New Table Service Cancellation Policy

[nytimez]

I agree that it seems to have leveled off, at least. But my meals at AP and CG (twice) in the past two months were pretty spectacular. What I think is that the quality in preparation is returning to what they do, over and over again, but the creativity is still a Long way from where it once was.

I've only eaten at AP occasionally but I've found that their meals have remained consistently excellent when I have been there, including a meal last autumn (my most recent experience there).

Same for Jiko.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

I've only eaten at AP occasionally but I've found that their meals have remained consistently excellent when I have been there, including a meal last autumn (my most recent experience there).

Same for Jiko.

I've always like jiko's presentations but they've has some service issues over the years that I always seem to experience firsthand. But lately their food has been better (new chef) too, even though most folks never noticed a decline.

 

[tjkraz]

I don't feel food has gotten better -- but it does seem to me that it's stopped getting worse, which counts for something these days.

I'll respectfully disagree.

My take is that in the 2-3 years following the DDP introduction in 2005, things got progressively worse as restaurants struggled to deal with the poor economics of the dining plans.

Over the next couple of years things started to stabilize and now there is noticeable improvement.

That's not to say it is across the board. Took the kids to Chef Mickey's last fall and it was sub-par. Won't be returning there anytime soon.

By contrast, 1900 Park Fare was excellent. Also had a very good lunch at Olivia's this summer--a location which is frequently maligned. Again, noteworthy improvement, imo. Been to Via Napoli several times and am very impressed, although it's not Disney run.

Burgers at most CS locations have been improved in the last couple of years. Menus are showing greater variety. The Buffalo Chicken Sandwich at Studio Catering Company is one of my favorites. Meatball sub at Pinocchio Village Haus is good.

I'm always skeptical of blanket condemnation of Disney restaurants because I wonder about the experiences of the poster. Sure there are places which are mediocre (at best) but there are also many jewels which deserve credit for making improvements.

After taking a few years off in the late-90s and early-00s, our family has been taking regular trips since 2002...about 3 years before the dining plan came into being. Today, my personal impression is that overall the food is at least as good as it was in those pre-DDP years, if not better.

 

[Oglet]

You should try eating at Subway at MK or DAK.. *shudders*

Actually just try eating anywhere in the Mouseketeria at MK

BTW these are backstage for CM's

 

[nytimez]

I'm always skeptical of blanket condemnation of Disney restaurants because I wonder about the experiences of the poster. Sure there are places which are mediocre (at best) but there are also many jewels which deserve credit for making improvements.

I don't think I issued a blanket condemnation, and if it seemed that way it wasn't my intention. Not sure why you'd "wonder about my experiences," however, since you know nothing about them.

Without questioning your own experience -- I'll take you at your word, even if you won't take me at mine, I still believe the food got worse for a while and has since leveled off. As I mentioned in follow-up posts, I also happen to think there are some places that have remained consistently excellent -- AP and Jiko, but there are a few others where I can usually count on a good meal. For QS, Flame Tree remains excellent. Sanaa is also good but since it's so new it sorta predates the beginning of the general decline in quality.

I'll also disagree on your examples, and again do you the courtesy of not wondering about your experiences. You have your tastes, I have mine -- not really something to wonder about -- and to my taste, the burgers got significantly worse and have since leveled off but not improved (the Sci-Fi burger and the Plaza burger are exceptions, they're both generally good). The meatball sandwich is of Chef-boy-ar-dee quality IMO. I haven't eaten in the Studio Catering Company recently so I'll refrain from that one.

So, in sum, I'll stick to what I've said: In general, with some exceptions, the food got worse for a while and has since leveled -- and I have not noticed any general trend towards improvements, especially at QS locations.

 

[tjkraz]

Not sure why you'd "wonder about my experiences," however, since you know nothing about them.

Comment wasn't really directed at you...well, maybe to some extent but not solely.

Just strikes me as humorous when people make a blanket statement about something as vast and varied as Disney dining without really qualifying it.

