Disappointed this time in dining

[busymomma123]

This was our second time to DW in 15 months. Our last trip was in May 05, right after they started the DP. Everything last time was wonderful. The portions were huge, and everything was really good, for the most part. This time, we was very disappointed. Nothing really stood out as outstanding, except for the cheese soup at Le Cellier. It seemed like the quality wasn't there as before. Another family on the monorail was complaining too one night. It was really crowded, so maybe Disney was overwhelmed with everyone taking advantage of the free dining. Anyone else have any problems?

 

[cabanafrau]

Well, we were there in early Aug. b4 free dining started, but I have to say we had, overall, the best dining experiences we've ever had! I think the difference was getting so much info on the boards here & being able to do lots of menu research (esp. helpful for CS), beforehand.

 

[Cool-Beans]

I noticed absolutely no difference in food quality or service by waitstaff, and we've been 3 times in 2006 (so far) and several in 2005, 2004...

 

[DiszyDean]

Not all poor dining experiences are related to the dining plan. Sometimes, its just bad luck..

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We were there the week BEFORE free dining. All of our food was fine. Not stellar, not amazing, not the best food ever, but fine. Nice. Perfectly acceptable. Which is not necessarily bad, but none of the meals stood out as above average. We ate at Le Cellier and Jiko for the first time and neither one of them took my breath away. Coral Reef was fine, too, even though it gets a bad rap around the DIS. DH said he would like to go back there, which is rare. He usually doesn't ask to go back to anywhere specific. In addition to those 3 we ate at 1900 Park Fare for the first time. Places we re-visited were Kona Cafe, 50's Prime Time, Boma and Crystal Palace. All of our food was fine, all of our servers were fine, just nothing truly outstanding.

We were traveling with friends this time which I think was more stressful. We also ended up eating 3 meals every single day which meant most evenings I was still full when we sat down for dinner. I think that makes a big difference in how much you enjoy your food. In December we're doing California Grill for the first time, and returning to Le Cellier. I'll have to see what I think on the next go round when it is just the 3 of us.

 

[DeterminedOne]

This was our second time to DW in 15 months. Our last trip was in May 05, right after they started the DP. Everything last time was wonderful. The portions were huge, and everything was really good, for the most part. This time, we was very disappointed. Nothing really stood out as outstanding, except for the cheese soup at Le Cellier. It seemed like the quality wasn't there as before. Another family on the monorail was complaining too one night. It was really crowded, so maybe Disney was overwhelmed with everyone taking advantage of the free dining. Anyone else have any problems?

Where else did you eat?

 

[dzneelvr]

We've been going to WDW for over 10 years with the kids and can't really say the quality/quantity has undergone any specific changes in all that time.
Sure there are some meals that were "forgettable"; but that's probably due to our likes/dislikes. We were there again this summer and found the food to be wonderful. the biggest thing I've learned over the years is to not over-order as the portions are huge! DD and I usually split the entree. And we do appreciate the large variety of healthy eating the World now offers. I love the fact you can get carrots instead of french fries

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Well, as some one who has gone to WDW 20-25 (nights) per year over the last 10 years I can say the dining experience has, IMO, most certainly declined this past year.

(1) lobster off the menu at Teppenyaki
(2) the 'Ohana changes (generally for the worse)
(3) the salmon at AP is not as good as it was
(4) lobster off the Coral Reef menu
(5) portions diminished
(6) Boma's offerings became more 'Americanized'
(7) Jiko replaces it's signature item for an inferior fish
(8) Chef's had limitations put on them limiting the new and unusual
(9) restaurants are over crowded
(10) less variety in restaurant offerings

These are, of course, just my opinion but it's certainly how I feel and as a frequent visitor to these places and as a guest who believes in second and third chances for restaurants I stand by my opinions.

 

[mmmears]

I think it is generally true that the more people/meals a restaurant serves per meal the harder it is to keep up the quality control. With the DDP, and especially the free DDP, the TS restaurants and serving many more people than they did before. It's so hard to just get an ADR, let alone a great meal, with so many people trying to get in. We thought the food on our last trip was pretty good overall, but not as good on previous trips (when the restaurants were less crowded).

