Are there any good restaurants at WDW?

[DisneyEG]

It seems like all the comments and reviews of the restaurants at WDW are not very good, so my question is, are the any good restaurants at WDW?

 

[Colleen27]

What you see here is a perfect illustration of the fact that people are more likely to voice complaints than praise, IMO, and not an accurate assessment of the overall state of Disney dining.

 

[Dreamfinder2]

Yep. Dozens of 'em.

Take reviews - positive and negative - with a HUGE grain of salt. What will amuse you is how one restaurant -'Ohana, say - is routinely judged as "the best" and "the worst," depending on the tastes of the individual poster.

In literally hundreds of WDW restaurant experiences, I can count on one hand meals that were just "OK." I've never had an "awful" experience at a table service spot. I've had a couple that weren't especially good, but my hit-to-miss ratio is pretty incredible.

Keep reading posts ... you'll find plenty of positive words, too.

 

[Dreamfinder2]

What you see here is a perfect illustration of the fact that people are more likely to voice complaints than praise, IMO, and not an accurate assessment of the overall state of Disney dining.

In absolute agreement here, and as an OT aside, I don't know why I haven't looked at your planning spreadsheets before now. Those are an absolute gift. Thanks!

 

[Dawn68PA]

We have enjoyed every restaurant we've ever been to at WDW except for 2. The food is always well-prepared, tasty and good service.

 

[Colleen27]

In absolute agreement here, and as an OT aside, I don't know why I haven't looked at your planning spreadsheets before now. Those are an absolute gift. Thanks!

TY. I'm always happy to hear that folks find them useful

 

[B-Ride]

I have said many times that I don't understand why people ask for opinions on the restuarants. As other people have said, opinions vary too wildly to be of much use. What one person thinks is fabulous another recounts as the "worst dining experience of their life". I think your best choice is to read the menu and try places that look appealing. Our experience is that pretty well all of the restaurants are decent.

 

[DisneyEG]

I was just thinking that maybe all these people are use to eating at expensive 5 star restaurants.

 

[ElizabethB]

There are lots of restaurants. But, not too many good ones anymore. The decline is sad.

 

[Cinderella]

While I think the quality has gone down at some of the Disney restaurants over the years, on the whole, I enjoy my dining experiences there.

I've eaten food in Disney that has ranged from mediocre to truly outstanding and we've always had a great time. The character meals are fun and we just love all the different themes in disney's dining places.

Check out more reviews - some are v positive. And some people post pics of the meals they've had in their trip reports, which will give you an idea of where you'd like to eat.

 

[dzneelvr]

YES YES YES please understand that the advice is for you to consider and get enjoyment from, not the absolute final word on everything. We've dined our way through a ton of eateries, some we loved, some we didn't, but the decision was made on our family's reality of eating there and the overall experience. Based on dis advice, I'm going to try School Bread in Norway in June for the first time; but a Dole Whip--yuck it was tasteless to me. See what I mean?

 

[ShannonMB]

Sometimes I read a review about a place I LOVED and the poster absolutely hated it. I never get it. When making my plans, I do what others have said and think about menus/ambiance, and don't pay attention to reviews. For instance, I am dying to try San Angel Inn in Mexico (which routinely gets slammed for bad food). If it's not under refurb when we go in Nov, we are there. Hope I disagree!

 

[madalex]

I have said many times that I don't understand why people ask for opinions on the restuarants. As other people have said, opinions vary too wildly to be of much use. What one person thinks is fabulous another recounts as the "worst dining experience of their life". I think your best choice is to read the menu and try places that look appealing. Our experience is that pretty well all of the restaurants are decent.

I agree with this 100%. I always encourage people to try a place out and decide for themselves whether they like it, rather than rely on the opinions of strangers on the internet.

 

[emmabemmainc]

There are many people on here who love to complain--bottom line. I'm so sick of the talk of the decline of wdw dining--we've been many times over the years and I haven't really noticed a difference.

Anyways--to answer your question--YES--there are many great restaurants in WDW!

 

[crisi]

Define "good" - that is a huge part of the problem with Disney reviews. If your idea of a "good restaurant" is the Olive Garden or TGI Fridays, you'll discover most Disney dining is on par. If your idea of "good restaurant" is Ruth's Chris - and even that has the disadvantages of a chain to your taste, you are going to want to stick to Disney's signature restuarants - and risk being disappointed on occasion.

 

[emmabemmainc]

My definition of an outstanding or even great restaurant is not Olive Garden, but I do like going to Red Lobster or Applebee's on occasion. HOWEVER, that does not make me not appreciate truly great food. I have also been to many wonderful restaurants that are not chains and have had some mind blowing food.
If you're going to WDW expecting top notch gourmet dining, well--then yes, you'll be somewhat disappointed--especially if you're not going to the signature restaurants. I mean, what do people expect from a buffet? I thought the food was good the last few times I've been. However, I have pretty simple tastes--and don't expect mind blowing dishes in a buffet.

