Free dining reviews 8/26-9/1

[Cindy B]

We just got back from the first week of free dining. Our party was three adults (one a disney adult at 12 years old) and one 9 year old child.

We started at POR, and split the stay with Coronado Springs.

Our table services included:

Ohana--very fast service, but great meal. The turkey was very good, but the sausage was not good. We got a great windowside table near the volcano pool.

Coral Reef-- best restaurant of the whole trip. Everything was amazing down to the view, the food and the atmosphere. My DH had one small nitpick about the tuna entree, he expected it to be a bit warmer. We were allowed to have three types of smoothies on the DDP, the Great White, the Strawberry one and something else... our table wound up with a combination of Great Whites (non alcoholic pina coladas) and strawberry smoothies. I had the Mahi Mahi and it was amazing.

Kona- worst restaurant of the trip. Appetizers came out before our drinks were even on the table. My son dropped a fork and the waitress grabbed one off another table. My food was cold and I had to ask twice for my daughters chicken noodle soup. The waitress knew that we were on the dining plan and her tip was guaranteed. I actually spoke to a manager who was roaming the restaurant and told her about my concerns.

Chef Mickey's breakfast-- same as usual. It was fun but busy. My son found the loose gummy bears and piled up on those.

Le Cellier-- great selections, but our waitress was on the too efficient side. The hostess told me that they are now booked solid until January. The mushroom fillet was fabulous!

Boma- Good but not fabulous. We wanted to eat a bit earlier than our 630 dinner reservations but one call to dining from our room stated that Boma was full. We got there at 5 and they said it was not a problem to seat us. My highlight was the different hummuses (or is it hummi?) and the cocomisu.

Cape May-- very nice but not as quiet as before. The characters were great there. This was breakfast and not dinner.

 

[lynn46356]

Thanks for the reviews! Was wondering which character breakfast you like the best. It's been years since we ate to Cape May's character breakfast. We are planning a trip for next February and I'm wanting to do one character breakfast. So, which one did you prefer? Thanks for your help.

Lynn

 

[swankybeth]

Thanks for the reviews.

 

[Cindy B]

Thanks for the reviews! Was wondering which character breakfast you like the best. It's been years since we ate to Cape May's character breakfast. We are planning a trip for next February and I'm wanting to do one character breakfast. So, which one did you prefer? Thanks for your help.

Lynn

I would say Cape May. Cape May is not as busy, the food selection is a little fresher as well.

 

[fivefordisney]

Kona- worst restaurant of the trip. Appetizers came out before our drinks were even on the table. My son dropped a fork and the waitress grabbed one off another table. My food was cold and I had to ask twice for my daughters chicken noodle soup. The waitress knew that we were on the dining plan and her tip was guaranteed. I actually spoke to a manager who was roaming the restaurant and told her about my concerns.

Our server at Kona was bad, too. She walked right by the dessert display and was quite unfriendly during our meal. We watched as all the other servers explained each dessert and politely served their tables. My kids finally went up on their own and checked out the desserts after watching the parade guest go by them during our dinner. It was pretty weird. I only wish I could remember her name--I'd PM you!

All other servers on the trip were wonderful!!

 

[Cindy B]

Our server at Kona was bad, too. She walked right by the dessert display and was quite unfriendly during our meal. We watched as all the other servers explained each dessert and politely served their tables. My kids finally went up on their own and checked out the desserts after watching the parade guest go by them during our dinner. It was pretty weird. I only wish I could remember her name--I'd PM you!

All other servers on the trip were wonderful!!

I think we had the same waitress--especially since you said she. I actually talked to the manager about her. We didn't get the dessert explanation either, just the menu placed on our table.

After I talked with the manager, she never came back to the table and the manager/supervisor (Whitney) took care of us from there on. I personally asked if the gratuity could be changed and she stated that she checked with the POS system that it can not be changed percentage wise.

There was a couple near us that was NOT on the dining plan and they got great treatment. Another older couple next to us had the dining plan and the waitress tried to convince them that they don't need the kids plan chicken noodle soup as an appy, but other items such as the crab cakes.

 

[natalielongstaff]

thanks for your reviews

 

[Schucraig]

Thanks for the reviews!

 

[MomPlanner22]

You mentioned that at the Coral Reef you were able to have smoothies as a part of the DDP. Were those options at Kona, Ohana or LeCellier as well? I know my son will really enjoy those and since he is a picky eater, it would be a good option to help fill him up (until we get back to the room and he can have his favorite standby -- yogurt, fruit & cereal!).

Thanks!

 

[averill94]

Hmm interesting that the service stunk and you couldnt adjust the tip! I wonder how the server wouldve acted if the tip were not included?

Sorry to hear about Kona- it was about our best meal last trip!

 

[Cindy B]

You mentioned that at the Coral Reef you were able to have smoothies as a part of the DDP. Were those options at Kona, Ohana or LeCellier as well? I know my son will really enjoy those and since he is a picky eater, it would be a good option to help fill him up (until we get back to the room and he can have his favorite standby -- yogurt, fruit & cereal!).

Thanks!

No to smoothies at Ohana (partly our fault, we didn't ask--it was the first meal)

But I did get a smoothie at Le Cellier. The service was so bad at Kona I want to block the whole meal out!

 

[vasusan]

No smooties at Ohana. Our waiter specifically told us soft drinks and tea

 

[lookingforward]

I think we had the same waitress--especially since you said she. I actually talked to the manager about her. We didn't get the dessert explanation either, just the menu placed on our table.

After I talked with the manager, she never came back to the table and the manager/supervisor (Whitney) took care of us from there on. I personally asked if the gratuity could be changed and she stated that she checked with the POS system that it can not be changed percentage wise.

There was a couple near us that was NOT on the dining plan and they got great treatment. Another older couple next to us had the dining plan and the waitress tried to convince them that they don't need the kids plan chicken noodle soup as an appy, but other items such as the crab cakes.

We had the same problem last year. I actually wrote a letter (horrible server and she put our cold salads under the heat lamp and then served them up warm) and they refunded that meal to us (we were on the dining plan and they credited my card with what the meal cost) and gave me a free meal credit for our family to be used within one year. We used it this summer and had a wonderful experience. Whitney was the person I got a letter from and was very kind. I would recommend writing a letter so they have a record of the problems.

 

[MzDiz]

We were at Kona Cafe on the 31st and our server was pretty bad too. We sat there with our food for about 5 minutes without forks before she emerged. Anyone who's done that knows just how long 5 minutes can feel.

 

[Cindy B]

We were at Kona Cafe on the 31st and our server was pretty bad too. We sat there with our food for about 5 minutes without forks before she emerged. Anyone who's done that knows just how long 5 minutes can feel.

I was at Kona on the 31st- I bet you were in the same section we were. I didn't have forks either.

 

[chobie]

Hmm interesting that the service stunk and you couldnt adjust the tip! I wonder how the server wouldve acted if the tip were not included?

Sorry to hear about Kona- it was about our best meal last trip!

Probably the same. A bad server is a bad server. I waited tables for many years and whenever I had a big party with the tip included, I worked just as hard because I was a good server. I took my job seriously. It was not just about the tip, it was also about being a good employee and co-worker. If a server is good at waiting tables and a good employee, they will give good service regardless of whether the tip is included. We go to WDW several times a year and are never on the dining plan, sometimes we get great service and sometimes awful -it has nothing to do with whether the tip is included.

 

[Minniespal]

Thanx for the reviews.

 

[melomouse]

We were at Kona for our August trip the week prior to free dining. What was lacking in service by our server Jing was made up by the amazing, well prepared and creative food.

Thanks for your reviews.