Does anybody else feel Disney food is just not that great?

[kpgclark]

Does anyone out there feel (like me) that Disney food generally just isn't that great?

 

[Peter Pirate]

Fast food, counter service yes. Fine dining no way.

 

[Eeyore2U]

Originally posted by kpgclark
Does anyone out there feel (like me) that Disney food generally just isn't that great?

Care to expound?

 

[~Sparkly~Zoe]

For the price you pay, no it's not.

 

[MHopkins2]

What Peter Pirate said. The nicer sit-downs at Disney are among the best meals I've ever had, and I'm something of a food freak. I also don't think they're overpriced for what you get, in general. A specific restaurant or two, maybe, but not overall.

 

[kpgclark]

I've just never left a sit-down restaurant feeling that I'd just eaten a better than average meal. I don't think the food is inspired, good quality, or priced appropriately for that matter. I can get a great meal in Philly for a lot less than anything on Disney property.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I think Disney food is between good and excellent, depending upon which restaurant you are talking about.
That being said, I love eating at WDW because of the different themes and great atmosphere in the restaurants.
In my opinion, atmosphere is very, very high on the list of what makes a good restaurant.

 

[ceecee]

I think there a lot of great choices, especially with the sit down places. We enjoy all the different choices. No complaints here at all.

 

[timC]

Resort dining is always expensive... Having tried almost all of the main restaurants, my assessment is that they are generally very good, sometimes excellent.

Some restaurant dishes are simply outstanding ( Flying Fish charred NY steak comes to mind).

I also agree with Maistre Gracey. Theming at the restaurants is superior, and that adds to the experience and is worth the extra price.


Counter service, on the other hand, is nothing to write home about... but you know, for the number of burgers they're flipping, they do ok.

 

[Pammy_from_WI]

If I compare to other theme parks I'd have to rate it on the higher end. I also take into account that any restaurant can have an off day. I think some of the WDW parks have some great CS places and others that are so-so, but still better then some theme parks that I've been too.

I also think about how many meals they serve per day, thousands, and so you can't really expect 5 star dining.

BUT when it comes to the resort restaurants, the sit-down menu type of places I have to say I've never had a bad meal there, comparing them to some of our better places we have locally.

The buffets are in another class, I've had good ones and bad ones, mostly good at WDW.

As far as prices, guess I just expect higher prices when going to a major tourist place. LOL I have, however, found some meals to be well worth the cost.

Pam

 

[Eeyore2U]

Originally posted by kpgclark
I've just never left a sit-down restaurant feeling that I'd just eaten a better than average meal. I don't think the food is inspired, good quality, or priced appropriately for that matter. I can get a great meal in Philly for a lot less than anything on Disney property.

What sit downs have you eaten at? We have had great meals at the sitdowns. Shula's is the best steak I''ve had anywhere. I think for the number of sitdowns on property their overall rating is high, very high!!

 

[minijeanie]

food at wdw is just average. Theming in most restaurants are great though. Guess my biggest disappointment was in Epcots restaurants.

I get a much better Italian, French, German meal than in any of the restaurants in Epcot.

But guess you go for the ambience of it all.

After a week at WDW, I can't wait to get home a get a decent slice of pizza.

 

[TDC Nala]

Is anyone else picturing Tim Matheson in "Animal House," holding a finger to his chin and mouthing "Not great??!!"

 

[Uncleromulus]

I think Disney food--especially at the higher end, table service spots--is very good to excellent. Price-wise it may be a bit higher than "at home" (tho I just saw a local menu with a $40.00 seafood plater!) but it certainly isn't out of the ballpark. And as several others suggest, it's the Disney atmosphere that adds to the ambiance--which in addition to quality, price and service--is part of a good meal.

 

[Penny12]

I think on the whole, the food is good However, like any large area where there is a big selection of restaurants, some are definately better than others.

I would never come out and say "Does anybody else feel that New York food is not that great?" I look at WDW like it's a small city...with all the varience that it implies.

 

[ducklite]

Living halfway between NYC and Philadelphia, we have a huge variety of excellent restaurants to choose from here at home. However we continue to be excited about dining at WDW's "better" offerings.

I think that many of the finer restaurants at WDW are excellent, far from uninspired, and on par with restaurants of their calibre here in this area.

