Do You think DISNEY has gone down hlll the last few years?

[brunette8706]

Boston idea -----

Why not visit Faneuil Hall Marketplace. FILLED with dining options. Here is the seafood list from the website. It's busy, it's got many choices from pizza to seafood to dessert....its fun.

Go in and ask around "who has the best lobster". You should be set.

Seafood

Boston and Maine Fish Co.
Phone: (617) 723-4111
Location: Quincy Market Colonnade

Boston Chowda
Phone617) 742-4441
Location: Quincy Narket Colonnade

Fishermans Net
Phone: (617) 742-2872
Location: Quincy Market Colonnade

KingFish Hall
Phone: (617) 523-8862
Location: South Market Building, Street Level
Website: http://www.toddenglish.com

Salty Dog Oyster Bar & Grille
Phone: (617) 742-2094
Location: Quincy Market Building, Outdoor/Patio Entrance located in the West End Promenade

Walrus & Carpenter Raw/Oyster Bar
Phone: (617) 742-1530
Location: Qunicy Market Colonnade



Faneuil Hall Marketplace - History of Faneuil Hall

Faneuil Hall Marketplace is actually four great places in one location — Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, North Market and South Market, all set around a cobblestone promenade where jugglers, magicians and musicians entertain the passers-by. So by all means, stroll, shop, eat, laugh, wander, wonder and explore it all.


In 1742 Peter Faneuil, Boston’s wealthiest merchant, built Faneuil Hall as a gift to the city.

The edifice was home to merchants, fishermen, and meat and produce sellers, and provided a platform for the country's most famous orators. It is where colonists first protested the Sugar Act in 1764 and established the doctrine of "no taxation without representation."

Firebrand Samuel Adams rallied the citizens of Boston to the cause of independence from Great Britain in the hallowed Hall, and George Washington toasted the nation there on its first birthday.

Through the years, Faneuil Hall has played host to many impassioned speakers, from Oliver Wendall Holmes and Susan B. Anthony to Bill Clinton and Ted Kennedy, always living up to its nickname, "The Cradle of Liberty."

To better accommodate the merchants and shoppers, Faneuil Hall was expanded in 1826 to include Quincy Market, which was designed in the then-popular Greek Revival style and later dubbed for Boston Mayor Josiah Quincy.


The market remained a vital business hub throughout the 1800's; but by the mid-1900's, the buildings had fallen into disrepair and many stood empty.

The once-thriving marketplace was tagged for demolition until a committed group of Bostonians sought to preserve it in the early 1970's.

Through the vision of Jim Rouse, architect Benjamin Thompson and Mayor Kevin White, the dilapidated structures were revitalized, thoroughly changing the face of downtown Boston.

The 1976 renovation was the first urban renewal project of its kind, one that spawned imitations in this country and abroad.

Today, what is known as Faneuil Hall Marketplace is still Boston's central meeting place, offering visitors and residents alike an unparalleled urban marketplace. The unique and burgeoning array of shops, restaurants and outdoor entertainment have made it a premiere urban destination that attracts more than 18 million visitors annually.

Oh cool! Thank you Donut!

I will definitely check them out too!

Brunette

 

[brunette8706]

Holiday buffet surcharges

I am very well versed in holiday surcharges as we go for 2 weeks each July. Here are some thoughts:

1. Prices - prices are listed on the outside of each restaurant, as well as menus are printed up reflecting the current prices. There is nothing sneaky about the actual prices as they are always displayed. Disney doesn't advertise the actual seasons, but I think they do so as people are then caught paying those prices, or, they cancel an ADR. Also, Disney loads the buffet surcharges into their Disney their computers at least 6-7 months before, so you can call and CMs will have the pricing that is applicable for when you are travelling. You can also do a dummy ADR online for a place like CRT, and compare the regular price and holiday price as well.

