Just returned - quite surprised at the empty tables

[newdeal]

here is the obvious explaination to me. you used to be able to book multiple reservations for the same time with no issues, that only changed a month or two ago. That means people were likely booking and then choosing not to go which left empty tables. Also Disney offered free dining for a large part of the year, people who were looking to go at this time of year may have chosen to wait a couple weeks to get free dining so park attendance may be down. The US is headed into a depression right now, your politicians are trying to shelter you from it but it isn't working as the government is having to spend too much to do it. Many people because of this can't afford to go or are cutting back on the expensive souvenirs and meals and either packing their own food or eating cheaper meals. Is the cost of food at Disney high? Not really compared to other theme parks. You can always find cheaper food off site, Disney charges because it is convenient and they have a monopoly of what food costs within a few square miles so why not. I paid $9 for a hot dog, fries and a drink at a local small zoo the other day, that is more than Disney charges.

 

[El Perro]

I had the complete opposite experience in February. We were there the week before Prez day - when both a free dining and massive room only discounts were being offered - and while the park traffic was light almost every restaurant was packed. The only restaurant we were able to get in without an ADR was The Wave but as word spreads about its quality I'm afraid that will change as well. Even then The Wave was very full.

 

[gina2000]

And I have to disagree, the food there is MUCH better than most amusement parks and not that much more. I just paid $45.00 at hershey park for a 2 corn dog meals, one order if cheese fries and 2 $.99 refills for junky corn dogs!!!

How many days did you eat junky corn dogs at Hershey? One, I'll bet. And that's where the problem lies. When you go to most amusement parks, you're going for one day. They make their money on you in that one day...and if you have indigestion from the food, it's one or two meals' worth.

Now, here you are at WDW for a week....day after day of expensive, costly food that really isn't prepared all that well.

I have no problem paying for expensive food. I have a huge problem with paying for subpar food day after day on a vacation. One day....I expect my eyes to be ripped out and my stomach to be queasy. Seven days? I won't pay for it.

Well, whatever. Now you get the honor of waiting for a seat in a half empty restaurant because staffing is inadequate. I'll go eat a meal elsewhere.

 

[inkedupmomma]

Not long ago I talked to someone who had at least four reservations for every meal. I think it's easier with larger groups where the reservations for everyone are made by different people. I don't see the same person being able to make multiple reservations, at least in the same phone call. Keep in mind that you don't need to be a guest at a resort to make them. It would be obvious if they were all listed under the same room.
True, I forgot I myself did that on my last trip, although we canceled the unwanted ressies the minute we figure out which time worked better!
I think my biggest problem with the dining is knowing how good many of the restaurants were several years back compared to now. It used to be nearly impossible to have a bad meal at WDW, especially at a Disney-run restaurant. It was also not fair to compare WDW to other amusement parks, but that seems to be changing. I used to get upset with one of my sister-in-laws (who still has never been to Disney) when she would say it was "just another amusement park." Any die-hard Disney fan would never have made that comparison, but with the decline in dining and the addition of new thrill rides, WDW is slipping away from what used to separate them from the rest. I just think that's sad.

That's my point kinda, I don't think it's just another amusement park. I think it's phenomenal, and love the food! There is no comparison, it is still a cut above the rest. But it is a family destination and makes a ton of food and does it well. Although I do agree I miss menus of the past sometimes ( especially CRT) I love the new stuff they have served... I go back next month, I'll let you know if I still thinks this way then

How many days did you eat junky corn dogs at Hershey? One, I'll bet. And that's where the problem lies. When you go to most amusement parks, you're going for one day. They make their money on you in that one day...and if you have indigestion from the food, it's one or two meals' worth.

Now, here you are at WDW for a week....day after day of expensive, costly food that really isn't prepared all that well.

I have no problem paying for expensive food. I have a huge problem with paying for subpar food day after day on a vacation. One day....I expect my eyes to be ripped out and my stomach to be queasy. Seven days? I won't pay for it.

Well, whatever. Now you get the honor of waiting for a seat in a half empty restaurant because staffing is inadequate. I'll go eat a meal elsewhere.

3 full days actually and one morning. And I can tell you for a fact that for 3.5 days I was there, I could have spent a week with MUCH better quality food at WDW.