I'd like to hear specifically which restaurants you think aren't on par. Personally we've eaten multiple times at Citrico's, Narcooses, Jiko, and the CG, and find that all four are exceptional in terms of creative, high quality food in at minimum a pleasant, inviting environment.

Yes, there are certainly some that WDW attempts to present as a nigher end restaurant which IMHO don't even come close...the Yachtsman Steakhouse jumps right into my mind. But face it, steak isn't particularly "inspired" regardless of where you eat it. (The exception to that rule might be the Filet at Jiko.)

Anne

 

[kpgclark]

I'll give you some examples. I didn't think Spoodles (for lunch) was tasty. The sandwiches were heavy on the bread without much filling. I thought they were greasy too. I, too, am disappointed in the food at EPCOT. Most of the food isn't spiced up the way it should be. One example is the restaurant in Morocco. The food is bland. I didn't think the food at Nine Dragons was as good as almost any other Chinese restaurant I've been too. I think they try to "Americanize" food thinking that Americans like bland food. I don't think that is the case. I wish the food was more truly authentic to the region.

I did like the food at Artist Point, but I thought it was priced too high. For example, $10 for an apple cobbler is too much. One thing I really liked there was the selection of food for children. I'm so sick of the same greasy unhealthy food offerings for them (chicken fingers, mac and cheese, burgers).

 

[ducklite]

What you're saying now makes more sense. Other than AP, none of the restaurants you've mentioned are considered "fine dining", at least no IMHO. They are moderate. Nine Dragons has gotten consistently negative or so-so reviews for years now. I haven't eaten in Morroco, so I can't comment. None of these profess to be particularly creative, but rather offer a sampling of local foods in a manner which will appear to as many people as possible.

We've only eaten breakfast at Spoodles, which was very good, although it's prety hard to mess up bacon and eggs.

Other than AP have you dined at any of the finer resort restaurants? I'd suggest that you might want to try them, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

As far as the dessert being too expensive, yes, it is on the high side, but keep in mind that berries are quite expensive even to purchase in your local grocery. You always have the option of passing on dessert and grabbing a Mickey Bar instead.

Abe

 

[zurgswife]

I also think that now that you've mentioned restuarants I don't consider any of them upscale dining....They might be expensive but not at all superior food quality...

Now if you were talking, Jikos, California Grill, Shula's, Flying Fish, V & A.....those are a few that I consider upscale dining...and don't mind paying the extra cost...

 

[Pammy_from_WI]

I agree with Abe on the Epcot comment. Your dealing with theme park food, not fine dining. I do agree with you that I wish it was more authentic to the region, but your dealing with mass people here and I think WDW is trying to reach the majority of the people eating there. Most folks are a bit leary of trying new foods.

Here's a great non-WDW example: Went to Sandles in Jamaica a few years ago and although the food there was really good it was very Americanized. I asked several of the locals why that was and they said if they made it more locally flavored they would and did have many complaints. So what my hubby and I did was eat in local restaurants several times and it was wonderful. I come from the when in Rome do as the Romans do mindset!

We've eaten at Spoodles and it use to be one of our favs. We haven't been there in about 2 years and I've heard they've changed their menu a bit to make it more appealling to the masses, which is disappointing, but understandable considering it is part of WDW.

Have you tried any other "resort" finer dining places? AP is wonderful IMHO, sure the prices are high, but heck you're in a major resort area and so they can max the prices out. Do I like it NOPE, but I except it.

Another non-WDW example; Stayed at La Playa in Naples last year and they have wonderful food, but very, very expensive. My mom had a steak dinner and it was $35 for a t-bone and baked potato. My dinner a 1/4 roast chicken with goat cheese dumplings was even high priced!!! Resorts and theme parks can charge higher prices because they know folks will pay it. Would I ever expect to pay $35 for steak at a local place or $10 for apple cobbler, heck no, but there I just know it comes with the vacation.

As far as the kids menus, well I think that most of the menus do offer the same old things, but that's what most kids are use to eating in today's age. What I do is let my 3 year old eat that junk sometimes and other times I share what I'm having with her so she gets a better meal. I also try and find places that have fresh fruit and veggies. Tusker House is a great example. There I can get her mashed potatoes and steamed veggies.

Like I said before if you do some research you can find the better CS places and you can almost always get lucky at the resort restaurants, but you've got to dish out the dough to eat at those. If you're on a budget ask around, you will find cheap eats that are decent, they are there even in the WDW parks.

Pam