Food going downhill ??

Tuckster · May 10, 2019

We've been coming since 1972 (15+) and it seems the food is not as good. I use to brag that the food wasn't cheap but it was always really good and you got what you paid for. Is it just me showing my age or is my disappointment shared ?? And I will post about our Be Our Guest experience elsewhere but it was NOT worth the $60.00

Disneypro1 · May 10, 2019

I have gone as an adult since 1990. Many times as a kid in 70-80s. But as an adult. And since 1990. The food is always as great and still is to me. We have no complaints.

OrangeCountyCommuter · May 10, 2019

It's been going downhill. IMHO Disney Dining has reached the Applebees level (NOTE: I hate Applebees and won't eat there LOL!)

If you want decent TS food I suggest ordering from the appetizer section. Since Disney actually has to SELL that food unlike the "they bought the DDP so we have to serve things as cheaply as possible" main course there is still some good food offered in that section of the menu!

stephk1981 · May 10, 2019

I think there are hit and misses at every Disney restaurant. We have been frequenting Disney since 1986 and as an adult since 2004. We always have our favorite places, but even our favorites have bad days

We go a few times a year normally, and have had a great meal at coral reef, then a few months later, BAD. I have only had one poor experience at Teppan Edo though.....one of our favorites....the chef got caught up in chatting and overcooked both the steak and chicken. For the most part we love food at Disney.....the cost versus price and is it ' that good' comparatively.... that's another discussion!

dizneefan13 · May 10, 2019

Its a matter of which restaurant, which food item, and personal opinion. I think for the most part the food is pretty good. We do have our favorites and never eat twice someplace that we felt wasn't good or not at all worth the money.
One place, I think, with consistently good food is Yak & Yeti. Have always loved our experience there - food, service, and atmosphere. One we won't visit again is BoG for dinner. Lunch is a maybe.

piccolopat · May 10, 2019

I think it is unfortunate that so many of the restaurants in World Showcase have become less authentic and now have a more generic and more limited menu. We particularly miss the table service choices at Germany since we are not fans of buffets.

holden · May 10, 2019

The Applebee’s comparison is a good one. There are very few restaurants in WDW that are “good” or “great.”

gharter · May 10, 2019

piccolopat said:
I think it is unfortunate that so many of the restaurants in World Showcase have become less authentic and now have a more generic and more limited menu. We particularly miss the table service choices at Germany since we are not fans of buffets.

I think this is directly related to the DDP. Before DDP, the people going to those restaurants were looking for more authentic food. After DDP, people have credits they have to use and go where they can get an ADR. Many of them are looking for more homogenized food, so unfortuantely thats the direction the food goes.
Luckily, there are still some exceptions.

piccolopat · May 10, 2019

gharter said:
I think this is directly related to the DDP. Before DDP, the people going to those restaurants were looking for more authentic food. After DDP, people have credits they have to use and go where they can get an ADR. Many of them are looking for more homogenized food, so unfortuantely thats the direction the food goes. Luckily, there are still some exceptions.

I agree 100%. Food changes were driven by the many DDP customers wanting more generic food as you indicated but also because the restaurants had to reduce costs to match the DDP reimbursements they get from Disney. I wish they had a separate prix fixed menu for the DDP and went back to the authentic food choices for a la carte customers.

DisneyWishes14 · May 10, 2019

Yes, downhill and even signatures are hit-or-miss IMHO. This is why we frequent QS a little more often than we used to. I've found the QS and 1 TS quality to be about on par, so I rarely pay the upcharge to go to a 1 TS at this point.

MinnierellaMama · May 10, 2019

It’s not just you — our family thinks it’s gone downhill as well. My family of four plus my parents go every year for a week either late March or early April and have had mostly had good experiences in the past. But after our most recent trip this past March, we’ve decided we are going to skip the table service restaurants altogether next year and just do different QS options (like the food carts at the Epcot for the flower and garden festival).

We don’t do the DDP as we stay at the Swan and it’s not available. So paying $$$ out of pocket for table service food that isn’t much different than Applebee’s, it’s just not worth it to us.

SandyinMonterey · May 10, 2019

Yes...downhill. We used to look forward to some restaurants and meals. Not so much anymore. Our last trip we made only one TS reservation, Via Napoli for pizza. But it's not because it's great, it's good and an easy meal for not a lot of money. I did enjoy Homecomin' but Disney Springs isn't a place we really enjoy going so we're not going to go there just for that.

