Well now that free dining is coming, will Disney get cheap on the menus again?

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Do you really think they can discriminate which guest is there for "free" or paying OOP for their meals?

Nobody ever said that Disney discriminates against the "free" guests. Disney just gives everyone lower quality food. Maybe you didn't read what I said: we were NOT ever on the dining plan, we pay for all of our meals, but the food was still much worse during free dining.

And if that is the case, I would be pretty peeved to find I was getting substandard food because of free dining...

I wouldn't feel bad if I was actually using the free dining (the food is free, Disney can give me what they want). But I would definitely feel peeved if I was actually paying the normal prices for substandard food because of free dining.

 

[Colleen27]

I agree, most likely the menus will suffer.

Nothing is worse than travelling during free dining - the ingredients are more homogenized, the food is less fresh, and the portions are smaller (we noticed all of these things during our August 2008 trip, we didn't have free dining because we never use DDP anyway. We dined at Artist Point both before and after free dining - the two meals were substantially different in quality).

Thankfully, our upcoming trip will be over on the second day of free dining, so we'll have decent food for most of our trip.

I'm curious, for those of you who have experienced this difference.... When do the menus tend to return to normal? And how much impact does FD really have on the signatures?

We're thinking about a F&W trip if we end up having to postpone our May trip, but we'd be stuck looking at early Oct because my kids have their state standardized testing for 3 weeks starting the second week of Oct. So we'd be looking at checking in a few days after free dining ends. But food is a big part of our Disney fun and I don't really want to go at a time when we're going to be dealing with limited menus and possibly the elimination of favorite items.

 

[Colleen27]

Disney is a business and free dining is covered by a variety of methods....nothing in the business world is actually free.

I would be curious with Disney earnings being down, if the surcharges to buffets during the other times of 2009 may also be a way that Disney is covering their free dining expenses?

They make up the difference on getting people to pay rack rate at their resorts. 4/3 is a 42% discount. They've been sending out 40% off PINs right and left. For people staying at deluxe resorts, both of those are better options, but people will book those deluxes at rack rate to get the free dining promotion.

 

[BreezysMom]

Nobody ever said that Disney discriminates against the "free" guests. QUOTE]

discriminates, as is to discern between the paying out of pocket guests and the free dining guests. You are assuming that I was using the negative connotation of the word. I too was there during free dining and because I was not up on my Dis knowledge, I had no idea free dining exisited and we paid for our dining plan.

My point is that I feel Disney would not serve inferior food for the 6 or so weeks of FD to ALL guests during that time. Now, taking higher price items off the menu...who knows.

 

[bangzoom6877]

They make up the difference on getting people to pay rack rate at their resorts. 4/3 is a 42% discount. They've been sending out 40% off PINs right and left. For people staying at deluxe resorts, both of those are better options, but people will book those deluxes at rack rate to get the free dining promotion.

Exactly right. They do not give the free dining promotion to people using a pin code. ONLY if you pay rack rate for your room and also purchase a park ticket of course. That means that you also cannot purchase your park tickets elsewhere, where they would offer them at a discounted rate (like Working Advantage for union members, or UT for example).

We are DVC members and I see on the DVC boards all the time, people debating about how we as members should be offered the free dining, when in fact many of us are already paying so much less for our accommodations in the long-term since the DVC membership lasts so many years and your accommodations are paid for already. People on the DVC boards also argue that we should be offered the current 4/3 promotion on our points but that is not how the DVC works. Bottom line is, offers cannot be combined at WDW. It's one or the other, not both or all. And that is exactly how Disney protects its bottom line...by drawing people in with different types of promotions and deals...free dining for the crowd that is impressed by "free dining" and not having to pay for most of their food; 4/3 for folks who would have otherwise only stayed for a short stay but now they will be there for 3 more nights, so that means more money spent on food, tickets possibly, purchases, etc.; DVC for fans of owning a timeshare with the ease of going to WDW often; pin codes for people who feel they just can't pass up such a good deal (and people who know this is a better deal than free dining). They know their stuff very well!

 

[Flametamr]

One explanation for the percieved loss of freshness and or lack of taste is that during free dining Disney probably cooks more items in bulk ahead of time and then just quickly reheats certain parts when a plate is ordered. That causes certain flavors and textures to be lost and quality suffers.

