What was your biggest surprise and disappointment?

[Coconuts]

We just got back from a trip and was wondering, dining wise, what was everyone's biggest pleasant surprises and disappointments from recent trips?

My pleasant surprises were WPE at DTD and Tortuga Tavern at MK. Tortuga Tavern was never open on previous trips. It had good CS options, other than your typical chicken nuggets and mac & cheese. WPE's food was so plentiful and delicious, and also not your typical Disney menu. We will definetly repeat that one on our next trip.

My biggest disappointments were SAI and Biergarten. I had never eaten at SAI and was excited for it, especially since I read so much on the boards how improved it was from previous dismal reviews. It was just so-so and I guess I was expecting more.

We went to Biergarten and loved it on our last trip. The show was on for almost the entire time we dined there, which the kids just loved. This time the show came on almost 20 minutes later than what our waiter said and only lasted for @ 10-15 minutes. The kids hardly had time to get down to the floor to dance. This one is now off of our must-do list.

Looking forward to hearing other experiences. Thanks.

 

[engle]

Okay, let's see...recent trip surprises were Crew's Cup Lounge at Yacht Club. Great food and drinks. You can even get some Yachtsman items!! The bisque is the best ever.

Biggest disappointment, Chefs de France. For the 3rd time, horrible service. The service is so slooooooow. Yikes. When we asked for our check, it took 15 minutes and we handed him our credit card right away. It took another 15 for him to return. Sad. I understand that they only have one service station for ordering and cashier for the whole restaurant. They need to fix this. We won't go back as the food doesn't warrant this kind of wait.

 

[Pakey]

After so many WDW vacations, it's hard to be surprised, either good or bad, but I'll try.

Disappointment: Kouzzina. I expected more from a restaurant with a menu influenced by an Iron Chef.

Surprise: bluezoo lounge. I've been there several times but 2 weeks ago, we were 6 adults, unable to decide which of the specialty drinks we wanted to order. The bartender whipped up one of each and split them for us all to taste so we could decide. Nice touch.

 

[c&m]

Our biggest disappointment was 'Ohana. We had such a great experience our first time there - coconut races, a sweet waitress who gave my daughters flowers to put in their hair, a table by the window, then Wishes started, the night was magical - we thought it would always be that wonderful. Not quite.

Our second time there, we were seated away from the main dining area, we couldn't see the coconut races going on, our waiter was indifferent and non-attentive. But the poor guy had a bad cold...so maybe he just wasn't up to working that night. I felt bad for him. What disturbed me though was that he kept wiping his nose with his arm while serving us food. The sides were good, but the meats were really tough and dry. It was just a bad time. Regardless of this bad experience, we're going back for a 3rd time in March - hopefully, it'll erase our last memory of the place.

Our biggest surprise of the trip was just how good Sunshine Seasons, Wolfgang Puck Express, and Earl of Sandwich are. They are inexpensive, and we had our best meals there. We were also wowed by Kona Cafe's breakfasts. Kona Cafe's Tonga Toast and macadamia nut pancakes do live up to their hype.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

On our last trip our best/worst surprises were:

Best: Crystal Palace Breakfast - food was way better than I was expecting. lots of variety, seemed pretty fresh and they even had made to order omlettes and pancakes

Worst: Wolfgang Puck Cafe: Longest wait past our ADR, ridiculously loud (could not hear each other talk), took a long time for some food to come out/get wait staffs attention, and one of our entrees had to be sent back (to be fair, some of our other food was excellent, but the whole experience left a lot to be desired)

 

[Huff]

Biggest Dissappointment was Chefs de France. We had dined there a few years ago and it was excellent, great food, great service, fun waitress etc. We returned last year and had cold food, extremely slow service and a waiter that couldn't care less when we inquired what the hold up was. 20 minutes to get drink order taken after being seated, another 15 to get our food order taken, 45 mins for food to arrive, 45 mins to get check after waiting and finally having to ask for it for the 3rd time including finding the manager to ask. We almost were forced to walk out without paying!! I wasn't going to wait any longer! We won't be back unless I hear its had major improvements.

