No More Complimentary Bread?

[BeachPrincess]

I love those rolls at Mama Melrose's! Looking forward to a PP report back on this.

Health? Don't make me laugh. WDW could save about $2 million a year if they didn't buy all the salt they put in basically every single thing they serve.

I agree, those rolls are Mama Melrose are irresistible! If we don't eat them all, I take what's left with me for snacking later.

 

[focusondisney]

I wonder, though, whether they've been noticing people not eating the bread (for their own health) and are trying to stop wasting money because they have to throw it out,*

If that’s the issue, all they’d have to do is ask if you would like bread before serving it. Several restaurants we frequent at home do that. Easy solution, if all they are trying to do is limit waste.

 

[Heather07438]

This was a newer change when we visited back in Dec.

Some places will not automatically bring you bread, but they will if you request it (and you know to request it, lol). There are a few that might have bread service only as a paid menu item?

Mr. Paul asked us if we'd like bread and brought it. Maybe the more expensive places don't want to risk upsetting guests by ignoring bread.

I'm sure if asked management would give some excuse like 'It gets wasted more often than not' but it probably more about $.

 

[SteveH]

I'm left to wonder how long (maybe a few months) before the bread option returns, on the appetizer menu with a $ next to it.

 

[CraigInPA]

Even my local diner, with a $5.99 early bird special dinner (salad, a selection of entree, and a drink), drops a plate of yeast rolls and butter on the table immediately after you order! They'll even give you more if you want them! This is a pure money grab by Disney.

 

[tinkerbella16]

We were at Via Napoli a couple weeks ago for lunch. They asked if we had wanted the focaccia basket for $6, however they still brought complimentary bread with oil.

They told us they didn't have the complimentary bread anymore when we went. Maybe it was just around the time we were there and it changed.

 

[figmentfinesse]

Anyone have any reports on if Chefs De France still offers the bread?

 

[focusondisney]

I'm left to wonder how long (maybe a few months) before the bread option returns, on the appetizer menu with a $ next to it.

Several restaurants already have paid bread service: Sanaa, Ale & Compass & Tony’s that I know of already. I doubt it will take months for them to put paid bread service other places.

 

[Calee]

We went to Via Napoli in July and there was a sign on the table about purchasing a basket of bread. No free bread was given.

 

[MinnierellaMama]

I used to work in the service industry and this move doesn’t surprise me. If bread service is an up-charge, guests are more likely to order an appetizer and/or a dessert as they’re not filling up on bread. When I used to wait tables you have no idea how many people would fill up on bread and then just make their meal two cups of soup or just share an entree or salads. This is about sales pure and simple. It also would carry over in this case in theory to QS sales as people who used to take the free bread to snack on later are no longer able to do so -- and are therefore more likely to purchase snacks. Definitely a money move — but sad to see.

 

[Moliphino]

I honestly never noticed complimentary bread, aside from the bread basket at Le Cellier and the bread service at Tiffins.

I don't think we got bread the last two times I ate at Tiffins (9/2019, 12/2018). They do have the purchasable signature bread service.

 

[DisBuckMan]

Geez, folks....your local diner offers them because it's an enticement for people to come in.

Disney restaurants don't have to...they have a captive audience.

Is it about money? Of course it is.

Don't think Disney doesn't notice customers come in and order a bowl of soup, and fill up on free bread. That's not what they want at restaurants that are fully booked 100% of the time.

Want to send a message to them? Stop eating at the restaurants that stopped doing it.

 

[mickeyway]

The last time I went to Via Napoli it was a huge disappointment. No bread service and really no service at all. I have had better service at Places on I drive. Much better in fact. Many of the other restaurants as well have gone way down hill. They need to cut costs when they are having Free dinning.

 

[mickeyway]

Geez, folks....your local diner offers them because it's an enticement for people to come in.

Disney restaurants don't have to...they have a captive audience.

Is it about money? Of course it is.

Don't think Disney doesn't notice customers come in and order a bowl of soup, and fill up on free bread. That's not what they want at restaurants that are fully booked 100% of the time.

Want to send a message to them? Stop eating at the restaurants that stopped doing it.

I agree and I have stopped eating at the restaurants and instead go off base to eat or to the resort quick service. Some of the best meals I have had recently have been at the resorts. More food, better price point, and a chance to slow down a bit. Fords garage, Rock and Brews, Capones, Upper Crust, Kenzies all have great meals. The portions are good and the people are nice.

 

[cedricandsophie]

We have been here since last Friday and eaten out every day. Every restaurant has offered bread both at lunch and dinner.

 

[Lilsia]

While this is most likely a cost saving measure, after working in food for so long though, I can see it being an issue with so many going gluten free now and not wanting the basket on their table. I imagine that it is hard to gauge how much to make when you don't know who is going to reject the bread. But I am sure it is primarily a cost saving measure.

 

[DLgal]

If that’s the issue, all they’d have to do is ask if you would like bread before serving it. Several restaurants we frequent at home do that. Easy solution, if all they are trying to do is limit waste.

I was just going to say this too. A few restaurants around here that used to automatically give bread have started asking if you want it after you order. CPK is one, and we have a local BBQ place that does biscuits and they have started asking as well. I think this is a cost cutting measure for the most part, but also may be a response to the popularity of low carb/keto diets these days. Maybe they were ending up having to toss a lot of uneaten bread and are trying to avoid that.

 

[havoc315]

If true, this will soon backfire. Nothing keeps patrons from complaining or leaving like free .15 cent bread/butter while it takes staff over 15+ minutes to prepare your order. Without the cheap bread, soon those minutes ticking away are going to feel like an eternity. Tips are likely to decrease as a result (not that Disney cares about that but the bottom line anymore).

While I disagree with the move, the cost isn’t just the price of the bread. It’s the service time to bring the bread, refill the bread. They probably -think- meals will go faster without the

I used to work in the service industry and this move doesn’t surprise me. If bread service is an up-charge, guests are more likely to order an appetizer and/or a dessert as they’re not filling up on bread. When I used to wait tables you have no idea how many people would fill up on bread and then just make their meal two cups of soup or just share an entree or salads. This is about sales pure and simple. It also would carry over in this case in theory to QS sales as people who used to take the free bread to snack on later are no longer able to do so -- and are therefore more likely to purchase snacks. Definitely a money move — but sad to see.

Excellent point. Though the downside at a place like Disney -- the advantage of bread is to help pass the time before your food is brought. If you sit down at a Disney restaurant, starved after hours of touring.... a slow wait becomes even more frustrating if you don't have anything to hold you over.

So yes, it will encourage more appetizer ordering, more desserts as people are less full. But it will reduce guest satisfaction beyond people directly missing the bread. A 20-30 minute wait from being seated to getting food may suddenly seem much more painful if you don't have anything to hold you over.

 

[revdon64]

Death by a thousand paper cuts. My family just looked at maybe trying to go back to WDW later this year, and even with three free nights in a moderate resort offered to us because of a previous bad experience, we can't afford to go. People have been saying that Disney has been pricing the middle class out of their resorts? That's a done deal in my world and this is just another symptom of what they're doing. Pay more - get less.

 

[DisBuckMan]

Death by a thousand paper cuts. My family just looked at maybe trying to go back to WDW later this year, and even with three free nights in a moderate resort offered to us because of a previous bad experience, we can't afford to go. People have been saying that Disney has been pricing the middle class out of their resorts? That's a done deal in my world and this is just another symptom of what they're doing. Pay more - get less.

It may appear that way to you, but reality is that WDW is busier than it's ever been before.

They are a LONG way from reaching the breaking point for most.

The crowds don't lie.