Any other DVC folks tired of Disney TS Dining??

[Tiger926]

We are going back to Le Cellier in July for 1st time in years, as we crossed it off of our list. Just noticed they changed their menu, so not sure about that? Last time, kids' steaks were burnt, and hubby's was not good either.

It is hard when you've done things over and over, and instead of Disney recognizing that, they cater to those who haven't been before. This then leaves your most loyal crowd - DVC members - finding food elsewhere...whether that's off-site or more meals in villa.

Not sure how much sense that makes? Tiger

 

[edk35]

I actually started listing places over a period of time, if I can find what I did with the thing I'll pm you.

Basically, start out with citysearch.com and go to Orlando. it's a great interactive tool to map out restaurants within a quick 15 min drive. You may have to mapquest a few addresses to get the lay of the land but I honestly never had a hard time finding places and always had easy drives.

PM me too please??

 

[tgropp]

Our family, (7 people) are going at Christmas time and we will be getting the dining plan again, but it is getting tired. It is more convenience than anything that we get the plan. The meals are getting too predictable and because of free dining/overbooking etc, you are so crowded to the next table, there is no privacy. The thing that irks me most, and many other restaurants outside WDW also do it is the mandatory 18% tip that is added onto the bill for parties over 5 people, whether you get good service or poor service. As was posted before, it seems that Disney is catering to a new generation of people discovering the dining plan and have no desire to give the quality that we enjoyed many years ago.

 

[JimMIA]

We are going back to Le Cellier in July for 1st time in years, as we crossed it off of our list. Just noticed they changed their menu, so not sure about that? Last time, kids' steaks were burnt, and hubby's was not good either.

We walked into LC at 4:15 PM on our recent trip (5/22-29) and won't go back unless we're on the DDP (which will be a very cold day in Hell).

DW had a filet, which was excellent, a salad, and one glass of wine. I had a bowl of the soup (even better than I remembered), a KC strip (my bad - lousy cut of meat perfectly prepared), and two beers. Skating princess 8 had only a specialty drink and the chocolate mousse (wasn't hungry until dessert).

Service was great as always; by the time we left, the ambiance resembled a NYC subway station. The bill was $150 with tip, which is about double what a meal of that size and quality should cost.

The next night we went to Columbia in Celebration. I had one snapper dish, DW had the other...which she described as the best meal she'd had in years. Skating princess 8 had one of the kids meals, which she devoured. Add one glass of wine and two beers, and the bill with tip was $88. Better food, better atmosphere, excellent service, about half the price. Oh...and did I mention? Kilwin's is right around the corner!

 

[edk35]

Well it doesn't seem I am in the minority here. I just don't see myself EVER cooking a real meal in the 2 br villa either. I think if we were in the villa for 2 weeks...yeah sure I would probably make something easy. I think breakfast is very doable for the villa and of course you quick snacks and such. I know that there are many that do cook while on vacation but if I was not there for a longgggggg visit I would not want to waste the time in my villa cooking every day either.


Our plan is to eat a few counter service meals. A couple of TS and then eat offsite. I think the problem for most of us is....we go often to WDW and the food kinda just stays the same. Not a whole lot changes.

 

[jodifla]

Disney Dining really reached an apex in the 1990s. Great food, innovation. Prices a bit high but food was worth it. Then the STUPID, HORRIBLE DDP came along and wrecked it.

There are still some good places. But we cook more now in our villa than we used to. We still like Yachtsman, Jiko's, Sanaa. Boma's. And Olivia's for a more simple meal. California Grill is still on our list as well.

But we don't plan our trips around dining like we used to.

 

[rwcmath]

We still like Le Cellier. Artist Point, Cali Grill. Chefs de France...and there's more, haven't tried the Wave it's on our list... We like some character meals like 1900 Park Fare, and the Breakfast Buffet at Cape May Cafe. People say good things about Ohana, and we've never been there.

Germany got the nod for a get together with the family in December.

We love Fultons crab cakes and lobster bisque in particular.