OhThePain · May 10, 2019

I find that the more "popular" the restaurant is, the worse the food is. If you can't get an ADR easily, you are much better off. Of course this is just my opinion. I mean you can't get an ADR for California Grill but you'll have no problem getting one for Jiko or you can't get an ADR for 'Ohana but The Wave is usually empty or you can't get an ADR for LC but Spice Road Table you can walk up most of the time. The best food is at the restaurants people don't go to because it still has to be good to get people to show up. The "popular" and over-hyped restaurants don't have to be good because people will still go. Of course, again, this is just my opinion.

TiggerTrigger · May 10, 2019

We've been going since the mid 80s. I don't necessarily feel it's gone downhill, but I feel like it's always been inconsistent and that inconsistency is just magnified since we bumped up our number of table service meals. We've had great meals, mediocre meals, and some really bad ones as well. We've also had mixed experiences at the same places. i.e. great one time and horrible the next. We've also had a lot of mixed meals where some of us got great food and some of us left disappointed. I still think food subjectivity and overzealous raves factor into some of this as well. You may love something that I think is disgusting and you may go in with elevated expectations over something everyone says is "amazing" and feel a bit more let down than normal when you leave thinking "that's it?" Ultimately, a recent Six Flags visit made me realize that Disney food still beats them, but I need to stop putting so much focus on food with a Disney trip.

dizneefan13 · May 10, 2019

We are not a foodie family and I am pretty particular with my diet. I want healthy food, which can be hard to find.
We don't go to Disney for the food anyway. Love the attractions, some of the shows and just being there. AK is now my favorite park and there's not much to impress me there when it comes to food.

Wild4Walt · May 10, 2019

I've been 30+ times and over the years I've learned that the ultra-popular locations go from really good food to mediocre. I think a lot also has to do about it the experience too. As the restaurant gets more popular they have to churn the tables to get more people in. So the experience in total starts to suffer. That's my opinion anyways.

wendlle · May 10, 2019

IMO the Free dining promotions is what killed good food at WDW.
Before they offered those promos we always really enjoyed the food, in fact it was one of the things we most looked forward to about our trips.
Now it's not really a factor, we eat because our body needs it, not really because we find the food to be amazing.

Also service went way down hill with the introduction of the dining plans.

Dean Marino · May 10, 2019

OKW Lover · May 10, 2019

Yes....and no. I'll agree that overall the quality of food at WDW has gone down. But there are specific spots where it is better. Disney went through a long period of just plain, ordinary theme park food in the late 70's, 80's and early 90's. Occasional bright spots but otherwise nothing special. Then in the 90's several places up-ed their game and there was actually some really good food available. Recently, as in the past 5 years or so, that seems to have ratcheted back to plane, ordinary theme park food appealing to the masses. Only a few restaurants now seem to offer really good food.

hereforthechurros · May 10, 2019

Dean Marino said:
Yes, it is.... except at certain locations.

1) CA Grill still EXCELLENT - but stay off the DDP.
2) Narcoosee's still EXCELENT - but stay off the DDP.
3) Citrico's still EXCELLENT - but stay off the DDP.
4) Disney Springs a total disaster. All buildings, no food.
5) In Park anything - Park food .

Options: If you qualify? Consider TIW. This gets you the EXCELLENT non-Disney owned Restaurants at Swan/Dolphin. Shula's and Il Mulino.
Avoid Blue Zoo - it's a walking disaster. Great building & Service - rotten food.

Also consider booking GREAT off site Restaurants like Bull & Bear, Capa. There are more... We intend to cab to Morton's Steak House next trip.

As the food at WDW degrades? Just a suggestion - don't eat it. Hit those wonderful NON Disney Restaurants. Some on site, some off site. Really - a cab driver does not care .

So bottom line.... yes, WDW is loosing this. More and more, we go off site, or on site-non Disney owned, for great dining. The general formula? If it takes DDP, be suspicious.

All personal opinion - I'm not necessarily right, no one else is necessarily wrong.

What does all buildings mean at DS? I’ve had excellent (yes excellent) dishes at Boathouse, Morimoto, and Homecomin’. I would even put the Daily Poutine above most park food.

Food going downhill ??

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