Disney Food Is Expensive and Worse Than Ever

[Phonedave]

Food prices and some places I do notice the "quality" is not the same.
I will say that...

Cali Grill
Topolino's
Homecomin'
Morimoto Asia
Boathouse

All still crush it in terms of quality and how good it is.

Obviously I have not had Narcoossee's being it's been closed but I ALWAYS get lobster there and it is always awesome. I have a reservation for my May trip and I am excited to go back.

I have not been to Le Cellier since the DDP went away. While I LOVE the filet and truffle sauce it's hard to shell out that much money for a filet there.

Question for you...where have you been let down the most and realized a drop in quality?

This past Nov we ate at Chef Mickey's. There were kids involved and I tried to warn everyone we were paying for the characters and they food is not that good. But this was a whole different kind of not that good. We all ate the kids corn dogs and nuggets because everything else was absolutely horrible. It was seriously the worst meal I ever had in my life.

California Grill has really gone downhill over the years. I know you said they crush it, but I do not think so at all.
Be Our Guest had an amazing decline, for a place that was pretty damn good to a place I will no longer set foot in 2 or 3 years time.
Artist Point used to be one of my favorite restaurants. Granted the decline is due to it becoming a character dinner, but there was some decline before that.
Le Cellier was never great, and now it's not even good.
Brown Derby was up, then down, then back up, and after the last two times I ate there - disappointing again.
While 'Ohana was never a bastion of fine dining, it was OK. I last ate there maybe 10 years ago, when after we ate, my then 12 year old said "dad I don't think we should eat here anymore". Maybe it is better again, maybe not. I have not been there in a decade.

Chefs de France has been holding on, but there are some elements there that have been off lately, but it is still good.

I have not yet eaten at Topolino's, and was going to (staying at Riviera in June) but looking at the menu, maybe not. I had looked at it before when it opened and I thought I recalled there being a number of interesting things on it, but now it seems limited. I have people in my family who don't eat fish or veal, so that leaves either a filet (can it get any more pedestrian - WDW the land of filet, and for $56) or a $36 roasted eggplant. The sole meuniere caught my attention, but I doubt it is sole - European sole, More likely American "sole". Maybe I am wrong about that, and if I am, then that is one standout and at a fair price as well.

 

[Chi84]

California Grill has really gone downhill over the years. I know you said they crush it, but I do not think so at all.
Be Our Guest had an amazing decline, for a place that was pretty damn good to a place I will no longer set foot in 2 or 3 years time.
Artist Point used to be one of my favorite restaurants. Granted the decline is due to it becoming a character dinner, but there was some decline before that.
Le Cellier was never great, and now it's not even good.
Brown Derby was up, then down, then back up, and after the last two times I ate there - disappointing again.
While 'Ohana was never a bastion of fine dining, it was OK. I last ate there maybe 10 years ago, when after we ate, my then 12 year old said "dad I don't think we should eat here anymore". Maybe it is better again, maybe not. I have not been there in a decade.

Chefs de France has been holding on, but there are some elements there that have been off lately, but it is still good.

I have not yet eaten at Topolino's, and was going to (staying at Riviera in June) but looking at the menu, maybe not. I had looked at it before when it opened and I thought I recalled there being a number of interesting things on it, but now it seems limited. I have people in my family who don't eat fish or veal, so that leaves either a filet (can it get any more pedestrian - WDW the land of filet, and for $56) or a $36 roasted eggplant. The sole meuniere caught my attention, but I doubt it is sole - European sole, More likely American "sole". Maybe I am wrong about that, and if I am, then that is one standout and at a fair price as well.

I thought the server at Topolino’s said the sole was “a true Spanish sole” and it was rare to find it served locally. In any event it was the best dish I’ve had at WDW.

 

[blackthidot]

California Grill has really gone downhill over the years. I know you said they crush it, but I do not think so at all.
Be Our Guest had an amazing decline, for a place that was pretty damn good to a place I will no longer set foot in 2 or 3 years time.
Artist Point used to be one of my favorite restaurants. Granted the decline is due to it becoming a character dinner, but there was some decline before that.
Le Cellier was never great, and now it's not even good.
Brown Derby was up, then down, then back up, and after the last two times I ate there - disappointing again.
While 'Ohana was never a bastion of fine dining, it was OK. I last ate there maybe 10 years ago, when after we ate, my then 12 year old said "dad I don't think we should eat here anymore". Maybe it is better again, maybe not. I have not been there in a decade.

Chefs de France has been holding on, but there are some elements there that have been off lately, but it is still good.

I have not yet eaten at Topolino's, and was going to (staying at Riviera in June) but looking at the menu, maybe not. I had looked at it before when it opened and I thought I recalled there being a number of interesting things on it, but now it seems limited. I have people in my family who don't eat fish or veal, so that leaves either a filet (can it get any more pedestrian - WDW the land of filet, and for $56) or a $36 roasted eggplant. The sole meuniere caught my attention, but I doubt it is sole - European sole, More likely American "sole". Maybe I am wrong about that, and if I am, then that is one standout and at a fair price as well.

You must just have bad luck with CG. Anytime I have been there it's been amazing. I have been there multiple times with people who have never been, and people who go as frequently as I do and they all agree. I am in no way saying you're wrong in how you feel, I just have not had that kind of experience there.
Maybe you need to take a solo late night trip to Topolino's though. You need that in your life.

