Differing Palates Of WDW Guests

Nottamus

Nottamus

Well-Known Member
Sometimes the "best burger I've ever had" is totally related as well to how hungry I am.

Also...the chef/cook/food prep person could affect said meal.
 
Phonedave

Phonedave

Well-Known Member
RustySpork said:
That's all well and fine, and absolutely true. The problem is that fan forums and Disney themselves seem to describe the food as the best thing anyone will eat anywhere in the world setting unrealistic expectations.

You can read that as .. if one expects they're going to get ripped off and have a mediocre experience, they'll have a good time.

Just set your expectations lower! :joyfull:
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You summed it up much better than I did.

The other thing to consider is about 10 years ago, the food was better and the prices (accounting for inflation) were lower.
 
Shouldigo12

Shouldigo12

Well-Known Member
Phonedave said:
You summed it up much better than I did.

The other thing to consider is about 10 years ago, the food was better and the prices (accounting for inflation) were lower.
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I can't really speak about 10 years ago, since I literally just started going. I
I can see Both your point though, I didn't mean to come across aa endorsing expecting your meals to be mediocre and loving it.
 
Sirwalterraleigh

Sirwalterraleigh

Premium Member
I disagree with this premise...
Quality food is so regardless of the palette.

That doesn’t mean that a person will like every taste...but consistency in prep and ingredients will always leave you in a better place. They have sacrificed that to an extent and there is no reason to excuse it.

Moral of the story: papa johns is never “good”
 
Phonedave

Phonedave

Well-Known Member
Shouldigo12 said:
I can't really speak about 10 years ago, since I literally just started going. I
I can see Both your point though, I didn't mean to come across aa endorsing expecting your meals to be mediocre and loving it.
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Ah, now it makes sense. If I just started going, I would perhaps feel the same way you do. However, dining at Disney World used to be much different. And no, this is not some rose colored glasses lens of nostalgia thing. Others will vouch for this as well. You used to be able to make reservations at just about any restaurant the day before, and aside from the really busy times of the year, you had a good shot at walking up to almost any table service and being seated in 30 minutes or less. Restaurants, especially EPCOT WS restaurants were also markedly different from each other. Not different at in Akershus has a steak with lingonberries on it and Spice Road Table has one with hummus on it. Different as in Akershus had reindeer stew and Spice Road Table had (well SRT didn't exist 10 years ago, but you get the point). The food was also of a better quality, and prices were considerably more reasonable. I think I lot of people who have been going for a while equate the food then with the food now. It is not the same. When after a meal at Ohana', my then 14 year old, who used to love the food there, says to me "dad, I don't think we need to come here anymore." you know there is something going on.
 
H

Hockey89

Well-Known Member
Sirwalterraleigh said:
I disagree with this premise...
Quality food is so regardless of the palette.

That doesn’t mean that a person will like every taste...but consistency in prep and ingredients will always leave you in a better place. They have sacrificed that to an extent and there is no reason to excuse it.

Moral of the story: papa johns is never “good”
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Everybody is entitled to their wrong opinion... People think Olive Garden is good... It never is... ;)
 
RustySpork

RustySpork

Oscar Mayer Memer
Phonedave said:
Ah, now it makes sense. If I just started going, I would perhaps feel the same way you do. However, dining at Disney World used to be much different. And no, this is not some rose colored glasses lens of nostalgia thing. Others will vouch for this as well. You used to be able to make reservations at just about any restaurant the day before, and aside from the really busy times of the year, you had a good shot at walking up to almost any table service and being seated in 30 minutes or less. Restaurants, especially EPCOT WS restaurants were also markedly different from each other. Not different at in Akershus has a steak with lingonberries on it and Spice Road Table has one with hummus on it. Different as in Akershus had reindeer stew and Spice Road Table had (well SRT didn't exist 10 years ago, but you get the point). The food was also of a better quality, and prices were considerably more reasonable. I think I lot of people who have been going for a while equate the food then with the food now. It is not the same. When after a meal at Ohana', my then 14 year old, who used to love the food there, says to me "dad, I don't think we need to come here anymore." you know there is something going on.
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Yes, 100% different compared to today. I used to often call and make a reservation in the park and get one within the time it took to walk or bus to that location. It was also not uncommon to walk up to a restaurant in the parks or at a resort and be seated within an hour.

