WORST DISNEY DINING EXPERIENCE

[prune1977]

We dined at Whispering Canyon Café recently for lunch and was less than enchanted with our service. My family visited the restaurant for a special event and was less than impressed Our server had limited ability to communicate in English and was not understanding the concept of the restaurant. She was not friendly and definitely had no pixie dust. Will knock this place off our list of places to visit.

I'm surprised by whispering canyon we've always had great service and meals there. I gotta go with Hollywood and vine for anything but breakfast. We all left there still starving with mama melrose a close 2nd we couldn't force ourselves to eat much at H&V, food wasn't much better at MM and sever sucked.

 

[undertheradar]

"I'll never go back again!" Wow, sounds a little dramatic , doesn't it. How does having a bad experience at a restaurant or any other place of business warrant not going back ever again? Give a place a chance. Maybe the bad time at that place was unusual. Millions of people, I would dare say have probably had good experiences at those places.

At Disney Dining prices, there is no excuse for a poor dining experience.

 

[Tom Caselli]

There is no excuse for a poor dining experience, unless some people are just overly picky. We have never had a bad dining experience at WDW. So, I guess I don't know what that is like.

 

[Jetku]

There is no excuse for a poor dining experience, unless some people are just overly picky. We have never had a bad dining experience at WDW. So, I guess I don't know what that is like.

A lot of it also comes down to personal perception of value.

Was Tony's vomit inducing? Definitely not. But I am from NJ and we have so many great Italian restaurants for half the price. Disney has so many options that I have no reason to consider Tony's again unless something major changes or word of mouth trends sharply upwards.

 

[L&Lfan]

I've said it before and got rudely shot down by the Disney koolaid drinkers, but with the prices Disney charges I find it hard to justify the excuse the restaurant is "having a bad night "! Not at $ 200 plus for dinner for two!

 

[greeneave]

i ate there in november and everything was fresh, including the chips and salsa.

Worst was San Angel Inn 10 years ago. They served canned salsa and Tostitos brand corn chips, which somehow really offended me at the time. I liked the ceviche and meal I got though. That said, it's on our plans for this September. Maybe they no longer serve prepackaged chips, but even if they do, I'm there for the air conditioning and atmosphere.

 

[disneypolybride2008]

We dined at Whispering Canyon Café recently for lunch and was less than enchanted with our service. My family visited the restaurant for a special event and was less than impressed Our server had limited ability to communicate in English and was not understanding the concept of the restaurant. She was not friendly and definitely had no pixie dust. Will knock this place off our list of places to visit.

sorry to hear that, but we too have had very similar experiences. at 1900 park fare our server was nearly non existant. she would show up 1x and then take off and not come back! the nearby waitress had to take care of us. in the tip part of the bill i wrote a real 'tip.' however, we have gone back many times. as with other places as well sometimes the servers are aweful but the next time you go it could be your best yet. dont write it off!

 

[maxiesmom]

I've said it before and got rudely shot down by the Disney koolaid drinkers, but with the prices Disney charges I find it hard to justify the excuse the restaurant is "having a bad night "! Not at $ 200 plus for dinner for two!

It has nothing to do with being a "Disney koolaid drinker" but has to do with common sense. Every single restaurant/employee on the planet has a bad night or two. It sucks when it happens to be on the night you are spending a good chunk of money on a meal, but until robots are serving and cooking bad nights will happen.

 

[RubySlippers]

I've said it before and got rudely shot down by the Disney koolaid drinkers, but with the prices Disney charges I find it hard to justify the excuse the restaurant is "having a bad night "! Not at $ 200 plus for dinner for two!

It is true that the rudeness and intense defense of Disney on these boards by the Disney apologists is out of control.
It is so hard to give a place a second or even third chance when you have had dreadful experience. The fact that people spend thousands of dollars and countless hours on a Disney vacation makes the whole experience even more depressing. I think while it is possible that places have off nights ... it is well within someones right to feel disappointed. The best thing to do is let your displeasure be known at the time and hope that a mutual satisfactory outcome can be reached.

 

[L&Lfan]

C'mon and let's be real.....if I'm at an Outback and they screw up my steak/meal sure, I can understand they're having a bad night. But at Yachtsman Steakhouse where I'm paying $50 plus for a NY strip and they can't even grill it at the temperature I requested????? Or the server at California Grill who disappears every time we'd like something from the bar or a refill of iced tea???? At Olive Garden, ok, they're "having a bad night". But at the top restaurant at the Contemporary Resort where the final bill is gonna set my partner and me back $300 ????? Sorry, I have to disagree on this one!

 

[maxiesmom]

C'mon and let's be real.....if I'm at an Outback and they screw up my steak/meal sure, I can understand they're having a bad night. But at Yachtsman Steakhouse where I'm paying $50 plus for a NY strip and they can't even grill it at the temperature I requested????? Or the server at California Grill who disappears every time we'd like something from the bar or a refill of iced tea???? At Olive Garden, ok, they're "having a bad night". But at the top restaurant at the Contemporary Resort where the final bill is gonna set my partner and me back $300 ????? Sorry, I have to disagree on this one!

