WHY do they keep changing the menus!?!?!?

[crzy4mk]

WHY do they keep changing the menus?!?!??!??!?!?!

There aren't too many things I'm super-picky about, but there are certain things I really look forward to that make my WDW trips special. And because I'm a "foodie", many of them involve restaurants/food.

So I'm getting kind of miffed that things seem to be changing ALOT lately. I've read other threads about some of your favorites getting phased off the menus. And all of my favorites had survived the purge . . . until now.

I just read that the vegetable "wrap" (nice medley in phyllo dough, served with a wonderful mustard cream sauce) I loved so much has disappeared from the Rose & Crown menu altogether! It was just on the lunch menu, and I recently moved around some of my ADRs to have lunch there instead of dinner. And now it's not there at all!

I have plenty of theories as to why the menus are changing so much, but I (along with many of you) have already shared them repeatedly on these boards. So I'll save you all the time of having to read them, and just say . . . .

WAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!

 

[disneydisneydoo]

I feel your pain. I was sooo disappointed when the Spoodles menu changed!

 

[MickeyNicki]

I asked a manager while I was there last week and she said that most restaurants and bars change a few items every 4 months, to go along with the seasons.

We noticed a ton of changes in drink menus too!

 

[solferino]

I understand it's disappointing, but I think it's just something restaurants do. Even around here places seem to change a few times a year. There might be a few "signature" items that don't change on the local menus, but sometimes it's nice to try something different.

 

[DisneyDeeva]

They have to keep things "fresh". FYI, most of the restaurants are pretty good about making changes to dishes (within reason) to suit individual taste. The only one that ever said no to me was California Grill. I'm not in any hurry to go back there because I felt like we were treated like second class citizens.

 

[DisneyGirlie]

I love going to the Sci-Fi Dine In Theater because I love the atmosphere, but really the only food item I liked was the BBQ Chicken Sandwich and it got taken off and switched with like an Italian Chicken Sandwhich. I tried the Italian Chicken Sandwhich last week and i'll eat it, but I really really miss my old BBQ chicken sandwhich. We asked about the old BBQ chicken sandwich actually and our waiter seemed kind of snappy to say "No, we don't have it anymore."
grrr.
I really don't like change. haha.

 

[LindyN]

As a frequent Disney guest I get tired of seeing the same things everywhere. You get chicken, fish, beef, and a pasta dish on just about every menu. Its nice to see something new that brings me back into the restaurants.

If you have something on the "old" menu that you really loved, just ask if the kitchen can prepare it for you. If the chef/cook has been there for a while they just may be able to whip up the old item that you loved.

Doesn't hurt to ask.

 

[mello]

If the changes were really to keep things fresh, creative and all that, you'd think the menus would get more innovative and add new things, instead of getting smaller and more boring. ITA that 5 or 6 standardized dishes on every menu - a chicken, a fish, a steak, and a penne pasta is just tiresome. Same 4 or 5 appetizers and same 4 or 5 desserts everywhere too - cheesecake, chocolate cake, and maybe if we're lucky some variation on creme brule or perhaps an apple or key lime tart. Where is the character, the creativity, the innovention? Most generic chain restaurants have a better menu selection anymore.

 

[fla4fun]

Maybe restaurants in the real world change their menus frequently to bring people in and keep things fresh, but this is Disney. Most people aren't eating out at Disney week after week, year after year. Most people go there, at most, a few times a year and they look forward to familiar rides and familiar food. It's especially frustrating if you are traveling during the time of year when you HAVE to make your ADR's at 180 or you don't get to eat at all. So you go over all the menus and find places that have something you like to eat. Just when you have it all planned and there aren't any openings to change your ADR's around, they change all the menus and there's nothing you like to eat at the places you are scheduled to dine. If they are going to force us into making reservations six months out, then there should be a six month lead time for any restaurant menu changes (I know, it'll never happen, but that's how it should be).

 

[Mackey Mouse]

Yes restaurants change their menus quite a bit, but where I live they seem to offer the old standards and then some daily offerings that are the chef's specials for that day..

I guess if I were running the restaurants at Disney, I would either do surveys among my guests and figure out what people seem to like at each restaurant, what draws them back, continue with those offerings and if I wanted to change the menu a bit offer 2 or 3 daily specials...

Of course, they did not ask me...Has anyone ever been surveyed at Disney on their food choices... I have been surveyed many times but never on what I would prefer to eat while staying there.

