Originally Posted By nbodyhome >> Couldn't see that with my brood - dinner is ofter 30 - 60 mins, even at McDs for us. We hate most of the counter services at WDW (Epcot and DAK excluded of course) << I hate most counter service too, and I don't like a lot of it at Epcot either. >> Is WDW a microcosm for the rest of modern America? << Yes and no. There is a lot that Disney could do with food that is fairly mainstream, but with variety. Like if you go to Downtown Disney - Earl of Sandwich has GREAT sandwiches and fresh-fruit smoothies. DisneyQuest has pizza, pasta, really good burgers, salads and chicken tenders too. For me, it isn't just the type of food at Disney - it's that it's not good tasting. Then they put up those two stands at Epcot with more junk. Yuck. I think the Food and Wine Festival proves that people will line up for different types of food. I love going - then I get to try new things (and look up recipes so I can make it cheaper at home).
Originally Posted By nbodyhome >> I am also annoyed that if I want fries or a coke as a side for a kids meal, we should be able to do that too. << You can get the Coke. Not sure on the fries. >> Culinary Dalmatians << I don't know what that means!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo "Like if you go to Downtown Disney - Earl of Sandwich has GREAT sandwiches and fresh-fruit smoothies. DisneyQuest has pizza, pasta, really good burgers, salads and chicken tenders too." See, we don't want those options - well maybe occassionally. To me the fact that the Mexican and the Noodle place in the MK are constantly closed is terrible. I like variety in a menu. I like a mix of flavours on the pallette. Sandwiches are dull, I eat them most work days. When on vacation the meals are a part of the whole. A meal at the California Grill is more important than any e-ticket ride. It's a nice place where I can eat with my family, a family I never feel I see enough of. So no, I don't want to go and eat at a kiddy rubber head joint or a counter service. My family want to eat at a nice restaurant together, and that is why we used to choose Disney resorts - no longer - they have dumbed them down so much, they no longer offer value for us. If you want adult, you have places in every international city, Sadals resorts, Vegas, Monte Carlo, the Maldives etc. But how many places offer a mature environment you can enjoy as a family? Not many. This is why the time watershed would be the perfect solution. We could go to V&A's for an early dinner and retire allowing romantic (or people that want space from kids) to enjoy it later.
Originally Posted By u k fan Maybe it is a European thing. I can't imagine dinner at home lasting 15 minutes unless we were in a rush. I have more to say, but ironically I'm in a rush!!!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo "I hate most counter service too, and I don't like a lot of it at Epcot either." Oh, I like the Epcot ones - Mexico, China, Japan, and even Fish and Chips (but don't tell Sarah as I make fun of the Brits buying their Fish and Chips on Holiday). And at DAK I am impressed with Tusker House (ooops, too late, they changed it), Yak and Yeti, Flame Tree BBQ and Pizzafari.
Originally Posted By nbodyhome >> To me the fact that the Mexican and the Noodle place in the MK are constantly closed is terrible. >> Well, the Earl of Sandwich and DisneyQuest were to show that not everything is rubbish (and much of Disney food - counter service - is, IMHO). I think they are a big step above many fast-food restaurants in general. Unfortunately, the Tomorrowland Noodle Station changed it's menu for Christmas. I ate there at Thanksgiving and loved it. This time - very little as far as noodles. Want chicken nuggets? The Noodle Station had it! Nooo pasta (except for the beefaroni kids meal). Not much with Chinese type food either that I recall. I was not impressed.
Originally Posted By nbodyhome Oh - and I'd like to know whose idea it was to get rid of spaghetti (which was a nice change of pace from burgers and chicken). Pasta is the easiest thing to make. If I don't want to cook, I make spaghetti and meat sauce.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Oh Gosh Denise, that's terrible. But I am not surprised. It must be the crap that sells the most, otherwise why would Disney do this? It's funny, before we had kids, people would ask why we would go to Disney resorts. I would explain that you could have very adult experiences with fine dining, fireworks, live entertainment, attractions that were not all about toons, highly themed hotels with stellar service. Sadly all of these statements are becoming less and less true. And guess what, there are less and less reasons for us to go. The saving grace used to be we could enjoy some quality experiences where the family were all included (you know, Walt's original goal). Now, they are polarising. How many adults want to see Playhouse Disney or the Poo Playground? How many little ones can ride Mission Space, EE or RNRC. Since the 70's Disney has produced less and less inclusive attractions, and that really is ashame. DAK and Epcot still give me hope - after all we can all still learn there as a family. But seeing how they are dumbing DCA down, it makes me nervous. Or DL's Tomorrowland?
