Have the menus changed because of free dining?

[Vaughn4380]

The thing I do miss is no real prime rib on the buffets.

What? They got rid of the Pime Rib at the buffets? My Dad is going to have a heart attack, half the reason he goes to Disney is to hit a buffet each night of his vacation, and the Prime Rib is one of his favorites.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Disney has for quite some time changed it's focus for fine dining. Disney's mass production to feed the masses for maximum profit, leaves off creativity, variety and quality. As a result, Disney get's less of my money! Orlando has many fine local restaurants that put Disney Dining to shame in both bang for your buck and taste. Timpano's Italian Chop House for one is fabulous. Even Disney's buffets aren't what they used to be, the Golden Coral is a lot cheaper and has a better selection than most Disney Buffets. I consider it highway robbery to charge an 11 year old child adult buffet prices.

I still love Boma, Jiko, Blue Zoo, Shula's and I'm ever so looking forward to trying Kuzzina but other than that it's off site for dinner.

Not familiar with Il Mulano (Where & what type of food?)

 

[Colleen27]

The magic bus is gonna drive me after I have wine with dinner. If I have to drive to get dinner - no wine. I'd rather have the wine.

And that right there, more than anything else, sums up my love affair with the magic bus!

 

[acourtwdw]

Maybe I haven't been that picky about what is on the menu but I haven't really noticed a lot of changes in WDW dining in the last 17 years of visiting at least 2x a year. I can still find things that I like and are tasty. My only compliant is the lack of breakfasts at all of the parks!

 

[Colleen27]

I'm with you, Nala! Gawd love the magic bus!

Since you mention wine, does anyone know if the bottled wine selections have changed since the dining plan wine option was added?

Not that I've noticed, but we don't order by the bottle so it isn't something I pay a ton of attention to. What I've noticed in terms of standardization has nothing to do with any dining plan. Certain wines seem to be available everywhere, from Sci-fi up to Narcoosees, but the wine lists at better restaurants certainly aren't limited to those standardized options. The ethnic and signature restuarants in particular have a good selection of different wines.

 

[TDC Nala]

I am really interested in hitting Kouzzina before Disney gets Cat to tweak her menu, because it looks like a number of her specialties do not have mass appeal.

 

[TDC Nala]

Is it true during Free Dining that restaurants remove certain entrees from their menu? If so, can you request the omitted entrees if paying out of pocket? Thanks in advance!

You will probably not be able to request a dish that isn't on the menu, unless you are looking for a substitution regarding a dietary preference like vegetarian or vegan, or a medical condition. It is likely that if a dish has been removed from a menu, the restaurant no longer stocks one or more of the ingredients, and does not have the proper ingredients prepared.

Can't be certain at this time which restaurants, if any, have removed any specific entrees because of Free Dining. Because in 2009 Free Dining lasts until December, it'll be hard to distinguish between that and a standard menu or ingredient change. All Disney restaurants reserve the right to change menus at any time without notice.

We have only one report that a DDP user at Tony's Town Square was handed what appeared to be a specifically prepared menu and given a standard dessert (was not permitted a choice of desserts) last week. That's all I've seen.

 

[ThumperandLitenin]

....News Flash, it’s not “a dumbed down menu” rather a simplifying the menu, taking off what’s not popular, finding what the consumers like, more of a refining a menu, ….

With all due respect, I think what you just said proves the "dumbing-down" observation.

By loading-up the signature restaurants with folks who would not normally eat there, and experience has shown will order the most expensive things on the menu just because they can, Disney has no choice but to limit what they will offer.

Right now, Disney needs to get butts in the seats, that's it. Covering overhead at the higher-end restaurants is the key.

Sadly, what this has done is diminish the entire Disney brand. It's just easier to notice in the sig retaurants when they are filled with tired, irritable children, and parents dressed in park clothes that have been running since 8:00 am. No dress code enforcement, limted menus, and a lot more noise.

Signature dining at Disney wasn't just about the food, it was about the atmosphere. The introduction of the DDP has lowered the bar.

Until it costs at least three DDP credits to visit a sig, or drop their availability from DDP altogether, it's not going to change. I'm just really curious how many of the folks on DDP would pay OOP to eat at a sig restaurant.

This isn't a condemnation of the folks on DDP. After reading some threads on the subject, I recognize it has value for people, even if it is just a budgeting tool. However, the effects on signature dining can not be dismissed.

 

[Colleen27]

So is that what they put in those nuggets, chicken!!!!

"it's about the experience", interesting quote I think thats why the character meals are sooooo popular as from what I have read its not the food.....

Hasn't that always been true of character meals? Chef Mickey's isn't a hot ticket ADR for the food!

