Are there any good restaurants at WDW?

[crisi]

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.

I don't think that is fair to the negative reviewers. For one, no one is giving them anything - they are paying for the restaurant. If I'm paying for a Lexus and told I'm getting a Lexus, I'm going to be disappointed when the sales guy delivers a Cadillac.

Obviously, there is a lot of room between "inedible" and "excellent" in restaurant reviews. I've had only a few meals at Disney that have been "excellent" - I've only had one (and it was actually my husband's) that was inedible. In between I've had everything from 'unimpressive and unremarkable' to 'not well executed' to 'too dry' to "good" to "really good"

 

[BEASLYBOO]

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

For me it's more of the value for the prices charged at Disney. Many Disney restaurants charge 5 star prices for "good food" not great or 5 star quality food. Some of their prices are ridiculous, but because it's Disney, they get the premium!

The only restaurant completely off my list is the ABC Commesarry, I've never eaten anything there that I would choose to have again. Olivia's at OKW get's trashed on a regular basis, I eat there regularly and I've never had a bad meal. Liberty, Sci-Fi, 50's Prime Time, get good and bad reviews, but IMO like most other Disney eateries, they provide good American food, not exceptional food, which IMO can't be done on the large scale that Disney must provide, think of the thousands of people that go through there, could your little neighborhood gem keep to their high standards if bus loads of people drove in every night!

I take all of the good and bad reviews with a grain of salt and in the end judge for myself.

 

[onelilspark]

I really like reading the dining review board, especially the reviews with pictures. I think as people do a report of everywhere they ate at WDW, you get a better sense of what their standards are as the review goes on. I also like seeing a picture of the food, so if there is a problem, many times you can see what it is. If it's service related, those reviews are helpful because they tend to go into more depth. JMO.

But I also think that for many restaurants you'll find people who love it and people who hate it. I think it's important to find out WHY they love it or hate it.

 

[ROEDISNEY]

In my opinion people like to talk. Who likes Vanilla who likes Choclate. I've been to alot of Disney Resturants and they are all good.

 

[Mary2e]

With the advent and popularity of the dining plan the quality of the food has gone downhill. So much so that if we want to have a nice meal we only select from the Signature restaurants. In the past, the regular restaurants were very good.

Rather than pay $$$ for only so-so food, we now don't plan on eating in the restaurants as much as we used to and will eat at counter services instead.

 

[eliza61]

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.

For me it's more of the value for the prices charged at Disney. Many Disney restaurants charge 5 star prices for "good food" not great or 5 star quality food. Some of their prices are ridiculous, but because it's Disney, they get the premium!

.

Well said Beasly & Crisi,
IMO there has been a markedtly decline in food quality at the world. I freely admit to being one of the complainers.
Disney has consistenly raised it's prices but not the quality.
Can you get an ok meal at Disney. Yes, without a doubt. Can you get a great meal at disney to justify the prices... Far and few between.

Most meals imo are simply OK. They're hot and filling. Most of the time the desserts are way better than the entrees.

I too use to give Disney a wide berth because of the convenience and theme of the restuarants but lately a "really good meal at the world is far and few between"

 

[DisneyTinkerbell]

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.

I have to agree with this post. We have never had a bad meal at Disney. We have liked all of the restaurants at Disney and will go back to them.

Some people are just so picky about their food that it is a complete disaster if it is not prepared exactly to their liking with no wiggle room.

 

[jpolak]

Something like a persons opinion on dining is very subjective. While I think Tony's is there are some people who really enjoy it. You're best bet is to look up the menus and see what type of food id appealing to you.

 

[catne]

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?

To answer the question "are there any good restaurants at WDW?" -- off the top of my head, Yes -

"very Good"
Le Cellier, Coral Reef, Les Chefs De France @ Epcot
Cinderella's Royal Table (dinner), The Plaza @ MK
Mama Melrose @ DHS
Tusker House @ AK
At resorts: Kona Cafe, The Wave, The Grand Floridian Cafe

"Good"
Biergarten, Hollywood & Vine, Cape May Cafe, Liberty Tree Tavern (all dinner)
California Grille

And I'm sure there are some I've forgotten to include...and there are some we'll be adding to the list this year because we're still working our way through all the restaurants! We've also enjoyed many of the counter service locations throughout WDW.

