overpriced and not very good...

[NJPluto]

Yes, it's overpriced but I expect that when I'm at WDW or any amusement/theme park. I'm glad they don't farm out the food service to fast food joints because, as other posters said, you can get that anytime. I also think having Pizza Hut in the MK would take away from the "magic" of the place and remind me that I have to go back to the "real world"!!!

 

[meeshkamooshka]

Even if the prices quoted by Googily Club aren't 100% accurate - they're supported by both www.wdwinfo.com and allearsnet - the meal would have had to increase by over seventeen percent since November (extremely unlikely). So the OP couldn't have gotten "just" hot dogs, they must have gotten three combo meals. Without the 17% - or any - increase, they couldn't have paid more than $27 for the items reported. STILL HIGH, but not $30.

it was $17.64 3 dogs one soda...that I split 3 ways...why because I can't imagine a 6 year old drinking the one size soda ( gigantic) they have...
so if I were to add 2 more sodas...that would be about another $5....
about $25...for 3 dogs and drinks....is it as much as going to a basball game...probably not...but I dont go to the baseball park for 3 meals a day..for a week straight...get the picture?

 

[meeshkamooshka]

but cant they just have chick fil a behind ( just use there product ) the scenes...with disney people and disney logos all over it...

I know I am dreaming.... but walt says that it all starts/ed with a dream ...so I will dream away for my chick fil a in the MK...

 

[Chuck S]

I personally like the fact that Disney CS isn't Burger King, KFC or Taco Bell. WDW is one of the few places I can eat fried chicken because of some food allergy to a seasoning used by most other places. And as others have said, the turkey sandwich at AK is very good.

Knowing what is in the food makes a difference, ask at your typical fast food place about what seasonings there may be in foods, and you get blank stares.

And if you think Disney food is expensive for what you get, have you been to a movie theater lately?

 

[goofy4prez]

I would agree with the op that the cs restaurants are expensive.

But with that said, I live just over an hour away from Cedar Point and find it expensive. I have been to Dollywood, Universal, Busch Gardens, Hershey Park, Sea World, Kings Island, 17 Major League Baseball parks, 9 NFL stadiums, 2 NHL arena's and have found every one of them expensive.

When going to a tourist location, amusement park, or sporting event you are going to pay the price, I don't complain about it, I know that is the way it is going to be. The cost of meals in WDW is why I find the DDP to be a great value for me. For about $140 per day for a family of three, I get a nice sit down dinner at one of the many excellent restaurants at WDW, I receive a good meal at a CS(other than ABC Comissary), and get a snack a day. Personally, I don't find it overpriced and there are many very good CS restaurants.


P.S. After spending 4 days at Niagra Falls a few years back I have found most other tourist attractions a bargain. For those of you who have been there you know what I mean.

 

[meeshkamooshka]

I like the idea of making a list like someone said....
this review section is excellent....

http://reviews.wdwinfo.com/showcat.php/category/40

wish I would have discovered it before my last trip!

although not a fast srevice ...Jinko was once again great....
but is comparison I will never forget the god awful steak at the wave in the contemporary....

cheers! I am getting hungry talkin about all this food!

 

[kaytieeldr]

my brother drove off property to bring his kids to a chick fil a once and i was trying very hard to order a pizza from pizza hut (dont diliver to area I found out ) but pappa johns does....

Given the WIDE variety of dining opportunities, and foods, at Walt Disney World, it's genuinely too bad that your brother's kids could only be happy with inexpensive chain fried(?) chicken.

actually to be fair...i did have 3 good eats ..

1. tuna sandwich at harbor house - not only for cats....humans can eat it too...it gas omega 3 , every good for you

:

ironically i wasn't the only one that had a cold double cheesburger at eletric umbrella ( epcot )

Respectfully, it would have been reasonable to take the burger back to the counter (with your time-stamped receipt to indicate that time wasn't the cause of the sandwich being inedible) and had them prepare a new one.

it was $17.64 3 dogs one soda...that I split 3 ways...why because I can't imagine a 6 year old drinking the one size soda ( gigantic) they have...

I'm not criticizing your food choices, and I can't see anything in my responses that indicates otherwise. Originally you claimed the three hot dogs and two drinks cost $30. There's a huge difference between that and the $17.64 you actually spent - your actual cost was over 40% less than you originally posted.

so if I were to add 2 more sodas...that would be about another $5....

But you didn't - so you can't claim those in your cost.

but cant they just have chick fil a behind ( just use there product ) the scenes...with disney people and disney logos all over it...

No, they can't. Walt Disney World has its own entire food service department. Why should they contract out to a chain, and worse, why should they hide the fact by not telling Guests that's the actual source??? Simply because YOUR family is happier with Chic-Fil-A's food and prices, doesn't mean the majority of its Guests are.

The reasonably-informed Guest would know, or have a decent idea, of the food available at Walt Disney World, and its source. Guests happier with fast food chain restaurant menus would then be prepared and would know that they would need to provide their own transportation off-site.

 

[meeshkamooshka]

I would agree with the op that the cs restaurants are expensive.

But with that said, I live just over an hour away from Cedar Point and find it expensive. I have been to Dollywood, Universal, Busch Gardens, Hershey Park, Sea World, Kings Island, 17 Major League Baseball parks, 9 NFL stadiums, 2 NHL arena's and have found every one of them expensive.

When going to a tourist location, amusement park, or sporting event you are going to pay the price, I don't complain about it, I know that is the way it is going to be. The cost of meals in WDW is why I find the DDP to be a great value for me. For about $140 per day I get a nice sit down dinner at one of the many excellent restaurants at WDW, I receive a good meal at a CS(other than ABC Comissary), and get a snack a day. Personally, I don't find it overpriced and there are many very good CS restaurants.