Sure everything is based upon personal taste. But when you get ZERO sense of a person's experiences with Disney dining (locations, frequency, tastes, etc.), it's hard draw any conclusions about how one's own dining experiences may intersect. If your greatest dining disappointments are a A, B and C, and I've never even been to A, B or C, then there isn't much common ground.

I have to admit I'm not much of a Disney burger conniasseur but the last couple I had were a notable improvement over years of occasional shoe leather dreck. The Turf Club has an excellent Angus Cheeseburger. YMMV.

I do appreciate the clarifications, though. That's pretty much what makes any discussion of this nature meaningful rather than vague and ambiguous.

 

[nytimez]

Comment wasn't really directed at you...well, maybe to some extent but not solely.

Just strikes me as humorous when people make a blanket statement about something as vast and varied as Disney dining without really qualifying it.

I can see what you mean -- I suppose you were also directing that comment at this guy:

IMHO, food quality is on a noticeable upswing at the Disney parks lately. Sure there are some places we go out of our way to avoid but many have had obvious improvements in the last couple of years. Quality and variety of counter service dining is vastly improved.

 

[SnackyStacky]

All the folks upset over this need to realize that NOT having ADRs isn't the end of the world.

Once upon a time -- before the dining plan and definitely before free dining -- you could walk up to a TS restaurant and actually get a seat without knowing 180 days in advance that that's where you would be at that particular moment.

Sometimes, you had to wait a bit -- but no longer than I've waited for a table in a non-theme park restaurant (and certainly a lot less than the lines I've seen at Cheesecake Factory restaurants).

Don't like the new ADR system? Don't make an ADR, or only make them when you know for sure that's where you'll be.

Life WILL go on, I assure you.

PS: I get a kick out of some of the folks here -- the ones most upset here are the ones who have to squeeze every last second out of every day: It's DISNEY'S fault if they can't get from the 3 o'clock parade in MK to their 4:30 reservation at Le Cellier.

Yeah, right.

This wouldn't bother me in the least. Get rid of ADRs entirely, I'd be one happy camper. But this simply isn't the case. They're implementing a policy.

As someone who does plan ahead when booking a trip AND a Travel professional who offers this service FREE to my customers it is a blessing.

They are only asking for a HOLD they are only going to charge you when you don't show up. It is about time this came into play.

I have been to Disney World over 37 times and have never been more than 10 mins late for my ressie. I usually try and show up early but there have not been broken down buses or anything like that I also will give myself enough time.

I am not syaing that it has not happened, but everyone has a cell phone on them, you can call Disney Dining and tell them what is going on. Its not that difficult to do.

My biggest pet peeve has always been those that book so many because they aren't sure what they want or where they are going to be that day.

I too am a travel professional. I too respect the rules. However, I've had the un-pleasure of having to beg and plead with a dining agent on the phone because something has happened - I couldn't make a dining reservation and had to cancel the day of. It was a delayed flight. I wanted to be there more than anything in the world - it was the Candlelight Processional. And I couldn't make it. I was at the airport at 3:30pm with a reservation at Marrakesh for 4:30.

Every trip, I've had to cancel at least one dining reservation the same day. At LEAST one. Until now, that was never a problem. With a 4 year old, most of the reservations on my itinerary are on this list of locations that now require a credit card. I don't double book anything. We've always just had something come up and we couldn't make it. With this new policy - yes, you may get an agent who takes pity and cancels without enforcing the penalty. But that's not good either. One of two things will happen. This will do absolutely no good - and dishonest people will simply call in the day of and lie to try and cancel without a penalty, or Disney will simply enforce this policy 100%. So because my kid got sick, or is simply too tired to sit through an entire meal without losing her mind - I'm going to have to pay $30 (more if it's more than just my immediate family) for a meal that I can't be at the restaurant to enjoy?

Like I said. It's good that they're trying to cut down on the dishonesty. It's bad that it's going to be, to some degree, at the expense of honest people. Frankly, I like the previous poster's idea. Just get rid of ADRs. Or, take them same-day only.