Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Have been busy and all ... but anyone want to talk about the OP and what WDW is now vs. what it once was? Not that discussing the DDP isn't fascinating and all ... but haven't we covered it all before? And haven't we reached the conclusion that it has destroyed dining at the resort (Celebrity Imagineer to the Stars Tony Baxter agrees!)? And that many folks who won't venture off-property to dine or dine at locations that Disney doesn't own and operate at DD or Swan/Dolphin are simply full of pixie dust? Never needed a ressie to get into the Pueblo Room ... or the Terrace Cafe ... or the Tangaroa Terrace ... hell, I recall walking right into King Stefan's and the Top of the World too.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer I want to visit the World of Motion and see Sorcery in the Sky in a few weeks... Sigh.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 what time frame Spirit that you walked into King Stefan's and Top of the World. I go back 25 years for visits and NEVER found this to be true- ever. Now again usually my trips were summer time and more crowded....but some were post labor day trips also.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Yes, I remember posts from a LONG TIME AGO (not at this site - I wasn't here yet) talking about how if you wanted breakfast with Cindy you had to call in the first minute of the first day they were making reservations. I even remember a calendar being posted that indicated what the "first day" available for reservations would be for each visit date. I KNOW (from memories of the house I lived in at the time when I read this stuff) that it HAD to be at least 15 years ago. It was actually probably more like 20.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Hmmm... considering the time-line of Internet development, it was probably closer to 15 years. But it WAS a long time ago.
Originally Posted By danyoung > DDP has let people who could/would NEVER had afforded and dare step into a WS restaurant or hotel rest. step into them. People of, how shall we say, freak out that there was French cusine at .......Le Chefs de France. Call 911! Now we have BURGERS at Chefs and people in tank tops and flip flops at Cali Grill...< I can't believe I find myself mostly in agreement with HMButler on anything, but he hit it on the nose here (well, except for the tank tops and flip flops in the California Grill - they still have a fairly strict dress code). There are a lot of people who used to be happy with burgers and fries, now dining in the nicer places in the World and expecting to eat . . . burgers and fries! It's the only reason you'll find a burger on the menu in Chefs de France. As to the original topic and the videos - while I agree that it was a simpler time, I much prefer today's pace to that of 1987, both in video production and in park storming. It's still all at MY pace. But there's so much more to do today that I need to hustle to get most of it done. And that works nicely for me!
Originally Posted By DlandDug >>...people in tank tops and flip flops at Cali Grill...<< Take a look at the item (actually from my collection) at the bottom of the page in this link: <a href="http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/id224.htm" target="_blank">http://waltdatedworld.bravepag...d224.htm</a> See the reference to The Gulf Coast Room? Elegant French service dining. Reservations necessary; coats for gentlemen, please. Any place on property in WDW still REQUIRE jackets?
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<Any place on property in WDW still REQUIRE jackets?>> I don't believe so. And it's a shame. I'm sorry, but every guest that comes to WDW shouldn't be able to eat at every restaurant. If you can't dress nice, you shouldn't be allowed in places like California Grill.
Originally Posted By SeventyOne <It's the only reason you'll find a burger on the menu in Chefs de France.> When I first read this on the thread, I figured it was hyperbole. Haven't been there in a while, but seriously, a burger. Then read it twice and had to go look. "Steak haché Angus, champignons et Bearnaise, salade ou frites" Wow. Worse than the foamheads. Worse than the 20-years-out-of-date movies. Worse than the empty buildings. This is why I have a hard time still calling myself an Epcot (not EPCOT Center) fan.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper Yea, that one too. Haha Cali Grill just popped into my head. Personally I don't think you should be able to eat at places like Le Chefs de France/Bistro or Le Cellier without having a collared shirt either. When I was a kid we could only afford maybe one really nice sit down meal per trip(i.e. Le Cellier or something like that). And you better believe we had to go back to the hotel to change before we went to it. I don't think it's too much to ask to throw on a polo and some khaki shorts to go to dinner, is it?
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<Wow. Worse than the foamheads. Worse than the 20-years-out-of-date movies. Worse than the empty buildings. This is why I have a hard time still calling myself an Epcot (not EPCOT Center) fan.>> While stuff like that sucks, at least there's still plenty of authentic food at the various eateries. And I basically only call myself and Epcot fan when it comes to WDW, along with DHS. Sure I have a few rides I love at MK, but I can be in and out of there in 4-5 hours. Epcot and DHS are the only parks I tend to spend my whole day at unless I'm there with the family.
Originally Posted By DlandDug We like to get a bit dressy for certain meals, at certain venues, whether in a theme park, on the Cruise Line, or in the Resorts. It still never fails to amaze me how some people will dress for the nicest venues. Tank tops, short shorts and flip flops on sweaty bodies aren't just sloppy-- they can be downright unappetizing!
Originally Posted By danyoung >See the reference to The Gulf Coast Room? Elegant French service dining. Reservations necessary; coats for gentlemen, please.< While I have no problem with a place like Victoria and Albert's requiring jackets and ties, I do enjoy dining at an upscale place like the California Grill and not have to get all gussied up. They do require collared shirts and nice shorts. Tennis shoes are OK, but no torn jean shorts, no tshirts, no hats. It's as nice as it needs to be for a theme park restaurant, which works great for me.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 I think Vic & Al's is still jacket required And I too have never seen flip flops and tank tops @ Cali Grill and I have eaten there every trip for a long long time
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<I do enjoy dining at an upscale place like the California Grill and not have to get all gussied up. They do require collared shirts and nice shorts. Tennis shoes are OK, but no torn jean shorts, no tshirts, no hats. It's as nice as it needs to be for a theme park restaurant, which works great for me.>> They don't stick too that then. I've seen plenty of all those things at Cali Grill.
Originally Posted By DlandDug "Hooray for Hyperbole!"... a new nighttime spectacular showing weekends and selected holidays at Disney's Cut Rate Adventure theme park!
