Hi everyone,
Sorry about the ranty nature of my post, but Ive got to let this out: I have never had a good food experience at DLRP.
I've tried several restaurants and I've always felt I overpaid for bland microwaved food. I am lactose intolerant which reduces my options quite a bit, but nonetheless I feel what I am allowed to eat to be very sub-standard for the price.
I've eaten twice at Fuente del Oro: both times my food was cold and I had to ask for them to reheat it.
At Pizzeria Bella Notte, I can only have the carbonara pasta, which means paying 9 euros for pasta and Hunt's tomato sauce.
At the Chalet de la Marionette I have had the roasted chicken. Small and greasy. The Apfelstrudel was good though.
At Casey's Corner, the only option for hotdogs is either plain or covered in cheese. No diced onions, tomatos or relish are offered as toppings.
A month ago I ate with my cousins at the Blue Lagoon Restaurant, which is supposed to be a high-end restaurant. My cousin's food was cold and had to be re-heated, and I ordered the plate with the shrimp and fish- all bland and chewy intead of fresh.
I really feel that the only decent food options are the Earl of Sandwich and McDonalds at the village. I have checked the reviews for other high-end restaurants such as Auberge de Cendrillon and many reviewers state that their food was also very sub-par. And I am not being a snob, I am the one to be happy with a shawarma or kebab from a street booth!
Also, once I bought pocorn and they had honestly dipped each piece in a kilo of salt. It was unedible.
Any thoughts and experiences? I think consumer satisfaction would significatively increase by offering good food- at least something relative to what they charge for!
I think you have been incredibly unlucky to be honest!
I think I've only ever had one bad meal in DLP (Bistrot Chez Remy), but I'm trying in again in 2 weeks as I think I was unlucky and it was a one off (as others rave about it!).
Have you tried any of the buffets? Or restaurants in the village? Planet Hollywood, King Ludwigs and Rainforest Café are always a good option.
You can only speak from your own experiences, but I've enjoyed food at Hakuna Matata, Café Mickey, Chez Remy, Walts, to name a few. However, I didn't think that much to Plaza Gardens which many people rate highly
I guess that with the sheer volume of customers (at least in the counter restaurants) there is inevitably a risk of not sufficiently heated food.
I personally have only had a "lesser" experience at Colonel Hathi's Outpost where the pasta was frozen (I suspect they just forgot to heat it).
We had great experiences with eating at Plaza Gardens, Fuento del Ore, Buzz Lightyears Pizza Planet and Hakuna Matata.
I guess taste and enjoyment at a restaurant is very personal and therefor there will always be a wide variation in appreciation of the food served at DLP.
I would sincerely recommend the food at King Ludwigs, Rainforest Café, even Annette's Diner (although I think the previous two are better value).
The food at Auberge is very hit and miss but not in terms of quality, but rather I've found it a matter of personal taste as it is very traditional French food. This is fine for me, but with two fussy kids and an even fussier husband, they do tend to stuff their faces before and after and just pick at bits whilst in there. It is mad considering the price to eat there but in all honesty you're paying for the character interaction rather than the food so its a one of those you just have to take on the chin.
If we could afford it we would eat in Inventions every night. Love the food in there and there is plenty for everyone no matter how fussy and I've always found it to be of very good quality. I actually know someone that worked in the kitchens at Inventions who now works for Disney Cruises, and they said it was the only restaurant on site where the majority of food was bought in fresh and chefs were allowed to be 'creative' rather than just heating food up and slapping it on plates.
The other place I love is Earl of Sandwich but I am fairly obsessed with their mozzarella sandwiches ;D
Ah I feel sorry for you :( The only time I've ever had a bad food experience at DLP was at a little cart/van/hut type thing in the little courtyard near ToT (it was about 4 years ago, don't even know if it's still there!) where all they sold were these really hard and tasteless sausages in a hard baguette! I've loved everywhere else, especially Inventions yum yum. LOVE the hawaiian sandwich at Earl of Sandwich, it is so, so good!
We didn't really have any bad experiences with food actually, apart from the service in au chalet was appalling, and I usually try to see the best in service situations.
I did find the food in Walt's wasn't worth how much it cost, however Tom really did, so i think it was just my own fussiness coming into play there, haha. The portion sizes were huge too!
