Very Disappointed in TS meals - next time is CS!

[IluvDonald!]

Just returned from a 7 night stay......

Will NOT get the Deluxe dining plan again unless I read reviews that the food has gotten better. Next time we will do CS and save the extra money instead of using it for so-so meals.

No outstanding appetizers. Meals were nothing special and limited menu items. Best meal was LeCellier - and that's going to 2 credits next year.

Food was only "okay" at the TS restaurants. In order of best to worst:
LeCellier (D)
TRex (D) not on dining plan
1900 Park Fare (D)
Donald's Breakfast at Tusker House (B)
Mama Melrose (L)
Crystal Palace (D)
Biergarten (D)
Trails End (B)
Capt. Jacks (D)
Garden Grill (D)


All our counter service meals were very good, especially at the hotel.

Next time we will do CS plan and pay OOP for a sitdown meal.

 

[MyTwoPrincesses]

LeCellier (D)
TRex (D) not on dining plan
1900 Park Fare (D) - Food isn't known to be good and it's a character meal
Donald's Breakfast at Tusker House (B) - It's a good breakfast, but it's a character meal
Mama Melrose (L) - I've read mixed reviews
Crystal Palace (D) - character meal
Biergarten (D) - decent food, but this is an atmosphere pick, not a gourmet choice
Trails End (B) - Don't know much about... but isn't it a buffet?
Capt. Jacks (D) - Don't know much about...
Garden Grill (D) - Character meal

Just looking at your list (and based on my rather obsessive preocupation with reading Disney dining reviews), none of these places are known for being "great" in terms of food, other than Le Cellier. I have been to Biergarten, only one on your list, and the food is ok, but most people go there for the entertainment and atmosphere, not the food.

In your shoes, I'd probably try different restaurants and avoid character meals and buffets. Sounds better than eating just CS!

We really enjoyed The Wave and Sanaa during our last trip. Food was great at both. We are trying Kouzzina in March. I've heard good things about Kona Cafe and Yak and Yeti (TS) too. You also don't have any Signatures on your list - haven't tried any, but thought I'd mention that.

 

[disneypolybride2008]

sorry to hear about your experience. Some TS are fabulous though, so if you havent tried any but these, dont give up. Exceptional food can be found at:

Kona Cafe,
Teppan Edo
Tutto Italia

i was super impressed with the food at Liberty Tree for dinner!! mmm

As far as good CS, that can be good or bad as well but boy was i delighted with Pop Century!! Their chicken alfredo was amazing! You can also tell the cashier that you want to come back for your dessert and she'll stamp your reciept, then you can go get a huge sundae at the ice cream station.

 

[katesorad]

LeCellier (D)
TRex (D) not on dining plan
1900 Park Fare (D) - Food isn't known to be good and it's a character meal
Donald's Breakfast at Tusker House (B) - It's a good breakfast, but it's a character meal
Mama Melrose (L) - I've read mixed reviews
Crystal Palace (D) - character meal
Biergarten (D) - decent food, but this is an atmosphere pick, not a gourmet choice
Trails End (B) - Don't know much about... but isn't it a buffet?
Capt. Jacks (D) - Don't know much about...
Garden Grill (D) - Character meal

Just looking at your list (and based on my rather obsessive preocupation with reading Disney dining reviews), none of these places are known for being "great" in terms of food, other than Le Cellier. I have been to Biergarten, only one on your list, and the food is ok, but most people go there for the entertainment and atmosphere, not the food.

In your shoes, I'd probably try different restaurants and avoid character meals and buffets. Sounds better than eating just CS!

We really enjoyed The Wave and Sanaa during our last trip. Food was great at both. We are trying Kouzzina in March. I've heard good things about Kona Cafe and Yak and Yeti (TS) too. You also don't have any Signatures on your list - haven't tried any, but thought I'd mention that.

This.