I would write a letter with your concerns...I hate to say this final thought, but it probably comes down to money....what they can buy and serve in the most economical way.

 

[DisneyDeeva]

A couple of things to keep in mind:

First and foremost, the restaurants at WDW are serving thousands and thousands of people each week from all over the world. While a certain percentage may be adventurous eaters, the vast majority are looking for something safe and familiar. The last thing you want as a chef is a large number of dishes coming back to the kitchen because it was to spicy or otherwise unacceptable. Steak, chicken and fish are fairly safe standbys.

It is also a matter of economy, both time and money. What can be made in advance? What will keep throughout dinnner service? etc. This is why you see some of the standard deserts...cheesecake, creme brulee, cake, ice cream. They also have to keep in mind what ingredients are readily available in quantity.

Finally, many of the restaurants have a fairly frequent rotation of chefs. Each chef has their own twist on things. You will find some places keeping a couple of standbys like the pork and polenta at CG and the filet at LeCellier. I, for one, like that they give me the opportunity to continue trying new and different dishes.

Don't get me wrong, I've been a victim of menu change. I had my heart set on the salmon at CG. The week before we arrived, they changed the menu for the fall season. The side dishes sounded disgusting to me and the chef wouldn't accomodate at all. I was very disappointed but learned an important lesson.

 

[disnut8]

A couple of things to keep in mind:

First and foremost, the restaurants at WDW are serving thousands and thousands of people each week from all over the world. While a certain percentage may be adventurous eaters, the vast majority are looking for something safe and familiar. The last thing you want as a chef is a large number of dishes coming back to the kitchen because it was to spicy or otherwise unacceptable. Steak, chicken and fish are fairly safe standbys.

It is also a matter of economy, both time and money. What can be made in advance? What will keep throughout dinnner service? etc. This is why you see some of the standard deserts...cheesecake, creme brulee, cake, ice cream. They also have to keep in mind what ingredients are readily available in quantity.

Finally, many of the restaurants have a fairly frequent rotation of chefs. Each chef has their own twist on things. You will find some places keeping a couple of standbys like the pork and polenta at CG and the filet at LeCellier. I, for one, like that they give me the opportunity to continue trying new and different dishes.

Don't get me wrong, I've been a victim of menu change. I had my heart set on the salmon at CG. The week before we arrived, they changed the menu for the fall season. The side dishes sounded disgusting to me and the chef wouldn't accomodate at all. I was very disappointed but learned an important lesson.

Well said. There are restaurants I haven't eat at yet (very few) but it's because nothing on the menu appeals to me. Anytime I see there's a new menu, I hope it's changed for something that I'll like. We went to Coral Reef once many, many years ago. Then the menu changed and we haven't been back. Now there's things on there that we could enjoy again. Now I just have to convince my husband that's it's worth a second trip since we avoided it in the recent past.

 

[MickeyNicki]

Look at all the big chain restaurants...they change it up all the time...Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Fridays, Ruby Tuesdays, Applebees, Chilis, etc...they are always introducing a new menu

 

[my3disneygirls]

A couple of things to keep in mind:

First and foremost, the restaurants at WDW are serving thousands and thousands of people each week from all over the world. While a certain percentage may be adventurous eaters, the vast majority are looking for something safe and familiar. The last thing you want as a chef is a large number of dishes coming back to the kitchen because it was to spicy or otherwise unacceptable. Steak, chicken and fish are fairly safe standbys.

It is also a matter of economy, both time and money. What can be made in advance? What will keep throughout dinnner service? etc. This is why you see some of the standard deserts...cheesecake, creme brulee, cake, ice cream. They also have to keep in mind what ingredients are readily available in quantity.

Finally, many of the restaurants have a fairly frequent rotation of chefs. Each chef has their own twist on things. You will find some places keeping a couple of standbys like the pork and polenta at CG and the filet at LeCellier. I, for one, like that they give me the opportunity to continue trying new and different dishes.

Don't get me wrong, I've been a victim of menu change. I had my heart set on the salmon at CG. The week before we arrived, they changed the menu for the fall season. The side dishes sounded disgusting to me and the chef wouldn't accomodate at all. I was very disappointed but learned an important lesson.

Is it time for the weekly menu change debate already?

