I'm done

[ThreeTinks]

The last time around we did the dining plan, which wasn't worth the money IMO. Add the fact that we spent most of our time waiting for meals, rushing to meals, or sitting at a meal. Then, it felt like the characters flew on by us and it was all over in less than 10 minutes. The kids were too distracted to eat, and so the $100+ bill just didn't feel "worth" it to us.

YES! This summed it up perfectly for us. Even when the food was decent it just was NOT relaxing and I found myself so stressed during the whole thing. We are glad we had the experience but also glad that they are no longer "must do" reservations for us.

 

[kris4360]

We've decided no more buffets, we will do family style like Ohana and the restaurant in the land (That I can never ever ever remember the name of) that rotates. The food is not great but is better than buffets.

Garden Grill

 

[Sweet Melissa]

Paying for overpriced buffets with bad food. Chef Mickey to name one. Come to think of it, I'll be good with no buffet.

I totally agree. We've always avoided buffets. We broke that streak for the first time today for breakfast at Fresh Mediterranean Market. That was a pricey lesson learned.

 

[NancyIL]

I totally agree. We've always avoided buffets. We broke that streak for the first time today for breakfast at Fresh Mediterranean Market. That was a pricey lesson learned.

I have always enjoyed breakfast at Fresh, as well as the breakfast buffet at the Garden Grove at the Swan. They aren't inexpensive restaurants, but the 20% AAA discount helps. However, I haven't eaten lunch or dinner at a WDW buffet since my friend and I ate at 1900 Park Fair in Dec. 2009.

 

[davedmaine]

Wow. I'm surprised at all the hate for character buffets. I suppose being a solo adult traveler has something to do with it, but I love them. Especially the breakfasts. I've had surprisingly great experiences at Akershus and CRT. Food was good, service was great.

I'm going to assume that it has more to do with the food and prices than the characters. Otherwise, going to Disney without the characters seems sort of like saying, "I love Disney, but that stupid castle in the middle of the Magic Kingdom is such an eyesore."

You can meet the characters in several places for free. No reason to blow over $100 for a breakfast buffet IMO.. It's not like you're getting anything special there.. Waaaaaay over-priced

 

[ArthurFiggis]

No need to assume. Just look at the OP. It refers to price and quality. Characters are never mentioned.

Wasn't referring to the OP in particular, more the general feeling in the thread.

You can meet the characters in several places for free. No reason to blow over $100 for a breakfast buffet IMO.. It's not like you're getting anything special there.. Waaaaaay over-priced

Waaaaay overpriced food is par for the course at Disney though, right? Like I said, I suppose my perspective and experience is different than a lot of folks. I'd rather pay more for a meal with characters than wait in line for characters and not waiting for attractions. Your mileage will vary.

 

[juliebug1997]

We are going specifically for the characters, the kids are very into the Disney juniors now, so that's why H&V is still on the list, blah. We did CP for Dinner in March , and I hated it, our reservation is at 10:30 , DH is insisting we keep it, but I'm trying to change his mind.

The H&V breakfast isn't nearly as bad as the dinner there.

 

[TwoCortWort]

My niece this past March wanted to do the character meals and we gave in and did one and it was a waste of money because there was nothing on the menu she would eat. :/ Plus she complained about the character's that came out and it's like we can't choose who it is. But she was like I never want to do that again. It was such a waste of money! We do buffet's outside of Disney and get much better food and options.

 

[Micca]

We've really discontinued buffet dining. Love the characters, the food...not so much. The worst was Chef Mickey, there were a couple of items that were pretty good, the rest...way below average. However, kids aren't generally too critical of food and love the characters. When our grandchildren are old enough we'll def. be paying to get them in to dine with Mickey

 

[WILDERNESS FAN 55]

Love the Character breakfast buffets. Must do each and every trip. Not a fan of the prices but it's vacation and it beats working that day !!!!

 

[scojos]

we are on DDp for 14 days next year and had a big family discussion about which restaurants they want to visit next year (we have done most either OOp or on ddp in previous years..)
apart from TH my kids didnt ask for any buffets!! (dh asked for boma for bfast) i asked if they wanted to go back to CM/CP and my 10 yr old said "i want to eat with my family not watch you getting food" very perceptive for a kid isnt she??? so we ll be sticking to family service and ala carte... the only character my kids get excited about (apart from the main ones at TH) is stitch, and ohanas bfast is excellent (we d eat there even if stitch wasnt there) so we re all happy!!! just need to fid 12 non buffet, non fish/seafood based restaurants now

 

[kermiebudge]

I hear you about the anti-buffet thing....but thinking I better suck it up (yet again) for DD & DS. I have CP and Chef Mickey's ressies and keep debating on "accidentally" letting them go! Don't have the heart to do it though, b/c they look forward to them each time.

