derricksonb
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2010
Not everyone has the same flavor palette, same server or visits during the same times of the year. That being said we usually tend to visit WDW during the value seasons in Sept, Oct, Nov and Dec when the crowds are lower, the temps cooler and everyone seems more relaxed, even the CM's. We also go down every May with my extended family to celebrate Mothers Day. That being said I can't actually say that we have ever had a bad meal or had a bad enough experience that we would ever rule out not returning to a restaurant, but there are a few on our list that we question if we want to give another chance.
Top on that list for me is Hollywood and Vine Dinner. Last year we ate there twice as a part of the Fantasmic Dinner Package. The overall food selection on the buffet was not bad, but the flavor was bland at best. Also found that the menu items were pretty much the same as what we have experienced in the past at 1900 PF and CP. As such I expected much more individuality from a restaurant in DHS then from one in MK. I have read on this thread where some have complained about the servers, but ours was very friendly and attentive as were the CM's tending the buffet and carving stations.
A close second was Whispering Canyon Café' Dinner: My Family and I have only dined there on one occasion. We had our kids (at the time DD6 and DS3) and they loved the extras and the overall atmosphere of the restaurant. Our server was fairly attentive given the size of the crowd and the number of times he was drawn away to participate in the antics. We ordered the Build Your Own AYCE Family Platter. The rub on the ribs was very salty, the chicken was dry and the beef loin was closer to beef jerky. I realize that we may have gone on an off night and we haven't completely ruled out going again, but there are other buffet style restaurants on property that we have enjoyed much more like Boma, Ohana and Cape May.
Chef Mickey's Dinner: Not sure exactly what I expected when the family and I stepped foot into Chef Mickey's for Dinner to celebrate DS1's and DD3's birthdays with the fab five, but I definitely expected more than some dried out hamburgers, overdone Prime Rib and baked chicken masquerading as "tandori chicken." Again our server was outstanding and the character interactions with the kids were priceless, but I felt that it was extremely overpriced for what they were serving. Now, that being said, on another trip years later we chose to dine at Chef Mickey's for breakfast and it was simply amazing and well worth the price of admission.
LeCellier: As far as the restaurant itself I feel that it is completely overhyped and the reason that it always seemed to be impossible to book reservations is due to the maximum capacity of the restaurant (160 I believe). If I had a place like WDW with thousands of patrons committed to staying at my resorts on my property, attending my theme parks and dining in my restaurants located in those parks then I could probably squeeze several tables and chairs into my garage and declare that it was an exclusive "Signature" restaurant, but it doesn't change the fact that it's still a garage. That being said, the quality of the food is very good and we had a fun time with the servers (We're people persons and always try to have a good time with the CM's). As a 1TS restaurant I can see where LeCellier was a very popular and in demand restaurant, but it's not Signature Dining worthy except for the aforementioned limited seating capacity. If I'm on the DDP and I'm going to use 2TS credits on a steak then I'm dining at the Yachtsmen. However, if I could still get in to LeCellier for a late lunch on the 1xDDP, then I'd be fat, dumb and happy, but I believe it's now 2TS all the time...
I'm trying to think if there are any Quick Serve locations that we would not recommend or go back to again, but none seem to come to mind.....
Some have mentioned Toy Story Pizza Planet: We ate there once upon a time, but I recall it being neither outstanding nor blatantly horrible.
Others have mentioned ABC Commissary: We have eaten there on several occasions and while the food is nothing to write home about it helped fill a void in our lives and gave us comfort in our times of need... namely the rumblies in our tumblies.
The only one I can imagine having any issue with at all is Casey's Corner. I already know that this may be sacrilege to some, worthy of having me thrown off the DIS or forced to walk the plank
, but I mention Casey's Corner not because the Cast Members are rude, because they are not. I say this not because I've ever had a bad meal there, because the food is pretty rocking for what it is. I say this not because it's dirty or not well ran, because it is not dirty and always well stocked when we go in. I say this because I have a HUGE mental block about paying $9.49 for the same chili cheese hot dog I can get at any 7-11 for $1.89. That's my biggest issue: price point. That being said I can't wait until September when I can sit at one of the outdoor tables, gaze at Cinderella's Castle and dive into one of Casey's Chili Cheese Dogs, large Coke and a mountain of French Fries. 
