Gave Garden Grill A Second Chance-OOPS

[palmtreegirl]

I know just as many people who do like the new Garden Grill. People who wish to complain are more likely to take the time to post than those who have praise. Although this thread is full of negative posts and several are from having dined there, a large majority seem to be jumping in on the anti-GG boat based on the word of others without trying it personally. Since this thread is obviously intended to be only anti-Garden Grill, I apologize for posting here and I understand why others with any praise for GG would be afraid to comment. Sorry for intruding and I will retreat now . . .

We ate there the first Saturday of July for lunch and loved it. We thought it was so much better then the old food, DH had 2 different dishes & liked both, I also thought it was good. We especially liked the fondue dessert it was fun. Oh well to each his/her own but we honestly thought it was a great meal and well worth the $$.

Now I'll .......

 

[palmtreegirl]

There sure are a lot of new posters on this thread. How interesting!

I've never seen so many new posters show up on one thread.

 

[manhattan]

After reading these posts I realized that on our last trip we didn't receive any "comments" cards at any of the restaurants we had eaten. Guess I never noticed when they stopped giving them out. My DH would always tease me about filling them out, but at least I felt as though they cared.

 

[GoofyB]

Thanks for the head's up. GG used to be a must-do for us -- in fact last time we got re-hitched there for our 20th anniversary. Do hope they act fast and put things back they way they were. Change is fine--if it improves things. Sounds like this was not the case.

 

[a Really Bad Egg]

Frankly, I appreciate when I get a heads up about something.

I think it's great that someone said... 'hey, you may want to consider this...' because that is what this board is about - even if it is their first, second or third post.

I really don't think you need several thousand posts - or even hundreds - to have a say here...but I get the feeling that maybe there is a threshold that one has to achieve before they are welcome?

 

[erikthewise]

Frankly, I appreciate when I get a heads up about something.

I think it's great that someone said... 'hey, you may want to consider this...' because that is what this board is about - even if it is their first, second or third post.

I really don't think you need several thousand posts - or even hundreds - to have a say here...but I get the feeling that maybe there is a threshold that one has to achieve before they are welcome?

No, of course you don't need any number of posts, new members are very welcome.

But to clear the air -- I am accusing no one of anything -- it is probably possible for one person to register multiple new usernames under multiple email addresses, and thereby seem to be a chorus of voices rather than a single voice. A symptom of that would be several first-time posters in the same thread (which HAS happened here and IS unusual), and that may be what some recent posters are concerned about. Of course the logic is not reversible: the symptom does not prove this is taking place. Another explanation may be that this topic has inspired several long-time "lurkers" to speak up for the first time. Or maybe both are happening.

In any case the consensus in this thread is overwhelming.

 

[Jaime]

I love the ice cream social at the Garden Grill and was very sad when the CM told me that it was cancelled because of the new menu and dining times! It was always a trip must do. A nice afternoon break in the Florida heat.

 

[a Really Bad Egg]

No, of course you don't need any number of posts, new members are very welcome.

But to clear the air -- I am accusing no one of anything -- it is probably possible for one person to register multiple new usernames under multiple email addresses, and thereby seem to be a chorus of voices rather than a single voice. A symptom of that would be several first-time posters in the same thread (which HAS happened here and IS unusual), and that may be what some recent posters are concerned about. Of course the logic is not reversible: the symptom does not prove this is taking place. Another explanation may be that this topic has inspired several long-time "lurkers" to speak up for the first time. Or maybe both are happening.

In any case the consensus in this thread is overwhelming.

Ah...pardon me. Apparently I was taking the wrong path. However, is one that concerned that a person would be using multiple names just to write a bad review of the Garden Grille?

And even if it were the case, is the person who would stoop to such an inane act any worse off than the one who would suggest such a thing occurred without any proof?

Surely we are open minded enough to allow free thoughts without questioning motive. It's a restaurant review, not a conspiracy.

 

[erikthewise]

Ah...pardon me. Apparently I was taking the wrong path. However, is one that concerned that a person would be using multiple names just to write a bad review of the Garden Grille?

And even if it were the case, is the person who would stoop to such an inane act any worse off than the one who would suggest such a thing occurred without any proof?

Surely we are open minded enough to allow free thoughts without questioning motive. It's a restaurant review, not a conspiracy.

Agreed. But you apparently felt that first time posters were not welcome. The important thing was to emphasize they were welcome. I thought it would be best to not deal in innuendo but to explain clearly why several first time posters in the same thread might be a cause for comment. Maybe that was a mistake, but let's return to the topic of the thread.

 

[a Really Bad Egg]

Agreed. But you apparently felt that first time posters were not welcome. The important thing was to emphasize they were welcome. I thought it would be best to not deal in innuendo but to explain clearly why several first time posters in the same thread might be a cause for comment. Maybe that was a mistake, but let's return to the topic of the thread.

Ah, but wouldn't it be 'wise' to let those posters explain their comments about the 'first time posters' instead of trying to speak for them - and more or less accusing someone of posting under multiple names.

But thanks for helping me increase my number of posts...

 

[sarhenty]

No, of course you don't need any number of posts, new members are very welcome.

