Not impressed by the Grand Floridian Royal Table (Cinderella) food.

[Kallisti]

I've avoided doing the character dining experiences in the past. Partially because of the silly ADR system (I don't know what I'll want to eat later today, let alone half a year from now), and partially because of the expense.

This trip I decided my DD would get something out of a Princess related meal, and overall I'm glad we went. In MK guest services I asked if I could get any Princess related dining and he came up with the Grand Floridian Royal Table for that evening (at a pretty good time as well, we were lucky in that respect).

Anyway, to wax lyrical about Disney, everything was great from the service and entertainment perspective. I liked the way they announced the characters in rotation, they were all in top form (especially the stepmother who we've seen a few times now, she's got the best job of all of them I think).

However, for almost $200 for a family of four (including a 3 and 5 year old), I thought the food was simply not good enough. Fish was quite dried out under the lamps, meat was quite tough; generally was the standard of a low-rent mall's food court. Even the desert was a bit underwhelming - a couple of huge stainless steel ice cream dispensers, some mini-cakes and some brownies.

Was this a bad day, was I being overly fussy? Is this how all of the buffet meals are catered in the various restaurants?

Being a non-american (culturally, America seems to be more accepting of tipping everyone they meet in a commercial environment), I also object to expectations of a 15%+ tip at self-serve restaurants.

Rant over, but I doubt I'll be returning to a buffet meal in Disney again. Maybe I'll try a full service of the most glamourous ones with an ADR some year.

 

[ElizabethB]

Don't know if it helps, but I always consider that a significant amount of the price for a character meal is for the show -- that is, the parade of princesses or other characters. I recall taking our family to the princess dinner at Ariel's Grotto at California Adventure. My father balked at the set price menu which worked out to about $22 for a hamburger. I told him, "Relax, I'm paying $10 for the burger and $12 for the show. So just sit back and enjoy!" These meals really are dinner theater in some respects and are priced accordingly.

Also, I think the food is generally a secondary consideration at character meals. We detest buffets for all of the reasons you cite, so we try to do character meals that are table service rather than buffet style. Even so, the food is never very good at any of the character meals in our experience. We usually break down and do one, but that's it. After that, we stick with dining at the signature restaurants where one can generally get a good and sometimes very good meal.

As for tipping, the subject has been discussed ad nauseum on these boards so I hesitate to even go there. In the U.S., unlike other countries, waiters are usually paid less than minimum wage, so tips are part of the compensation that gets a waiter to a minimum wage. Whether fair or not, restaurant owners have decided to shift much of the cost of labor directly to the patrons. This isn't the waiter's fault. I usually tip 18% for adequate service and 20-25% for good service. I tip a bit less at buffets, but Disney doesn't seem to distinguish between buffets and full service restaurants as far as tipping goes. All I can say about tipping is, when in Rome . . .

With respect to the food, I would encourage you to avoid buffets at WDW at all costs, do pre-plated table service character meals or family style character meals only if absolutely forced by the kiddies, and then concentrate on the expensive but generally quite good signature restaurants.

 

[disnut8]

If you go to any buffet, you have to trade the freshness of the food for the amount and selection of different food. There is no way to get fresh food at any buffet (Disney or not) unless you are right there when a new bin is brought out and that bin had just been filled in the kitchen.

But buffets offer lots of food and you get to pick exact what you want and how much of it you want. A vegetarian and be perfectly happy right along side of a carnivore. A healthy eater can co-exist at the same table with a teenager who doesn't care what he eats, he's hungry. And with buffets you know exactly what it's going to cost when you walk through the door.

As Elizabeth as said, the tipping issue is a hot topic on these boards and if you aren't comfortable with it, there isn't an American law that says you HAVE to tip. But understand that servers are paid something like $2.50/hour so they do rely on the tips. I don't like the pay scale but that's just been the way it's always been done. Stupid custom, I agree. However, I'm still going to tip until the process changes (and yes, I am quite vocal about trying to get it changed).

Your end sentence gave me pause - "Maybe I'll try a full service of the most glamourous ones with an ADR some year." I'm wondering if your expectations are a lot higher than an average Disney guest.