2. Seasons - Seasons have changed over the last year. For summer this year, surcharges were in effect from June 1 - Aug 15. Last year, it was Memorial Day - July 25th? (around there). Not sure about 2011, as there is only a $2.00 difference in the peak season pricing of the DP, so it hardly seems fair that they will continue to charge $4.00/adult, but they probably will. Also, as Nala said, Christmas and Easter (end of April 2011) are also surcharged, as well as a few other seasons.

I don't like the surcharges, but with kids who love character meals, we pay for a few of them. We have cut down on character meals, but we can't eliminate them all, as they are a welcome break in the stifling summer heat.

Disney doesn't advertise the surcharges, but as long as they change menus, posters and signs to reflect current pricing, for the day you dine, that is all they need to do. I don't like it, and I think it's sneak for guests, but not much can be done in this respect, except not eat there.

Hope this helps, Tiger

*
Hi Tiger!

Yes, it is helpful (as always)

I do agree it is somewhat sneaky too! They should at least have a sign posted on the restaurant lobby with the price before tax and tip!

thank you!
Brunette

 

[Tiger926]

*
Hi Tiger!

Yes, it is helpful (as always)

I do agree it is somewhat sneaky too! They should at least have a sign posted on the restaurant lobby with the price before tax and tip!

thank you!
Brunette

They do. All buffets have the current pricing posted outside, as well as on menus. So, it will have the buffet surcharge price incorporated into the actual meal price. They should break it up to show an actual surcharge, but they don't do it that way. I suspect because people don't like extra fees, but if it's rolled into current prices, and the menus always reflect this, then they are advising guests beforehand.

Tiger

 

[Mom of 2 Wife of 1]

Another example is the $9.50 nachos and salsa at WWC. I can go to Chili's and get the same thing for $3.00, or better yet, go to my local Mexican restaurant and get them for free. But again...people continue to pay the prices for it, so why not keep them high?

At the end of the day, it's all business for Disney, and it seems to me that they have the consumers (present company included) right where they want them.

Does Chili's have 60,000 employees at one site? Do they have the third largest bus system in the state? Do they have over 500 rides, attractions, shows and nighttime fireworks spectaculars?

That's what you're paying for with those $9.50 nachos.

Why does everyone think every penny of a $58 lobster goes right back into Narcoossee's? It pays for the maintenance on the monorail, the 2am landscaping on 40 square miles, and the diesel that goes into the ferries and boats that criss-cross the lagoons. You don't really believe the ticket prices and merchandise covers all the costs of WDW's annual budget, do you?

No, I didn't think so.

 

[brunette8706]

They do. All buffets have the current pricing posted outside, as well as on menus. So, it will have the buffet surcharge price incorporated into the actual meal price. They should break it up to show an actual surcharge, but they don't do it that way. I suspect because people don't like extra fees, but if it's rolled into current prices, and the menus always reflect this, then they are advising guests beforehand.

Tiger

*
I don't know how I missed that. You had it on the first line of your statement. But, I have not seen it at BOMA? Or Ohana? Am I not looking in the right direction? LOL! Sorry for my confusion.

Brunette

 

[Tiger926]

*
I don't know how I missed that. You had it on the first line of your statement. But, I have not seen it at BOMA? Or Ohana? Am I not looking in the right direction? LOL! Sorry for my confusion.

Brunette

We don't eat at Boma or 'Ohana as we don't care for them, so it's been a few years since we've eaten at those restaurants, so not sure about those specifically, but most buffets have a big poster/sign with the buffet name and prices listed (adults and kids). If not on a sign, then I've seen a table sign or in a menu.

I know restaurants such as Crystal Palace, Tusker House and Akershus, have big signs with meal details on them.

I won't be back at Disney until next July, so I can't check for you at Boma or 'Ohana. But you have me wondering - I could have sworn I've seen a sign at 'Ohana when I pass by to eat at Kona (we eat at Kona each and every trip - breakfast and dinner).

Tiger

 

[DMRick]

*
I don't know how I missed that. You had it on the first line of your statement. But, I have not seen it at BOMA? Or Ohana? Am I not looking in the right direction? LOL! Sorry for my confusion.

