Disney sit down Restaurants (Dont Flame the Messenger!)

[3prettyprincesses]

Never mind.

 

[RJAYL]

I don't understand this. Why would it make you angry that 3 other people paid for their meal with the Dining Plan? They paid for their meal too but did it ahead of time by purchasing the dining plan. When we've booked a vacation with the dining plan, we had to pay the whole thing 45 days before. I'm just confused why people paying with their credits would upset you. They didn't get it for free.

The first time we went to Disney with our kids, we dropped a boat load of $ on food. We didn't plan ahead and had no idea how much it was going to cost. Next time we went, we purchased the deluxe dining plan which we loved and saved us $. For us, it worked well since we like sit down meals and signature dining.

As far as feeling captive to Disney restaurants because you're staying onsite, that's your choice. You don't have to stay onsite or eat at their restaurants. It's more convienent for most people if they do eat on Disney property since it saves time and keeps you immersed in the atmosphere. We like to stay onsite too and I think Disney does a great job of theming their restaurants and serving good food.

Good luck with the next trip though. Maybe try some signature dining too like the other pp's have suggested.

The trouble is that unlike you most of these people are not paying for the Dining plan it is a gimmee Disney is giving away to put heads in beds!

I believe that this is having a direct effect on pricing & quality of the meals at some of the Disney dining establishments

As for Sig Dining, when I go to Disney I go as a family, when I go on a Disney cruise we always eat together except for one night for Palo (DCL Sig dining).

I did not start this thread to discuss Signature Dining at Disney I did it to discuss the restaurants I ate at & the price versus quality issue!

If you want to discuss signature dining you should start a new thread on that topic!

When I return to Disney next I will arrange a Sig Dining Experience for my DW & I. So stay tuned for that thread!

 

[BriarRosie]

You are right!

Nothing steamed me more than dropping $200 at Tepon Edo (A restaurant I liked)for dinner & have 3 young girls sitting with us pay with the Disney Dining Plan!

The trouble is that unlike you most of these people are not paying for the Dining plan it is a gimmee Disney is giving away to put heads in beds!

I believe that this is having a direct effect on pricing & quality of the meals at some of the Disney dining establishments

As for Sig Dining, when I go to Disney I go as a family, when I go on a Disney cruise we always eat together except for one night for Palo (DCL Sig dining).

I did not start this thread to discuss Signature Dining at Disney I did it to discuss the restaurants I ate at & the price versus quality issue!

If you want to discuss signature dining you should start a new thread on that topic!

When I return to Disney next I will arrange a Sig Dining Experience for my DW & I. So stay tuned for that thread!

Most people are paying for the DDP in some fashion, even with "free" dining. They're paying rack rate for the hotel. And gratuities still need to be factored in when using the DDP. And some packages require adding theme park tickets. That levels the playing field a little bit.

I think you probably made out better in the long run with the TiW discount. And if you're DVC, you're probably paying less for your vacation than someone who is paying for a hotel room. Or at least getting WAY better accommodations for a smaller price.

Plus, you've got flexibility with the TiW card. You can order a bunch of appetizers for your dinner without having to be locked into an entree and a dessert.

Can you tell I'm a DVC member who has an AP and likes the TiW card?

I'd be curious if you did the math, comparing the costs of hotel, tickets, DDP and such (estimating added gratuities, too) and then compare your current costs, you might find you didn't do so badly after all.

 

[n2mm]

Food = average
Prices = high

That was a very good summary!

we are here now and leave tomorrow to return home. we've been here for 2 weeks and pretty much agree. we were not wowed by any meals.

we ate at:

Beaches/Cream
Trails End
Kona
GF Cafe
Plaza
Liberty Tree
Capt. Grill
LeCellier
Turf Club

assorted CS locations


Nothing bad, just average tasting food and high prices. Also used the TiW card.

However, my cheeseburger in paradise at Margaritaville was the best burger I had on the entire trip! Yum, never disappointed there!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I agree with another poster who said that it is crazy on Disney's part to charge a 10 yr old the adult price. My DD10 weighs about 50 lbs and eats probably 6 bites. She doesn't much care about the characters at this point in her life either. Now, if they make a fairies meal, that is a different story! It is going to be tough to shell out adult prices for buffets for her. However, we will have to partake in some buffets b/c of the character interaction for DS2.

 

[TwiddleDeeTwiddleDum]

I agree, it's hard to stomache paying adult prices for a non-teenage child to eat at WDW - especially if you have a picky eater that doesn't eat a lot anyway. It would be nice if disney would offer a student or a preteen rate instead of lumping them in with older kids/adults both for dining & park tickets.