 

[centurythree]

I understand what you're saying. I hate buffets myself--the food seems poor and I don't like seeing bins of food that many, many people are helping themselves out of

However, I do plan on going to Chef Mickey's this trip. The reason is that it's a very easy way to see the major characters without wasting valuable park time. It reminds me of the old days when characters were more accessible in the parks, and I have great memories of the interaction at the old "character breakfast" at the Stargate. So, I guess I'm willing to pay for the show and suffer through the food.

 

[thomas998]

I've avoided doing the character dining experiences in the past. Partially because of the silly ADR system (I don't know what I'll want to eat later today, let alone half a year from now), and partially because of the expense.

This trip I decided my DD would get something out of a Princess related meal, and overall I'm glad we went. In MK guest services I asked if I could get any Princess related dining and he came up with the Grand Floridian Royal Table for that evening (at a pretty good time as well, we were lucky in that respect).

Anyway, to wax lyrical about Disney, everything was great from the service and entertainment perspective. I liked the way they announced the characters in rotation, they were all in top form (especially the stepmother who we've seen a few times now, she's got the best job of all of them I think).

However, for almost $200 for a family of four (including a 3 and 5 year old), I thought the food was simply not good enough. Fish was quite dried out under the lamps, meat was quite tough; generally was the standard of a low-rent mall's food court. Even the desert was a bit underwhelming - a couple of huge stainless steel ice cream dispensers, some mini-cakes and some brownies.

Was this a bad day, was I being overly fussy? Is this how all of the buffet meals are catered in the various restaurants?

Being a non-american (culturally, America seems to be more accepting of tipping everyone they meet in a commercial environment), I also object to expectations of a 15%+ tip at self-serve restaurants.

Rant over, but I doubt I'll be returning to a buffet meal in Disney again. Maybe I'll try a full service of the most glamourous ones with an ADR some year.

No... your just being honest. My family has been to more character meals that I care to think about. After experiencing the absolute worst breakfast of my life at the castle... I fumed for an hour before I simply came to the conclusion that I wasn't going this to enjoy good food... I was doing this for my kids. And honestly I think in all the character meals I've had I was only to the point of think I had a decent meal twice....You don't do the character meals for the food... it isn't that good... if your lucky you'll find one thing you like and load up on it...

And I feel your pain on the tipping frenzy... Frankly I don't do it at a buffet... I'll have them remove it if they put it on... it makes my wife crazy, but I just can't see any justification for tipping someone that DIDN'T serve me my food... and at a character meal... a 18% tip on a 150 dollar meal is 27 dollars... does waiter that spend less than 5 minutes getting a drink deserve 27 dollars? The equivalent of 324 dollars an hour? If that's the way it is, then I shouldn't have gone to med school I should have just gone to be a waiter at Disney after high school and I would be a millionaire by the age of 21.

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

I've avoided doing the character dining experiences in the past. Partially because of the silly ADR system (I don't know what I'll want to eat later today, let alone half a year from now), and partially because of the expense.

This trip I decided my DD would get something out of a Princess related meal, and overall I'm glad we went. In MK guest services I asked if I could get any Princess related dining and he came up with the Grand Floridian Royal Table for that evening (at a pretty good time as well, we were lucky in that respect).

Anyway, to wax lyrical about Disney, everything was great from the service and entertainment perspective. I liked the way they announced the characters in rotation, they were all in top form (especially the stepmother who we've seen a few times now, she's got the best job of all of them I think).

However, for almost $200 for a family of four (including a 3 and 5 year old), I thought the food was simply not good enough. Fish was quite dried out under the lamps, meat was quite tough; generally was the standard of a low-rent mall's food court. Even the desert was a bit underwhelming - a couple of huge stainless steel ice cream dispensers, some mini-cakes and some brownies.

Was this a bad day, was I being overly fussy? Is this how all of the buffet meals are catered in the various restaurants?

Being a non-american (culturally, America seems to be more accepting of tipping everyone they meet in a commercial environment), I also object to expectations of a 15%+ tip at self-serve restaurants.

Rant over, but I doubt I'll be returning to a buffet meal in Disney again. Maybe I'll try a full service of the most glamourous ones with an ADR some year.