Personally, I don't go into a buffet that serves thousands of people in any given meal period expecting great food. I go expecting food on par with Golden Corral or Ponderosa and the experience of meeting a bunch of characters without waiting in a bunch of meet & greet lines. We don't leave hungry and are often surprised by some particular stand-out on the buffet, but the food is secondary to the characters.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Just catching up on this thread .... and it is certainly interesting to think of the impact the DDP - and especially free dining - has had on the dining experience at Disney


... do you think there is any way Disney would set it up that the DDP only got you certain things on the menu, so if you were paying OOP or willing to pay extra they would still have some more creative options?

.... or perhaps keep a low-level DDP version that didn't include much and all other levels were increased in price .... this way a family truly on a budget could still have something, but would allow restaurants to keep more options on the menu knowing that those who are getting an appetizer paid a decent amount for it?

 

[TDC Nala]

Just catching up on this thread .... and it is certainly interesting to think of the impact the DDP - and especially free dining - has had on the dining experience at Disney


... do you think there is any way Disney would set it up that the DDP only got you certain things on the menu, so if you were paying OOP or willing to pay extra they would still have some more creative options?

.... or perhaps keep a low-level DDP version that didn't include much and all other levels were increased in price .... this way a family truly on a budget could still have something, but would allow restaurants to keep more options on the menu knowing that those who are getting an appetizer paid a decent amount for it?

No, I don't, because the DDP users (who are quickly becoming what appears to be a majority of onsite guests) will then have complaints about being treated like second-class citizens. Whatever else Disney has done with the dining plan, they've been so far very careful to make it obvious that DDP users order from the same menu as everyone else and have the same choices. If indeed DDP users become a majority, then Disney probably won't worry too much about the effect on those who don't use the plan.

The dining plan contributes too well to WDW's current business model - keep those guests tied to Disney property as much as possible - if they are committed to eating all their meals here, they're not going to wander off to Universal or Sea World and if they do, they won't stay long.

 

[livie1205]

With all due respect, I think what you just said proves the "dumbing-down" observation.

By loading-up the signature restaurants with folks who would not normally eat there, and experience has shown will order the most expensive things on the menu just because they can, Disney has no choice but to limit what they will offer.

Right now, Disney needs to get butts in the seats, that's it. Covering overhead at the higher-end restaurants is the key.

Sadly, what this has done is diminish the entire Disney brand. It's just easier to notice in the sig retaurants when they are filled with tired, irritable children, and parents dressed in park clothes that have been running since 8:00 am. No dress code enforcement, limted menus, and a lot more noise.

Signature dining at Disney wasn't just about the food, it was about the atmosphere. The introduction of the DDP has lowered the bar.

Until it costs at least three DDP credits to visit a sig, or drop their availability from DDP altogether, it's not going to change. I'm just really curious how many of the folks on DDP would pay OOP to eat at a sig restaurant.

This isn't a condemnation of the folks on DDP. After reading some threads on the subject, I recognize it has value for people, even if it is just a budgeting tool. However, the effects on signature dining can not be dismissed.

As much as we love the ddp I do agree with this...I think the sig places are getting a lot of tired kids and people that do not bother to respect the dress code just because they may be using free ddp.I pay for the ddp so that we do not have to worry about the cost WHILE on vacation but we will not norm go to the 2 TS meals...we wouldnt go otherwise because we are just to tired to worry about dressing up and the kids would be tired...so we do not go.I would not want to take away the enjoyment for another couple who may be there for a nice meal.

 

[ThumperandLitenin]

No, I don't, because the DDP users (who are quickly becoming what appears to be a majority of onsite guests) will then have complaints about being treated like second-class citizens. Whatever else Disney has done with the dining plan, they've been so far very careful to make it obvious that DDP users order from the same menu as everyone else and have the same choices. If indeed DDP users become a majority, then Disney probably won't worry too much about the effect on those who don't use the plan.

The dining plan contributes too well to WDW's current business model - keep those guests tied to Disney property as much as possible - if they are committed to eating all their meals here, they're not going to wander off to Universal or Sea World and if they do, they won't stay long.

What if the sig restaurants, and some of the other more upscale; i.e. Kouzzina simply weren't on the DDP anymore? Why couldn't they carve out a niche of upscale dining experiences?

 

[TDC Nala]

The only restaurant that Disney owns which is excluded from the dining plan is Victoria & Albert's. All the signature restaurants are owned by Disney. They won't exclude the dining plan users from them. They WANT to encourage use of the dining plan.

Disney really doesn't care about those of us who don't use the dining plan - they'd rather we broke down and used it. Then they could be certain we are committed to staying onsite and eating all of our meals onsite.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

What if the sig restaurants, and some of the other more upscale; i.e. Kouzzina simply weren't on the DDP anymore? Why couldn't they carve out a niche of upscale dining experiences?

might be a nice compromise or something ... just would want to figure out some way that people on the DDP can still get what they want, but people who truly want a special dining experience can still get that as well ...

or maybe just having a couple of things on the menu that require and extra cost or something (and maybe the DDP could come with some extra $ on it that you can use towards these) .... just would like some way that would allow for the sig and other upscale restaurants to offer what they want, and not limit it just due to the DDP

 

[rudy7696]

One thing my wife and I noticed during our last trip this past December is that all the restaurants are pretty much offering the same items on their menu. It is obviously apparent in the quick service restaurants. I also have to admit the quality of food has gone down which is dissappointing.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

One thing my wife and I noticed during our last trip this past December is that all the restaurants are pretty much offering the same items on their menu. It is obviously apparent in the quick service restaurants. I also have to admit the quality of food has gone down which is dissappointing.