To the OP, sorry to hear your dining experiences were not up to par. The TS are my DH's favorite part of the trip & he too would be disappointed if he felt the experience was not as expected.

 

[wdwobsessed]

I agree, it's hard to stomache paying adult prices for a non-teenage child to eat at WDW - especially if you have a picky eater that doesn't eat a lot anyway. It would be nice if disney would offer a student or a preteen rate instead of lumping them in with older kids/adults both for dining & park tickets.

To the OP, sorry to hear your dining experiences were not up to par. The TS are my DH's favorite part of the trip & he too would be disappointed if he felt the experience was not as expected.

That is one thing I agree on. I have a DS age 10 and it is painful to pay adult price for him.

I am still one of those people who thinks dining at Disney is special. It's not just the food .. it's being in that little themed part of the world ...wherever it may be.

WDWO

 

[Andrea73]

The trouble is that unlike you most of these people are not paying for the Dining plan it is a gimmee Disney is giving away to put heads in beds!

I honestly think that most people with the DDP are paying for it. We got the kids play & dine free, but are paying for DH and myself. We were planning on getting it anyway. Maybe we are 1st time suckers. Maybe they are good at selling it.

The "free" dining is only for a few months a year. I honestly think the majority of guests do NOT have pins. I tried all I could do to get one.

They sell the DDP as a way to save up to 30% on dining and people buy into it.

They seem to be very careful about when they give it away. Plus the lovely rack rates that go with it are not cheap.

I guess it seems that some people act like the DDP is some kind of Disney Welfare or something. They think DDP is bringing the food down. They get irritated seeing someone use it and presume that the person got it for free and act like it came directly from their pocket or something.

Um...I am paying for mine. DH and I are over $575 for the DDP. So I don't need anyone worrying about what the heck I am using it for. Or getting irritated because I am using something I paid for. Really? Are people freaking serious?!

If most people were not paying, Disney would not be making money from it. If they were not making money from it in some form. They would discontinue it. Disney is a for profit company. They are making a profit from the presence of the DDP.

 

[honeydiane1953]

we are here now and leave tomorrow to return home. we've been here for 2 weeks and pretty much agree. we were not wowed by any meals.

we ate at:

Beaches/Cream
Trails End
Kona
GF Cafe
Plaza
Liberty Tree
Capt. Grill
LeCellier
Turf Club

assorted CS locations


Nothing bad, just average tasting food and high prices. Also used the TiW card.

However, my cheeseburger in paradise at Margaritaville was the best burger I had on the entire trip! Yum, never disappointed there!

Just got back and with the exception of Le Cellier and the Grand Marnier orange slushie I too was not impressed with the food.

 

[leebee]

Free dining is a misnomer. I have to pay full rack rates, buy a specific number of days on a park pass, and pay an additional surcharge per person, per day, to get "free" dining. On our trip in August, I could save $450 if I booked room only with the summer room discount (9 nights at POP). If we didn't have "free" dining, we wouldn't be able to do as many ts meals as with the plan for the same money, but in no way is the plan actually free. Ten days of food for two people is costing me $450. Is TiW a 20% discount? If so, me paying $450 is like you buying $563 of food, before the TiW discount, for 10 days. I think I am getting a good deal, but it isn't huge, it isn't free, and you shouldn't be steamed about it.

 

[goofy4prez]

I think it is in pretty poor taste to say that the quality of food in disney has gone down hill, when according to this list, the only restaurants listed were basic restaurants. I think that the signature restaurants do a pretty good job with the food (Not 5 star, but giving you what you pay for). We are doing the deluxe plan this summer and eating most of our evening meals at Sig restaurants. Luckily, we know to avoid the buffets and other restaurants.

I just find it entertaining however that disney offers a dining plan to save people money on food and people complain about what they are receiving in return. Disney world is a theme park, not a dining destination. If you are looking for fine dining than book your next vacation in New york city.

I personally don't think there is anything said here in poor taste in expecting to receive quality food and service in one of the Disney restaurants which are a 1TS instead of the signatures. When spending close to $125 for a family of four for a dinner one should expect decent food. As for the signature restaurants, even several of those fail to live up to the hiked prices on the menu and the hype. I will agree though, I avoid the buffets as well.

As for Disney being just a theme park and not a dining destination I agree with you in part but disagree with you as well. Epcot is a theme park that was designed to take it's guests to places all over the world in the World Showcase; this includes taking them on a journey with their dining choices as well. If it were not intended to do this then we would have McDonalds and Taco Bell's instead of Le'Cellier, Biergarten, San Angel Inn and others. Disney goes to great lengths to create a themed escape in their restaurants; these places are just as much a part of the WDW experience as the characters and ride attractions.

