Where's the beef? Not on Mouse Buffets.

[WDW1974]

I agree, there are tons of places in the World to get Prime Rib, a buffet is not one of those places you should expect to get it.

Right ... cause they have had it as a staple since the first buffet opened in the 70s.

:hammer::hammer::hammer:

 

[wdwmagic]

It's a shame Boma has lost the Prime Rib. I was always expecting Boma to take some hits since opening, and up until now it's managed to fend off the dining plan cuts and keep everything together - which has been quite an achievement compared to a lot of other restaurants. Obviously it's far from a disaster, but it's a real shame that it has lost one of it's signature items.

 

[clarkstallings]

One of my favorite things food wise at Disney used to be BBQ Chicken Pizza from Catalina Eddie's. I would proceed to smother it in Ranch dressing and enjoy a nice outdoor evening meal at the Studios. My mother would usually get the vegetarian pizza. Now, neither are offered. You have Cheese or Pepperoni and that's it. Guess what, it's the same cheese or pepperoni pizza offered at all of the ubiquitous pizza QSRs across property. Anyone remember the Figaro Fries at the Pinocchio Village Haus? Well they're still there, sorta, only the only nutritionally redeeming part of the dish has been removed, the tomatoes and lettuce. At Lotus Blossom Cafe, one used to receive an egg roll with most entrees, that's been gone for several years now as well. Food peaked at WDW many years ago. Many many years ago, it was not very good, and then finally in the mid to late 90s, when everyone in America seemed to fancy him or herself a gourmet, the food became a bit more high brow, ever since 2005 ish, the food offerings have become less diverse and more homogenized. The introduction of DDP has accelerated this. Personally for me, this is a bit depressing because it represents a greater trend and problem.

 

[COProgressFan]

It's a shame Boma has lost the Prime Rib. I was always expecting Boma to take some hits since opening, and up until now it's managed to fend off the dining plan cuts and keep everything together - which has been quite an achievement compared to a lot of other restaurants. Obviously it's far from a disaster, but it's a real shame that it has lost one of it's signature items.

I agree Steve. Even sadder, its a shame that when you (or many of us) went to Boma the first time when it opened years ago we thought to ourselves "Uh oh -- this place is really unique, with great food that is more exotic than typical buffet fare. I hope they don't, but I'm sure they will make it less original, more bland, and less special and unique after a few years."

The sad truth is, whenever I see anything done right at Disney over the past several years, I'm always wondering how long it will be until they cheapen the experience. I saw Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Parade in 2005 for the first time and I was amazed that there were three LIVE BANDS in the parade. At the time, I knew they would be going away eventually because it costs more to pay talented performers than college kids in foam head costumes and it is obvious how management thinks. Sure enough, when the Once Upon a Christmastime parade debuted in 2007, those bands were gone...

CoP

 

[patrok65]

WOW patrok65.. Buffets in Texas are not even close to those prices 8.99. Not many around though. We want and have great steak houses that you can get great quality steaks for 9.95-12.95.. including a baked potatoe and salad. Guess we are lucky here. GOOD GREAT Food and low prices. But we also do not have Casinos, resorts, etc to warrent buffets other than Golden Coral, not so good...

o man that is pretty good you guys def are lucky an stuff up in nj and ny are very out of priced but thats what you get when nothing is home grown and you have to import everything. With disney the quality def has gone down in some places and i understand where wdw1974 is coming from it is really annoying when you expect something at a place that they always have and then cause of budget or other reasons that place takes it off very frustrating :brick:

 

[yankspy]

When prime rib has been a STAPLE on WDW buffets for as long as they have existed and even the WDW chef quoted in the story says there will be a significant savings from the move ... there is NO doubt why this move was made.

I'm see folks here playing 'Know Your Cuts of Beef' and I feel like I need a drink of something strong.

Disney is doing this to save money. Period.

You can believe whatever you choose, but reality says this is all about money.

Just to be clear, I am not defending the decision. My points about cuts of meat were simply made because some seemed to suggest that a strip loin was garbage. I do believe that it is a cost cutting measure. However, I can not say that it is a good or bad move since I do not run the place and I have no idea what their food cost is like.