I'm a little confused here, which for me is not really a hard thing to do, but did you eat at Cindy's Royal Table in the Castle or at 1900 Park Faire with Cinderella and her sisters? The reason for my question is the title of the thread, you seem to have combined the names for both meals. I agree the food at 1900 Park Faire is mediocre at best and the service leaves a great deal to be desired, but you quote a price of $200 for a family of 4 and Allears is quoting $29.99 for adults and $14.99 for children. Your meal should have only run you about $100, maybe a little over for tip and tax. Now at the castle your meal definitely should have cost you $200 or more, but I would expect the food to be of better quality. But all in all, if you are doing a character meal, that is really what you are there for. We do one or two each trip then we eat where the food is good. The kids like the characters so we go for them, but they are getting to where the food is more important so we do less this time. Anyway, sorry you had a bad experience, we've had one at 1900 too and it leaves a bad taste in your mouth about ever going there again.

 

[ElizabethB]

"Frankly I don't do it at a buffet... I'll have them remove it if they put it on... it makes my wife crazy, but I just can't see any justification for tipping someone that DIDN'T serve me my food... and at a character meal... a 18% tip on a 150 dollar meal is 27 dollars... does waiter that spend less than 5 minutes getting a drink deserve 27 dollars? The equivalent of 324 dollars an hour? If that's the way it is, then I shouldn't have gone to med scholl I should have just gone to be a waiter at Disney after high school and I would be a millionaire by the age of 21."

I realize you're exaggerating for effect, but I must say I know several doctors and several waitresses. My brother-in-law who is a brain surgeon has more money than he could spend in ten lifetimes.

The doctors I know have huge homes, many cars and no money worries. The waitresses I know rent small apartments, may have one car and have many money worries.

A doctor insisting that the tip be removed is a bit much, I must say. I'm with your wife on that one.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

family of 4 with 2 kids at 1900 Park Faire for dinner (with a 15% tip) even with the holiday surcharge (which I think is in effect for June) the cost would be around $130.

I'd say that Disney buffets are typically better quality than most of the "outside world" buffets that I have been to in America.

 

[thomas998]

"Frankly I don't do it at a buffet... I'll have them remove it if they put it on... it makes my wife crazy, but I just can't see any justification for tipping someone that DIDN'T serve me my food... and at a character meal... a 18% tip on a 150 dollar meal is 27 dollars... does waiter that spend less than 5 minutes getting a drink deserve 27 dollars? The equivalent of 324 dollars an hour? If that's the way it is, then I shouldn't have gone to med scholl I should have just gone to be a waiter at Disney after high school and I would be a millionaire by the age of 21."

I realize you're exaggerating for effect, but I must say I know several doctors and several waitresses. My brother-in-law who is a brain surgeon has more money than he could spend in ten lifetimes.

The doctors I know have huge homes, many cars and no money worries. The waitresses I know rent small apartments, may have one car and have many money worries.

A doctor insisting that the tip be removed is a bit much, I must say. I'm with your wife on that one.

Sadly my biggest exaggeration was in the time the waiter spent on our table... I doubt it was even 5 minutes. I know most waiters aren't making out like surgeons in the income department... but I must say I would love to find out how much a waiter at one of those character meals take home for days work... 18% tagged onto every ticket is going to add up fast... If I'm at a nice place and that serves the food to my table and everything goes perfectly I have no problem tipping large... I just find it an insult to have them attempt to extort money at a buffet.... Maybe they should just cut the costs at those buffets and set up self-serve soda machines... then they could cut the wait staff... and customer would probably end up with no difference in the service they receive.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

Maybe they should just cut the costs at those buffets and set up self-serve soda machines... then they could cut the wait staff... and customer would probably end up with no difference in the service they receive.

Although my reasoning is different (I'm all for 12-15% tip for a server who clears my plates and keeps my table tidy and lets me know when characters are coming), I too wish they would set up self serve soda machines at Disney Buffets.

 

[simonmunro]

Read a post last night by someone (don't remember which one) and learned something I didn't know. It sounded like the person had worked there. They said waitstaff shares tips with bus staff, food runners, etc. I guess I never knew that.

