Discouraged by all the bad reviews...HELP

[kcrew]

When I first booked the free DDP for my families 1st Disney trip I was soooo excited. I was like "WOW how do I narrow down these great choices". After scouting these boards for a couple of weeks, its changed to "how can I find 7 TS meals that won't be disasterous!"
The cast-DH, DM, DS's 6, 10, 10 and myself and we all love to eat (lots). I have eliminated all buffets because I want this to be a novel experience for my kids and we do buffets at home. I am open to family style though. (Once) Also, I don't think my kids care about characters. We won't have a car so need places reasonably assesible from POP or the parks. We have no interest in shopping so I don't know if DDT makes sense. Also debating whether to give up 2 TS credits for HDR. Please advise......

 

[pperfectmom]

I feel your pain. We are also booked for the free dining and I have been so excited . I have changed my ADR's several times and have fretted over it. I guess it's kind of ridiculous to do so since the food is free . Personally, I don't really believe that any place is going to be bad if you go in with a good attitude. People are never going to agree on what's good because everyone has different tastes and standards. I love to cook gourmet meals but I'm insanely happy when DH fixes his specialty-mac and cheese and bean burritos. It's great to have someone else do the cooking on occasion. In fact we are planning to eat at Coral Reef even though most reviews have been bad. Why? Because my DD and DS don't get to eat next to a giant aquarium every day. So what if the food stinks. Sorry for the rambling. I do hope you enjoy it all and guess what? You don't have to do dishes!

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Relax! For some reason the world today is very focused on the negative. The news, the DIS, everything is affected.

I have eaten more meals in WDW that I should probably admit and I have never had a *bad* meal. I have had a few meals that disappointed me, and a few mediocre meals, and many, many good meals, and quite a few that were even "great" or "excellent".

I absolutely love Kona for any meal, though Tonga Toast for breakfast is a "must do"! Try the resorts for a less crowded, often tastier experience. Citrico's, Boma, Spoodles, Flying Fish, etc. there are so many wonderful places to go. Just stick with what works for you. People who subsist on Mickey D's shouldn't expect to enjoy Victoria and Albert's. People who frequent gourmet spots in New York City shouldn't expect the same food quality at a character buffet.

Have a fabulous time!

 

[superdiz]

Family Style - Ohana - this is a must do. You will all love it.

Le Cellier

Alfredo's

Germany (if you like German food, it is a buffet but it has a cute show)

Coral Reef for the atmosphere

ESPN Club

BOMA (another buffet but can't be missed, it's cool)

 

[abk96]

Don't get discouraged. Look at allearsnet dot com for the menus. Then choose the restaurants that are good matches to what your family enjoys for dinner.

You'll be fine. And enjoy your trip and the planning.

 

[Glorydaz]

opinions are like....well, you know the rest...listen, for each bad review you read, there are at least 100 people who loved it and didn't post! I read all the reviews and go with an open mind....

places I've eaten and would NOT hesitate to recommend!

Le Cellier (awesome), Coral Reef (great), San Angel Inn (great), Germany (good - wonderful atmosphere), WCC at the WL (tons of fun), Wolgang Pucks in DTD ( every trip we go), Rainforest Cafe at AK (very good), Boma at AKL ( very good) and tons of CS places .....none were horrible , some the service was a little better but all in all, an excellent time each trip...

 

[bookgirl2632]

Please don't be discouraged. Everyone is not going to agree on everything. There are restaurants I love at WDW that I have seen a number of bad reviews for. I love Alfredo's, but some people just don't seem to like. We ate at Tony's Town Square the last day of our visit and had a wonderful experience. Still, others dislike it.

Go with what you and your family will like. Look at the menus on allears.net. And take things you see here with a grain of salt.

 

[budbeerlady]

Look at the menus and see what your family will enjoy. Any place can have a rude server or an off night. If it looks good to you try it.

I was really looking forward to Ltt our last trip, I had read all the great reviews, etc. When we got there it wasnt our cup of tea, we had a bad server & that didnt help our opinion. But the food just wasnt what I expected it to be, we all grew up on nightly home cooking of ham or turkey, etc. So it isnt a good place for us, but others absolutley swear it is the must do place in MK. We tried it but next time are trying else where. If it looks good try it, it might be your favorite new place.

On this trip I am really looking forward to trying Boma, some like it. & some dont. And we are trying the Cape May Clam Bake at Beach club. Another one that some like and some didnt. But I figure if the menu has things I usually like I can find something to eat!

