So I heard it wasn't worth it...

[little1kry]

I've seen numerous posts that say while Brown Derby is good, it's not worth two TS credits. So, now I'm second guessing our lunch ADR there. My DBF and I are on the DxDP (eating is fun :yay:) and are doing a lot of 2TS credit meals, but I'm wondering if we should skip this one. If so, any suggestions on where we should eat? Just seems like there aren't many good food choices at HS. (I've already been to H&V and won't be doing that one again any time soon....).

Thanks! :thumbsup2

[TarzansKat]

Honestly, I love the Brown Derby. Is lunch there your "best" use of 2TS credits? Probably not. But it's an excellent meal, relaxed atmosphere, great service. I know there have been less than stellar reviews, but I highly, highly recommend it. It's such a great way to take a break from DHS.

I'm going down for free dining in five days, and will be paying oop for lunch at the Derby. To me it's well worth it! :thumbsup2

[Chkultr]

OMG yes it is worth it! With the DDP, that is the only way we could have ever eaten there. I have to be very picky about the things I can and can not eat and I had no trouble what so ever finding something on the menu! The desserts are awesome! :thumbsup2

IMHO I think you will regret not going.!

[Lynn5700]

We loved it...it is a nice restaurant and very relaxing! Enjoy :)

[little1kry]

Well, 3-0. Looks like Brown Derby it is! :thumbsup2
Thanks for the replies. :goodvibes

[oeshpdog2]

We just ate there about 2 weeks ago and I have to say it was the best meal we had during our trip. The steak was awesome and so was the crab cake appetizer. The service was also the best we had experienced and her tip reflected it for sure.

[Willow25]

I will be the one to disagree with everyone else. We have eaten there twice on the dining plan. While the meal on the whole is good in comparison to other 2 credit meals it is not worth it. You might be asking if it is not worth it why did you go back well we were stuck in MGM starving and we had two extra credits from a canceled meal.

Again it is not that the meal is not good it is just that in comparision to California Grill or Narcossee's it is just not comparable.

[Seewhatimesdone]

I love the Brown Derby! We have a tradition of always eating there whenever we make a trip to WDW. While the food is great it's really the atmosphere that I love so much. I love old Hollywood movies and actors and the layout is just like that so it's one of my favorites

[septbaby]

Since you are on the Deluxe plan it is easier to "justify" a meal: $71.99 for DP:

Refills and snacks worth about $12, so $60 for meals. So that means a meal credit cost you $20. If you can have your meal at HBD for $30-40 its a good use of those 2 credits.

Another way to look at it is not to look at HBD as a stand alone meal. Look at an avg of your meals for the trip: if you avg $20 or more per meal then the DP is easily worth it. You would not have to eat exclusively TS to meet the $20 avg either. (CS Breakfst platter $12, Sci Fi lunch $28, Beaches & Cream $22). That example is resort breakfast and two "cheaper" TS meals.

The third way to consider the expense: you've already paid for the credits, eat what you want, don't let "value" cheat you out of a dream. You wanna try that Cobb salad, have it even though its the cheapest entree. For dessert you want that legendary grapefruit cake, get that two. Splurge on the appetizer and jazz up the drink if you like (Narcoosee's let me have a smoothie and my mother had tea with dessert). It's your vacation do it for you.

Just for the record, none of my values include tax on those meals, 6.5% that you save by having the plan.

[Tricia1972]

If you really want to go to HBD then you should go for it!! The value per credit is not as good there as it is at most other TS eateries, but if it's your dream - then don't worry about the money.

As the PP said, you can easily make up your money at other restaurants. Not maximizing for one meal will not make or break your overall vacation. In fact if it makes your vacation more magical, then I think it does maximize your plan.

[DisneyKidds]

We used to love the Brown Derby. The atmosphere was wonderful, the servers were excellent, and the food was extremely good. It was a must eat place for us for a decade right through 2003 or so.

Then the overall quality of the expereince went down. They squeezed in more tables so it seemed to get more crowded. The piano went silent. The servers seemed to have less pride in what they were doing and went from excellent and attentive to just being adequate. The food, while still good, was no longer excellent and the choices dwindled. But it was still a decent meal and the best that could be had in the Studios, so we didn't abandon it completely. Of course the dining plan came along and it was 1 TS credit, and despite the place not being what it once was, it was a very good meal on the dining plan.

Then they changed it to 2 TS credits and we haven't been back since. It just isn't worth it, compared to other Signature locations. While it may be the best restaurant in the Studios, it is nowhere near the quality of Narcoossee's or California Grill (or any of the other Sig restaurant for that matter). I say that from both a quality and value standpoint (the $32 filet at the Brown Derby isn't nearly as good as Narcoossee's, where for 2 TS credits you can get the $58 surf and turf and have lobster with your filet, or as Le Cellier where the Mushroom Filet costs less and is much better). On the regular dining plan we will never use 2 TS credits at the Brown Derby.

That said, if you are on the deluxe plan and you have the dining credits to spare, it's still an above average meal with nice atmosphere.

[little1kry]

Thanks everyone! :goodvibes Considering everyone's good view of the food, we'll definitely keep the reservation. If nothing else, I may add another 2 -TS meal as an ADR and pay OOP for HBD, particularly b/c it's for lunch and also b/c, looking at the menu, our meal won't be that expensive....clearly not needing 2 appetizers and 2 desserts! I've done the DxDP before, so I know it's a lot of food, but we're eating at so many 2 credit restaurants, we only have 2 meals a day. Wouldn't want to starve :rotfl:

[septbaby]

I would be very hesitant to pay OOP for any meals on the Deluxe plan. Two meals a day plus snacks can go a long way at WDW. If for some reason think you may pay OOP, save that move for the end of the trip. You may just find you can't eat al those planned meals or decide to share some CS meals.

[3agoria]

No way, no how will I ever go back to Brown Derby....YUCK. I had read many posts about how "great" the Cobb salad was. I was so looking forward to it.
It was like it was put thru the food processesor (sp?). If this place is 2 TS, I would go to Narcossee's (sp?) or another place. I would not waste 1 TS at this place, let alone 2?!
Sorry to be so negative, but it's just not that good.

[Stan's MaggieMouse]

We had dinner at HBD last year during free dining and my husband and I agreed that it was the best meal of the trip. We eat at the Brown Derby every trip, I would hate to miss it.

Maggie

[musicmom3]

Any recommendations of good things for vegetarians to eat? We will be going next week. The only thing I've had from there has been the fabulous grapefruit cake (through Starring Rolls Bakery).

[GoofySon'sMom]

I am kinda on both sides of the fence on this one. DS and I had deluxe dining and ate at Brown Derby for lunch. We loved our meal. We have also had dinner there in the past. I really like BD, but I am not sure I would use two meal credits on the regular plan for it. With the dxdp it was a no-brainer for us.