Soooooooo over disney food quality and prices.

I can understand having a bad meal on occasion, but in all of my trips to Disney I have not had enough bad experiences to make me want to stop going to the restaurants. I'm sorry you had that experience. While it always stinks when prices go up, I've seen the same thing at other theme parks as well. My wife and I now use the dining plan, which after checking our numbers we determined that it is a good deal for us (unless you have a room with a kitchen and want to cook your own meals). Not all of the quality is a 4 or 5 star restaurant experience, but it is still on par or better than most of the places we would go out to eat anyway (without paying a ton of money). I guess some of it comes down to personal preference.
 
We always go during free dining, so I never give the price a second thought. I do notice it's expensive, but, hey, it's Disney, not Chilis, and with the free dining that's offered several times through the year, I think that Disney takes more than enough steps to ensure that if you want to go and not spend a ton on food, you can.

As far as quality, I've never had an awful meal actually. I think the only ones I'd ever pass on if I had the choice was Rose and Crown and Sci-Fi, but I certainly don't regret eating there. But, truthfully, when we go to Disney, the exceptional food and dining is one of the things we look the most forward to.

IDK, maybe my expectations are not high enough, but Disney hasn't failed to deliver in the food department. Disney is certainly the only theme park I can think of that offers this range of dining options at various levels, from simple counterserve to all out dining experience. It's not like anybody talks about the awesome, reasonably priced meal they're going to get at Six Flags... I remember when we hit Universal, we practically starved. The prices were outrageous and the quality was worse then what you'd find at a circus stand.
 
Tusker House, BOMA, O'Hana, Cape May, Crystal Palace, are all great kid friendly meals.

If the food is that bad or overpriced, rent a car for $30 per day and go to Golden Corall and the like every day...

This :thumbsup2 And for the poster (GeorgiaHoo) that said that Golden Corral was rated higher in Orlando than some Disney buffets, why don't you just go there and save lots of money? The places the poster mentioned here have never let me down on their very good tasty food. I love to cook and am very adventurous with spices and herbs, but these places are good too. We also have some very good restaurants around Raleigh that we frequent, so I know as much, at least, as the average person about what food should taste like. It's true buffets (or any restaurant) can not please every person's palate, but that is true anywhere.
 
Agreed with PP... If you find somewhere you like to eat better than Disney, then it sounds like your best option and one you should pursue. Nobody is forcing you to stay and eat there, especially if you don't like it.

Personally, I've eaten at the following places in the last 6 months:

TS

50's Primetime Diner
San Angel Inn (x2)
Teppan Edo
Le Cellier
Coral Reef (x2)
Rose and Crown
Tusker House

Aside from Rose and Crown, which was good but not my favorite, our experience at all of them was very good and the food was either as expected, but most of the time much better. Tusker House especially was a huge surprise how good it was.

We ate at a bunch of CS and Wolfgang Express and Earl of Sandwich really stuck out as amazing, as did the new grill in Japan. It's been so long though I can't remember where our CS meals were in September... I think all but one or two were at WE or EoS.

That said, no matter how good anybody tells you the food is, if you go in expecting to be let down, you will be.
 

Always such a helpful answer.... :sad2:

I always rent a car - not a fan of Disney transportation. Do you have a more useful answer that "if you don't like it leave"?

What's so wrong with that answer? I've been reading all these posts and others, with people complaining about each and every restaurant at Disney, but then when someone suggests a viable alternate you get all bent out of shape. If you always rent a car, then you are not confined to Disney restaurants, and can go eat at whatever restaurant you prefer to spend your money at and get what you think you deserve for the price. I think that's a good suggestion, unless you are like some people and just enjoy complaining. No, Disney food is not always on the mark, but that's true with all restaurants. We have an excellent brazillian steak house here (Brassa) and we have gotten dried out meat there when they come around with their skewers (just like 'Ohana) I just ask for more the next time around, and tell them the other was dry, over, under (whatever) cooked and no problem. It's bound to happen when so many meals are prepared. We learned a long time ago to just go with flow - Disney (as most such places similar) have always and will always be over priced - just the way it is :goodvibes
 
For those of you who say that you can have a bad meal at home just the same as at Disney,you're absolutely right.However,when you're at Disney,you get to go back to your pricey hotel room and steam about it,unlike at home where you don't.That adds insult to injury.As to the person who said that they starved at Universal,I doubt it.We now go to US/IOA because you can go to a restaurant when you wish to and enjoy a meal without setting the alarm to get up six monthes ahead of time.
 