 

[mab2010]

We've lived in Orlando for nearly four years now and have always been generally happy with the restaurants at Disney. The prices will naturally be a little higher given the convenience of being able to dine right in the park, but we've found the food to be consistently pretty good. They do a great job with the kid's meals especially with good, healty alternatives.

Some of the restaurants are more over priced than others. We dined at the big sushi restaurant in Japan and left that meal feeling like we over-paid significantly for what we received.

That said, most of the cafe's and other quick service restaurants are really good.

We especially enjoy the margaritas at the Tequila bar in Mexico - those are very good, very expensive but very good!

 

[lilwhiterabbit]

I am curious though, as to where else you ate at Universal. Mythos is the only place I will eat there - their QS is, imo, horrible quality, particularly for the price, and haven't found any other TS places even approaching WDW quality, but am wondering if it was just bad luck.

I'm curious about this too. Mythos is really good, but I haven't been impressed by any other restaurants at Universal, including those in City Walk. Maybe they've improved drastically since the last time I went?

**EDIT**
I just noticed that you ate several meals in the hotels. Having never been to any of those, I can't speak to their quality. I've eaten at both Emeril's and Margaritaville, however and, while they were okay, I'm afraid I didn't find either of them particularly exceptional or cost effective. Emeril's was, in fact, quite expensive.

 

[bleeps]

The bottom line is Disney has sold their soul to fill the parks and resorts. The new generation of management is so concerned with maximizing profits they have forgotten what made Disney special in the first place. We can only hope they get back on track soon.

Couldn't agree more!!!

 

[disneyholic family]

How is that possible? Any double ressies I have made, I have had to cancel one.

Not picking on you, I just picked your reply cause I haven't been able to double book any ressies

all you need is multiple names, phone numbers and email addresses...
the easiest thing in the world to make multiple reservations...

 

[jlk806]

I just returned from a two week stay spread between WDW and Universal and came back quite surprised at the number of empty tables that I encountered at a number of restaurants at WDW, and quite shocked at the price difference (and quality) of meals between the two competing theme parks. I know that there are reasons for empty tables, such as staffing issues, but is this a problem throughout WDW? The first night we were there, we had an ADR at Whispering Canyon. We arrived a few minutes early than our time and still ended up waiting over 30 minutes AFTER our ADR to sit, and there were a lot of empty tables that night. The next morning, we had ADR's for Trails End that were not really necessary because when we showed up, there were only 5 other tables occupied, and this was during what I thought was breakfast time (9:30sh). That night, we went to Boma (we have a tradition on going to Boma always on the 2nd night of our vacation), and did not encounter the huge crowd waiting to be seated. What we saw was a restaurant that was about 1/2 to 2/3rds full. We encountered this trend in almost all the restaurants that we went to during our WDW stay.

Finally, I was quite surprised at the price difference that I encountered at the restaurants at Universal. I'd say that the cost was about 1/3rd to 1/2 less than what we spent at WDW. I was quite surprised at the quality of food at Mythos (we ranked Mythos first and Brown Derby 2nd for in-park restaurant foods).

To give you an idea of our group, we consisted of two adults and two kids (11 & 7). We used our Tables in Wonderland card in WDW and the AAA card in Universal.

We were just at WDW 2 weeks ago and never waited more than 10 minutes to be seated at the TS restaurants. At Coral Reef we were seated within 5 minutes, also Primetime and Via Napoli. At Ohana, we arrived over an hour early planning to have drinks and hang out while we wait, and they seated us 45 minutes early! I thought the restaurants were very uncrowded, but then again for the last 3 years the only time Ive been there is during FD (and I will actually be back again in 3 weeks during FD again, this time with the family).

At the MK, cast members were walking up and down Main Street telling everyone the Crystal Palace had immediate seating, which seemed really odd because we always eat there on our family trip and always wait forever even with an ADR!

 

[Colleen27]

I agree with those who say it is a staffing issue. For whatever reason, it seems there are quite a few restaurants where Disney would rather turn away diners than bring in enough staff to serve every table, and it is enough of a pattern that I do think it is a management decision rather than simply "life happens" things like employees calling out sick.