Brunette

Last time we were at Ohana's there was a menu to the left of the area where you go in, and the prices were on it.

 

[KellyNY]

Hey, we live in the Techno age. All the Disney IT people have to do is a little IT work and they can post accurate prices for the entire year (including surcharge months -and please tell me when did we begin to celebrate the holiday "summer"?) Hey Disney.....call a pig ear.....a pig ear and say it's a Holiday and Summer surcharge....then we can prepare our budgets accordingly.

Awww heck, the next surcharge will probably be "you are lucky to be here during slow times, so pay more and enjoy the short lines" surcharge.

You know, going to Disney is a holiday for everyone,.. so, we have a holiday season.

 

[Planogirl]

I love Boma but I don't want to have to wait until I get there to know the price. For one thing it's a pain to drive over there and then possibly have to leave to go elsewhere if it's too expensive. Plus I have a hungry son with me that I'll have to bribe with McD's (where he'd rather eat anyway) to hush him up. He's a good kid but hates to wait for food. He kind of takes after his Mom.

 

[flicx]

You definitely should NOT vacation in Maine then. Most of the restaurants here that have seafood are priced daily. They don't even advertise a range. You find out when you sit down.

Won't be doing the maine vacation I don't go north of PA for vaction just south or southwest(warmer). I also have never seen a current market price for chicken and mac and cheese.

 

[flicx]

They should break it up to show an actual surcharge, but they don't do it that way. I suspect because people don't like extra fees, but if it's rolled into current prices, and the menus always reflect this, then they are advising guests beforehand.

Tiger

Thats what I call sneaky tiger.Not being upfront about charges is very sneaky(not showing surcharge)! Also moving food prices around with no notice is questionable too.For goodness sake it isn't the commodities market and they are not buying or selling gold or silver.Just post it.I think the reason disney chose not to let people know when the increases are is it would upset alot of people to know that there is a season hike on food.If you don't know that and you go and see the prices you wouldn't be any wiser,unless you were a vet.Less complaints more profits.Smells of a ploy a second rate used car salesman would use. If you are gonna gouge at least tell people in advance!

 

[Tiger926]

Thats what I call sneaky tiger.Not being upfront about charges is very sneaky(not showing surcharge)! Also moving food prices around with no notice is questionable too.For goodness sake it isn't the commodities market and they are not buying or selling gold or silver.Just post it.I think the reason disney chose not to let people know when the increases are is it would upset alot of people to know that there is a season hike on food.If you don't know that and you go and see the prices you wouldn't be any wiser,unless you were a vet.Less complaints more profits.Smells of a ploy a second rate used car salesman would use. If you are gonna gouge at least tell people in advance!

I agree with most of what you say, but the food business is ever-changing. I have grown up in an award-winning Italian restaurant family for my entire life - catering, restaurants, pizza, vending machines, highschool cafeterias and bars. My family has done it all, and so I can assure you that you don't usually give warning when you change prices. My family has decreased and increased prices, and they just print new menus. They sometimes advertise new prices, but that's mostly for regulars who have been eating with them for 30 years.

This is the way the restaurant business works - fast food restaurants don't alert customers to increases, neither do most sit down or take out restaurants.

It would be great if Disney alerted customers in a more formal way to the buffet upcharge (I've spoken to them about it several times now), but they don't. But, neither do most other restaurants either. You just adjust prices, and print new menus or signs. My family will alert people face to face, or on phone when taking orders, but that is what Disney does as well. So, I think they are doing ok in this respect.

I don't like the whole surcharge to begin with - it's a bogus profit grab. Plus, I don't like how they don't formally announce surcharge prices or dates. It takes digging and research by calling them to get the actual prices for when you are going to WDW.

I hope they do away with the surcharges, but I highly doubt it.

Tiger

 

[tony67]

But the people have NO IDEA what others experiences are. They have no IDEA if I (or anyone else) has been once or 2000 times. It is the assumption of it that bothers me.