 

[RJAYL]

Most people are paying for the DDP in some fashion, even with "free" dining. They're paying rack rate for the hotel. And gratuities still need to be factored in when using the DDP. And some packages require adding theme park tickets. That levels the playing field a little bit.

I think you probably made out better in the long run with the TiW discount. And if you're DVC, you're probably paying less for your vacation than someone who is paying for a hotel room. Or at least getting WAY better accommodations for a smaller price.

Plus, you've got flexibility with the TiW card. You can order a bunch of appetizers for your dinner without having to be locked into an entree and a dessert.

Can you tell I'm a DVC member who has an AP and likes the TiW card?

I'd be curious if you did the math, comparing the costs of hotel, tickets, DDP and such (estimating added gratuities, too) and then compare your current costs, you might find you didn't do so badly after all.

I have been going to WDW since 1971 I started going with MY family on a regular basis in 1999 I can afford the trips I like the atmosphere, I will pay for REAL dinner shows! In My Opinion the quality of the meals has decreased & the cost increased, this seems to have accelerated since the introduction of free dining!

 

[n2mm]

Just got back and with the exception of Le Cellier and the Grand Marnier orange slushie I too was not impressed with the food.

Yes, and it was incredibily hot too!

I only added LeCellier because we like to get the steak burger for lunch but it's GONE! It's been replaced with a regular hamburger with mushrooms and cheese. Not on the sourdoe bread. A big let down for us! (the breadsticks and soup were good as always). We are not on the DDP, so didn't have the need to buy the most expensive thing on the menu for lunch.

 

[BriarRosie]

I have been going to WDW since 1971 I started going with MY family on a regular basis in 1999 I can afford the trips I like the atmosphere, I will pay for REAL dinner shows! In My Opinion the quality of the meals has decreased & the cost increased, this seems to have accelerated since the introduction of free dining!

I thought the quality started declining with the introduction of the dining plan in general, back in 2005. But not simply due to the "free" dining periods. Prior to the economy bust, free dining was usually offered only within late August until the first few days of October. To be fair, Disney was practically throwing deals at everyone last year (buy 4 nights, get 3 free and LOTS of free dining most of the year). This year, the deals have been cut back as the economy improved, but Disney still needed to bring up their profits.

I think that Disney could have changed food vendors, or their food budget has been cut so much, they are doing what they can to boost their profit margins. Unfortunately, at the expense of the captive audience....us.

For what it's worth, the prices go up all the time. A friend of mine had a menu from the Brown Derby from the mid to late 1990's, and the prices seemed cheap by comparison now! But I chalked it up to inflation, because my room at Port Orleans rack rate in 1992 was $88/night.

If you really have a hang up about the free dining people (most people still do pay for the dining plan), just eat at places that don't take the DDP, like Bistro de Paris or anything at the Swan and Dolphin. You'll pay higher prices, but at least the quality matches it! And many of the Swan/Dolphin restaurants accept the TiW now, so that's a bonus incentive right there.

I don't disagree with you that there are some serious quality issues. I am with you on that. But I'm not willing to place the blame solely on the dining plan. Or the sub-set of free dining in particular.

 

[RJAYL]

I thought the quality started declining with the introduction of the dining plan in general, back in 2005. But not simply due to the "free" dining periods. Prior to the economy bust, free dining was usually offered only within late August until the first few days of October. To be fair, Disney was practically throwing deals at everyone last year (buy 4 nights, get 3 free and LOTS of free dining most of the year). This year, the deals have been cut back as the economy improved, but Disney still needed to bring up their profits.

I think that Disney could have changed food vendors, or their food budget has been cut so much, they are doing what they can to boost their profit margins. Unfortunately, at the expense of the captive audience....us.

For what it's worth, the prices go up all the time. A friend of mine had a menu from the Brown Derby from the mid to late 1990's, and the prices seemed cheap by comparison now! But I chalked it up to inflation, because my room at Port Orleans rack rate in 1992 was $88/night.

If you really have a hang up about the free dining people (most people still do pay for the dining plan), just eat at places that don't take the DDP, like Bistro de Paris or anything at the Swan and Dolphin. You'll pay higher prices, but at least the quality matches it! And many of the Swan/Dolphin restaurants accept the TiW now, so that's a bonus incentive right there.

I don't disagree with you that there are some serious quality issues. I am with you on that. But I'm not willing to place the blame solely on the dining plan. Or the sub-set of free dining in particular.

On a completely different note I new we were in for trouble when they stopped offering the Bread Bowl's for the Clam Chowder at the Columbia Harbor House, I always thought that was one of the best counter service options in the MK!