Coral Reef - Disappointed

[my3sons77]

We just got back on Sunday from a week long Disney trip. I had alot of nice restaurants lined up for us and I was most excited about Coral Reef. I had a diver and personalized menus that the kids and hubby knew nothing about. It was extremely hard to keep that a secret.

Well we got there for our 11:30 lunch reservations. We were seated and waited for our waitress to come by. She did. While we were waiting for our drinks I noticed a young couple seated next to the tank and I over heard her saying "Wow, how did you do this?!" I knew what she was talking about. The personalized menus! Which by this point I still do not have. We ordered our food off of the regular menus and I finally had to ask the waitress (who seemes new and clueless) if she had our menus, After looking at me odd she finally said, "OH! I'll ask for them" It almost ruined my surprise as the hubby asked me what menus I was talking about. I had to lie and say the drink menu. Good thing he fell for it.

While waiting for the menus to comeback the divers waved us over to the tank for the banner. The boys and hubby were in shock how I had that done. They loved it. The young couple who were seated near us also had a banner, the guy asked his girlfriend to marry him! That was SO sweet! Everybody was applauding and he was on his knee. She said "Yes!" Awwwwww

The food wasn't very great. I can't even remember what I ate.

I was lucky to be able to get a diver and personalized menus I just wish our waitress was more on the ball with the menus. The waitress the young couple had was AWESOME! She was telling them about the turtles in the tank, etc. You could tell she really knew her stuff.

Will we eat here again? Probably not. Would I tell others not to eat here? Noway. It is a really cool restaurant. Food is just ok.

 

[engle]

Sorry you had a disappointing experience. How do you go about the personalized menus and the banner in the tank?

 

[my3sons77]

Call Coral Reef directly and a recorded message will give you an email address. Send your request to that address and Debbi the manager will get back with you.

 

[DeeCeeSW]

I arranged for a personalized menu and diver for my DH for our 10th wedding anniversary. I triple checked that all was go before we left for WDW. We arrived at CR and were put in the third tier to sit and then given the personalized menus. There was ONE picture in the menu (I was told there would be several out of the eight I had sent). I had to take the waiter to the side and explain that we could not sit all the way up top as we had a diver planned and would not be able to see him from there. He said he would look into it and quickly came back to say that there were no plans for my diver. I was trying to contain myself and politely asked that we be moved closer to the tank, if possible. Luckily, a table opened up and we were moved. My DH assumed that I was trying to get us a better table and had no idea about the diver. Five minutes after sitting down at our new table, the diver came out with our anniversary sign, worded exactly the way I asked. So there was definitely a communication breakdown that evening, wouldn't you say?

The diver sign was a nice surprise for DH, but the food was just ok. We will not be returning.

To make matters worse that week, we had ressies for dinner at CG on our actual anniversary date. I called twice to mention that it was a special occasion, but neglected to mention it again when we checked in at the desk. Our anniversary was not acknowledged during the meal at all. I decided to mention something to our server when he brought our desserts (who was fantastic, as well as the food), and he felt AWFUL about the mix up. He had someone come over to take a complimentary photo of us (put in a Contemporary frame) and then gave us two free glasses of champagne (and we got to keep the CG glasses)!

 

[3for Me]

We had a very disappointing meal at California Grille once - not because of the food or atmosphere, but because of our waiter who seemed very aloof.

I am sorry you had a similar experience. We have always enjoyed CR, but again, I agree with you that the server can sometimes make or break your meal.

 

[stm61]

we ate at Coral Reef in Sept. We were a party of 8, but my 2 teenaged ds's "got lost" and didn't make it there on time. The rest of our group was shown to our table and you couldn't see much of the tanks. We were on the 2nd tier I think, and there were to many people in front of us for the kids to see. We were also on the very end, closest to the entrance. We asked to move, even pointed out a group of 6 that was about to leave. The cm seemed confused and said she'd ask her supervisor. Supervisor wouldn't even let the cm finish her sentence, she cut her off and said no moves! Dsis tried to explain the kids were driving our neighbors crazy trying to see the tank, she wouldn't budge. The food was ok, not great, but ok. Probably would of been better if I hadn't been constantly fussing at the kids to stop crowding the table next to us trying to see the tank. Top it all off, the "lost" ds's? They got there almost 30 min later and were given a table for 2, dead center, right up against the tank! They were late and got the best table in the restaurant lol!

 

[KennesawNemo]

Hi, how can I order a personalized menu at Corral Reef? How much is it? Is there a thread about this topic? Thank you very much!

 

[my3sons77]

Hi, how can I order a personalized menu at Corral Reef? How much is it? Is there a thread about this topic? Thank you very much!

Call Coral Reef directly and a recorded message will give you an email address. Send your request to that address and Debbi the manager will get back with you.

There is no charge

 

[KennesawNemo]

Call Coral Reef directly and a recorded message will give you an email address. Send your request to that address and Debbi the manager will get back with you.

There is no charge

This is great! Thank you very much!

 

[Boardwalk Tigger]

I dont like the food there either.

 

[Fantasmiss]

This is so strange... I always read a lot of complains about Coral Reef, yet we're always VERY happy! Service is great, so is the food and the experience. Same goes for Sci-Fi Dine In; many people complain, but we love it. We did get cold food at Sci-Fi once that we had to ask them to heat up... Other that that it has always been good. And I can assure you that my standards are high! I just think it depends on the chef and the server you get on the day.

On the other hand, our one visit to Garden Grill was a nightmare! Rude, sarcastic waitress and the chef was the only one we've met in WDW who was unhelpful with food allergies... Still people seem to like Garden Grill. Liberty Tree wasn't good either, although I've read many good words about it. Just after we left WDW last time after bad experiences at GG and LTT they announced that they'll no longer do character dining at LTT and there'll be no breakfast at GG. So hubby and I can't be the only people to dislike those places?

 

[sktibbe]

My daughters and I ate there in August. We loved the atmosphere, we were on the lower level in a booth facing the tank. However, we were very disappointed in the food. Not that good at all. Probably will not eat there on our next trip.

 

[mrsannb]

Did you try the salmon with ratatouille?? It was gooooo-ood.

 

[Advent]

What exactly do they do for the personalized menus? Just put your name and photo on them?

Also, how much do the divers cost?

 

[hygienejean]

We have been there twice and enjoyed it very much both times. The food was delicious and my menus and divers were ready and waiting for us. MY DH LOVES the Mahi mahi and I enjoy the pork chops. We also were seated right in front of the tank both times. Maybe we were lucky?

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

I guess this comes odwn to everyone's preferences. We have always loved CR, we found the food to be great and the view has been good no matter where we have sat (never the first tier.)

We are not eating there this time, we have decided to go to LeCellier and Akerhaus this trip, but as excited we are to be trying new places, we are going to miss CR a lot.

We never did the diver or menus, but may in the future.

 

[tink too]

I've always wanted to try CR, but since I'm a very picky eater, have never bothered. Reading all the negative reviews, isn't encouraging either.

my3sons77 - Sorry that your experience wasn't all you'd hoped for, but glad that you finally got your special menus and diver.

Also, how much do the divers cost?

Call Coral Reef directly and a recorded message will give you an email address. Send your request to that address and Debbi the manager will get back with you.

There is no charge

 

[wideeyes]

Sorry you didn't enjoy your meal. I am thinking of trying here at some point.

 

[pjandk03]

Hi - I just spoke with Debbi today at the Coral Reef and she informed me that personalized menus are available this year for the Year of a Million Dreams, but that the option to get them for 2009 has not yet been confirmed for the What Will You Celebrate theme.