Dear Disney....A new years wish!

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'm not a foodie (easy to please from gourmet on down to cheap food)...but I have also discovered the downgrade in food quality at the world.

We usually try to do a sit-down each trip...mostly because I look forward to the dining experience. It has crossed to mediocre for me.

My parents couldn't afford the sit downs way back when....so as an adult, I make it a point to do at least one.

In the 90s they were VERY yummy. Our first meals together on Disney trips---King Stefan's and the Bistro. I love French food and King Stefan's was off limits to me as a kid ($$$$$---so the adults would go without the kids) and was just heavenly.

King Stefan's becme CRT and the food was terrible. We went this summer and the menu had improved a little.

The Bistro, we went again on our 10th anniversary. I tried to be excited about the menu, but I wasn't. It was not as good as when we went in the 90s. Bummer.

The only food I look forward to now is the Food and Wine Festival.

As for Vegas, not on my radar of places to see, but should I find my way there---I will be happy that I won't starve.

And I thought Yachtman's was
Granted, I was pregnant. But my husband chose it for his birthday dinner and was not pleased. And he is an easy one to please---his favorite steak is a Texas Roadhouse Ribeye. Yachtman's steak was sO salty. Unexpected and not good.

 

[GeorgeG]

WDW needs Gorden Ramsey to come in and straighten them out.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Forgot to mention, Earl of Sandwich was one counter service restaurant we loved! Ate there twice last trip.

 

[skater]

This is exactly what I was going to say - great post!

There is fierece competition in Las Vegas between restaurants - especially between celebrity chefs. Most restaurants in Vegas cater to all clientele, even the celebrity restaurants, so their prices aren't so bad. Plus, they are competing with the casinos. People need to eat, but die-hard gamblers won't step away from the tables, nor the slots (we can't believe it when we see people in the same seats for an entire day at a time!), so the food better be good, or they ain't leavin'!

It's just another market in Vegas, and I really don't think you can compare it to Disney, as that is a different set-up altogether. Disney caters to families, and Vegas caters to adults. Could Disney be Vegas? Sure, and they'll charge $90.00 for a steak instead of $40.00 as that is Disney's business model. There isn't any competition for Disney, as most guests don't leave property, so no need to improve food, nor offer cheaper prices, like in Vegas.

It wouldn't make any sense for Disney to improve their food to gourmet levels, like in Vegas. People's number 1 reason for going to Disney is the parks, and not food, and I really don't think, if they changed to a Vegas food model, that it would draw that many more people in, on a consistent basis over the entire year. They have the Food and Wine Festival in October, and not many celebrity chefs are clamoring to take part in that, and they have Tables in Wonderland special events throughout the year, with visiting chefs, but these all take place at the current Disney restaurants. That's about as much as I think Disney is going to do to mirror Vegas. They are doing well with the current system, so no need to change it.

Tiger

Lots of good points!

 

[SaraJayne]

I am always the (lone) voice of dissent on this subject. On my last trip to WDW this past October, we ate like KING'S. In all of my stays at the world, I can only recall one bad meal (Sci-fi...dinner...the butcher steak). I am sure there may be places where the food has suffered, but luckily I haven't found it...yet.

However, I would absolutely be okay with WDW making improvements in their restaurants and menus.

As for the cheddar cheese soup. I actually don't care for it. The mushroom stuffed filet over risotto? HEAVEN!

For us, not so much. All three of us that had it were quick-trotting to the nearest restroom within 5 mins of leaving the restaurant.

 

[SaraJayne]

but why can't you do both? I love NOLA, the restaurants there are great. They get almost as many visitors to their restaurants but some how manage to put out jaw dropping meals. The food there is no more expensive than disney, it's a tourist destination also. That's what makes me a bit sad. all these other places have proven that it is possible to feed masses of people great food consistently.

Same with NYC and Las Vegas.

Why is it possible that all these other tourist destinations with millions of visitors every year, just like disney manage to put out top quality food but some how Disney is the only place that can't?

I just don't get it.

You hit the nail on the head. I like chilis. it's quick, decent, inexpensive but what would happen if chilis all of a sudden double the price? Would we still think it's acceptable? Nope.

I think it's because it has the Disney name attached and people are willing to pay whatever just due to the name.

We aren't, but I think we've all seen plenty of people on this board that do.

ETA: We don't go to Disney to eat. And it's the last place I'd consider "foodie heaven"...though some others seem to think otherwise. LOL

 

[SaraJayne]

Forgot to mention, Earl of Sandwich was one counter service restaurant we loved! Ate there twice last trip.

Agreed. We would have eaten there every meal if it was possible.

