American Size Meals

[rogerlover]

Having read several guide books i was wondering how fellow brits felt about the size of portions in WDW.

I know that in the USA large servings are common but in WDW i've read that even by USA standards the potions are large, with people eating just an appetizer as a main course and still not managing to eat it all.

How overly large are the portions in reality?

 

[Disneymad]

Hi Rogerlover

Welcome to the Dis!

Size of portions can vary a lot some are what I'd call normal, some are large, some are huge!

Personally I try to eye up what other people are eating to get an idea of things. We also tend to just order 1 appetiser which looks good for sharing (even if it's not tabled as being for 2 people) to try and avoid risking spoiling my main meal as yes, sometimes it's fine but sometimes they'll bring out a mind boggling sized platter. Worse case scenario is you'll have room for dessert if portions aren't as big as expected.

I think restaurants inside the park tend to be a bit less over the top than ones at resorts - though signature restaurants (ie the slightly posher more expensive ones) tend to give out smaller portions - ie when they do the nice plate presentations, if that makes sense!

Off site dining is frequently 'super sized' though.

Obviously this is subjective so for reference I would describe myself as a hearty eater - none of this 4 bites and I'm full stuff

 

[disney_princess_85]

I've only ever eaten onsite. From what I've heard, the portions at offsite restaurants are much larger, as Disneymad said.

I'm not a huge eater and I can manage a main course and the majority of a dessert at a WDW restaurant.

 

[chocolateMinnie]

I'm a pig by nature - don't eat breakfast at home or snack but if you saw my lunch and dinner you may be truly shocked!!!

I don't think the portions at WDW in general are huge although some places are bigger than others. Having said which I tend not to be a three course girl just a two course.

We found some places like Hollywood Brown derby the entrees were huge but others (Kouzzina/CRT/Akershus) they are like your english pub size portions.

Many WDW meals are of course buffets and you therefore eat what quantity you choose to eat.

We always share lunch at CS on the rare occasion we have more than breakfast and dinner (portions at places like flame tree bbq are more than enough for two) but I'm not sure we would think large portions if we were having three one plate meals on say the qsdp.

 

[tracipierce]

I had heard that portions were huge before we went to WDW for the first time, and must say we were very disappointed when we got there. In fact I was beginning to wonder if we were real gluttons, because we thought the portions mostly were only average, and at Le Cellier they were tiny - my DS16 at the time was starving when we left, he had the new york strip steak which was really small and came with just a table spoon of potatoes - he stuffed his face with the bread even though we had a 3 course meal haha!

Now I don't consider us to be huge eaters, I usually only have one meal a day at home, but those portions were definitely NOT huge. Like a pp said, there are some places that give you more than others - Whispering Canyon Cafe for instance does give you a lot if you have the skillet, but generally the portion sizes are similar to what we get here

 

[2Tiggies]

I'm a pig by nature.

So dramatic!

We always share lunch at CS on the rare occasion we have more than breakfast and dinner (portions at places like flame tree bbq are more than enough for two) but I'm not sure we would think large portions if we were having three one plate meals on say the qsdp.

I think the CS portions are larger by comparison than the average plated TS portion. I think part of the size perception is also due to the dining plans offering an entree and a dessert with both meals and some of the snack credit items are big enough to use as a 'meal' simply because they are filling. I do like desserts but very rarely eat them WITH a meal. It is the kind of thing I would have with coffee if I didn't feel like a meal so a lot depends what you are used to. I could eat an appetizer and a dessert however.

 

[dixonsontour]

Onsite portions were normal (not counting all u can eat or buffets!)

I actually ate dessert at disney.

Offsite much bigger - never had a dessert I can remember in 12 plus trips. We tend to eat at the mid price chains eg outback, tony romas, cheesecake factory.

Don't over order - you will struggle with a starter and a main course. Sharing is fine.

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

I've never met an entree that I couldn't finish onsite I couldn't manage three courses though, but happily eat two! Off-site I agree with everyone else, places like Tony Romas and the Cheesecake Factory I struggle to finish a plateful and I am a girl who can eat A LOT!!!!. In fact I am making it a personal challenge this year at the Cheesecake Factory to actually get to the cheesecake!!! I am planning on just having an appetiser to make sure . . . well, thats the plan anyway!!!

 

[j9000]

Welcome!

Disney and Universals portions are ok in size nothing super huge really.
Have gone back for a second pizza at Universal before. im still growing.....wider

if you want to see big, 2 words - Cracker Barrel