We've been going yearly (at least) since 1974. So maybe someone has three years more "experience" than me... that doesn't give them a right to say "well you probably don't see the decline because you weren't there during the good times"

I was there when MK was SO busy because it was the only park.
I was there when EVERY line was 60 minutes or more ALL DAY long because there was no fast pass.
I was there when there were only pictures taken of three of our four person family because someone had to take the picture since there were no photopass photographers.
I was there when staying on sight was an extreme luxury because there were no value resorts.
I was there when you HAD to rent a car to get around and carry the added expense because there was no Magic Express.
I was there when food options were extremely limited.

You see my point here? In my opinion there have been so many IMPROVEMENTS over the years that I see very little if any decline. What I see is a lot of changes happening. Some are good, some are not good. Some are good to some people (free dining) some are bad to some people (free dining).

Prices have increased. I firmly believe that food menu prices have increased in direct relation to use of free dining. Price adjusted tickets seem reasonable to me since there are things that have been added rides, parks, perks (fastpass, internal bus systems). I appreciate that there are all levels of hotels "on property" now that make it so most families CAN stay on property at an affordable cost.

Chipped paint (if I saw any) would not bother me. It especially wouldn't bother me if I wasn't able to go back a week later (or a month later) and see if that same paint were still chipped.

I've not in hundreds of visits "noticed" an overflowing trashcan or a dirty bathroom. That has absolutely no bearing on what someone else saw.

ALL just my opinions ~ but see I *think* the price adjustments are warranted. But again that is my opinion for me and my family. If I see something that is too expensive for us ~ we won't do it. At home and at Disney. I won't pay $38 for a buffet. I don't think it is worth it and I won't pay it. Especially when I feel as though that $38 is including say $18 to subside someone elses "free" diner.

I actually agree with most of your post.
Lots of things are better overall.

People do tend to complain about little things and blow them out of proportion.
I have not seen all this trash people talk about or dirty bathrooms, but I also do not go at the peak times.
I go in early December, Late January and October.

I have been in May twice and the place was jammers. I'll never do that again, but I had family visiting from other countries so we had to go see them.
I did not see any issues with it being dirty in the parks on those trips, but that does not mean it does not happen.

My two issue are overpriced deluxe resorts that do not deliver as promised even on club level. So I stick to the mods and values or stay at a real deluxe resort like the Dolphin.

My mane issue is the reduced quality and price increases in food since the DDP plan.

The first time we went to Disney in the early 80s we were not well off at all.
(It was the year before Epcot opened)

We were wrongly informed by the family we traveled with (who was VERY well off but cheap) that Disney food was very overpriced.

So we ate really cheap food off site and had the occasional hot dog on property. (One of the reason I am so unhappy with the current hot dogs and buns. It is a fond memory from that trip and they have ruined it for me)

On the last day we checked the prices in the restaurants and they were actually quite reasonable.
If they were quite reasonable for our family back in those days then it was cheap. I don't think any TS restaurants is reasonably priced (except the Plaza) thanks to inflated prices to make the DDP look like a better deal IMO.

As for the quality of the food. There was a small window of 5-7 or so years where Disney made an effort to become a dinning destination and attract adults without kids and yuppies with kids.
During that time I had many amazing meals in Disney and some years we went three times.
It was nice to be able to take the kids into a restaurants that served high quality food and not have to feel uncomfortable because we had kids with us.

This quality for the most part ended after the first year of the DDP. Much of this was due to the success of the DDP IMO.
I think Disney lost money that first year. You got the tip included as well as an appetizer. People ordered the most expensive thing on the menu even if they did not know what it was. I saw lots of waste at the CS locations.
Full desserts left on tables unopened or thrown in the trash.
I wish I had taken a picture because that is one example of a total mess that needed to be cleaned up by Disney.

