Really Disapointe in Disney Food Offerings / Latest Changes

[MinnieMom]

Before I get flamed for this, let me preface by saying I completely understand restaurants need to make menu changes; HOWEVER, it seems as though Disney is taking away quite a few menu items without adding anything to replace them.

That's my beef with WDW for the day! (no pun intended!) I've been to WDW several times, but DH and I are going for the first time alone in 5 weeks (woohoo!) for our 10th anniversary. In the past we have always had the kids and only did character meals or CS locations just because the kids are more interested in the parks than restaurants.

This vacation we decided we were really going to "live it up" and enjoy all the wonderful foods I drool over on the DIS every day! Now all the good stuff is disappearing and not being replaced by anything comparable

We're going during free dining, but we did not get free dining. We're paying full price for the DDP and paying many restaurants OOP as well just to enjoy them, so I kind of feel as though Disney is screwing us over if they are in fact dumbing down the menus because of free dining.

That's my vent for the day. I know we'll still have a great time and it's ridiculous to let food have this much of an impact on our trip, but it irritates me to no end that they are limiting our choices . . . changing them is one thing, but limiting them is a whole other story.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

What all is missing? They only thing I heard being taken off the menu is the filet at Kona.

 

[quixoticvalue]

I really do not mean to flame, because I understand that you feel frustrated. However, I would have to agree with disneyfav4ever. Even though you hear about items being taken away on the DIS, remember, that is just a miniscule, tiny tiny, microscopic part of offerings available in Disney. The things that you hear on the DIS are literally isolated incidents and not the representative of every treat/snack/entree/item in stock. I still love Disney dining and I take it with a grain of salt

 

[MinnieMom]

Maybe I'm wrong because I'm basing this completely on what I'm reading on the DIS, but the following menu items are all gone and from what I'm reading they haven't been replaced with anything comparable:

CR: Crab Legs
LC: Maple Filet
Kona: Filet

There are others too, but the above are the entrees that I wish would have at least been replaced. And, like I said above, maybe I'm wrong and I'll stand corrected but it seems as if they've been removed and nothing added to fill their place. Snacks and Desserts have been removed also - Figaro Fries, the Chocolate Macadamia Nut Tart at Kona, etc, etc.

 

[quixoticvalue]

Oh yes, I was reeling with the loss of the crab legs too...and I have no idea what is going to happen if they ever take the bianca flatbread off of the Tony's Town Square lunch menu!

But, you are definitely entitled to your own opinion! I totally understand your stance and agree, it is somewhat disappointing. However, just think of all of the other things that are still available! School bread, whole lobster at Narcoossee's, and almond crusted cheesecake.... here I come!!

 

[Kiki Lime]

I see where the disappointment may be, but I'm not going to let the lack of a few food items ruin my vacation. Big deal, order something else. I don't see why people get so hung up over the food. I go to the parks for the parks, not the food.

 

[Brian Noble]

For a cash guest, it's probably worth looking at some of the restaurants that are not on DDP. For example, bluezoo or Shulas in the Dolphin. They will not be subject to the same pressures to eliminate the more expensive menu options.

 

[bolgers love wdw]

The Filet at Kona's was still on the menu on July 24th.

 

[ElizabethB]

The DDP is like a healthcare plan. The healthcare plan negotiates a set rate, but too bad for the person who isn't on the healthplan and can't benefit from that set rate. You're going to pay through the nose for a procedure. Same with the DDP. A set price for an entree and dessert has been negotiated by Disney with each restaurant. On the DDP, you get the benefit of that. If you're paying OOP -- whether for healthcare or for Disney dining --you're at a distinct disadvantage.

Add to that the fact that many good things on the menus are specifically removed just for the period of free dining -- and you are really at an even greater disadvantage. For example, Chefs de France shows a filet on their menu. During free dining, they removed it in favor of an appalling piece of meat, the genesis of which I could not determine, and which is essentially the same price as the filet -- if you are paying OOP. We went one year during free dining and were not on the free dining promotion. It was not pleasant.

At that time appetizers also were included on the promotion. We paid OOP for an appetizer called surf and turf at Coral Reef. It was about $12. We decided to split it. It was literally two small shrimps and two bits of meat. We were shocked. But, it clearly had been designed as the appetizer offered during the free dining promotion. The $12 price tag was meaningless in terms of actual value of the appetizer because it was assumed everyone was on free dining. Too bad for us!

My advice is the same as Brian's. Forget trying to eat at Disney restaurants during free dining. Focus instead on Blue Zoo, Il Molino, Shula's and other places where the free dining promotion isn't going on. Leave Disney property and go over to Universal. Dine at Emeril's and Tchoup Chop. Find other spots in the Orlando area to dine. Make sure you rent a car!

