DisneyFanatic.com The Latest News, Advice, and Perspective from Disney Fans for Disney Fans!
Disney discontent is peaking right now as Disney Guests report dissatisfaction with the high prices, closed rides, and upsetting Guest behaviors that are currently plaguing the Disney Parks at Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, and Disney properties abroad.
We recently saw many Disney Guests or Disney Fanatics protesting against the high prices in some of the more luxurious Disney restaurants (particularly at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida) — but apparently, Disney Guests are not just put off by Disney’s high-end dining options; they are also avoiding Disney’s cheaper table service meals!
Cinderella’s Royal Table is a table service and sit-down restaurant that includes Character Meet and Greets for diners. An advanced dining reservation is often recommended for Disney restaurants with that experience. Photo Credit Disney
Apparently, the table service meals that are so often associated with Disney World vacations have become somewhat lackluster to many Guests. Character dining (i.e. character meet and greets that happen during a meal) is often a highlight, especially for families with children, but restaurants that offer this experience are not impressing Guests as much as they may have in the past, either!
In a recent online conversation between Disney Fanatics on the website Reddit, it was revealed that many Walt Disney World Resort Guests are consciously choosing to avoid sit-down Disney dining options.
“Every trip we take, we eat fewer sit-down meals,” one Reddit user wrote. “Our most recent week-long trip, we did 3 (Whispering Canyon, Space 220 and Cinderella’s Royal Table). The next trip, maybe one or two. The time and cost relative to quality just makes it not worth it to us for the most part.”
Space 220 Credit: Disney
Although the aforementioned Disney Fanatic did visit Space 220 (which is one of Walt Disney World and EPCOT’s newer restaurants), another Reddit user and Disney Guest found Space 220 to be lacking.
“It does visually look incredible but it’s so sterile and soulless that the novelty wore off by the time my main course arrived,” the Reddit user wrote. “The jarring atmosphere was also counteracted by the fact it was so noisy in there too. It felt like you had to convince yourself you were having a great time because you’d been lucky enough to score reservations in the first place.”
Credit: Disney Fanatic
Disney fans were also disappointed by the restaurant called Akershus, which is located in Norway within the EPCOT World Showcase. The eatery was described as being “ridiculously overpriced.”
“We had great princess interactions for our daughter but $50 a person for a basic family style breakfast is insane,” the same Reddit user continued. “I was shocked that we only got pancakes, bacon, sausage, and tots along with a small buffet for that price. Plus all of the food was underwhelming.”
This Disney Guest recommended Topolino’s Terrace and Trattoria Al Forno instead (as long as their character meet and greet options returned). Many Disney Guests seemed disillusioned during the discussion, with one Guest pointing out that “Dining used to be at least half the fun…but [now[ the quality and variety just aren’t there.”
Do you think that Disney dining options have become less enjoyable and less worthwhile, or do you still make a point of enjoying table service and sit-down meals (and making an advanced dining reservation for them in advance, as is usually recommended) often during your Walt Disney World Resort vacations?