 

[Colleen27]

Define "good" - that is a huge part of the problem with Disney reviews. If your idea of a "good restaurant" is the Olive Garden or TGI Fridays, you'll discover most Disney dining is on par. If your idea of "good restaurant" is Ruth's Chris - and even that has the disadvantages of a chain to your taste, you are going to want to stick to Disney's signature restuarants - and risk being disappointed on occasion.

I agree that is part of the problem. I'd rank the worst Disney dining experiences we've had (none of which have been BAD) as on par with chains like Applebees or Fridays. Sci-fi is very much in that territory, IMO, like a TGI Fridays with a fun gimmick. ESPN Club is on par with the sports bar we go to at home. Coral Reef is comparable to Joe's Crab Shack, but with a cooler atmosphere.

The good non-signatures are definitely a step above those low/mid priced chains, IMO. Tutto Italia is far, far better than any chain Italian place I've ever been to. Teppan Edo is as good as or better any other hibachi restaurant I've tried, chain (like Benihana) or independant. And the signatures are better still.

Honestly, I think the disappointment with Disney dining comes largely from people who are more focused on price than food. They're upset to get TGI Friday's food at Sci-Fi's prices, and it has less to do with the quality of the food than with the perceived lack of value because of the theme park markup over what similar food costs elsewhere.

 

[crisi]

Honestly, I think the disappointment with Disney dining comes largely from people who are more focused on price than food. They're upset to get TGI Friday's food at Sci-Fi's prices, and it has less to do with the quality of the food than with the perceived lack of value because of the theme park markup over what similar food costs elsewhere.

And that varies a lot based on where you live as well. Disney prices seem fairly reasonable to us - though they've increased a lot recently.

Another factor is the hype factor. I still believe that there are a number of restaurants I would have thought were just fine had I not gone in expecting them to be 'wonderful.' I'm a food snob, when someone tells me that B&C has "the best ice cream ever!" I don't expect Edy's - I don't buy that at home - I expect small batch homemade ice cream, the type of small shop I drive to at home when I'm looking for "the best ice cream." If I take time out of my day to go to B&C expecting great ice cream, have to wait twenty minutes for a table, and then get presented with Edy's, I'm going to be disappointed and my review will reflect that. If I go to B&C with the understanding that its Edy's ice cream, B&C will be able to meet my expectations and my review will be "hey, this was a nice place to stop for a sundae." Over time, I've learned that for most people on the Dis, they don't drive twenty minutes to go get ice cream at home that was made that morning in a shop that is nationally ranked for its homemade ice cream. The few that are kindred food snobs (and there are a few of us), I weight their reviews more.

 

[goofy4prez]

It seems like all the comments and reviews of the restaurants at WDW are not very good, so my question is, are the any good restaurants at WDW?

I have yet to have what I would call a horrible dining experience at any of the TS restaurants. Sure some did not live up to my expectations such as Le Cellier(snooty take it or leave it attitude), or 50's PT(was expecting more) and some that exceeded my expectations such as Ohana's(glad I ignored the negative reviews) and Captains Grille(pleasant surprise). I have yet to go to a TS restaurant at WDW that I would not return to again.

The only horrible experience I ever had at any WDW restaurant was at ABC Commissary which is a CS restaurant. That is the only one.

I have found that no matter what people are going to complain whether justified or not. You can give someone a $100 bill and some will complain that it's not new and crisp. Give them a Cadillac and some will complain that it's not a Lexus.

 

[Dreamfinder2]

I do post my opinions here from time to time, and probably shouldn't, because I like everything - I've only discovered one food item in the known universe that I can't stomach. I've had good to excellent meals at Commander's Palace in New Orleans, and I've had good to excellent meals at the Waffle House about a mile from our home. It just depends on what I'm in the mood for, y'know? I've been perfectly content with Macaroni Grill and Applebee's, and sometimes a quarter pounder with cheese and Mickey D's fries just hits the spot. And I remember some fine steaks at Morton's, Ruth's Chris, and Bones in Chicago ... and also remember thinking the filet at Le Cellier once was as close to perfect as a steak could be one evening. And if I were to get catfish at Coral Reef, then I'd compare it to the catfish I can get at any number of local spots.

So, yeah, I'm a lousy reviewer. My expectations are simple for any given restaurant ... how did you pull off what you attempted? Because if you're White Castle or Krystal, then serve me the best gut bomb you can scrape off the flat top, and I'll be content. Conversely, if you're gonna serve me duck confit, I want it to be just as good in its own way.

I am, regrettably, easy to please. Food issues that put others in the Red Zone bewilder me, but I also recognize that we are all hard-wired differently, and for me to try to convert others to my expansive, "it's all good" view of things would be annoying to some and offensive to others.

Like Popeye, "I yam what I yam," and I'm thinking that's true of all of us.

OP, the best council I've seen in this thread is for you to examine the menus, track down some photos, and eat where you wish and form your own opinions. If you have a bad meal, don't go back to that restaurant. No one will make you, I promise.