Food expectations?

[eliza61]

I've seen many people post on various threads

"I don't go to Disney expecting good food". Which absolutely blows my mind 'cause generally when I go to any restaurant, I'm at least hoping the food will be good. I mean I pretty much never said "hey let's go to Outback, I don't expect the food to be good but let's go anyway.

So when we pick food do we simple just hope it's "edible" and any thing else is a bonus?

 

[nolanboys]

I find most of the food to be quite good. I used the book Unofficial guide to WDW and read through the restaurant section. We tried to eat at recommended places. The only "bad" meal we had was at the TS restaurant in Mexico. The ambiance was great though. You can also get some good QS meals, but look into them before you go and know where you want to eat. Planning makes sure you get good food.

 

[PSUGuy]

Every TS meal we've had over the course of more than a dozen trips to WDW has met or exceeded our expectations. We understand going in that everything is going to cost 20% or so more than it would outside the World, and we don't expect a 20% better experience. A pint of Guiness cannot taste better because it's $7.25 as opposed to a lesser amount elsewhere. Likewise, our counter service experiences have all been positive as well. You're a captive audience, as you are in an athletic stadium. With that reality in mind, our disapointments have been few.

Bill From PA

 

[BEASLYBOO]

I don't expect the food at Disney to be bad but for the prices charged in most of their restaurants I would like more choices and above all the quality that once use to be the standard at Disney. Lately I found restaurants like Todd English's Blue Zoo, Il Mullano, Citricos and a few others worth saving my pennies for. The price is in direct relation to the quality and diversity of the menu, and the final preparation actually meets the expectation level. Disney structured the DDP/FD to put more money into their pockets, and in so doing pretty much ruined it for the customer paying OOP.

Therefore, I go outside of Disney for great food!

If I eat at the Outback, the price of the meal meets the expectation I have of the quality of the food. I know it's Disney and that at very popular venues you are expected to pay the going rate but I think Disney is getting away with highway robbery for decent, edible food. For the prices they charge it should be great food, at least in my opinion.

 

[TDC Nala]

I think they mean they don't expect gourmet food. At least I'm hoping those who say they don't expect good food mean it that way, and aren't eating at WDW if they expect lousy food.

For the prices the signature restaurants charge (yes, even in a resort area) I usually expect gourmet food or at least approximating gourmet food. The signature restaurants that I go to, I like very much.

However, I don't think it's out of line to expect GOOD food anywhere. I certainly wouldn't go in expecting lousy food. If I expected lousy food somewhere I wouldn't even consider eating there.

Even there, food is subjective. What I consider good, someone else considers lousy. I've never had what I'd consider to be lousy food at San Angel Inn - in fact, I like San Angel - but someone just a few posts up said San Angel was the only "bad" meal they had.

Then again, there are places like Chef Mickey's and CRT, which could serve asphalt in creosote sauce and would still have people lined up to get in. The draw isn't the food at these places.

 

[GeorgeG]

There was a time (up until 3 years ago) when I could say I had never had a bad meal at WDW, even CS. While there are still restaurants where you can get some really good food, much of the others can be hit and miss. There are several factors, but go expecting average food and you should be okay.

 

[ILoveMyGirls]

I expect it to be excellent vs. good, given the prices that are associated with the meals.

 

[MrsLS]

I think most of the food & TS restaurants at Disney are very good. I don't go expecting bad because I've been there enough to know its not bad but actually very good. Yes, I've gotten an entree or app that I didn't care for but its few and far between which can happen anywhere.
I also have no problem with the cost of the food, especially the signatures - its worth the money. I do get the deluxe plan because it does save money but even OOP I would still pay if they didn't have the plan. But I'm coming from living in NYC and also going on vacation to nice restaurants in Vegas, so I'm use to the costs.

 

[Pakey]

I no longer expect great food at the restaurants on the dining plan. We still get it at the restaurants not on the plan but my expectations at Disney's restaurants are not what they once were. Most of the places have adequate food at an inflated price.

Although my expectations have slowly lowered in the past decade, I still think Disney's park food (both TS and CS) is better than other theme park offerings.

 

[bytheblood]

I find that to be an insane statement. If I am paying for something, I expect to get my monies worth.

There are a few restaurants that are not my cup of tea, but most meals are quite enjoyable.

 

[doclegler]

I agree with the PP....if I'm paying over $100 for us to eat dinner, then it better be GOOD and worth the money!
We absolutely go to WDW for the food...I think I just mentioned that to a friend today. There are many places that are not-to-be-missed, and a few, well...that we'll always avoid.