This :thumbsup2 And for the poster (GeorgiaHoo) that said that Golden Corral was rated higher in Orlando than some Disney buffets, why don't you just go there and save lots of money? The places the poster mentioned here have never let me down on their very good tasty food. I love to cook and am very adventurous with spices and herbs, but these places are good too. We also have some very good restaurants around Raleigh that we frequent, so I know as much, at least, as the average person about what food should taste like. It's true buffets (or any restaurant) can not please every person's palate, but that is true anywhere.

I didn't "say" it is rated higher - it IS rater higher. Feel free to peruse Orlando restaurants on tripadvisor.com.

Telling someone "if you don't like it then leave" isn't proposing a viable option. Telling someone "have you thought about renting a car and trying some offsite restaurants - those are less expensive and might suit your tasts better" is proposing a viable option.
 
I didn't "say" it is rated higher - it IS rater higher. Feel free to peruse Orlando restaurants on tripadvisor.com.

Telling someone "if you don't like it then leave" isn't proposing a viable option. Telling someone "have you thought about renting a car and trying some offsite restaurants - those are less expensive and might suit your tasts better" is proposing a viable option.

I was not doubting what you said about Golden Corral. Tripadvisor is just people like you and me with their opinions - means nothing to me. And with the car issue, you said you had a car so you do have options if you want. I did not say that about anyone that did not already have a car, to eat off site rather than complaining about Disney's food ( go back and read what I wrote). And I stick by what I said, If you have a car and feel you can get a meal you would enjoy more for the money (for the money being the key, I'm not disputing that) then quit complaining about every restaurant on site and go for it - then it definitely is a viable option, or if you have the facilities, do your own cooking.
 
For those of you who say that you can have a bad meal at home just the same as at Disney,you're absolutely right.However,when you're at Disney,you get to go back to your pricey hotel room and steam about it,unlike at home where you don't.That adds insult to injury.As to the person who said that they starved at Universal,I doubt it.We now go to US/IOA because you can go to a restaurant when you wish to and enjoy a meal without setting the alarm to get up six monthes ahead of time.

Well, I guess I'd rather have a "bad" Disney meal, return to my really nice hotel, or go out into the gorgeous park, ride a ride I like or see a show, then have an actual bad meal and go home.

And I was the person who made the comment about US... Because when we went, it was true. The reason you didn't have to wake up 6 months in advance for ADRs was because there was no meal, no deal, and no experience that was so good that people were frantic to do it. Average-to-poor food, especially CS foods, that were shockingly expensive, in places that were, at times, quite filthy.

It was quite a bummer because US was my second favorite park behind MK, but the experience we had last time with dining, and the park as a whole, made us completely uninterested in going back. It wasn't worth the hassle, or price. And when I weigh out that this last trip that, with free dining, 2 adults ate at Le Cellier for $24 (tip) and got things like steak, and the last trip to US the same amount at a quick serve got me 2 things of nachos (chips and chem cheese) and 2 drinks... Not worth it.

I didn't "say" it is rated higher - it IS rater higher. Feel free to peruse Orlando restaurants on tripadvisor.com.

Thanks for the advice. Since you "love to cook" I'm sure you know exactly what you are talking about.

Why so rude? People here have given tips, shared how to save on dining, given the names of their favorite places to eat, only to be told that the food was gross or the people were rude or they wouldn't ever go there again... So the next logical step is to suggest going to eat somewhere else, especially since people are sharing what places outside of the park are rated higher (for what's that worth... Which is very little I suspect). If somebody complained to me about all the places to eat at the mall, in spite of my suggestions I've made, I'd tell them to eat elsewhere too.

I'm not sure what you want anybody to do here. Short of calling Mickey himself, I think your solution is to either:

1. Wait for free dining and pay nothing for food you think is disgusting
2. Pay full price for food you think is disgusting
3. Leave the park and eat at places you don't think are disgusting

I'm not sure what exactly you expect to happen. You think the food sucks. A lot of people don't agree. It's not anybody else's fault that you don't like the food.