 

[PelletierBears]

My wife and I certainly didn't leave LeCellier raving about the cheddar cheese soup and breadsticks. We were on the dining plan, so didn't have the soup, and the breadsticks were really good, but...... We were raving about the steak! My wife had the Fillet over mushroom rissoto whatever and I had my normal ribeye or NY Strip (can't remember which they had now) as I actually prefer not to have fillet (I go for flavor over just simple tenderness.) They were both outstanding steaks.

50's Prime Time Cafe, the fried chicken was mouthwatering, just like I read here.

All others, was just OK (Hoop Dee Doo, Liberty Tree Tavern, and 1900 Park Faire buffet was probably the worst of the 3 and what I would have called terrible actually.)

Now, all I read on the forum was about how much food you got, especially with the counter service meals for lunch. I'm wondering how my lunch experiences was so terrible and I was left wondering how I had read so many times that 1 meal was "more than enough to feed 2 people." The lunch food was mediocre and not huge portions like I had read so many times. I tried to hit up the most common places in each park that I read about.

Aside from LeCellier, the best meal we ate was when we ordered a Pizza for lunch at the Pop Century food court for 2 counter service meals. The little personal pizzas weren't much to write home about, but ordering a full size pizza for 2 CS meals and feeding the 4 of us, that was some pretty darn good pizza.

We had an unbelievably delicious meal at LeCellier when we were there during Christmas week and our server was terrific. So glad we got a ressie there! Another fantastic meal was at Liberty Tree Tavern for Christmas lunch. So sorry you had a bad experience. We couldn't have been happier with the food and service.

As for the size of the CS meals...I've never agreed with the reviews that the portions are HUGE. Did we all eat all our fries...no, could 4 of us share 3 meals and be satisfied...sure. But to say that a CS meal is more than enough for 2 to share is a bit of a stretch for my family.

In regard to the POP food court, we loved it there! Such choices! The lo mein is absolutely delicious! We stayed there 2 nights before transfering to the WL and actually went back for CS dinner one night! We got bored with the Roaring Forks really quick this trip.

 

[Acklander]

When Disney swapped to the Dining Plan (free or otherwise) they had to adjust the menus downward to keep the costs down. I agree with others that it's now on par with the chain restaurants (Applebees, Fridays, etc...) Where I've never been wowed and never starved - just ehh. Personally, I like to eat out when on vacation, so while we might eat a burger in the park, for our actual dining experiences we go off property. The dumbing down of the menus has actually worked in our favor since we've found some spectacular places off site that we previously wouldn't have known about.

 

[DisneyScraps]

Forgot to mention, Earl of Sandwich was one counter service restaurant we loved! Ate there twice last trip.

Agreed! We eat there every trip. Wolfgang Pucks in DTD too. YUM.

Lisa

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Perhaps it's because I hate Las Vegas, but I feel the need to point out that it can sport a slew of fancy restaurants because 4 out of every 5 Las Vegas vistors aren't toting around a whiny 7 year old that ONLY eats chicken nuggets and 2.5 year old still eating off of mommy and daddy's plates.

 

[ChrisFL]

At least Via Napoli is really really good at Epcot

 

[FergieTCat]

Perhaps it's because I hate Las Vegas, but I feel the need to point out that it can sport a slew of fancy restaurants because 4 out of every 5 Las Vegas vistors aren't toting around a whiny 7 year old that ONLY eats chicken nuggets and 2.5 year old still eating off of mommy and daddy's plates.

There are alot of other cities with excellent restaurants that also have a thriving tourist industry which include children.

 

[bicker]

At least Via Napoli is really really good at Epcot

And Chefs de France.

 

[Miniefan]

I agree, WDW food has declined over the years, but I look at it like this, WDW is a place dedicated to the amusement and wonderment of all who enter. Food is the for most part on their back burner so to speak.

I believe that in most of the parks the food is just ok, but they at least try to offer a good bit of variety for everyone and I would say that most of the "treats" (ice cream, funnel cakes, cookies and such) are always very good, because honestly a lot of their guests (day guests) are there to enjoy the park, not eat. So, in the parks, the focus is on a few specific choice dining locations (character meals, places in Epcot, few up-scale options) with others having the variety of mass produced standard for those just looking to grab something to eat and get quickly back to the attractions.

To me, most of the better dining options are located at the resorts. Disney has a few great gems here and there but all in all, Disney knows it is not a "food destination" so they are spending the money on the things that make them their money back. I don't like the fact that DDP has increased in price and includes less over the years. But, I will continue to go to WDW and enjoy some of the "Gems" and grab my burger or hot dog when were commandoing it.

Kim