 

[thomas998]

Read a post last night by someone (don't remember which one) and learned something I didn't know. It sounded like the person had worked there. They said waitstaff shares tips with bus staff, food runners, etc. I guess I never knew that.

I didn't know they even had a need for a food runner on a buffet

 

[k5thbeatle]

And I feel your pain on the tipping frenzy... Frankly I don't do it at a buffet... I'll have them remove it if they put it on... it makes my wife crazy, but I just can't see any justification for tipping someone that DIDN'T serve me my food... and at a character meal... a 18% tip on a 150 dollar meal is 27 dollars... does waiter that spend less than 5 minutes getting a drink deserve 27 dollars? The equivalent of 324 dollars an hour? If that's the way it is, then I shouldn't have gone to med school I should have just gone to be a waiter at Disney after high school and I would be a millionaire by the age of 21.

...again what is the workers incentive when an 18% tip is guaranteed? Mandatory tip added in is the worst idea Disney ever came up with...next to DDP and a few others!

 

[Alesia]

I didn't know they even had a need for a food runner on a buffet

Someone has to get the food from the kitchen to the buffet.

Most people don't realize how many people a server has to share tips with. In most restaurants the server has to give the bartender part of the tip even if you didn't order alcoholic drinks. Not to mention the hostess, food runners, and the bus boys.

Also keep in mind that servers pay income taxes based on their sales, not the actual tips. That means that even if you don't leave a tip, the IRS assumes that you did and taxes the server for it. Please keep in mind that when you don't leave a tip at a buffet, you are actually costing the server money.

To be honest, I hate the tipping system in this country. I think its ridiculous. it would be great if restaurants just charged a little more and paid their servers a decent wage. Unfortunately, that isn't going to happen.

 

[jcgarabe]

I agree with your review of Grand Floridian Royal Table. I am actually a fan of Disney buffets in general (We LOVE the buffet at Boma and the food at the Crystal Palace is fairly good). So, we were very disappointed that the food at the Royal Table was below mediocre. In regards to tipping, I usually leave 15% for a buffet - I feel like they do a lot of plate clearing, and that makes up for not delivering the food.

 

[dalt01]

sorry, unless something has changed there is no such thing as Grand Floridian Royal Table.

 

[SnwflkCts]

Ditto the last poster -- There is Cinderella's Royal Table in MK ... but cannot find anything on Grand Floridian Royal Table?????????????

OP - were you really in the Grand Floridian Resort or were you in the Magic Kingdom????

... or have you abandoned this thread which of course has led into the controversy about tipping ... as usual ... my sister was a [very hard working] waitress so you know where my sympathy lies.

 

[Alesia]

Ditto the last poster -- There is Cinderella's Royal Table in MK ... but cannot find anything on Grand Floridian Royal Table?????????????

OP - were you really in the Grand Floridian Resort or were you in the Magic Kingdom????

... or have you abandoned this thread which of course has led into the controversy about tipping ... as usual ... my sister was a [very hard working] waitress so you know where my sympathy lies.

The OP was talking about Cinderella's Gala Feast at 1900 Park Fare.

 

[mom2my3kids]

"Frankly I don't do it at a buffet... I'll have them remove it if they put it on... it makes my wife crazy, but I just can't see any justification for tipping someone that DIDN'T serve me my food... and at a character meal... a 18% tip on a 150 dollar meal is 27 dollars... does waiter that spend less than 5 minutes getting a drink deserve 27 dollars? The equivalent of 324 dollars an hour? If that's the way it is, then I shouldn't have gone to med scholl I should have just gone to be a waiter at Disney after high school and I would be a millionaire by the age of 21."

I realize you're exaggerating for effect, but I must say I know several doctors and several waitresses. My brother-in-law who is a brain surgeon has more money than he could spend in ten lifetimes.

The doctors I know have huge homes, many cars and no money worries. The waitresses I know rent small apartments, may have one car and have many money worries.

A doctor insisting that the tip be removed is a bit much, I must say. I'm with your wife on that one.

Its the everyday Joe that tips good, the rich ones are usually the worst tippers.

 

[SnwflkCts]

Thanks Alesia -- Here I was thinking a new restaurant had opened up and I didn't know about it!

.... back to our regularly scheduled ranting on tipping .... until the thread gets closed.