Very Disappointed in TS meals - next time is CS!

[Colleen27]

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.

That was my first thought too. TRex is just another Landry's theme place, nothing special. Character meals are never great food; Disney knows the characters keep the seats full and the food quality isn't much better than a Golden Corral or Ponderosa. Buffets in general tend to be the bottom of the barrel in terms of meal quality; let's face it, food that sits in a warmer through a 4-5 hour meal period, even in a busy restaurant where things need to be refreshed often, isn't going to be as good as meals cooked fresh to order. And two of the three non-buffet restaurants on the list are among the worst reviewed on property.

We've had really good experiences with Disney dining and the deluxe dining plan, but we eat at a lot of signature restaurants as well as some of the one credit restaurants that enjoy a better reputation both on fan sites and non-Disney-specific dining sites. Kona, Teppan Edo, Tutto Italia, The Plaza, Liberty Tree were all good meals. Kouzzina, Via Napoli, La Hacienda, Sanaa all get positive reviews but haven't made it into our plans yet. And then there are the signature restaurants, which are the main reason we go deluxe; we've yet to have a bad signature meal.

We limit our character dining and buffets in part because we don't feel we can expect a really enjoyable meal at those restaurants. One meal with Mickey & friends, one with the Princesses, and maybe one other on longer trips (Ohana for Lilo & Stitch, or Crystal Palace for Pooh & friends, etc) is plenty to make the kids happy, and we use the rest of our dining credits on places we choose for the food.

 

[crostorfer]

This exactly.

I third this. (Or 4th or 5th, or whatever it is now). You kind of picked some crummy places, with the exception of the Tusker House breakfast, it's our favorite breakfast on property.

That being said, I wouldn't do the DxDP again either, but it's more of a time constraint issue. I don't like having to plan my day around three TS reservations, it leaves very little room for spontaneous changes in plan. And it's just A LOT of food.

 

[IluvDonald!]

Maybe we didn't pick some of the greatest restaurants, I'll agree with that. However, I still would have thought that at some of these places we could have gotten a shrimp cocktail.

Next time we won't do the characters as much, DD is outgrowing them.

Maybe next time just the dining plan but not deluxe - that may be a happy-medium!

 

[PoohsFan1]

Maybe we didn't pick some of the greatest restaurants, I'll agree with that. However, I still would have thought that at some of these places we could have gotten a shrimp cocktail.

Next time we won't do the characters as much, DD is outgrowing them.

Maybe next time just the dining plan but not deluxe - that may be a happy-medium!

That sounds like a much better plan than to skip out on the DDP altogether. I too have to agree with the rest of the PPs that since you were on the DxDP, you should of at least tried one, if not two, signature meals. My family loved having the DxDP in September and when we go back in May we are doing it again. With that said, we do one meal for the kids (either a character meal or some sort of fun themed meal for breakfast or lunch) then for dinner we do a signature meal for DH and I, which, BTW the kids really enjoy them too. Our favorite Signature restaurants are Cali Grill, Artist Point, and Yachtsman's Steakhouse.

 

[ms mouse]

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.

For the places you ate I would do CS too. What did you do with all your credits. For 7 nights on Deluxe you would have had 21 credits, you have only listed 7?

 

[budbeerlady]

I would stick with the Ts and try some new places. We have had wonderful meals at Sanaa, Narcoossees and Yachtsman. The Wave was very good also. Places that dont make the Disney character rounds.

I was ready to lose my mind over the counter services this trip. Yuck!!!!!! Try some other places and I think you will rethink your plan.