complaints about Teppanyaki

[skater]

This may belong under the dining review forum, but am guessing its okay here. Teppanyaki is our family's favorite restaurant, but this year there were some minor glitches for us. The server was extremely grouchy especially about the dining plan. We weren't the only ones who noticed it - even the cook joked about it! The food was still great and the cook was entertaining. Our only other complaint was that children on the dining plan cannot order ice cream. It was not a major problem - I gave mine to my DS. And we could easily have paid for it OOP. It just seems a little mean spirited to not include ice cream on the child's menu. (He was offered a pre-packaged cookie). This is just my opinion and it will not stop us from going there or recommending it to others. I just thought I would prepare my friends out there so you're not as surprised about the ice cream as I was!

 

[care403]

I think it has to do with the fact that Teppanyaki is not owned by Disney. They have little control over it.

Also, FYI - I was booking ADRs for January yesterday and was told that Teppanyaki will be closed for rehab for 4 months, starting January 15, 2007.

 

[bicker]

That's correct -- Teppanyaki is not owned by Disney.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I don't think your beef is with the restaurant, I think it's with the whole DDP riga-ma-roar.

 

[bicker]

Hmm... maybe. I think one common misconception some guests (not necessarily the OP) have about the Dining Plan is that it is actually more like the Platinum Plan -- basically Carte Blanche for Disney Dining. It isn't. The Dining Plan includes a lot, and generally works out as an advantage for the guest, but it isn't an Earth-shakingly superlative financial deal. If it was, then Disney would have priced it wrong!

It's worth doing the Dining Plan because of the added convenience of having dining paid for in advance, and because you probably save $5-$10 dollars a day per person. Anyone expecting to save larger sums of money using the Dining Plan is either planning on violating the rules

or is going to be disappointed.

 

[Lewisc]

Bicker--Disney's website now says guests can save up to 40% with the dining plan. That certainly was the case when the plan first came out. I think Disney is now over-stating the savings but guests planning on saving more than $5 may be relying on Disney's information.

Hmm... maybe. I think one common misconception some guests (not necessarily the OP) have about the Dining Plan is that it is actually more like the Platinum Plan -- basically Carte Blanche for Disney Dining. It isn't. The Dining Plan includes a lot, and generally works out as an advantage for the guest, but it isn't an Earth-shakingly superlative financial deal. If it was, then Disney would have priced it wrong!

It's worth doing the Dining Plan because of the added convenience of having dining paid for in advance, and because you probably save $5-$10 dollars a day per person. Anyone expecting to save larger sums of money using the Dining Plan is either planning on violating the rules

or is going to be disappointed.

 

[bicker]

Well, I suppose folks could save "up to 40%". As a matter of fact, Disney could very well have gotten that number right off my own computations which support that:

http://brianandrobbie.com/DiningPlanEstimatedCosts.htm

My $5-$10 number comes from a comparison to what I probably would have spent, if I were paying cash for everything. That assumes no appetizers and no desserts:

http://brianandrobbie.com/DiningPlanEstimatedCostsNoAppyNoDessert.htm

 

[helenabear]

Bicker--Disney's website now says guests can save up to 40% with the dining plan. That certainly was the case when the plan first came out. I think Disney is now over-stating the savings but guests planning on saving more than $5 may be relying on Disney's information.

No offense, but Disney is a business and they are trying to make money. The Dining Plan is fine for some, but for those who only eat sit downs at lunch, it is a waste of money. I run the numbers every trip, and I always save money if I do a la carte. What bothers me is that I'm hearing more and more complaints about sevice at restaurants due to this. That the servers and the like really don't like it, seemingly taking it out on the customers. That bothers me quite a lot knowing I am paying for it the way I always have.

I halfway wish they'd do away with it. Since I save about $150 for the two of us for the week (doing a sit down a day), I just don't see the point of the meal.

For those who want pre-paid meals, get the new g/c from Disney. Prepaid meals for you right there

We are going to the Teppanyaki style restaurant in Nov... I really do hope we will not suffer a grouchy cook since my aunt only gets to go ever 5 or so years.

