Bistro de Paris CLOSED July 1st -End of Sept...

[NoChesterHester]

This refurb doesnt directly have anything to do with the Bakery expansion.

Disney has finally conceeded that this restaurant lacks the recognition and popularity of the downstairs one, so from what I'm being told (by somebody working on this refurb direclty), Bistro will essentially be turned into an extension of Chefs de France with a more affordable menu (aka generic).

I sincerely hope this is incorrect.

 

[MrsWhiffo]

I am booked in for Sept 22nd and haven't received any emails yet telling me my booking has changed.

Maybe this is a good sign that it isn't being turned into an extension of chefs?

 

[MrsWhiffo]

Just spoke to them, the operator didn't even know and needed to keep me on hold to check.

She came back with news that doesn't look for Bistro, it is indeed closed for three months and they are not taking reservations for after that date.

Sad times...V&A it is that night then. :lookaroun

 

[Becky]

I just got this email...



"I will be switching your seating downstairs to Chefs de France with everything remaining the same; time and party size. "

Several of the times I have eaten at Chefs every table has been occupied. How do they plan to add the many people who had a ressie at Bistro if their day and time is already fully booked at Chefs?

 

[markc]

I just got this email...



"I will be switching your seating downstairs to Chefs de France with everything remaining the same; time and party size. "

Several of the times I have eaten at Chefs every table has been occupied. How do they plan to add the many people who had a ressie at Bistro if their day and time is already fully booked at Chefs?

Very easily. It's called cancellations. Most dates arent fully booked at Chef's (each restaurant at Disney typically witholds some tables from being reserved as a safeguard against anything major), and right now, the cancellation run-rate is at about 27% (I believe) for the past year. Based on the relative size of Chefs versus Bistro (and the fact that the average meal takes longer to consume at Bistro versus Chefs), they'll have more than enough tables to accomodate everyone if they should choose to keep their reservation. With that being said, Chefs will be extra difficult to get a reservation this summer if everyone does decide to just transfer over.

 

[WDWFigment]

Entirely possible - in fact, I belive it (DeFacto) went this way in late 2010, when the quality tanked. Might as well admit it & run with it.... .

I've eaten there in 2012 and I thought the quality was exceptional. In fact, it was the best meal we've ever had on property with the exception of Victoria & Albert's. Better than Jiko, Le Cellier, Cali Grill, Citricos, etc.

 

[jt04]

I've eaten there in 2012 and I thought the quality was exceptional. In fact, it was the best meal we've ever had on property with the exception of Victoria & Albert's. Better than Jiko, Le Cellier, Cali Grill, Citricos, etc.

Please do not confuse Trotsky with facts as that never ends well? :lol:

I expect this restaurant to improve the guest experience. Not because it can but because it will have to to keep pace with the other dining options at EPCOT.

 

[menamechris]

Please do not confuse Trotsky with facts as that never ends well? :lol:

I expect this restaurant to improve the guest experience. Not because it can but because it will have to to keep pace with the other dining options at EPCOT.

You do know its okay to admit when WDW is losing something special and unique, right?

If this is true, I think we can wave goodbye to the days when Disney kept things, not because they were amazingly popular and huge moneymakers, but because the option set them apart as a world-class experience.

I sincerely hope this is not a step management is willing to go in.

 

[Thomas_M]

My family had ADR's for Sept 26 at Bistro.
I called disney dining to cancel and reschedule for another restaurant.

The agent and customer service told me they did not know any information regarding a restaurant closure yet which threw me for a loop.

In addition I have yet to receive any official email from Disney regarding the closure.

In short I called and had my reservation switched to coral reef but for them to tell me they had no information regarding the closure and yet to email me was strange.

 

[jt04]

You do know its okay to admit when WDW is losing something special and unique, right?

If this is true, I think we can wave goodbye to the days when Disney kept things, not because they were amazingly popular and huge moneymakers, but because the option set them apart as a world-class experience.

I sincerely hope this is not a step management is willing to go in.

I think this could be an improvement but we will see. Perhaps making the promenade eateries more acessable to the average guest will be an advantage in the long run.

Imagine the possibility they could ad small boutique hotels or inns to the pavilions. Then imagine if they had small signature restaurants akin to the restaurant at the Grand Floridian. Now that is something I could support right there.

 

[menamechris]

I think this could be an improvement but we will see. Perhaps making the promenade eateries more acessable to the average guest will be an advantage in the long run.

Imagine the possibility they could ad small boutique hotels or inns to the pavilions. Then imagine if they had small signature restaurants akin to the restaurant at the Grand Floridian. Now that is something I could support right there.

A whole lot of dreams and ideas there that ain't gonna happen. Just sayin...