Biggest suprise was Kona. Don't hear that much about Kona on forums but we feel its a fantastic restaurant. Food was excellent and so was service. Its on our must do list each trip now. Wolfgang Express was also a suprise for a CS, great food far above most other CS's.

 

[hooch11bear]

I have to agree with Ohana. After reading so many great reviews, we really expected it to be a great meal. The meat was really dry and overcooked. I did enjoy the salad and the desert though.

I have to say that our biggest surprises would have been Captain's Grille and Wolfgang Puck Express. The pizzas at Wolfgang Puck's are amazing. I wish we would have eaten there sooner. We could have definitely eaten there multiple times to try some of their other menu items. Can't wait to go back!!

 

[starrysky]

We were really disapointed with Ohana's too, DH was so looking forward to the meal. Its was horrible, from the meat all tasting like BBQ lighter fuel to a non existant waiter and the woman doing the show was just plain annoying. She was sitting in some poor guys lap and making some off remarks. Even the bread pudding while wonderful did not make up for the terrrible food and service.

Olivia's was also not great my pasta had a watery sauce and just yuck and DH thought that he would get more than a lump of watery mash with his steak. When he asked if there was more veg to come he was told no thats what it comes with if you want veg its extra. So he had to wait and pay for a small portion of spinich.

San Angel Inn while good the menu options have dropped and DH was upset that the crab tostada was off the menu and the deserts were more generic than mexican. Think we will give it a miss next year.

We were also less than thrilled with Boma, while the food was not bad the selection was not what I was expecting and the much talked up soups were not too our taste and we like unusual flavours which is why we booked it. Very Very loud as well.

I know people love the above places and given all the positive reviews about places like Boma and Ohana I was expecting more and just left feeling bad that I had chosen them.

On a more positive note,

The surprises were the Wave, wonderful meal, great service from Dave and the wine flights both the white and the red were excellent. We would have eaten there again if we had not had other places booked we wanted to try. Next year it might go on the double visit list. Not a place you hear much about and it was very quiet when we went in but really worth a visit and its only one credit on the DDP given the standard of both food and service I would have thought it should be a 2 credit. Oh and the trio of deserts is a great idea if you want to try different options.

Raglan Road was also great bit of a rockey start as my friend had to send her main back as the mushrooms were missing from her meal which was a mushroom risotto . Other than that it was great, my pie and DH fish were excellent and the deserts were pretty good too. DH said the bread pudding was to die for.

Teppan Edo was also excellent great food and the chef we had was really funny and cooked the steak to perfection. DH said its on the list for next year.

As for our next trip I'm already looking at options and hey some we will love and others well see above. Thats what we find is so great about WDW there are always plenty of options.

 

[Huff]

For those that commented about Ohana and dry food. Did any of you ask your waiter to bring out something not so welldone? Our last visit was Sept. 2010. We too got some rather over cooked beef. Very dry. We simply asked for something rare to medium-rare and waiter came back with perfectly cooked beef. Chicken, shrimp and everything else was fine. We're planning on returning this Jan. so hope it goes well!

Good to hear about the Wave. We ate there several years ago but its location was temporary, next to Chef Mickey's. Looking forward to new location and menu.

 

[sweeteypie1118]

Biggest pleasant surprises were the really delicious lunch I had at Liberty Tree Tavern (pot roast, mashed potatoes, and ooey gooey toffee cake) and Sci Fi was a lot better than what I was expecting.

 

[cigar95]

. . . . . , especially since I read so much on the boards how improved it was from previous dismal reviews. It was just so-so and I guess I was expecting more.

Oops, that was probably me - I mention this on almost every thread on the Inn. Sorry about that.