I agree that many people may have really high expectations based on the effect on their pocketbook...thinking they are paying such high prices they should be getting extremely outstanding food. I always figure there's at least 25% "location" surcharge on the prices...and that's also one of the reasons I really like the Dining Plan. It's prepaid way before we get there, and then there's no need to hyperventilate over the prices on the menu when we get there. I think it's easier to enjoy the food when we don't have to worry about the prices as we order.

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

For me I am comparing the prices to the food and no I won't give them high marks. For such high prices I expect better.

 

[crocnzen]

I don't know why I haven't looked at your planning spreadsheets before now. Those are an absolute gift. Thanks!

Planning Spreadsheets??? Please, tell me more....

 

[Dreamfinder2]

Look at the link at the bottom of Post #2. They sure are handy, and I'm a sucker for fun helps like that!

 

[onejellyshelly]

My family and I happen to love WDW dining. That is one reason we go We did the DP last year and was only dissappointed twice. I say that is a pretty good average.

 

[goofy4prez]

For me I am comparing the prices to the food and no I won't give them high marks. For such high prices I expect better.

Unfortunately the food in most cases for the money is not going to meet up to the level of what you would receive outside of any amusement park, tourist attraction, or even a sporting event. It's always going to be higher.

Go to a Nascar race and your going to pay $5 for a hotdog, $7 for a beer, and $5 for french fries. None of these items for the money exceed the hotdog at a stand for $1.50. Same thing at WDW, the food is going to cost much more. I hate the high prices at WDW just like everyone else, but we all know what they are going to be like and there is no sense being dissapointed because we would receive a steak at Outback for $24 and we pay $35 for it at Le' Cellier.

For what it's worth I have found WDW compared to many other tourist locations to not be out of hand. Last year I spent 5 nights at Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island in the Bahama's. I have never spent so much money on food. And a coule of years ago on the spur of the moment we headed up to Niagara Falls for three nights. I had not been there in over 20 years and was not prepared for the cost of food up there. Walking out of a Mexican Restaurant and paying $60 for three for what was $25 back home was shell shock. And that did not include the $5 soft drinks(we passed) and the nacho chips and salsa($8) that is complimentary in most places. I should add this was the cost in U.S. dollars.

So all in all, I agree the prices are higher than what you would pay outside of WDW. But still it's in line compared to other tourist locations and overall the atmosphers are fun, the service in most cases is still good, and the food while a bit high in price is still pretty good in most cases as well.

 

[JerseyJanice]

I think WDW's restaurants compare very favorably to other "tourist traps."

 

[eliza61]

Unfortunately the food in most cases for the money is not going to meet up to the level of what you would receive outside of any amusement park, tourist attraction, or even a sporting event. It's always going to be higher.

Go to a Nascar race and your going to pay $5 for a hotdog, $7 for a beer, and $5 for french fries. None of these items for the money exceed the hotdog at a stand for $1.50. Same thing at WDW, the food is going to cost much more. I hate the high prices at WDW just like everyone else, but we all know what they are going to be like and there is no sense being dissapointed because we would receive a steak at Outback for $24 and we pay $35 for it at Le' Cellier.

For what it's worth I have found WDW compared to many other tourist locations to not be out of hand. Last year I spent 5 nights at Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island in the Bahama's. I have never spent so much money on food. And a coule of years ago on the spur of the moment we headed up to Niagara Falls for three nights. I had not been there in over 20 years and was not prepared for the cost of food up there. Walking out of a Mexican Restaurant and paying $60 for three for what was $25 back home was shell shock. And that did not include the $5 soft drinks(we passed) and the nacho chips and salsa($8) that is complimentary in most places. I should add this was the cost in U.S. dollars.