 

[Rustysmom]

We just got back from Universal and Disney and we think the food at Disney is much, MUCH better than Universal. My kids are picky and they couldn't find anything they wanted at Universal. We didnt try Mythos because I knew my son wouldn't eat anything on their menu. We ate at Bubba Gump and that was ok, but the quick service meals in Universal are just disgusting. We ate once at Jake's in our Royal Pacific hotel and I couldn't even finish my grilled chicken sandwich because it had absolutely no taste and was very expensive.

My kids enjoyed the food at Disney though. We always had one good meal a day. The kids enjoyed Le Cellier, Boma, Garden Grill, Chef Mickey, Crystal Palace, and Sci Fi, and we never had much of a wait for a table. It was expensive, but at least it tasted good and we enjoyed it.

I noticed a lot of empty tables at Le Cellier, but I think it's because it's 2 TS credits now. We weren't on the dining plan.

 

[laxchik18]

I've noticed this too, and I can't help but wonder if a large number of people are making ADRs and just not showing up. If so, I wonder what Disney's going to do about this practice. I've been unable to get ADRs at a few places before my trip, only to go to the resturant in question when I get there and get seated right away as a walk-in.

same

 

[hintofspy]

I'm curious about this too. Mythos is really good, but I haven't been impressed by any other restaurants at Universal, including those in City Walk. Maybe they've improved drastically since the last time I went?

**EDIT**
I just noticed that you ate several meals in the hotels. Having never been to any of those, I can't speak to their quality. I've eaten at both Emeril's and Margaritaville, however and, while they were okay, I'm afraid I didn't find either of them particularly exceptional or cost effective. Emeril's was, in fact, quite expensive.

The hotels were, IMO, better quality than the park food and CityWalk options, but still nowhere near Disney park food and definitely not even close to WDW TS options. Emeril's is insanely expensive and not all that great, and even Pat O'Brien's, which is just a copy of the same one in NOLA, was awful and twice as expensive as the NOLA counterpart. I'm OK with spending $50 on a meal if it's actually good, but I've yet to experience that on US property... though I'd totally be willing to spend $50 on butterbeer and just call it a day !

We ate at Mythos at IOA and Finnegan's at USF. I thought the food was good at Mythos, and a good value. I had the corned beef sandwich at Finnegan's and thought the beef had little taste to it, but my wife and daughters liked what they had. For dinner, we at either at the hotels (Tchoup Chop, Trattoria del Porto and Sal's Market Deli) or at Citywalk (Emeril's and Margaritaville). Margaritaville was the only place that we waited a long time for (close to an hour) and that was even with the priority you get while showing your room key.

Finnegan's is OK for park food, and I will pretty much only eat at Mythos if I stay in IOA to eat. But the waiting at all of the restaurants on CityWalk and in the resorts is just crazy! I've gone out to CityWalk on a weekend night for a nice night out, and it's nearly impossible to get a table without a reservation at most of those restaurants, and even with one, I've waited that long as well (about an hour) just to be seated! Could've driven down to WDW and been seated faster .

 

[bcrook]

It seems to me the price increases are catching up to them. I was willing to splurge on a buffett every once in awhile at $26.00 a person. But I am not going to do it at $ 36.00 ala Boma.

I really think these price increases are necessary to make the dining plan look like a good bargain. Next year $54.00 a day for the dining plan is obscene. So, If you don't fall for the ddp, you have to skip Boma. I stay in villas with kitchens, eat in a little, eat counter service more, and blow $200.00 for four people a few nights at some of signatures. TIW helps some of sting.

If there is a correction in the prices, the restaurants will fill up again. I don't think ADRs are even part of the problem, if the food is good and reasonably priced these restaurants would be full with zero ADRs.

 

[GeorgeG]

I've been thinking about the comments about staffing being a major factor at the restaurants. I'm not disputing that notion, but it does raise concern about the state of things.

We spend a fair amount of time at WDW and have never seen a shortage of hungry people, so the demand for dining seems to be pretty solid. Also, we're in an economy where there is no shortage of people looking for jobs, so that doesn't seem to play into the lack of staffing. Disney has always been pretty good at managing all of this, but now we're seeing empty tables in restaurants I'm sure Disney would like to see full all the time. I don't thiink Disney would choose not to fully staff restaurants and turn away customers.

