Restaurants - Resort Restaurant or Off Site

[Wendy]

We are finding that we tend to eat less and less at the restaurants on Disney property, we will have snacks and the odd counter service meal, but on the last visit we didn't have a meal at a Resort restaurant at all.

We have our favourites, the Cheesecake Factory, Longhorn, Charleys, Columbia, Villa de Flora at Gaylord Palms all of which are off site. I think the only restaurant I would probably go to now would be the Yachtsman and that would only be if Ricardo was there.

Do you prefer to eat at Disney Restaurants, are you like us and eat off site or do you combine the two?

[uscwest]

Donna and I still enjoy dining at the Disney restaurants, especially the signature ones. Of course we have our favorites where we go almost every time such as JIKO and Yachtsman. We always give Ricky a heads up that we are coming so that we make our ADR when we know he is there. If he is on vacation we normally choose a different restaurant.

[robertcraig]

I like to try different resturants each year. I always go to RAGLAN ROADAND off site I sometimes go to PERKINS for breakfast

[Slowhand]

We only tend to eat on site when we are actually staying on Disney property....apart from the first and last nights of our vacation when it has now become a ritual to dine at the YSH so that we can say "Hello" and "Goodbye" to Ricardo.

At least when we eat off site, we don`t have to plan 180 days ahead!!!

[Keith]

We've almost completely abandoned Disney restaurants for offsite ones.

As I sit here trying to think of a must do Disney restaurant now, I can't.

In a way, it's a bit depressing, I used to love wandering round EPCOT nipping into le cellier for a nice evening meal. California grill, yachtsmans and so on. They just got too expensive for the experience and quality of food/service v offsite.

Of course, the dining plan hasn't helped. There's no last minute walk in to most nice restaurants now and I really feel that some of the restaurants have changed the menu according to what they're willing to "give away" on the plan. ie. portions down, more expensive ingredients swapped so that the whole menu is still workable on the dining plan credits.

California Grill the other night, $175 for the two of us albeit really nice table and view of the fireworks. Charleys a few nights later $95 down to $70 with one of their almost always available $25 off coupons. Sorry to say but the food was much better at Charleys.

Disney have a captive audience and it's working out great for them but I'm very glad we were persuaded to hire a car and thus are able to dine offsite nowadays.

[Slowhand]

Well put Keith, those are my sentiments entirely.

As you say, having a car enables you to have some great meals at a fraction of the cost that you would pay on site.

[Wendy]

......................... but I'm very glad we were persuaded to hire a car and thus are able to dine offsite nowadays.

Oh can I say it, can I, can I.............I'm going to anyway......................We told you so!!

[Dawn]

More and more offsite now.

In fact next trip we're planning one character meal and a last night dinner on site. Everything else will be snacks or offsite or eating at the villa.

Stupid dining plan has ruined it all.

[Johnie]

I like eating off site. I like staying off site as well. I'm not one who thinks that I need to be on Disney property to experience all of the magic. I'm not knocking this who do but just going to Disney is my magic

Now when we go for free dining, we are eating all meals on site. And i miss going off site. There are lots of places we don't have at home that I like to try.

I find that if I'm eating on site and I'm not on the dining plan, they I think the good is far too overpriced, even with my Tables in Wonderland discount. I don't know that eating on site is even worth it if not using the dining plan.

I know a lot if people talk about the dining plan dumbing down the menus. This is true but Disney is doing the dumbing down all through out the resort. You used to get POTC merchandise outside of POTC. Now you can get it just about anywhere. Lots of examples like that. They are also doing the same thing with the Disney Parks stuff. I might as well buy souvenirs off site as well.

[Britchick]

i don't like the idea of the limited menu or restaurants, i think maybe just get rid of it. I know if i was eating out of pocket i'd probably limit it to a couple of restaurants on site a trip, they're expensive for what they are so i completely see your point. I do remember that when ours were little it was approx $100 inc tax and tip for everything including a couple of beers.