So all in all, I agree the prices are higher than what you would pay outside of WDW. But still it's in line compared to other tourist locations and overall the atmosphers are fun, the service in most cases is still good, and the food while a bit high in price is still pretty good in most cases as well.

I guess I'm more of the quality gal than the "it's just as bad as other places". Basically because if you go down the road from DTD there are plenty of restuarants that manage to serve decent food and I'm thinking they get the same amount of patrons. Same with a meal in Times square, sure it's way more expensive than if you go to the local mall but the quality is 10X's better than Disney. My complaint is that Disney did at one time have great meals. The food was better, menu was better, service was better. I've adopted a "wait and see" attitude about it. Since every one is using the "bad economy" excuse for sub par service, I'll hang in there until the economy turns around. I remember asking a manager why they didn't have lobster tails anymore and the cm saying Disney couldn't get a quality supplier!! Bull You can get lobster fresh off the boat and star in an episode of the deadlist catch, especially if you're a big name company.


Our trip in August we will have a car so out of the 10 days we'll eat on site mainly at lunch when we don't want to leave the parks. Dinner, I'd say we'll go 7/10 days off site.

 

[crisi]

My complaint is that Disney did at one time have great meals. The food was better, menu was better, service was better.

I think so too, but its an ongoing debate around our house - and not just with Disney. Have our tasted changed significant (true) or has TGIFridays, which we used to enjoy, started serving barely edible food. We took the kids to Red Lobster last night - and my husband and I both made faces as we suggested it. Did Friday's/Red Lobster go downhill, or have I turned into such a food snob that what used to be a fun night out has turned into a barely acceptable meal?

I suspect its a little of both - I think Disney did used to have better food. But I also think I've become much more 'discriminating.' To some extent, this just means that instead of going to one signature place per trip, we now do at least two and probably three over seven days.

 

[abbadabbadoo]

yes, absolutely there are good restaraunts in WDW

I agree with an earlier post. We ate at many places, and only found 2 to our disliking (and one of them wasn't the food, just the service). We are planning our September trip now, and are salivating at our dining plan prospects!

 

[jgazda]

Personally I am just happy I don't have to be doing any of the cooking so to me everything tastes great! Perhaps I am just easy to please but so far I have enjoyed everywhere I have eaten on site.

 

[goofy4tink]

I just back last Friday. I agreed to do a survey when I got home....just finished that last night. I gave WDW very high marks this time around..everything but the food! This had to be one of the best trips I've had...started going in '99 and am up to 20+ stays to date. Why the negative comments regarding dining on the survey?? The vast majority of our meals were barely okay. For instance.....we go to Crystal Palace at least once each trip, sometimes twice..once for breakfast and once for dinner. We love it there. But, this time?? It bordered on awful for dinner and just okay for breakfast. The food at dinner was not great. The roast beef I had was barely two bites per slice...there was so much fat and waste on each piece. The salad bar was lacking. Is it so hard to put out plain tomatoes nowadays??? Does everything have to be marinated?? The veggies on the hot side were soft and mushy.
At breakfast, the offerings were barely better. The fruit salad was never replenished...or else someone else kept getting to it before I did. The scrambled eggs were cold and dry. The bacon was limp and undecooked.
I was truly disappointed with CP on both occasions. Even my dd, 15, who eats from the kids area said the chicken nuggets were yucky!!

I'm not sure why this is happening...even the burgers are getting bad. We tried several places to get a decent cheeseburger, and it never happened. I forced myself to finish mine, and dd didn't once eat more than two bites of hers. She was so thrilled to get home and have one on the grill here.

It could be that Disney is trying to save money, so is cutting back on some food quality. I know the burgers were never so bad tasting a few years ago..seems to be a steady decline.
I do know that when we return, in August, we won't be doing nearly as many table service meals as we have in the past. And the ones we do, will be the more expensive ones...Flying Fish, CRT. Much more eating in our villa this time around.