 

[WDWFigment]

Please do not confuse Trotsky with facts as that never ends well? :lol:

I expect this restaurant to improve the guest experience. Not because it can but because it will have to to keep pace with the other dining options at EPCOT.

Oh, I know. He made similar comments a couple months ago in another thread about Bistro. He's basing his comment off one experience in late 2011. Even the best restaurants in the world can have 'off' nights or single plates. However, it's pretty difficult for a bad restaurant to miraculously serve an amazing meal. I've eaten at just about every signature restaurant at Walt Disney World, and I in my experience, Bistro (still) is the best.

That said, I am a little uneasy about this refurbishment. Bistro just joined the DDP this year after holding out for a long time. I know they often have trouble filling the tables (we made day of or day before ADRs for Valentine's Day weekend this year), and it is a huge departure from the normal in-park restaurants at Walt Disney World. They recently added a kid's menu to (presumably) attract more families.

I can't fault Disney for making changes to make the restaurant more accessible or visible to regular guests, but I can't help but be concerned that Bistro de Paris is going from V&A's "light" to something more akin to Chefs de France.

 

[PhilharMagician]

I've eaten there in 2012 and I thought the quality was exceptional. In fact, it was the best meal we've ever had on property with the exception of Victoria & Albert's. Better than Jiko, Le Cellier, Cali Grill, Citricos, etc.

Actually the quality has diminished. There was some menu changes back a few years ago which took it down a notch. I feel the menu changes were to help draw more people in since there are quite often many tables open. This is still one of my favorite restaurants in WDW and I love getting a window seat and enjoying a wonderful meal while watching all of the unexpecting people walking by.

 

[WDWFigment]

Actually the quality has diminished. There was some menu changes back a few years ago which took it down a notch. I feel the menu changes were to help draw more people in since there are quite often many tables open. This is still one of my favorite restaurants in WDW and I love getting a window seat and enjoying a wonderful meal while watching all of the unexpecting people walking by.

I can't speak to the quality having diminished from a few years ago, but as I said, I found the current quality to be exceptional and even above the other Signature restaurants at WDW. If it's true that the quality has diminished (and I have no reason to doubt that it has), I can only imagine the quality of Bistro a few years ago!

 

[PhilharMagician]

I can't speak to the quality having diminished from a few years ago, but as I said, I found the current quality to be exceptional and even above the other Signature restaurants at WDW. If it's true that the quality has diminished (and I have no reason to doubt that it has), I can only imagine the quality of Bistro a few years ago!

It is a fantastic restaurant.

 

[markc]

That said, I am a little uneasy about this refurbishment. Bistro just joined the DDP this year after holding out for a long time. I know they often have trouble filling the tables (we made day of or day before ADRs for Valentine's Day weekend this year), and it is a huge departure from the normal in-park restaurants at Walt Disney World. They recently added a kid's menu to (presumably) attract more families.

I can't fault Disney for making changes to make the restaurant more accessible or visible to regular guests, but I can't help but be concerned that Bistro de Paris is going from V&A's "light" to something more akin to Chefs de France.

You hit the nail on the head as to the reason they are switching the style of Bistro over to Chef's. I spoke with my contact who had informed me of the change and the plans to see if I could get more info on it, since I'm fairly surprised I'm the only one who has said anything about it yet.

Apparently the switch to the DDP was done due to the low dining occupancy rates at the hotel. However, once the DDP was instituted, problems began to occur. While the restaurant had tables filled more frequently, they found that the dining plan did not fit in well with the current meal set up of the Bistro, causing confused guests and frustrated servers/managers who complained higher up. Since the DDP overall seemed to be beneficial to the Bistro's bottom line, the decision was made to alter the restaurant for that crowd versus removing it all together.

Ironically, most of the servers there currently have not been told much about the refurb. I spoke with a few this weekend, and they are fairly clueless about the future of the restaurant, however most of them suspected that some major long term changes were in place based on conversations they've had with others.

 

[steve76]

I had a reservation for October 2nd at Bistro de Paris. I received the same email as above stating that my reservation had been moved to Chef de France, except it stated "unfortunately it will be closed from August 1st through the end of October".

Very disappointed - I was really looking forward to trying it for the first time - always wanted to but never booked it until it came onto the Dining Plan.

 

[wdwfan22]

I can't speak to the quality having diminished from a few years ago, but as I said, I found the current quality to be exceptional and even above the other Signature restaurants at WDW. If it's true that the quality has diminished (and I have no reason to doubt that it has), I can only imagine the quality of Bistro a few years ago!

Bistro is one of my favorite restaurants and I do tend to eat there quite a bit, but even I can't say they are better then the other Signature Restaurants. They quailty has dropped over the past couple of years. I still feel you get more at California Grill and any of the Grand Floridian restaurants.