I would also change my package to a room only and not buy the DDP. If you had gotten free dining, fine. Suffer with everyone else. But, I would refuse to suffer while paying $40 per person per day for the privilege! Or, if you decide to keep the dining plan, stick only to the 2TS signature restaurants. Forget trying to dine at the 1TS restaurants during free dining. The crowds are not fun -- and the reduced menus are most definitely not fun. Nothing worse than paying for your less than wonderful meal while everyone else is devouring it free of charge!

Beyond that, you're right. Disney is reducing the cost of DDP to Disney by taking away the more expensive items from all menus. But, it's worse during free dining.

Not great. But, there it is.

 

[ADP]

Just to add to what the Op said, but the lunch buffet at Trails End has changed significantly without a drop in the price. The lunch buffet used to be similar to the dinner buffet in terms of food offerings. Now, lunch is pretty much a sandwich and salad buffet.

 

[TDC Nala]

The Filet at Kona's was still on the menu on July 24th.

It has been reported that it is off the menu as of August 9.

I am there during free dining too - and not using free dining, nor will I be renting a car. The only non-signature I have booked is The Wave, which apparently hasn't caught on with the vast majority of Disney diners on the plan yet. I think I would be much happier avoiding most 1-credit restaurants during that period.

 

[MinnieMom]

It has been reported that it is off the menu as of August 9.

I am there during free dining too - and not using free dining, nor will I be renting a car. The only non-signature I have booked is The Wave, which apparently hasn't caught on with the vast majority of Disney diners on the plan yet. I think I would be much happier avoiding most 1-credit restaurants during that period.

That's kind of where I'm at now too. I would prefer to do more 2 TS restaurants (we do have CA Grill & Narcoossee's booked), but now I can't get any decent times - everything is booked.

 

[Tikitoi]

Just to add to what the Op said, but the lunch buffet at Trails End has changed significantly without a drop in the price. The lunch buffet used to be similar to the dinner buffet in terms of food offerings. Now, lunch is pretty much a sandwich and salad buffet.

Surprised at that. Glad we got in for dinner.

 

[eddad]

DO we think some of these missing food items will magically reappear after free dining?
Maybe next years free dining ill be the new CS one and the menu qualities will go up.

 

[tfc3rid]

An off sit 4eplace we love is the chain Texas de Brazil. It's a traditional Brazilian Churrascaria located on I-Drive. It's usually about $46 for dinner which includes about 20 different cuts of meat and a terrific gourmet appetizer bar...

Signing up for their E-Club will get you a discount coupon...

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

Playing devil's advocate here -- If WDW did not change up their menus they would be accused of being stagnant, boring, and not progressing with the times.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

An off sit 4eplace we love is the chain Texas de Brazil. It's a traditional Brazilian Churrascaria located on I-Drive. It's usually about $46 for dinner which includes about 20 different cuts of meat and a terrific gourmet appetizer bar...

Signing up for their E-Club will get you a discount coupon...

I've heard that's good.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Has anyone actually seen Kona's new menu yet? I'd like to have a look at it.

 

[acourtwdw]

Maybe Disney took the filet off due to poor sales? Not everyone that is at WDW is on the DDP and that is an expensive piece of meat. I would believe based on the majority of posts here on the Dis, there are more off the plan than on it. (unless we are talking about free dining) If you can't move a product and waste more than you sell, you get rid of it. Just my two cents...

 

[Henlady]

I can't blame the "downgrading" that seems to be going on at Disney soley on the Free Dining Plan.
When Disney offered the free dining plan, there were a limited number of Magic Your Way packages offered. If I remember correctly, there were people who were not able to get the "free dining - Magic Your Way" package for the resorts/times they wanted, but could have gotten a regular room and purchased the dining package. Disney did not offer free dining on an unlimited basis. They offered only the number that would get a limited amount of additional people on their property. And, if you don't have to pay for food, you're more than likely going to spend that extra money on souvenirs, possibly drinks, and other activities that you may not have been able to afford otherwise. Disney gets your money whether it is from the food or merchandise. Lets face it, Disney has a fairly large "captive" audiance.
Once you're there, many people do not leave the property, due to lack of transportation or they just want to avoid the hassle of going somewhere else.
Disney can charge you what they want, and make available what they want, and you/I will buy it because it is readily available. They will offer what is available to them for the cheapest price, and charge us the maximum that they can twist from our pockets. It doesn't have to be that good, just be food to fill us up. We're on vacation. Many people just want a meal and have the energy to move on to the next activity. I'm not against Disney for doing this. It's a business. They are there to make us think we are happy for the most part, and still make a very nice profit for their shareholders. It's supply and demand, that includes giving the bare minimum that the guest will accept. As long as people (like me) keep flowing to Disney World, they will continue to stretch the "magic" as far as they can, until we reach a breaking point and stop going. Not sure that will happen though. I don't think Disney started out like this. It didn't seem so when we started going back in 1976. Disney World was small compared to today. It was just the Magic Kingdom, and the Polynesian and Contemporary resorts. But fortunately/unfortunately it has grown to a massive business, and part of the "Happiest Place on Earth" has fallen into the vast abyss of greed.