We only go off site for Giordanos. I've been known to do some quick meals, like pre cooked ribs (Grandchildren had no idea what ribs were, they made a funny face)I'll make the fixins in the villa.

Finding good places for us to eat at WDW is not a problem.

 

[jarrdisney]

We travel to Orlando at least 4 times a year, and a majority of our money spent is on food/wine. I would call myself a foodie, though I'm not a huge fan of the word. Needless to say, I hope this might help some people in need. I'll list some of our faves below, but bare in mind while most are casual, they would be considered "fine dining" by most. I'll list the "most accesible" restaurants, but do some research and you'll find orlando has some great ethnic/sushi places as well.

Seasons 52 (local/seasonal - ex CA Grill chef - i drive)
Emeril's (duh - city walk)
Tchoup Chop (pan asian/island fusion - royal pacific hotel universal)
Ravenous Pig (gastropub - winter park)
The Chef's Table (intimate kitchen experience - winter garden)
K Restaurant (new american w/med influences - orlando)
Cafe Tu Tu Tango (fun atmosphere, tapas, ok food - universal i drive area)

 

[BEASLYBOO]

I've been to Disney so many times (even before there was such a thing as dining, 1971 ), I've seen the very good restaurants become less than desirable since Disney instituted the DDP and FD. Example, In the beginning Coral Reef was excellent and I thought fairly priced. You could get a lobster tail that was to die for, those days are gone. Look at Les Chefs, you have so few choices for dinner and they are quite sad in comparison to what was once available. The pricing as continued to climb while the quality and asst. choices have deminished. The way my family eats does not fit Disney's business model of, "we pick you up, we put you up, we feed you , we bus you to & from the parks, and you spend all of your money at Disney."

Luckily we drive in and now I choose to give some of my business to Orlando's eateries. Cafe Tu Tu Tango is fun and I love Season 52. Timpano's Chop House has excellent steaks and Italian food, combined with wonderful service and ambiance. IMO, there I get what I pay for. Sometimes we just want Chick-fil-A for lunch, not a cold hamburger on a saw dust bun. I still enjoy Le Cellier though the pricing is ridiculous if OOP. I don't care for any of the Disney buffets other than Boma but between the time my son became an adult at 10 to now 13, we stopped going because most of his friends(whom travel with us) ate like birds and the price was ridiculous. Now at 13 he eats like any typical adult, I can justify paying the price for the diversity of food offered even if they no longer have the prime rib (yes I miss it). I love the Turf Club (great prime rib) and Olivia's burger and turkey sandwich are still tops in my book. I even like T-REx and TOdd English's Blue Zoo is our very new favorite, expensive but inovative cuisine.

I don't care to eat out for each and every meal, so that's one reason I bought into DVC. We get a 2br villas, stretch out and I cook simple but good meals in my DVC kitchen and we enjoy the resort and our family time together. We do order out for pizza sometimes from Giordano's, we have simple breakfasts, a few meals out, a couple meals at Disney and that's what works for us.

I don't condemn the DDP, it seems to work for a great many people and as long as it does Disney won't change it, it's about the all mighty buck.

 

[twinklebug]

First, let me say up front. My grandfather and uncle owned a soul food restaurant for much of my life, I grew up working summers there so I'm a bit skewed.
Second, the last few years I've been a vocal critic of disney restaurants (some times to some serious flaming). Sorry, I just think the quality of the food has dived tremendously.

Disney restaurant overall, are mediocre at best (my opinion) especially at the prices they charge. I don't accept the argument that they are good considering how many people they serve, simply because I live and grew up in NYC where a times square establishment will serve equally as many people, great food all the time.
Outside of a few signature restaurants, the food is tepid at best and some times down right lousy (Please tell me how Tony's has gotten away with their food for so long).
We will make a few adr's for convenience sake but isn't that a lousy reason to pick a restaurant.
We do have favorites but usually they are more favorites for the decor not the food. For example we like scifi diner but we pretty much go for the atmosphere and stick with burgers and fries.

