Dined at Cape May Cafe tonight, they are testing a new method with the Crab legs

[perdidobay]

Instead of having them out on the Buffett, your server brings buckets of crab legs to your table at your request. We were told it was so that they would be insured to be hot, but we guessed it was really to insure people didn't hog plates full of them the moment they put them out, then leave behind uneaten legs.
Our first bucket was served lukewarm, and the meat was hard to remove. The second bucket was hot, but still seemed over cooked, and the meat hard to remove. Each bucket contained about 3 clusters each. They also brought the butter to the table. Otherwise the legs were of decent size and tasty, as was everything else on the buffet. Service was really friendly and prompt with many refills of drinks and offers of coffee towards the end of the meal.

 

[JandD Mom]

Thanks for this info. I don't like it at all. I have never found the servers overly attentive at CM, even when it comes to simply clearing plates and emptying buckets. I don't relish having to wait to flag the server down to get [lukewarm] crab legs.

It is, after all, a buffet, right:?

 

[Callie]

If executed properly, I think it would work well.
I would also understand a system where maybe you get one bucket included in the buffet, and additional ones cost more? (At a reasonable price).

 

[Goofy'sPal]

Thank you for the info. Im going back to WDW the last week of Sept or early Oct. Glad to hear crab legs are coming back to Cape May Cafe. I was there back in 2008 and really enjoyed it. This news makes me happy cuz I was bummed to hear crab legs had been removed.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Our Ratings of Cape May Buffet Dinner: (*rev 1/25/2015*)
. . . food price value: C
. . . food quality: C
. . . food quantity per serving: A
. . . food prep speed: B
. . . food selection: C
. . . seating quantity: C
. . . seating comfort: B
. . . eatery atmosphere: C
. . . eatery convenience: B
. . . staff friendliness: B
. . . staff attentiveness: D
. . . character interaction: n/a

Our Recommendations:
. . . appys:... Seafood Chowder
. . . entrée:.. Steamed Clams, Herb-Marinated Salmon
. . . dessert:. Pastries

NOTE1: Average food quality. This is not the quality of a New England seafood buffet.
They do have crab legs, but they are smaller legs and the meat is REALLY stingy. Not
high in quality, but will do in a pinch, as will the clams or mussels. Clams are tasty,
but are smaller Littleneck Clams. Face it, you can't make big Disney profits if you use
high quality crab, clams, mussels on a medium-priced buffet. Since the rehab, the ribs
are replaced with short ribs and the key lime tarts are gone. Oreo Bon Bons and Peanut
Butter Cookies are also gone from the buffet, but can be purchased in the resort's gift
shop. Another way to cut costs, they have replaced the corn-on-the-cob with niblets.
Absolutely pitiful way to cut things !

NOTE2: People were used to running to the buffet when crab legs were replenished; loading
the plates sky-high; gorging themselves at their table; leaving uneaten plated legs. Now,
your SERVER brings a bucket of legs to your table, as they are not on the buffet. This cuts
down the waste. It also cuts down the amount you can take & eat, because Cape May is known
for their inattentive and slow service. If you don't get it, you can't eat it. Your appetite
erodes while eating other items and fewer expensive crab legs are consumed. When we tried
the new service, our legs were still of average or below average in quality and they were
served slightly warm instead of steaming hot.

NOTE3: The new rotation for the "fried food" daily specials is:
. . . Sunday & Wednesday .... Fried Shrimp
. . . Monday & Thursday ..... Fried Clam strips
. . . Tuesday & Friday ...... Fried Calamari
. . . Saturday, Only ........ Fried Chef's Choice
. . . Everyday ...............Paella, Snow Crab Legs, Steamed Clams, Herb-Marinated Salmon

 

[daisyduck123]

Thank you for the info. Im going back to WDW the last week of Sept or early Oct. Glad to hear crab legs are coming back to Cape May Cafe. I was there back in 2008 and really enjoyed it. This news makes me happy cuz I was bummed to hear crab legs had been removed.

Wow - I did not know they'd ever been removed. DS16 would've been SO disappointed.

They had the crab legs there in July 2014, 2013, & 2012 when we were there.

 

[Goofy'sPal]

Wow - I did not know they'd ever been removed. DS16 would've been SO disappointed.

They had the crab legs there in July 2014, 2013, & 2012 when we were there.

Sorry if confused u. When I went in 2008 they had crab legs, also had all fried food every day and all deserts. It was yummy. Still going to book this when I go back

 

[JimmyV]

This isn't a "new" method so much as it is a return to a really old method. This is how it was done many (10-12?) years ago when we first went. Crab legs came out in pewter colored buckets and were not on the buffet.

 

[Farps]

If executed properly, I think it would work well.
I would also understand a system where maybe you get one bucket included in the buffet, and additional ones cost more? (At a reasonable price).

I don't know why we should pay more, they do serve the same crab legs at almost every Chinese buffet that I've ever been to at about 1/2 the price. Not trying to start trouble but if there was any kind of up charge we just wouldn't eat here.

 

[JimmyV]

I don't know why we should pay more, they do serve the same crab legs at almost every Chinese buffet that I've ever been to at about 1/2 the price. Not trying to start trouble but if there was any kind of up charge we just wouldn't eat here.

Crab legs did indeed come at an "upcharge" at CMC in the past. They weren't always included in the base price.

 

[disneydee6]

With our many trips there, we do notice that sometimes crab legs get uneaten (but not at our table lol!) so I am not completely opposed to this new policy as long as it remains included in the price.

