Originally Posted By vbdad55 But with that being said, great Philly cheesesteaks are not found that far away from Philly, especially not in WDW. You may find a passable cheesesteak, but the word great cannot be used. --- having done the dualing cheesesteak stands when we did a college vist at Villanova in Philly- I would agree -'great' likely cannot be used. Same goes for Pizza outside of NY and Chicago ( for the most part) - for example.. but good would be another story
Originally Posted By vbdad55 I don't think I've ever had a great anything at Cosmic Ray's. Outside the parks, the burgers wouldn't even measure up to _fill in the blank with the name of a fast food joint_. ---- I fill in McDonalds here..tell me that something doesn't measure up to McDonalds as a hamburger taste wise and it would have to be inedible.. McDonalds has a taste all it's own- just like White Castle does- but a real hamburger neither is comparatively with most places.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Oh, Olive Garden is trash. Denny's is fine if you are trashed. Neither would be something I'd go to when I'm down there ---- agreed- so when I see posts comparing them to WDW restaurants and having them better - please some need to save the hyperbole... I won't eat at those places here, why would I there ?
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Disney food is not the greatest in the world, but it is better than it was 20 years ago. Does anyone else remember the handwich at the land - a cone of bread stuffed with filling? I also remember a particularly disgusting plate of meatballs and spaghetti at Tony's Town Square when I was in high school. <<< In some ways- YES, I'd agree with you- mostly on CS. TS has gotten worse, but leveled out in recent years.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>not in 8-10 days a year-- I see the other stuff the other 350+<<< Sadly, I don't see the difference between Disney Food and Regular Restaurant Food in some cases.
Originally Posted By Christi22222 So I am completely baffled how this thread digressed into arguing restaurant preferences. I agree with some of the opinions about food here, and not others. Food, after all, is a matter of taste - geez! And involves comparison to what you can get where you live as well. I move lots, and frankly, change my opinion of WDW meals accordingly! WDW food is not nearly as great when I live in Denver as when I live in Minot, North Dakota, right? But all that aside, the discussion (and restaurant references) pertains to value and the perceived increasing lack of it due to the dining plan. Nikki, no one here cares where you eat. Why the heck do you care if others think your dining choices are absurd? But so many folks drinking what many of us believe is mouse kool-aid in the form of DP, allows WDW to continue down this path of reducing food quality while raising prices and creating seating shortages. So it actually does cause us indirect harm. You may not agree with that assessment, for sure. But you wanted to know why folks would care where you eat, and there you have it. Just to say, most of us would prefer to eat on property, but we have passed our limits of willingness to pay their prices for the value (or lack thereof) that we perceive we're getting. You clearly have not, so are choosing to continue eating on site.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Maybe, but it's a hell of a lot worse than it was just 5 years ago.<<< I'd actually that the nadir of Disney Dining, and say that we are on a slow increase now. As for the rest of the resort, too. 2002-2006 was the worst, IMO. Things are looking a bit up.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<2002-2006 was the worst, IMO. Things are looking a bit up. >> Are you crazy!? 2002-2006 was some of the best Table Service eatin' I've ever experienced at WDW! Every menu was varied and everything was delicious. When I got back for my CP in 2008, all my favorite TS were changed, and meals I loved a few years before were bland.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>I'm not saying I'd ever eat the majority of my vacation meals at places I have at home, but some folks think if they dropped into the LBV Subway it would kill them. So they'll pay four times the price for crappy QS at Disney.<<< Exactly. I find that a happy balance is best... Eat "adventurously" and the cuisine of the place you are in, but don't go overboard.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Sorry, don't buy that ... Boston blows WDW away in cuisine.<<< I miss the North End. And Quincy Marketplace. And Concord. And Cheers. :-(
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Not about to drive an hour plus to eat. My MIL made better Italian food than the local restaurants.<<< Your MIL must be a fantastic cook! North End Italian was superb.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>I don't understand why people like Subway. I've eaten Subway a few times, and each time it has been nasty - the meat didn't taste right. Personally, I rarely eat fast food. If I'm going to eat fast food, 99% of the time it's going to be Chick-Fil-A. <<< Depends on the restaurant itself, some are very good, very clean, very efficient, others are the opposite. They make decent food. >>>You got problems if you think that slop of a steak sandwich(I refuse to call it a Philly, because it's not) at Cosmic Rays is a "great" cheesesteak. Haha<<< It's good considering where it is. And it tastes pretty good. But compared to a real one? Nah, it's not even close.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>> Are you crazy!? 2002-2006 was some of the best Table Service eatin' I've ever experienced at WDW! Every menu was varied and everything was delicious.<<< Exact opposite for me. LOL. We were disappointed time and time again in that time. CRT, Tepan Edo, all were pretty bad then.