Really Disapointe in Disney Food Offerings / Latest Changes

[thaggie]

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.

For our family great dining is a must for vacation. As much as I love WDW we go every year - there is no way I (or for that matter by 6 year old twins) could live on counter food or average meals.

 

[Condorman]

This topic is really starting to make me laugh. There are so many threads about the dining options and quality going downhill that it's become absurd.

Maybe we should put out an Amber Alert for the disappearing filets? I half expect during my next visit to find people with magnifying glasses and metal detectors foraging through the landscape looking for the lost filets and the missing crab legs.

This is not the end of western civilization, folks. You can still get filets and crab at other locations on property. You just have to be willing to look. And if those spots aren't on the DDP, pay OOP. Disney removed them because they were losing profit on them - because people on the DDP were eating steak and lobster every single day and night - and it won't be long before the surf & turf is removed from Narcoossee's for the same reason.

Perhaps the quality of dining never went down. Maybe it was just change. Did anyone truly believe all the menus and prices would be frozen in time for generations to come? That was never going to happen, not in the real world and not in Disney World.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

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...

I agree, the only time I use the plan is when I go during free dining, otherwise I pay OOP.

 

[honeymo78]

And removing desserts is often seasonal. My favorite dessert from Yachtsman (a macadamia nut cheesecake) never seems to be on the menu in Oct, however when we have been there in Feb/March I can get it.

As for the filets going missing, maybe they don't sell well outside of DDP or at all. And honestly none of them are steakhouses and seem to have other beef dishes on the menu. If Yachtsman got rid of all its beef, I would be unhappy, but that won't happen - its a steakhouse. Le Cellier got rid of the maple filet, they still have the mushroom filet, just get it without mushrooms if you still want some steak (I know its not exactly the same but its still a filet).

It seems that for every person that is upset that they can't get a filet at nearly every restaurant, there is someone else complaining that all the menus look alike (all have a chicken, fish and beef/filet only with slightly different sides or sauce). Seriously, you can't keep everyone happy no matter whether you keep the same items on nearly every menu, or make restaurants menus distinct and distinguishable.

 

[sparmeland]

I think that this is just an example of the current economy. The price of everything has gone up and restaurants have a choice: change the menu or raise prices.

At many of our favorite restaurants the food tastes different or the serving is smaller. I've noticed that the Cheesecake Factory (known for large serving) has decreased the size of our favorite dishes. I mean even fast food hamburgers are smaller. I picked up a carton of ice cream at the grocery two months ago and it had shrunk!

Meanwhile Panera Bread has kept their product the same and uped the prices. My favorite Panera sandwich is now over $6. But I'm happy that it still tastes good!

Because the dining plan is prepaid, Disney doesn't have a choice to raise the price, so they have to change the food.

 

[TDC Nala]

This topic is really starting to make me laugh. There are so many threads about the dining options and quality going downhill that it's become absurd.

Maybe we should put out an Amber Alert for the disappearing filets? I half expect during my next visit to find people with magnifying glasses and metal detectors foraging through the landscape looking for the lost filets and the missing crab legs.

This is not the end of western civilization, folks. You can still get filets and crab at other locations on property. You just have to be willing to look. And if those spots aren't on the DDP, pay OOP. Disney removed them because they were losing profit on them - because people on the DDP were eating steak and lobster every single day and night - and it won't be long before the surf & turf is removed from Narcoossee's for the same reason.

Perhaps the quality of dining never went down. Maybe it was just change. Did anyone truly believe all the menus and prices would be frozen in time for generations to come? That was never going to happen, not in the real world and not in Disney World.

Maybe not the end of the world, but for some of us the end of Disney World as a favored vacation destination.

After what they've done to the food and wine festival, I have to really consider whether I have a good reason to go back for the festival next year.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

After what they've done to the food and wine festival, I have to really consider whether I have a good reason to go back for the festival next year.

I think I'll be going for the Flower and Garden Festival instead next year. Of course, I'm still debating whether or not to upgrade to an AP.

 

[TDC Nala]

You can't eat flowers. That doesn't interest me at all.

I have been an annual passholder since 2000. I will renew my pass next month. I may not renew it next year.

 

[luckytobeme88]

This topic is really starting to make me laugh. There are so many threads about the dining options and quality going downhill that it's become absurd.

Maybe we should put out an Amber Alert for the disappearing filets? I half expect during my next visit to find people with magnifying glasses and metal detectors foraging through the landscape looking for the lost filets and the missing crab legs.

This is not the end of western civilization, folks. You can still get filets and crab at other locations on property. You just have to be willing to look. And if those spots aren't on the DDP, pay OOP. Disney removed them because they were losing profit on them - because people on the DDP were eating steak and lobster every single day and night - and it won't be long before the surf & turf is removed from Narcoossee's for the same reason.

Perhaps the quality of dining never went down. Maybe it was just change. Did anyone truly believe all the menus and prices would be frozen in time for generations to come? That was never going to happen, not in the real world and not in Disney World.

Totally agreeing with you for this.

I haven't read a whole about people drooling over the filet of Kona Cafe. It is always been the Beef Teriyaki that people talked about. My guess is that filet is not a big seller at Kona, so it will be taken off.
It is really not the end of the world. Restaurants change their menu seasonally. Especially true when it comes to desserts. So if the menu doesn't have that particular filet that you had when you last visit, try something else. Let it be part of your dining experience.
The crab legs in Coral Reef was taken off the menu since we last visit at the end of July (no free dining then) I didn't hear any complain then, why now???

