Has Bongo's Lost Its Touch?

[Bairstow]

We all know that Disney food quality has become a vast joke in the past 10+ years...

Personal memory isn't going to be much use here, but I think a lot of the standard American quick-service fair like fries, burgers, and chicken fingers used to be higher quality at Disney World, but that drop in quality happened longer than 10 years ago- more like 17.
The food situation now is quite good, even for quick-service, but you kind of have to know where and what to order.

As for Bongos, we ate a huge lunch there back in October and were very pleased with everything. It wasn't especially busy, but the food and wait staff were great.
Maybe you just had a bad meal.

 

[BuddyThomas]

I think the Estefans are pretty busy with this right now:

http://onyourfeetmusical.com/

 

[bhg469]

I think the opposite is true, dining has only gotten better at WDW. At one point fine dining consisted of getting ketshup with your cheese burger. Now there's incredibly variety, of places to eat, whether you choose QS or sit down. Many different price points as well. you can get a very healthy meal in any of the parks that is relatively inexpensive.

Disney springs dining has vastly improved. In park dining though.... no way. The nicer resort restaurants are pretty much what they've been but again in park has suffered.

I remember Tony's being good, not for the Italian food, but their specials like steak or a a pork shank were always cooked perfectly. Now, that restaurant is a joke. Everyone raves about be our guest but at the heart of it, the menu is really not all that special, and the desserts are primarily cup cakes... nothing in the culinary world is as lazy and uninspired as cupcakes.

 

[DarthVader]

In park dining though.... no way.

I disagree, I think things have improved in the park in all the years I've gone

 

[ULPO46]

like I said different people have different opinions. I mean you look at some of the newer restaurants in DS and a three star rating by the guest, raises quite few eyebrows. I agree with @bhg469 I remember Tony's being a lot better of a place to eat. Now it taste more like a quick service stop. I dislike how Pecos Bill has changed and never mine the four seasons at EPCOT I remember larger portions at the same price now it's smaller portions and much more expensive. But it is everyone's opinion. I started this because of this. Now I get it, it's google but if you look at Yelp and other travel agency customer complaints including our very own Disney blog and the quality of service becomes the number one complaint after the theme parks not being updated enough and overcrowding. I wish I could fit all of the reviews of each restaurant but It'd probably annoy people on here with all the long post.

 

[bhg469]

I disagree, I think things have improved in the park in all the years I've gone

With the exception of Africas new offerings, and I am excited to try so i cannot give an opinion... Nothing added to the park has been good for me.. I really have to beg to differ here. I mean, the pork shank at gastons was a glimmer of hope but for whatever reason they took that away.

I have to say that I am a foodie and 10 years ago I started to see Disney get passed by local restaurants at a quick rate, and I don't live in a big market. Disney is slipping, absolutely without a doubt. They are adding new stuff that isn't terrible but their existing places that used to be good are no longer special.

 

[alissafalco]

I'm not a fan of Cuban food so I would never go regardless. However, there are many good meals to be had at WDW.

 

[Orpheus7696]

My family and I ate at Bongo's last year for our first night on our Disney vacation. We were very excited to go there. The atmosphere was
great but the food was terrible. I had some sampler platter that had the driest meat I had ever eaten and my son had some chicken tenders that were rotten. I hope it will be corrected! I would like to give it another chance.

 

[VoiceGuy07]

Back in the Pleasure Island days the wife and I grabbed a quick bite at the bar before heading to the clubs, not bad but apps were good. Ate in the restaurant once with the family and experienced the same just ok food and just ok service. Have never returned and probably won't again. We still enjoy House of Blues, Ragland Road and Splitsville. Looking forward to trying out the new dining options.

 

[POLY LOVER]

I've had good and bad at Bongos and Wolfgangs. I think they are good in the beginning then they rest on the rep and lose interest in impressing the guests. The Disney Springs changes will cause them to compete or fail.

 

[POLY LOVER]

I really like JOCKS Hanger Bar.