That's what I have said. Disney is balancing pleasing the majority of the millions who visit with being economical and efficient. I love to try new things as many others do, but how many reports are here from picky eaters. I don't eat sauce on my meat, green vegetables, mushrooms...I know lots of adults who would be happy eating chicken strips and burgers everyday on vacation.

It does stink when a favorite is taken off the menu, but such is life, nothing is perfect. I wont go back to the Rose and Crown because the Guinness Stew is gone and nothing else appeals to me besides the fish and chips and I can get that CS. No biggie, there are tons of other dining options.

 

[suzimar57]

sure hope the crabcakes are still on the menu at LTT next week...

 

[Colleen27]

Is it time for the weekly menu change debate already?

That's what I have said. Disney is balancing pleasing the majority of the millions who visit with being economical and efficient. I love to try new things as many others do, but how many reports are here from picky eaters. I don't eat sauce on my meat, green vegetables, mushrooms...I know lots of adults who would be happy eating chicken strips and burgers everyday on vacation.

It does stink when a favorite is taken off the menu, but such is life, nothing is perfect. I wont go back to the Rose and Crown because the Guinness Stew is gone and nothing else appeals to me besides the fish and chips and I can get that CS. No biggie, there are tons of other dining options.

LOL! Guess it is that time again, huh?

Personally, as an occasional guest, I think Disney has done an excellent job of changing the menus up enough to keep them fresh without doing away with the signature dishes that make certain restaurants stand out. They have a lot of issues to contend with that "real world" restaurants don't necessarily have - they're trying to create unique restaurants without turning off all those picky eaters, create fine dining experiences without alienating families with young children, they're trying to appeal to an ever-changing audience of hundreds of thousands, and they have the ability to benefit from economies of scale in a way few other places can. And unlike a "real world" restaurant, Disney can't depend upon regular customers to keep restaurants in the black.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

When we were at the Rose and Crown during the first weekend of the Food and Wine Festival, the server told me they stopped serving the root vegetable pot pie because it wasn't a popular menu item. Unfortunately it was one of my very favorite meals at the parks! The only vegetarian entree they had on the menu was curried vegetables, and while I hadn't cared for that dish in the past, this time it was delicious.

My pet peeve about park meals is that there is only ONE vegetarian entree and chefs seem to think vegetarians all like mushrooms!

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

It does seem like we have this discussion quite often, doesn't it?

I'm also a "foodie". And I think that's why I LOVE change. So, you'll never see me complain about that. In fact, I would have a hard time ordering a dish at a restaurant that I had already tried. There's way too much stuff out there to entertain my taste buds. Why eat the same thing over and over again? Especially if you're into food.

I recognize that there are picky eaters out there but I think Disney does a good job (perhaps too good of a job) accomodating them. You can get your chicken fingers and fries at pretty much every restaurant. Besides, if you don't like change, eat at the CS restaurants. With the exception of Epcot, they're pretty much all the same.

 

[my3disneygirls]

LOL! Guess it is that time again, huh?

Personally, as an occasional guest, I think Disney has done an excellent job of changing the menus up enough to keep them fresh without doing away with the signature dishes that make certain restaurants stand out. They have a lot of issues to contend with that "real world" restaurants don't necessarily have - they're trying to create unique restaurants without turning off all those picky eaters, create fine dining experiences without alienating families with young children, they're trying to appeal to an ever-changing audience of hundreds of thousands, and they have the ability to benefit from economies of scale in a way few other places can. And unlike a "real world" restaurant, Disney can't depend upon regular customers to keep restaurants in the black.

Good points. I guess since 5 out of the last 7 times I have been there we did not do the dining plan may make a difference for us. We rent a car and eat several meals off property. Maybe if I had to eat every meal on property I would feel differently, but who knows. Though it seems with the DDP people are getting a boat load of food and many seem happy with it.

I just think it goes back to you can't please everyone all of the time. I for one have yet to find much of anything to complain about in the seven times I've been to Disney. Maybe I've been lucky so far.

 

[zulaya]

It's not so much about change...I like different things and am willing to try them.

I think some of us are a bit perplexed as to why a favorite dish, maybe something that we consider a signature dish for a particular establishment, is removed.

Not trying to beat a dead horse...but my latest case in point is Kona Cafe removing the Mahi-Mahi and the Kona Chowder. Most people who have been to Kona view those as unique to Kona and don't get why you would remove those particular things.