Disappointed at the Garden Grill

[kimberlym4]

This had been our family's favorite restaurant on our last trip 2 years ago. However, we just returned from our trip and were not as pleased.

The hostess mumbled something as she sat us on Friday and then said "is this alright". I said "sure" thinking every seat is a good one as the restaurant revolves. Apparently, she had mumbled that the floor was broken (can you believe I didn't even notice!) Our view was of the podium and the people milling about so we requested a different table and after a short wait were seated a bit further back. The waitress said it had been 3 weeks since the floor broke - the manager told us 4 days. Either way, it was a disappointment to book the revolving restaurant only to have it not revolve! I joked with the waitress about the meals being discounted since the "ride" was broken.

It was more annoying though when the bill arrived as the prices for the meal were not on the menu and the All Ears menu (updated February, 2008) is apparently already outdated. Instead of $28.99 for adults and $13.99 for kids we were charged $32.99 for the adults and $15.99 for the child. On top of that the food was only so-so. We enjoyed the chicken and potatoes but the flank steak and catfish was not good.

What was VERY good was the character interaction. Mickey, Pluto, Chip and Dale were all at our table more than once. Pluto's antics had my 8 year old laughing hysterically. However, even with this great interaction I wouldn't pay thaat much money to eat here again - especially if the darn thing doesn't revolve!

 

[TiffanyW1]

We just got back & ate there for lunch one day. I never knew that the floor was supposed to revolve so I guess I am glad to know after-the-fact that we missed something (that would have been cool).
Our food was wonderful though & the character interaction was the best we have encountered yet. We would do it again in a heartbeat

 

[tmws66]

I am pretty sure that the allears pricing you saw was correct. I am pretty sure that you were on "holiday" pricing.

I am sorry that you had such a bad time. We were at EPCOT in May and the floor was not revolving then.

Hope the rest of your trip was magical.

 

[kimberlym4]

I am pretty sure that the allears pricing you saw was correct. I am pretty sure that you were on "holiday" pricing.

I am sorry that you had such a bad time. We were at EPCOT in May and the floor was not revolving then.

Hope the rest of your trip was magical.

What makes it "holiday"? Is summer considered "holiday"?

And, yes - the rest of the trip WAS magical. Most specifically, we stayed at the Dolphin and I've now drank of the "Stay on Site" Kool Aid. I loved the ease of getting from one place to another... but that's another thread.

I only post the complaint so that people are aware of the glich with the restaurant. Although I guess if people don't know it is supposed to rotate it won't matter!

 

[rcraw45425]

yep, that was Holiday pricing. Add on an additional $5 per person during the peak times, which now covers most of summer too for some strange reason!

 

[lucigo]

Oh wow, wish it had been broken when we went there! LOL My 4yo had a meltdown because the revolving floor totally freaked him out. Took the entire meal to calm him down.. I think he ate a little bit of frosting off his cupcake and that was it.

Anyway, sorry you didn't have a good time.

 

[AladdinsPrincess]

My husband and I were charged over $30/person at Cape May last weekend too and I just assumed the prices went up. That is insane about summer being considered "holiday" pricing. It's not a holiday! Ugh...

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Holiday pricing is in effect from Memorial Day through the 4th of July, so the entire month of June counts as a "holiday".
They got us with holiday pricing at breakfast on our departure day in December. NOT nice!

 

[kimberlym4]

Holiday pricing is in effect from Memorial Day through the 4th of July, so the entire month of June counts as a "holiday".
They got us with holiday pricing at breakfast on our departure day in December. NOT nice!

It's even worse when they don't put the prices on the menu. For that much extra they should be able to afford "holiday menus" that reflect the "holiday pricing".

 

[DisTeach]

That's good to know! I freaked out when I read the posts, but I will be there starting on July 10th and missing the holiday time.

I'm sorry to hear the Garden Grill was broken. The whole allure of that place is to be immersed in the Land scenes as you are eating. I wouldn't want to be put on display to look at the podium, either!

 

[rcraw45425]

We were hit with it from Jan 2-6 this year. Compelled us to try the dining plan, which we will never do again.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Thanks for letting us know about the non-revolving floor. That is part of the charm of the place for us!

 

[Megsmachine]

This had been our family's favorite restaurant on our last trip 2 years ago. However, we just returned from our trip and were not as pleased.

The hostess mumbled something as she sat us on Friday and then said "is this alright". I said "sure" thinking every seat is a good one as the restaurant revolves. Apparently, she had mumbled that the floor was broken (can you believe I didn't even notice!) Our view was of the podium and the people milling about so we requested a different table and after a short wait were seated a bit further back. The waitress said it had been 3 weeks since the floor broke - the manager told us 4 days. Either way, it was a disappointment to book the revolving restaurant only to have it not revolve! I joked with the waitress about the meals being discounted since the "ride" was broken.

