Big changes to the bars at Disney resorts

[Peter Pirate 2]

Thanks jarrdisney, I see and I agree. I too realize Disney isn't going to walk away from a real winner such as the DDP but it doesn't mean we have to agree that it's the best for (1) us personally or (2) Disney in the long run.

 

[Forever42]

I heard this before but i also read that you can still order the fancy drinks
if you ask the bar tender.

At both bars we were told that they "may" be able to do this while they had the ingredients and while there were still people there that remembered how to make them.

There were a *few* specialty things at the Poly, but the Lapu Lapu has decreased in size by half, for example (no more "sidecar" of extra drink) and isn't as strong/doesn't taste as good.

For the "mixers" discussion, yes, bars do use mixers and I expect to see sweet and sour mix, etc, but I *don't* like to see a mojito made with mojito syrup, rum, and club soda. That's just wrong. And that's what's on these menus.

 

[angelmav]

It would seem that all these changes are aimed at maximzing the profits off those 'once in a lifetime' guests. Pretty sad for those who go regularly. Must be a real small percentage of return guests that they feel justified in maximizing profits this way.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . Oh, I think the DDP is totally to blame. It's the same game plan....standardization and dumbing down of the offerings, meanwhile hoping your captive audience is too dumb to notice . . .

1) Most of the guests ARE to dumb to notice.
2) They want their DDP so they can pig out, whether it saves money or not.
3) Lots of comments like "couldn't afford to eat there before".
4) So, now they reduce the portion size and reduce the menu items.
5) And most don't even know the difference.
6) You could afford to eat there now on OOP, even without DDP.
7) Now, Disney can standardize food and drinks.
8) Never underestimate the stupidity of the American people. *

* Politicians have known this for decades. Or longer.

 

[tlev]

Never underestimate the stupidity of the American people. *

* Politicians have known this for decades. Or longer.

What the American Public Doesn't Know is what makes them the American Public - Ray Zalinsky

 

[LvsTnk]

It will be no frills dining and no frills drinking....I can only imagine that if you ask Disney why the changes, they will see it is what the public wants......they are targetting those who want the no frills type of dining and drinking. It is like the airlines, remember getting meals, movies and lots of attention, now you are lucky if they give you a bag of peanuts...I wrote letters and was told that people in my area want to keep the costs down and prefer no frills....Personally, I hate to fly and all those things were a distraction for me..

I guess people will be having their drinks at the Swan and Dolphin as well. Hopefully, they are still offering those speciality drinks..

Yep! We would go to Shula's and for Sushi, but now I am really including some meals at these resorts especially since we are late diners and these restaurants are open later. The menu variety and price for what they offer are better as well. My DH loves to try new things and this is a big part of the vacation for him.

 

[TDC Nala]

Hey--they might just do that. Then we'd have standardized beer- Bud, Coors, Mick Ultra.

They sort of do that at PI already.

I usually go drink beer at Raglan Road before I hit the club (at the club I am restricted to Sam Adams) and even they don't have all that much of a selection.

 

[TDC Nala]

I recently had a discussion with the executive offices regarding the menu and drink changes. Received the company line...just giving people what they want and Disney has to make money because it's a public company (duh!)...

What sent us over the edge was seeing a Kungaloosh on the menu at Cape May. I said in my letter that that was plain wrong!

It's on the menu pretty much everywhere now. But you can't get harassed by a puppet while you're drinking it.

 

[Paul in CT]

I guess that I am lucky that my DW and I don't really care for the specialty drinks. It's mostly beer or wine for us and EPCOT still has a pretty good variety (at least in bottles).

Seriously though, with the prices that the signature restaurants at WDW charge with the latest price increase they will not be able to survive long unless they have distinctive dishes that people will return for - DDP or no DDP. IMHO, I don't think specialty drinks in the lounges and bars are as important as this, especially after the first one.

 

[LoraJ]

We're leaving tomorrow to WDW. This report is disheartening.

 

[barbeml]

We were in transit the day this thread started. We (four adults) first encountered the standardized drink menu at Victoria Falls and we were truly horrified. We had planned our first-ever monorail drinkathon for the next night, but after suffering through a round of just awful, overly sweet, fake-tasting (yet expensive) drinks at the Outer Rim, we gave up.

If Disney thinks this is a good move, I can only say that our bar tab last week was a fraction of what it normally is. The only places we got good drinks were Francisco's at the CSR (fresh-made authentic margaritas) and the Dawa Bar at AK, which still has it's own menu...but maybe not for long.

 

[LoraJ]

Now that I have seen it, I don't mind the drink menu. Although, I can't find the Kungaloosh on it.

But, there are enough girly drinks on there to make me happy. I was worried when reading this thread that there would only be a few drinks on the menu. But there are several pages.

But I can see where the excitement of going from resort to resort for specialty dinks can be a dissapointment.

 

[lovmy2girls]

This is just so sad!

I read the entire thread, and I just want to make sure I understood it.

Same Beer everywhere, even the AK? No more of that beer you get at the Tusker House and other vendors around the AK? Hope not hubby might not go back!!

They are doing away with the speciality drinks, example:MaiTai , zombie, Lapu Lapu at the Poly? or they are not made the same any more, very weak or little alcohol?

 

[oogieboogie]

the only specialty drink at Poly that I saw was the Lapu lapu and the Backscratcher.

 

[lovmy2girls]

the only specialty drink at Poly that I saw was the Lapu lapu and the Backscratcher.

Can't believe this. That really stinks, if they need more money just raise the price up a little (reasonable) people would still pay for a good drink while on vacation

 

[barbeml]

very weak or little alcohol?

The drinks DH and I had at the Outer Rim were all made with "syrups" and little alcohol. The bartenders seemed very unhappy, and had to consult recipes for all these silly new concoctions.

 

[yaksack]

This sucks.

 

[wendy46001]

My Rum Runner at the Polly was just Sad...I asked what happened and the bartender just apologized and replaced it with a Corona....I think they are getting the heat for the poor quality…

 

[lovmy2girls]

The drinks DH and I had at the Outer Rim were all made with "syrups" and little alcohol. The bartenders seemed very unhappy, and had to consult recipes for all these silly new concoctions.

Well how long could this last? People are not buying these drinks for the sweet “syrups” or to quench their thirst; they are buying them for the alcohol.

That Zombie at the Poly really put me in happy place Same with the Lapu Lapu. Who will buy these generic "syrup" versions?

 

[lovmy2girls]

My Rum Runner at the Polly was just Sad...I asked what happened and the bartender just apologized and replaced it with a Corona....I think they are getting the heat for the poor quality…

But Why the Rum Runner? See this just isn't right. I don't know much about this business, but don't places usually make very good profits off the alcohol? Surely when you are paying 10-12 $$ per drink you are making a GOOD profit.