Why I am opposed to the new prix fixe menus... and it isn't just cost!

[thegash35]

I think we are putting the blame on the wrong people. If disney made good enough food most people would not want to just order the cupcake, they would order a real meal. It is not the customer's fault that BOG's dinner food sucked (by most of reviews I read, but way back when, when it first opened I had a great dinner, but then it went down hill from there). This is mostly on disney not on the customers. Disney fans will give disney all their money on food if it is at least one of these two things really great tasting or instagramable.

People didn't like BOG when it opened because they weren't serving hamburgers, french fries, and chicken fingers which seemingly are the only foods that most Americans want to eat.

You are 100% wrong. People were using reservations there as a way to get into the park early.

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

People didn't like BOG when it opened because they weren't serving hamburgers, french fries, and chicken fingers which seemingly are the only foods that most Americans want to eat.

You are 100% wrong. People were using reservations there as a way to get into the park early.

Breakfast very true, but breakfast was a cheaper meal and that is true for every breakfast meal that is inside a park.
But for dinner we may have to agree to disagree.. I did not see people start suggesting to just get dessert to see the inside till the food started going down hill and more bad reviews came out and all the people said it was not a good value. I saw people suggesting either eat breakfast or lunch for fast casual and dinner sucked. I ate at the restaurant a couple of times and definitely notice the food quality go down since the first time I went there. Now I just do not think it is worth it. Remember people love Epcot and Animal Kingdom restaurants that are more Ethnic based food thinking like Sanana for example so I do not think it is as easy to wave off by saying it is just American wanting hamburgs and french fries.

 

[snikki]

Breakfast very true, but breakfast was a cheaper meal and that is true for every breakfast meal that is inside a park.
But for dinner we may have to agree to disagree.. I did not see people start suggesting to just get dessert to see the inside till the food started going down hill and more bad reviews came out and all the people said it was not a good value. I saw people suggesting either eat breakfast or lunch for fast casual and dinner sucked. I ate at the restaurant a couple of times and definitely notice the food quality go down since the first time I went there. Now I just do not think it is worth it. Remember people love Epcot and Animal Kingdom restaurants that are more Ethnic based food thinking like Sanana for example so I do not think it is as easy to wave off by saying it is just American wanting hamburgs and french fries.

Cali Grill has excellent food and I’ve seen plenty of people suggest to others to make an ADR and just get dessert so they can have the fireworks view.

I’ve seen people suggest the cupcake at BOG since day 1 too.

Both cases it was for people who didn’t want to spend that much on a meal. Had nothing to do with food quality.

 

[Esmerelda]

I agree, not a fan here. I just generally don’t eat a large meal at all. My hubby and I usually always split a meal with a larger portion going to him. I never eat an appetizer, a main course, then a dessert. I would literally be sick. For that reason, we do not book those types of meals. I would be paying a lot of money for food that would not be eaten. Our kids are grown, 3 boys, and they do not eat like that either. One nice thing about Disney, you can easily log 20,000+ steps a day so that helps while you are eating off course (no pun intended)

 

[DJFan88]

We don’t do prix fix ever and I don’t care if I don’t go to a certain restaurant. I don’t need to eat at a particular restaurant and if it’s prix fix I just don’t choose it.
Mostly this is because when they pick all the options, it’s never where everyone likes everything. Even if they have choices for the entree the dessert stinks or whatever.
Buffets everyone can find what they want.
I will do Toppolinos however, only for breakfast though, because everyone likes things on the choices.

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

Just got back today from a 5 day stay myself. Pool chairs where hard to come by (and we were just looking for a single chair to set our stuff on) - several times just set it on the ground in an out of the way place. At the beach it was fine. We were on the second floor and only a few times did we need to let an elevator go. Didn't bring our magic bands so can't add a data point on that. Did get the refillable popcorn bucket on day 1 and took advantage of the free DVC refills many times, glad I had read that on here. Without the refillable coffee mug I started going across the street to an ABC store for coffee which was much cheaper. Wife has celiac and there were two nice restaurants over there, MonkeyPod and an breakfast place. Pretty good pizza place over there also.