Anyone can cook a few steaks and take thier time and get them perfect. But noone can cook 200 steaks at once and then let them sit for 3 hours and then reheat them and make them taste the same. They will be tougher and more bland regardless of seasoning. And yes I have worked as a professional grill cook specializing in steaks many years ago.

This is why the food at CRT is so bland all the time. Preplated is never a good choice.

 

[Big Daddy Incredible]

If you recall from last year's free dining, after it was announced I noticed that certain higher priced entrees from the menus were being removed or the restaurant just revamped the menus for the free dining period and then changed them back again.

If you can recall, before free dining last year at Chefs de France this entree was on the menu:

Filet de boeuf grille, sauce au poivre noir Gratin Dauphinois et haricots verts - Grilled tenderloin of beef with a black pepper sauce original potato gratin of Savoy and green beans

I know that because we were going to WDW during the last week of free dining last year and planned to dine there because of that particular entree. Whenever the time was before free dining kicked in, that entree was removed. Then by some miracle, in November 2008 (the month was from the menu on allearsnet.com) it was put back on the menu and is still on there today. (note we did not get the DDP for free. We are DVC members and cant get the free promo)

I can't say that for a fact for the other places. That one at France just stuck in my mind because we wanted to eat there for a particular reason. I'm sure it happened in other restaurants that had "pricey" entrees or was one of the most expensive on their menu.

I hope they don't do it again but then again what do they care? We will still go and we will still pay for the DDP or get it for free and they will still get our money no matter what they serve.

I agree with you. I recall some of the restaurants eliminating some of their higher priced entrees during the free dining period last year. I'm sure the free dining had something to do with this removal from the menu. But I personally thought the main factor was the high beef prices that existed in 2008. If you could find a filet in the stores at $8.00 per pound last year, you found a deal. Beef prices have fallen by roughly half of what they were last year.

 

[eliza61]

I'm curious, for those of you who have experienced this difference.... When do the menus tend to return to normal? And how much impact does FD really have on the signatures?

We're thinking about a F&W trip if we end up having to postpone our May trip, but we'd be stuck looking at early Oct because my kids have their state standardized testing for 3 weeks starting the second week of Oct. So we'd be looking at checking in a few days after free dining ends. But food is a big part of our Disney fun and I don't really want to go at a time when we're going to be dealing with limited menus and possibly the elimination of favorite items.

Can't say when they return the menus back. I went early september and then late November so Free Dining was over for a few weeks before we returned.

Nobody ever said that Disney discriminates against the "free" guests. QUOTE]

discriminates, as is to discern between the paying out of pocket guests and the free dining guests. You are assuming that I was using the negative connotation of the word. I too was there during free dining and because I was not up on my Dis knowledge, I had no idea free dining exisited and we paid for our dining plan.

My point is that I feel Disney would not serve inferior food for the 6 or so weeks of FD to ALL guests during that time. Now, taking higher price items off the menu...who knows.

Not sure if I would call it discriminating. I think it's more of a "planning" issue. Maybe they anticipate the increase in dining patrons and plan accordingly with things like "pre-preparing" food, changing menus to items that can be easily thrown together, etc etc. offering the same things at every restuarant, things like that. I don't think they differentiate between FD guest and OOP guest because last year we used our DDE discount and the food was just as lousy.
I know quite a few people complain last year about the food quality and there were a ton of complaints on how guest felt "rushed" through their meals.

Call me pessimistic, we decided with the experiences of the last 2 years, plus a bad economy it just didn't reassure us that we would recieve a good dining experience. We decided to by pass it this year.

 

[eliza61]

One explanation for the percieved loss of freshness and or lack of taste is that during free dining Disney probably cooks more items in bulk ahead of time and then just quickly reheats certain parts when a plate is ordered. That causes certain flavors and textures to be lost and quality suffers.

Anyone can cook a few steaks and take thier time and get them perfect. But noone can cook 200 steaks at once and then let them sit for 3 hours and then reheat them and make them taste the same. They will be tougher and more bland regardless of seasoning. And yes I have worked as a professional grill cook specializing in steaks many years ago.

This is why the food at CRT is so bland all the time. Preplated is never a good choice.

Try pasta that's been cooked hours ahead then sat under a heat lamp for hours. Can we say glue.

 

[WALTSAGOD]

How is food less fresh?

Curious also!

