Worst quick service at deluxe resort

I guess I'm the odd ball in the group. The more I go to WDW and the more I read articles like the OP cited, the more I pass them by. I've had great & less than great experiences at just about every restaurant there. I go to these restaurants cause I want to, and I seriously doubt anyone would care about my "opinion" of them anymore than I care about the "opinion" of these online "influences" promoting their own interests. An online article is the last thing I consider when making ADRs. But that's just me.
 
I love almost everything about Animal Kingdom Lodge, but The Mara is mediocre if you're lucky, worse if you're not.
 
I love almost everything about Animal Kingdom Lodge, but The Mara is mediocre if you're lucky, worse if you're not.
Mara used to be one of our "go to" places. We'll still sometimes grab a light lunch there if staying at Jambo House, but now we consider it just ok and not one of the best QS places like it used to be. The menu got "streamlined" somewhat post-covid and it just hasn't been the same since (except it's still a great option for getting some zebra domes to put in the room to snack on).

Add me to the list who would vote "Good's Food to Go" as worst... as others have said, nothing against the taste of the food, just the fact that it's such a limited menu (I typically refer to it as the "pool snack bar") and it's just basically a pick-up window with a few tables nearby.

We haven't technically eaten at Contempo Cafe, but we did refill our drink mugs there after we rented a boat at the marina. It didn't appeal to us... too loud and chaotic in the Contemporary concourse. Just seemed very utilitarian with no atmosphere (other than views of the mosaic and passing monorails, but we could see those without eating there).
 
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Gasparilla Grill at GF is our favorite quick service. We did eat at Contempo Cafe once and I was very disappointed with the lack of options. I agree that the quick service options at deluxe resorts are definitely lacking. I stayed at French Quarter a few years ago and Pop Century and remember them having many more options for QS and the food being better prepared. We usually stay at the Poly and the options are very limited, even as far as the snacks and drinks available.
 
I go to these restaurants cause I want to, and I seriously doubt anyone would care about my "opinion" of them anymore than I care about the "opinion" of these online "influences" promoting their own interests. An online article is the last thing I consider when making ADRs. But that's just me.

I agree, online food reviews are fairly useless. We ate both breakfast & lunch a few times at the Contempo Cafe during a prior trip and enjoyed the selection and food was always good. It wasn't 'fine dining' but I don't expect any QS place to be a 4-star experience. Food reviews on ANY site you can find tend to be all over the map. It seems like some try to outdo prior comments by making it the worst possible experience. Reviews are filled with hyperbole and over the top bad remarks. You have no idea if that person is the type to always complain or has the same tastes/expectations in food. I also have ZERO interest in any so-called 'influencer' who likely thinks they get more 'likes' or followers by always finding something to complain about.
 
Goods to go at OKW definitely the worst , this resort is severely lacking dining options
This was my thought. Not because of quality---they are all fundamentally the same stuff---but because of the very limited menu. Beach Club Marketplace is on this list too.
 
We stayed at the BLT and tried this one night. Food was not great and it took forever.
 
Goods to go at OKW definitely the worst , this resort is severely lacking dining options
I have to agree with you. We've been owners there since 1992. For a long time we did more meals prepared in our villa since our kids were young, it was just easier. You would think by now that they would enlarge/enclose Goods to Go. There are ways that they could better use the spaces that are in that area.
 
As with all dining reviews and opinions, everyone has different tastes, standards, expectations, budgets, etc so it's no wonder we contradict each other all the time :)
 
I love almost everything about Animal Kingdom Lodge, but The Mara is mediocre if you're lucky, worse if you're not.
I agree, post Covid. Pre Covid it was the best QS at a luxury resort. The fall in variety and quality is incredible! The contrast is so jarring that I felt like it went from best to worst on our last trip earlier this year. In retrospect though, I think that the distinction of being the worst QS at a deluxe resort has to go to an Epcot resort. The BW is definitely lacking almost anything, so that is perhaps the worst resort if you are looking for a quick breakfast. BC marketplace is also not good. So, Contempo looks OK by comparison to others, IMO. It is far from truly good, but definitely not the worst.
 
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We've always had good experiences at Contempo Cafe
My recent experiences this year have been just so-so. The staff were really nice each time, but the food was just okay. The soup is pretty good, but the general menu could use some improvement. Since the pandemic, the QS menus are still rather limited.

(Another unappetizing thing was that the tray under the soda machine must have been clogged. The CM trying to unclog it was using a small plunger. I am sure they must use a special plunger that is only used on the soda machine, but it was still a little unappetizing to see a plunger used on part of a soda machine. Also, while only soda and coffee, the liquid being plunged was an unappetizing shade of brown. The poor CM had to put her hands in the liquid, and though she was professional, that can't have been a fun job.)

I still think current Contempo is better than current Gasparilla Grill and Capt Cook's. The Capt Cook's menu is also way too limited compared to what it used to be.

The nights we ate at Lime in Flamingo Crossings and Pho 16 near Uni on I-Drive we enjoyed our food much more.

Right now, some of the best QS WDW food is the festival. The festival food at Tangierine Cafe is really good.
 
I actually like Goods Food to Go for the tuna sandwich, with some potato chips,
I love their tuna sandwich on that multi-grain bread too! Contempo Cafe wasn't the best, but quite adequate, IMHO.
The one I disliked was Gasparilla Grill at GF. Whenever I went in there during the week I stayed at GF, it was dirty, food spilled all over counters, seemed disorganized. The final blow was that they're the only QS to get my mobile order wrong! Yet it gets great reviews.
 
I love their tuna sandwich on that multi-grain bread too! Contempo Cafe wasn't the best, but quite adequate, IMHO.
The one I disliked was Gasparilla Grill at GF. Whenever I went in there during the week I stayed at GF, it was dirty, food spilled all over counters, seemed disorganized. The final blow was that they're the only QS to get my mobile order wrong! Yet it gets great reviews.
Jeez, we have a split stay this year that includes 5 nights at GF 🤦‍♀️
 












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