Also they do have hotdogs with just onion at Caseys I'm sure of it?
I see you mentioned only counter service restaurants in your list. My experience with food at table service and buffet places has always been great; yes they're that bit pricier but you do get what you pay for.
i can honestly say i was a bit sceptical regarding the food when we went this year as the reviews were all really mixed but with most people slagging off the kids choices and the service, the last time we went we only ate at hunters and inventions so nothing to compare it to. this time we were really happily surprised first night we ate in Chez Reme and even though people complained re the choices and food we found it to be great and my girls loved it. next night was hunters grill and that was so good we went back again. we then ate in Annettes and the only complaint could be there was too much choice, they let us swap desserts for coffee or tea and the portions were huge. last night was cafe mickey and i know a lot of people really slate this restaurant but it was my favourite of the week, the service was excellent as was the food and the presentation. Unfortunately our last meal in dlp was a disaster planet hollywood, the food was tasteless, the service non existent spoke to like children by the managers and our first waiter disappearing after he realised he given us the wrong information, the whole thing was just awful, but maybe that is becuase it is a chain restaurant who knows. if i get to go to dlp again id love to try the lucky nugget it looked fab! but all in all for a theme park the food was great!
I agree that Casey's Corner hot dogs are far from the best hot dogs I've ever eaten. But all in all, I enjoyed some good meals in Disneyland. You just need to be prepared to pay more than you would in any other restaurant outside the resort. So maybe that's part of your disappointment. For the price you pay in a restaurant in Disneyland you will probably have a more decent meal anywhere else. But I guess that's true for every high level tourist area.
What I would say to those not keen on the offerings at the parks or village, its Val d'Europe is easily walkable or there are really regular buses to there, or its about 8euros in a cab. There are SO MANY excellent restaurants there at a fraction of the cost with amazing food.
I think I have been unlucky indeed. I went last summer to Disneyland in Anaheim and althought it was still "theme park food", I found it to be good.
I just think that so much more could be done. A couple of years ago I went to Spain and vendors on the street were selling a large container of fresh diced food (not at all the del Monte confited one) for 2 euros a unit. In Germany, walking vendors sell you delicious freshly grilled sausages and beef. Crepes could be sold freshly made... I just find its a pity how anglosaxon the approach to food is, with most things frozen and processed. If Chipotle can make a profit with healthier food, why cant Disney Parks follow? I honestly feel sick to see what "Pizza" looks like in Disney Parks.
(http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/03/f3/87/44/pizzeria-bella-notte.jpg)
As a wishful thinking, I really hope DLP receives Turkey Legs and Dole Whips.... Do they even have Churros and Mickey Mouse Pretzels? I dont reckon those being sold either? (I am aware these are not healthy choices, but boy they are delicious!
A lot of the snacks were sold, not necessarily the ones you mentioned, in the early years, probably til about 2000 & they were fab, I loved them.
Churros are available at Fuente Del Oro. We don't need turkey legs at DLP, they can stay at WDW
Agree on those legs. I feel that's a typical US thing.
And you're still in France in the end.
I feel food is "the same" at basically every amusement park.
I've yet to come across an amusement park, or a zoo, that serves "perfectly" good food, and warm at all times.
Quote from: nathalie on April 20, 2016, 09:50:09 PM
Agree on those legs. I feel that's a typical US thing.
And you're still in France in the end.
I feel food is "the same" at basically every amusement park.
I've yet to come across an amusement park, or a zoo, that serves "perfectly" good food, and warm at all times.
I think DLRP does do that and its food options are way better than say Thorpe Park or Alton Towers – and priced to match. I'm talking the top buffets like Inventions and Parkside Diner, and the table service places like Walt's – an American Restaurant. Counter service is a different matter, though gems like Restaurant Hakuna Matata provide the exception.
I personally have no interest in a turkey leg, but that said I can't eat meat off the bone. I'm sure my boyfriend would go mental if they offered them though, he'd love it haha.
I'd quite like to try a dole whip but I can't imagine they'd be so popular in the colder months, at least the ones in the states pretty much always have hot weather, and maybe that's why.