We intended on writing this place off from our last visit but then after hearing that the ribs were back a few nights a week we decided to try one last time. However, we can only find info for the days it's served on all ears, can anyone confirm what days they have bbq ribs? Thnx

 

[lhall7]

Our Ratings of Cape May Buffet Dinner: (*rev 1/25/2015*)
. . . food price value: C
. . . food quality: C
. . . food quantity per serving: A
. . . food prep speed: B
. . . food selection: C
. . . seating quantity: C
. . . seating comfort: B
. . . eatery atmosphere: C
. . . eatery convenience: B
. . . staff friendliness: B
. . . staff attentiveness: D
. . . character interaction: n/a

Our Recommendations:
. . . appys:... Seafood Chowder
. . . entrée:.. Steamed Clams, Herb-Marinated Salmon
. . . dessert:. Pastries

NOTE1: Average food quality. This is not the quality of a New England seafood buffet.
They do have crab legs, but they are smaller legs and the meat is REALLY stingy. Not
high in quality, but will do in a pinch, as will the clams or mussels. Clams are tasty,
but are smaller Littleneck Clams. Face it, you can't make big Disney profits if you use
high quality crab, clams, mussels on a medium-priced buffet. Since the rehab, the ribs
are replaced with short ribs and the key lime tarts are gone. Oreo Bon Bons and Peanut
Butter Cookies are also gone from the buffet, but can be purchased in the resort's gift
shop. Another way to cut costs, they have replaced the corn-on-the-cob with niblets.
Absolutely pitiful way to cut things !

NOTE2: People were used to running to the buffet when crab legs were replenished; loading
the plates sky-high; gorging themselves at their table; leaving uneaten plated legs. Now,
your SERVER brings a bucket of legs to your table, as they are not on the buffet. This cuts
down the waste. It also cuts down the amount you can take & eat, because Cape May is known
for their inattentive and slow service. If you don't get it, you can't eat it. Your appetite
erodes while eating other items and fewer expensive crab legs are consumed. When we tried
the new service, our legs were still of average or below average in quality and they were
served slightly warm instead of steaming hot.

NOTE3: The new rotation for the "fried food" daily specials is:
. . . Sunday & Wednesday .... Fried Shrimp
. . . Monday & Thursday ..... Fried Clam strips
. . . Tuesday & Friday ...... Fried Calamari
. . . Saturday, Only ........ Fried Chef's Choice
. . . Everyday ...............Paella, Snow Crab Legs, Steamed Clams, Herb-Marinated Salmon

What about the fried cod nuggets? I heard they were on the rotation now in stead of every day. When we were there in November they weren't on the buffet the night we went, but the chef was nice enough to make us some!

 

[HopperFan]

They came in a bucket from the server in September 2012. They also brought a bigger bucket for our shells.

 

[North of Mouse]

Thank you for the info. Im going back to WDW the last week of Sept or early Oct. Glad to hear crab legs are coming back to Cape May Cafe. I was there back in 2008 and really enjoyed it. This news makes me happy cuz I was bummed to hear crab legs had been removed.

Wow - I did not know they'd ever been removed. DS16 would've been SO disappointed.

They were not removed - just a rumor that got going!

They came in a bucket from the server in September 2012. They also brought a bigger bucket for our shells.

We eat there every trip, the last being April 2013, and were not served crab legs by a waiter (visited after your picture was taken). They were on the buffet line.

Plan to go Feb 25 - sure hope they are back on the buffet line as I like them hot and only get one crab leg section at a time - am a slow eater, but definitely do not waste them - can't believe some people.

 

[JimmyV]

Plan to go Feb 25 - sure hope they are back on the buffet line as I like them hot and only get one crab leg section at a time - am a slow eater, but definitely do not waste them - can't believe some people.

Don't hold your breath. At this point, just be thankful that you don't have to reserve a crab cluster on line 60 days in advance with additional clusters available only upon availability, and only if you wait in line to use a kiosk.

 

[perdidobay]

To answer a few questions asked, they had cod nuggets last night,which were very good, as well as bbq ribs, while tasty, were quite fatty. Don't know if these items are rotational, though.

 

[ps17]

This a potential heartbreaker and maybe deal breaker for us. We love Cape May and we love crab legs - that said, we like the hot and at least warm. Really, that is the ONLY reason we go there since we aren't huge buffet people -we like the steamed clams, mussels, and crabs...

So - question to those who have been there under this new model - If you told your server to keep them coming - say every 5 minutes, would they respect that? We can go through them pretty fast and it would be unacceptable to sit and wait for the waiter to make his/her rounds....

Just got back and we have resrvations for a return trip in 55 days...

 

[Miskey]

This a potential heartbreaker and maybe deal breaker for us. We love Cape May and we love crab legs - that said, we like the hot and at least warm. Really, that is the ONLY reason we go there since we aren't huge buffet people -we like the steamed clams, mussels, and crabs...

So - question to those who have been there under this new model - If you told your server to keep them coming - say every 5 minutes, would they respect that? We can go through them pretty fast and it would be unacceptable to sit and wait for the waiter to make his/her rounds....

Just got back and we have resrvations for a return trip in 55 days...

Did you really mean 5 minutes?? If your server is bringing something you your table every 5 minutes, there's no way he/she would have anytime to serve the other tables for which they are responsible.

 

[mare1203]

I've been to other buffets where they do something similar with the crab legs. I think it could work out for Cape May as well. I would also think you could ask for one bucket for the table or multiple if you really thought you needed it, but who knows? I don't love their crab legs as I think they're usually overcooked and almost always on the small side, but obviously others love them. The new policy certainly won't stop me from eating there once in a while.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

If executed properly, I think it would work well.
I would also understand a system where maybe you get one bucket included in the buffet, and additional ones cost more? (At a reasonable price).

If you want to pay more for the same amount you get now, have at it. Not me.
I'm sure something of this nature could happen in the future so they can line their pockets even more.