney’s Illusion Island is not a perfect game. The backtracking can often get tiring, experienced players may find the game too simple, and if you are not already a fan of Mickey or Disney in general you likely won’t find much value here. However, if one is looking for an entry-level Metroidvania game on the shorter side, it becomes very easy to recommend Illusion Island. This sentiment is increased infinitely more if you or those in your family are dedicated Mickey fans. While most are likely to see an okay platformer starring Mickey Mouse, I can’t help but see something we do not get much anymore. In an era where Disney has focused mostly on mobile phone games for its licensed properties (especially Mickey) that are designed to have the user continuously dump small amounts of money into the app, Illusion Island is an original story Mickey Mouse game released for a console. It is a fully finished product that a talented team of developers put time and care into. If you are at all nostalgic for the Disney game era of entries like Epic Mickey, Illusion Island might fill that Mickey-shaped void. 

 

__________

 

Jonathan Keating is a contributing writer and photographer to DisneyBizJournal.

Points to Ponder on Disney Stock

 by Ray Keating

News/Analysis

DisneyBizJournal.com

August 28, 2023

 

The Walt Disney Company faces assorted challenges, and that’s been reflected recently in the decline in the company’s stock price.

 

What to think? Well, the following are the most interesting points that we’ve read in recent days in the media and from analysts regarding Disney…

An August 28 Forbes report noted:

 

• “Disney traded at about $84 Monday, hovering at its lowest level since October 2014, the last time they closed below $84 until last Thursday.”

 

• “Since October 2014, Disney’s 12% return compares to a roughly 130% jump for the S&P 500, while Disney’s 25% loss over the last five years and 55% gain over the last 10 years compares to the S&P’s 53% and 170% respective gains over the periods, according to FactSet data.”

 

• “Disney, whose earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization dwindled from $17.4 billion in 2018 to $11.5 billion last year, has suffered from a broad decline in profitability in linear television: Disney’s 55% return over the last decade compares favorably to similarly exposed stocks like CBS parent Paramount (down 57%) and HBO and CNN parent Warner Bros. Discovery (down 68%).”

 

• “‘Mickey is going on a diet and losing weight,’ Daiwa analyst Jonathan Kees wrote in a note to clients earlier this month. With the Iger-led recalibration on bottom lines, Disney will be a ‘survivor and winner in the streaming wars,’ Kees proclaimed.”

 

From TheStreet.com on August 26:

 

• CEO Bob Iger “must also figure out a business model for ESPN as the cable universe collapses and the company loses hundreds of millions of dollars each month it used to collect from cable companies. Add in the company's political battles in Florida, questions about the cost of content for the Disney+ streaming service, and general economic concerns hurting theme park attendance and you can see why people have become wary of owning Disney stock. Those people are wrong.”

 

• “Disney's biggest problem is that it needs to figure out how to properly monetize its content. People have not become less interested in good storytelling in movies and television shows nor have they decided to stop watching top-tier sporting events. They have, however, decided that most movies aren't worth leaving the house for and, people who don't watch sports, have gladly walked away from the cable bundle. That has put Disney in a position where Iger needs to completely reimagine how the company produces and monetizes content.”

 

• “It may take a few years, but at the end of the day, IP matters, and no company equals Disney when it comes to owning franchise properties.”

 

From a MotleyFool.com report on August 23:

 

• “Revenue from the direct-to-consumer streaming business rose by 9% to $5.5 billion, and its loss narrowed from $1.1 billion in the prior-year period to $512 million. Average revenue per subscriber at Disney+ grew by 2% to $6.58. Still, management will increase prices for its streaming services for the second time in less than a year. While other streamers have made similar moves in their attempts to achieve profitability, raising prices and placing more ads in their shows and movies risks alienating subscribers, like cable companies once did.”

 

From a Nasdaq.com report on August 27 noting another Motley Fool report:

 

• “The good news is that Disney has shown steady improvement over the last several quarters, which gives some hope to shareholders that the worst is behind the company. For example, the parks and experiences segment, which is made up of all the domestic and international theme parks, cruises, and other attractions, grew revenue by 13% year over year in the most recently reported quarter. Operating income in this segment increased by 11%. While the media and entertainment segment has seen its revenue decline sequentially over the last three quarters, its operating income has been improving. More important is the approximately $1 billion improvement in operating income in the direct-to-consumer business.”

 

Always keep in mind that stock price is based on future earnings or cash flow. The key then isn’t what’s happened at Disney, but what lies ahead. Right now, there are many questions, but there is an underlying, long-term strength to the company, given its IP, parks and resorts, movie studio, and streaming services. But you still need the right people – from leaders to creatives to managers to imagineers to budgeteers – in place to make it all work.