But to clear the air -- I am accusing no one of anything -- it is probably possible for one person to register multiple new usernames under multiple email addresses, and thereby seem to be a chorus of voices rather than a single voice. A symptom of that would be several first-time posters in the same thread (which HAS happened here and IS unusual), and that may be what some recent posters are concerned about. Of course the logic is not reversible: the symptom does not prove this is taking place. Another explanation may be that this topic has inspired several long-time "lurkers" to speak up for the first time. Or maybe both are happening.

In any case the consensus in this thread is overwhelming.

agreed and it does seem a little fishy...

 

[taswira]

agreed and it does seem a little fishy...

I did not notice until a few of you brought up the possibility of this being a "slam" thread by one or two individuals under different user names, but since you are discussing it - -

The following ALL joined at or after the start of this thread, and none of them have any identifying info (location, interests, etc.) in their profile as I write this (may be subject to change when they read this post, huh?). I believe all of them were negative GG posts, of course.

Sevenofus (the OP)
Wishing123
Madhatter123
Fiftytimesplus
Theotherhalf
Goneallday
Carapelli
WHYOHWHY
Eastsider
JustGotBack
ChristopherK
Serendip (who at least posted on other threads!)

Fishy? Sure looks like it! But only admin can tell for certain because they DO record the IP address of posters.

 

[LIFERBABE]

There are many more established posters on this thread than not.

I for one, spent a month at WDW in June 2005 and GG ranked 2nd worst meal behind Universals Spiderman Breakfast for our family.

I can think of alot better things to do with 90 minutes and $70 than go to the GG. This family will not return.

I believe in people trying things for themselves but you dont want your family and friends to feel ripped off. I could not in good conscience recommend GG to anyone. Now if they make that decision on their own, fine, but most look to me for WDW advice and would wonder why I didnt at least warn them.

I normally dont have comments on such negative threads, because most are just snapshots of inconsistencies. I think the GG is just consistently bad.

 

[SamIAm21]

Well, I have ressies for GG on my trip coming up in September, and I'm not sure who to believe. Can anyone recommend an alternative restaurant in Epcot with really good food that's not "over the top" expensive?

I'd appreciate some recommendations! I am not really sure what's going on here, but I think I may want to change my reservations asap.

Edited to Add: Really didn't want to leave this to chance, so I switched my ressie to LeCellier. It's a bit pricey, but at least the experience should be worth it. I would hate to get to Garden Grill and have it be awful.

 

[kaylie&laurensmom]

UPDATE!! Just read on another thread that beginning August 21 they are going back to their old menu! Only change is pork instead of chicken.

From Disney's website:

Come to the party and meet Mickey and his pals, who host a family-style signature skillet for you! Family-style favorites include grilled steak, rotisserie meats and country-style catfish. This rotating restaurant overlooks scenes from the Living with the Land attraction and even features food grown in the Land greenhouse. The children's meals feature a fun interactive dessert. It's a Garden of delights!

 

[LIFERBABE]

I wonder if they will raise the price?

 

[Blueberry]

I have just made a PS for Garden Grille for September..the old menu sounds very good and always wanted to go....

 

[TallyLassie]

We went to the Garden Grill last year on our son's 4th birthday. Glad to hear they are going back to their old menu, we enjoyed it. We were able to choose birthday cake as our desert. That was probably what I like least about the meal. It reminded me of one of those Pepperidge Farm frozen cakes. But, the kids didn't care. They ate as much of that cake as the one we bought at 1900 Park Fare, now that was a great cake!

 

[eeyore0062]

I have my doubts about Disney listening to complaints. I ate at GG the day after its new format. Absolutely hated it and complained bot only to the manager but wrote a letter to Guest relations.

Here it is months, and probably thousands of complaints, later and NOTHING has changed. From what I read in the most recent posts, not even the smallest attempt to correct the horrible situation.

I believe that Disney has given up Garden Grill to become a passing through restaurant catching the walkers on their way to Soarin'. They just don't care to have it back as an established and sought after place to eat.

There are enough fresh blood walk ins on a daily basis to keep them going and justify their total lack of intelligence about the way they changed this place.

Walk ins will have no problem getting a seat since all the regulars will be boycotting. Used to be without reservations a few days in advance, you didn't have a chance to get in. The new menu and format has changed all that.

There's a sucker born every minute.

Well, THEY LISTENED!!!!!!!

The menu will be back to "almost" normal on Sunday August 21st with the following changes: Smoked Pork instead of chicken, a vegetarian selection and augratin pototos instead of mashed pototos, and a selection of 5 different desserts.

See, the power of the pen, or in this case, the computer has again succeeded. Faith and pixie dust has again overcome!!!!!

 

[Hanover]

That's great news that the GG is returning to their old menu!!! We will be eating there in 5 days and I've been really apprehensive about it with all the negative reviews. I've desperately tried to get into Le Cellier to no avail. I even told a few ADR representatives when I tried to get Le Cellier about all the negative reviews I've read on the GG on Disboards and they acted like they hadn't heard it before. I kept the GG ADR just to keep our options open, so hopefully we will be very pleased. I thought the rotating aspect and character interaction would be appealing to our kids. Good food is always a bonus. I must be extra lucky today... I finally got our boys into the Albatross Treasure Cruise after trying for that or the Grand Floridian's Pirate Adventure for weeks.
I'll be sure to post our GG dining review after we get back 8/28.