 

[aladdin2007]

anyone have any recent opinions on Maya Grill? I know its somewhat out of the way and you don't hear it of much, but we were thinking of trying it again for a family members birthday dinner.

 

[Imhere]

anyone have any recent opinions on Maya Grill? I know its somewhat out of the way and you don't hear it of much, but we were thinking of trying it again for a family members birthday dinner.

Went in November. Nice restaurant, good food, good guitar player.

Chicken Fajitas:

 

[Hockey89]

You must just have bad luck with CG. Anytime I have been there it's been amazing. I have been there multiple times with people who have never been, and people who go as frequently as I do and they all agree. I am in no way saying you're wrong in how you feel, I just have not had that kind of experience there.
Maybe you need to take a solo late night trip to Topolino's though. You need that in your life.

I'm with the other poster.... It has gone downhill big time since it's heyday 15 plus years ago.... It's just not the same.

While the Sushi was never high-end, it used to be very good.... Now it's prepacked Whole Foods....

 

[blackthidot]

I'm with the other poster.... It has gone downhill big time since it's heyday 15 plus years ago.... It's just not the same.

While the Sushi was never high-end, it used to be very good.... Now it's prepacked Whole Foods....

I will say the shrimp tempura rolls went from very good to just okay. They were different from dinner to brunch. Brunch was a bit more toned down. Now you get the brunch version.

Other than that, I have got no issues.

 

[Phonedave]

I thought the server at Topolino’s said the sole was “a true Spanish sole” and it was rare to find it served locally. In any event it was the best dish I’ve had at WDW.

If that is the case, then that changes things a bit. Still, only for me, nobody else in my family. One of the most memorable dishes I have had was Dover Sole - as in caught yesterday in the English Channel and flown in. It happened to be at V&A as well.

 

[Phonedave]

I'm with the other poster.... It has gone downhill big time since it's heyday 15 plus years ago.... It's just not the same.

While the Sushi was never high-end, it used to be very good.... Now it's prepacked Whole Foods....

That is about the same timeframe I was going to say.

Sushi was good, but now, not so much. Too much of a reliance on Spicy Tuna dishes, also known as "yesterdays sub par tuna that we are masking the taste of". Pair that up with some nice "white tuna" aka Escolar, and you are good to go (to the bathroom)

 

[Eric Graham]

We really enjoy the Boathouse at Disney Springs. The seafood is really good there too. It's also a lot easier to make a reservation on Open Table than Disney. We really enjoyed Chevy's (Mexican Restaurant) in Orlando but they closed.

 

[Eric Graham]

There was also an all you can eat lobster buffet in Orlando, but I cannot recall the name of it.

 

[Eric Graham]

Boston Lobster Feast

 

[Eric Graham]

We also really enjoy Yak and Yeti at AK

 

[Lilofan]

There was also an all you can eat lobster buffet in Orlando, but I cannot recall the name of it.

There is a VW Beetle that drives around a Orlando with a giant lobster on top advertising Boston Lobster Feast buffet .

 

[Hockey89]

If that is the case, then that changes things a bit. Still, only for me, nobody else in my family. One of the most memorable dishes I have had was Dover Sole - as in caught yesterday in the English Channel and flown in. It happened to be at V&A as well.

I had the Turbot dish at V&A with a spin on the classic Sole Meuniere dish.... It was fantastic.

 

[Eric Graham]

The lobster at the Boathouse is the best!

 

[Smiley/OCD]

We had breakfast at Trattoria al Forna in Spring of 2021, worst breakfast ever. I wanted the steel-cut oats with fruit. Fruit (berries) were so sour they were enedibe. No cream or sugar for the oatmeal. The oatmeal was worse that wallpaper paste. I literally could stand my spoon up in it without it falling over. No seasoning in that oatmeal whatsoever. I've had better oatmeal at Panera (and cheaper). Two thumbs way down and based on just a basic meal, won't be back to waste $$ on more expensive dishes.

Now we’ve eaten at Trattoria Al Forno twice last time this past December…they took my favorite meal, their breakfast calzone off the menu. As we were walking past, the manager happened to be standing outside and I told him how much I loved it and why did they remove it. He said the chef will still make it if we dine again.
My wife and I immediately made reservations and yes, the chef made it!! IMHO, the BEST breakfast on property! The rest of the menu? Can’t speak for it (although my wife liked her meal)…Everybody has different tastes, and every restaurant has a bad day too…

 

[Chef Mickey]

We also really enjoy Yak and Yeti at AK

Used to be a go to for me, but their quality has declined and prices are out of control.

 

[Minthorne]

Sadly, most Disney food establishments have shifted focus to margins over quality. Meanwhile the meatballs at Bayline Diner at Cabana Bay are some of the best I’ve ever had. Clearly homemade at a counter service.

 

[BuddyThomas]

Now we’ve eaten at Trattoria Al Forno twice last time this past December…they took my favorite meal, their breakfast calzone off the menu. As we were walking past, the manager happened to be standing outside and I told him how much I loved it and why did they remove it. He said the chef will still make it if we dine again.
My wife and I immediately made reservations and yes, the chef made it!! IMHO, the BEST breakfast on property! The rest of the menu? Can’t speak for it (although my wife liked her meal)…Everybody has different tastes, and every restaurant has a bad day too…

Okay, I’ll bite. What is a breakfast calzone?