Ugghhhh...this mess is driving me crazy!!!

[My2QTs]

Why does every restaurant review I read have to be split on good and bad reviews?? I know the answer to this...its obviously a rhetorical question, but I just wish reviews would be unanimous and then I would know what to cancel and what to keep on my ADRs from this morning. Remember, I said I know the answer to this so I don't need one, Im just venting and wishing other peoples reviews would make the decision for me so I wouldn't have to srtress over it....

Now I don't know what to do about:
Chef Mickey
Ohana Dinner
Capts. Grill
or 1900 PF vs. Crystal palace

ugghhh

 

[WDmommyof4]

I know where you are coming from.It can be difficult to choose between all of the wonderful restaurants at Disney World. My family swore off Crystal Palace years ago because we had been there three times and saw a max of 2 characters in an hour and a half. I would definitely choose 1900 park fare over CP. The character interaction was wonderful and the food had a great variety as well.

Ohana has become a tradition for my family and if you can get a window seat during Wishes, it is a great experience with the piped in music. The food is usually good but I truly miss the potatoes that used to have.

Chef Mickeys did not thrill my family when we tried it this last trip and I do not think we will return. The food was not so great, the character interaction was lacking and the atmosphere was just not fun for us.

I have never be to Captains Grill so I have no input on that. I hope you have a wonderful trip no matter where you decide to eat.

 

[mickey0216]

My family swore off Crystal Palace years ago because we had been there three times and saw a max of 2 characters in an hour and a half.

Interesting. We've been there a few times and have had completely different experiences. I am hoping that you are the exception to the rule... and not me.

 

[wolf2961]

We've done most of the Character meals @ WDW. Most of the time, the food is unremarkable, not great not terrible. You are going for the interaction with whatever characters are there, and as long as that experience is good, then so is the meal. Maybe we are lucky, but we have always enjoyed the meals, never felt rushed while taking a photo. If by chance we miss a character while we are up getting food, we have simply made mention to our server and either met the character on our way out, or more often had the character come back to our table. The most common complaint I have heard has been that Chef Mickey's is noisy. It, as well as every other character meal, is a place where lots of families are together having fun, sharing moments, making memories. Why in the world would you expect that to be quiet?

 

[PrincessTrisha]

Everything is subjective.

And I know from personal experience, that how I'm feeling can also impact on my reviews - if I'm too hot, overly tired, not really hungry, feel like I was snubbed by the hostess, seated in a side room or seemingly less desirable seat can negatively influence my reviews.

I find it's better to get a general sense of the restaurants and choose from there.

 

[daisypaisyduck]

Hi!
What you have to remember when reading dining reviews is that everyone has different expectations.

If you don't go out much to eat then any restaurant be good. If your used to fine dining and are expecting the world from places like 50's Prime time. You will be disappointed.
Remember it's Disney World. They serve mass quantities of food and are known for their parades, fireworks and rides then food.


I think if I'm paying for a Signature Restaurant I expect it to be top notch.
Also , if you don't like you dish or it is not to the standard you think it should be , politely tell your server. I'm sure they will give you food that is more to your liking.

I got all caught up in what everyone had to say about a particular restaurant and it was exhausting. Then I realized a few stand out from the rest and after that it is all a matter of taste.

Enjoy all the wonderful new experiences that WDW has to offer everyday, and if your not satisfied, let them know. They want you to leave that restaurant happy after all.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Honestly, dining at Disney (with the exception of V&A, I would say) is inconsistent at best. I've dined someplace one trip, had great service and great food, returned the next trip and it was horrible.

There are a few places that get consistently poor reviews but not many.

I don't think it's so much people's taste or expectations as it is in the consistency issue.

Seriously - go with what menu and atmosphere your family will enjoy the most. If you catch it on a night off, chalk it up to a bad night and enjoy the rest of your trip. Don't stress =)

 

[Jeanieblue114]

It seems with the institution of the dining plan and the high demand for TS restaurants, that TS dining in general involves a lot of mass produced, pre-made, mediocre quality food nowadays. It is rare to see things any fresher than going to a regular chain restaurant like a TGIF when you are at Disney for basic TS.

Most places will be at least as good as going to your basic chain in your local hometown. Some exceptions of better or worse here or there. Breakfast items have the potential to be better because they are more freshly made or are your basic fruit or bakery items. Just pick places that are most convenient to your trip plans.

Even if you find a place with outstanding reviews, it might have an off day when you are there or things may change in the meantime.
Ohana had amazing reviews 2 months ago. Now, nearly every review that I see is pretty bad. Service seems rushed and the menu is limited. I even saw one review where the person sat on a chair that was covered in baby urine. (the server didn't notice this when they cleaned up the table between people??)

Just make your vacation plans and eat where you are. You may find a diamond in the rough.

 

[mskayjay]

I personally cannot say enough positive things about the character interaction at 1900 and we were 2 adults! Food was typical good (not great) breakfast fare but you go to 1900 for characters..... Have never done CP but if my goal was to be in MK that day, then that is where I would go over 1900!

Ohanas.....oh please.....go. I cannot imagine what anyone could say about it that is bad. Everything and I mean everything was top flight.

Capt Grill....no experience

Chef Mickey's.....when you hear something once you say "oh well", when you hear it two or three times you kind of wonder, more than that and you start to know you can put truth to the rumors. Too many bad posts up for me to risk it compared to other places getting great reviews. Why chance it.

As far as why differences....for the same reason I prefer red and you prefer pink. Folks are all different. When someone says "service was terrible" look for definers. What do they consider terrible versus what they should have expected at say a buffet????? There is an unrealistic expectation that Disney will be everything to everyone in every situation. They try but it just isn't possible. I remember last year being incredibly disappointed that the Christmas Shop at DTD didn't ahve a 25th anny ornament. Huh?????? We had a very nice clerk help us pick out another one that we got personalized to be a 25th but it wasn't the same as having that special Disney 25th anny ornament but they cant' do everything!

Babbling.....lol Go to Ohana's and either 1900 or CP depending on your plans for the day and stop stressing. The kids won't care about the food anyways!!!!

 

[Pumbaa_]

It is hard isn't it? Just like everything in life, people have different opinions on everything.

If a restaurant appeals to you, give it a shot. It may become your new favorite, even if it isn't someone else's

have fun, pick a place and enjoy!

 

[stitch34]

I have to say, some of our favorite meals have been at places where I had read tons of bad reviews.... and have had a couple that had great reviews that we didn't care for at all!

You don't know till you try them. I'd say go with what works with your schedule, which has characters you feel you'd like to see, which has menus you think you'd be interested in.

 

[bookgirl2632]

I've learned to take most reviews with a grain of salt. Everyone's tastes and opinions differ. For instance, Tony's at MK gets some pretty mixed reviews, but we had a great lunch there. It was a spur of the moment decision to eat there since we had one last TS credit on our last day. We thoroughly enjoyed it.

I don't stress out over the reviews too much. I usually only take heed when the reviews are overwhelmingly bad. But truthfully, you'll always find someone who likes or dislikes a restaurant or resort. That's what happens when you have variety.

 

[MouseMomx2]

I love reading dining reviews but I view them simply as someone's opinion. I never let them sway me from trying a restaurant that looks good to us. Some of our favorites are restaurants that are generally panned by other posters, yet we love them.

My advice is to look at the menus, decide what looks good to you and go with that.