WORST DISNEY DINING EXPERIENCE

[KenHutch]

I think you're right. Restaurants in resorts, airports, and theme parks have a much higher turnover. Usually due to the lack of experience of the people that end up getting hired and then fired. My sister is the sous chef at an airport where they manage 4 restaurants, she said the people that apply have no experience in food service expecting to get a line cook job. The stories I hear from her frequently make me not want to eat out anywhere. She spends 1/4 of a 10 hour day yelling at people to wash their hands and giving write-ups for similar things.

I have a brother who managed a Golden Corral while in college and he told me to watch a movie called Waiting. He told me obviously the writer had been a waiter. After seeing that movie I cut my eating out by 2/3rds and greatly increased my tipping.

 

[Mumketeer]

We had a great time at Bongos in Disney Springs it was so much fun and the food seemed fine until the middle of the night. Oh it was awful.

 

[Mumketeer]

I have a brother who managed a Golden Corral while in college and he told me to watch a movie called Waiting. He told me obviously the writer had been a waiter. After seeing that movie I cut my eating out by 2/3rds and greatly increased my tipping.

Yes, if you are going to be a regular visitor at a restaurant best to be nice and tip well.

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

Chef Mickeys Dinner - food was awful - I have had better at Old Country Buffet. I am also a fan of fairly bland food - don't like spices - and this was so bland I couldn't eat it - so that is saying something! Overcooked meats, mushy pasta, mushy veggies. Desserts were good and that was it! I was happy I was on free dining at the time, because if I had spent $60 each to eat there I would have asked for my money back!

 

[captaindavidhook]

T-REX...waitress was Creep and she could care less about me. I asked her what was good or to recommend something and she said she was to busy to answer. I got the lasagna and 10 minutes later the food was out. It was nasty food and tasted like rubber. Never again.

 

[msdroz]

Never had a really awful experience but we don't go to Disney for the restaurants. We have far superior restaurants in our home town and we enjoy spending more time on rides and attractions than being "stuck" sitting at a restaurant when we already are paying for a park ticket. Don't get me wrong, a break every now and then is nice, I just think so many people rave about the dining at Disney so when people expect outstanding dining they are sometimes disappointed.

 

[Mumketeer]

I agree with msdroz, we have so many good restaurants at home, and a disappointing dinner on vacation seems worse.
Oh, and I just remembered, we were at HS at the Backlot Cafe using our QS points. I had a veggie sandwich which was not too bad, however there are birds flying around overhead..... I guess you can imagine what happened to my sandwich. Brought it to CMs and they gave me a new sandwich but not the fries did they think I was going to eat anything off that plate after that?

 

[friedela]

Meh, I think pretty much all of Disney dining is over-rated IMO. We loved CRT but only because of the characters. Food was blech. We didn't have AMAZING food anywhere and the prices we paid made everything taste twice as bad, lol. We really enjoy packing lunch and even dinner if we can (never thought I'd say that, lol) but the satisfaction of a good home cooked meal with fresh fruit and veggies for a fraction of the price takes away the downer of having to cook on vacation.

 

[arminnie]

Meh, I think pretty much all of Disney dining is over-rated IMO. We loved CRT but only because of the characters. Food was blech. We didn't have AMAZING food anywhere and the prices we paid made everything taste twice as bad, lol.

I agree. I can get AMAZING food at home in New Orleans for far less money.

 

[rwdavis2]

Never had a really awful experience but we don't go to Disney for the restaurants. We have far superior restaurants in our home town and we enjoy spending more time on rides and attractions than being "stuck" sitting at a restaurant when we already are paying for a park ticket. Don't get me wrong, a break every now and then is nice, I just think so many people rave about the dining at Disney so when people expect outstanding dining they are sometimes disappointed.

That's our philosophy as well. We live between DC and Baltimore and have access to dozens of restaurants that are better than about maybe 2-3 place in WDW. Why waste money on places you know are inferior. That does not stop us from eating tables service at WDW, we just don't obsess over it they way some folks do. I realize others are not so fortunate to live near good restaurants so I get that.

 

[Mumketeer]

I can go to a good restaurant or get amazing food all over my city. But what I can't get is a Disney Ride so when I am there that is where I spend my time. I do however love the frozen beverages and treats at the resorts as they are portable.

 

[mickey&minniealways]

To be fair - being "rude" is part of the schtick there. Granted, if the CM isn't really into it that day, or you don't feel like playing along, I could see the disconnect. Then again, they could have just been a bad server that day. Sorry that happened - but do love me some PB&J and Red Velvet Milkshakes as well!

Exactly! That's part of why you go there.

 

[TheRealDrDisney]

I have a brother who managed a Golden Corral while in college and he told me to watch a movie called Waiting. He told me obviously the writer had been a waiter. After seeing that movie I cut my eating out by 2/3rds and greatly increased my tipping.

Try watching the South Park episode on Yelp reviewers for a real eye-opener.

There's even a song!

 

[mrswillson]

The worst service my husband and I have experienced (twice, disappointingly) was at O'hana. While we loved the ambiance, food selection, and the experience of watching Wishes and Happily Ever After from our table, to say our service was "slow" would be the understatement of the century. Both times we dined was around nine, and both times we left around eleven thirty. Totally unacceptable.

 

[0FF TO NEVERLAND]

Worst experience was at Jiko. With all the hype I expected greatness. Instead of gave me a raw steak, and had to take it back. Waited 15 min while the person I was with still had her food. Steak came back way over cooked. Just a bad time and a waste of money in the end

 

[scrump]

Worst experience was many years ago, at Coral Reef. Food and ambiance were great, but our server gave us an anti-global warming lecture, which came out of nowhere - we did not bring it up. So awkward and puzzling. It was just the one server, so of course we have gone back many times, but sooo bizarre.

 

[TinkerPug]

Worst experience was last Friday at Le Cellier for lunch. I was able to make a last minute ADR for a late lunch so we left Animal Kingdom and headed over to Epcot.

We were seated right away and our server was great! I ordered the Filet with Mushroom Risotto and my husband had the Veal Tenderloin. We also shared the Lobster Salad which was delicious.

Our main entrees came out and I always order my steaks Medium Rare. I cut into my steak and it was extremely rare. So rare that it was even hard to cut into with a steak knife. The server immediately took it back. About 10 minutes later she brought out a replacement. I cut into that and it was even worse than the original one! I didn't even have to say anything to our server she could see it wasn't even close to being cooked. At this point I could tell she was embarassed. My husband had already finished his entree - which he LOVED - it was cooked perfectly.

The manager came over with many apologies. They poured us another round of wine – and then the third steak came out. Thank goodness this one was PERFECT. But by that time I was already done and just wanted to get out of there. I finished my steak and we left.

Luckily they only charged us for my husbands entree, the lobster salad and one round of drinks. But we will NOT be returning. I was so disappointed that was our final meal at Disney before heading to the airport.

 

[luckytobeme88]

Kona dinner

 

[biminibigblue]

Kona dinner

us too!!

 

[deuceswild10]

We dined at Whispering Canyon Café recently for lunch and was less than enchanted with our service. My family visited the restaurant for a special event and was less than impressed Our server had limited ability to communicate in English and was not understanding the concept of the restaurant. She was not friendly and definitely had no pixie dust. Will knock this place off our list of places to visit.

We didn't like it either. I thought the food was OK at best. There was a little bit of silliness but nothing like anyone had told us. It was not worth the trip from our resort over there.