 

__________

 

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com; and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries, the Alliance of Saint Michael novels, and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right? (Keating is a Disney shareholder.)

 

Consider books by Ray Keating…

 

• The Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries. Here are 18 books in the series now with the latest being Under the Golden Dome: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel and For Better, For Worse: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story.

 

• Order The Weekly Economist II: 52 More Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist. Kindle editions and paperbacks via Amazon here and signed books here. And don’t forget the first book in this growing series, i.e., The Weekly Economist: 52 Quick Reads to Help You Think Like an Economist. Signed paperbacks at RayKeatingOnline.com or paperbacks, hardcovers and Kindle editions at Amazon.com.

 

• Cathedral: An Alliance of Saint Michael Novel. Signed paperbacks and/or paperbacks, hardcovers and the Kindle edition at Amazon. 

 

• The Lutheran Planner: The TO DO List Solution combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement, inspiration and consolation from the Christian faith.

 

• Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York  –  signed books  or at  Amazon.

 

•  Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know is available at  Amazon  in paperback or for the Kindle edition, and signed books at  www.raykeatingonline.com. 

 

Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of Disney, Free Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.

 

Story Book Dining Lends Itself to an Enchanted Evening

 by Beth Keating

Review

DisneyBizJournal.com

August 26, 2023

 

We haven’t had stellar luck booking dining reservations at “Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White,” stretching all the way back to their grand opening in December of 2018. We had attempted to snag reservations at this uber-popular Wilderness Lodge location on no fewer than three different trips, searching out Advanced Dining Reservations for every single day of each trip.  We finally nabbed a seating for our third visit, and we (meaning mom, and not so much the dad and son) were elated.  It was to be the highlight of the trip (for mom, at least).

And then came COVID… and Disney cancelled our entire trip. When the parks reopened, it took a while for many of the restaurants to return, and Story Book Dining was no exception.

 

When word came that the venue was bringing Snow and friends back in late 2021, we sat on the My Disney Experience App at all hours of the day and night, watching for a slot to pop up. And we finally got one, just a few weeks after the restaurant was scheduled to reopen. We chalked our luck up to the fact that not many guests realized the place was slated for reopening.

The big night came, and we presented ourselves at the host stand and were escorted to the table.  The room was lovely (redone from the former signature dining Artist’s Point) and decorated to look like you were in an enchanted forest, sparkling tree branches dangling overhead with lights that changed color as the various characters made their appearances.

 
I’d like to say the rest of that evening was just as enchanting as the room décor, but it wasn’t. The restaurant was still under certain COVID protocols, so while the characters were there, you didn’t get close to them. They kind of sauntered by, waving, and you took a distanced selfie with them.  That would have been okay, but the food service was the greater problem that evening.

  
Still under COVID protocols, there were fewer tables in the dining area, with the tables spaced further apart.  That meant lower capacity for the evening, and we’re sure that’s what caused the absolute rush in the night’s schedule.  They were trying to turn the tables over as quickly as possible.  That, plus the restaurant had only been reopened a short time, so the meal service hadn’t exactly gotten to the point of being a well-oiled machine yet.

 
Not only did the wait staff start to remove the appetizers before we were done eating (the starters are small, so it doesn’t even take that long), but the desserts were brought out to the table before our entrées were half eaten.  Our table was off to the corner, near the entrance, and some of the characters never made it down as far as our alcove before our dishes had been cleared and our bill handed over.  All in all, a very disappointing night for a dining experience we’d waited years for. We decided NOT to review the evening for the blog, giving Disney the benefit of the doubt with the hope that things would improve as they got back in the groove post-pandemic. (And yes, as character dining veterans, we were well aware of the often chaotic nature of character meals, so we weren’t expecting candlelight and roses.)

Fast forward to 2023, and things look a lot different now.  We were on the My Disney Experience app, searching for a dining reservation for our anniversary dinner, and magically, a late night opening for Story Book Dining popped up. We grabbed it, willing to give the Dwarfs a second chance.

And we’re glad we did, because it was an enchanting night (due, in no small part, to our Cast Member, Tim, who not only kept our meal paced adequately, but brought a bit of Disney magic to the table when he discovered it was our anniversary!)

The room is a beautiful setting, and the Evil Queen has her own meet-and-greet area to acknowledge those who’ve come to the forest (A PhotoPass photographer is there to capture the moment.)