I am working from memory here but I think le Cellier that had to remove the mussels from the app menu because so many people ordered it not knowing what it was.
It was the most expensive thing on the menu so they order it. They had many orders sent back and lots of waste.
I think they had similar issues at other locations.

I feel that instead of trying to fix the issues and meet somewhere in the middle they just decided to serve Fridays quality food.
If given the choice between Coral Reef or Red Lobster I would go to Red Lobster. At least they have a decent selection of fish on the menu.

Most of the Italian restaurants in Disney are equivalent to Olive Garden IMO.
It's not bad but it's not Alfredos during it's peak.

San Angel inn was serving chips from a bag (Tostitos!!!) and salsa from a jar until they got the warning from Disney last year .
Even Chillis had better chips and salsa.
They went from having an amazing shrimp mole to a lame chicken mole.

All that said yes the food is far better than it was in 1974 or 1980 of even 1985, but it is not as good as it was 10 years ago.

I won't even go into how bad the DCL got after the first year, that is a whole new topic.

 

[afwdwfan]

I
San Angel inn was serving chips from a bag (Tostitos!!!) and salsa from a jar until they got the warning from Disney last year .
Even Chillis had better chips and salsa.
They went from having an amazing shrimp mole to a lame chicken mole.

All that said yes the food is far better than it was in 1974 or 1980 of even 1985, but it is not as good as it was 10 years ago.

I won't even go into how bad the DCL got after the first year, that is a whole new topic.

Last time we went, our first TS meal was San Angel Inn... after looking at the prices I was glad we were on DDP... after eating the meal I regretted the fact that we were on DDP.

I will say that other meals we had were better... not sure that I'd call any of them world class but I really couldn't complain. Definitely overpriced, but they've got captive customers, especially if you're staying on-site and avoiding drving anywhere.

 

[brunette8706]

I actually agree with most of your post.
Lots of things are better overall.

People do tend to complain about little things and blow them out of proportion.
I have not seen all this trash people talk about or dirty bathrooms, but I also do not go at the peak times.
I go in early December, Late January and October.

I have been in May twice and the place was jammers. I'll never do that again, but I had family visiting from other countries so we had to go see them.
I did not see any issues with it being dirty in the parks on those trips, but that does not mean it does not happen.

My two issue are overpriced deluxe resorts that do not deliver as promised even on club level. So I stick to the mods and values or stay at a real deluxe resort like the Dolphin.

My mane issue is the reduced quality and price increases in food since the DDP plan.

The first time we went to Disney in the early 80s we were not well off at all.
(It was the year before Epcot opened)

We were wrongly informed by the family we traveled with (who was VERY well off but cheap) that Disney food was very overpriced.

So we ate really cheap food off site and had the occasional hot dog on property. (One of the reason I am so unhappy with the current hot dogs and buns. It is a fond memory from that trip and they have ruined it for me)

On the last day we checked the prices in the restaurants and they were actually quite reasonable.
If they were quite reasonable for our family back in those days then it was cheap. I don't think any TS restaurants is reasonably priced (except the Plaza) thanks to inflated prices to make the DDP look like a better deal IMO.

As for the quality of the food. There was a small window of 5-7 or so years where Disney made an effort to become a dinning destination and attract adults without kids and yuppies with kids.
During that time I had many amazing meals in Disney and some years we went three times.
It was nice to be able to take the kids into a restaurants that served high quality food and not have to feel uncomfortable because we had kids with us.

This quality for the most part ended after the first year of the DDP. Much of this was due to the success of the DDP IMO.
I think Disney lost money that first year. You got the tip included as well as an appetizer. People ordered the most expensive thing on the menu even if they did not know what it was. I saw lots of waste at the CS locations.
Full desserts left on tables unopened or thrown in the trash.
I wish I had taken a picture because that is one example of a total mess that needed to be cleaned up by Disney.

I am working from memory here but I think le Cellier that had to remove the mussels from the app menu because so many people ordered it not knowing what it was.
It was the most expensive thing on the menu so they order it. They had many orders sent back and lots of waste.
I think they had similar issues at other locations.

