Do you/will you change ADR's based on neg reviews?

GC&S

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Jul 4, 2005
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We've been to Disney 13 times and usually have eaten at the same places. Our last two trips we did the dining plan and tried several new places. But I often see when people have a negative review, some people will say they are changing their ADR's (even without trying it themselves). We've been to a couple places we wouldn't return (like CRT) but I'm glad we tried them. I know there are some places we won't go (like Alfredo's because we don't like Italian food) but that's not because it's based on bad reviews.

If you've never eaten somewhere - would you change your ADR based on neg reviews here?
 
Without a doubt. We were planning on visiting Coral Reef in February, and are now planning to give Le Cellier a third try (three strikes and you're out, though -- so Le Cellier beware!) We made those changes based on specific reviews, by people for whom I've otherwise developed an affinity. That's critical: Just counting the number of good and the number of bad reviews is meaningless, unless you're utterly plain and undistinguished. If you have any particular preferences or aversions, if you have any special interests, or if you have your own point-of-view on food and dining, then you really want to be sure you're basing your decisions on reviews that factor in your personal perspectives, and to do that you need to find reviews that are written by people who's perspectives resonate with your own. A great review of a seafood restaurant by a seafood afficianato is useless to a burgers-and-fries kind of guy.
 
I have in the past.
I well remember what it is like to be a visitor here, and only have a set number of sit down meals. So many places to choose, it is difficult.
Now of course we eat wherever the mood or timing strikes, within reason.

We stayed away from Alfredo's and 9 Dragon for years because of thr bad reviews I read. But our experiences have been from pretty good to fine. :)

I have not had the fortitude to try Tony's Square in MK yet though! :rotfl2:
 
No, I wouldn't with the exception of one poster.

Otherwise, I take each review with a grain of salt. They're fun to read but everyone's tastes and expectations are different. And the restaurants change too for that matter.
 

I am seriously considering cancelling my ADR for Le Ceiller. There have been quite a few comments lately on how slow their service is. I can't imagine keeping 3 excited children (and 3 excited adults :Pinkbounc ) in their seats for a 2+hour meal with the fun of Epcot right outside. The kids would be just as thrilled to get a burger at the American pavillon, so maybe that is what we will do.
 
BCV23 said:
No, I wouldn't with the exception of one poster.

Otherwise, I take each review with a grain of salt. They're fun to read but everyone's tastes and expectations are different. And the restaurants change too for that matter.



I think so too! :thumbsup2
 
I am pretty tolerant so unless the reviews are abysmal I go and see for myself.
 
BCV23 said:
No, I wouldn't with the exception of one poster.

Otherwise, I take each review with a grain of salt. They're fun to read but everyone's tastes and expectations are different. And the restaurants change too for that matter.

I wouldn't change anything based on other posts either. I want to decide for myself.
 
Usually not. Planet Hollywood is a place that usually gets slammed pretty hard around here, and we have eaten there several times and have always enjoyed it. I usually take most of what I read with a grain of salt.

I usually base where we eat on what we like. I have read how cramped you can be at Si-FI, so we have never eaten there because at 6ft 4 DH wouldn't enjoyed it. I have never read a good review of Tonys, so we have never eaten there.
 
Never! There are people on this board that hate Le Cellier and 50's Prime Time and they turned out to be our favorites, so I would not ever change my plans based on someone else's bad experience. I'll go see for myself first. Who knows? Sometimes they might be right, sometimes dead wrong. You have to keep in mind, some bad experiences might stem from being in a bad mood, having unruly children at the moment (I can attest), etc. When you go, you might not have any of those distractions and have a positively different and pleasant experience. I say go at least once if it's something you want to try.
 
I did cancel our ADR for Hollywood and Vine based on the numerous negative reviews here and other friends who had gone. But, we are sticking with Planet Hollywood which doesn't get great reviews here, although we've never had a bad meal at any PH we've gone to.
 
It depends. If the poster (or posters) with the negative reviews state the reasons they weren't pleased, and if those reasons are something important to us when dining, then I might change my ADR's. As Bicker and BCV23 stated, it also depends on who posted the negative review. I've noticed that some DISers have the same tastes in dining experiences that we do. If one of those people posts a negative review, I tend to give it some extra weight. Otherwise, we like to try restaurants for ourselves. We've learned from experience that some of the most popular restaurants didn't appeal to us, while some of the most unpopular restaurants are our favorites.
 
I won't cancel ADRs, but I did decide not to make an ADR for Sci-Fi (have never been) based on reviews. They gave good points and bad points, and I made my decision based on what is important to us. I went through the same thing with 50's PT, and decided to make the ADR!
 
bicker said:
We made those changes based on specific reviews, by people for whom I've otherwise developed an affinity. That's critical: Just counting the number of good and the number of bad reviews is meaningless, unless you're utterly plain and undistinguished.
MTE. Which is actually why I've been hanging around this board again, after being gone for many moons - so I can figure out who my "review board" is, and then get their current scoop.
 
The only ADR that I cancelled was 'Ohana after they made such drastic menu changes last year.

We have avoided Tony's and Alfredo's based on bad reviews, but they weren't very high on our "to do" list in the first place.

We like H&V. We went to Sci Fi expecting the worst, but we knew DS would love the atmosphere. DH & I had desserts that were OK, DS had a burger, fries & shake that were fine. The service was great.

We are going to Coral Reef and Le Cellier in August. We are NOT going to PLanet Hollywood, even with the free meal coupon. It didn't fit into our itinerary very well and I didn't want to bend over backwards to get to a meal that none of us were all that gung-ho about.
 
I won't change my plans based on reviews posted here.

I have gone out of my way to try three snacks that posters here rave about. Dole whips, school bread and beaver tails. My son and I disliked all three. :rolleyes:

I'm willing to try everything at least twice. If after two tries the food and/or service isn't to my liking, then I won't return.
 
I don't know that I would change them, save for an onslaught of horrendous reviews, but I do often use them in planning ADR's. I will read menus and take into account my personal tastes and experiences, but reviews are great "tie-breakers" for me.

Awesome reviews (esp. those with pictures, lol) will often whet my appetite and convince me to try a place I may not have otherwise considered.

I am sure every restaurant in WDW has at least one negative review. Even the "best" and "most popular" places have those who will never go back. On the other hand, the "worst" places have their devotees. It's best to try it for yourself if the menu seems good to you, or you've always wanted to try it.

Anyway, I love reading reviews and they help me in my planning, but negative reviews would have to be pretty pervasive and persuasive in order to get me to change my plans.
 
I'll usually try any place at least once, though I'm I'm a little leary about buffets. For instance, last trip I kept on seeing mixed reviews on Ohana, Tony's Town Square, and Coral Reef. I went to all three, and Ohana is now one of my must-do's, and I enjoyed Coral Reef, and Tony's was all right, but nothing special.
 
I have adrs for several notoriously reviewed places(Sci Fi, Ohana,Marakesh...pretty much anywhere where environment takes over food) and there is no way I am going to change them. We are kitsch enthusiasts, and are not picky. I wrote a musical based on the worst sci fi movie ever. How could I possibly miss the sci fi dine in experience....
I think I know our family well, and we are into the "cool" factor more than the food factor.
It"s all new, and therefore all gravy(Oh yes, we"re going to the prime time too...pot roast looks good) :cat: :cat: :cat: :donald: :cat: :cat: :cat:
 
Never,

Everywhere has bad days & good days but unless I have a bad experience personally then I try to keep an open mind.

IE - We have an adr for H&V in Oct, this was made after I had read terrible reviews but I prefer to make up my own mind.

:sunny:

Jodie
 

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