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 >>>not in 8-10 days a year-- I see the other stuff the other 350+<<< Sadly, I don't see the difference between Disney Food and Regular Restaurant Food in some cases --that's a shame- I still do -and when there is no difference, it is a different version of something I really like examples: My terryaki filet @ Cali Grill ( order every time) is my favorite steak anywhere on the planet. I do not each that much steak/red meat- but have yet to find one better anywhere- at any price. I am not a sushi person, but my oldest and her boyfriend are- and their fave place for it- Cali grill The twin salmon lunch @ Le Cellier this last time ranks up there with the best seafood restaurants I go to in Chicago The beer cheese soup ditto on quality.. the German food @ Biergarten ( which I am very picky about my German food) is as high quality as any German restaurant I know. and I know many. The Sauerbraten is authentic- not Americanized.., the gravies authentic, sliced meat high quality. spaetzles done right etc. The chicken pot pie @ Prine Time is really good IMHO- and not something you find on many menu's The Conch chowder @ Olivias very tasty and not a common item to get here at home Liberty tree lunch items very high quality- nice salads and my kids love the pot roast there- and IMHO tastes like home made. the soups and stews alone @ Boma are worth going to the restaurant for and varieties that are not common even in a city as large as Chicago - and the roast there- usually pork of some kind and a large salmon are always high quality. the quality of Irish based fare at Raglan Road is at or above ALL Irish pubs in a city where Irish pubs abound.. just a few examples- so I am not quite sure how this is common food to you-- you must eat very well and live in a world class dining city also... or else I just don't understand how you see this food as ordinary - it just isn't
Originally Posted By vbdad55 but we have passed our limits of willingness to pay their prices for the value (or lack thereof) that we perceive we're getting. ------- and that's you choice - clearly-- but reading that the food is somehow ordinary is just a lot of hooey as far as most sit downs are concerned. AS far as price points - again it depends on where on is from - compared to major cities the price points- while not low- are not outrageous enough to drive me to a damn Denny's for some rooty tooty crapola, at any price
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>just a few examples- so I am not quite sure how this is common food to you-- you must eat very well and live in a world class dining city also... or else I just don't understand how you see this food as ordinary - it just isn't<<< My dad is a fantastic cook, I can say that much. However, there are some items you listed, that, of course, are worth the price. But the majority, not really. I can make them at home.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> That ... plus your drinking ... but mostly spending time sitting on your (can't use the word here) while opining about Disney parks and assorted other matters of little import here ;-) << I guess I have lived a rich life!
Originally Posted By vbdad55 ^^^^ Yes a really good cook can..but the vast majority of people are NOT that good at cooking. Also unless you have access to quite a grocery I want to see who has all the items needed in house to make some of the above items I listed..as the cost alone to buy supplies that are not regularly used is astronomical. But hey, if you can go for it. I am a pretty cook cook myself, grew up with a good friend who is an executive chef at Drake Hotel here in Chicago- learned a lot from them- as well as wifes best friend at work introduced us to Charlie Trotter ( a relative of hers)- and these people are real good. Let me ask you this- how much time do you have to cook those meals yourself- as I know approx how long most of these things take - between slow cooking- marinating etc. I work 12 hour days sometimes 6 days a week, and run from 4AM to sometime 10 PM due to international calls. I know I don't have time for that- nor do most people - especially Mom's who work and run a household for instance - I listed a LONG sample above and can triple that easily..so they are NOT exceptions. Again I am not talking about WDW's burgers and fries here, and although yes the menu's used to be longer at many places- the quality is not ho hum at most by any stretch. Is it too expensive for many - yes. Are the price points too high for some to get used to because of where home is and lower price points- I am sure it is. Has DDP been a cause for paring menu's down and maybe even raising the price points- more than likely yes. But while some may accuse us who enjoy the meals there of having pixie dust in our eyes ( then you don't read a lot of my stuff) - I will say some like to rip on things for reasons unknown..without a lot of backup. Want to tell me the burger I had this time @ the COmmisary was less than even good chains like Champps or Fuddruckers- I agree for same price point...but that is not what we're talking about here. Jiko Vic & Als' Cali grill stand up against most restaurants anywhere -- and Boma / 'Ohana / Biergarten etc would be stars where I live also without WDW around them
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<the German food @ Biergarten ( which I am very picky about my German food) is as high quality as any German restaurant I know. and I know many. The Sauerbraten is authentic- not Americanized.., the gravies authentic, sliced meat high quality. spaetzles done right etc.>> Listen...I'm as much of a fan of the good old Biergarten as anyone, but it's far from the best German restaurant I've ever had. It's good, no doubt, but close to the best? Heck no. And their Spaetzles is some of the worst I've ever had, and the German foreign exchange student who lived with my friends had to agree with me. <<Liberty tree lunch items very high quality- nice salads and my kids love the pot roast there- and IMHO tastes like home made.>> LT is good for the MK, but if it was in the other parks, I'd be very, very disappointed in it.