We had the Deluxe Dining Plan and absolutely adored it during our Thanksgiving week trip. We ate in France twice because the food was SO amazing, did Tony's, Kona (best breakfast!), Crystal Palace, Italy, Sci Fi, and a bunch of others. It was some of the best food I've ever eaten.

 

[TDC Nala]

Best meal was LeCellier - and that's going to 2 credits next year.

Only for dinner.

 

[hayanyujah847]

I have to agree with what some others said. You need to try different TS restaurants. Via Napoli, Les Chefs de France, Kouzzina are all some great ones we've had in the past. And there are many, many more.

 

[sophie832]

Also, I think the DxDDP really affords you the chance to try some of the signature restaurants. I hear great things lately about Citrico's and Yachtsman's Steakhouse. We're trying both of those when we go Deluxe in Jan. Our plan is to do a late breakfast/early lunch at a 1 TS credit restaurant, then dinner at a signature. We originally booked quite a few character breakfasts, but changed that up a bit. Honestly, the buffets (with the exception of Boma) and character meals were the worst of our last trip.

I also agree with the PPs that mentioned your choice of TS restaurants. Now, granted, all the food should be good, but there are some restaurants that do get consistently not-so-great reviews here on the DIS. We stayed away from those on our last trip, and we had good food all-around. There were a few places that seemed 50/50 in terms of reviews, but we ate there anyway, and still really enjoyed it. Sometimes, it's all in your perspective.

 

[vicki_c]

No offense, but you really had some of the most lackluster restaurants on property in your list. I don't think that group of restaurants is representative of the type of good food you can get at Disney, esp. on Deluxe Dining.

We never do any type of DDP at all - not our thing - we use the TiW card, but I wouldn't write off the DDP based on the restaurants you chose. There are much better.

 

[blondinkaya]

Just returned from a 7 night stay......

Will NOT get the Deluxe dining plan again unless I read reviews that the food has gotten better. Next time we will do CS and save the extra money instead of using it for so-so meals.

No outstanding appetizers. Meals were nothing special and limited menu items. Best meal was LeCellier - and that's going to 2 credits next year.

Food was only "okay" at the TS restaurants. In order of best to worst:
LeCellier (D)
TRex (D) not on dining plan
1900 Park Fare (D)
Donald's Breakfast at Tusker House (B)
Mama Melrose (L)
Crystal Palace (D)
Biergarten (D)
Trails End (B)
Capt. Jacks (D)
Garden Grill (D)


All our counter service meals were very good, especially at the hotel.

Next time we will do CS plan and pay OOP for a sitdown meal.

Eeek! Sorry, but I think that maybe you didn't pick the best restaurants for your buck (and flavor), so to speak.

We went last year on DxDP, and every TS meal we had was fantastic. We had only one in common with your trip: Le Cellier. We ate at Yak and Yeti, Sci Fi, Narcoosee's, Hoop Dee Doo, Brown Derby, Kona, Artist Point, Chefs de France, Coral Reef, Marrakesh, and at the Castle. We didn't have a meal we didn't like, although Marrakesh was my least favorite.

That said, this time we're going with the regular dining plan. All those credits and appies and desserts were just too much for us last time. This time around, we're planning on going to TS restaurants Artist Point, Coral Reef, Le Cellier, and Yak and Yeti. As you can tell, they're restaurants that we hit last time. Part of me thinks we should try something new, but another thinks that we shouldn't mess with what worked last time, kwim?

The thing I like about TS is the fact that we can kick back and relax and be served. With CS restaurants, we have to order the food and then find a place to eat. That's not relaxing. But, if it works for you, fine. It'll have to work for us for half our meals ... unless I call and DxDP before the end of today ...

 

[TDC Nala]

Sounds like character meals were your thing. And buffets.

I won't even go to any Disney buffets anymore, dining plan or no dining plan (and I'm now strictly a no dining plan person).

And I think Disney figured out awhile back that most guests who go to character meals don't go for the food.

I think if character meals are your thing it may be a wise choice for your party to get the QS plan if you must have a dining plan, and spring for one or two character meals or buffets. It appears you used most of your credits for quick service meals.

