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

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

No insult intended at all OP but I wonder if maybe you went into with too high expectations? My DH had a habit of doing that.

It could be partly that. Or it could be partly that some of the places they ate at aren't among the most highly rated. I always say though that you never know until you try. Le Cellier is usually highly rated, but the op thought it just ok. On a side note, their Outback must be far better than ours. Ours is little better than a Sizzler or Ponderosa. It's a shame they missed out on California Grill.

 

[xoprincessmomxo]

Sorry your meals weren't better! We always do the dining plan, and have learned to expect that the character buffets food will only be so so. It's really more about the character interaction and not waiting in lines. Is it worth it? To us it is. I despise waiting in lines for characters but my kids love them. For the prices, the food should be amazing and dirty plates is completely unacceptable.
Too bad you missed California Grill! That was my absolute favorite meal I've had at Disney! My husband and I said that we could eat there every meal and be happy.

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

OP - It's too bad you didn't have better meals.

I never ate table service until 2008 (and I've been going to WDW for the 30 years PRIOR to that ). But DH was so sick of me being 'cheap' that we finally had table service - and it was blah and yuck (Cape May Buffet). BUT it didn't stop us! We decide in 2009 to do the dining plan and eat a table service every day! It was really cool doing these different types of dining - character meals, different experiences, and the different themes. We found some good, and some not so good.

I'm not sure if this was your first table service experience at Disney but I hope it doesn't stop you from trying other spots - you just never know what's out there! I always laugh at all the reviews because when I see something I totally disagree with, I wonder if we went to different restaurants. But that's ok, different strokes for different folks (and yeah, some restaurants just have a bad night ... or a bad server!)

 

[mullysisters]

People who describe their meals as "yuck", "nasty" or "tasteless" certainly have higher expectations than I do. Their reviews are not really very helpful to me.

I like good service, attentive, but not hovering, and hot food. I have never had food that I would spit out in a restaurant!
The prices are too high at Disney for the quality of food in many cases, but not all. I've had wonderful meals there and others which were just "filling".

I always wonder why people don't send back "inedible" food? This is the only way restauants can get better. That is what your wait person is there for!
Perhaps people do send back food, but it is rarely mentioned.

I like the buffets for selection, and I am a breakfast person, after that I like smaller meals. I would say I've enjoyed almost all my meals at Disney.
A so-so meal at Disney is better than a gourmet meal in Toronto any day!

 

[beachbug79]

so sorry you didnt enjoy the food! I know when we went in August that was what was most important to me. The only meal I wasnt fond of was MaMa Melrose, flying fish, and the Aloha show. We ate at LeCelluliar, CRT, california grill, Narcossee's, crystal palace, Ohana (for breakfast and for dinner), Sci Fi dinner theater, Hollywood and Vine, 1900 Park Fare, chef Mickeys, tusker house (and DD did come over and give us his signature), Teppan edo, Alkerhouse, Hoop De Doo, and I forget the other ones. They were all excellent. I will agree Ohana's food wasnt incredible, but it was good, the entertainment does make up for it. Stitch was hysterical. We are planning on going back in August. We are definitely doing Le Celluliar for dinner, California Grill, Narcossee's, sci fi dinner theater, 1900 Park Fare, and hoop de doo again. Looking forward to trying some new places this time.

 

[Tracerr00]

Sorry to hear that you had a less than stellar experience. I think that part of it might be your choice of restaurants. I know for sure that I don't like buffets and shows (no matter where I am) so I don't book any. I used to do the character meals for my daughter and I'm so glad that she's older now and she isn't into them anymore. It's just not my thing. But I don't know about the other restaurants - I like them, especially Le Cellier! I stayed far away from Babycakes though because I know that it isn't targeted at me because I don't have food allergies (just a slight lactose intolerance but I pop a lactaid and head to Starring Rolls!) I think Babycakes is a blessing for the people that have allergies but not so great for the average joe. It might just be that I'm easy to please though because I have liked a lot more places in Disney than I've disliked.

I'm jealous that you got to go to V & A though and I'm also glad that you loved it. Someday I will eat there...

 

[Sweettears]

Anyone who can say they had a decent meal at Outback and calls Papa John's pizza can not serve as a basis for forming opinions on restaurants for me.