For Disney Regs. Any noticeable changes in meal quality for any reataurants?

[wdw4us2]

I can't recall one person saying the food was good in the '70s.

We are saying it hit the glory days in the 90s, and the nasty, dreadful, horrible, terrible (you get the idea) DDP is dragging it back to '70s levels, because Disney is slashing all the good stuff out so people can have their "deals."

Hey Jodi - tell us how you really feel!

BTW, I totally agree with you.

 

[sotoalf]

Perhaps you're right. Maybe I should do a lot more emoticoning.

No! Please don't! I can't stand them.

Anyway, continue with the discussion...

 

[figmentvi]

Very interesting discussion and thank you to all posters for your thoughtful insights. We're going as a large family group the second week in Dec. and I've been reading these posts with a great deal of interest.

We will not be on the DDP (we're staying at SoG) and I'm beginning to give a lot of thought to where we will be dining. My feeling right now is to give Disney the benefit of the doubt and I will make some ADR's for some old favorites like the Biergarten, and 50's Prime Time Cafe, etc. If I feel that we're not getting our $$ worth, I'll simply take my $$ outside the property.

We all have different tastes and different pocketbooks. If we're not pleased with what we're being offered, we have lots of options still open to us.

We can write letters of complaints until we're purple. If the restaurants and resorts are full (which it sounds like they are), Disney will not care one whit if some of us take our dining $$ elsewhere.

 

[Leota]

Perhaps I over reacted? If I mistook the sum of those statements as being demeaning then I apologize to everyone.

Personally, I don't think you were over-reacting at all. I have felt the same exact way & suffered full on assault on this thread.

I feel some apology should happen, but not from you.

 

[gina2000]

There was no reason for you to apologize, PP. I think you had honestly and factually appraised the situation.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Thanks guys!

 

[LSUDis]

Okay, maybe this would be enlightening.....

How many of you have used the DP before (during a non-free DP time) AND now won't use it SPECIFICALLY b/c of food quality, service, time availability, etc.? Be honest.

This may seem OT, but I think that it goes to the "put your money where your mouth is" idea--is the quality declining to such a point that you are seeking the option to eat at other places?

 

[PlutoLuvr]

Okay, maybe this would be enlightening.....

How many of you have used the DP before (during a non-free DP time) AND now won't use it SPECIFICALLY b/c of food quality, service, time availability, etc.? Be honest.

This may seem OT, but I think that it goes to the "put your money where your mouth is" idea--is the quality declining to such a point that you are seeking the option to eat at other places?

Yep. We still enjoy the parks during the day, but we no longer stay onsite, and we plan our dinners off site, too.

 

[LSUDis]

In the interests of full disclosure, I will say that I will not use the DP UNLESS it is a necessary part of a FABULOUS package deal. Why??

Honest reasons:

1) I don't need the calories.
2) I don't like my mealtimes being so regimented.
3) My 10 yr. old doesn't eat enough/or type of food for the cost.
4) Steaks are better and cheaper at home at Outback.
5) My kids are just as happy eating at a food court and going swimming.
6) The "ooh" and "aah" factor is largely gone when a Disney plate is set in
front of me--although the Afternoon Tea is still great.


(When I say FABULOUS, I mean either free dining or 50% or so off room rates or free tickets.)

 

[donaldtutter]

Okay, maybe this would be enlightening.....

How many of you have used the DP before (during a non-free DP time) AND now won't use it SPECIFICALLY b/c of food quality, service, time availability, etc.? Be honest.

This may seem OT, but I think that it goes to the "put your money where your mouth is" idea--is the quality declining to such a point that you are seeking the option to eat at other places?

We did use the DP one time but it did not fit our needs. We like to eat 2 TS meals each day and basically build our trip around dining.However on our next trip, we will put our money where our mouth is and eat mainly counter service because of the decline in food quality and service at table serice locations. I doubt Disney will suffer financially because of our decision but when others do the same they will change course towards better quality.

 

[MarieA]

Perhaps I over reacted? If I mistook the sum of those statements as being demeaning then I apologize to everyone.

