Is the food really that bad?

[Colleen27]

Got it.

IMO, Yachtsman's is a step below Flemings. Flemings would be more like Shula's. I think neither Flemings or Shula's serve actual "prime" beef but have their own specific criteria that may or may not equal prime depending on personal opinion I would guess.

Steak at WDW = Shula's UNLESS you are looking for the famous charred NY Strip at Flying Fish or the Buffalo steak at Artist Point. If your taste is filet mignon then it seems there are many choices (probably any of the Signatures).

We haven't been to Shula's in Orlando, but our experience at Yachtsman (Jan '08) was on par with our dinner at Shula's here in Michigan. Actually, that's why it ranks as a signature we're not all that interested in going back to - there isn't anything that really sets it apart from a nice steakhouse in any American city, and while that made for an enjoyable meal we prefer trying things we can't easily find at home when we travel.

 

[scdak]

Just back from 6 days of the DxDP, 13 tableservice meals during that time, and I don't think I would consider any of them to have not been good, one beef dish at Yak and Yeti was not what was expected, the beef was thin and too well done so it was like jerky but the other 2 choices were great as were the appetizers and desserts. I do agree with the inconsistancy comment by others, we had steak at Kona for lunch, it was great, ordered it again for dinner a few nights later - one was great, one was awful. But that was the only 2 instances in all our meals that we weren't pleased with.
I have been to Disney many times but rarely eat meals at TS locations, so I went in with the idea that it was going to be average food (based on reviews) but was pleasantly surprised by almost all the meals. Many of them we would definately do again, some we would not do the next trip simply because we would like to try other places instead, but there was one on my list that I would NEVER do again.

 

[miprender]

We have had the dining plan on 4 trips and I am one of those people that loves the food a Disney. Yes we have had some meals that have been alright, but the majority of our food has been great.

 

[gokenin]

Except that Disney, in my (admittedly limited) experience cares a LOT more about how the food looks, which is normally pretty good, but not so much how it tastes.



Agree 1000 percent. I've been called a foodie, but I'm really more a home cooking gal. (I love to cook a lot myself and we eat about 98 percent of our meals at home.) When we do go out to eat, which is pretty rare (excepting when we travel and have no choice), it's usually true fine dining and, frankly, Disney doesn't even get close to that experience, except perhaps with prices.

This is big chain food all the way, AT BEST. Sometimes I would preferred a Chili's, frankly, and I never eat at Chili's if I can help it. I would have loved to find a P.F. Chang's or a Chipoltle. That would have been a big step up from what we had.

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Although the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably, foodies differ from gourmets in that gourmets are epicures of refined taste who may or may not be professionals in the food industry, whereas foodies are amateurs who simply love food for consumption, study, preparation, and news.[1] Gourmets simply want to eat the best food, whereas foodies want to learn everything about food, both the best and the ordinary, and about the science, industry, and personalities surrounding food

I think the idea of Foodie has been taken way to serious if you ask me. The vast majority of eating establishments at WDW would be fine as far as any foodie is concerned using the above definition, now if you think that a foodie is the same as gourmet then yes you would be correct in thinking that many of the dining options at WDW would be subpar if in fact you are a gourmet and not a foodie.

 

[GeorgeG]

Be prepared for inconsistancy. You may have a great meal one night and a terrible one the next night. WDW has lost the ability to control its kitchens and maintain a standard of excellence on a constant basis.

Will you starve? Certainly not. Just don't go into a restaurant and expect perfection. You may find it, however, in the most unlikely places!

Excellent advice. Where Disney dining used to be consistently very good, it's now consistently inconsistent.

 

[Planogirl]

Excellent advice. Where Disney dining used to be consistently very good, it's now consistently inconsistent.

Nicely stated.

That is also the biggest difference (besides price) between WDW restaurants and chains. I know what I'm getting when I go to Chili's or the Olive Garden. I have no idea what I'll get when I eat at most WDW restaurants.