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What are ur expectations at disney
- Thread starter Bparso87
- Start date
GeoDonJac34
Well-Known Member
This is a tough one. I normally do not have high expectations at WDW. I know if I get a burger, it won't top my local Five Guys. I know any pizza won't be better than I can get locally. Even hibachi or sushi won't be better. But if I do signature dining , I will definitely expect more. If I am going to pay top dollar for a meal , I will hope for something special. Ate at Yachtsmen a few weeks ago and was not disappointed. But for the price I expected a very good meal. If I eat at a place like Sci Fi, which has really good theming, I am okay with an okay meal. Bottom line, I will never expect the best meal ever.
Disney4family
Well-Known Member
I agree. You hope for the best (especially at signature restaurants), but it doesn't always happen. I guess that's when you realize & rationalize that it's the thought of being at the World that at least makes it better. I'd rather have an "okay" burger at the Sci-Fi than home.
Great points even with signatures they have really good food but if put them into A good food city is it even that good?
epcotisbest
Well-Known Member
I expect escapism, something different and unique, not something I can find close to home. Yes, I expect good food, but it is the surroundings and service that count more for us.
V&A is the only one.... The others would struggle in boston/nyc/chi/san fran
Agreed
For the most part I would agree, but there are exceptions. Jiko, Sanaa, Flying Fish, Cali Grill, and others would do well anywhere. While I admit to getting better burgers at some small hole-in-the-wall spots, the burgers at Beaches & Cream have always been fantastic. The pizza at Via Napoli is the best we have had anywhere. People need to remember that the pizza there is authentic Neapolitan, and is not to everyone's taste. If you prefer New York or Chicago pizza, you won't care for Via Napoli, and will say it isn't good. We don't care for deep dish pizza at all, or the fold-able New York kind. Not to our taste at all. To each his/her own.
I could not disagree more on Via Napoli but that has been beating to death.... I like three of the four you mentioned...Never been to Sanaa, but comparing them to the places I eat at in NYC and Boston.... I just don't think they are close but just one man's opinion.
Weather_Lady
Well-Known Member
Me, too -- we tend to choose Disney restaurants by asking, "what's an experience we can't get at home?" The question applies to theming, entertainment and type of food, in that order. (The fact is, you have to look hard anymore to find a type of cuisine we can't get at home, so it really does come down to theme -- we live in a small town in upstate New York, yet we have, within a 30-minute drive, terrific Japanese hibachi, Indian, German, Italian, Ethiopian, Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Mexican, specialty burger places, steakhouses...)
Schneewittchen
Well-Known Member
I expect the QS to appeal to my kids. And I expect the food to be fresh and served at the appropriate temperature. I expect the table service to be as good as a national chain with a good manager. The food will be good quality, the wait staff will provide great service and the facilities will be clean and well maintained, but the menu itself will not necessarily be artistic or original. There will be occasional dishes or restaurants that really are interesting, but they aren't the rule.
Why disagree on Via Napoli?
So I have to ask both of you, what kind of pizza and where do you think is "better" than Via Napoli?
I feel like via Napoli is on par with chain restaurants that have a brick oven like Anthony's. Have u ever had pizza in New York Chicago or San Fran I can name many places better
Schneewittchen
Well-Known Member
Can I intrude upon the pizza thing? There are so many varieties of pizza to love..... I can really dig Chicago style pizza....
But in the Pacific Northwest, I frequently find cheddar cheese on pizza. Oh horrors no!
I need a puky emoji.
But in the Pacific Northwest, I frequently find cheddar cheese on pizza. Oh horrors no!
I need a puky emoji.
Wow! We so disagree, and we've had Anthony's. So the pizza you've had in New York and San Fran that you are comparing it to is authentic Neapolitan pizza?
TXDisney
Well-Known Member
It's a money issue. If your going to a QS restaurant you can't expect a TS menu. If you want great food than you have to pay for it at a nice TS restaurant. We've tried tons of Disney restaurants, so we know what we love like and hate. My advice if you go frequently is to try new things. And you'll figure out your restaurants you love after a few trips.
LowesChevy
Well-Known Member
Yes, unfortunately several years ago we had some real stinkers at signature dining spots and it was completely unacceptable. The last few years have been great I will say-California Grill has been way better managed since the refurb especially.
We tend to have relatively good experiences at table service like Mama Melrose, Via Napoli, Tutto, Teppan Edo, have been steady winners with great food and attentive service. I agree with @Schneewittchen that the table services spots should be comparable to national chain restaurants. I also know I will be paying a few more dollars for the premium for being at WDW.
Sadly you don't always get the service you wanted-I like to be greeted within a few minutes of sitting down, but sometimes you wait longer or other times you look around the restaurant wondering if you have a server at all!