It was more annoying though when the bill arrived as the prices for the meal were not on the menu and the All Ears menu (updated February, 2008) is apparently already outdated. Instead of $28.99 for adults and $13.99 for kids we were charged $32.99 for the adults and $15.99 for the child. On top of that the food was only so-so. We enjoyed the chicken and potatoes but the flank steak and catfish was not good.

What was VERY good was the character interaction. Mickey, Pluto, Chip and Dale were all at our table more than once. Pluto's antics had my 8 year old laughing hysterically. However, even with this great interaction I wouldn't pay thaat much money to eat here again - especially if the darn thing doesn't revolve!

WHAT???? Are they going to fix the floor????

 

[kimberlym4]

WHAT???? Are they going to fix the floor????

The waitress said that it had been 3 weeks on and off that it wasn't working but that this time it was something serious. The manager said it had been 4 days but also indicated it was a serious problem. So it was probably 4 days since the bigger problem occurred. He also said that his superiors seemed to think that the attraction was old and possibly not worthy of the expense to repair.

I'd call first if you want to go - especially because of the price!

 

[septbaby]

I'd call first if you want to go - especially because of the price!

The price was high because you went during June holiday pricing and weren't on the DP. Any buffet/character meal price is going to be $4 more per adult and $2 more per child until July 5th. Sorry this was a surprise to you.

 

[kimberlym4]

The price was high because you went during June holiday pricing and weren't on the DP. Any buffet/character meal price is going to be $4 more per adult and $2 more per child until July 5th. Sorry this was a surprise to you.

Thanks to previous posters I now know that but it was a surprise to me. I'm not sure how the average Joe would know that. I did lots of research on many things Disney before we left and I didn't know that. I wasn't told that when I made my ADRs. It wasn't written on the menu. I would guess most people don't know that Disney considers the whole month of June a holiday.

Again, the extra few dollars probably wouldn't have been an issue for me if the restaurant floor, which is a major part of the draw for this eatery, was actually functioning.

 

[terri01p]

I'm sorry but I really think that WDW charging holiday prices for food stinks , for a company that size to try and drain you of every last dime is just plain greedy.

Thank goodness we are driving next time we go to WDW because if I'm not getting a counter service meal I'll go off somewhere to eat buffet.

If you tell me that they are charging extra for counter service food too it just may push me over the edge.

And to not let you know about the floor revolving sucks too, that half of why people go there and eat, they should have at least let the holiday surcharge go because of the floor in my opinion.

 

[wigdoutmom]

We were there the 1st of June and the floor was working. We didn't eat there because my son in convinced that the food made him sick last year. We thought it was good though. Sorry it didn't turn out so well for you. The revolving floor really does make it neat but if the food isn't good it just doesn't justify paying that much!

 

[emmabemmainc]

Thanks to previous posters I now know that but it was a surprise to me. I'm not sure how the average Joe would know that. I did lots of research on many things Disney before we left and I didn't know that. I wasn't told that when I made my ADRs. It wasn't written on the menu. I would guess most people don't know that Disney considers the whole month of June a holiday.

Again, the extra few dollars probably wouldn't have been an issue for me if the restaurant floor, which is a major part of the draw for this eatery, was actually functioning.

Yeah, I'm not sure why people don't read the whole thread BEFORE they post. Plus, I'd be PO'd too, if I paid a lot of money for the atmosphere, and when I got there, part of the atmosphere was broken! I'm sorry that it happened to you!

 

[septbaby]

I'm sorry but I really think that WDW charging holiday prices for food stinks , for a company that size to try and drain you of every last dime is just plain greedy.

Thank goodness we are driving next time we go to WDW because if I'm not getting a counter service meal I'll go off somewhere to eat buffet.

If you tell me that they are charging extra for counter service food too it just may push me over the edge.

And to not let you know about the floor revolving sucks too, that half of why people go there and eat, they should have at least let the holiday surcharge go because of the floor in my opinion.

IMO Disney has 3 goals/reasons for doing this:

1. Because they can
2. To encourage more people to buy the DP (there is no price hike with the DP during the holiday periods)
3. To make guests "ration" their character/buffet meal choices. Not all meal prices are raised during this time, just the character and some buffets (like Boma). Places like Mama Melrose or Tony's doesn't have holiday pricing.

FWIW the Holiday notation is on the Allears.net menu page. The surprise is that many don't expect this in the middle of summer. Not as much of a surprise at TG, Christmas or Easter.

Your comment about a price break because the floor doesn't rotate is right on as a consumer, but from Disney's stand point none of the other floors rotate and they still get the same or higher price for the meal.