Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom <<Total non-issue as far as I'm concerned KT. Food courts open at 6 AM, so you are looking at four hours a day when you can't get something to eat on property... 2AM - 6 AM.>> A property the size of Manhattan Island. With tens of thousands of hotel rooms and no 24 hour room service. Kinda subpar. And I can get 24 hour room service while staying at DL in California. <<Drink water... it's better for you anyway!>> Orlando tap water! You have to be joking! <<As for Holiday Inns... I've never been to one in my life that had 24-hour dining. Or a freaking Hilton for that matter.>> Who said anyhing about 24 hour dining? But since you brought that up, there are a large number of 24 hour dining venues available on Harbor Blvd outside of DL California. There are none available at WDW. Ever stay at a hotel that didn't have 24 hour room service? Well even the so called "5 star Disney hotels" on WDW property don't offer 24 hour room service. <<Even at the big hotels in Vegas, a 24-hour a day city, nothing other than the coffee-shop is usually open all night.>> Just did a quick search, there are 721 listing for 24 hour dining in Vegas. I would expect anything less from the city that doesn't sleep. <a href="http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=24+Hour+Food&find_loc=Las+Vegas%2C+NV" target="_blank">http://www.yelp.com/search?fin...as%2C+NV</a>
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom <<And most hotels I stay in with room service in Europe it is 24 hours in recognition that people may have delayed journeys or are from a different time zone.>> Dave, your bringing up another well placed point, given the large proportion of international guests visiting WDW, getting in and leaving at all times of the day and night, one would think WDW would have some coordinated 24 hour room service available somewhere on property. OR offer delivery service like the Downtown Disney Hotels do. Is the McDonald's on property over by the Hess station even open 24 hours? Meanwhile, there is a number of restaurants on Harbor Blvd open 24 hours. I also find the food, much better at DL California.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>I'm going to have to take the non-Disney hotels out of the mix because I know for a fact you can get 24 hour room service at some, perhaps all the Downtown Disney Hotels. Harbor Blvd has a number of 24 hour restaurants at the gates of DL.<< Why is there a difference between the two resorts? None of those places on Harbor Blvd are owned or operated by Disney; that would be equivalent to including the stuff along International Drive in Orlando in the list of things that are available to WDW guests. I understand that, due to the geographic differences, they aren't exactly parallels, but I'm just looking at what I get from my vacation to a Disney resort, not my vacation across the street from a Disney resort. I guess maybe we're just looking for different things overall, so we're sort of arguing on different topics. It is interesting that the GCH offers 24 hour room service. While I've seen it at a few hotels in my time, it's hardly something that I expect. Even if I expect the hotel to offer room service (which is usually not the case for the types of place I stay), I expect that to start winding down around midnight. Yes, late-night options are great for people arriving in the middle of the night, but that is a very small number of people compared to the number of people staying at any given hotel on any given night. While it might be an industry standard in Europe, it really isn't one in the US (except perhaps for the highest-tier hotels, which none of the Disney hotels are, despite what they claim). In my general experiences, it seems that most places in Europe are much more geared toward the 24 hour lifestyle than places in the US. Even US airports have very few, if any, options for passengers arriving at the end of the night, making it tough to find any food (especially if you're taking a shuttle direct to the hotel). And I didn't mean to imply that your opinion was laughable. I meant that the variety of in-park (and on-property hotel/resort) dining options at DLR is increadibly weak in comparison to what can be found in WDW. I can appreciate that you're looking for different things on your vacation, but for me, the offerings at DTD and across the street aren't something I look forward to; they're just other options that are available when the stuff in the parks isn't enough. I really enjoy that I can completely leave the 'real world' behind for several days on a WDW vacation; at DLR, it seems that I can only do that when I'm in the deepest corners of the parks. Part of what makes DLR and WDW interesting is how unique they are, even when compared with each other. For me, the food at WDW is a huge advantage, but I can see how people who don't want as much in park/hotel time might want something else.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo For me I like that in Paris or Anaheim I can get a high quality meal without much walking, and can often make a reservation the same day. For WDW, to get a good meal, you have to set an alarm to book at the right day and time several months in advance, I may have to be prepared to travel an hour to get that meal. Not my idea of fun at all. In fact WDW feels like hard work most of the time.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Dave... California Grill and Victoria & Albert's are at least the equal of Napa Rose. KT... you are comparing restaurants on Disney property at WDW with restaurants off Disney property at DL. Hardly a fair comparison. If you go off property at WDW there are also many 24-hour restaurants to be found. Yes, it will take longer to get off-property at WDW. That is both one of the best things and a drawback to WDW. On the one hand, you are totally immersed in a "Disney World" and aren't subjected to the clutter and run-down places you will find on Harbor Blvd. On the other hand, if you WANT to get off property to dine somewhere else, it takes longer. You take the bad with the good. Overall, based on restaurants IN THE PARKS, I find dining at WDW to have far greater variety and quality than what I find at DL. Dave... your last experience at WDW was so long ago I don't find it terribly relevant any more. It is like if I based my judgment of DL on the "bad old years" before renovations for the 50th took place.