Totally agree with you on this! It all looks and tastes the same from one restaurant to the next!

 

[Colleen27]

Sadly, what this has done is diminish the entire Disney brand. It's just easier to notice in the sig retaurants when they are filled with tired, irritable children, and parents dressed in park clothes that have been running since 8:00 am. No dress code enforcement, limted menus, and a lot more noise.

Signature dining at Disney wasn't just about the food, it was about the atmosphere. The introduction of the DDP has lowered the bar.

Until it costs at least three DDP credits to visit a sig, or drop their availability from DDP altogether, it's not going to change. I'm just really curious how many of the folks on DDP would pay OOP to eat at a sig restaurant.

This isn't a condemnation of the folks on DDP. After reading some threads on the subject, I recognize it has value for people, even if it is just a budgeting tool. However, the effects on signature dining can not be dismissed.

Once again, I think the DDP is getting blamed for something that was part of Disney's strategy with or without the plan - getting more butts in the seats at the higher end restaurants by relaxing dress codes and otherwise making it a more "normal" dining experience. The signature restaurants could accept the DDP and still enforce dress codes, if Disney wanted to take that route, and they would still attract dining plan guests like us who want the special experience and like getting cleaned up and dressing a bit nicer for dinner.

I know that for myself, we'd probably do a couple signature restaurants paying OOP but not nearly as many we do with the deluxe plan. It is entirely a mental difference and maybe without the dining plan I'd get over it, but for some reason it is easier for me to spend $2500 for the DxDDP as part of our package than to budget the same amount for dining for a week. We get a modest savings from using the plan, but the added enjoyment of taking the price completely out of the dining picture is the more valuable aspect to me. That doesn't mean always ordering the most expensive items - to me, that seems like it would be just as tiresome as always ordering cheaper items, especially since I'm not a beef eater and don't much care for lobster. It just means ordering what sounds good without regard to price.

 

[Colleen27]

might be a nice compromise or something ... just would want to figure out some way that people on the DDP can still get what they want, but people who truly want a special dining experience can still get that as well ...

or maybe just having a couple of things on the menu that require and extra cost or something (and maybe the DDP could come with some extra $ on it that you can use towards these) .... just would like some way that would allow for the sig and other upscale restaurants to offer what they want, and not limit it just due to the DDP

I think the assumption that the DDP is a cause of menu changes is flawed. I don't think Disney is changing menus because they made some sort of error in overselling or underpricing the DDP. They are simplifying menus because they have deliberately chosen a strategy of appealing to the masses and the DDP is just one cog in that strategy. Lets face it - there are far, far more picky and unadventurous eaters than foodies among the overall population of Disney visitors, and Disney has taken an approach that appeals to that majority at the expense of the foodie minority.

Even if they did away with the dining plan tomorrow, I would expect to see the menus remain standardized and simplified, just as drink menus, souvenir options, and myriad other things around the World have been standardized. There's no Disney Booze Plan but the lounge menus are looking more and more alike with every passing month, and there's no Disney Merchandise plan but more and more of the shops are filled with the same products. It is Disney's overall business plan at this point in time, not a byproduct of the DDP.

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Hello....thanks for the update...Where is everyone seeing these menu changes....can anyone post what has been removed...

Thanks

On our last trip 2 restaurants were disappointments....

Le Cellier - once our favorite - and we NEVER participate in the dining plan

* asked for Asparagus as an app - so overly peppered it was inedible
* DH's Onion Soup now comes in a very small tea-cup bowl with a small piece of toast and a sliver of cheese melted onto the toast and placed in the cup. It was inedible and a BIG dissapointment. I can remember in the past trying to keep my DH from licking the croc!

* Steak was very hard to slice - didn't eat all of it and potatoes were so salty I could not eat them either.

Final insult - I became ill about 15 minutes after we left. Let's just say I know all the ladies rooms surrounding World Showcase.

DH asked for the managers name to write a comment. At the desk the nice young lady said...."is it a complaint?"....after DH said yes, she said "we are getting allot of them now".

Never again.


Second was Cinderella's Royal Table....what a rip off. The menu is standardized. How do we know? We had exactly the same meno the night before at Riverside....for a fraction of the $$$$. The accommodations for handicapped people were limited and they tried to rush us through the photograph --- because we were "late for dinner".....we passed on the photo and had been sitting and waiting for about 10 minutes before our reservation.

What a rip off

Never again.