All foodies: Attention please

[OneinThree]

Curious if you go primarily to DW to dine, is the main objective of your vacation to eat good food, try new cuisines and relax?

Said it before. Whether the food or the accommodations and amenities, you can find far better elsewhere for less money.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

Primary reason? No.

I mean, IMO, outside of V&A, there's not a restaurant in Disney that offers anything or any experience that you can't find anyplace else (holy negatives!) I mean, there's a few unique items, like Zebra Domes and all, but nothing is like "I need to get back to Disney if I ever wanna have..." Maybe that's just my mentality, living in Brooklyn. I remember I met some people from North Dakota a few trips ago. They were trying Starbucks for the first time!

With that said, I get very excited about the food for a few reasons: 1) I eat pretty healthy year-round. My vacation is time to go off my diet and eat everything I can get my hands on. 2) Disney food is extremely nostalgic. Something as simple as Rice Krispy treats just taste better on Main Street. I have my favorites that I look forward to - like eating popcorn every. single. day. Mickey-shaped waffles just taste better.

Growing up, we went to Disney. That was my family's go-to trip. We were and still kind of are (even after I moved out) very much that family who eats together every night. My mom would always have dinner on the table. We'd eat out or take out once a week, so the idea of going someplace and always having food prepared for you felt taboo and different. Even now, we go for Christmas and one of the main reasons we keep going back is b/c my mom says "I don't have to do the dishes or make the food!"

You can do that on a cruise, or in another city, for sure... but it's just different in Disney. So to answer your question - no, we don't plan a trip just for food or the dining experience, but being in Disney definitely adds to our foodie experience.

 

[chris benton]

A foodie looking for a primarily food oriented vacation would never choose WDW. The food simply isn't good enough. It's good for a theme park resort, sometimes very good. But, compared to a major city with a great food scene, it's not anywhere close.

On the other hand, enjoying the restaurants as a major part of enjoying WDW. Yes, we do that.

I'm in this camp, but honestly, enjoying the restaurants is not a major part - it's more like being smug that we know the decent places because we've researched. Some of the places are way over priced - even for theme park, but some almost seem like a decent value, whether pricey or cheap - those are the joints I LOVE finding / frequenting. I'm not going to WDW for gourmet fancy meals, or for great ethnic options, because I can do way better for way cheaper at home. I DO plan on eating good food (for my tastes) for the price - which can be done. Sometimes it might be signature, sometimes it might be ts, sometimes it might be cs - but all can be hit or miss for the quality vs price for your tastes.

For "foodies," if you are from a place with a wide variety of decent ethnic foods, and fine dining, WDW dining might not be fantastic.

 

[cadien]

I remember I met some people from North Dakota a few trips ago. They were trying Starbucks for the first time!

I wonder whether they were pulling your leg. Or had just never bothered to try one. I'm not in one of the largest North Dakota towns and we have four or five.

 

[Lisa F]

A what WDW DOES have imo that takes it over the top is theming. I rarely eat pizza at wdw because I can get food pizza at home but I love eating pot roast in LTT. Also I don't go out to eat a lot at home so just going out to eat and indulging so much tasty a huge treat. I'm very careful with what I eat at home but on vacation I live a little...and I won't lie, I really look forward to it

 

[HopperFan]

Curious if you go primarily to DW to dine, is the main objective of your vacation to eat good food, try new cuisines and relax?

For me, the rides and attractions are somewhat limited...the Haunted Mansion and Thunder Mountain are as adventurous as I get (whoopy!). Ask me to check out a menu though, I’m all over it, lol

No. I find Disney food average at best, certainly can find better food at home and add that it's overpriced for what you get.

You have a few spots that we really enjoy, but even some of our favorites have dropped in quality ... like California Grill. Some of the table service are a step up for theme park food but then for quick service, always find myself saying at Universal how the food is better, bigger portions and less expensive than Disney.

I'm there for the parks and special events, but Disney dining is way down low on our list.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Curious if you go primarily to DW to dine, is the main objective of your vacation to eat good food, try new cuisines and relax?

For me, the rides and attractions are somewhat limited...the Haunted Mansion and Thunder Mountain are as adventurous as I get (whoopy!). Ask me to check out a menu though, I’m all over it, lol

Eating as we do at home is important to us so I suppose equal weight is given to attractions and food.
On an adult only trip food rates higher than theme park overall surroundings.
On a mixed age group trip, I balance our wants with that of children. As far as rides at WDW go I'll ride Aerosmith's roller coaster for breakfast, lunch, and dinner but the man won't.
I have little tolerance for what I consider Frankenstein food in the form of chicken nuggets and QS burgers but am fine with compromising on fries ( I don't eat them unless they are exceptional), the occasional hot dog and mac and cheese if a child must as long as they eat some green veggies as well. Weirdly enough DGD, won't eat any form of mac and cheese so she misses not only the neon orange food stuff but made from scratch versions with real cheese as well.

I can eat at any cuisine Disney has to offer at home so I'm more interested in the authenticity and quality of ingredients at WDW.

 

[Farro]

We go for all of it! The hotels, the rides, the atmosphere, the dining. Part of a great vacation is going out to dinner every night instead of cooking.

Agree with above, it's definitely not a food destination, but you can get some pretty good dinners if you aren't afraid to spend a few bucks. I actually think the counter service at WDW is great. Epcot and Animal Kingdom being the stand outs.

 

[rentayenta]

Curious if you go primarily to DW to dine, is the main objective of your vacation to eat good food, try new cuisines and relax?

