Am I the only one that goes to WDW for the food???

[dislaney]

We don't go for the food. The atmosphere at some of the restaurants can't be beat, but I don't think it's the best food in the world.

 

[Soonji]

The food is a wonderful way to add variety to your trip! I love the fact that even though I've ridden Dumbo 200 times, every trip I can try something new by trying new restaurants.

 

[MaryPA]

I can't say that we go for the food but we certainly look forward to our reservations and eating there. More and more every year!

In addition to the food, we love the fact that we can go to dinner in shorts or 'casual' clothes and don't have to dress up. Of course certain restaurants do have a dress code. For my husband to wear a tie, someone better be getting married or buried. I have to dress up [somewhat] everyday for work, and I am a jeans, dress down sort of girl.

 

[tpholland]

We love the entire Disney experience. Parks, resorts, the ambiance & Disney magic period. But yes, we plan our trips around dxdp. All the rest is just wonderful filler between meals

 

[DisneyNDecember]

Yes, I go for the food. I love having 100s of restaraunts to choose from on the DDP. I love the fact that so much, and desserts and not gain weight 'cause all the walking I d do there!

When I go on other trips to FLA people ask me if I'm going to Disney. They don't understand why a Disney world addict such as myself doesn't want to go a park for a day. I try to explain that I love WDW the resort, not the parks. Now, that doesn't mean that I don't love the parks. But what I truly love is the entire experience. Which means MCO, ME, CBR, or POR or AKL tec, and ADRs in addition to MK, AK. EPCOT, and Studios. Get it?? You don't have to a CM to know the language. And that what makes me an addict. It truly is its own World with its own language, and FOOD!

So, I go to WDW because I love the food, and the resorts, and of course the parks.

Ditto !!! I could not have said it better myself & I too am a Disneyworld addict !!! Food & all !!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ROEDISNEY]

Love Disney resturants

 

[dzone1]

I enjoy a few restaurants but we definitely don't go for the food. Most of it is mediocre IMO and some is awful. We go for the parks and only the parks.

This^^, most of disney's food is garbage.

 

[LowesChevy]

We go on vacation for the food as well. WDW is no exception.

I love the signature dining locations-they are consistently some of the best restaurants I have been to. They change the menus just often enough to keep it exciting every year, although sometimes you may miss a favorite dish.

I think Disney does a good job with the variety of restaurants offered, whether it is cs, ts or signature dining. I think there is something for everyone on any budget.

 

[honeydiane1953]

Of course some of Disney's food is great and some not so much. I go for MK just walking down MAIN STREET USA is my reason.

 

[DisGirl23]

My favorite part of the planning process is waking up really early on our 180 day mark to make our ADRs! I can hardly contain myself when I get my choices and usually find myself telling anyone who will sit still long enough about every restaurant we are going to try this time. We don't expect stellar food there but, there definitely is some great food out there! I just love experiencing the different restaurants. To me, they are an attraction all on their own.
I dream about Mickey Ice Cream Bars and pineapple dole whips!

 

[persimmondeb]

We don't go ONLY for the food, but it is a big part of the experience, and the thing we spend the most time planning. Of course, Disney does some things better than others (breakfast items, sweets, some kinds of entrees, particularily steak) and some things are better avoided (pizza, coffee), but everything is charming and fun, often beautifully presented, and often very, very good. It's not free, by any means, but as my BIL said while looking at the menu for Le Cellier "that kind of food costs that pretty much everywhere."

We've only been twice (third trip next month-yayy!), but I don't think I've eaten anything at Disney I was unhappy with (DH was underwhelmed by a slice of pizza that I had warned him against), and I've had a number of things that I can't wait to get at again. We're not that uncritical either, and we eat out a lot.

I sometimes wonder where and what the people who complain about the food are eating? If they don't care for sweets, and are missing a fair amount of the fun that way? Or repeatedly subject themselves to the pizza? Or had one bad experience, and no longer risk anything besides the drearier CS options? Or don't really care for eating out, anyway? Or only eat at restaurants I can't afford?

 

[Spaceship Tigger]

Eating at WDW is one of our favorite parts about going. And its not really even about the food - there's only a few things I've eaten there that I can say are better than what I can get at home. For me it's more about the dining experiences of the restaurants themselves that I can't normally get anywhere else.

I don't think there's anywhere else I can dine by an aquarium one night, listen to a German band the next, eat an African buffet another, and finish things off inside a castle.

