Remember when?: Disney Restaurants

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I really enjoyed the character interaction at Liberty Tree Tavern. I adored having lunch at the Diamond Horseshoe Jamboree, and enjoying a fantastic show. I also like Hollywood and Vine much better as a cafeteria.

Hollywood & Vine Cafeteria really had an authentic old hollywood feel to it that was awesome. The food (we had breakfast) was pretty good too.

 

[PhilliesFan]

This is a great thread! We did the deluxe dining plan on our honeymoon in 1987, but back then it was the Gold Key Plan. I remember that we really enjoyed King Stefan's Banquet Hall, but that we loved the Empress Lilly. We had two wonderful meals on that boat, at the Fisherman's Deck and The Steerman's Quarters. Fulton's Crab House definitely does not meet the standards of the Empress Lilly restaurants - they are still missed.

 

[Disney Fool]

Anyone remember the singing waiters at the GF restaurant that is now Citroco's?

 

[TinkGirl28]

As someone else mentioned, I too miss what I know as the Diamond Horseshoe Review. The sandwiches they served were pretty good and the show was great. It was a nice place to have lunch when I was a kid. I also greatly miss the mickey shaped butter that came with all the rolls. In addition, as a kid, I always got a colored "bendy" straw in the shape of a mickey head with every meal. Gone are the days when you get something truly free from Disney. I enjoyed all those small things Disney used to do to make people just a bit happier.

 

[LuvLDM]

Fun thread!
I think the quality & menu options have really deteriorated at the sit down restaurants. In the 90's I remember having some really fabulous meals, these days most of the food is just average.
I do think the counter service options have improved.

 

[sotoalf]

I suppose the consensus is: Disney dining was at best highly variable in the seventies and eighties, peaked in the nineties and early 2000's, and is now back to its first two decades.

 

[scanne]

Definitely agree with a pp about the Ice Cream Social at the Garden Grill. That was such a special treat.

I remember on my honeymoom, my DH and I had lunch or dinner in the castle and we got a Mickey butter. It was about 2" tall, and a full 3D sculpt. I remember saying it was too cute to eat.

And I DEFINITELY miss LTT as a character dinner. My DD's first trip to WDW was when she was only 3 mos. old and we had dinner at LTT the night of MNSSHP. Minnie Mouse fussed all over her and I really do miss that character meal.

 

[scanne]

Oh I just remembered the Villians Character dinner at 1900 Park Fare. AWESOME!!!!

 

[Joan S.]

Anyone remember the singing waiters at the GF restaurant that is now Citroco's?

I remember THAT!! I only had my two older children at the time and they were quite young,so maybe 1988 or 1989?? We were staying at the GF and it was recommended to us by the concierge. I think it was Flagler's??

 

[Disney Fool]

yup! thank you! Waiters broke out in "spontaneous" songs.

 

[chipsgirl1030]

In the Magic Kingdom back in the seventies there was a quick service restaurant just as you passed over the bridge leading into adventureland, I believe it was called the Adventureland Veranda. They served hambugers garnished with a slice of pineapple and hot dogs with sweet and sour sauce instead of chili. It may sound kind of gross, but for the longest time after returning home I would eat my hot dogs with sweet and sour sauce, it was actually quite good!

It was the first place my family ate on our first trip to Disneyworld. Brings back memories

 

[theaslip]

I suppose the consensus is: Disney dining was at best highly variable in the seventies and eighties, peaked in the nineties and early 2000's, and is now back to its first two decades.

In complete agreement with you.....

 

[Bob NC]

Papeete Bay Veranda was always where we ate our first night.

Most days we had breakfast at Tangaroa Terrace, no matter where we were staying.

On my honeymoon I actually bought a jacket so we could go to the Empress Lily Room.

Concourse Steakhouse was one of my favorite places for a steak, or a burger for lunch.

I saw Kreskin at the Top of The World dinner show. Though, Braodway at The Top was NOT one of my favorites.

Flagler's was a favorite for many trips.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

Papeete Bay Veranda was always where we ate our first night.

Most days we had breakfast at Tangaroa Terrace, no matter where we were staying.

On my honeymoon I actually bought a jacket so we could go to the Empress Lily Room.

Concourse Steakhouse was one of my favorite places for a steak, or a burger for lunch.

I saw Kreskin at the Top of The World dinner show. Though, Braodway at The Top was NOT one of my favorites.

Flagler's was a favorite for many trips.

Hubby and I went to the Top of the World Dinner Show on the 1st night of our honeymoon. I wasn't all that impressed. We had wanted to see fireworks. MK didn't have a show that night.

The one big thing that I remember about that night was that I was wearing a very thin cotton dress, and had left my slip at home. We had pre-paid for the show. There was no time to go buy a slip, and my new husband was not going to throw $100+ out the window for our 1 special dinner. There is no telling what those people thought.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Too many old dining memories to list them all, but we saw Billy Eckstein at the Top of the World.

Like Bob NC says, the lounges' replacement "Broadway at the Top" was not one of my favorites either.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Disney Fool: Sure do. It was Flaglers, and I think it was mostly Italian. The waiters would form a ring around your table and sound forth for a few minutes.

 

[Bob NC]

The one big thing that I remember about that night was that I was wearing a very thin cotton dress, and had left my slip at home.

Scandalous!!!!

 

[Uncleromulus]

I remember when they even had strolling muscians at Ariel's restaurant. I even have them on video.

 

[mickeysbestfriend]

-When Cinderella's Royal Table wasn't a character meal for lunch or dinner, cost a lot less, and actually had better food.

-When 'Ohana served about 7 appetizers on a lazy susan, and the dessert was fresh pineapple with caramel (plus they offered some other desserts à la carte).

-When Akershus wasn't a character meal and served more authentic food.

-When Spoodles served a menu based on an interesting tapas concept instead of more generic and bland dishes.

-When Hollywood & Vine featured really cool characters like Scarlet Minnie and Gangster Goofy.


I miss the orginality of the restaurants and find little to get excited about with the current selections

The change to O'hana was not for the better...they waste a lot more food this way.
Those are my main ones. Lots of things have changed for the worse, but I've noticed some recent changes for the better

 

[mickeysbestfriend]

I miss. Papeete Bay Verandah, Coral Isle, Tangarora Terrace, TOp of the World, The original Luau, King Stephens Banquet Hall, Concorse Steakhouse, Fishermans Deck, Steermans Quarters, The Empress Room, The buffet at the Golf Resort, The orange tree terrace, the original menu at O'Hana, etc.

It's too bad that most of the changes have not been for the better. I loved the elegance of non character dining!