Checked in around 3pm, got a room at 5pm. The check in itself was fine as long as you have the proper paperwork for COVID.

Cali Grill has excellent food and I’ve seen plenty of people suggest to others to make an ADR and just get dessert so they can have the fireworks view.

I’ve seen people suggest the cupcake at BOG since day 1 too.

Both cases it was for people who didn’t want to spend that much on a meal. Had nothing to do with food quality.

I do not see it very often and when I do see people say that they say go to the bar. I saw it way more for BOG than CA Grill beacuse reviews are generally good CA grill. I just think if Disney brought in good food or at least Instagramable food it will solve most of the problem maybe not all but most and guest satisfaction goes up too. It to me is a win, win strategy.

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

Double post...

 

[Meglen]

Has any reviewer tried to sub or negate any of the space 220 food due to allergies or eating habits (vegan, vegetarian) and such?. I would love to.know if they can leave some items off the plate or swap a different side.

 

[PaladinButters]

We don’t do prix fix ever and I don’t care if I don’t go to a certain restaurant. I don’t need to eat at a particular restaurant and if it’s prix fix I just don’t choose it.
Mostly this is because when they pick all the options, it’s never where everyone likes everything. Even if they have choices for the entree the dessert stinks or whatever.
Buffets everyone can find what they want.
I will do Toppolinos however, only for breakfast though, because everyone likes things on the choices.

I like the way you think! Not everything has to be for everybody as long as there's options in the parks/hotels. I don't eat seafood - I'm sure Flying Fish a lovely restaurant but I'm not going to go there and ask them why they don't have chicken. I'll just visit one of the other 47 lovely restaurants Disney has to offer.

 

[Moliphino]

I've done prix fixe when I thought it was a good deal (the ROL dining package at Tiffins). I think with Space 220 we'll stick to the lounge.

 

[DisneyByMarriage]

I have a reservation for Cali Grill and when I made it (for Nov. 23), they asked about allergies or dietary needs. A restaurant will absolutely do everything they can for allergy requests. But right now, with staffing and supply issues, Prix Fixe makes sense for the restaurants. It’s easier on kitchen staff (training, ordering, executing) and it’s easier on servers’ incomes. The Cali Grill servers incomes could have a huge swing from knowing you are getting about $30 minimum in tip from each table, versus HOPiNG all of your tables have at least $150 bill and leave you 20% (but having the occasional $75 check and a $10 tip). So these changes are great for waitstaff and keeping employees. I do agree that the menus are limiting and Disney has lost the desire/consistency to provide great food at their moderately priced restaurants.

 

[HopperFan]

Cali Grill has excellent food and I’ve seen plenty of people suggest to others to make an ADR and just get dessert so they can have the fireworks view.

I’ve seen people suggest the cupcake at BOG since day 1 too.

Both cases it was for people who didn’t want to spend that much on a meal. Had nothing to do with food quality.

Completely agree. It has nothing to do with quality .... I mean it's Disney World and high quality isn't exactly a thing there yet people eat. It has to do with the prices at particular locations BUT they want to see the inside of the restaurant or enjoy the fireworks view or gain an advantage of entering a park early to get on a ride. Many of the same people will not be paying the prices in other expensive restaurants no matter what they serve.

California Grill food was pretty good, some dishes better than good, but none of it really worth the price ... but you pay for the view and what was once excellent service. After several times full menu dining and declining "specialness" we didn't want to spend that much so the two of us would order a sushi, two appetizers and drinks - with TiW it was very reasonable. We would always tell the server our plan, and to bring all at once so we didn't tie up their table too long. We always tip double normal for them. Then we would scoot off and go to the observation deck. We'd gladly sit in the lounge but the ADR guaranteed we got upstairs. If they go to an all prix fixe meal there forever, I wouldn't be surprised or upset. Trimming a menu saves them lots in supplies and staffing, they can likely roll people through faster. It's no longer the high end restaurant it once was.