More Mickey shaped food wouldn't go amiss though, and the film themed containers. Cali got bb-8 themed sippy cups when Star Wars was out! I do feel that Paris gets forgotten as a park on the whole and we never get the new kooky stuff that the US parks get. But I still love it with all my heart :)
It is ALWAYS the right time for a Dole Whip float ;D and those BB8 cups were one of my favourite things about DLR, they were sooo cute! Didn't think much of the burgers from the counter service next to Hyper Space Mountain though, way worse than anything i've ever had at DLP!
I never had a Dole Whip and I didn't even know what it was. Guess I have to try one on our upcoming WDW trip as everybody is raving about it. :D
I read rumours somewhere that the Dole Whip might be coming to DLRP. It is delicious, not too sweet, and most importatnly, lactose free :D.
Also I loveeee the turkey legs, although learning that they are close to 1000 calories was quite a shock. How can a turkey leg be so caloric! Leave it to the americans to find a way to calorize food :P
I thought white meat was better for you? lol (or I am wrong that Turkey isn't white meat, like chicken is? hehe)
I went to WDW, I didn't care for the dole whip, maybe if they use strawberry flavour? ;D
Having been to the Aulani resort where Dole Whip is literally on tap - I also visited the Dole plantation where they have the exact same thing. I'm just not a fan. It's nice and refreshing yes, but I don't see the hype.
Me neither really, but besides the Fanta, I despise anything with pineapple in it.
Quote from: nathalie on April 21, 2016, 11:48:04 AM
I thought white meat was better for you? lol (or I am wrong that Turkey isn't white meat, like chicken is? hehe)
I went to WDW, I didn't care for the dole whip, maybe if they use strawberry flavour? ;D
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/calories/disney-smoked-turkey-leg-38218796 (http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/calories/disney-smoked-turkey-leg-38218796)
It has a whopping 1,093 calories per leg!!! :o
I completely understand you, Mtlchuck. I don't understand the raves that most of the restaurants get on the different forums. I've had two or three really good food experiences, some OK ones, and quite a few below average ones.
It is true that your chances of having a good meal increase if you go for the high end places, but I'm one of the minority who doesn't enjoy Blue Lagoon. I like fish and seafood, but I don't like how they compose their meals. I see that several people have recommended Annette's to you. I wouldn't. I've been there twice, and found it very basic, and not worth the price. The menu is just typical diner food, which you can find anywhere.
But you have to certainly lower your expectations at DLP. It's an amusement park, after all. And its not WDW. The safest bet for me is the buffets. At least there I can look at the food, and see what is worth eating. And with lower expectations, I'm not disappointed as often anymore.
The restaurants I've been happy with are Hunter's Grill (ate there twice in the same week), Auberge de Cendrillon (but the price puts me off returning), Walts (several years since I visited), Plaza Gardens, Blockbuster Cafe, the Silver Spur Steakhouse and Inventions (but again very pricy). Cafe Chez Remy was OK, but not a success for my kids.
Plaza very recently changed a lot of the food and deserts.
When I went last month, this is usually the high light of my eating experience, but since they changed so much, and got rid of most things I loved eating there, I won't be going back.
I also find buffet food way too cold - I've visited both the top end and bottom end and just don't like buffets in DLP.
Everyone has different tastes in food but I honestly don't think it's that bad in DLP. I mean it's a theme park - you're not visiting for a fancy dining experience!
Quote from: rebecca20 on April 22, 2016, 01:51:05 PM
I also find buffet food way too cold - I've visited both the top end and bottom end and just don't like buffets in DLP.
Everyone has different tastes in food but I honestly don't think it's that bad in DLP. I mean it's a theme park - you're not visiting for a fancy dining experience!
Therefore they shouldnt be charging for one either ;)
also dont take this as DLRP bashing! I love the resort, I just really wish for better food rather than hit-or-miss experiences!
I can't say i've ever had a bad food experience at Disney. Sometimes service is slow because its so busy but the food has always been good to me :)
And i'll also say that i've eaten at counter service & high end (i.e Auberge).
Quote from: rebecca20 on April 22, 2016, 01:51:05 PM
Everyone has different tastes in food but I honestly don't think it's that bad in DLP. I mean it's a theme park - you're not visiting for a fancy dining experience!
I think Chef Remy would disagree with you there. ;)
I do agree with the OP really, I've also had a lot of rubbish 'budget' food in DLP, with only McDonalds and Earl of Sandwich being reliable.