Originally Posted By nbodyhome >> Oh, I like the Epcot ones - Mexico, China, Japan, and even Fish and Chips (but don't tell Sarah as I make fun of the Brits buying their Fish and Chips on Holiday). And at DAK I am impressed with Tusker House (ooops, too late, they changed it), Yak and Yeti, Flame Tree BBQ and Pizzafari. << I can get good Chinese anywhere, and Japan has dark meat chicken (which I don't like). I used to love the Yakitori House. I don't eat fish - but I do notice the Brits tend to congregate over by England/Rose and Crown, etc. If I'm in Epcot - generally, I'll get a side of cous cous at Morrocco for a snack. I like the Sunshine Seasons restaurant, but it's just too expensive. I was on the free dine plan in September, and got a potato with beef - it was a tiny portion (very small plate), and the charge normally was $7.99. Ouch! More often than not, I'll walk out to Spoodles and get a slice of pizza for $3.49 plus tax. And when I'm driving home, if it's a Friday, I sometimes pick up a $6.00 pizza at Hess. They are pretty good.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>>> Culinary Dalmatians << I don't know what that means! <<< Thanks for asking Culinary cooking, food and wine etc. –adjective of, pertaining to, or used in cooking or the kitchen.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I think here is the difference between being a local and a tourist: >>>I can get good Chinese anywhere<<< So can I, but if I am shelling out for a week or two at WDW and didn't rent a car, I don't want sanwiches, burgers and salad all the time. It used to be we would do table service all the time and so this is really a moot point, but the DDP has made it too difficult, and when you get there, the quality isn't what it once was.
Originally Posted By nbodyhome >> The saving grace used to be we could enjoy some quality experiences where the family were all included (you know, Walt's original goal). Now, they are polarising. << I absolutely agree with this. I've gone to conferences in the past, and Disney does target-market. Like, for Everest, I think they consider it a "tween" attraction. I don't remember all the market segments and such, but I HATE being put in a box. I think that Everest is such a fantastic family ride, just like Big Thunder Mountain - something that many families can do all together. You can have great attractions for everyone. I don't mind a few kids play areas, just like I don't mind an adult restaurant. But I do think Disney is at it's best when it goes back to Walt wanting to spend time with his daughters (not just watch them have fun).
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Those prices are incredible. In london the other day I had pizza for one $16. And a sandwich from a garage runs about $7
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo " But I do think Disney is at it's best when it goes back to Walt wanting to spend time with his daughters (not just watch them have fun)." Indeed! I don't mind a playground, or an adult only venue. Just don't homogonize the rest of it for us. If they make fine dining establishments adult only, then don't dumb down the menus of other restaurants.
Originally Posted By nbodyhome >> So can I, but if I am shelling out for a week or two at WDW and didn't rent a car, I don't want sanwiches, burgers and salad all the time. << I totally understand. I like some of the food courts - especially Pop and Coronado, for the variety they have. I would hate to spend a week at the Polynesian and have so few choices that most of the deluxe resorts have. When I do stay on property, I have a car - so I can go off property easily and get something to eat. When I stayed for 4 nights in December, I ate more off than on. And I was really sad about the Noodle Station, because I was SO happy it was back open. The food just completely changed. I love going to London - you guys always have so much Indian food! In Paris I eat Italian, in London - Indian.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>> I would hate to spend a week at the Polynesian and have so few choices that most of the deluxe resorts have.<<< That's what we did love about AKL - there was something for everyone, and the menu seemed to constantly change. Probably one of the best properties for food choice I would say - or at least used to - I understand they dumbed down the menu at the Mara too.
Originally Posted By nbodyhome >> Those prices are incredible. In london the other day I had pizza for one $16. << Wow! I found some pretty good prices in London last April. Waitrose had a nice chicken korma for about $7.00 US, including the rice. Yum! I bought a slice of pizza in Leicester Square for about $3.00. I was at a B&B which included a fully cooked English breakfast.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo "I love going to London - you guys always have so much Indian food!" It's funny, a few years ago a survey was done in Scotland to see what the national dish is: Porrage? Haggis, Neeps and Tatties? Black or White Pudding? Soup or Stovies? Shortbread? Mars Bar Fritters? Haddock? All traditional Scottish Dishes. Nope. The winner was Curry! Lol. I am still surprised that WDW does not offer Indian cuisin anywhere. I would of thought DAK or Epcot could have been perfect, or a DTD establishment. But no. In fact if they wanted to get the Rose and Crown right, they would offer Tapas or Curry on the menu. You are more likely to get that food in a British Pub these days.
Originally Posted By nbodyhome >> That's what we did love about AKL - there was something for everyone, and the menu seemed to constantly change. Probably one of the best properties for food choice I would say - or at least used to - I understand they dumbed down the menu at the Mara too. << Yes, they did. Mara used to have a wider variety of choices. They still have pretty good soup, though. Boma is fantastic. Menus have definitely been shortened and "homogenized" around property. It isn't the first time. I LOVED eating at Disney as a kid and teenager. We always went to the Tangaroa Terrace, and I never had a problem finding decent counter service food. Then around in the 90's, everything seemed to go rotisserie chicken, even at the Luau (another place we did a lot that once had really decent food). Eventually that ended, but they tend to have the same thing from place to place. I cook a lot at home. It isn't hard to make good food - a goulash, a curry, vegetable beef soup - things that are different but that people would like. They can be made for the masses, I don't understand why Disney doesn't do more of that. I actually finally found a good curry recipe after having an awful chicken curry dish at the Studios. I can make it really inexpensively and easy, and have plenty left over in the freezer.