 

[disnut8]

I expect it to be excellent vs. good, given the prices that are associated with the meals.

I'm not picking on you but do you factor in any ambiance that you might get with the meal? I'm not talking about every place but I'm more than willing to pay $13 for a burger at Sci-Fi because I get the movies as well. I'm not in this category but some people will pay extra to have characters at a meal. So when I look at prices, I also look at content of the restaurant.

That being said, I'm not going to pay that $13 for a burger at a place that doesn't give me any extras. If I'm just staring at my husband across the table, then I'll go to a counter service place for less money.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

We plan our entire trips around food

I expect certain places to be fabulous & others to be above average.

 

[DisneyLoverJb]

Hahaha, That sounds like us!! So do we! Im glad we're not the only ones

 

[DISNEY1975]

Food is all a matter of personal taste buds! I get a kick out of people asking opinions about particular entrees or favorite snacks etc... 50 million people could tell me the bread pudding is the best at Ohana, but I dont like it! I love San Angel Inn, especially the bread pudding there! I also dont like the school bread in Norway! I dont like seafood and nothing can get me to try it!

I went with 11 people on my last trip. We walked into LTT for dinner and 5 walked out without even trying! I liked it! Those same 5 went goo goo ga ga over Citricos and I vowed to never go back! We all loved California Grill, but all had different opionions on everything else. Is California Grill food expected at every meal? No. Most are at chain restaurant or slightly above quality. Personally, I like 99's and Olive Gardens. My mother wouldnt step into either.

I say go and try for yourself. If you dot like it, dont go back!

 

[GeorgeG]

Food is all a matter of personal taste buds! I get a kick out of people asking opinions about particular entrees or favorite snacks etc... 50 million people could tell me the bread pudding is the best at Ohana, but I dont like it! I love San Angel Inn, especially the bread pudding there! I also dont like the school bread in Norway! I dont like seafood and nothing can get me to try it!

I went with 11 people on my last trip. We walked into LTT for dinner and 5 walked out without even trying! I liked it! Those same 5 went goo goo ga ga over Citricos and I vowed to never go back! We all loved California Grill, but all had different opionions on everything else. Is California Grill food expected at every meal? No. Most are at chain restaurant or slightly above quality. Personally, I like 99's and Olive Gardens. My mother wouldnt step into either.

I say go and try for yourself. If you dot like it, dont go back!

I agree. There are restaurants that try to offer something for everyone, but in the end it's all about personal likes/dislikes.

 

[Colleen27]

I think "good" is a really subjective term.

We've all read the dining reviews (and anti-DDP rants) that seem to define "good" as unique, creative cuisine prepared well, served in a restaurant with lovely ambiance befitting its theme, delivered by attentive, courteous servers who are never rushed or overwhelmed. And in a real-world context, I think that's a strong definition, but real world restaurants of that calibre aren't concerned with serving hundreds of hot, cranky, overstimulated kids on a daily basis.

Then there are those who define "good" relative to menu prices and compare Disney's restaurants to the places you could go for the same money in a major city or non-tourist area.

When I go to Disney, I expect food that is a notch or two above the more family-oriented chains in the "real world" - places like Applebees, Don Pablos, Carrabas, etc. - and my more disappointing meals at Disney have been on par with those type of places. Obviously I expect more from signature dining, but for the one credit restaurants, especially those in the parks or with some "gimmick" to draw large numbers of kids, I expect well prepared, appetizing, but not necessarily all that creative American/Americanized-ethnic food and a somewhat noisy atmosphere that is, IMO, unavoidable in places that serve as many families as the Disney restaurants.

 

[Colleen27]

Duplicate, sorry

 

[prnces1214]

Food is all a matter of personal taste buds! I get a kick out of people asking opinions about particular entrees or favorite snacks etc... 50 million people could tell me the bread pudding is the best at Ohana, but I dont like it! I love San Angel Inn, especially the bread pudding there! I also dont like the school bread in Norway! I dont like seafood and nothing can get me to try it!

I went with 11 people on my last trip. We walked into LTT for dinner and 5 walked out without even trying! I liked it! Those same 5 went goo goo ga ga over Citricos and I vowed to never go back! We all loved California Grill, but all had different opionions on everything else. Is California Grill food expected at every meal? No. Most are at chain restaurant or slightly above quality. Personally, I like 99's and Olive Gardens. My mother wouldnt step into either.

I say go and try for yourself. If you dot like it, dont go back!

honestly....i couldnt have said it better myself! Everyones tastes are different .......