Bad Food

[Pumbaa_]

How much is due to dining plan and how much due to recession? Some of our local restaurants have made changes too, smaller portions, cheaper ingredients

Heck the cafeteria at work went up too. And that is nowhere worth what they charge. 'protein', no sides is $5.39. so picture 3 thin slices of pork or equally tiny protein for 5.39 then pay extra for any side

Is it a sign of the times or the dining plan?

 

[avalanche1977]

I had one bad experience last year, at Akershus for dinner. The cold buffet was excellent, as was the service. However, the main meal I had - essentially Swedish meatballs - was horrible. IKEA has better!

However, I didn't feel it was worth complaining to management. At that point in the trip, I was feeling full on free dining pretty much 24/7, so the last thing I wanted was more food brought to me!

 

[tony67]

How much is due to dining plan and how much due to recession? Some of our local restaurants have made changes too, smaller portions, cheaper ingredients

Heck the cafeteria at work went up too. And that is nowhere worth what they charge. 'protein', no sides is $5.39. so picture 3 thin slices of pork or equally tiny protein for 5.39 then pay extra for any side

Is it a sign of the times or the dining plan?

I don't see the same thing in my area.
Raising prices and or cutting quality during a recession is not going to get people to come out and spend money.
I am seeing the food staying about the same, but far more offers and participation in things like iDine and restaurant.com.

Even during restaurant week I did not see the typical decline in food quality that has gone along with it in the past.

Personally I feel the quality went down after the first year of the DDP and was at its lowest point about 2 years ago.

It has improved slightly since then, but nowhere near where it was IMO.
But with that increase the price has also increased and is getting to the point where people won't want it unless it is free.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

It depends on if its Bad Food b/c I didn't like what I ordered or if its truly bad if I complain or not.

Generally I'll just not go to the restaurant again if I didn't like the food and/or if the service was not up to par.

Currently the places on my do not return list for disney are Mama Melrose & Crystal Palace.

 

[RNMAMA]

Thought I'd throw in my two cents.....

The only food issue we have EVER had was at San Angel last fall. There were 11 of us traveling together (4 adults and 7 kids) All but of three of us got food poisioning (myself and my 5 yr old did not eat because he had come down with a cold and I had taken him out of the restaurant to the First Aid area to get his temp and some tylenol) Thank goodness we were staying in an OKW grand villa with 3 bathrooms....We did try to complain, but were told that the restaurant is independantly owned and there was nothing they could do...we lost 2 days of our vacation and had purchased tix to the Everest Challenge after party for everyone...which we did not attend. We will never eat there again.

 

[KungFoomF]

I really can't think of a "terrible" meal that we've ever had. Certainly there were times where we wished we hadn't wasted a table service. For example, two years ago we finally ate at Chefs and it was very, very average. Our waitress was nice and the service was fine, but the food was mediocre. I think it was prepared properly and all that. Just not a good enough experience. Nothing to complain about. Just move on with the knowlege.

Here's the thing. We aren't food "snobs" so we don't expect much. Maybe this means we are missing out, but it also means we don't get too worked up when things aren't just perfect. I believe there are very few great meals to be had at Disney, just as there are very few truly bad meals. I have middling expectations so I am generally satisfied. I ignore the cost because, frankly, there isn't a single meal at Disney worth the price. If I ate at a restaurant like Le Cellier near my house it would be outragious for them to charge me $150+.

I would complain if the food were prepared in a way that made it inedible, though.

 

[ElizabethB]

The only time I complained was our last lunch at CRT about 2 years ago (and believe me it was and will remain our last time dining there).

They are now lining people up, running them through the restaurant and pushing them out like it's some kind of amusement ride. We used to really enjoy CRT for lunch. The waiters were relaxed and chatty, the princesses were pleasant and it was a nice mid-day break. The last time we went, they hurried us in, told my handicapped parents to "Hurry up and sit down", ran the princesses around like they were in a marathon (my niece had less than 30 seconds with Snow White), and sent us on our way. I won't even mention the food.

That time I did find a manager and express my displeasure with the meal and with the total decline in service and food quality.

She didn't care, which says it all.

 

[Donut23]

After the chef changes at LeCellier (once our favorite) we had a bad meal.....I actually became ill about 30 minutes later and visited every ladies room at World Showcase.

We loved LeCellier so much, we decided to give it another try.

This time we were sending back food (I cannot remember our little group sending food back anywhere ----- even though we consider ourselves "foodies" -we just don't send food back). I remember the server would ask.....would you like another? NOOOOO, PLEASE DON'T eventually became our fight song that night.

