Wolfgang Puck Cafe or Express?

[MIMomof2]

We currently have a dinner ADR for Wolfgang Puck Cafe on our arrival day in May. As it is, I'm currently one TS meal over our DDP total of 5, so will have to pay for one TS meal OOP - probably planning to do so with a breakfast at Kona - as all other ADR's are for dinner. However, in interest of saving a TS DDP credit, was wondering whether it would be recommended to cancel this Wolfgang Puck ADR and instead just do dinner at Wolfgang Puck Express (using a CS credit instead). Thoughts? Is quality between the two places markedly different?

TIA!

 

[Eeyore's Wife]

We have eaten at both, and as far as food quality, I cannot say there was a marked difference between the two. The counter service food is wonderful! The big difference comes in the ambiance.

In the Cafe we had a waiter, a table next to the window overlooking the river, and a relatively quiet meal.

In the express you carry your own stuff, get your own drink, and eat in booths. We had a view of a cement filled courtyard complete with grumpy birds fighting for scraps. There is a person who bring out your entree and will get refills for you, so it is a "sort of" counter service location.

I would be very happy eating there in the evening. I love the salmon over the bed of greens with the creme brulee for dessert! Oh, La La. The pizzas there are wonderful, and I am a huge fan of the squash soup. It was not part of the dining plan, but an inexpensive addition for our toddler.

 

[GinnyEmma]

There wasn't any salmon over greens, and the only creme brûlée was a cheesecake last week. That said it is one of the best c's restaurants there.

 

[Eeyore's Wife]

I believe GinnyEmma you have the two restaurants confused. Both are called Wolfgang Puck, but one is express and the other is cafe. A cafe is often a small casual location, but in this case it is the sit down restaurant. To make it even more confusing, there is a Wolfgang Puck "Dining Room" which is not a one TS on the Disney Dining Plan, and it is upstairs in the same building as the Cafe.

Wolfgang Puck Express had a delicate salmon filet served over a bed of arugala in September, when I ate there last. Auntie says it is still there as of a few weeks ago.

They are rather famous for their creme brulee there, but Wolfgang Puck CAFE has a creme brulee cheesecake.

The Cafe also has a wonderful macademia nut crusted chicken, that was very very very very good.

 

[GinnyEmma]

Duh, I always forget about the service upstairs. You are absolutely right! Sorry op!

 

[ilovejsparrow]

I would definitely switch to WPE. In my opinion there is not huge difference in food quality. WPE is one of the best CS's on property and you won't be disappointed

 

[disney11fan]

we currently have a dinner adr for wolfgang puck cafe on our arrival day in may. As it is, i'm currently one ts meal over our ddp total of 5, so will have to pay for one ts meal oop - probably planning to do so with a breakfast at kona - as all other adr's are for dinner. However, in interest of saving a ts ddp credit, was wondering whether it would be recommended to cancel this wolfgang puck adr and instead just do dinner at wolfgang puck express (using a cs credit instead). Thoughts? Is quality between the two places markedly different?

Tia!

without a doubt cancel wolfgang. GO TO the express near the earl of sandwich. Breakfeast lunch or dinner the express is the best. Been there for breakfeast lunch and dinner. (near earl of sANDWICH). Loved the food, in fact the family loved the food.

 

[minniebeth]

Another vote to cancel ADR for Wolfgang Puck Cafe (TS) and go for the WPExpress! (Marketplace)
The food is very good, the best use of a cs credit on the ddp imo.

 

[ice cube]

No difference between the two in food quality, so it depends how long you want your dinner time to be. The express tends to be on the quicker side hence the word express but still in a restaurant atmosphere...we have done both and tend to lean towards the express.

 

[5westbrooks]

Another vote for Express. We liked it so much that we went there twice on our last trip. Definitely one of the best CS around.

 

[Eastern]

We go to Express every trip. There is something for everyone there.

 

[MickeyNicki]

They are both very good but we prefer WPE

 

[psac]

Ate lunch at the Express and the pizza was good. Ate dinner at the Cafe, and thought it was excellent. The Macadamia crusted chicken was insane. Actually we thought the ambiance of the cafe was so-so compared to most other TS places. It was a little cramped and loud when we went. (Some people would use that to describe Cali Grill, but I wouldn't.) So if you're looking for a "fine dining" experience, I would say you may have better use of that credit elsewhere, but to us, the dinner food at the cafe was much better than the lunch food at the Express, but it's a bit of comparing apples to oranges (or pizza to macamia chicken?).

 

[marcyinPA]

I will also chime in to say cancel the ADR at Puck's Cafe and eat at the Express.

We've eaten at the Express MANY times (the one near the Christmas Shop in DTD, not the other one) and it has always been fantastic.

We just at at the Cafe the other night, and it was just OK. I thought the selections were really lacking (the choices were much less than the menu on line indicates). The food was good, but it wasn't OUTSTANDING. I did have a good martini there...the Coco Chanel....which I don't think you can get at the Express.

My DS11 was extremely disappointed that there was no Creme Brulee at the Cafe. I have to say, I was bummed too. I've had Creme Brulee at the Express before and it was sooo good.

 

[WalkingintheFog]

Whichever WPE you go to, it's delicious. My favourite is the one by EoS, sitting outside. It's not a highly traffic-ed area, so perhaps more relaxing than the one on the main drag.

I love counter service that SERVES my food to me, and on real plates/real glasses at that!

Here's a pic of the Roastbeef pocket w/ gorgonzola :

 

[MIMomof2]

That looks amazing. I think we'll be doing WPE, as we plan to go on our arrival day, so schedule is more flexible and we don't want to be tied to an ADR that day. Thanks for sharing the pic, can't wait to go!

 

[hughjulia]

It is unreal just how good the food is at Wolfgang Express, and reasonable in terms of Disney pricing.

Last year we did just what you are thinking about. We canceled the café reservation because we wanted to use a TS credit for the day we were flying out. We then went to the Express instead, and paid cash. Liked it so much, we found an excuse to go back later in the week.

It is a little different from most counter service in that they bring the food to your table, and refill the drinks for you. I don’t know if most people tip, but we felt it was warranted.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I think quality-wise, they're about the same. It's really would you prefer CS or TS?

 

[princess aleya]

We currently have a dinner ADR for Wolfgang Puck Cafe on our arrival day in May. As it is, I'm currently one TS meal over our DDP total of 5, so will have to pay for one TS meal OOP - probably planning to do so with a breakfast at Kona - as all other ADR's are for dinner. However, in interest of saving a TS DDP credit, was wondering whether it would be recommended to cancel this Wolfgang Puck ADR and instead just do dinner at Wolfgang Puck Express (using a CS credit instead). Thoughts? Is quality between the two places markedly different?

TIA!

I would save your TS credit and eat at WPE, it's our favorite QS place. The food is always wonderful. We have never had a bad meal here, IMO its the best use of a QS credit.

 

[CrystalCastle]

Whichever WPE you go to, it's delicious. My favourite is the one by EoS, sitting outside. It's not a highly traffic-ed area, so perhaps more relaxing than the one on the main drag.

I love counter service that SERVES my food to me, and on real plates/real glasses at that!

Here's a pic of the Roastbeef pocket w/ gorgonzola :

This is my favorite sandwich at WP. Oh soooo good! One warning, this was no longer available at WPE in Jan. You had to go to WPC and it's only available during lunch. Nice thing is you can sit at the bar and order it either for there or to go.