So Not Impressed: My First Disney Dining Experience (no meal plan)

[Belle5]

I believe you in the salsa was jarred and the chips were bagged. How do I know that from reviews. I ate at San Angel Inn in Nov 2008 and I think I even did a review and my review indicated it was jarred. Here's the picture I took.

I'm sorry you didn't read that in any of the reviews but honestly your restaurant choices aren't what I would pick if I was expecting a higher quality meal. I think, I've read countless reviews about how Mexican restaurants at Epcot are horrible. Everyone had different tastes buds but I think, sometimes you have to read through the reviews and figure does that person have same tastes as me. All reviews are subjective.

Unfortunately, you picked alot of places where Disney doesn't shine in the food department.

Those are pics of what used to be served at San Angel before Oct. 2009. They have changed for the better!

 

[smileycrissy]

Sorry your Disney dining experience didn't hold up to any expectations. I totally agree, you read the reviews on this board and start thinking it's Disney they have to have good food, and then you are extremely disappointed. My fiancee and I have checked out a few places and most of them are 'Eh'. I think our most disappointing place was Le Cellier. Granted we didn't order the famous filet but we did order the famous soup and thought it tasted like canned soup.

I really have to agree with your comment about trying food outside of Disney. Some of the restaurants are phenomenal like Bahama Breeze. Plus, in this economy it would be nice to help out the locals in Orlando too.

 

[sherbet]

We were at Tusker on the 14 and Donald visited our table!!!

 

[Belle5]

I really have to agree with your comment about trying food outside of Disney. Some of the restaurants are phenomenal like Bahama Breeze. Plus, in this economy it would be nice to help out the locals in Orlando too.

I am at a loss here...how is dining on WDW property not helping out the locals in Orlando?
Also, asking as someone who has had MANY meals at Bahama Breeze...you call it phenomenal in comparison to WDW restaurants????

 

[smileycrissy]

I am at a loss here...how is dining on WDW property not helping out the locals in Orlando?
Also, asking as someone who has had MANY meals at Bahama Breeze...you call it phenomenal in comparison to WDW restaurants????

Have you driven in the surronding area of Disney? I'm not talking right outside of Disney but within a few miles of Disney. There are lots of restaurants, hotels, various shops that have shut down. The area surronding Disney used to be booming with businesses. Times are tough, unemployment in Florida is tough, I'm just saying it would be nice to send a little money towards the average Joe/Jane who wasn't able to work at Disney.

It is great that you've had many meals at Bahama Breeze. I have too and have yet to be disappointed by them, thus why I feel that Bahama Breeze is phenomenal. Some people find the Disney restaurants phenomenal and that's great for them too. I hope they enjoy the food. Unfortunately for me I don't see the big hype for a lot of the meals. There have been 2 places on Disney property that the food was fantastic for us. Most of the other places were just okay, nothing special to us. The OP stated that she felt the food was just ok and I am agreeing with her.

 

[TDC Nala]

Bahama Breeze was half the price of anything at Disney - that's the only thing I found phenomenal about it. It was good though.

 

[n2mm]

I also enjoyed your report. I seldom read dining reports, but found yours interesting and refreshing. I visit WDW 4 trips a year and dine there alot. I have to say that I don't eat at any of the places you listed pretty much for exactly what you described. I do visit LeCellier often, generally for the soup, salad and bread and a break from the parks. Over the many trips I make I can count on one hand the places I still continue to eat at. They are few and do not include any buffets. There are better places to eat in WDW that you may like. I don't find any place there knocks my socks off, but I generally opt for good comfort food (50sPT, Lib Tree Tavern). We always have a rental car, so we do go off site to pick up food too.

BTW -- if any locals would like to recommend some new places to me, I would give them a try. We are not afraid of driving around. We drive to US/IOA and eat at Margarittaville for lunch often and it never disappoints me....or is it the margarittas? We have friends who live in Davenport so familiar with that area too.

 

[Pooh&OurHunny]

thanks for sharing, I'm glad we didn't try Ohana breakfast. I wanted try it so I check it off our list but son doesn't like Stitch so my husband say why wast time going there.

 

[Owlpost23]

There's no excuse for poor food that is ambitiously priced.You're right to be disappointed.

 

[casjen]

Babycakes is a "safe" bakery for people with many different types of food allergies. They are gluten and dairy free, as well as soy free. Thank goodness for that b/c I will actually be able to eat a baked good while at Disney.