I feel that instead of trying to fix the issues and meet somewhere in the middle they just decided to serve Fridays quality food.
If given the choice between Coral Reef or Red Lobster I would go to Red Lobster. At least they have a decent selection of fish on the menu.

Most of the Italian restaurants in Disney are equivalent to Olive Garden IMO.
It's not bad but it's not Alfredos during it's peak.

San Angel inn was serving chips from a bag (Tostitos!!!) and salsa from a jar until they got the warning from Disney last year .
Even Chillis had better chips and salsa.They went from having an amazing shrimp mole to a lame chicken mole.

All that said yes the food is far better than it was in 1974 or 1980 of even 1985, but it is not as good as it was 10 years ago.

I won't even go into how bad the DCL got after the first year, that is a whole new topic.

Tositos chips and salsa from a jar!? I never knew that! And that particular restaurant is so very expensive, especially for Mexican food.

 

[TDC Nala]

Tiger's right, they post all menus at WDW. Ohana's is on the wall near Kona. Boma's is near the elevators, between Boma's waiting area and Jiko's. I think what people really want is to know the exact price before they even arrive at WDW, because they're doing most of their planning before they arrive.

I don't doubt Disney has gotten complaints because people saw a price on the website, and then by the time they arrived, that price had changed. This, despite the fact that there was always a notice on the website that menu items and prices were subject to change without notice. This is why you see price ranges and not actual prices on the website now.

San Angel no longer serves chips and salsa from a jar, the ones they serve now are made there. My friend who is a vegan could not eat them because the oil they are fried in contains lard (vegans and vegetarians are on notice now). And Le Cellier has mussels on the appetizer menu now, I just had them a week and a half ago. Maybe they were put back on after they took the appetizer off DDP. They were really good, too. Lots of roasted garlic.

 

[Safari Queen]

I'm with Tony67. There have been lots of changes to make a Disney vacation affordable (value resorts, ME) and more enjoyable (FPs, healthy snacks). Food quality was appalling years ago -- burgers, hotdogs and fruit punch -- and Disney Inn (now Shades of Green) was the closest to an affordable hotel option. Yes, the maintenance is not quite as good/fast, all the stores have pretty much the same stuff, CMs aren't aleways "magical" and the deluxe tickets are expensive. But, you know, we raised a generation of people who care mostly about themselves and they don't understand "customer service". So they don't always smile or give 110% at their jobs, just like the help at my supermarket, dry cleaner, post office, etc. We see it everywhere, so why not at Disney in jobs that pay minimum wage? And those tickets get you an amazing assortment of rides and experiences -- much more than ever before -- as well as a lot of transportation. I still get what I want from Disney; a chance to forget about reality in a place that runs well, is clean, and where people are happy. It's not 100%, but it beats the pants off anywhere else I know.

 

[smidgy]

Am I reading this the wrong way?You have to pay to use a tube if you are staying at the beach club? So in essence you pay to use the pool amenities at a deluxe resort? Glad you said something about the towels at BB and TL cause if I go back I will be sure to bring one with me.

we recently stayed at BCV and this is true.. I couldn't believe it! and it's not for the day, either. we just bought noodles to use.

 

[smidgy]

You do not pay extra for using the lazy river, and you can use it with no floatation device- been doing it for years with kids as young as 8.

You do not pay anything extra at all for using SAB. You pay IF you choose to purchase or rent a tube or to purchase a noodle, neither of which is needed to use the pool or the lazy river.

The lazy river is a short, circular part of SAB and not a long or meandering drift, just one small part of the complex.

I cannot imagine anyone choosing the BC or YC for just that small part of the acres of SAB, etc.

while this is true, it's small and the current is very slow, it
s still more enjoyable with some type of float. and fro children, it gets as deep as 8 feet!

I still think floats should be complimentary.

 

[smidgy]

I thik the cost was $5 and hour in July for the tubes at storm along bay. and you can only bring your own if they are clear.