We stopped at the front desk for a card to send an email about the experience. The poor young girl standing there asked if there was anything she could do. We explained how the quality of the food at fallen of a cliff. Know what she said? "Yes, we are getting that alot now".

......and again.......I became ill and visited every ladies room that night surrounding World Showcase.

 

[Melanie B]

We were there a couple weeks ago and have no complaints about the food or service. Everything was excellent and we never felt rushed.

 

[evaready51]

Tutto Italia - very $$$ pasta that tastes like Franco-American spaghetti!!

 

[fairyprincess88]

I always find it kind of funny how many comments there are here about "lower quality", "bad food" ect. Now I've been going to Disney at least once a year for over 20 years, so basically from childhood to adult. Sure there have been some changes, some not for the better certainly, but I really don't see all these big quality issues others see.

What I find most interesting about it is that I was raised by a chef, who owned and operated resaurants in places such as London and New York. I grew up on 5 star cuisine and had never even seen a Big Mac, let alone ate one until I was 17. With that said, I can't say I have ever had true quality issues at Disney. Honestly, beyond V&A the food at Disney has never truly been 5 star gourmet cuisine. It's all theme park resort cooking. Yes there are the signature places but even they were placed in either the parks or hotels for theme park guests. Yes, these signature places are well above par for typical theme park resort resaurants, but they are not 5 star dining. I always keep that in mind. Yes they are expensive but you're paying for the location, theme and convience not the meal. A hot dog doesn't normally cost $6 but it does in Yankee Stadium and the hot dog is just a normal hot dog. It's the same thing.

I guess for me I haven't noticed the downgrades because it was never top of the line food to me anyway. It was theme park food. I've have always had a decent meal and even some extremely tasty meals. Sure if there was a problem with my meal I'd have no issues speaking up on it, but thankfully that has never been the case.

 

[tony67]

What I find most interesting about it is that I was raised by a chef, who owned and operated restaurants in places such as London and New York. I grew up on 5 star cuisine and had never even seen a Big Mac, let alone ate one until I was 17.

Many of us on the boards have eaten at top restaurants around the world.

My most memorable meal was at La Terrazza dell'Eden in Rome.
It is run my the former Chef for the British royal family and is Michelin-starred.
I've also had amazing meals in Perth, Sydney, Boston, London, Dublin, Paris, Berlin, Salzburg, Munich and Venice just to mention a few.
I've been to several of Emerils places and one of Jean Georges.

None of this means I know anything more than anyone else, I've just been lucky enough to experience these things.

What I do know is that there was a short window of time (several years) where the food in Epcot was amazing for a theme park.
Some of those years I went three times.

One the of best fish dishes I have had anywhere ever was at Coral Reef.
Considering the places I've been that is something.

Their restaurants were innovative and the staff actually was proud to serve the food.
It was becoming a food destination as well as a theme park.
They had a top chef overseeing things and they has several master sommeliers on property.
Well that chef (and many others) are gone and so are the master sommeliers.

Now it is just average food at an high price IMO.

 

[fairyprincess88]

Yes but I was raised in these restaurants, not just a client, Im also trained in culinary arts. My view is different is all. I have had some great meals in Disney for sure, but I never have thought any of them to be world class dining, with the exception of V&A. For me it was always theme park food and I thereby judged it as such. I do agree that the quality has changed and not for the better in most cases, but I just chalk it up to money versus quality. Disney is about profit, especially where dining is concerned. Bottom line is most don't know the difference between mushrooms and truffles and mushrooms are cheaper. Let's not forget one of the most praised food products on this board is Dole Whip, a chemical-based powered ice cream insta-mix. It's not hard to please theme park masses, and if you do a poll around the parks, a typical Disney visitor is going to reply that they loved the dining options including the turkey legs(which the very smell of makes me cringe). It's a theme park.

Now that's not to say I don't agree with you that the dining options have suffered, I do. But I just chalk it up to the business model that Disney is operating by that ensures them a profit, even with the dining plans.

 

[tony67]

Yes but I was raised in these restaurants, not just a client, Im also trained in culinary arts. My view is different is all. I have had some great meals in Disney for sure, but I never have thought any of them to be world class dining, with the exception of V&A. For me it was always theme park food and I thereby judged it as such. I do agree that the quality has changed and not for the better in most cases, but I just chalk it up to money versus quality. Disney is about profit, especially where dining is concerned. Bottom line is most don't know the difference between mushrooms and truffles and mushrooms are cheaper. Let's not forget one of the most praised food products on this board is Dole Whip, a chemical-based powered ice cream insta-mix. It's not hard to please theme park masses, and if you do a poll around the parks, a typical Disney visitor is going to reply that they loved the dining options including the turkey legs(which the very smell of makes me cringe). It's a theme park.