But when I had gone there after La Hacienda opened, it really *did* get better. No, I mean it! It was better. Seriously! (. . . . keeps yelling and screaming about SAI getting better as the orderlies wrap him up and drag him into the back of the little truck . . . . . )

 

[TDluvsDaisy]

Tusker House was our surprise enjoyment. We've eaten at Boma for dinner a few years ago and were underwhelmed. We like flavor and/or spices and it just didn't live up to our expectations. Maybe it was an off night. But Tusker House blew us away! It was one of the highlights of our trips. Up there with our signature dining.

We were majorly disappointed with La Hacienda last year. It was yuck yuck yuck. DH actually got sick. My DS stopped eating because it was so bad. The service was beyond horrible as well. The waitress disappeared after she took our drink order. She finally came back with our drinks and we ordered. Apps took forever then our food came out 5 mins after the apps did. It'll take years for us to go back there for a second try. DS still talks about how bad it was.

 

[budafam]

Biggest Surprise - Hollywood & Vine... we were the first family for breakfast so maybe that had something to do with it but there was sooo much food to pick from. I thought it was excellent quality and service. We will return!

Biggest Disappointment - Brown Derby - by FAR the worst service we have ever had a restaurant. Our server forced my son to eat more before giving him his dessert... then he didn't even ask what he wanted, he brought it out and set it on the ledge behind him so I had to get up and get it for my son myself... turns out it was chocolate, something my son doesn't like. We'll never go back there

 

[Jaly]

Biggest dissapointment had to be the biergarten. My wife is German and I lived there for 3.5 years. Food did not come close to making me feel like I was in germany again. Lesson learned, do not eat somewhere if you have a pre-conceived notion of how the food is truely prepared.

 

[summermac]

Our last trip was 2009 so it's been a while.

Biggest disappointment:
50s PTC - this was our 3rd time eating here and we didn't have near the amount of fun we'd had the first two times

Biggest surprise:
Kona! The food was amazing and the dessert was SOO good. This was the only meal that everyone LOVED what they ordered.

 

[GeneralTso]

Both of my answers are from the China Pavillion

Disappointment: that ridiculous little walk up window. The food was worse than mall Chinese. Just silly. Wasted money.

Surprise: the wonderful entertainment there. Really top notch!

 

[HadesTX]

Biggest surprise (other than FINALLY seeing Tortuga Tavern open) was how much I enjoyed everything. I was prepared for mediocre food & service & it was all good! Very good. (Well, except my one selection below...)

My favorite, WCC. I really expected to hate the skillet after reading reviews.

Biggest disappointment (other than being full & not getting to actually EAT at Tortuga Tavern) was probably the bison meal at Artist Point. I was expecting to love it & I didn't care for the flavor. It just wasn't my thing. DH's steak was very good though. I stole a little of that.

Also, getting two tiny little potatoes for my side wasn't all that impressive. I still left full though & would return.

 

[Lumiere Lover]

I loved the Creme Brulee at Chefs de France.

As for the worst, it had to be the dessert party at MK. It was packed, kids were everywhere, and parent's didn't feel the need to discipline their children.

WDW-if you hear me-please come out with an adults only dessert party at the MK. I would LOVE that!!

 

[meljean]

Biggest disappointment would be Cinderella's Royal Table-Lunch. The choices were limited and portions were small, we shared a salad. The atmosphere was great but for 2 credits the food needs some help!

Biggest surprise was Le Cellier and Sci Fi. Le Cellier had amazing steaks for lunch. We wished we had booked it twice! We have eaten at Sci Fi before but this time was awesome! Great service and the shakes were so good. I had the shrimp bowtie pasta, oh my!! So good! I thnk there was 15 shrimp in there!

 

[BranNich]

Biggest Surprises: Sci Fi & Coral Reef. Both of these restaurants don't get the best reviews on here but the food was good and service was great. The kids loved both and us parents loved Coral Reef...nice view and very relaxing compared to most Disney World restaurants.

Biggest Disappontments: Brown Derby - We really expected a lot from the Brown Derby considering the price . Absolutely the worst service ever in many years of visiting Disney World. Another big disappointment was Yak & Yeti..the service was good but the food was terrible.