The prices were much more reasonable back then, and the quality was much higher than it is today.

I have fond memories of driving over to Epcot and having lunch at Le Cellier and many other restaurants while spending well under $50 for two. The good old days.
 
H

Hockey89

Well-Known Member
RustySpork said:
Yes, 100% different compared to today. I used to often call and make a reservation in the park and get one within the time it took to walk or bus to that location. It was also not uncommon to walk up to a restaurant in the parks or at a resort and be seated within an hour.

The prices were much more reasonable back then, and the quality was much higher than it is today.

I have fond memories of driving over to Epcot and having lunch at Le Cellier and many other restaurants while spending well under $50 for two. The good old days.
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There is no question.... DDP has ruined Disney food.... The YM used to serve great steaks... Long gone...
 
Phonedave

Phonedave

Well-Known Member
RustySpork said:
YI have fond memories of driving over to Epcot and having lunch at Le Cellier and many other restaurants while spending well under $50 for two. The good old days.
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Remember when they had the after 5 PM annual pass for EPCOT? I think they still have it, but I don't think anybody buys it.

Years ago when they came out with it, the idea was that the restaurants around WS were so good (food and price wise) that locals who had no desire to pay for an AP, would still want to pop in for dinner on a regular basis (and EPCOT dining wanted the business). You could own the after 5 PM pass, and say "lets go out to Chefs De France tonight, and then do so. Can you imagine any locals doing buying that pass for those reasons anymore?
 
John park hopper

John park hopper

Well-Known Member
Does food quality decline with the shear volume of people being served. I can remember the Garden Grill years ago when it was the Good Turn Restaurant (walk right in no reservations needed) and it was a la cart the food was excellent and prices reasonable. Last time I ate at the Garden Grill (character meal) all you could eat (no a la cart) IMO it was terrible
 
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RustySpork

RustySpork

Oscar Mayer Memer
Phonedave said:
Remember when they had the after 5 PM annual pass for EPCOT? I think they still have it, but I don't think anybody buys it.

Years ago when they came out with it, the idea was that the restaurants around WS were so good (food and price wise) that locals who had no desire to pay for an AP, would still want to pop in for dinner on a regular basis (and EPCOT dining wanted the business). You could own the after 5 PM pass, and say "lets go out to Chefs De France tonight, and then do so. Can you imagine any locals doing buying that pass for those reasons anymore?
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I sure do, yeah. They still have the Epcot after 4 pass, but at $289 per person on top of the difficulty to get a reservation and the cost of meals if you do manage to get at a restaurant that you want to dine at, it's really not worth it at all.

Buying the pass for two and going to a buffet in the park is going to cost over $700. Add TiW to your after 4 passes without dining at all, and you're over $750. Just to walk around Epcot in the evenings and spend more money.

Thanks, but no thanks. :eek:
 
Sirwalterraleigh

Sirwalterraleigh

Premium Member
Phonedave said:
Remember when they had the after 5 PM annual pass for EPCOT? I think they still have it, but I don't think anybody buys it.

Years ago when they came out with it, the idea was that the restaurants around WS were so good (food and price wise) that locals who had no desire to pay for an AP, would still want to pop in for dinner on a regular basis (and EPCOT dining wanted the business). You could own the after 5 PM pass, and say "lets go out to Chefs De France tonight, and then do so. Can you imagine any locals doing buying that pass for those reasons anymore?
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Excellent point.

The Epcot after 4 has been irrelevant for along time. Roughly since the dates of implementation of the Disney dining plan. It was intentional.
 

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