Originally Posted By HMButler79 California Grill, which allows guests in tanktops and shorts and kids out the wazoo is equal to Napa Rose. You heard it here folks. HILLAAAAARIOUS. Yes and Harbour is SO run down after, what only, 10 years after it's renewal?? Cause 192 and 535 are in PRISTINE 1971 shapr.
Originally Posted By HMButler79 Roadie, I'm glad you find FOUR items on WDW restaurants (red meat, white meat, pasta, fish) to be "variety" and "quality" but some of us will prefer REAL variety not slaved and bonded to the Dining Plan so we can get quail and duck wings at Carthay Circle. Enjoy your Pecos wrap.
Originally Posted By tashajilek Of course WDW has a lot better dining options, but who can afford to pay $100 for every single meal? besides Epcot i really think WDW has horrible quick service options. We were really missing food from Plaza, River belle, the awesome bread bowls, bread bowl salads at DCA etc. Instead we had the option of chinese food, horrible pizza and i think once we had some deep fried shrimp. I am not a huge fan of the food courts either, does the food really taste much better than the mall? If we had a huge food budget then WDW would win hands down, but i dont have that luxury.
Originally Posted By tashajilek Anyways, i am really sad at the condition of Dak. Being a DL fan Dak and Epcot were really the only parks that we cared for. Hopefully it will get some needed attention and nobody will have anything fall on them.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<California Grill, which allows guests in tanktops and shorts>> Tanktops are not allowed according to the official WDW website: "Dress Code Guidelines: Men: Khakis, slacks, jeans, dress shorts, collared shirts. Sport coats are optional. Ladies: Capris, skirts, dresses, jeans, dress shorts. Not permitted in dining room: Tank tops, swimwear, hats for gentleman, cut offs, or torn clothing." <<we can get quail and duck wings at Carthay Circle>> I don't believe Carthay Circle has even officially opened yet. Lets wait until the new WDW "Be Our Guest" restaurant opens and we will see how they compare. As for availability of duck... big wow. You can get duck served various ways at a minimum of 5 WDW restaurants.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>I don't believe Carthay Circle has even officially opened yet. Lets wait until the new WDW "Be Our Guest" restaurant opens and we will see how they compare.<< CC hasn't officially opened (and I'm sure the menu will evolve for at least a year-or-so until they can figure out exactly what works best for the ultra-high-end theme park audience), but I suspect that its food will blow Be Our Guest away. We've seen nothing about the food itself for the WDW restaurant, but from the initial announcement of the restaurant in DCA there was talk of how it was supposed to be a flagship restaurant. The focus for the BATB restaurant has always been the atmosphere and overall expereince; but hopefully the food will also be good. From what I've read, the intent of Carthay Circle is to be something along the lines of Bistro de Paris or Le Cellier. The BATB restaurant is more along the lines of a character dinner. I'm sure that both will push the definition of a theme park meal, but they're aiming for completely different things.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Although no proposed menus are listed, disneydreaming.com says this about the Be Our Guest Restaurant: <<Turns out the restaurant, which will be located in the Beast’s Castle will serve as a 552 seat quick service, casual lunch spot, until dinner time when cast members will transform the restaurant into an elegant, full-service restaurant.>> We'll have to see if their definition of "elegant" includes the quality of the menu. I agree that Bistro de Paris is a top-flight restaurant. I have to disagree about Le Cellier though... it is the most over-rated restaurant at WDW. As far as I'm concerned it is nothing more than an Outback Steak Steakhouse with a minimal menu and Ruth's Chris prices.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I'm unimpressed with the food at WDW. And I blame that on the sheer size of WDW, since most guests don't rent cars and or eat off property they are stuck eating at WDW over priced, 5 menu item sitdown restaurants and food courts. I think the telltale sign to me was when my party was in the MK and we wanted Italian food, walked over to Tony's Town Square. Was told there were no tables available that day thanks to the Disney Dining Plan. So, decided to go back to our hotel. Drove to the Crossroads Shopping Center to Pizzaria Uno. I told the waitress I really wanted a pizza bianco which wasn't on the menu, but they would make me one anyway. And everyone got what they wanted since the menu was six pages long. Sorry, but you would never in a million years get that kind of service at a Disney sitdown restaurant. Why is it that when folks rave how good the Disney restaurants are when in reality there is a lack of menu items, and lacking service? OK, I will totally disregard ALL the restaurants within a ten minute walk of the gates of DCA or DL. Again hands down you get better food and service at DL in California. At DL California I can easily walk outside a park to a restaurant. Meanwhile at WDW I'd still be waiting for a bus, boat or monorail. Talk about convience! Dave is right, meals at WDW can be an ordeal.