 

[pamlet]

We went last year and didn't have one bad meal! In fact we were surprised that even counter service food was so good.. Don't worry ... someone said just make matches for the food your family likes and stick with it.

We did the Luau .. it always seems to have crummy reviews - and my family LOVED it... I suspected we would - my younger son is obsessed with all things Hawaiian ( and he's 17)... He talks about it all the time .. how he enjoyed the food and the entertainment.. I thought the ribs were some of the best I'd ever had... they were moist and the sauce was delicious (of course the wine probably didn't hurt that..

Have FUN!! Don't obsess on your plans... that's the biggest thing I learned from the trip.. just roll with the flow!

 

[mrzrich]

I learned in my marketing class that people are much more likely to talk about a bad customer experience than a good one. It was some thing like for every 11 complaints you'll get a compliment.

Most Disney restaurants are pretty good, some are outstanding. That said you will find a bad reveiw on these boards for just about every single one. Sometimes its that someone got a bad server, which can happen anywhere.

We have also found that people rate the food based on what they are used to regionally. In other words people from land locked states like the seafood better than those from areas where great fresh seafood is readily available. People from areas where then can get great Italian or Chinese don't usually care for the Italian and Chinese available at WDW.

Don't eliminate characters all together. Its part of the whole Disney experience. Three sons (god bless you ) might like The Lilo and Stitch breakfasr at O'hana. It is served family style and has Mickey, Pluto, Lilo and Stitch. Another popular boy appropriate choice is Garden Grill at Epcot, also served family style in a revolving restaurant overlooking the Land.

Disney is full of unforgettable dining experiences
Teppanyaki-in Japan the chef cooks in front of you and makes a performance out of it

Sci-Fi Drive In at MGM gets good marks for its burgers and shakes (bad reveiws are usually for other menu items) Its a dining experience your boys will never forget.

O'hana Family style dinner-Yummy
Raglan Road has also gotten high marks lately

You will have a great time.

 

[crisi]

The only bad meals we've had at Disney have been our own fault - over inflated expectations or poor choices when we've ordered (I don't like key lime, why did I think I'd like key lime creme brulee!). The upshot is that I purposely play down restuarants (Le Cellier) - and even am negative on a few that are so overwhelmingly hyped (Boma and Beaches and Cream - both our inflated expectation restaurants), to discourage the sort of "the food here is so WONDERUL, everyone will LOVE it" expectations certain places get.

Keep in mind that people have different standards. I've had only a few meals that have thrilled me as a "foodie" - but a ton of perfectly enjoyable, edible, fun meals.

In fact we are planning to eat at Coral Reef even though most reviews have been bad. Why? Because my DD and DS don't get to eat next to a giant aquarium every day. So what if the food stinks.

We like the Sci Fi - it gets knocked here, and the food isn't fantastic. But the kids LOVE the atmosphere and chicken fingers are the same all over Disney World. DH and I get spiked malts and burgers, we go over lunch when its cheaper, and have a perfectly acceptable meal.

We like San Angel Inn - another that gets knocked. Once again, kids like the atmosphere, and we've always found the food to be pretty darn good. Not five star restaurant good, but good.

We like Teppanyaki. Our local Teppan grill is a little better - both the show and the food (its also more expensive!), but we seldom make it over there when we are at home - we do make it to the one when we are in Disney. A lot of people say "its like any Teppan place" and dis it (but seldom to you hear Le Cellier just like a gazillion steak places all over the country).

My current favorite is Flying Fish - two TS credits, but very good - foodie good.

I wouldn't shy from buffets unless you don't like them (I don't - we don't do them at home either), because it most cases, Disney brings something different to buffets - and if you are big eaters, they are a great option. The Boma buffet is extensive and unusual. The Beirgarten buffet features German food and the Oktoberfest atmophere and show is a lot of fun.

If it appeals to you, try it. Especially if you are on the free plan.

 

[D&R love Disney]

Don't worry, you are going to have a fantastic time. Pick what appeals to you and your family. Everyone has their own opinions and we've had lots of fantastic meals and very few bad ones. I love the breakfast buffet at Boma but don't like the dinner buffet but many people love it.

Have fun and enjoy eating!

 

[Christine]

Just wanted to say that YES, I think you should do HDDR!!! Use that extra TS credit. Do it!!

As for the reviews, they really can run you ragged. What I like to do is read EVERYTHING and then get a general percentage "sense" going in my mind as to whether a place is good or bad. For instance, Boma. That looks to have a 90% good rating and a 10% "hated it" rating (this is all in my head of course).