As others have said though, I have had some lovely meals in the buffet restaurants hence why we now only go to DLP when they have offers on for the Standard Half Board meal plan - either half price or free! I would be loathed to visit DLP again without a meal plan in place because our budget does not stretch to us (a family of 5) eating in the buffet restaurants every night and paying the door price. And there's only so much McDonalds you can eat!
We found Cafe Mickey was okay (but that was before they introduced the set menu) and the burgers from Annette's have always been nice.
I think if you got a meal plan and went to the buffet restaurants you'd be much happier. There's loads of choice and you can also eat healthily because there's always a good selection of fruit, salads and vegetables.
I'm not to keen on buffets. But we always visit Agrabah Cafè on our last day in the parks. As they offer some nice variation to the standard fastfood of which on the 4th day we are sick and tired off :o
I'm hoping that the new Italian restaurant will bring some affordable food variation to the Village.
There are just to many burger and fries restaurants over there.
Quote from: Mtlchuck on April 20, 2016, 12:46:11 PM
Hi everyone,
Sorry about the ranty nature of my post, but Ive got to let this out: I have never had a good food experience at DLRP.
Any thoughts and experiences? I think consumer satisfaction would significatively increase by offering good food- at least something relative to what they charge for!
I have to agree with you: I am absolutely NOT persnickety about these things, but I must say that I've never had a non-horrific food experience at DLP. One of my kids even got food poisoning there last year. (Along with another kid in our party; the only 2 sickies were the 2 who had the same meal, and neither of them had a bug or anything like that.) It actually makes me embarrassed to be French! How can you be basically in Paris and turning out such awful food? And at those prices?
We're going to DLP in August and I basically told my husband (who hasn't been there before but loves DL in Anaheim) that it'll be great for his diet. : )
Quote from: nathalie on April 20, 2016, 09:50:09 PM
Agree on those legs. I feel that's a typical US thing.
And you're still in France in the end.
I feel food is "the same" at basically every amusement park.
I've yet to come across an amusement park, or a zoo, that serves "perfectly" good food, and warm at all times.
There is actually a restaurant at Futuroscope (in Poitiers) that serves molecular cuisine and is AMAZING but in general, I think you're totally right. I guess my beef (see what I did there?) with the DLP food is that it is clearly frozen and microwaved. If that's what you're going to serve, fine. But don't charge me Michelin-star prices for glorified airplane food.
Also, I'm voting in favor of bringing the turkey legs to DLP. French people loooove turkey! You can't get cordon bleu around here (we live in Tours) that ISN'T dinde.
I had the Dole Whip in the mean time on our last day at WDW. I don't understand the hype. It's cold and tastes of pineapple just like I expected. I didn't even finish it as it was huge. I read on Twitter it's coming to DLP this or next week. So I'm curious for more opinions. :)
I think the time when I felt most ripped off at DLP was Christmas day 2006. We had booked into some Tinkerbell show and were promised a "gastronomic delight" for dinner. The tickets for 3 of us (2 adults + 1 10 yr old) was something like €300 before any discounts. The show was good even though we were shoved right over to one side of the conference centre in NPB and right next to the service door so had waiting staff rushing past us. That bit we didn't mind quite so much as when our "gastronomic delight" appeared .............. Parmentiere - or as we call it in the UK cottage pie, this was it, this insipid little pile of minced whatever and mashed potato, you could even see the shape of the bottom of the container it had been cooked in, I would have said microwaved but you tend not to microwave on a large scale in commercial kitchens so it was more likely done in a Rational oven or the like.
Our daughter also got food poisoning on the same trip from Blue Lagoon, we were woken to projectile vomitting a la Exorcist.
Just came back yesterday and need to sit and write a complaint. I've never eaten at inventions and was so looking forward to it, it was chaos. The food was nice but there was a 15 minute que just to get to it, I didn't expect to pay all that money and then have to que for so long everytime I wanted anything to eat. My 7 year old is egg allergic and had a reaction to the safe food, for dessert the only option they could give was fruit (she could have had sweets but they ran out and never topped the up in the time we were there) I just feel it was a waste of money, if it was like this of peak I dread to think how it would have been at peak time