Counter Service or Table Service

[karrit2000]

I would much rather if we are limited to one or the other that it be a Counter Service. Most of my meals are eaten CS rather than TS. I'd prefer to be able to grab a quick breakfast or late snack from a CS at the resort rather sit through a full meal. Most of my TS eating is done in the parks or usually for dinner because I don't want to take the time to travel from a park to get to a sit down restaurant. Also when there is only a TS available at the resort your options can be very limited depending on what is on the menu & which meals are served at the restaurant. Many of them only serve dinner now at some of the hotels. Personally I've only eaten at Olivia's once and that was before I even bought DVC, I just don't find it convenient to eat there or at the so called CS at OKW. At BWV I've only ever grabbed stuff from the Bakery or the Hot Dog Stand. WL has a good mix of options but you have to go to the Hotel to get to them. I've never stayed at BCV so I can't really assess their CS options but there again you have to go to the main Hotel for them. BLT will be the same, since you will have to go to the Contemporary. I haven't been there since they reopened all the different dining venues there so I can't rate the offerings there. SSR has a decent CS with grab & go options available too. I haven't tried the Turf Club. And AK most options are at Jambo House, I didn't see anything on the Sanaa menu that I would be interested in and Jiko is not my first choice for a signature dining experience.

 

[WolfpackFan]

The reason I didn't put both in the poll was because this poll is in response to DVC's decision to only have one restaurant at Kidani and it is TS. Personally I think this is a very bad decision and it looks like the majority of those who replied to the poll agree. For the life of me, I don't understand why they need another expensive TS restaurant at AKL when they already have Jiko and Boma. Personally I will never set foot in this new African restaurant, whatever it's called and will probably book most of our stays at Jambo.

 

[Chuck S]

The reason I didn't put both in the poll was because this poll is in response to DVC's decision to only have one restaurant at Kidani and it is TS. Personally I think this is a very bad decision and it looks like the majority of those who replied to the poll agree. For the life of me, I don't understand why they need another expensive TS restaurant at AKL when they already have Jiko and Boma. Personally I will never set foot in this new African restaurant, whatever it's called and will probably book most of our stays at Jambo.

It also comes down to DIsney CRO rentals. If they are advertising Kidani Villas as Deluxe accomodations, and charging what they are for cash in the villas, you can bet a lot of cash folks would be upset with no table service venue.

And again, we don't know if some nice ready made foods will or will not be available in the store at Kidani. It would be a simple solution to have some pre-made items in the refrigerator section, like they do in most of the large food courts. POP Century had lovely sandwiches, fruit cups and desserts available in the refrigerated section.

In fact, I would prefer some of the premade selections I've seen in some of the larger food courts over what is available at the CS at OKW.

 

[twinklebug]

The reason I didn't put both in the poll was because this poll is in response to DVC's decision to only have one restaurant at Kidani and it is TS. Personally I think this is a very bad decision and it looks like the majority of those who replied to the poll agree. For the life of me, I don't understand why they need another expensive TS restaurant at AKL when they already have Jiko and Boma. Personally I will never set foot in this new African restaurant, whatever it's called and will probably book most of our stays at Jambo.

Disney made the most profitable choice. Restaurants that sell liquor and Bars make $$. This one has both. They may have also been concerned about the added crowding to Boma and Jiko. Sanna's a beautiful restaurant regardless & I look forward to peeking in, but doubt I will eat there for a long time simply due to their menu that has been previewed here.

If they do indeed listen to the voice of the members, perhaps they will add a place to pick up hot quick service meals. It doesn't need to be right off the lobby, but it does need easy access and we don't know the building well enough to tell if they have anyplace they could even consider adding one.

 

[tjkraz]

The reason I didn't put both in the poll was because this poll is in response to DVC's decision to only have one restaurant at Kidani and it is TS.

That's the way I interpreted the poll.

To those of us who don't write the checks, having both seems like a no-brainer. But once Disney decided only one restaurant was warranted, the question becomes whether they should go with TS or CS.

I wonder why they didn't just go with both. Doesn't Goods to Go at OKW basically share a kitchen with Olivia's? If they had laid it out so that a walk-up counter was back-to-back with Sanaa, seems like the only real overhead would be a CM to wait on guests.

 

[Tara]

The reason I didn't put both in the poll was because this poll is in response to DVC's decision to only have one restaurant at Kidani and it is TS. Personally I think this is a very bad decision and it looks like the majority of those who replied to the poll agree. For the life of me, I don't understand why they need another expensive TS restaurant at AKL when they already have Jiko and Boma. Personally I will never set foot in this new African restaurant, whatever it's called and will probably book most of our stays at Jambo.

If you look at deluxe resorts in general, you'll see that there isn't a big emphasis on counter service at all. YC/BC have paltry offerings, BW has practically nothing (pool bar, Spoodles take-out pizza). I'm not sure what it's like at Poly or CR but there's okay counter service at WL and GF - nothing to write home about, though. I would imagine that this bias against counter service would continue in DVC resorts, particularly since I suspect there's a belief that people will make similar meals in their kitchens. So with one counter service in the complex, I imagine they were extremely reluctant to add a second, especially since it would be DVD footing the bill. (I would bet that if there were no villas in Jambo and they just added Kidani like they're adding BLT, that they still wouldn't have put in a counter service.)

I still would never call Boma an "expensive table service" restaurant. I understand it counts as table service, but it's a buffet.

 

[Chuck S]

That's the way I interpreted the poll.