Now that's not to say I don't agree with you that the dining options have suffered, I do. But I just chalk it up to the business model that Disney is operating by that ensures them a profit, even with the dining plans.

I don't want to get in a back and forth argument with you, but these are the kind of comments that tends to turn off a large portion of the DIS boards people.

It becomes and elites vs. common people argument on here and I don't want it to degrade into that.

I think most people know what truffles are these days and you’re not giving them enough credit.
Those are the chocolate things by Lindor JK

As for the Dole Whip - it may be a chemical-based powered ice cream insta-mix, but you know what it still tastes good.
I love foie gras, sweet breads and I enjoy the texture of shark fin soup, but I can also really enjoy a nice all beef (unlike Disney) hot dog or ribs from a dive bar.

I’m not expecting 5 star food, but the pastas should be better than Olive Garden.
The fish should be better than Red Lobster.
I don’t think it is wrong to expect good quality for the price.

A $27 pizza should never disappoint.
How hard it is to make good pizza?
In Venice you can get pizza at numerous stands for 3 Euro where they just reheat it in a microwave toaster oven and it is still better than 90% of the pizza we get here.
Is it really that hard?

And yes I hate the whole idea of walking around gnawing on a turkey leg.
Some people love it and some don’t.
I’m not going to look down my nose at them as long as they don’t have an issue with me expecting more.

If you’re going to charge me 85 to go into Epcot, which is mainly world showcase to most people, I expect a lot more from the food.

 

[eliza61]

Yes but I was raised in these restaurants, not just a client, Im also trained in culinary arts. My view is different is all. I have had some great meals in Disney for sure, but I never have thought any of them to be world class dining, with the exception of V&A. For me it was always theme park food and I thereby judged it as such. I do agree that the quality has changed and not for the better in most cases, but I just chalk it up to money versus quality. Disney is about profit, especially where dining is concerned. Bottom line is most don't know the difference between mushrooms and truffles and mushrooms are cheaper. Let's not forget one of the most praised food products on this board is Dole Whip, a chemical-based powered ice cream insta-mix. It's not hard to please theme park masses, and if you do a poll around the parks, a typical Disney visitor is going to reply that they loved the dining options including the turkey legs(which the very smell of makes me cringe). It's a theme park.

Now that's not to say I don't agree with you that the dining options have suffered, I do. But I just chalk it up to the business model that Disney is operating by that ensures them a profit, even with the dining plans.

But you know what fairy, IMO growing up in a restaurant makes it harder to understand. My family owned a soul food/Caribbean restaurant in Harlem for 30 years, so for me it's more of a "quality food can be done cost effectively" issue. As tony67 has been saying, when you have a world showcase and your Mexican restaurant is serving chips outta a bag, that says to me that you are not even remotely trying to serve a quality product.

When one of your premier steak houses charges 38 bucks for a steak which is
either prepared blandly or you're buying the cheapest meat out there, that's simply not caring. I've dealt with foodstuff companies, I can't believe there is a supplier out there that would not kill to get a contract with Disney, they have the buying power to get lobster tails at wholesale cost.

I'm not sure about the guest being really pleased. How many times do we hear on the boards that a lot of people would not eat at TS restaurant were in not for the dining plan.

I ask all the time how many folks would pay oop for the food and besides from a very few select places, a lot of folks have said they would not.

So I think it's not that people are bowled over but are simple accepting what is cheap, quick and easy. which is pretty much the same reason we do fast food.

My dilema comes next year, we're having a family reunion at the world, most of my family will want to eat on site and have been asking "what are the great places for dinner?" I have no solid answer for them. I'm trying to think of a way to get 20 people off site.
JMO.

Wishing every one satisfying and great meals at the world.

 

[TheLists09]

My worst experience was at Narcooses for the Romance dinner package (I'm sure it has a different name but I forget) I had bought for our honeymoon. Long wait to sit after our reservation time. Fine, no problem. We get sat, don't see a server for 10 minutes, which became a theme for the entire meal. Fine, no problem. DW goes to the bathroom and is gone for quite a long time. Then I see her complaing at the front because the bathroom hasn't been cleaned and is disgusting, no need to get into details there. Order our drinks and apps. Get our normal drinks. Apps are served, than champagne comes out. wut? Table doesn't get maintained during the meal. The meals themselves are disappointing. We at least got our great view of the fireworks over the Castle.