It is important for people not to expect the cupcakes to taste like something from a specialized gourmet cupcake bakery where real butter, cream. wheat flour etc is used. That would be like comparing filet minion to rump roast.

I think for the target market at Babycakes (which again, thank goodness someone has the thought to cater to people who can't have milk and gluten) they do a fabulous job. I just want people to know they aren't a regular cupcake bakery and to not go in with that expectation.

Sorry you found the food so lack luster. We had great meals our last trip, but we don't go to many restaurants and actually found San Angel for lunch surprisingly tasty. The chef made an amazing allergen free meal that was very unexpected.

 

[Tikitoi]

Some of the restaurants are phenomenal like Bahama Breeze. Plus, in this economy it would be nice to help out the locals in Orlando too.

WOW...Bahama Breeze phenomenal. To each his own.

 

[Tikitoi]

Some of the restaurants are phenomenal like Bahama Breeze. Plus, in this economy it would be nice to help out the locals in Orlando too.

WOW...Bahama Breeze phenomenal. To each his own.

 

[Tikitoi]

Sorry for the double, wasn't trying to make that much of a point.

 

[lissawynn]

I'm sorry you experienced such lousy food on your trip. In all honesty I have only had a few experiences with bad Disney food, and it is something that sticks out in your mind.
On our trip last June, we had one meal that was just "meh" - Sci Fi Dine In. Our server was not interested in much more than his tip, and our food was ok, but it was not nearly as good as it had been the year before. Our food at Kona Cafe was very good at breakfast and ok at dinner, but each time (on my last four trips there) our servers seemingly disappeared. We had no one to clear plates, refill drinks, or bring us our check. Now that it's happened to me four times, I believe there is something like a Bermuda Triangle for servers somewhere in the neighborhood of that restaurant.
We had amazing meals at Artist Point and Narcoossee's, so much so that we went back for a second meal at Narcoossee's the next night. My kids, five and three, have requested another meal this summer and want the server we had last time, too.

 

[CAMPI1]

We have been going for 9 years and while the food is not gourmet we have always had good experiences. It is more the fun than the quality and the food has lways been ok Maybe next time you will have better luck! Don't give up

 

[Moonies]

Babycakes is a "safe" bakery for people with many different types of food allergies. They are gluten and dairy free, as well as soy free. Thank goodness for that b/c I will actually be able to eat a baked good while at Disney.

It is important for people not to expect the cupcakes to taste like something from a specialized gourmet cupcake bakery where real butter, cream. wheat flour etc is used. That would be like comparing filet minion to rump roast.

I think for the target market at Babycakes (which again, thank goodness someone has the thought to cater to people who can't have milk and gluten) they do a fabulous job. I just want people to know they aren't a regular cupcake bakery and to not go in with that expectation.

Seconded. From the way the OP described the cupcakes, it sounds exactly like an allergen free baked good comes out. The flours and liquids used are very hard to bake with and have a very different texture if one hasn't ever tried that mix of ingredients. I was diagnosed at 20 and it's taken me the full almost 2 years of diagnosis to get "over" the grainy taste.

 

[MusiqChic99]

Sorry you didn't enjoy the food.

I think a lot of it has to do with what one is used to. Honestly I cook 98% of our meals so we don't really eat out a lot. Sometimes I enjoy a cheeseburger through drive thru just because someone else made it for me. LOL But seriously, it is all on what you are used to.

I'm glad you at least went into the experience with low expectations though. Sorry they were unfortuantely met.

Honestly I think of my biggest complaints is the lack of choices. It's like you get 6 to 8 entrees to choose from and that's it. And dont get me started on kids choices. I know it's to save money but variety is the key for me.

 

[diamondpixienc]

I'm sorry you had some bad dining experiences. I do hope you had a great trip other wise. I'm off to see your V & A review now. Take care

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Powdered eggs,

You absolutely were NOT served powdered eggs at Ohana.

That said, you really shouldn't expect much of the food served at most of the Disney restaurants.

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

thank you for your review which I thought was honest and balanced. I am surprised by your Tusker House experience because out of all the character breakfasts that one is usually given the most raving reviews in terms of the quality of the food. Even for those who are on the dining plan or those who are getting free dining, consistently lackluster dining experiences are hard to get past, especially considering the 18% gratuity. We are doing the quick service plan for our trip, and I am reassurred by how so many people are big fans of that plan. We plan to do two or three dining reservations at most.