To those of us who don't write the checks, having both seems like a no-brainer. But once Disney decided only one restaurant was warranted, the question becomes whether they should go with TS or CS.

I wonder why they didn't just go with both. Doesn't Goods to Go at OKW basically share a kitchen with Olivia's? If they had laid it out so that a walk-up counter was back-to-back with Sanaa, seems like the only real overhead would be a CM to wait on guests.

They expanded Olivia's kitchen a few years ago, while they have access to each other, I don't think they actually share prep/grill space anymore.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Chuck S :And again, we don;t know if some nice ready made foods will or will not be available in the store at Kidani. It would be a simple solution to have some pre-made items in the refrigerator section, like they do in most of the large food courts.

In fact, I would prefer some of the premade selections I've seen in some of the larger food courts over what is available at the CS at OKW.

I was trying to really zone-in on some recent photos circulating the DIS from allearsnet of the gift shop at Kidani. I *think* I see a very tiny area of what may be quick serive in the refrig section ? (Just hope there's some zebra domes there ! Mara has those !) But really, just can't see well enough to say one way or the other. I saw some other items like condiments on the shelves....I'm sure bread/cereal is there. But I was hoping for a bit more. We don't eat all our meals in the room---mostly breakfast. For us CS is what we would use most and I'm also desiring more of a CS place like Artist Palette, Roaring Forks, Mara. Goods To Go at OKW is more like an outside pool snack stand vs CS to me ? Mostly in part because of no available indoor seating and outdoor limited to 5 picnic tables (really hot summer weather and rain we prefer to have indoor seating).


So while I'm with the people who prefer both, I did answer the poll because I looked at it from the perspective if you had to choose then which would be more beneficial. While Sanna looks very nice, we're just simply not going to make 6-12 ADRS to eat there during the week. Too much vacation time is lost doing alot of TS meals. So we reserve getting waited-on to a few select times during our vacation.

Maria

 

[Chuck S]

So with one counter service in the complex, I imagine they were extremely reluctant to add a second, especially since it would be DVD footing the bill. (I would bet that if there were no villas in Jambo and they just added Kidani like they're adding BLT, that they still wouldn't have put in a counter service.)

While DVD would be footing the bill for the initial construction, I think the food service areas are leased back, maintained and operated by Disney.

 

[tjkraz]

They expanded Olivia's kitchen a few years ago, while they have access to each other, I don't think they actually share prep/grill space anymore.

Thanks, Chuck.

It will be interesting to see how this plays-out. I'll be stunned if they don't have some form of pre-made sandwiches and salads available for purchase.

But I stick by my answer that I think the sole restaurant at a Deluxe/DVC resort should be Table Service. I can get quick service food from my villa refrigerator, the resort gift shop/general store or even room service. Upscale resorts deserve sit-down dining.

 

[ILIKEWDW]

I voted for Table Service, as we have a lot of children, we don´t like to be going to bring food for each one.

It is much better to have our own server.

 

[Tara]

While DVD would be footing the bill for the initial construction, I think the food service areas are leased back, maintained and operated by Disney.

Ah, I never knew that. That's another factor, then - perhaps in looking at the offerings and dining patterns, Disney didn't want to operate another C/S.

 

[TheTazDev]

We're a family of 5. Can't afford sit down meals all the time. I voted CS for convenience of breakfast, midday snacks during the heat of the day, and late night munchies when returning "home" late from the parks. I'd like both, but if DVD was only going to provide one, I'd go with CS. The CS at Mara is really good. Not just hot dogs and stuff like someone mentioned. They had stews, soups, flat bread pizzas, bbq chicken and rice......it's definitely an upscale CS location. Mara gets a from me and I wish Kidani offered something similar.


Rob

 

[twinklebug]

I love watching how the votes shift according to what time of day we're at. This morning it was a landslide in favor of CS... now it's 2:1 CS over TS... could it be everyone's hungry for dinner or exhausted from a long day at work and would love to be sitting somewhere with a server right now? LOL.

 

[LAWalz23]

I would like both too! I actually find this very intersting as when DVC opened SSR, there was only counter service because DTD was so close but after much debate and I am sure member complaints, lo and behold they opened a TS, which is quite good.

 

[DVC Mike]

I voted Table Service. We always hit Publix and stock up the room with quick snacks and drinks.

 

[DiznyDi]

I didn't vote. I'd like both, please.

However, if I absolutely had to choose, I guess it would be counter service.

 

[JCW]

Voted for CS if could only have one. As others have said, we only do a few select TS meals during our trip, mostly due to the time it takes out of the day for a TS. And they are usually our TS meals are in the parks.

Also, DH is not a breakfast eater but I like a light breakfast. Being able to grab something quick in the morning on the way to the parks works perfect for us. Hopefully there will be some items in store to grab on the way.

If not, we will need to pick up some items to have in the room that don't require using the kitchen appliances. I am on vacation, no cooking for me

 

[ShuisFan584]

I would definitely without a doubt prefer a counter service. We usually go for 8 or 9 days, and only book about 3 ADR's. We don't do very many table service meals because of the time it takes out of the day. We usually like to just grab food and go.

We're staying at Kidani this May and that's one thing I'm disappointed about. I usually like going down to the counter service restaurant to fill up my mug and grab a quick breakfast. It looks like that won't be so easy to do this trip!

 

[Golden Rose]

We much prefer Table Service. We feel like we spend enough time standing around in lines for rides that we'd much rather relax and have food and drinks brought to our table in a nice, air conditioned environment.