Unpopular Opinion: Epcot Restaurants are Mid

[J-Dog]

I'm not picking on anyone specifically, and everybody's opinion on food quality is different, but I don't understand the complaining about Disney restaurant prices.

Ever been to Vegas? Or Hawaii? Or any other tourist destination? Food prices are easily as expensive as WDW, maybe more so.

I can understand the complaint that the food is not the same quality for the price but I'm not sure that I agree - Disney food is not generally gourmet/Michelin star, but most of it is fairly good.

 

[Lumpy1106]

WDW QS prices are about what we pay for any fast-casual place in CA anymore. Sit-down places - yeah, those are pricey for what you get. We limit ourselves to about 3 sit-down meals each trip. The one standout t
hat I don't see mentioned much is Raglan Road. Whispering Pines is also not a bad value. Trick is to eat at an all-you-can-eat place, but only have 2 meals that day when you do, and time it 1/2 way between a "regular" meal time. Breakfast at 11:00a, Lunch at 3:30p, and just skip that next meal.

 

[sheilafri]

Our favorite is spice road table... we can't handle the noise at crown and rose, we also enjoy Le Cellier, which in many ways seems to be the flagship food at Epcot other than the super high-end offerings like Monsieur Paul....

We also like the Chinese restaurant because it is cheap and DVC/Annual pass get 20% off....

Many we find to be overrated/overpriced, and so we enjoy/prefer eating at the resorts more than the restaurants in the parks, but have yet to have a truly terrible meal ever with Disney.

I also like SRT. DH likes the fish & chips from the English Pavillion. We tend to graze at the parks rather than do a TS. I’ll go out to eat in Paris.

 

[holden]

DH said that Monsieur Paul was one of the best meals he's ever had.

Overall, most WDW restaurants are either just ok or bad. If I had to pick one place in EP to be my favorite it would probably be Les Halles in France.

 

[HopperFan]

I remember when we'd head to EPCOT almost nightly for dinner. We don't anymore.

Last ........ 8 years about ........... Rose & Crown Fireworks Package 3x, and Rose & Crown one night when park was empty and raining and we needed to eat. We split a meal. We do like Spice Road and do a table of sharing. Otherwise the prices are just way too much for meh food for us.

 

[_19disnA]

We generally only eat lunch at a park, usually QS. Disney's idea of how to manage the increasing numbers who go is by constantly raising prices (i.e. hotels, parks, pricey fixed menus, Genie). We prefer to vacation elsewhere since the prices are out of line with the value. There are a LOT of other places we like to vacation that don't cost anywhere near what Disney charges that we like much better.

 

[elvispursley]

I'm not picking on anyone specifically, and everybody's opinion on food quality is different, but I don't understand the complaining about Disney restaurant prices.

Ever been to Vegas? Or Hawaii? Or any other tourist destination? Food prices are easily as expensive as WDW, maybe more so.

I can understand the complaint that the food is not the same quality for the price but I'm not sure that I agree - Disney food is not generally gourmet/Michelin star, but most of it is fairly good.

We live in Hawaii and I can absolutely say that the prices to eat out are comparable (or even more) than most TS restaurants at WDW. And the food here is just “ok” IMO. I grew up in Seattle, and the restaurants here just don’t compare.

We’ve definitely had some “meh” meals. But as a vegetarian, Disney has certainly upped the choices for vegetarian/vegan diets. Back in the 90’s when I started coming, we were lucky to find a disgusting veggie burger. Now we have many choices and most plac s are really creative and delicious.

 

[ScottOKW2K]

I'm not picking on anyone specifically, and everybody's opinion on food quality is different, but I don't understand the complaining about Disney restaurant prices.

Ever been to Vegas? Or Hawaii? Or any other tourist destination? Food prices are easily as expensive as WDW, maybe more so.

I can understand the complaint that the food is not the same quality for the price but I'm not sure that I agree - Disney food is not generally gourmet/Michelin star, but most of it is fairly good.

Spot on. Some years ago I went to Cedar Point since I was in the area for work. I remember coming away realizing that all the food and drink I saw was MORE expensive than WDW and the choices and quality offered were less.

It's like to standard complaint about Teppan Edo is that the same style restaurant at home costs less. Well one major expense for a restaurant is the cost of the location. I'm pretty sure that if your local restaurant had to pay what the location in Epcot or WDW is valued at it probably would be the same price you're used to.

 

[Jennasis]

Food is like art. Subjective.

What you like, others may not. What others like, you may not.

Only way to know is to try.

 

[beccasmom]

We are fans of Boulangerie Pâtisserie in France. On a recent trip we arrived right before closing and enjoyed quiche Lorraine and a great chicken sandwich with pesto, cheese, and red onion (with a lovely French name I can’t recall ). There is a lot of variety (sandwiches, soups, croissants, pastries, all types of desserts) plus beverages, some specialty cocktails, wine, and beer. Pretty much something for everyone. And there is an ice cream shop a few steps away.

 

[gmi3804]

It's a false equivalency to compare WDW restaurants to those of the great restaurant cities of the world, either in terms of price or quality.