. Less than great experiences are due to lukewarm food. That is my biggest pet peeve! It is just gross-you do not know how long the food has been sitting around. It runs the meal experience since by the time you send the food back and get a new dish everyone else is done eating. Chef's De France had been doing splendid job till this fall when a cold flatbread was served--seems the server was too busy flirting with the ladies at the other table. Both of these of course are not limited to Disney.
We do not eat a lot of counter service because the quality and presentation of the food is okay at best. The food is slopped on a paper plate, freshly fried potato chips are served clumped together and raw, lines are long or the food is inedible. We would rather pay $15-20 more for table service. Cantina De San Angel and Columbia Harbor House are usually two cs spots that have great food.
What do I want when I go anywhere? -Hot food hot and attentive service and about 85% of the time Disney delivers....with the exception of our favorite local restaurant, the restaurants where we live deliver I would say about 60% of the time. We do not go out much anymore needless to say-but I am demanding these days lol
I think your average person can expect to pay a little more for the food at WDW and get about what they expect.
We tend to have relatively good experiences at table service like Mama Melrose, Via Napoli, Tutto, Teppan Edo, have been steady winners with great food and attentive service. I agree with @Schneewittchen that the table services spots should be comparable to national chain restaurants. I also know I will be paying a few more dollars for the premium for being at WDW.
Sadly you don't always get the service you wanted-I like to be greeted within a few minutes of sitting down, but sometimes you wait longer or other times you look around the restaurant wondering if you have a server at all!
. Less than great experiences are due to lukewarm food. That is my biggest pet peeve! It is just gross-you do not know how long the food has been sitting around. It runs the meal experience since by the time you send the food back and get a new dish everyone else is done eating. Chef's De France had been doing splendid job till this fall when a cold flatbread was served--seems the server was too busy flirting with the ladies at the other table. Both of these of course are not limited to Disney. We do not eat a lot of counter service because the quality and presentation of the food is okay at best. The food is slopped on a paper plate, freshly fried potato chips are served clumped together and raw, lines are long or the food is inedible. We would rather pay $15-20 more for table service. Cantina De San Angel and Columbia Harbor House are usually two cs spots that have great food.
What do I want when I go anywhere? -Hot food hot and attentive service and about 85% of the time Disney delivers....with the exception of our favorite local restaurant, the restaurants where we live deliver I would say about 60% of the time. We do not go out much anymore needless to say-but I am demanding these days lol
I think your average person can expect to pay a little more for the food at WDW and get about what they expect.
I agree with him... I think it's chain food at best.... I couldn't believe how disappointing it was when we went... I would not go back if you paid... Even a chain like Flat bread PIZZA company is light years better IMHO
Phonedave
Well-Known Member
What to I expect at WDW? I expect to be cheated out of my money. Honestly, that is what I expect, and it happens every time, and I keep comming back.
Let's take V&A out of the discussion - it is a not a "normal" WDW restaruant.
None of the restaruants, even the good signature ones, are that great. They are good to very good, but not great. Both the DDP and the sheer volume of covers they do require a mass production type menu. They work well within the confines of their business model, but they have limitations they have to work within.Normally, I would say that is fine, but the prices that they charge are not in line with the food they serve. Many of them could survive in this area (Metro NYC suburbs) with the food they serve, but not at the prices they charge.
I used to really enjoy dining at WDW, but around 2004 or 5 I would say, it started to go downhill, especially as far as value (food & experience compared to the money you pay). I ate at a local hole in the wall sushi place last night. Sure, they did not have plush carpet and mahogany tables, but the place was clean and neat, the service was great, and the plating and food would stand up to, or surpass any WDW restaruant. The meal that cost us $50 there would have been at least $80 at WDW, and that is if I could even get toro at WDW.
-dave
Let's take V&A out of the discussion - it is a not a "normal" WDW restaruant.
None of the restaruants, even the good signature ones, are that great. They are good to very good, but not great. Both the DDP and the sheer volume of covers they do require a mass production type menu. They work well within the confines of their business model, but they have limitations they have to work within.Normally, I would say that is fine, but the prices that they charge are not in line with the food they serve. Many of them could survive in this area (Metro NYC suburbs) with the food they serve, but not at the prices they charge.
I used to really enjoy dining at WDW, but around 2004 or 5 I would say, it started to go downhill, especially as far as value (food & experience compared to the money you pay). I ate at a local hole in the wall sushi place last night. Sure, they did not have plush carpet and mahogany tables, but the place was clean and neat, the service was great, and the plating and food would stand up to, or surpass any WDW restaruant. The meal that cost us $50 there would have been at least $80 at WDW, and that is if I could even get toro at WDW.
-dave