Our favorites are Artist Point in the WL and the Yacht galley in the Yacht club. Le Cellier which seems to get so many raves here on the dis, was pretty much a dark Outback. any time the soup was better than the steak in a steak house, you have a problem. LOL.

Re: Tony's: There's only one answer why people flock to the place. It's not quality, variety, service or atmosphere. It's all about location. Right inside the gates to WDW, on Main street. We ate there once and although the kids enjoyed it, I didn't care for the meal knowing that even I cook better quality and variety of Italian dishes than what they offer ... and I'm Irish.

I think we're done with character meals too. The kids just waved the characters by on Valentines day. Minnie, however, insisted on hugs and kisses from both kids, particularly my son. So they can still make us laugh - gives me pause to think that maybe we will keep one character meal in each trip... or every other trip.

As a family we prefer small meals. TS typically is too much food, takes far too long and the food for the most part is no better than what you can get everywhere else on site or through a counter service location nearby (1/2 the money, 1/4 the time and sometimes they share the dishes with the TS restaurant). In the 90 degree FL heat I don't understand how anyone can eat those large meals and still walk around. No wonder there's so many grouchy folk.

Our upcoming trip is a budget one due to a WFR. I have Artist's Point booked that I'm excited about having never eaten there .... all the other reservations I have scheduled will most likely be canceled as we've "been there done that" and really they aren't good enough to spend $75 or more on again and only half enjoy.

 

[5forDiz]

Yes pretty much totally tired, we are down to just a handful of must-do's onsite and it is almost like we are doing those just for old time's sake & not because we are still loving them so much Our past 2 trips we have ventured offsite much more than ever. Good quality, casual & quick work best for our party of 5. Bahama Breeze is a favorite, Fuddruckers too. And hope to try Celebration Town Tavern on our next trip, I think that's exact name, read good things about it here on the DIS, menu has lots of varied selections

 

[nbdyspl]

If you have your owm car and want to try some place good google this resturant for its location. Its called Texas de Brazil very good food and make sure you go there very hungry.

 

[mjy]

Well, I'm a stay-on-site kind of person, so it's Disney Dining for me (or simple meals made in the DVC unit in which I stay.)

Even though it's more costly, when I factor in the amount of money I would spend on a rental car for the time that I am there, I just spend the extra money at Disney restaurants.

I do not do the dining plan, however. I eat a breakfast, and often a lunch, in my unit and just do dinner out.

Favorites include The Flying Fish, Jiko, Boma, Le Cellier, San Angel Inn, Fultons, Rainforest, Coral Reef, and a few others.

Tried Kouzzina this past January and was really disappointed. Liked Spoodles much better. Looking forward to trying Saana the next time I am down there.

 

[JimMIA]

And hope to try Celebration Town Tavern on our next trip, I think that's exact name, read good things about it here on the DIS, menu has lots of varied selections

We tried the Town Tavern for the first time this trip, and we really liked it. This is an old South Boston family restaurant turned snowbird. Good menu, lots of variety, and great service. The clam chowdah was excellent. Lobster roll was substantial and good, but a little disappointing that it was all claw meat. We'll certainly go back.

Oh...and Kilwin's is right across the street! (Okay, across the street and down about a half-block, but well worth the walk.)

 

[WilsonFlyer]

I know I am inviting flames but we feel that many of the signature restaurants at WDW are overpriced for the quality of food. We also dislike having to plan our vacation days around ADRs made way ahead of time. Bottom line, more and more we are dining off-site and not missing Disney meals much at all. We do quick breakfasts and snacks in the room. If we have young kids along we may do character meals. We book Candlelight Processional packages. I wouldn't think of cooking on vacation. I find the stovetop to be very handy as extra counter space.

Amen. We've started doing about exactly the same thing and I agree completely.