 

[J-Dog]

It's a false equivalency to compare WDW restaurants to those of the great restaurant cities of the world, either in terms of price or quality.

Why? People still eat food, no matter where they are.

For example, Vegas vs. WDW. Obviously the demographics are very different, but both are tourist destinations, and both of their main attractions are not food-related. And both had affordable food at some point many, many years ago. Arguably, Vegas is becoming a more food-oriented destination, but the same could be said of WDW, considering how many adults-with-no-kids come to WDW these days.

Now, however, both are extremely expensive when it comes to food. Vegas has many more higher-end restaurants compared to WDW, but for the restaurants that are of similar-quality, such as V&A vs. Le Cirque in the Bellagio. Both have identical designations of 5 Diamond AAA and 1 Michelin star - $295 vs. $388 (excluding alcohol).

Or a mid-tier restaurant - say, Jiko vs. Giada at The Cromwell - average dinner entree cost at Jiko is $38-59, Giada is $30-76.

Quality is, of course, very subjective, but prices at WDW are very reasonable for a tourist destination.

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

You're right. I wouldn't go out of my way for any Epcot restaurant.

It used to be Le Cellier for us but we had a bad meal a little while back and it's just way too expensive for to have such a mediocre experience.

 

[Brob2132]

Think the food is very good overall, but like everything else you’re paying for the experience. Hard to beat eating at the world showcase. One of my favorite places in the world.

 

[bruceluigi]

Yorkshire Fish and Chips
Katsura
Spice Table (love sitting by the water outside watching the boat traffic)
All of France
Via Napoli. Do not opt for the pizza window; doesn’t taste the same at all. Probably all the Italian restaurants in Italy are good but we only eat the pizza for the kids. Easy to get Italian at home.
the German QS. Pretzels are rare to never hot but the weisswurst are on point.

You are right about this

 

[drenalin'junkie]

Food is subjective.
Palates vary.
Ability to understand a menu is varied.
Preference varies.
Affordability is relative.
We rotate between restaurants and hit a lot of them. Some favorites maybe every year bit mostly a couple years between visits since the parks opened as a kid for me and 30 years with the DW. We also travel outside the parks and eat from roadside shacks to Michelin starred restaurants.
Disney prices are barely more expensive than similar chain restaurants in Orlando but you're in Disney. Epcot and Boardwalk In particular hold a higher bar than the other parks.
We've had a few mediocre experiences but mostly outstanding and similar service.
Comparing Disney to a single city is pointless. Each park's visitors would rank in the top 10 cities individually.
Add the EPCOT festival booths to the equation and it's easy to see why it still draws 10 million visitors and ADRs are a pain to get.

 

[mlayton14]

TS food at WDW is good, esp at Epcot and animal kingdom. What these self described “foodies” seem to fail to realize is that that any given WDW theme park will get 10-20million people through its gates every year. People should expect not adventurous, but well prepared and well presented food in a nice environment at tourist prices. It must appeal to the largest common denominator to max its appeal to the largest part of its customer base. They seem to have no problem putting butts in seats at their restaurants , and there is certainly something for everyone across property. Making most restaurants foodie-friendly would most certainly result in empty tables IMO.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We really enjoy Chef de France, my favorite there is the short ribs. On my last time at Coral Reef, I had a great prime rib. I do wish Coral Reef had more/better seafood on its menu.

 

[Marek Zyskowski]

We are fans of Boulangerie Pâtisserie in France. On a recent trip we arrived right before closing and enjoyed quiche Lorraine and a great chicken sandwich with pesto, cheese, and red onion (with a lovely French name I can’t recall ). There is a lot of variety (sandwiches, soups, croissants, pastries, all types of desserts) plus beverages, some specialty cocktails, wine, and beer. Pretty much something for everyone. And there is an ice cream shop a few steps away.

This is a go to place for myself and my daughter. Usually go there twice in one week.

 

[kylenne]

Ever been to Vegas? Or Hawaii? Or any other tourist destination? Food prices are easily as expensive as WDW, maybe more so.

I have always felt like living where I do has honest to god made me so nonchalant about Disney dining prices that I'm probably not the best person to get into these conversations but confronting the Manhattan Salad Industrial Complex on an office day today made me remember this thread, as one of the million fast casual local salad joints has a $17 salad on the menu that is no better quality than a very similar one for $11 at Flame Tree and a smaller portion size.

And trust me the table service is just as hit or miss here. Seems like everyone is cutting corners and jacking up prices and skating on old reps at basically every level of dining. There are plenty of local places around town that are also charging astronomical prices for laughably mid food and don't even have the benefit of Disney service or theming. (Looking at you, Peter Luger and Gage & Tollner, which were both comfortably surpassed by a meal I had last year at Yachtsman.)

I feel like this is just the reality of the industry in every US tourist hotspot in 2024. But with all this in mind I generally enjoy my meals at WDW, did any of them wow me to death, no, but I can truly say I've only ever had one that was mediocre (the allergy friendly burger at Sci-Fi). Nor have I ever felt ripped off for what I paid.