 

[MousDad]

Just to be clear, I am not defending the decision. My points about cuts of meat were simply made because some seemed to suggest that a strip loin was garbage.

Hey, I only meant when I prepare it.

 

[yankspy]

Hey, I only meant when I prepare it.

:lol::lol::lol:

 

[Buried20KLeague]

This is both hilarious and ridiculous. Several points- quite sure I will be alone in my opinions, but that is okay.

1. Anyone with such a wonderful and diverse pallet would realize that a buffet is not where you go to enhance it, except for Boma. It has some amazing things that my family like to try. The buffets are more for the character experiences and for the kids. LIFE GOES ON WITH NO PRIME RIB ON THE MENU. I PROMISE! (good grief)

2. Your broad generalization of the majority of Disney guests being, as you put it, "fatties", is extremely inappropriate. I am sure that your svelte physique is mystifying, but to say such awful things about those who may have a few extra pounds, and to assume they do not have a good pallet is nothing more than rude and irresponsible at best. Not cool at all.

3. There are HUNDREDS of restaurants to choose form in WDW. If the buffets do not serve prime rib and you world turns by whether or not you get to eat prime rib, then surf the menus and make a reservation at a place that serves prime rib. Problem solved!!!

4. Even in WDW, the economy DOES cause things to be cut. This is of course a down cycle for Disney and if they can save some money by not serving Prime rib, then go for it! i would much rather lose that from the menu of a buffet then lose something actually worth talking about.....

JMHO........:xmas:

You're the exact type of person that Disney is playing to. You're forgiving and permissive of cuts here and there, yet without a cut in cost. Why would you do that? Why is that okay to you? I completely don't understand the logic.

Posts like this are why Disney's still cutting little things here and there. They'll keep going while people will still let them.

The spooky part is... If there's more of you folks (those that don't mind) than there are of us (those that do), we may be no where near the end!

*** By the way... I've been a lot more negative about WDW lately... I don't want anyone to misconstrue that as not liking the place. It's quite the opposite... I LOVE it. And I think that's the problem. Ever since I took the fam to Tokyo Disney especially, I've been forced to take the rose colored glasses off when viewing my beloved WDW. Just had to say that, because I didn't want anyone thinking I'm a hater. My years of posts should hopefully show otherwise.

 

[DisneyMusician2]

You're the exact type of person that Disney is playing to. You're forgiving and permissive of cuts here and there, yet without a cut in cost. Why would you do that? Why is that okay to you? I completely don't understand the logic.

Posts like this are why Disney's still cutting little things here and there. They'll keep going while people will still let them.

The spooky part is... If there's more of you folks (those that don't mind) than there are of us (those that do), we may be no where near the end!

*** By the way... I've been a lot more negative about WDW lately... I don't want anyone to misconstrue that as not liking the place. It's quite the opposite... I LOVE it. And I think that's the problem. Ever since I took the fam to Tokyo Disney especially, I've been forced to take the rose colored glasses off when viewing my beloved WDW. Just had to say that, because I didn't want anyone thinking I'm a hater. My years of posts should hopefully show otherwise.

There are things about WDW that do need the rose-colored glasses to come off. But no one has proven to me that the quality of the actual meat, which is what this debate is about is lower despite the actual purchase price, which is clearly cheaper.

Until I find out, I will continue to wonder about the relevance of this entire discussion.

BTW, most prime rib isn't even prime-grade meat, its just a name. This might even be an upgrade, because the loin takes less work to sell and produce, therefore cheaper.

Just a question which no one seems to be able to answer, other than to ridicule the question

 

[Buried20KLeague]

There are things about WDW that do need the rose-colored glasses to come off. But no one has proven to me that the quality of the actual meat, which is what this debate is about is lower despite the actual purchase price, which is clearly cheaper.

Until I find out, I will continue to wonder about the relevance of this entire discussion.

BTW, most prime rib isn't even prime-grade meat, its just a name. This might even be an upgrade, because the loin takes less work to sell and produce, therefore cheaper.

Just a question which no one seems to be able to answer, other than to ridicule the question

I understand your point... But if they're buying meat cheaper and not passing that on to the consumer, then my point stands. They're making cuts, but not passing it along... And in some cases even raising the prices to us, especially at the holidays.

