I agree on the food. For the most part it's pretty good. Some things aren't that great, but not too bad really. The in-park burgers are a bit dry and those sad little pizzas ar eprtty rough, but there is plenty to find that actually is good.
I think part of the issue is its nothing like it was, the food is not usually bad, but it is very average.
For the most part its the same thing I can get at a chain restaurant.
There was a time - and I'm mostly talking about Epcot - where the chefs had daily specials and had meals based on what they could get for ingredients.
The prices were also very reasonable.
Once the DDP came along many items were removed from the menus - one of the reason - people just ordered the most expensive thing and then would send it back because they did not know exactly what they were ordering.
So many of those things disappeared from the menu and ultimately they removed the appetizers from the DDP
Much of the food started to be ordered from a central kitchen - so for example everyone had Lamb shanks with a slightly different sauce.
One of the issues - and I had long talks with someone from both Mexico and Italy over a drink or two - they had to work within the money they got from the DDP. That gave them very little room to do much of anything - and any waste was a problem - they still need to run a profit. the amount they got was shockingly low.
They have also done other things over the years - for example the sawdust buns for hotdogs and burgers when they went on that health kick - they were so bad people brought their own buns.
German in Epcot used to make their own pretzels in the pavilion and they were amazing - buttery and hot. Then they went to pretty much the same pretzel you got everywhere else. They have a pretzel now that looks better, but still nothing like it was. I'm not even sure they are using lye or even baking soda - the unique pretzel taste is just is not there - they are very bland.
The food and Wine Festival used to be amazing - something I went to and looked forward to every year - and now its just overpriced and average at best.
When I was there recently I tried Space 220 lounge - I ordered the pork belly. All I can say is it was more like a very overcooked piece of Salmon than pork belly. To ruin a piece of meat like that is a crime.
I've been very lucky and eaten at some amazing restaurants all over the world, but still shockingly - one of the best if not the best meals I ever had was in Epcot. Even much more shockingly - it was at the Coral Reef.
Yeah - I know - I loose all credibility with that statement.
Anyway - they had a daily special that was a whole fire roasted piranha. It was a simple dish, but I've never had fish anywhere that was as good as that. I can still remember how good it was.
I was blown away and it not something I have ever seen on a menu anywhere since.
I don't expect much in most of the places, but Epcot I expect a lot more.
. I remember when the whole place started to cover itself with paper to prevent images from getting out. That was then this is now & at this point bootlegging and hacking is so prevalent and the idea of secrets so silly they might as well just bring it all back and let park goers enjoy watching things be created. I think the last thing I saw there was Nightmare Before Christmas being drawn there. It was so much more accessible to the fan base.