I'm not sure how you can disagree that humans sometimes screw up. I don't know one single person who does their job perfectly every time. However, if they mess up they should definitely fix it, and maybe offer something extra for compensation. But to be mad that humans make mistakes? Seriously?

 

[L&Lfan]

Then let's agree to disagree, Mom. Peace out!

 

[Tom Caselli]

All I can say is that if there are legitimate problems at any given restaurant or anywhere else, let the people know without being a jerk about it. If I know Disney, and I think I do, they would want to make it right.

 

[AkaGrace]

I so agree about being very mindful of the menus of the places you plan to dine! I'm a little bit of a foodie so I probably spend more time examining menus than anything else! A couple years ago my DP and I could generally choose whatever we wanted (as long as we included Whispering Canyon, in spite of the one poor experience we really like going and it's the kids' favorite). Now DS is a Disney "adult," and a very picky one at that. So he has to check out the menus with us when we're making any ADRs. I did put my foot down one year and we went to Chefs de France bc it's one of my favorites. Our waitress was kind enough to let him order from the kids menu bc there was absolutely nothing he wanted to eat on the menu. I think he was more being stubborn but it worked out nicely all the same.

My daughter has the same 'stubborn' streak. Lol!

I have no idea how the dining plan works - never had it, never will. It's no problem at counter service. Not sure about table service because we never do that. We did have one time years ago at CRT when my mom wanted to order off the kids menu and the server hassled her a bit but did end up giving it to her.

I just hate the whole concept of kids menus anywhere, not just at Disney.

I have a problem with kids menus too but it's because I think kids should eat adult food, not adults eating kid food. But perhaps that's more of a cultural bias. We are naturalized Americans where, in our custom (Italian), the children eat what the adults are having with the portions, of course, being smaller. We weren't accustomed to children having their own separate menus until we came to the USA. Very different indeed!

DisneySteve and L&Lfan: I agree with both of your opinions. There are many times I would love to order off the children's menu, not for the food options, but for the portion sizes! The last time we went to WDW my daughter was 8 and got bored very quickly with the fried options. I don't remember which restaurant it was but all she wanted was a salad. They refused because it wasn't on the children's menu even though I said I would pay full price (we were not on the DDP)! I ended up ordering a salad just so she could have something healthy to eat. There was another restaurant where I asked if I could have a half portion because I find WDW portions to be enough for 2-3 people. This time I was refused despite again offering to pay the full menu price! Sure enough when the meal was finished the majority was left on the plate. Such a waste of food.

My daughter is now 10 and we go back to WDW in a few weeks. This time we are going to simply order an entree for the 2 of us to share. I am sure there will be food leftover even then.

I wish there were options for smaller portions and that the kids menu wasn't so strictly enforced.

 

[MolonLabe]

I'd have to be the 200+ person to say Chef Mickeys is/was one of the worst.

We at breakfast there 4 times, twice each time we Stay at Contemporary and it was crappy each time. Everything was bad, from the food to the service to the rushed character interactions and joke of a "parade thing with napkins". It's amazing the night and day difference between there and the one in Animal Kingdom at Tusker house, food at Tusker was ok but the staff and character interactions have always been top notch.

The worst TS meal has to Mama Melrose. Blech! No one had a decent plate there, it was like a Olive Garden... ran by white castle. Disgusting.

Some people complain about the staff at Chefs De France not being super friendly but they need to understand they are... French! Surprise, lol, that's how they are. We've eaten at Chef de France a dozen times (maybe more), always had an amazing meal and the staff was always prompt, if a bit aloof, usually they lightened up a little and became more jovial when my wife started speaking French with them.

Tonys is one of those places where you have to know what to order, we've eaten there a few times (for the parade / dinner combo) but always had the lamb and it was good.

I will say that overall the quality at the Disney owned restaurants is really dropping over the past couple of years.

 

[MolonLabe]

The last time we went to WDW my daughter was 8 and got bored very quickly with the fried options. I don't remember which restaurant it was but all she wanted was a salad. They refused because it wasn't on the children's menu even though I said I would pay full price (we were not on the DDP)! I ended up ordering a salad just so she could have something healthy to eat. There was another restaurant where I asked if I could have a half portion because I find WDW portions to be enough for 2-3 people. This time I was refused despite again offering to pay the full menu price! Sure enough when the meal was finished the majority was left on the plate. Such a waste of food.

My daughter is now 10 and we go back to WDW in a few weeks. This time we are going to simply order an entree for the 2 of us to share. I am sure there will be food leftover even then.

I wish there were options for smaller portions and that the kids menu wasn't so strictly enforced.

Every TS restaurant has at least one "normal" food option on the kids menu that mirrors an adult entree. My girls would rarely order the fried /kid options.

I made it a point to sample some of them, from grilled fish options to kabobs or steak they were actually pretty decent considering they came off the kids menu.