On our Dec trip, we will be trying Boma for the first time (dinner) and I'm really looking forward to that though...

 

[AndreaA]

I'm really surprised by all the negative buffet comments. My husband and I are very picky about food, and regularly pay upwards of $200 for dinner for just the two of us at upscale local restaurants, and we loved the buffet meals we had. We went to TH breakfast, CP breakfast AND lunch, and Chef Mickey's for dinner. In fact I ranked Chef Mickey's highest of all the places we ate, and that included Artist Point and California Grill.

I'm not fond of the buffet system, simply because we have young kids and so we need to have someone at the table with them and multiple trips to the buffet to get food for everyone, but I definitely can't complain about the food.

I think it's impossible to divorce price/quality from the character experience. If you have two four star restaurants and one has a fabulous view to go with it, it shouldn't be surprising if they charge more for it. So the fact that a buffet with characters can cost as much as a sit-down with arguably better food, is not at all shocking and I'd say that trying to compare quality/type of food in that instance is like comparing apples and oranges.

 

[bluejasmine]

I disliked CP!!
We thought CM dinner was not bad..
Use to like Cape May but its not do good anymore..
H&V was gross
Enjoy Biergarten and Boma and 1900 PF
DH and I aren't picky at all but the food at CP was luke warm and at 7 pm not replenished!
Cape may food just seem tasteless this past June

ASMU/POR Dec 16-22, 2012 & POFQ Sept 8-15, 2013

 

[Livia]

I agree! We did quite a few last time and with the exception of Tusker House, the food wan't all that great.

 

[discookiemonsta]

We have done quite a few character meals....

1900 Park Fare Breakfast and Dinner
Cape May breakfast
Crystal Palace Breakfast and Dinner
Ohana's breakfast
CRT
Norway Akershus breakfast

We have only paid for the dining plan once and gotten free dining 3 times. With the exception of Ohana, we have enjoyed all of the character meals!!! So much that we are doing most of them again on our next trip.

We were not a big fan of Ohana's...the food was lacking in taste as well as variety...just our opinion though!

 

[North of Mouse]

Well, everyone is entitled to their opinions - that's what keeps life lively

We seem to differ from most on here in that we like a lot of the Disney buffets. We love CP, Cape May, and 1900 Park Fare breakfasts, also Boma, Cape May Clambake, Ohana (not a true buffet, I know) dinners. It's just DH & I now, but a few character meals are enjoyable to us also.

To us, everything is over priced at Disney just as it is at most venues where there is mostly a captive audience. At least Disney will *let* you bring in drinks, snacks, even meals if you are willing to cart them around. That would be a chore to us, so we don't do it, but we could.

We love Disney, but just like other places we go, we accept the cost involved before we go, and just thoroughly enjoy our time there. When we can go, we will, when we can't, we'll stop.

 

[JenaRuns]

Nobody has mentioned The Wave. The food on their breakfast buffet is very tasty. It even includes their Sweet Potato Pancakes now. And there are no characters, so it's quiet in there. One of our favorites.

 

[North of Mouse]

Nobody has mentioned The Wave. The food on their breakfast buffet is very tasty. It even includes their Sweet Potato Pancakes now. And there are no characters, so it's quiet in there. One of our favorites.

Would really enjoy trying their breakfast buffet. We made lunch ressies there because we saw a great review of the buffet there, then later heard that they had discontinued it. Sure wish they would have it again

 

[WILDERNESS FAN 55]

Well, everyone is entitled to their opinions - that's what keeps life lively

We seem to differ from most on here in that we like a lot of the Disney buffets. We love CP, Cape May, and 1900 Park Fare breakfasts, also Boma, Cape May Clambake, Ohana (not a true buffet, I know) dinners. It's just DH & I now, but a few character meals are enjoyable to us also.

To us, everything is over priced at Disney just as it is at most venues where there is mostly a captive audience. At least Disney will *let* you bring in drinks, snacks, even meals if you are willing to cart them around. That would be a chore to us, so we don't do it, but we could.

We love Disney, but just like other places we go, we accept the cost involved before we go, and just thoroughly enjoy our time there. When we can go, we will, when we can't, we'll stop.

My family is behind you on your liking of most Disney Buffets dispite the prices.What I really enjoyed about your posting was the final paragraph. Very refreshing to see someone write that.Mostly people just complain.Thanks for a great post!