Over $150 for the dinner, I forget the package cost off the top of my head. We did complain, and was refunded, so credit to Disney there. But I'd be hesistant to spend that kind of money at a Disney restaurant again. I know what I expect service wise at that price point and it shouldn't be on par with Ruby Tuesdays and TGI Fridays.

 

[sto6917]

Personally I've never had food at Disney that was horrid. If I had to pick my "worst list" It would be Chef Mickey for Dinner. Not really because the food was bad per se. But I found the selection VERY lacking and not replenished enough for the demand. And Garden Grill. Unfortunately this is the best character interaction I've found - so we will go back. But the food is like wedding catering. Meh.

But on to my point. I've read a lot of reviews on here recently and I'm curious. Do those who have had bad experiences ever called over a manager? I mean when I'm at home I won't stand for bad service or food. If there's a problem - I tell someone. Don't other people do this?

I guess I'm confused. If your food was really THAT bad - why didn't you SAY something? Even at a CS restaurant. I mean if I go to McDonald's and ask for a burger with no ketchup, and they still give me ketchup I ask to speak to a manager and make sure they fix it. I'm not rude or nasty about it. I just want what I ordered.

Basically what I'm saying is that while at Disney I would do the same thing. Wouldn't you?

Discuss.

OH no - I just gave up my Le Cellier for Chef Mickey's dinner because I haven't been there before. Hope I didn't make a mistake!

 

[TDC Nala]

I usually wind up showing up on these discussions right about now to say that San Angel is no longer serving chips out of a bag, before anyone gets the idea they still do.

They make them in-house now, confirmed by my friend who is a vegan, unless they lied when they told her they're cooked in oil containing lard (or reading it off the bag).

 

[Sweettears]

I have talked with managers at Chefs de France, San Angel Inn, Tutto Italia, Wolfgang Puck, and some others about issues.


I will say that most of the bad experiences (with the exception of Wolfgang Puck) we have had were while we had the dining plan. We have since stopped doing the dining plan and it is amazing how few issues we have had since. I am convinced when they ask if you are on a dining plan, the server, kitchen, etc all treat you as a second class customer and try to cheap out on you.

This may explain why I can't ever remember having what I would call a bad meal at WDW. Some better than others, but certainly nothing bad. We always pay OOP and have never used a dining plan.

 

[hoosiergirl7]

I've had 3 not so good experiences at Disney. The 1st time was on our 1st trip together. It was actually DH's 1st trip and my 2nd. We made reservations at San Angel Inn for dinner. My first issue was the fact that it was very dark inside. I could hardly see DH. The chips were stale and the salsa was bland. The power went out several times during our dinner and there was no back up generator or lighting so we sat there in complete darkness. The food was lukewarm at best and not very flavorful. I couldn't even get hot sauce to spice up my food. I did say something to our waiter that the food wasn't very warm but he just kind of shrugged his shoulders at me. I should've spoken with a manager but I just wanted to get the heck out of there. It's been 8 years and I haven't been back and will not go back.

The 2nd time was at Chef Mickey's for dinner (April '08). Food was not good, service was not good, character interaction was non-existent and we had to wait an hour to be seated. I would've complained but I got sick (not food poisoning or anything) and just wanted to get out of there and go back to the WL where we were staying. I got sick enough that I ended up in the ER at Celebration hospital. Had to cut my trip short to return home to see my specialist that takes care of this health issue I have.

The 3rd experience I had was at Narcoossee's (Dec '09) which I was not expecting since I've never had a bad meal there in the past. And actually my meal wasn't bad. The problem was that a few of my filet medallions which I ordered medium came out fairly rare. They were actually more rare than what my dad ordered and he ordered his rare. He may have gotten mine and I got his, but even he said it was more rare than he would normally eat it. They offered to replace it and I said no thank you. I was full anyhow and still wanted my dessert. We were on the DDP but my 2 yr old daughter was not and we had to pay for her meal. So for the inconvenience they comped her drink, meal & dessert (about $20 total). I was perfectly fine with it. I'll definitely go back there again because the food IMO is good. My steak was just undercooked the last time around.

I also want to say though that I've also had some really good meals at WDW too. The Wave sits at the top of my list right now for best meal I've had on my last few trips and we are making ADR's there for our April trip. We really like Kona too. Am I looking for a 5-star dining experience when I go to Disney? No. Do I expect a decent meal? Yes. And I love my Dole Whips. I don't care what they're made out of because they taste so good. I've been on several cruises (non-Disney), paid lots of money and have never thought the food on any of my cruises has been all that superb. I've actually been disappointed and think that most Disney TS experiences I've had have better food than cruise ships.