 

[sunny_]

Even though some people may want to make you feel bad for being upset, I think you have a right to your feelings. When I just read that Kona took the filet off, I am upset and we are not even eating there this year! I like food and I loved that filet. To me, it was the best one I've ever had on Disney property. So feel free to be upset, especially since you are not even on the free dining!

 

[ShhhQ]

I was reading on another thread about the crab legs... at first I was really upset about it, because they didn't have them on our last trip and was considering getting them.... however there were several people that said it was no big loss, as the crab legs themselves were of poor quality.... later on that same thread someone had wrote CR about the loss of the crab legs and posted the response they got....

"The crab legs have been removed form the menu due some quality issues with the product.

We do not have a date for when we will start using them again or if we will."


While some didn't believe this and went on to continue to blame the DDP for it, to me it made sense... given that others had complained....

"Don't get too upset about the crab legs because I ordered them in April and it was a joke. There was hardly any meat and the meat that was in the crab was dry. It was more like 1/2 lb of snow crab legs."

That seems to coorilate with the response from CR!

 

[kwelch10377]

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.

There is a review on allears that indicates the buffet did drop in price to 11.99 (only a dollar, but still a drop in price). The reviewer gave it a pretty good review and it seems like what they offer is worth the price.

 

[luvpooh]

There is a review on allears that indicates the buffet did drop in price to 11.99 (only a dollar, but still a drop in price). The reviewer gave it a pretty good review and it seems like what they offer is worth the price.

I actually think it sounds like a good idea, and DH and I are going to try to try it on our trip in October; we eat salads and sandwiches almost exclusively for lunch while at WDW, so this is right up our alley. Plus, since it's all you can eat, you can have some salad, some soup, a sandwich or cold chicken AND dessert, for the same price (or less) than a single sandwich would run at a table service restaurant.

I do say try to try because I am not familiar with getting to Trail's End, and knowing DH, he won't want to go through the 'hassle' if it is that difficult...

 

[honeymo78]

If you are planning your trip to trail's end on a day you are visiting MK, fort wilderness is a short boat ride away, and the restaurant is a short walk from the boat dock.

 

[MBELSANTI]

The crab legs in Coral Reef was taken off the menu since we last visit at the end of July (no free dining then) I didn't hear any complain then, why now???

There have been plenty of people complaining about the crab legs being taken off CR menu, maybe you just missed the posts.

When I make my dining reservations, I look at the menu first to see if there is something I like on them. I specifically made my reservations at those restaurants looking to order the filet mignon and crab legs. I am sure many others do too. People such as myself are disappointed when they find out just days from leaving for WDW, that the item they wanted is gone from every ADR they made. Try calling Disney now to make changes? Forget about it. I tried that and was told everything from this Sat to the following Sat is booked. This board is a forum for people to discuss all things Disney including our complaints, so people like Condorman who do not like it, should not bother reading the posts, let alone respond to them.

 

[Condorman]

There have been plenty of people complaining about the crab legs being taken off CR menu, maybe you just missed the posts.

When I make my dining reservations, I look at the menu first to see if there is something I like on them. I specifically made my reservations at those restaurants looking to order the filet mignon and crab legs. I am sure many others do too. People such as myself are disappointed when they find out just days from leaving for WDW, that the item they wanted is gone from every ADR they made. Try calling Disney now to make changes? Forget about it. I tried that and was told everything from this Sat to the following Sat is booked. This board is a forum for people to discuss all things Disney including our complaints, so people like Condorman who do not like it, should not bother reading the posts, let alone respond to them.

I'm trying to broaden your perspective. You're setting yourself up for a fall by "looking to order the filet mignon and crab legs." Haven't you ever heard of the saying: Prices/product subject to change without notice? That's all Disney is doing, they have the right to do so, and you have the right to eat elsewhere. But I will neither agree with nor feel sorry for anyone who makes such a statement as "we will have to reconsider WDW as a vacation destination" because one or two items were removed from one or two menus out of hundreds. I will continue to read these boards and I will continue to give perspective. Not everyone has to agree with you, especially when you're in the minority. Remember, DISboards represents a fraction of those who visit WDW. There are tens of millions who could care less about that filet or those crab legs. Disney has a greater obligation to the masses than the minority.

 

[MinnieMom]

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.

I agree with you, but my issue with the "changes" is that they are taking away choices without giving us new, comparable items. They are "dumbing down" the menus IMO.

 

[quixoticvalue]

There have been plenty of people complaining about the crab legs being taken off CR menu, maybe you just missed the posts.

When I make my dining reservations, I look at the menu first to see if there is something I like on them. I specifically made my reservations at those restaurants looking to order the filet mignon and crab legs. I am sure many others do too. People such as myself are disappointed when they find out just days from leaving for WDW, that the item they wanted is gone from every ADR they made. Try calling Disney now to make changes? Forget about it. I tried that and was told everything from this Sat to the following Sat is booked. This board is a forum for people to discuss all things Disney including our complaints, so people like Condorman who do not like it, should not bother reading the posts, let alone respond to them.

The strip steak is still available at Coral Reef. In fact, it was never a filet mignon or tenderloin, at lunch or dinner. Plus, since the filet-scare is filet-exclusive right now and not geared towards strip steak, you should still be able to order steak at the Coral Reef.

 

[luckytobeme88]

The best consumers are the knowledgeable ones.. Don't take others' words as your own. Be there and judge it for yourself.

 

[luvpooh]

If you are planning your trip to trail's end on a day you are visiting MK, fort wilderness is a short boat ride away, and the restaurant is a short walk from the boat dock.

thanks, that sounds like it will be an easier sell, he likes boats! LOL