For me, the rides and attractions are somewhat limited...the Haunted Mansion and Thunder Mountain are as adventurous as I get (whoopy!). Ask me to check out a menu though, I’m all over it, lol

This is DH's mindset for the most part; I like a blend of it all. He has a few rides he wants to do but its mostly about the wine/cocktails and food this trip. The issue is I can't get him to actually look at a menu. LOL.

 

[Magical2017]

Any recommendations? We plan on ordering the bread service for appetizer.

We ate there twice, once for lunch on our arrival day and once for dinner. We all ordered different dishes and shared--everything was delicious.

 

[Paulines]

Thank you all for your thoughts thus far!

As several posters have alluded to (and stated), being a foodie doesn’t always rise to gourmet standards, if that makes sense. Heck, foodies have been known to pine for good ole carnival junk food ( I do draw the line at fried butter)!

Fine dining is wonderful, but looking forward to good/decent food in a fun, relaxing setting!

 

[armerida]

My husband and I are both big time foodies and reside in one of the top foodie cities in the country, and I’ve gotta say - during dinner at a AAA 4-diamond restaurant last weekend, I found myself wistfully pining for the wild boar and elk dishes at Jiko! I can’t wait to return in August...Disney for us is also gluten-free heaven, which definitely adds to the dining experience and makes it a significant part of our trips.

 

[JerseyJanice]

The parks are the main reason we go to WDW, but we have to eat and we have to sleep so the restaurant and resort parts of our trip are important.

The theming of many WDW restaurants is fun and unique, for example, Sci Fi Dine Inn, Ohana and any character meal. The atmosphere, entertainment and decor of places like these are as much a part of the experience as the food is.

 

[CynBeth]

Although dining is a huge part of my WDW vacation, I would not say it's my primary focus, the parks and attractions would have that spot for me. But, we do 2 - 3 TS a day and really enjoy a combination of our old favourites and trying something new - I view the restaurants kind of as attractions in themselves. I also find them a great way to sit and relax and cool off (important to us during our August trips) and reflect on the time we have spent in the parks.

I agree. I have family members with food allergies so we pretty much eat all meals TS. We try to visit every few years around holiday time and have certain favorites we do every trip and a few we rotate between. Sometimes might add a new one. We are at the parks from open to close and find lunches and dinners are our time to rest and recharge.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

My primary reason for going to Disney is to be far enough away from home so no one can bother me. I enjoy the resorts, some restaurants, a few rides, and several cocktails (not necessary in that order) and I'm a happy camper. But with that said, if my agenda was fine dining, I wouldn't go to a theme park environment for it.

 

[RealBlast3]

Curious if you go primarily to DW to dine, is the main objective of your vacation to eat good food, try new cuisines and relax?

For me, the rides and attractions are somewhat limited...the Haunted Mansion and Thunder Mountain are as adventurous as I get (whoopy!). Ask me to check out a menu though, I’m all over it, lol

What an interesting thread question! I love that you asked it. First off, I have always had a love for Disney, and everything to do with it since I was a kid, and always dreamed of going to the parks, however I wasn't able to afford to go until I was an adult of 25. Anyway, I had no idea when I went that first time what Disney World was, other than rides and characters, and it wasn't even me who planned the trip. That was back in 2005.

Anyway, since then, I obviously discovered all the Disney had to offer that make it the ultimate vacation spot and, as a fellow foodie, the ultimate spot to go to, as well. So, yes, I will admit that though I obviously go to Disney because of that magical special feeling it gives me that warms my heart, I totally plan my entire trip around my dining reservations and they are the most important part of my vacation!

So yeah, because I've been to the World quite a few times since that first initial trip, all my trips now are totally about relaxing, enjoying myself at my fave eateries, trying some new foods, too, and of course, visiting my favorite rides, as well. But obviously, once you've been a few times, you can now be more picky and choosy about what you do and where you go - those first couple a trips feel like 'once in a lifetime' kinds, but now I know I'm going every year or two, so I can do what I want and be more selective and focus on the dining experience, which is my favorite part LOL.

 

[JennyDrake]

This is the reason we go to Disney as well, the whole package. We want to totally submerse ourselves in the "Disney Magic". Dinning is a pretty big part of that also. .

this is me, but I will say that I feel overall quality and variety have dipped since the onset of the DDP and WDW has just about priced me out of table service....So I am so grateful that there are so many GREAT CS options!

 

[Farro]

this is me, but I will say that I feel overall quality and variety have dipped since the onset of the DDP and WDW has just about priced me out of table service....So I am so grateful that there are so many GREAT CS options!

That's funny, I am of the total opposite opinion. I feel like now with all the new restaurants at Disney Springs, our table service choices are better than ever!

 

[Aimeedyan]

We are big food people - I ran a food blog, cook for fun, we dine out a LOT, and no cuisine is off-limits, but Disney food is pretty average. I can't think of one thing served at Disney that you can't get in most average size cities (that would likely taste better and be half the cost).

But... Disney has nostalgia, characters to add to meals, loved ones together on vacation, and some fun theming that lead us to really enjoy most of our Disney meals. Our trips and vacations are certainly not centered around the food, though.

 

[JennyDrake]

That's funny, I am of the total opposite opinion. I feel like now with all the new restaurants at Disney Springs, our table service choices are better than ever!

Ah.... Disney Springs has minimal appeal to me --dunno why??? Maybe cause I'm not a shopper? I fully agree that there are numerous NEW places to eat there, which is a very good thing!