The fact is we're discussing the decline of dining at WDW. Not whether the DDP is successful.

There are more than a fair number of regulars here who can unequivicably state that dining is going downhill. There are a few long time regulars who disagree (and that's ok too) but the evidence that fine dining is on the decrease seems overwhelming.

I agree that this will be a cycle because at some point a certain number of guests, who will fit a trackable demographic, will prove to Disney that their fine dining is lacking and there is money to be made from catering to and pleasing that segment as well.

I am one of the regulars that feels that dining at WDW is going downhill. One of the reasons I feel this way is the limited menus (6 or 7 entrees at best) and the complete lack of creativity. One of the 1TS restaurants that we enjoy is LeCellier and have been there several times in the past two years. I have an ADR for our upcoming trip but I'm really not looking forward to it. The menu has remained the same for the past two years and it needs some changes or additions. The only reason we even considered LeCellier again is because my mom is traveling with us and wanted to try it.

Peter - do you remember Flaglers at the GF? It was one of our favorites. We used to dine there several times a trip. Do you remember when Narcoosee offered twin petite filet migons for lunch? How about when the Concourse Steakhouse had a dessert chef? Our last meal at the Concourse Steakhouse was our last meal there - we will not return because the meal was horrible.

My DS (19) has been traveling with us to WDW since he was 2. After our last trip to WDW he commented on how disappointed he was with the dining. He wasn't impressed with Yachtsman's Steakhouse and thought that Jiko was ok. We had a good meal at LeCellier and Kona and the rest of our meals were forgettable, nothing special. Part of the magic for us on our WDW vacations is dining, and I feel some of the magic is dying.

Hey Disney - We have an Italian restaurant here on SI that would be a great addition to the Italian pavillion in EPCOT. The menu is tremendous, service is outstanding and the food is GREAT!

 

[sotoalf]

Actually, I remember when Narcoosee's offered lunch: gator meat and beer by the yard. Those were days...

But it was never very crowded, though, and perhaps too formal for a theme park.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

I've been keeping up with this thread far longer than I usually do, and realized I had left something out of my previous post.

Several posters have stated that no one should gripe about portion sizes being reduced, as Disney's portions were notoriously over-generous. While I can certainly agree that the portions are too large for me or my teen daughter to eat alone, we often split entrees while at WDW. (and other eateries with large portions, for that matter, Cheesecake Factory being one! lol) I think my complaint with the reduction in the portion size is not the amount of food on the plate, but the lack of flavor and creativity, which makes the dish seem even less value. Reduction in taste, reduction in portions while raising prices - doubly insulting.

For instance - we've eaten at V&A's, and though there are 6 courses, the portions are very small. But the taste! Wow! We didn't feel cheated or stuffed, the amount of food was just right, and we felt that we got a quality meal for the price paid. I think that's the key - coming away feeling that you got what you paid for. When you've come to expect a certain level of service and quality, it's quite disappointing to find them lacking.

 

[gina2000]

We did not buy the plan last month because we had several days left on our hoppers. After our second meal, we cancelled the rest of our reservations and headed offsite for dinner for the remainder of the trip. I believe I would more than call that putting my money where my mouth is.

As I have said elsewhere on these boards (if not on this thread) WDW restaurants are a more than fair value with the DDP. Since only a percentage of the people visiting WDW use it, the rest of the folks are paying "rack rates" for undistinguished, overpriced food. On our next trip, we will either eat offsite, eat CS or use the DDP. Notice that it's the last resort, however. We don't care for undistinguished food at any price and supporting it suggests that we endorse the concept as well as the ramifications of the plan. We don't.

 

[Leota]

Okay, maybe this would be enlightening.....

How many of you have used the DP before (during a non-free DP time) AND now won't use it SPECIFICALLY b/c of food quality, service, time availability, etc.? Be honest.

This may seem OT, but I think that it goes to the "put your money where your mouth is" idea--is the quality declining to such a point that you are seeking the option to eat at other places?