 

[princessgirl2238]

i think that sometimes when people come to disney for over a long period of time, they pick favorite things and don't accept change too well. disney has gotten even more popular over the past year and way more people are traveling there, so now the restaurants have to take note of all the extra people and what is liked/ sells better/ easier to get in/ cost and also alergies- it becomes a daunting task that the chefs have to deal with everyday and sometimes things have to be taken away. also what would you do if you had over 2000 in the restaurant in about an hour and half and almost everyone had a special order that isn't on the menu- there aren't enough cooks to provide that type of service. lastly disney has cut down on proportion sizes due to the constant comments that people leave about americans (the majority of the guests that visit) are over weight due to food portion sizes- disney doesn't want to be helping out the obesity rate grow (cause then you get angry guests that can't fit into the rides).

 

[mickey2000]

lastly disney has cut down on proportion sizes due to the constant comments that people leave about americans (the majority of the guests that visit) are over weight due to food portion sizes- disney doesn't want to be helping out the obesity rate grow (cause then you get angry guests that can't fit into the rides).

Or the airplane seat home

 

[seven dwarfs]

I guess I can say this on a Disney board but the portion sizes being cut down is country wide. My family went out to Outback tonight and everything was small. The tenders seemed to be cut in 1/2. (they should have called them nuggets) My chicken breast was cut in 1/2. It was so thin the edges burnt! Everything was smaller. It was ok because I allways over eat. I guess it is there way to keep cost down on there part with raising prices. So, it is not just Disney, it is everywhere!

 

[princessgirl2238]

Or the airplane seat home

he he that too!

 

[TDC Nala]

Personal opinions added to Peter's:

(1) lobster off the menu at Teppenyaki
Don't care, I don't eat lobster.
(2) the 'Ohana changes (generally for the worse)
I ate at 'Ohana in July and I thought it was fine. Only thing I didn't like was the pork sausage. Oh, and the wonton chips were nasty. But there is plenty else to eat. And yes, I ate there before they changed the menu.
(3) the salmon at AP is not as good as it was
Never had it. But I have a friend who has, before and after the DP, and hasn't complained about it.
(4) lobster off the Coral Reef menu
See (1).
(5) portions diminished
This may be a good thing.
(6) Boma's offerings became more 'Americanized'
I am so ticked off at Boma about the desserts! Instead of the chocolate mousse thingys, they now have a bowl of chocolate mush. What are they thinking?
(7) Jiko replaces it's signature item for an inferior fish
According to Jiko's chef, this was done because it is no longer environmentally correct to serve the previously offered fish.
(8) Chef's had limitations put on them limiting the new and unusual
I believe this one is true.
(9) restaurants are over crowded
This is for sure. But it's an extraordinarily popular theme resort destination. This year they are going to be overcrowded no matter what.
(10) less variety in restaurant offerings
I think I have seen that in a few restaurants.

 

[DiszyDean]

A very good post Nala..

Unfortunately, most people do not like change and will find the most convienent bucket to put their frustrations into.

I think the DDP is a convienent bucket. While some things may be directly attributed to the DDP, many things cannot be.

One thing that can be directly related to the dining plan would be the "crowded" resteraunts and the need to make ADRs. I can see that argument. Personally, I do not go into any Disney establishment not expecting it to be crowded and I always plan my ADRs, so it is not a big issue for me.

As far as levels of service goes, I think the mixed results you see would happen whether or not the dining plan was in place. There were bad servers prior to the dining plan and there will be bad servers if the dining plan was ended. In fact, most of the reviews I have seen lately of people on the dining plan say the service was excellent with few exceptions.

Reduced portion sizes and changes in offerings happen time to time in the restaurant world and although the dining plan may have had an effect in some places, other places make changes for entirely different reasons. Its hard put them all under one umbrella.

 

[mom_of_5]

Being since this was our first time and we did go durring free dining plan, I have to say nothing really impressed me except for The Grand Floridian Cafe. We happened to walk in one night (we missed our ADR at another place, dumb travel tie ups) and were seated right away and had a very pleasant dinner. Everything else on the trip was so so, but I did not have any past experience to measure it up too, I just chalked it up to amusement park typical food.