 

[Anal Annie]

Luckily we drive in and now I choose to give some of my business to Orlando's eateries. Cafe Tu Tu Tango is fun and I love Season 52. Timpano's Chop House has excellent steaks and Italian food, combined with wonderful service and ambiance. IMO, there I get what I pay for. Sometimes we just want Chick-fil-A for lunch, not a cold hamburger on a saw dust bun. I still enjoy Le Cellier though the pricing is ridiculous if OOP. I don't care for any of the Disney buffets other than Boma but between the time my son became an adult at 10 to now 13, we stopped going because most of his friends(whom travel with us) ate like birds and the price was ridiculous. Now at 13 he eats like any typical adult, I can justify paying the price for the diversity of food offered even if they no longer have the prime rib (yes I miss it). I love the Turf Club (great prime rib) and Olivia's burger and turkey sandwich are still tops in my book. I even like T-REx and TOdd English's Blue Zoo is our very new favorite, expensive but inovative cuisine.

We have a Timpano's a few towns away - next time try their Mussels from their appetizers! OMG! They are TO DIE FOR (and I normally don't care for them). But these things are incredible!!

Meanwhile...what floats one persons boat doesn't necessarily float the next guys boat. I don't care if I ever see the inside of another Chick-Fil-A again but we completely enjoyed our meal at Tony's last summer once we were seated. Their computers had been down for quite some time prior to our ressie time so they were running behind with their seating (they were operating manually) so THAT was a mess. But the food WE HAD was delicious. We had a late ressie and ended up on the front porch - not quite done before the parade started - it was the perfect view and the CM's chased off the lookey-loos who tried to stand in front of us. I was impressed with how they enforced that and told people to move on.

 

[ransom]

Eh, we go to WDW once a year. We average one TS reservation per day for the two weeks we're there. We try to mix it up with different types of restaurants (standard and Signature, as well as various ethnic cuisines and so on) during the trip, and to try at least one new restaurant each trip.

That keeps it fresh for us. It's unlikely we'll say, "Narcoossee's AGAIN?? We just ate here twelve months ago!"

Now, if we were going four times a year or something like that, I can see us getting tired of some of it...

 

[katmittens]

We used to love to eat at Disney, but since the DP quality of food has gone downhill. On our last trip (May) we tried to cut back on costs, since it was an unexpected trip. We like T-Rex, Olivia's, Boma, (breakfast and dinner), ESPN, Chefs de France and we enjoyed Nine Dragons on this trip. Have not been here in quite awhile. We also did Cape May for dinner. We did more quick service than before which was a good change. Casey's, Columbia Harbor, Earl of Sandwich, and the Fish place by Raglon Road. They have good fish. I think if you go alot you have to change places to eat, or it does become stale.

 

[goofydad99]

We don't like paying for the over priced lower quality food. I don't like paying the price that Disney demands for the quality we receive.

We are cooking in the villa and may venture out for some better food too.

 

[Tiger926]

Love reading this thread, as Dining is the main way to cut vacation expenses for us.

The biggest gripe from us are the menus. They are so generic and duplicated at this point! What would it take to offer daily specials, half sized entrees, and improved kids' meals?

We have been eating 2TS meals per day for years, so we typically eat lighter lunches of sandwiches, burgers, soups, salads or wraps, and dinners are chicken, steak, pasta, fish, etc. At this point though, we are tapped out, as we've done it all, except for a few Signatures. Disney doesn't change the menu offerings anywhere near enough to accommodate those of us who have eaten everywhere, and it's getting more and more frustrating. At this point, based on the ages of our kids, and the fact that they don't eat kids' meals (never have had a peanut and jelly sandwich a day in their lives), character meals and buffets are our best options as they allow for tons of variety.

At the urging of several DVCers on my cutting DVC vacation costs thread, we are eating more in our villa for this trip than ever before! I cut out 6 TS meals and slashed $600.00 off of our dining budget. I can't believe Disney doesn't see that more and more of us are doing this?

In trying to appeal to the mass DP folks, it seems that Disney has alienated its most loyal group, that being us DVC members. Going off-site and eating in the villa, costs Disney money, yet they don't seem to care?

Tiger