And FWIW to the quoted poster, the fact you love to cook and do cook as meaning something to the discussion.
 
Agreed with PP... If you find somewhere you like to eat better than Disney, then it sounds like your best option and one you should pursue. Nobody is forcing you to stay and eat there, especially if you don't like it.

Personally, I've eaten at the following places in the last 6 months:

TS

50's Primetime Diner
San Angel Inn (x2)
Teppan Edo
Le Cellier
Coral Reef (x2)
Rose and Crown
Tusker House

Aside from Rose and Crown, which was good but not my favorite, our experience at all of them was very good and the food was either as expected, but most of the time much better. Tusker House especially was a huge surprise how good it was.

We ate at a bunch of CS and Wolfgang Express and Earl of Sandwich really stuck out as amazing, as did the new grill in Japan. It's been so long though I can't remember where our CS meals were in September... I think all but one or two were at WE or EoS.

That said, no matter how good anybody tells you the food is, if you go in expecting to be let down, you will be.
I agree with the above. Tusker & WGPE exceeded my expectations. The other restaurants indicated (bold) were very good as well, esp considering the price of the meal. Its true that if you go into disney expecting to be let down and disappointed, then you most likely will be. In that case, its probably best you stay away from disney restaurants and just eat out. I still find it hard to believe that the outside restaurants are far superior than any of the restaurants at disney.



For those of you who say that you can have a bad meal at home just the same as at Disney,you're absolutely right.However,when you're at Disney,you get to go back to your pricey hotel room and steam about it,unlike at home where you don't.That adds insult to injury.As to the person who said that they starved at Universal,I doubt it.We now go to US/IOA because you can go to a restaurant when you wish to and enjoy a meal without setting the alarm to get up six monthes ahead of time.
I agree with the person who said they starved at universal. First of all, universal is far more expensive than disney. Second of all, they have a terrible selection of restaurants! Third of all, the food is garbage. Never again.



We always go during free dining, so I never give the price a second thought. I do notice it's expensive, but, hey, it's Disney, not Chilis, and with the free dining that's offered several times through the year, I think that Disney takes more than enough steps to ensure that if you want to go and not spend a ton on food, you can.

As far as quality, I've never had an awful meal actually. I think the only ones I'd ever pass on if I had the choice was Rose and Crown and Sci-Fi, but I certainly don't regret eating there. But, truthfully, when we go to Disney, the exceptional food and dining is one of the things we look the most forward to.

IDK, maybe my expectations are not high enough, but Disney hasn't failed to deliver in the food department. Disney is certainly the only theme park I can think of that offers this range of dining options at various levels, from simple counterserve to all out dining experience. It's not like anybody talks about the awesome, reasonably priced meal they're going to get at Six Flags... I remember when we hit Universal, we practically starved. The prices were outrageous and the quality was worse then what you'd find at a circus stand.
VERY smart post. I totally agree! Disney has far better selection of food than any other park ive been to. With free dining being offered every year, its difficult to argue that disney is a rip off. They've been offering free dining as far as i can remember. GREAT value if you ask me. We look fwd to the food just as much as the rides at Disney. And yes, i think universal has awful food as well. Terrible!

Overall, some of the best meals ive ever had were at disney and i cant wait to go back.


:thumbsup2
 
First of all, let me say I must be crazy, because I really enjoy my meals at disney :)

But I have a question to the people who are saying the consistently have really bad meals. At a plated meal, do you ever send your food back? Ask for an obvious problem to be fixed? I find that many people just sit at their table and eat something that isn't right rather than ask for it to be fixed. If you don't ask, the answer's always no! That could be part of the problem, I suppose.
 
This post (by minnie mum) is the smartest post ive read yet. Complaining wont change a thing, your so right. There's nothing wrong with eating outside of the parks if your so incredibly disappointed in the food within disney. Or better yet, bring in your own sandwiches and such. Disney allows soft sided coolers. That might be a better option? I just have a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that out of all the restaurants disney has to offer, there really arent any that you find both delicious and worth the money? Not even WGPE? Lol. I love that place. :woohoo:

Anyway, thats a head scratcher for me. :confused3

Thank you, thank you, thank you. You have just described exactly why Disney has no incentive to actually be the best they can be as they once did.