Throughout the meal, Snow White, Grumpy and Dopey circulate to the tables, and pose for pictures and hugs tableside. Periodically, a catchy tune plays and the sparkly lights flicker, and the characters will dance and goof around for guests. (Dopey played hide and seek behind one of the trees!)

At your table, a creatively imagined stand designed like a three-branched “tree” awaits the delivery of your food.  Everyone gets one of each of the three starters; their own selected entrée; and one each of the trio of shared miniature desserts.  As a final parting gift, our Cast Member also brought over the “Huntsman’s Gift to the Queen,” a delicious made-in-house chocolate heart for each of us.

 
The appetizer trio usually includes the Hunter’s Pie, made with turkey and chicken with cranberry preserves; a delicious Wild Mushroom Bisque served in adorable little cauldrons; and a Wicked Shrimp Cocktail with a Bloody Mary vinaigrette and seaweed salad.

Of the three selections, the mushroom soup was really yummy, with a strong, earthy flavor and creamy texture.  While the teeny tiny cauldrons only gave you six or seven spoonfuls, it was so good it left you wanting more.  But there were two other delights to try, so we moved on to what was normally the “Hunter’s Pie,” but in our case was more of a flaky puff pastry topped with a firm meatball coated in a sweet barbecue sauce.  Three bites and it was gone!  The shrimp came as a set of two (one for each of us), and they were a jumbo-sized, fresh shrimp, and while they were named “Wicked” shrimp, and were plated with a spiced house-made seasoning, they weren’t overly “spicy.” There was just a miniscule hint of a horseradish bite in the background.

For our entrées, we ended up with the Royal Prime Rib Roast, served with horseradish-mashed potatoes and roasted carrots, accompanied by a hot and buttery popover (what some would call “Yorkshire pudding”).  The mashed potatoes were tangy with the addition of the horseradish, and while they were smooth, they also had small bits of potato in the mix that added a touch of “homemade” texture.  The popover was huge, and a lovely side to the Prime Rib. It let out the perfect amount of steam when you broke it open. The center was creamy, with a slight crisp to the outside of the pastry.  The Prime Rib itself was cooked to the requested temperatures, and had a nice au jus to complement the meat.  While it was a very good cut, we can’t say that it was the best on Disney property.

We also tried “Bashful’s Sustainable Fish,” which on this evening was a sweet and tender salmon. Served with an herbed risotto and gremolata, the fish flaked perfectly, and a breadcrumb topping gave just a tiny crunch to the dish.  The herb drizzle over the top of the salmon brought a suggestion of heat to each forkful, a pleasant contrast to the more neutral salmon. A side of crisp asparagus gave a needed texture to the dish.  Overall, it was a good flavor combination.

The dessert course was again a shared course, with three petite desserts brought to the tree-shaped serving stand.  The best treat was a set of two “Poison” apples, tiny, bite-sized dark chocolate-apple mousse, though the Miner’s Treasures, a cookies 'n cream flavored panna cotta topped by little chocolate dwarfs’ hats with chocolate gems, ran a very close second.  The poison apples were a soft mousse with both vanilla and chocolate, covered in a shiny red gel.  Light and fluffy, the single bites of those two well-themed desserts were just enough to satisfy, and a welcome end to the meal.

However, we definitely should have eaten the third offering, the Fairy Tale Gooseberry Tart, before the sweet mousse-based goodies, because after the sugary duo, the Gooseberry Tart seemed all the more tart. It was sort of apple pie-ish, but not quite. A crumbly tart base had an almost cookie feel to it, and the filling was cheek-puckering tart, topped by a meringue with green Matcha sprinkled on top.  (Our Cast Member remembered it was our anniversary, and perched a special chocolate “Happy Anniversary” banner on our tray, too!)

 

Also available to “plus up” your dinner are a number of location unique specialty drinks, such as the “Transformation Potion” ($6.50), a fun non-alcoholic color-changing drink; or “The Smoking Mirror” ($14.50), with Johnnie Walker Black 12 year Whisky, Wildberry, and lime (and yes, it comes with its own Rosemary Smoke!).  There’s also a wide selection of wines from Oregon and Washington State to keep with Wilderness Lodge’s vibe.

Dinner at Story Book Dining is only served from 4:00 -9:00 p.m. each evening, with a prix-fixe price of $65 per adult and $39 per child. If you want to trek to the Enchanted Forest to visit with Snow White and friends, don’t sleep on it – you’ll need to be up at 6 a.m. to snag those coveted reservations – prince or no prince to awaken you!

 

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Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.