Top on that list for me is Hollywood and Vine Dinner. Last year we ate there twice as a part of the Fantasmic Dinner Package. The overall food selection on the buffet was not bad, but the flavor was bland at best. Also found that the menu items were pretty much the same as what we have experienced in the past at 1900 PF and CP. As such I expected much more individuality from a restaurant in DHS then from one in MK. I have read on this thread where some have complained about the servers, but ours was very friendly and attentive as were the CM's tending the buffet and carving stations.
A close second was Whispering Canyon Café' Dinner: My Family and I have only dined there on one occasion. We had our kids (at the time DD6 and DS3) and they loved the extras and the overall atmosphere of the restaurant. Our server was fairly attentive given the size of the crowd and the number of times he was drawn away to participate in the antics. We ordered the Build Your Own AYCE Family Platter. The rub on the ribs was very salty, the chicken was dry and the beef loin was closer to beef jerky. I realize that we may have gone on an off night and we haven't completely ruled out going again, but there are other buffet style restaurants on property that we have enjoyed much more like Boma, Ohana and Cape May.
Chef Mickey's Dinner: Not sure exactly what I expected when the family and I stepped foot into Chef Mickey's for Dinner to celebrate DS1's and DD3's birthdays with the fab five, but I definitely expected more than some dried out hamburgers, overdone Prime Rib and baked chicken masquerading as "tandori chicken." Again our server was outstanding and the character interactions with the kids were priceless, but I felt that it was extremely overpriced for what they were serving. Now, that being said, on another trip years later we chose to dine at Chef Mickey's for breakfast and it was simply amazing and well worth the price of admission.
LeCellier: As far as the restaurant itself I feel that it is completely overhyped and the reason that it always seemed to be impossible to book reservations is due to the maximum capacity of the restaurant (160 I believe). If I had a place like WDW with thousands of patrons committed to staying at my resorts on my property, attending my theme parks and dining in my restaurants located in those parks then I could probably squeeze several tables and chairs into my garage and declare that it was an exclusive "Signature" restaurant, but it doesn't change the fact that it's still a garage. That being said, the quality of the food is very good and we had a fun time with the servers (We're people persons and always try to have a good time with the CM's). As a 1TS restaurant I can see where LeCellier was a very popular and in demand restaurant, but it's not Signature Dining worthy except for the aforementioned limited seating capacity. If I'm on the DDP and I'm going to use 2TS credits on a steak then I'm dining at the Yachtsmen. However, if I could still get in to LeCellier for a late lunch on the 1xDDP, then I'd be fat, dumb and happy, but I believe it's now 2TS all the time...
I'm trying to think if there are any Quick Serve locations that we would not recommend or go back to again, but none seem to come to mind.....
Some have mentioned Toy Story Pizza Planet: We ate there once upon a time, but I recall it being neither outstanding nor blatantly horrible.
Others have mentioned ABC Commissary: We have eaten there on several occasions and while the food is nothing to write home about it helped fill a void in our lives and gave us comfort in our times of need... namely the rumblies in our tumblies.
The only one I can imagine having any issue with at all is Casey's Corner. I already know that this may be sacrilege to some, worthy of having me thrown off the DIS or forced to walk the plank
, but I mention Casey's Corner not because the Cast Members are rude, because they are not. I say this not because I've ever had a bad meal there, because the food is pretty rocking for what it is. I say this not because it's dirty or not well ran, because it is not dirty and always well stocked when we go in. I say this because I have a HUGE mental block about paying $9.49 for the same chili cheese hot dog I can get at any 7-11 for $1.89. That's my biggest issue: price point. That being said I can't wait until September when I can sit at one of the outdoor tables, gaze at Cinderella's Castle and dive into one of Casey's Chili Cheese Dogs, large Coke and a mountain of French Fries. 
