Disappointing Change in the Menu at Sunshine Seasons

[tony67]

Anther basic fact is there's more choices for meals than ever before at Disney. And despite negative posts here on the dis, real experts have rated and still rate disney food as some of the best in the industry if not the best.

Source??


And I have said many times in many posts that teh QS food is very good if you know where to eat.

 

[daddey]

I don't think the point of this thread was that the food was bad. The food @ Disney is very good and I look forward to going there and enjoying the variety that they have to offer. The point was the change in DP options.

 

[TDC Nala]

but they seemed to occur during free dinning.
(Lobster tails anyone??)

Well, if you're talking about the lobster tails at Cap'n Jack's that change was not due to free dining. They were removed from the menu around October 4, 2008, at which time free dining was essentially over for that year, and were never resumed as a menu offering. This one can probably be put down to the need to cut back to accommodate the numbers of guests on the dining plan paying a set price in general, not for free dining. Free dining doesn't really cost Disney that much, they're making it up on the rack rate rooms.

To my experience there is still menu creativity and ingredient changes going on at the signature restaurants (some more than others), so I eat at those most of the time - but the one credit restaurants, not so much. Some, like Sanaa, are right up there with the signatures in my book though. And not every restaurant is getting everything from the same central location. Some restaurants are preparing certain dishes that way. Yes, the children's meals are quite generic in most instances, but look at the price of the children's dining plan.

 

[tony67]

Well, if you're talking about the lobster tails at Cap'n Jack's that change was not due to free dining. They were removed from the menu around October 4, 2008, at which time free dining was essentially over for that year, and were never resumed as a menu offering. This one can probably be put down to the need to cut back to accommodate the numbers of guests on the dining plan paying a set price in general, not for free dining. Free dining doesn't really cost Disney that much, they're making it up on the rack rate rooms.

To my experience there is still menu creativity and ingredient changes going on at the signature restaurants (some more than others), so I eat at those most of the time - but the one credit restaurants, not so much. Some, like Sanaa, are right up there with the signatures in my book though. And not every restaurant is getting everything from the same central location. Some restaurants are preparing certain dishes that way. Yes, the children's meals are quite generic in most instances, but look at the price of the children's dining plan.

Actually I was referring to Le Cellier and the lobster tails, not that it is a big deal.

I feel they can remove items during free dinning with less blowback because people are getting free dinning.
It may be related to the DDP in general, but that seems like the best time to make a change with the least resistance in the past.

And yes we are painting all the restaurants in broad strokes. I agree there are exceptions.
The whole fish at Kouzzinna for example, but I still say the soup tasted like Progresso.

Anyway this entire thread was speculation, and with a little research it seems to me it was the cost of Salmon and nothing more sinister by the bean counters.

 

[Victoria3]

I won't go back to Sunshine Season because I don't enjoy having to wander around for 20 minutes trying to find a table to eat at while people save multiple tables and have no food.

That can happen any where.

 

[daddey]

That can happen any where.

Try going into Cosmic Rays, that place is a zoo around lunch and dinner time. People are always poaching for a table. I agree though it can happen anywhere.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Anyway they started to maximize the profits of the plan.

Alternatively, they continue to maximize profits.

And why not? Look at all the posts on this board asking how to maximize the Dining Plan [get the most value out of each credit]! For that matter, every stockholder wants Disney to maximize profits!

 

[DCDisney]

I don't like how everything including merchandise and food options have become so standardized at WDW the past number of years. Especially the awful mg buns When ingredients cost go up WDW seems to cut the portion first and then raise the price later so I bet that smaller piece of salmon will soon cost more too. Changing the sides though really seems like it must be to speed things up because salad is almost always more expensive than rice or potatoes. I always order from that section and there really were too many options where it just took forever when someone in front of you didn't have a clue. Even when I had a clue it still took forever ordering 4 platters all with different sides and sauce on/off etc. I'm surprised though that if you ask nicely they won't substitute hopefully in a few days once the change is old news they'll relax a bit.