If a place gets overwhelmingly bad reviews, it is probably best to stay away. If it's mostly good, then go for it. Don't stress over the two or three negative reviews here in there--look at the whole picture and how many good-to-bad there are.

 

[Fall1]

DH and I just returned from a week on the plan and loved every meal. We also had excellent service, except at Wolfgang, but I think that was my fault because I changed my order. You'll have a wonderful time, I'd just pick based on which menus appeal to you most.

 

[NMW]

Relax . In 5 years of Disney trips (eating every meal on Disney property) we have only had "terrible" meal at Tony's in MK. We had one "it's okay" meal at Big River Grill. The rest (and it's a LOT of meals) have been fabulous. Our family likes to eat too. It's a big part of our vacation to plan out all our meals. The problem we run into now is that we have too many "must-do's" to fit them all in a 9 day trip.

Some of our favorites are:

Ohana-family style must do for our family
Kona-my sons (9 & 7) favorite
Rose and Crown-DH's "must-do" (I think purely for the Half yards of beer)
Flying Fish-my personal favorite!
Le Celliar
San Angel-great atmosphere and margaritas!
Brown Derby
Cape May Cafe-buffet clam bake (a first night tradition for our family)
ESPN Club-we do lunch here on our check-in day (we stay at Epcot resorts
so it's both close and a fav of our sons)
Norway Princess breakfast-DD 4 "must-do" plus, the rest of us like the food
Crystal Palace Breakfast-we do it once every trip!
Donalds' Breakfast in AK-we do it every trip-my sons really love it, good food.
Spoodles Breakfast-yummy food
Yachtsman steakhouse-Very good food. Used to be 1st night tradition until
we replaced it with Clam Bake
We actually like a lot more restaurants including some not on the meal plan, like Portobello Yacht Club and House of Blues, but I'll stop here. Have fun!!

 

[DisneyDotty]

I agree with everyone else.
Dining at Disney is all about the attitude. Yours, your family's, your server's...
For my family, dining at Disney is part of the vacation experience. So I try to balance fun (Sci Fi, Whispering Canyon, 50's Diner, Garden Grille, Crystal Palace) with relaxation (just about any restaurant at any resort--a nice A/C break away from the frenzy of the parks) with good food (Le Cellier, Kona for breakfast, San Angel [our family likes it!], BlueZoo) etc.
Eventually by the end of our time at WDW, everyone has been satisfied food-wise at least once!
And as others have said, I've had maybe one "bad" meal at WDW in all my years of travelling there.
Have a great time!

 

[ElizabethB]

Can't resist -- Ohana was awful -- and it wasn't our fault!!! Food was poor quality. Entertainment was bad. It's that simple! Unlike crisi, I refuse to take responsibility for that particularly poor meal.

 

[Dorisk3]

Food is so subjective. You can't get too bogged down by the negative and perfectionism. On the Dis most of us are almost obsessed with planning the perfect trip. There is no way that absolutely everything can be perfect, and the good thing is, sometimes funny family memories spring out of the imperfection rather than the perfection. So what if you pick a dud restaurant, you can joke about it later! Also, you might be pleasantly surprised, I'll admit, I like the Sci Fi Diner and a lot of folks give it bad reviews! You just never know- just don't obsess about it and think of having a good time. If you are in tension mode you won't have as good a time! Good luck to you!

 

[mommystieg]

After hanging around here for a while you will see that opinions vary widely about dining. Some of our favorite places -- Crystal Palace and 'Ohana -- are other people's worst meal experiences. Take any review/opinion you read with a grain of salt (no pun intended ) and then choose meals with food/experiences that best match your family. I do agree with the previous poster about the character meals--you should do at least one during your visit--it is a big part of the experience. We took DH's extended family a couple of years ago and one of my most vivid memories is of my MIL being "tormented" by Chip during our meal at Chef Mickey's. Good luck with your planning

 

[kcrew]

Thanks to everyone for all the comments! Maybe there is such a thing as too much research(and I'm not going until Aug 29th and I'm sure many reviews as well as menus will have changed by then! But, gotta have those ADR's.....I'm going to think about San Angel again after all the positive comments. For some reason I had scratched it off early on although Mexican food is usually my 1st choice when dining out! I think I'll just pick the "experiences" that seem the most enjoyable for my kids, and forget worrying about the food. Thanks again!