We are captive at Disney and should be grateful, or at least not complain, when things decline.

It's Disney magic after all.

Matt, good to see your always enlightened posts around here occasionally.
 
Thank you, thank you, thank you. You have just described exactly why Disney has no incentive to actually be the best they can be as they once did.

We are captive at Disney and should be grateful, or at least not complain, when things decline.

It's Disney magic after all.

Matt, good to see your always enlightened posts around here occasionally.

To me the food at disney has always been pretty consistent and quite good. I cannot say it has declined over the years, cause i dont think it has. Maybe you've visited Disney more than i have. I dunno. :confused3
 
I agree with the overpriced/underwhelming thought. We still enjoy some WDW meals, but as DVC members we stock our villa with stuff from Publix we like and enjoy breakfast, snacks, and some lunches in the room. The pizza from Uno's we brought to the room was one of the best meals of our last trip (and the price doesn't come close to a dinner at a WDW restaurant).:earsboy:
 
We liked liberty tree tavern for lunch. The prices were fairly reasonable (for Disney), pretty good food. Crystal palace was ok, not bad, but not awesome.

I am one though that doesn't have super high expectations when it comes to food at Disney. Its almost universally overpriced. But I expect that at a theme park. Its just the nature of the beast. The one thing I will say for Disney is that the portions tend to be large, so we ended up splitting several meals. That certainly lessened the sting when it was time to pay. Buffets are not a good value for us at all, we are not big eaters. Disney buffets are especially overpriced.
 
Tropical Wilds, what I meant when I spoke of loving to cook with herbs and spicies, and can cook(wasn't bragging). The poster I was responding to - Georgia Hoo - was insinuating that I loved the food at Disney ( even though I think feeding that many meals, it can indeed, be hit or miss sometimes) because I didn't know what good food tasted like. I was just informing him/her that I can understand restaurants, and quality, but I still feel like if you don't like it don't go there, period.
 
I agree with the overpriced/underwhelming thought. We still enjoy some WDW meals, but as DVC members we stock our villa with stuff from Publix we like and enjoy breakfast, snacks, and some lunches in the room. The pizza from Uno's we brought to the room was one of the best meals of our last trip (and the price doesn't come close to a dinner at a WDW restaurant).:earsboy:

Case in point, this poster does not go to the WDW restaurants she/he does not like, but goes off site and gets what they do enjoy. There's nothing wrong with that, just the ones that keep going to Disney restaurants and rant about how terrible they are while they keep making the same reservations. :confused3 As far as any theme park or most other venues being overpriced, that is 100% true, but it has always been that way and probably will continue to be. When's the last time anyone has bought something reasonably priced at, say, the circus, ball games, most city parks, etc. We certainly have not, but we also have the option of not buying anything, period.
 
And I was the person who made the comment about US... Because when we went, it was true. The reason you didn't have to wake up 6 months in advance for ADRs was because there was no meal, no deal, and no experience that was so good that people were frantic to do it. Average-to-poor food, especially CS foods, that were shockingly expensive, in places that were, at times, quite filthy.

It sounds like you chose the wrong UO restaurants unfortunately. We live close to WDW & UO & visit both often. The food at Universal is consistently better than at WDW at the same price point. I'm not saying you'll get a better meal for a lot less. In our experience, you get a better quality for the price. That said, we rarely eat CS at either set of parks, so my experience is based mostly on TS. We ate a CS breakfast at UO many years ago. That meal wasn't good. That's the only time we've eaten CS there. We typically eat 2 TS meals a day, which is what we do at WDW also.
 
To me the food at disney has always been pretty consistent and quite good. I cannot say it has declined over the years, cause i dont think it has. Maybe you've visited Disney more than i have. I dunno. :confused3

FL AP'ers for the last 14 years. There is no question as to decline in my mind. Can really good food still be had? Yes. But it's not as good, not as varied, even more expensive.

The chef's used to have autonomy in purchasing and menu planning within the basic parameters of their establishment. This is all now standardized. The chefs do the best they can but their hands are shackled compared to days gone by.
 





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