I have used DDP one time - during the Free Dining period & Wouldn't use it again even if it were free.

Reasons -
- I had to stay at a different resort to get the DDP (I usually stay at the Swolphin, which I prefer to Disney owned resorts on many levels which also correspond to cutbacks in service/value)
- It doesn't work for the way we like to eat now due to cutback issues, see below. My 18 yo son, yes, DH & I, not so much.
- Even back then (2005) we were noticing the decline in value.
- We usually have our TS at Signature restaurants. You can do that every other day on DDP, but not everyday.

As far as putting my money where my mouth is & eating elsewhere - you bet I am. The last several trips, we eat alot of our meals at the Swolphin restaurants which have not been hit by the cutbacks. These coming trips will be significant in that they will be the first trips since 1993 that we will leave WDW property. We are doing that to seek better dining value off-property since we can't get it on property right now.

We have a few places at WDW that we are still finding meals that please us, but it requires some digging & some experience to find them. We have found, in general, that we are starting to eat most of our Disney meals Tapas style since we seem to be finding more creativity/ value in the appetizers than we are in the entrees. Even there, we are losing some of our favorites (back to that quail again )

I do firmly believe that there will be a pendulam effect to what we are seeing right now. There was a time when Disney recognized that fine dining was missing from their offerings. If they continue to hack away at it, like Gina2000 said, they will lose the positive reviews & the status that brings. They will lose the Foodie Market. At some point, I believe that will be significant enough for them to address. I believe they will build at least the signatures back up.

But, I also believed in Santa until I was like 12 or something. I love a Half-Full glass.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Funny thing I guess, but for me , a part of the "excitement" of Disney Signature Dining is the fact of going to the hotels themselves--seeing the Wilderness Lodge, seeing the Animal Kingdom Lodge, going to the Grand Floridian. I'm wondering (now) exactly how much that contributes to my accepting the portion size and quality of food??

 

[Leota]

Uncle - I totally agree with you on the atmosphere being part of the experience. That's the reason we still do some Disney meals even tho we are feeling a bit dissatisfied with the dining thing right now. Dinner is an event for us. The whole night centers around our dining plans. We love getting ready & the anticipation. We love arriving at the different resorts & spending time soaking in each ones unique atmosphere ie. sitting by that gorgeous fireplace in WL Lobby before a meal at AP or strolling the beach & wandering down to the Marina at GF to view Wishes dancing off the water after a meal at Citricos.

This is the Magic that draws us to WDW every year & that keeps us coming back even if one part of the puzzle is a bit lacking right now. Even if the Food doesn't always Transport me, Disney does. In that, I am & always will be a member of the Captive Audience.

 

[MarieA]

Actually, I remember when Narcoosee's offered lunch: gator meat and beer by the yard. Those were days...

But it was never very crowded, though, and perhaps too formal for a theme park.

I remember the gator and the beer by the yard too. The gator was a spread they used to put out with bread.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

I agree, as well. The atmosphere of the Boardwalk surrounding Flying Fish is one of my favorite things. As Leota says, certain parts of the equation may not be up to snuff but the picture in total is still worth an occasional effort for us (following with lots of hope & finger crossing). But still the restaurants at the Swolphin (Blue Zoo and Shula's) do beckon and a short few miles away are the great restaurants of City Walk and the Universal Hotels which give very much the same feeling, IMO.

 

[gina2000]

I agree with the last 3 or so posts. I have loved CG and hope to get back there but I won't till I feel the quality is there. We've expanded outward to include the Citywalk restaurants and a few favorites along the way....notably Rengetsu and Hanamizuki. I'm dying to try Enzo on the Lake and a few others.

WDW restaurants have alot going for them especially in the theming category. I think that's why the quality and authenticity of their offerings have become so disappointing. I go in expecting one thing and come out with another all too often. So for us, we'll travel as we can or go to Swan/Dolphin restaurants. BTW, Il Mulino is a great restaurant. I've been to the one in NYC several times. It's pricey....but pretty fabulous!