If you have picky kids though, you might be stuck because some places they only have one "non kid" item and if you child doesn't like "it", they are pretty much screwed.

My children have pretty diverse palates and we rarely let them order nuggets or other similar garbage so even when they have the option now, they rarely even want it. They prefer real food.... or at least as real as you can get at more Disney TS locations, lol

 

[AkaGrace]

Every TS restaurant has at least one "normal" food option on the kids menu that mirrors an adult entree. My girls would rarely order the fried /kid options.

I made it a point to sample some of them, from grilled fish options to kabobs or steak they were actually pretty decent considering they came off the kids menu.

If you have picky kids though, you might be stuck because some places they only have one "non kid" item and if you child doesn't like "it", they are pretty much screwed.

My children have pretty diverse palates and we rarely let them order nuggets or other similar garbage so even when they have the option now, they rarely even want it. They prefer real food.... or at least as real as you can get at more Disney TS locations, lol

If my daughter was picky I certainly would not have posted about frustration with the restaurant. That would be a family situation to discuss, with absolutely no blame to the restaurant.

The issue we had did not have anything to do with my daughter being picky. My daughter's palate is very diverse as well as we travel very frequently. For example, in Iceland her favourite food was hakarl, and her favourite vegetable at home is brussel sprouts! It wasn't a problem of her palate or being picky, it was a problem that this particular restaurant only offered grapes as their healthy alternative. The options were fried (fill in the blank) with french fries, or grapes. She simply wanted a salad. The request would have been easy to accommodate (as I said, I was not asking for a price reduction). Instead her request was refused and I ordered a salad instead of the meal I had planned on.

Very shortly we will be back at WDW and dining in the Queen Victoria Room at V&A's. I have absolutely no concern with her loving the meal.

Her palate is one area where I count myself lucky (I am sure you do as well with your children). Now keeping her room tidy....well, that's not a lucky area! Lol!!

 

[AkaGrace]

I'd have to be the 200+ person to say Chef Mickeys is/was one of the worst.

Tonys is one of those places where you have to know what to order, we've eaten there a few times (for the parade / dinner combo) but always had the lamb and it was good.

I will say that overall the quality at the Disney owned restaurants is really dropping over the past couple of years.

Would you recommend the pistachio creme brulee at Tony's? I am thinking of trying it this trip. Thanks!

 

[MolonLabe]

It wasn't a problem of her palate or being picky, it was a problem that this particular restaurant only offered grapes as their healthy alternative. The options were fried (fill in the blank) with french fries, or grapes. She simply wanted a salad. The request would have been easy to accommodate (as I said, I was not asking for a price reduction). Instead her request was refused and I ordered a salad instead of the meal I had planned on.

Very shortly we will be back at WDW and dining in the Queen Victoria Room at V&A's. I have absolutely no concern with her loving the meal.

Her palate is one area where I count myself lucky (I am sure you do as well with your children). Now keeping her room tidy....well, that's not a lucky area! Lol!!

Which location was that? I want to make sure we don't go there, that's unacceptable.

Last on property stay, aside from Cali Grill, Narcossee's and Chef de France we dined at Monsieur Paul's and my girls loved it. I love seeing the looks and the "are you sure" when my girls order something an 8 or 10 year old would normally not even consider, lol.

Would you recommend the pistachio creme brulee at Tony's? I am thinking of trying it this trip. Thanks!

That's something we haven't tried. My wife got the tiramisu twice and liked it, said it wasn't the best but for a place like Tony's it was acceptable.

Each time we're eaten there has been during the MSEP parade and on the DDxP. So I was tired and stuffed by the end of each meal /day. I only had gelato each time, which was as you would expect, gelato, lol. I want to say either myself or wife/daughter got the chocolate cake once and I rememebr having a bite, it was decent from what I recall.

 

[AkaGrace]

Which location was that? I want to make sure we don't go there, that's unacceptable.

Last on property stay, aside from Cali Grill, Narcossee's and Chef de France we dined at Monsieur Paul's and my girls loved it. I love seeing the looks and the "are you sure" when my girls order something an 8 or 10 year old would normally not even consider, lol.


That's something we haven't tried. My wife got the tiramisu twice and liked it, said it wasn't the best but for a place like Tony's it was acceptable.

Each time we're eaten there has been during the MSEP parade and on the DDxP. So I was tired and stuffed by the end of each meal /day. I only had gelato each time, which was as you would expect, gelato, lol. I want to say either myself or wife/daughter got the chocolate cake once and I rememebr having a bite, it was decent from what I recall.

I am racking my brain trying to remember the name of the restaurant! It was our first trip so I was completely overwhelmed and overloaded. It all seems like such a blur now (which is why we are returning). But I agree, it was completely unacceptable. I remember just being angry about it (probably another reason I can't remember where, I have blocked it out!)

I hear you on those 'are you sure' looks! I love them! It's such a proud parenting moment.

If I do end up trying the brulee I will be sure to let you know! It all depends on how tired I am and how much my feet hurt at the end of the day.