Can't decide between Auberge de Cendrillon or Inventions...

[Strawberryblush]

So far we're eating at -

Annettes (Day of arrival)
Walts x 2
Cafe Mickey
The Steakhouse

and we have two other restaurants to choose. We only want to do one out of the above, Auberge or Inventions because of the price, but can't decide which one to go for. I'm not really too concerned about the characters - it's more to do with the quality of food for both adults and children.

Can anyone that has dined at both offer their input?

Thanks.

 

[Disney Princesses LW]

Ive dined at both and the food is very different the set menu at Cafe Mickeys has more variety and you have 3 choices per course you choose a starter, meal and dessert for 34e kids 18e. The food was very good I have steak and chips, chocolate cake and to start with soup all ok. The meal at Auburge is very different and more expensive approx 55E I went last year and you dont get as much choice on the set menu it was prawns, smoked salmon pumpkin soups, lamb dessert etc although more courses it was smaller portions. Aslo at Cafe Mickeys there is an alternative menu in case you dont fancy any of the set option where at Auberge you dont get that option. I am going to DLP in October and would chose Auberge only because my daughter loves princess, If I was choosing for food it would be cafe mickey.
If you look in website a more detailed menu will be aviable for you to see

 

[Vala]

I think it's hard to compare Auberge and Inventions because one is a buffet and the other one has a set meal.

For adults... I'd say the food quality is about the same. If you fancy seafood Inventions definitely wins.

But as the quality of food for children is an important factor I'd go for Inventions. They have more options for kids on the buffet, and more "standard" stuff for kids. I've read some reports where kids didn't like the Auberge food at all after the latest menu changes.

 

[DLPDreams]

Agree with Vala

If your kids are the slightest bit fussy then I would go for Inventions - unless one of them is desperate to meet the Princesses. In July you will have the French children off by then so queues to see Princesses in the park will be huge .

If they are not bothered about Princesses then all things aside, the character interaction at both is good. In fact I think Inventions can be a bit more fun actually

We have done both twice and will do both again just because my girls love Princesses but I like Inventions because of the buffet and the breadth of characters you see (plus the lovely view of the park!).

I, as an adult, am not looking forward to the food at Auberge this time as it has changed and isn't for the better for me - and I'm not that fussy really. I doubt my DD2 will eat much at all as she is fussy . At Inventions though I know there is enough to offer both my kids something.

I didn't find the buffet too seafoody at Inventions at all . Thought there was lots of other things to choose. There is some seafood like prawns etc though.

Good luck deciding - you have some great restaurants there

 

[donna307]

Can I say first of all, your choices are brilliant

Annettes is a great place to go on your first day

Walts is so good that you would have to go twice, i've not been to cafe mickey but will be trying it in September and The steakhouse is BRILLIANT"

have you thought about the blue lagoon? I suppose it depends how keen you all are on the princesses. From what I hear, the food isnt that great at the auberge but if you really want to meet the princesses, it would be a good idea so go here rather than queuing in the park

 

[Vala]

I didn't find the buffet too seafoody at Inventions at all . Thought there was lots of other things to choose. There is some seafood like prawns etc though.

I'm allergic against seafood, that's why I notice the large table with the enormous prawns probably more than others.

But yeah, I agree with what you posted. I personally have done both and like both. Auberge has been very allergy friendly to me and has substituted starters, so the changes haven't been affecting me that much. I love the dessert buffet at Inventions (especially the one at the Sunday brunch), but the princesses even that bit out at Auberge.

Auberge and Inventions are both "boyfriend approved", that's the only two table service restaurants he voluntarily joins me at. He loves the food at both.

 

[DLPDreams]

Vala - I too am allergic to shellfish (but not prawns!?).

Actually, you aren't the first person to say Inventions was very seafoody (think Rosebug did recently upon her return) but I just didn't see it..... Maybe I was too busy eyeing up the desserts each time

 

[Strawberryblush]

Thanks for your replies....

What to do...what to do...

I've just been looking at more food pics and i'm really not sure if my girls would be into the food at Auberge - they are very picky eaters and to be honest the food choices don't look the best for the kids do they?!.

I've been reading reviews about Inventions and even though there seems to be quite a large choice of food on offer - the reports that the food isn't very warm really throws me. I really don't like warm food....it has to be dished up hot.

donna, I haven't considered the Blue Lagoon. What are the kids meal choices like? From pics i've seen it does look like a lovely restaurant...is the food good for both adults & kids?

Us adults are so much easier to please but the kids can be a nightmare! The last thing I want is to pay high prices for them to hardly eat a thing.

I can't believe i'm still undecided on the last 2 meals... i'm even thinking about doing Annettes twice too. The only problem there is i really dont want to use another half board plus voucher in here. Major over food choices

 

[Ware Bears]

I can't help with Auberge as I ate there in the days before it became a Princess meal however I've eaten at Inventions a few times and love it. I think it will be a better option for your girls if they're picky eaters as there's lots to choose from. There's a separate children's food section although of course they can choose from the adult section too. I loved buffets for my girls when they were younger (and still do now they're older ) as I think it encourages them to be a bit more adventurous with their choices - something I found them more willing to be if they knew that if they didn't like something they could leave it and go try something else.

Also, I've never had a problem with the food not being warm enough.

 

[Strawberryblush]

Thanks for your reply Elaine.

I'm still looking for more food pics and reports... i've been searching all morning. All this talk of food is making me so hungry

I think i'm going to have to search through some trip reports too because there isnt many recent reviews under the food threads on the forums. Something I must do when i'm next at disney...take some food pics!