Originally Posted By tashajilek "Talk about convience! Dave is right, meals at WDW can be an ordeal." When we were at the MK we decided to go to Epcot to eat at the Japanese place and when we left to head back to MK the monorail was shut down lol. We really did have to work pretty hard for that meal.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip You lost me at "Pizzaria Uno". I have trouble taking dining recommendations seriously from someone who considers a chain pizza joint to be a fine dining experience. I have had very good dinners (at times outstanding) at the Brown Derby, Artist's Point, Chefs de France, Bistro de Paris, California Grill, Flying Fish, Nine Dragons Restaurant, Restaurant Marrakesh, Yak and Yeit, and the departed Spoodles (I've not yet tried Kouzzinna). I've never had the opportunity (money) to try Victoria and Alberts, but I'm sure it is not consistently ranked Florida's best restaurant for no reason. Boma, Tusker House, and the Biergarten all offer way above average buffets. I would never rate 'Ohana as fine dining, but it is a lot of fun, the food is well-prepared and tasty, and you get a lot for your money. Yes, I've also eaten at WDW restaurants that were way over-priced and served very average food. Not every place is a winner. But I totally reject the notion that it is impossible to get a good meal at WDW.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Not that Trip Advisor reviews are the end all and be all, because they certainly aren't. But 69 WDW restaurants (not including highly rated restaurants at the Swan and Dolphin) ranked above the Lake Buena Vista Pizzaria Uno (#300) in the rankings of all Orlando restaurants. Apparently I'm not the only person who finds the food at WDW to be pretty good.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Back to the original topic. I'm not overly concerned about the Animal Kingdom "falling apart". Animal Kingdom was in many ways a first time effort for Disney, with little prior experience to go on from the other Disney Parks. The Tree of Life is by far the largest and most incredibly complex "weenie" ever created at a Disney Park. It does not really surprise me that it may have some unforeseen maintenance issues. As far as the Yeti goes, it is ONE animatronic effect in an otherwise great attraction. Yes, it was intended to be a centerpiece and it is unfortunate that it has not worked out. On the other hand, far simpler animatronics are out of commission on a daily basis at Pirates, Carousel of Progress, etc. Any time you are dealing with mechanical effects you are bound to run into more problems than when you rely on electronics. I think it is very possible that the wonderful vision of Joe Rohde for the Animal Kingdom perhaps at times exceeded the ability of Disney Imagineering to accomplish that vision. But I will NEVER fault Disney for attempting too much. They will get it figured out eventually. I would far rather they go "out on a limb" like they did at the AK than continually play it safe with the tried and true.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "...and there is no food or drink available between 2 am to 6 am not even room service, it really is pretty substandard." I get what you're saying, but I kind of wonder what circumstances would put someone in a position to need a meal at 4am while vacationing at WDW. At minimum the top tier hotels should have 24 hour room service, other than that I don't know...
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom <<You lost me at "Pizzaria Uno". I have trouble taking dining recommendations seriously from someone who considers a chain pizza joint to be a fine dining experience.>> Who was making any dining recommendations or was talking about fine dining experiences? Not me! I firmly believe that guests are welcome to dine anywhere they want while at DL California or WDW. If guests prefer to chose one of the 5 menu items at any given WDW still, Disney run restaurant, that's their choice. <<But 69 WDW restaurants (not including highly rated restaurants at the Swan and Dolphin) ranked above the Lake Buena Vista Pizzaria Uno (#300) in the rankings of all Orlando restaurants.>> As for Pizzaria Uno, I like pizza biancos. And since that is not available anywhere at WDW, if I am in the mood for a pizza bianco while at WDW, my only "option" is to visit Pizzaria Uno. I am finding that WDW is all about limiting "choices", and "options". Anytime any of those 69 on site restaurants want to start making pizza biancos is fine with me. Unless you think that is too much to ask? Just like how on one trip, since it was October and all, I really wanted pumpkin ice cream and that was no where to be found anywhere at WDW ( and I looked! ). Baskin Robbins in Lake Buena Vista had it. And, since Baskin Robbins in Lake Buena Vista shares a building with Dunkin Donuts, I got to have pumpkin donuts too ( also something not available on WDW property ). Yes, that growing list of things not available on WDW property.