I think, also, that a big part of this one is perception. The perception is that they're pulling a high-end cut of meat that's been a staple in many places since the 70's... And they're doing it at the same time they're paying less attention to detail and making other cuts and changes around the resort.

To me, that gives the perception that this change was not one of necessity, but of opportunity. That they took this chance to make this change, and then blame it on outside factors (if anyone even complains in the first place).

Yet... The restaruants are full. The prices to the customer haven't changed.

That's why this is an issue to me, at least.

 

[yankspy]

I understand your point... But if they're buying meat cheaper and not passing that on to the consumer, then my point stands. They're making cuts, but not passing it along... And in some cases even raising the prices to us, especially at the holidays.

I think, also, that a big part of this one is perception. The perception is that they're pulling a high-end cut of meat that's been a staple in many places since the 70's... And they're doing it at the same time they're paying less attention to detail and making other cuts and changes around the resort.

To me, that gives the perception that this change was not one of necessity, but of opportunity. That they took this chance to make this change, and then blame it on outside factors (if anyone even complains in the first place).

Yet... The restaruants are full. The prices to the customer haven't changed.

That's why this is an issue to me, at least.

Perhaps their beef costs have raised. I am not saying that they did but I find it somewhat odd that no one is considering that. We agree that it is a cost cutting measure but their are dozens of potential reasons for doing so. I do not exclude the notion that they are trying to get one over on us, but I also do not automatically assume it without knowing all of the facts.

 

[Phonedave]

Anyone remember the Figaro Fries at the Pinocchio Village Haus? Well they're still there, sorta, only the only nutritionally redeeming part of the dish has been removed, the tomatoes and lettuce. .

As a lover of the oh so disgusting and bad for you but still so good Figaro Fries, I can tell you that they will still put all the toppings on them, you just have to ask for them.

I don't know if thats cost cutting, or just a mass appeal thing. I know that if you say fries with cheese and bacon to many people they are OK with it. But then you say "add lettuce and tomato" and they think its nasty.

-dave

 

[Phonedave]

Perhaps their beef costs have raised. I am not saying that they did but I find it somewhat odd that no one is considering that. We agree that it is a cost cutting measure but their are dozens of potential reasons for doing so. I do not exclude the notion that they are trying to get one over on us, but I also do not automatically assume it without knowing all of the facts.

There is cost cutting and then there is cost cutting

Part of running a business is looking for ways to improve it. Part of that improvement is *gasp* cutting costs. You don't allways have to pass a savings on the customer in the form of a reduced price, you can also pass it on in not RASING prices a frequently as you would otherwise have to.

The price of beef has gone up - a lot since 04. It seems to have reached a stable fluctuation, but that can allways change.

I someone at Disney looks at the buffet and notices that wow, we throw away a lot of prime rib because of the way it can be cut, maybe we should replace it with a more buffet friendly cut. And that cut has the potential to be just as good (or better) than prime rib, even if it costs less, then I am all for it.

There is plenty that WDW does that is clearly cost cutting. Somthing like removing the torch lighting ceremony and replacing it with nothing. But we really do not know what went on with "primeribgate". It was replaced with a different cut of meat, a cut that while it may cost less per pound on average, is still a quality cut, is better for buffet service, and quite frankly if it results in less food waste, then I am all for it. Americans thow away more food in a day than many people get to eat in a week.

Depsite all the clear cut cases of WDW "wall-marting" or "dumbing down" or "declining by degreess" or whatever anti-fanboy terms people want to use, not ALL decisions made by Disney involve a manager in a back room with a ledger rubbing his hands in glee as he cackles "ha ha ha, I get to screw those sucker guests once again"

-dave

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Depsite all the clear cut cases of WDW "wall-marting" or "dumbing down" or "declining by degreess" or whatever anti-fanboy terms people want to use, not ALL decisions made by Disney involve a manager in a back room with a ledger rubbing his hands in glee as he cackles "ha ha ha, I get to screw those sucker guests once again"

-dave

Too busy sweating on cost saving driven bonuses no doubt. tis the way of the world, especially at the bottom end.