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

How is the food less fresh?

Curious also!

How about reading the rest of the thread?

Not sure if I would call it discriminating. I think it's more of a "planning" issue. Maybe they anticipate the increase in dining patrons and plan accordingly with things like "pre-preparing" food, changing menus to items that can be easily thrown together, etc etc. offering the same things at every restuarant, things like that. I don't think they differentiate between FD guest and OOP guest because last year we used our DDE discount and the food was just as lousy.
I know quite a few people complain last year about the food quality and there were a ton of complaints on how guest felt "rushed" through their meals.

Call me pessimistic, we decided with the experiences of the last 2 years, plus a bad economy it just didn't reassure us that we would recieve a good dining experience. We decided to by pass it this year.

Why did you quote me saying that stuff? That wasn't me, I agree with you that Disney is willing to serve mediocre food to all guests during free dining.

My point is that I feel Disney would not serve inferior food for the 6 or so weeks of FD to ALL guests during that time. Now, taking higher price items off the menu...who knows.

We didn't use any dining plan at all, we paid for all of our meals. And we received the same inferior food during free dining as everyone else. Our trip started before free dining and ended during free dining: there WAS a significant difference in meal quality.

 

[catne]

wow, we have not had these bad experiences with dining at all. Have been in May (twice), September (free dining) and January...4 trips in last 20 months. Had excellent dining all 4 trips. Did not notice any difference in the food or the service between the 1 free dining trip and the 3 non-free-dining trips.

 

[bonybroad]

I would say that Disney knows how much they want to pre-cook.
That's why there are ADRs, and that's why they take things off the menu. Besides reducing their costs, they reduce the options, thus cost-saving, AND time-saving. Customers won't take as long to decide on their order, and they can turn the table quicker if the foods is already par-cooked.

 

[Nicole721]

When do the menus "change?"

We arrive a week before free dining (leave the day before it starts) and though it probably wouldn't matter to the rest of my family, I'm very picky (I won't eat seafood, I'm picky with my chicken) and a steak is usually my "safe" item if I can't find anything else on the menu at places they want to eat. Think we'll be okay? Or will the menus change during our stay in preparation?

 

[d1sneyf4n]

Was this lack of quality food experienced at the buffets as well?

 

[Blessedx3]

Now I am nervous about going during FD. We are paying for our meal plan as we are staying in a suite. Is it really that bad?

 

[kaytieeldr]

I would say that Disney knows how much they want to pre-cook.
That's why there are ADRs, and that's why they take things off the menu. Besides reducing their costs, they reduce the options, thus cost-saving, AND time-saving. Customers won't take as long to decide on their order, and they can turn the table quicker if the foods is already par-cooked.

Despite what many people seem to think, the need for dining reservations is NOT the result of the Disney Dining Plan, and the DDP is not the only reason Disney strongly recommends making dining reservations.

I don't think anybody said Disney reduces the menu options, just that they remove higher-cost items (filet) and replace them with less-costly versions.

Changing menus generally would not result in customers not taking as long to decide what to order: diners who do not fanatically plan ahead will still have about the same number of not-previously-known menu items from which to select, and DISers (and DIS-like planners) who have already chosen not just where, but what, to eat will now have to take longer to peruse a now-unfamiliar menu.

And, really, how much can you cost-effectively par-cook without knowing in advance how many diners each day will order what? I mean, nobody - not even I - knew that I would order the ravioli at Le Cellier last September until the waiter turned to me.

 

[d1sneyf4n]

Was this lack of quality food experienced at the buffets as well?

Does anyone know this answer.

 

[ElizabethB]

We ate at Chef Mickey's last year during free dining. We were surprised that there were many tasty items on the menu plus all you can eat peel and eat shrimp, which I don't care for since I don't like euphamistally named "vein". But, my dad likes it and was happy. The ribs were good, too, 100% better than the ribs at HDDR, which were inedible. The one thing that was simply terrible on the Chef Mickey buffet was the prime rib. Not good at all.

Having said that, other meals we had were fair to worse. Coral Reef for dinner was not good at all. Liberty Tree Tavern was not good (but then it never is for dinner).

We've totally given up on Chef de France.

Narcoosee's was good.

 

[onemaybaby]

oh this is disappointing! I was hoping to be blown away by the dining plan so I would want to purchase it whenever I go!