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

[joxer1014]

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.

 

[TDC Nala]

Probably. No doubt it makes cost sense to remove expensive entrees during free dining.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Probably. No doubt it makes cost sense to remove expensive entrees during free dining.

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.

 

[loonytoony]

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.

How is food less fresh?

 

[maddiesmom0116]

I have to agree with you here. I have noticed menu and food quality issues during free dining. I am going the last week of free dining and I have the DXDDP and did not get free dining, I had a 30% off room rate bounceback. Free dining is usually done a week earlier and that is why I planned the way I did. The Parks are too busy and the ADR's are harder to get. I would change by travel dates if I hadn't already bought my flight and the change fees are to high at $75 a person each way.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

How is food less fresh?

Because instead of getting a bunch of diverse food options on a frequent basis, they do more "bulk" purchases of food. That's why strip steak and bland chicken dominate the menus during free dining. Our grilled chicken at Spoodles during free dining was completely inedible. It tasted like machine parts and chemicals, it was that bad.

And our two meals at Artist Point also demonstrated these negative changes. Before free dining, we were so impressed with the restaurant that we had to go back, so we booked another meal there (this second meal was during free dining). We ordered the exact same dishes, that's how much we liked it. The entrees and desserts were much smaller portions than before (while the prices were the same), and the berry cobbler was almost cold. Obviously, they prepared a bunch of cobblers in bulk and just added a scoop of ice cream to serve them.

The meals were so bad during free dining, that we haven't gone back to most of them. In fact, we only did 2 sit down meals during our 7-night trip in February (Artist Point and Ohana - AP was much better than during free dining, and we only go to Ohana for the turkey).

Maybe it's just us, but we're serious foodies, and we definitely remember a time when Disney World had higher quality food.

 

[TheLittleRoo]

Because instead of getting a bunch of diverse food options on a frequent basis, they do more "bulk" purchases of food. That's why strip steak and bland chicken dominate the menus during free dining. Our grilled chicken at Spoodles during free dining was completely inedible. It tasted like machine parts and chemicals, it was that bad.

And our two meals at Artist Point also demonstrated these negative changes. Before free dining, we were so impressed with the restaurant that we had to go back, so we booked another meal there (this second meal was during free dining). We ordered the exact same dishes, that's how much we liked it. The entrees and desserts were much smaller portions than before (while the prices were the same), and the berry cobbler was almost cold. Obviously, they prepared a bunch of cobblers in bulk and just added a scoop of ice cream to serve them.

The meals were so bad during free dining, that we haven't gone back to most of them. In fact, we only did 2 sit down meals during our 7-night trip in February (Artist Point and Ohana - AP was much better than during free dining, and we only go to Ohana for the turkey).

Maybe it's just us, but we're serious foodies, and we definitely remember a time when Disney World had higher quality food.

Wow. That's not good news for anyone going during free dining. The last time I was there for FD was 2006. Has it really deteriorated that much since then, or it's the same now as in 2006?

 

[lady_hlh]

Wow. That's not good news for anyone going during free dining. The last time I was there for FD was 2006. Has it really deteriorated that much since then, or it's the same now as in 2006?

I have gone during free dining every year since it started and I haven't noticed any difference in the food quality each year.

 

[TDC Nala]

Not that the food is bad but it isn't great anymore, at least at the one-credit restaurants. Menu offerings have definitely changed. Try restaurants that don't accept the dining plan. (Like Bluezoo. Can't say enough about Bluezoo)

 

[disneysuncat]

Are the signature (2 credit) restaurants less affected by the menu changes/quality downturn?

I am booked for 9/21-10/3, and that's the LAST week I can use my 40% off code. I'd rather not go during free dining, but can't give up my 40% off.

Nevermind, the Artist Point mentioned above is a signature restaurant.

Man, I am bummed.

 

[eliza61]

I think I agree with the PP. generally I find the menus during free dining, mediocre at best. I generally rent a car if I go during free dining so I can off site every once in a while.

 

[joxer1014]

I didn't say the quality suffers during free dining. I just said that the more desired choices seem to go by the wayside during FD. I thought Disney cared about their guests at least a little. Now I know that the bottom line comes first.

 

[mickey2000]

 

[JoanneNC]

 

[kaytieeldr]

How is food less fresh?

Yeah, that surprised me, too.