 

[bicker]

What bothers me is that I'm hearing more and more complaints about sevice at restaurants due to this.

I would believe those complaints just as much as you believe the reports extolling how much money you save on the Dining Plan (i.e., believe each to a limited extent).

 

[Lewisc]

I certainly agree it's possible to save 40%. I think your entree price at Coral Reef is a little high, probably based on the old menu. BUT you said

It's worth doing the Dining Plan because of the added convenience of having dining paid for in advance, and because you probably save $5-$10 dollars a day per person. Anyone expecting to save larger sums of money using the Dining Plan is either planning on violating the rules or is going to be disappointed.

Disney is creating the expectation of savings greater than $10, by your analysis those guests will either be disappointed or will be violating the rules.

Well, I suppose folks could save "up to 40%". As a matter of fact, Disney could very well have gotten that number right off my own computations which support that:

http://brianandrobbie.com/DiningPlanEstimatedCosts.htm

My $5-$10 number comes from a comparison to what I probably would have spent, if I were paying cash for everything. That assumes no appetizers and no desserts:

http://brianandrobbie.com/DiningPlanEstimatedCostsNoAppyNoDessert.htm

 

[bicker]

Yup, very true, Lewis.

 

[helenabear]

I would believe those complaints just as much as you believe the reports extolling how much money you save on the Dining Plan (i.e., believe each to a limited extent).

Good point! Honestly something I didn't think of. And something I should probably have thought of!

Especially knowing that the DP for me is a total waste of money and they claim the 40% savings. I am sure that is possible, but for the average person, I don't think it is likely. I know if you get a full three course meal then you probably would save that much money, but with the portion sizes at WDW, I am not sure if anyone can/should/wants to eat that much!

I wasn't a fan of Mitsoshuki much before (over priced compared to our Teppan places) but I just hope my aunt and father get their monies worth there with the entertainment

 

[cybrkitn]

We have ADRs for Teppanyaki's next month. My DH and I love Janapense food and can't wait to go.

There will be times at any restaurant where service on a particular day wasn't good and there are days where service can be outstanding. IMO, I believe it might stem from the kind of day the server(s) have had (although it's still not an excuse for bad service).

The one thing that I love about the DP is that we get to pay for our meals up front (as well as the tip) and don't have to worry if we have the money to go when we get there. Last time I went to DW was in 93 with my parents and brother (his HS graduation present). Of course DW didn't have the DP or anything like it at the time (that I know of). There were a lot of places I would have loved to have eaten, but we just couldn't afford to go. Because of the DP, I now have my chance.

 

[MPierce]

I don't think your beef is with the restaurant, I think it's with the whole DDP riga-ma-roar.

Boy, do I ever agree with that!

 

[skater]

After reading some of the opinions on this thread, I just couldn't resist throwing in mine again! I hope that those of you who think service has not gotten worse due to the dining plan are right, and last year I agreed with you. However this year, I think I noticed a difference. A server at LTT actually disappeared for most of our meal after learning that we were on the DP. He also wanted to know our entire order including appetizer, entree and desert up front. (Is this normal for this restaurant?) Another CM brought our food and we almost didn't see him again until I grabbed him for a drink refill. The server (again not the cook - he was great) at Teppanyaki was very abrupt and seemed to be grouchy about the dining plan. Our servers at Cape May, and Ohana were great but they were the exception. It could be that we had bad luck or it could be that there are other non DDP related issues going on. Or maybe I expect too much from Disney. Its just that my first experiences at Disney restaurants were so magical. I think it was 3 years ago at LTT that our server came back to check on us many times bringing mickey confetti for the kids and making puppets out of napkins. At Teppanyaki last year we were met with smiles and warm welcomes. This year, even some of the CM's at the counter service restaurants seemed extrememly grouchy about the dining plan - and I tried to make it easy for them in most of them (I did lose it a little at Flame Tree). Maybe they're all sick of the dining plan! Is it true that they lost their discount this month?