 

[Planogirl]

Another comment....I've tried many places at WDW (and of course have many still to try) but I think that most Disney food isn't as good as great restaurants back home and it tends to be way more pricey. Again, there are exceptions of course.

But restaurants there can be fun! For example, I would definitely go back to the Scifi place in spite of the bad food I had just for the environment.

As always, YMMV.

 

[DVCSAMNH]

One of the highlights for me of being on vacation is going to restaurants. Being the cook in the house, having somebody prepare my meal and clean up after me is a dream come true.

But, I have to say that lately I have found myself leaving the WDW property more and more to find good food. There are still some restaurants on property that I enjoy but as other posters have said "mediocrity" and a uniformity have taken over a lot of the restaurants. And it gets worse every trip. The good side is finding how many good restaurants there are in Orlando and the surrounding towns. And I have my standbys when I am too lazy to leave the World.

 

[tpholland]

This^^, most of disney's food is garbage.

 

[wild.zinnia]

I love planning out where we will be eating. For me, the food/restaurants are part of the whole Disney experience.

Nope! We make all of our plans around our Advanced Dining Reservations!! (That's why we love the Disney Food Blog so much)

I love all of your acronyms, too! We do live in a different world as Disney addicts, don't we?!? ;-)

That blog looks awesome. Thanks for the link.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

Dining is a big big part of our vacation at WDW. We pick a favorite place to dine each night of our stay. We always dine at California Grill, Jiko, Flying Fish and now Sannaa on each trip. For those who say that Disney dining is not what it used to be try one of the above and you will be surprised.

 

[emmabemmainc]

The food is a major part of the trip for me! I love planning where to eat--and I love looking at the menus.

It always cracks me up when people say that most of the food is garbage--I've been to some very high end restaurants and while not all of the WDW restaurants are that wonderful, I found plenty of them to be fantastic! I think some people like to look down on others and rain on parades!

Also--how could they all taste the same? So, 'Ohana, Cali Grille, Jiko, 50's PT, Boma and Crystal Palace all taste the same? How is that even possible?

 

[joi]

The food is a major part of the trip for me! I love planning where to eat--and I love looking at the menus.

It always cracks me up when people say that most of the food is garbage--I've been to some very high end restaurants and while not all of the WDW restaurants are that wonderful, I found plenty of them to be fantastic! I think some people like to look down on others and rain on parades!

Also--how could they all taste the same? So, 'Ohana, Cali Grille, Jiko, 50's PT, Boma and Crystal Palace all taste the same? How is that even possible?

One of the highlights for me of being on vacation is going to restaurants. Being the cook in the house, having somebody prepare my meal and clean up after me is a dream come true.

But, I have to say that lately I have found myself leaving the WDW property more and more to find good food. There are still some restaurants on property that I enjoy but as other posters have said "mediocrity" and a uniformity have taken over a lot of the restaurants. And it gets worse every trip. The good side is finding how many good restaurants there are in Orlando and the surrounding towns. And I have my standbys when I am too lazy to leave the World.

I think you're right that when people think of great eats in the US, Disney World isn't the first place that pops up. Yet Disney has done a fantastic job of having enough variety and class in their eating choices that there is something for everyone. Same goes for the design of their parks, a once in a lifetime opportunity that many choose to experience several times.

In my mid-twenties and about to graduate from an MD program, I can't imagine ever not taking a trip on a moment's notice. That's how I've vacationed all my life, with friends or alone but almost always spur-of-the-moment. Never have I had to plan more than a couple of months ahead of time, and it's served me well backpacking in Europe, South America, taking several road trips across America and Canada, and exploring the Himalayas last year. Sprinkle in some Universal Studios and a healthy dose of some classic vacation spots such as Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean.

I'm not white, and I've discovered racism in some of the self-proclaimed bastions of freedom. Throw France, Germany and Switzerland as some of the most xenophobic nations I've had the displeasure of visiting. Yet, in America and in many third world countries (except those perverted by extremism), people seem so much more hospitable. Disney World is truly a place for everyone to enjoy, regardless of who you are and where you're from. Even for a kid like me who was never exposed to the Disney spell as a kid.

I can't imagine going to Disney World more than two or three times in my entire life, there is just so much more of the world to explore. But when I do, I go with no expectations and the hope to make the absolute most of it.

 

[arielmomma]

I bet we're the only ones who eat at Akershus for the food.

Akershus is one of my favorites. I love the pickled fish (and no, I'm not kidding!)