Because instead of getting a bunch of diverse food options on a frequent basis, they do more "bulk" purchases of food. That's why strip steak and bland chicken dominate the menus during free dining.

While I don't disagree that Disney may change the version of a particular protein or proteins (or other items) during free dining,,, Disney does more "bulk" purchasing because the food is being consumed faster and in greater quantities than at other times of the year. "Bland" chicken cannot be blamed on bulk purchasing - it's the same chicken (after all, if a supplier has the best price in September, most likely they have the best price year-round and so the chicken is always the same); taste can only be attributed to preparation, spices, etc.

and the berry cobbler was almost cold. Obviously, they prepared a bunch of cobblers in bulk and just added a scoop of ice cream to serve them.

'Obviously' seems like, again, too much of a generalization, an opinion based on one party's experience; any such pre-prep would only be obvious to people in the kitchen area.

The entrees and desserts were much smaller portions than before (while the prices were the same)

Old joke (condensed): "I hated that meal. The food was terrible... and the portions were too small!".

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

'Obviously' seems like, again, too much of a generalization, an opinion based on one party's experience; any such pre-prep would only be obvious to people in the kitchen area.

We both ordered the same dessert, and both cobblers were cold. That, and the fact that we received our desserts 2 minutes after ordering them, makes me think they were pre-made.

Old joke (condensed): "I hated that meal. The food was terrible... and the portions were too small!".

We didn't hate the meal because the portions were small. We hated the meal because compared to a previous meal there 5 days earlier, the place was terrible. For people paying cash for their meals, the second meal was a total rip off compared to the first, because the prices stayed the same.

I don't care how you feel or if you disagree, but our meals before free dining (Artist Point and Chefs de France) were way better than our meals during free dining (Marakesh, Spoodles, and Artist Point again). It's not because of restaurant choice, it's because of changes in the overall menu and quality of food.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Again, not disagreeing. It's possible someone else ordered them and then changed their minds/left before dessert was served, etc. - and since the items hadn't left the kitchen yet, in fact hadn't even been completed yet, those were served to you. Heck, it's possible your server even accidentally took desserts waiting for another table, thinking they were yours.

And it's entirely possible you're 100% right and I'm 100% wrong. I'm just presenting alternative explanations for a single incident.

We didn't hate the meal because the portions were small.

No, I understand that. It was just that, earlier you were pointing out that in general free dining makes Disney purchase lower-quality foods, with bad or no taste, in greater quantities; then in the Artist Point description the serving size during free dining was reduced.

Putting the two together invokes the joke I condensed and posted. Hold on, I'll go find the whole thing...

 

[eliza61]

Again, not disagreeing. It's possible someone else ordered them and then changed their minds/left before dessert was served, etc. - and since the items hadn't left the kitchen yet, in fact hadn't even been completed yet, those were served to you. Heck, it's possible your server even accidentally took desserts waiting for another table, thinking they were yours.

And it's entirely possible you're 100% right and I'm 100% wrong. I'm just presenting alternative explanations for a single incident.

No, I understand that. It was just that, earlier you were pointing out that in general free dining makes Disney purchase lower-quality foods, with bad or no taste, in greater quantities; then in the Artist Point description the serving size during free dining was reduced.

Putting the two together invokes the joke I condensed and posted. Hold on, I'll go find the whole thing...

Unfortunatey I don't think they have been single incidents. We've noticed the differences 2 times. In 2007 we were lucky enough to go to the world in May and once again during FD, we ate at the exact same restuarants and there was a market difference in food quality. Dishes were luke warm at best, most pasta dishes tasted as if the pasta was cooked in the morning and left sitting all day (basically rubbery and tasteless). My dh made jokes about how it tasted like the "white paste" the kids would use in kindergarten.

Same thing last year, we went during FD, food was lousy and the service at the character meals were one step up from fast food, talk about rushing people in and out, we returned in November to celebrate my sons bday totally different experience.

It's bad enough that this year when we are there during fd, I plan on using the kitchen at our 1 bedroom. I'd rather cook than waste money and get mediocre meals.

Totally my experience and not to be taken as scientific fact.

 

[BreezysMom]

While I am not disputing you all, I think that Disney is smarter than that. I was there for free dining two years ago but did not participate. Do you really think they can discriminate which guest is there for "free" or paying OOP for their meals? And if that is the case, I would be pretty peeved to find I was getting substandard food because of free dining...

 

[MissionMouse]

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?