 

[yankspy]

There is cost cutting and then there is cost cutting

Part of running a business is looking for ways to improve it. Part of that improvement is *gasp* cutting costs. You don't allways have to pass a savings on the customer in the form of a reduced price, you can also pass it on in not RASING prices a frequently as you would otherwise have to.

The price of beef has gone up - a lot since 04. It seems to have reached a stable fluctuation, but that can allways change.

I someone at Disney looks at the buffet and notices that wow, we throw away a lot of prime rib because of the way it can be cut, maybe we should replace it with a more buffet friendly cut. And that cut has the potential to be just as good (or better) than prime rib, even if it costs less, then I am all for it.

There is plenty that WDW does that is clearly cost cutting. Somthing like removing the torch lighting ceremony and replacing it with nothing. But we really do not know what went on with "primeribgate". It was replaced with a different cut of meat, a cut that while it may cost less per pound on average, is still a quality cut, is better for buffet service, and quite frankly if it results in less food waste, then I am all for it. Americans thow away more food in a day than many people get to eat in a week.

Depsite all the clear cut cases of WDW "wall-marting" or "dumbing down" or "declining by degreess" or whatever anti-fanboy terms people want to use, not ALL decisions made by Disney involve a manager in a back room with a ledger rubbing his hands in glee as he cackles "ha ha ha, I get to screw those sucker guests once again"

-dave

Yep. Oh!! BTW I absolutely love "Primeribgate":lol:

 

[Erin_Akey]

I definitely do not view Disney through rose-colored glasses as one poster put it. I do however think that out of all of the cuts that Disney has to make, I am certainly NOT about to get my panties in a wad over prime rib at a buffet! Just me.

 

[WDWmazprty]

LOL! :ROFLOL:Amen to that! Its not a big deal.....

panties in a wad. *chuckle* :lol:

 

[Erin_Akey]

i'm not trying to be crass, but it just baffles me that with all of things that could upset us all, the thing chosen as the gripe du jour is PRIME RIB NOT BEING ON A BUFFET????

My husband and I both try to come here and read up a little every few weeks and then daily right before a trip, and it is so hilarious to us to see such a huge deal made out of this.

Many of the complaints i see as valid and we have our own that change with each trip. But this one is so trivial to me.

However, to each his own, and absolutely the OP has the right to make prime rib his issue. I just find it funny. Not trying to be ugly or argumentative, just amused.......

The thing i really miss is the Tarzan Rocks show. That was awesome.

I also miss the old buffet in Norway, it was a great way to get my kids to try some things from my husband's heritage. I also know that place gets a lot more business and traffic by having the princesses there. That is Disney's choice to try and make money.

I could go on and on about little things that bug me, but what good does it do? If it gets bad enough, no one forces us to go there and spend our money. I choose to go and my family still loves it there, and Disney will ALWAYS be special to us for reasons that are probably VERY different than most.

It is still a great place to be together as a family and be kids for while and leave the pressures of every day life at home.

Is it perfect? Heck no....nothing is, but for my family the positives far outweigh the negatives and I prefer to spend my time talking about the things I love.

My main issue with the OP was not even the prime rib issue, I just found it funny, my main beef, (no pun intended) was his crack at and generalization of Disney guests. It was rude and off the mark.

PS- I canot wait to leave Wednesday!!!! WOO HOO!!!:xmas:

 

[Buried20KLeague]

Perhaps their beef costs have raised. I am not saying that they did but I find it somewhat odd that no one is considering that. We agree that it is a cost cutting measure but their are dozens of potential reasons for doing so. I do not exclude the notion that they are trying to get one over on us, but I also do not automatically assume it without knowing all of the facts.

And you have a point.

I guess with me it's just the perception along with everything else that leads one to the conclusion that it's another way to screw the customer. But you could well be right.

And for the record... I'm not all that worried about Prime Rib on the buffets. It's just part of the trend that's got me so worked up. And my guess is that's the way other people feel too.

There's a bigger picture that has some people upset. Some people have a hard time seeing the forest through the trees. And that's not a put down to ANYONE. Some people just think differently than others. And that's what causes interesting discussions like this, and the "slash and burn" thread. These two threads have created more interesting discussion than we've had on here in a LONG time. It's been pretty quiet on the news and rumors front lately.