 

[Tara]

No offense, but you really had some of the most lackluster restaurants on property in your list. I don't think that group of restaurants is representative of the type of good food you can get at Disney, esp. on Deluxe Dining.

This exactly.

 

[Sweettears]

I agree with the PPers but given that you liked the CS, I'm not sure what you are looking for and not sure that the all of the other TS retaurants mentioned here would be suitable.

 

[Silver Queen]

I have to agree with the majority of posters here who commented that the restaurants on your list were not known for their food. With the exception of Le Cellier we don't eat at any of these. We will go to CS restaurants on occasion for breakfast or lunch, but for us having a relaxed sit-down dinner is important. If you go with your CS plan next time you may want to try one or two of the restaurants recommended by the posters above to see if you get a different perspective.

 

[Tiger926]

Sounds like character meals were your thing. And buffets.

I won't even go to any Disney buffets anymore, dining plan or no dining plan (and I'm now strictly a no dining plan person).

And I think Disney figured out awhile back that most guests who go to character meals don't go for the food.

I think if character meals are your thing it may be a wise choice for your party to get the QS plan if you must have a dining plan, and spring for one or two character meals or buffets. It appears you used most of your credits for quick service meals.

This.

Tiger

 

[TJA]

Agreed with everyone above.....there are some great TS restaurants in disney and you didn't try many of them. Next time try:

Tutto or Via Napoli in Italy
Teppan Edo in Japan
Ohana at Poly
Kona at Poly (especially tonga toast for breakfast)
Liberty Tree at MK for lunch

With the DxDDP, it's a great opportunity to do 2-credit meals. We had some great meals on DxDDP because we tried:

California Grill at CR
Jiko at AKL
Yachtsmen Steakhouse at YC
Flying Fish on the boardwalk
Various dinner shows

 

[Planogirl]

If you like buffets, you might want to try Boma if you never have. The Crystal Palace has a decent breakfast.

We like some CS places. I love snacking around World Showcase and my trip isn't complete if I don't eat at Columbia Harbour House.

 

[tinacaplan]

I agree with PPs. Also, I don't think DxDDP is worth it if you don't do at least a couple of signatures. Just my opinion, by the way, but I know they're making it worth it for us. DxDDP is a lot to spend if you do a lot of buffets, especially given that the big selling point (at least for us) with the DxDDP is that you get appetizers, which is a moot point at a buffet. Better luck next time.

 

[MistressMerryweather]

Just returned from a 7 night stay......

Will NOT get the Deluxe dining plan again unless I read reviews that the food has gotten better. Next time we will do CS and save the extra money instead of using it for so-so meals.

No outstanding appetizers. Meals were nothing special and limited menu items. Best meal was LeCellier - and that's going to 2 credits next year.

Food was only "okay" at the TS restaurants. In order of best to worst:
LeCellier (D)
TRex (D) not on dining plan
1900 Park Fare (D)
Donald's Breakfast at Tusker House (B)
Mama Melrose (L)
Crystal Palace (D)
Biergarten (D)
Trails End (B)
Capt. Jacks (D)
Garden Grill (D)


All our counter service meals were very good, especially at the hotel.

Next time we will do CS plan and pay OOP for a sitdown meal.

Hmmmm...can I ask why you chose the ts rest. you chose? Not being snarky at all, just wondering. With a deluxe dining plan there are so many incredible restaurants to choose from. Cs is pretty much fast food and sometimes glorified fast food. What hotel were you staying at? If I were you, next time I would choose the dining plus plan so that you can do cs and ts, and then get some good recs. on some good ts rest.

 

[izzycan]

We never do any type of DDP at all - not our thing - we use the TiW card, but I wouldn't write off the DDP based on the restaurants you chose.

What is the TiW card?

 

[vicki_c]

What is the TiW card?

Tables in Wonderland - a discount dining card available to AP holders and Florida residents. It gives 20% off most table service meals.