Why is Nine Dragons never Full?

stoudt6

Mouseketeer
Joined
Mar 27, 2004
Messages
442
Just ate their Yesterday and had a really good lunch with excellent service. I had Sweet and Sour Pork, wife had the Ginger Sesame Chicken. We ate at around 12:30 and granted its 1 of the slower weeks, but it wasn't even 1/4 full. and the other 2 times (lunch and dinner) we went by it it was barely 1/2 full. Understand Chinese restaraunts are every where but would think it would be fuller.
 
In September the parks are pretty much dead. Also it was later in the afternoon. The lunch rushes are usually about 11:00 and dinner around 5:30
 
Never wonder why Le Cellier is always packed and hard-to-get as an ADR. It's not because it's a great dining destination or offers a value or menu you can't get anywhere else. It doesn't. Le Cellier is 1/3 the size of Nine Dragons. Unless it's a holiday, weekend or prime dining hour, it's hard for the larger TS spots to fill every seat, i.e. Biergarten, Nine Dragons, Chefs de France and Marrakech.
 
Having lived most of my life in the NYC and DC areas I am used to (a) good Chinese food, and (b) generally high restaurant prices. When I go to 9D i don't see anything special and get sticker shock.
 

Because it stinks?


Honestly, I've never been. But it doesn't have a great following.
 
Having lived most of my life in the NYC and DC areas I am used to (a) good Chinese food, and (b) generally high restaurant prices. When I go to 9D i don't see anything special and get sticker shock.

True :laughing: I can't justify me eating at Nine Dragons, so we skip it every time.
 
Just ate their Yesterday and had a really good lunch with excellent service. I had Sweet and Sour Pork, wife had the Ginger Sesame Chicken. We ate at around 12:30 and granted its 1 of the slower weeks, but it wasn't even 1/4 full. and the other 2 times (lunch and dinner) we went by it it was barely 1/2 full. Understand Chinese restaraunts are every where but would think it would be fuller.

We have also enjoyed the food & service at Nine Dragons, but to answer your question, I believe it is because their prices are way too high. On the other hand, the Lotus Blossom Cafe always seem to have people waiting in line for some Quick Service food...
 
Funny, it is the only restaurant in Epcot I haven't tried! I guess because there are just so many Chinese restaurants here at home (and everywhere) it's hard to justify the price just to get the same old stuff.
 
We finally tried Nine Dragons in May--and really liked it. I had always avoided it because of the price and being from around Chicago--have lots of great Chinese food options.:rolleyes1

But, I was very pleasantly surprised at how good and efficient it was. I did share an entree, got 2 extra sides, got the kids their own meals and used TIW. I think the cost frightens people away and they think they can get regular chinese food back home that costs a lot less, which they probably can.;)
 
I've never eaten there. I've been going to WDW regularly for ten years.

It seems like it's just standard Chinese food for a very high price. I know everything at WDW is high priced, but you can get some unusual stuff many places.
 
I ate there years ago and IMO it wasn't anything to write home about, kinda like chinese take-out! I took a course in chinese cooking several years ago and since then my son insists that I make it myself so no Chinese at Disney. Same goes for the Yak & Yukky, what they did to those poor little shrimp was criminial!
 
We avoided it for YEARS because of poor reviews on the DIS. (Most reviews were about the cost for the same quality of food you could get "back home") A couple of years ago we bit the bullet and went. My teen children (at the time) just raved over this restaurant! We all enjoyed our meal very much (except dessert which I believe has now improved). The decor is really lovely. It will never be a hot spot, but I really think that people who frequent WDW should put it in their rotation at least once to just to try it. It really is nothing to avoid! All WDW food is expensive compared to what we're used to paying at home! I would definitely go back to Nine Dragons again in the future. It is certainly much better than something like Panda Express--but perhaps not as good as PF Chang.
 
It's never crowded for lunch. It was jam-packed for dinner when we were there two weeks ago. Why? Free dining. Everyone wants to use their TS credits for dinner -- not lunch.

We liked our dinner there okay, but the waiters were totally harried and the whole meal was rushed. Additionally, they have also changed the dessert our boys loved to something that clearly is cheaper and easier to make (no doubt because with free DDP everyone is ordering dessert). We do like their spinach noodles with pepper shrimp, which is different than the usual Chinese dishes available in the Northeast. If we go again, it will only be for lunch, however. Not dinner.

We were able to walk in for lunch anywhere we wanted to eat two weeks ago. Any 1TS restaurant we dined at was packed for dinner and not taking walk-ups.

Fortunately, all but two of our dinners were planned for either a 2TS restaurant (Jiko) or restaurants that don't take DDP, (Bistro and the Swan/Dolphin restaurants). We also spent time at Universal and ate several meals there, which were "universally" delicious, I might add.
 
I tried it years ago and it is OK, but nothing exciting.

I think that's what it comes down to. It is nothing out of the ordinary.

Maybe if they had a dim sum cart going around and some unique items I might consider it.

Most of us have access to Chinese that is good and inexpensive at home so why eat it in Epcot?

Also if I am going to spend 100-150 on Chinese food for four adults I would expect to at least get Peking Duck.
 
Because the food is just nasty....at least is was when we went. That is one place we will never give a second chance to
 
We tried it since they renovated it and we really liked it. The general tso's type pot stickers were really yummy and we didn't think the price was really all that bad comparatively. We'd go back.
 
Yet another vote for "I can get delicious, reasonably-priced Chinese at home".

Agreed, but I can also get delicious reasonably priced Mexican food as well as better Steaks and Filets at home too and Yet San Angel and LeCellier are full to capacity. I just don't get why so empty.
 












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