 

[tony67]

I don't like how everything including merchandise and food options have become so standardized at WDW the past number of years. Especially the awful mg buns When ingredients cost go up WDW seems to cut the portion first and then raise the price later so I bet that smaller piece of salmon will soon cost more too. Changing the sides though really seems like it must be to speed things up because salad is almost always more expensive than rice or potatoes. I always order from that section and there really were too many options where it just took forever when someone in front of you didn't have a clue. Even when I had a clue it still took forever ordering 4 platters all with different sides and sauce on/off etc. I'm surprised though that if you ask nicely they won't substitute hopefully in a few days once the change is old news they'll relax a bit.

I agree on the standardization.

Because so many people are on the DDP Disney really does not have any option but to reduce the portion.
Even if they double the price of an item a large portion of the people are on the DDP, so Disney is not going to get any more money by raising the price.
The only option is to reduce the portion, I do not begrudge them that.

Alternatively, they continue to maximize profits.
And why not? Look at all the posts on this board asking how to maximize the Dining Plan [get the most value out of each credit]! For that matter, every stockholder wants Disney to maximize profits!

There is a fine line between maximizing profits and damaging a company’s reputation.
Think American cars in the 70s for example or Comcast cable today.

Disney has lost me for the most part.
I have gone from two TS a day on a 10 day trip (before the DDP) to one during an entire 10 day trip.
I do not think I am the only one.
I am still on the fence on whether or not I will even go this October.
I havn't missed the food and wine festival in years.
Even my parents who are total Disney fanatics are giving it a miss this year.
If they lose people like my parents then they are really doing something wrong.


As for people on the plan worried about maximizing the plan I agree. I just go and eat what I want, worst case I will break even.
I tried to keep track last time when I was on the QSDP just so I could report back here, and there was no question that it was a good value so I stopped.
I would guess that most people are the same as me, the people on the DIS who are trying to get every penny out of the DDP are a very small subset of the people that go to Disney.

I doubt that 80% of the general population who goes to Disney on the DDP makes the effort to go to WPE for a QS meal.
They are getting hot dogs and burgers for the most part.

I would guess that just as many people leave credits behind as use every credit to their fullest value.

 

[ElizabethB]

I second what tony67 said! We are dining less and less at Disney generally. We are going to F&W Festival, but we are making our dinner reservations at places that don't take DDP, e.g. V&A, Bistro and the Swan/Dolphin restaurants.

I think Disney has decided to compete with cruise lines in providing set meals for a set price. The food ain't nothing to write home about any more -- either at Disney or on the mass market cruise lines. But, Disney has probably accomplished what it set out to do -- create a situation where families can gather at Disneyworld for a vacation as conveniently as they can take a cruise.

So be it. We'll dine elsewhere.

 

[Jeanieblue114]

I just did a liitle research on the price of salmon:
"The oil spill is not the only environmental issue affecting the cost of seafood. The price of salmon has jumped over the past three months, primarily caused by factors as widespread as the Icelandic volcano eruptions and the earthquake in Chile.

Streblow said his cost for salmon has risen from $11.95 to $14.95 a pound in the past three months."


So that means that they will adjust the price once the supply is better of salmon right? I don't think so.

I agree.
As someone once posted on here....wake up and smell the crappy Nescafe coffee.

 

[Jeanieblue114]

Speaking of new eliminations....

I noticed that Captain Cooke's menu at the Poly changed this week.
The dole whip is not listed!
Please tell me this is a misprint!

Anyone been to the Poly this week to confirm the dole whip machine is there still?
(I'm meeting a disboard friend there next week and promised to buy her her first one).


I mean I can't imagine...the Salmon..then the dole whips??...It's like anarchy! (just kidding)

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Speaking of new eliminations....

I noticed that Captain Cooke's menu at the Poly changed this week.
The dole whip is not listed!
Please tell me this is a misprint!

Anyone been to the Poly this week to confirm the dole whip machine is there still?
(I'm meeting a disboard friend there next week and promised to buy her her first one).


I mean I can't imagine...the Salmon..then the dole whips??...It's like anarchy! (just kidding)

I ate at Captain Cook's on the 17th and can say the Dole whips were still there then.

As far as Sunshine Seasons go, the salmon is now a sustainable fish, (varies by day,) and the tuna, is now served over Asian noodles, instead of the salad it once was.