 

[jothp]

We have eaten in Auberge but not since 2010. The girls ate bits of the starter, picked at the mains but happily polished off the desserts. Our girls aren't really fussy eaters either so if your kids are you may be better off with a buffet where they have more choice. I think on our next trip we are going to do both

 

[donna307]

I know, the food at auberge is starting to scare me! I'm not that fussy an eater but the girls im going with are..... I'm very surprised they haven't improved on the menu as it seems everyone has the same opinion.

I can't remember there being a problem with the food not being hot in inventions, but it was 5 years ago I was last there!!

I really love the Blue Lagoon. the menu is huge with loads of choices for everyone. They have a kids menu and a 'teenage menu' which I think mostly consisted of burger type choices. I think the food there is great of adults and kids. You sit right next to where the POTC ride goes past and it's really lovely. When you first go in, its really dark and you think 'how can I even see my food' but your eyes adjust when you get sat down and its a really nice place to sit.

 

[Ware Bears]

I really love the Blue Lagoon. the menu is huge with loads of choices for everyone. They have a kids menu and a 'teenage menu' which I think mostly consisted of burger type choices. I think the food there is great of adults and kids. You sit right next to where the POTC ride goes past and it's really lovely. When you first go in, its really dark and you think 'how can I even see my food' but your eyes adjust when you get sat down and its a really nice place to sit.

They don't seem to be doing the teenage menus anymore.

When we were there last May I asked for them in both Walt's and Blue Lagoon - the CM in Walt's said they'd been discontinued and the CM in Blue Lagoon had never known them so guess she can't have worked there when they did them. I think it's a great shame. When my youngest DD was 11, a child's meal wasn't enough for her so we used to order her a teen meal along with the other two (who were teens) - I bet there were lots of parents like us who'd order teen meals for their child instead of children's meals but would hesitate at ordering an adult meal because of being too big a helping.

 

[HFJohnson]

Inventions certainly got a thumbs up from me food-wise (we went at lunchtime so didn't get the character interaction). I thought the food was great and I don't remember it not being hot enough. I think buffets are best for children generally - ours are pretty good eaters but tend to be fussier on holiday because even familiar food like chicken nuggets can be "different" from their point of view! Plus there's so much going on it can be hard for them to sit down to a "proper dinner" if you know what I mean.

There's plenty to choose from at Inventions for children - cheese, ham, rolls etc for the starter, breaded fish/chicken, meatballs for mains and loads of puddings and sweets (which always go down well!).

It's a nice restaurant too but at the same time doesn't feel to formal like a proper table-service meal can as everyone is getting up and down to the buffet.

 

[MazdaUK]

I'd go with Inventions if anyone is the slightest bit fussy - we're not very fussy but I have to say i didn't fancy the menu at Auberge and know everyone would moan about at least one course I don't remember a problem with temperature at Inventions - if you're concerned just keep an eye out for when they top up a dish If its the same as when we last went (2008) the prawns etc. were all on one area, so if that's the first thing you see you would think it was all seafood, but none of us eat it and we were all very full up from the plentiful choices! Its great to get kids to try something different as they can always get aplate of favourites if they don't like it. And the dessert buffet has something for everyone - even fresh fruit (best dipped in the chocolate fountain)

 

[DLPaddict]

I personally wouldn't go for either, this is just my opinion but I feel Inventions has slowly gone downhill over the past few years and the Auberge unless you love gormet food its not worth the price tag.

Having been to both on our last trip they was a huge disapointment. The interaction with the Auberge was fab but we only saw 2 princesses and that included Cinderella when in the past we see at least 3 others not including her.

 

[DLPDreams]

Now I would be disappointed if we only saw 2 princesses In fact so much so that although I wouldn't let my DDs see it to spoil their time there, I would definitely complain about it.

I know there is no guarantee on how many you see but 2 for that price is ridiculous

The twice we have been we've always seen Cinderella (by the door, but that has now changed, for the better for us!), and 2 or 3 other princesses plus normally 1 or 2 princes.

Did you not see any princes either DLPaddict?

Presuming you saw Suzy & Perla too as they are always there aren't they .

 

[torillien]

When i was last at dlp in june inventions was fantastic as always, food hot & plentiful - we always go for the 6pm sitting not later in the evening.

If you're not happy you should say - 50 euros per adult you should get what you pay for

 

[DLPaddict]

Now I would be disappointed if we only saw 2 princesses In fact so much so that although I wouldn't let my DDs see it to spoil their time there, I would definitely complain about it.

I know there is no guarantee on how many you see but 2 for that price is ridiculous

The twice we have been we've always seen Cinderella (by the door, but that has now changed, for the better for us!), and 2 or 3 other princesses plus normally 1 or 2 princes.

Did you not see any princes either DLPaddict?

Presuming you saw Suzy & Perla too as they are always there aren't they .

From what I was told its only 2 Princesses now and maybe 1 Prince plus Suzy and Perla in low season and 3 during High Season.

We did see Suzy and Perla, like I said the interaction was great but over the years we have been going we always got to see up to 3-4 Princesses so to see just 2 it was disapointing.

 

[Strawberryblush]

The more I read about Auberge the more I get put off to be honest. The kids meals just don't look good. From what i've read so far it really doesn't seem worth the money - I think we're definitely giving that one a miss.

Not decided on Inventions yet as i'm now considering the Blue Lagoon too. If I can't decide on one of these i'll just make 3 reservations for Walt's instead -I Walt's can you tell?

Thanks so much for all your input!