P.S. After spending 4 days at Niagra Falls a few years back I have found most other tourist attractions a bargain. For those of you who have been there you know what I mean.

How much are you saving roughly by opting for the dining plan? 5%? 10%? 15% 20% ?

 

[meeshkamooshka]

Respectfully, it would have been reasonable to take the burger back to the counter (with your time-stamped receipt to indicate that time wasn't the cause of the sandwich being inedible) and had them prepare a new one.

actually I did return it for warm one...and it was still disgusting....

 

[kaytieeldr]

Knowing what is in the food makes a difference, ask at your typical fast food place about what seasonings there may be in foods, and you get blank stares.

Not to mention, KFC would think you were trying to get their trade secrets! You know they can't reveal those eleven herbs and spices!

 

[HunnyJar]

I personally like the fact that Disney CS isn't Burger King, KFC or Taco Bell. WDW is one of the few places I can eat fried chicken because of some food allergy to a seasoning used my most other places. And as others have said, the tutkey sandwich at AK is very good.

Knowing what is in the food makes a difference, ask at your typical fast food place about what seasonings there may be in foods, and you get blank stares.

And if you think Disney food is expensive for what you get, have you been to a movie theater lately?

Exactly! We end up spending quite a bit more for concessions then the actual movie tickets. $4.50 for bottled water? Really?

There are plenty of places in WDW you can go for a reasonably priced GOOD meal. My family happens to really enjoy Cosmic Ray's chicken and rib meal. It's a LOT of food that can be easily split and the price is really good! Plus my husband and son really enjoy their meals.

 

[kaytieeldr]

actually I did return it for warm one...and it was still disgusting....

Then between that experience and this thread, you know (a) that you don't like Electric Umbrella and would be well-advised to avoid it in the future; and (b) that, at Walt Disney World, you should avoid the type of fast food that you consider good in the outside world and - ideally - opt to try foods you can't get every three blocks back home.

 

[babyrich]

The price of the food is not unexpected. If people are willing to pay, than they will charge what they can.

I enjoy the CS meals, there are so many choices. You can have hot dogs and burgers or sushi and a salad. My DH and I always stop for lunch around 11 or after 1... crowds are much thinner.

If you are on a budget and want to keep cost down, pack the lunches in a cooler and rent a locker to store it until you are ready.

 

[TDC Nala]

WDW is a "tourist trap" and food's going to be expensive. The alternative is leaving the property to eat, which takes time (or bringing your own food as the OP suggests). With Disney's new business model, which is "cram as many guests as possible into the parks, drive them there free so they won't rent a car and offer them the opportunity to prepay their meals at a probable discount so they'll eat every meal here," the food quality isn't what it was a decade ago - they've got to feed the masses.

That's what guests should currently expect from most WDW counter service, no matter what type of food they prefer.

 

[Jool-e]

I agree but kind of just go with it since pretty nothing in Disney is exactly a bargain. But 1) I think the CS food that is not burgers, fries and chicken fingers is well worth it. Like Sunshine Seasons or Tangierine Cafe for example. And 2) Isn't there a McDonalds booth at the beginning of the World Showcase? I thought that was kind of random.

 

[TDC Nala]

There are no McDonald's outlets in the parks anymore - the former Epcot McDonald's now serves Mexican food - and the Downtown Disney McDonald's restaurant is scheduled to close on April 30 to be replaced with the Latin chicken chain Pollo Campero.

Disney's sponsorship agreement with McDonald's ended recently, so all McDonald's restaurants are being cleared from Disney property (with the exception of the stand-alone restaurant near the All-Star resorts, which most guests can't access without a car)

 

[goofy4prez]

How much are you saving roughly by opting for the dining plan? 5%? 10%? 15% 20% ?

Fair question; let me use an example of any particular day.

Flaming Tree BBQ (counter serve)

1/2 slab of ribs $10.49
Soda $2.19
Key Lime Pie $ 3.59

Total $16.27 (not including the tax which Is included in the DDP)

Le'Cellier (table service)

Mushroom Filet Mignon $34.99
Soda $2.19 (?)
Cheese Cake $6.99

Total $44.17 (again didn't figure in the tax)

One snack in the park

On average $3.00

Total for the day $63.44
So, with the DDP costing me about $47 per person,that is a good deal for me. Of course those who are nibblers, the DDP may not be the best option. But for my family, we enjoy the restaurants as much as the parks, it's all part of our experience.

 

[catne]

I agree but kind of just go with it since pretty nothing in Disney is exactly a bargain. But 1) I think the CS food that is not burgers, fries and chicken fingers is well worth it. Like Sunshine Seasons or Tangierine Cafe for example. And 2) Isn't there a McDonalds booth at the beginning of the World Showcase? I thought that was kind of random.

no more McD's in the parks

 

[Khill]

Seems like you did not have a very magical trip. This is the 2nd post that I have seen from you , that all you did was complain.

If you have been on the boards, we all know that the food is expensive, the buns are bad, the lines are long, and so forth and so on.

Don't mean to gripe, but that fact are the facts. Disney is not just getting in your car and gong to the local park to swing and play on the slide.

 

[GrammyJudy]

Yikes that is expensive for hotdogs! Glad we did the QSDP so I wont freak out at the costs of the counter service meals.

From reading these boards for the last couple weeks there seems to be definite bad places to get CS and good places.

I plan on making up index cards for each park with locations of CS places to go to that have gotten good reviews.

Read the Unofficial Guide and Passporter for reviews of CS restauants