The key to any restaurant, anywhere, being successful is to offer good food at a fair price and with good service. A good location is also important, but given that Disney basically has a captive audience, that is not an issue. That brings it down to mis-management. It's disturbing to think that's even possible at a place like WDW, but I can't come up with any other explanation.

 

[dsnygrl21]

I don't really know much about high food prices or not because I have been on the Dlx DDP ever since it's been started. Prior to that, I would be spending a pretty penny anyways. At least this is paid for ahead of time without having to worry there. As being on the DlxDP, we eat at a lot of Signature restaurants where I have not seen a decline in the product.

I know one of the chef's in Ohana's. They strive for great food, even now. The staffing has been a problem for them, but not behind the scene's. They still have a great staff, or so he says, lol.

 

[Linda T.]

My family was at Disney July 14th thru July 21st and we also went to Ohana, Teppen Edo, Raglan Road, Crystal Palace (breakfast), Coral Reef, 1900 Park Fare (dinner), and Rainforest Cafe and we were seated immediately and many tables were not filled. I also was very surprised that when we checked in at CBR, we were upgraded to a preferred room. In that preferred area, there were several rooms vacant during our whole trip. I do think the economy is a factor in all of this.

 

[Colleen27]

I've been thinking about the comments about staffing being a major factor at the restaurants. I'm not disputing that notion, but it does raise concern about the state of things.

We spend a fair amount of time at WDW and have never seen a shortage of hungry people, so the demand for dining seems to be pretty solid. Also, we're in an economy where there is no shortage of people looking for jobs, so that doesn't seem to play into the lack of staffing. Disney has always been pretty good at managing all of this, but now we're seeing empty tables in restaurants I'm sure Disney would like to see full all the time. I don't thiink Disney would choose not to fully staff restaurants and turn away customers.

There is another explanation, but one I almost hate to say/type because I hate all the DDP-bashing that goes on... If Disney believes that most of the customers they're turning away from popular restaurants are on the dining plan, they know they aren't losing those dollars. Those are guests that will simply find a less desirable DDP participant for spending the credit. So from a purely financial standpoint, it might be advantageous NOT to hire/schedule enough staff to run Le Cellier and Coral Reef at full capacity because to do so would mean paying staff at Nine Dragons and San Angel to run a mostly-empty restaurant. Since you can't cut staff below a certain point, it might make sense to schedule one less server at the high-demand restaurants and leave those sections idle, knowing that the less popular venues can easily absorb the guests who are turned away from CR or LC without any increases in staffing.

 

[Peepster]

I certainly agree with the previous posters who have said essentially that

1. Disney is concentrating so hard on filling the restaurants they have
lost sight of quality. Therefore those of us who frequent the parks
and are "foodies" are going off grounds.
2. Disney continues to cut back on staffing to the point that if they do
have enough business to fill a restaurant they can't because they
do not have enough staff to serve them.
3. Some of the guests have been a problem because of booking
double ADR's. A problem that has only been corrected recently,
as pointed out by a previous poster. Disney should have taken
care of this MUCH sooner.
4. I, as probably most of you, will spend a sizable amount of money on a
good Disney meal. But I am not independently wealthy and within
the last year or so Disney has gotten beyond what I consider
a fair amount for some of their meals and I will no longer
be their customer. Leading to #1 - we go off grounds to eat good
food at a fair price.
I cannot comment on Universal's food as I haven't had enough of it to be fair.

Auntie Peep

 

[GeorgeG]

It's definitely hard to get a handle on what's going on. The parks are full of people who need to eat and by far the most convenient restaurants are those in the parks. Besides the empty tables in popular restaurants, many no longer even serve breakfast and/or lunch. It wasn't that many years ago when all those restaurants were pretty full for all meals, even on a relatively slow day. I haven't seen slow days like what used to be in a long time, despite a struggling economy. It's almost as if Disney wants people to go off-site for meals. It just doesn't make sense. At least for me, if I'm going off-site other than Downtown Disney where most of the restaurants are not run by Disney (and better), I can just as easily go home to eat.