 

[honeymo78]

I really hope California Grill goes back to a full menu after the 50th, otherwise we likely won't be back for dinner. Our party of 3 usually orders a bottle of wine and single glass or two, 2-3 appetizers, 1-2 sushi plates, 1-2 entrees and 1-2 desserts. We aren't trying to be cheap just to see fireworks, but we all aren't app, entree, dessert people. We have no problem with the pre fixe concept and don't mind a buffet or family style meal, just sad to see it here, especially when sushi was often an entree for one person in our party, along with an app or 2 apps made a meal. We loved the large wine list as well, but likely will head over to Shulas for that (and get our steak fix).

 

[AdamsMum]

I feel your pain, it makes places like Space 220 and now California Grill far out of budget

I've no interest in Space 220. and I've never thought CG was within my budget and I'd never pay that much for the meal at home. It's a special treat for me that I have once a trip. I'm usually solo so it isn't the expense that families have. If they had left the menu complete I'd have been okay with this, even wasting the dessert. No sea scallops, no sonoma goat cheese raviolli? I did like the filet. I've never had room for dessert when I finish a meal there. That said my bill with wine and tip, never comes to less than $100 for 1 person. Will wait to see what the reviews are. I'm disappointed though.
ETA - Chef's has a prix fixe menu but you don't have to order from it.

 

[AdamsMum]

The things I've read about CG is that it's temporary, but I take that with a grain of salt. My concern is the more Di$ney tries this the more common it could become. Hopefuly it really is just a short term run.

I sincerely hope so! I've no problem paying for a special meal, but I'd like to choose the food I eat. I rarely eat dessert, all that sugar just isn't worth it to my 60 odd year old body. I must say that the times I've been to CG, I've never noticed anyone arriving and sitting with just a dessert or appetizer for the time I'm there eating a meal. I'm usually solo, so I do sometimes notice furtively what others are ordering. It's a good way to see what's coming out of the kitchen.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

these boards were pretty much rife with posts on "we don't want to eat a whole meal but we want to see inside BOG, can we just get cupcakes" or "can you buy one breakfast and get into BOG so it will be easier to get to Mine Train at opening?" There was some "we don't want to eat there because my kid won't eat anything on the menu" but not a lot about "we don't want to eat there because the food is terrible."

 

[gharter]

these boards were pretty much rife with posts on "we don't want to eat a whole meal but we want to see inside BOG, can we just get cupcakes" or "can you buy one breakfast and get into BOG so it will be easier to get to Mine Train at opening?" There was some "we don't want to eat there because my kid won't eat anything on the menu" but not a lot about "we don't want to eat there because the food is terrible."

Very true. Lots of posts about how long will breakfast take, so we can get in line for 7DMT before rope drop.

 

[gharter]

I really hope California Grill goes back to a full menu after the 50th

totally agree, but that still will be nearly 18 months. Maybe it will end sooner and return to its normal type of menu. While I don't mind the prix-fixe menu, its missing some of our favorite options.

 

[Jaime C]

I feel your pain, it makes places like Space 220 and now California Grill far out of budget

I actually think the prefix cost for Ca Grill if you order right is a lot cheaper.. The menu options are really tasty sounding, but at least CA Grill says its temporary.
For the OP have you ever reached out to them and see if they could accommodate that for you?

 

[AdamsMum]

these boards were pretty much rife with posts on "we don't want to eat a whole meal but we want to see inside BOG, can we just get cupcakes" or "can you buy one breakfast and get into BOG so it will be easier to get to Mine Train at opening?" There was some "we don't want to eat there because my kid won't eat anything on the menu" but not a lot about "we don't want to eat there because the food is terrible."

I remember that, but I don't think it was that prevalent at California Grill.