Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Oh and while we're talking about food, I had to laugh when I saw Artist Point was charging $40 for its signature salmon. The same fish that was once priced in the teens and more recently in the mid-20s. No. Disney would never gouge consumers. Disney would never just make up a price and throw it out there. Disney would never use those tactics to push people into buying the Dining Plan or get a quick profit margin boost. Nah ... and I don't know how consultants have penny-pinched the magic right out of Disney either ;-)
Originally Posted By pixiedust1 <<Unfortunately, knowing Disney management as well as I do, I won't tell you where it is because if I do someone in food and bev will say 'hey if 74 not only isn't bitching, but really likes the place we obviously have to raise prices, while reducing quality ... cah=ching, bonus>> It's funny that you said that... we dined for years at Disney, and we would laugh when we found a fair priced meal , not crowded and the food was good... we would always say, this place won't last to long.. it's not making enough money for them... once they find out, it will be gone or prices will go through the roof.. one example was Bonfammiles(sp) at Port Orleans... great food, reasonably priced , tucked away from the crowds... we knew that Disney would catch up to it... they did, and closed it... our loss... keep em a secret and enjoy it while you can...
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 ^^Great example, pixiedust. And Bonfamille's was a fave of mine as well. Great food. Reasonable prices. Good to excellent service. Yup. Wasn't ever going to last. I've just learned a sad lesson of WDW Dining and its management over the past decade. With a few notable exceptions that seem to always be great like V&A's (a safe assumption since I haven't dined there), California Grill, Flying Fish and Jiko, you really need to be a savvy diner. You want a great WDW meal? Go to either a location that is new or relatively new or one that has either just switched chefs and/or GMs. No, it isn't the easiest info to find, but it is out there. Also, check out the menus online (usually available on Deb Wills' excellent site) to see if your selections have disappeared or prices have jumped. To assume a place will be great because it's always been is a recipe for heartburn with Disney dining. Blame the consultants. Blame management. Blame the WalMarting of the product. But food can be a total crapshoot ... great or mediocre or lousy ... at WDW. Artist Point is a place, sadly, right now to stay away from.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<This week I discovered a wonderful dining establishment at WDW I had never been to before. Unfortunately, knowing Disney management as well as I do, I won't tell you where it is because if I do someone in food and bev will say 'hey if 74 not only isn't bitching, but really likes the place we obviously have to raise prices, while reducing quality ... cah=ching, bonus.' So, I can't tell you. >> Hmmm... Surprisingly good table-service restaurant that no one has heard of. You wouldn't be talking about Shutters at Caribbean Beach, would you??
Originally Posted By Labuda "And Bonfamille's was a fave of mine as well. Great food. Reasonable prices. Good to excellent service. Yup. Wasn't ever going to last. " Seriously, dude? Yes, service was good there, but the one and only time I ate there (3 or 4 days before it closed for good) the food was horrible. Neither Eric nor I enjoyed the food.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Seriously, dude? Yes, service was good there, but the one and only time I ate there (3 or 4 days before it closed for good) the food was horrible. Neither Eric nor I enjoyed the food.>> Now, I'm going to have to kill my tonsilly-challenged pal because she cut in on my response to TDLFAN's fave Minnesotan. Seriously, Ann, I am not surprised by what you've posted. Any place can be inconsistent. You went once and had a bad experience. I went probably 6-8 times and always had very good experiences. We're both right due to our individual circumstances. Same as your awful, dirty room at Riverside. I've stayed there about half a dozen times and never had a dirty room there, but have had unacceptable rooms at other resorts people rave about.
Originally Posted By Labuda Btw, I emailed you earlier and o response yet, dude. Oh, and Riverside is crappy, plain and simple! But, their food court is good.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo "Oh, and Riverside is crappy, plain and simple!" One bad experience does not a bad place make. I have had better cleanliness and service at Riverside than many of the luxury resorts around the globe. As Spirit says, it's all a crapshoot.
Originally Posted By t1lersm0m ^^Ann is just upset because Riverside is more popular than French Quarter.
Originally Posted By danyoung >Last vist we walked into CR's in tomorrow land for our usual let's split a stack sandwich, they were gone from the menu...< They took the philly cheesesteak off the menu there too, about a year ago. It was one of my fav's, but maybe it didn't sell so well . . .
Originally Posted By pixiedust1 <<They took the philly cheesesteak off the menu there too, about a year ago. It was one of my fav's, but maybe it didn't sell so well . . .>> Your right another item that was missing.. another thought we've had was a Deli .. I mean a Kosher type deli...corn beef, pastrami sandwiches... I don't think that there is such a place in Disney... sort like a Stage Deli type deal... Adventurland Veranda would be a great spot... geezzz.. you know something new and different...
Originally Posted By pixiedust1 <<I am not surprised by what you've posted. Any place can be inconsistent. You went once and had a bad experience. I went probably 6-8 times and always had very good experiences. We're both right due to our individual circumstances.>> Can you imagine... the last few days in the kitchen area of Bonfamille's.. conversation between chef mickey and workers.. chef to workers, we need to clean this cooler out .. this looks a little green chef.. it's ok , make it the special tonight.. ugh...
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>This week I discovered a wonderful dining establishment at WDW I had never been to before. Unfortunately, knowing Disney management as well as I do, I won't tell you where it is because if I do someone in food and bev will say 'hey if 74 not only isn't bitching, but really likes the place we obviously have to raise prices, while reducing quality ... cah=ching, bonus.' So, I can't tell you.<< I think I might know the place you have stumbled upon, but I would dare not whisper it here... On another note, my skin was crawling a few weeks ago when people were mentioning, and thus others learning about, Plaza Restaurant. For me, the dining over the last decade has been close to flawless there and I would hate to see what happened to Tony's once secluded status happen to Plaza.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <Crap... I think the Pixie Dust went bad.... did someone leave it sitting in the heat too long< why is it I now hear McArthur Park playing in my head after reading this post ?
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <I think we may try Casey's for one of our counter service meals this trip.< put the sauerkraut on that dog for the full effect -- I like Casey's
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <"Don't they serve the green beans at lunch? I thought I remembered they did, but it's been awhile so I could be wrong." I don't see them listed on the recent menu opn Deb's site...< nope-- were not available -- I asked a few weeks ago when we had lunch there--but I still prefer LTT for lunch also
Originally Posted By vbdad55 < and I don't know how consultants have penny-pinched the magic right out of Disney either ;-)< it's what they do best....and then they leave.....
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <I started a new tradition on my last visit. Shortly before the nightly showing of Wishes, I get a dog and a Coke and enjoy a nice little snack while waiting for the show to start. Simple, but it works for me. < but watch out for the 'killer ducks' -- when we ate there a few weeks ago, the ducks that walk around the little grassy area next to the tables have learned to become very aggressive in hunting down fries and pieces of bun....they walk right up to you as you sit there and brush up against you...there is no fear in them.....
Originally Posted By oc_dean MacArthur's Park is melting in the dark All the sweet, green icing flowing down Someone left the cake out in the rain I don't think that I can take it 'Cause it took so long to bake it And I'll never have that recipe again Oh, no! Oh, no No, no Oh no!!
