Prix Fixe = BS to me.

[PAGA2003]

When BOG and Chefs de France earn a Michelin star, I'll change my viewpoint.

Oh fully understand quality wise we're talking apples and oranges! But that is the issue-it is a Disney restaurant problem and not a prix fixe menu problem. Prix fixe menus utilized properly are exceptional dining experiences. I think that is all folks are trying to say- rather than being upset over the format be upset over the execution.

 

[Dismama2boys]

Agree. I think much of the unhappiness is coming from folks who have never experienced a prix-fixe menu. We have loved our experiences at past F&W signature dinners.
The portions are smaller, the quality first rate. And it's fun to try new things, or familiar items in new ways.
Certainly it's fine some don't see the appeal. There will always be restaurants at WDW with chicken nugs, mac and cheese and the like.
Lots of options with Disney.

In my case, not so. They are too much food for me, no matter how well prepared (or not, in the case of Disney food), and if one in the party if more adventurous than the others, it often won’t work for that group at all. Restaurants in the real world, especially high-end places, are very accommodating about making changes to a dish to a diner’s specifications. They will make something each diner will eat. This is not really the case at Disney restaurants, outside of a few minor adjustments. I don’t ever prefer prix-fixe because I like to eat smaller amounts of food I can choose, but if that’s the only way I can eat at a fabulous restaurant, I’ll do it. No restaurant at Disney is good enough for that, especially when you throw in that I’ll have to pay for my 3 kids who won’t like the food (in real life, I’d leave them at home). Just because someone does not want to dine that way doesn’t mean they are too ignorant to know better or that they have a palate of a 5-year-old. I don’t know if your post was intentionally trying to be insulting, but it definitely came off that way. And for those that say just eat elsewhere, lots of these restaurants at Disney are basically “attractions” that my kids don’t want to miss - eating in the castle, eating in “space”, or whatnot. It sad they’ll miss it, and hard to explaining it to them.

 

[gharter]

Agree. I think much of the unhappiness is coming from folks who have never experienced a prix-fixe menu. We have loved our experiences at past F&W signature dinners.
The portions are smaller, the quality first rate. And it's fun to try new things, or familiar items in new ways.
Certainly it's fine some don't see the appeal. There will always be restaurants at WDW with chicken nugs, mac and cheese and the like.
Lots of options with Disney.

Really miss them.

 

[BrotherCraig]

Yeah, Disney food quality is lacking in so many ways but people are not spending the high dollar for quality food. They are there for the environment. Food is secondary. Most people do NOT book BOG because of the food. $40 for Mac n Cheese for your kids(s) is a $5 meal no matter how you look at it. Figure $35 is for the access (admission) to the castle and the environment the dining is in.

 

[PAGA2003]

Yeah, Disney food quality is lacking in so many ways but people are not spending the high dollar for quality food. They are there for the environment. Food is secondary. Most people do NOT book BOG because of the food. $40 for Mac n Cheese for your kids(s) is a $5 meal no matter how you look at it. Figure $35 is for the access (admission) to the castle and the environment the dining is in.

Truth! I currently have a BOG dinner reservation and I'm trying to decide if dinner in the castle and a glimpse at Beast is worth the premium. I had no issues paying the breakfast prix fixe cost even though the meal itself was lackluster. A meal in the castle was worth it to us at that price...dinner I'm just not so sure...

 

[Debbie Jean]

Agree. I think much of the unhappiness is coming from folks who have never experienced a prix-fixe menu. We have loved our experiences at past F&W signature dinners.
The portions are smaller, the quality first rate. And it's fun to try new things, or familiar items in new ways.
Certainly it's fine some don't see the appeal. There will always be restaurants at WDW with chicken nugs, mac and cheese and the like.
Lots of options with Disney.

How condescending... and hilarious! LOL I'm sure you have data to support the idea that "much of the unhappiness is coming from folks who have never experienced a prix-fixe menu". I'd love to see that! Or maybe you're just easier to impress.

As a Harvard trained college professor, living just outside NYC, I've had the pleasure of eating at Michelin star restaurants on 4 continents over the last half century. No need to explain to me what constitutes fine dining. And I'm not a fan of prix-fixe.... unless, of course we are actually talking fine dining.

Slapping up a prix fixe menu and creating smaller portions doesn't make for quality... that's called fine dining for the masses and it constantly astonishes me how easily people can be impressed with such superficiality.

With the exception of V & A's, there is nothing at Disney that I would place in the category of real fine dining. If you've eaten there, you'll know that they make every effort to accommodate dietary needs... soliciting before the actual reservation and meeting with the chef before the actual meal to discuss how the menu can be adapted. That's the kind of service I expect at a Michelin restaurant along with a prix-fixe menu.

I accept Disney dining for what it is... but I see more and more of the "wannbe fine dining... NOT!" places opening. I find the prix-fixe menu as implemented at Disney to be a tactic... less choices, more money, easier to crowd control, move-em in, move-em out, more money, looks high class, more money... you get the theme. This has nothing to do with quality which could be done with an open menu.

 

[BrotherCraig]

I eat prix fixe meals every now and then in the city I live in. Book a month out to get in the restaurants and we always enjoy them. As for a prix fixe in a park, horrible.

 

[Marrila]

If a prix-fixe is not your cup of tea, book something else. Seriously, there are a lot of restaurants in the parks and at the resorts.

 

[FCDub]

If a prix-fixe is not your cup of tea, book something else. Seriously, there are a lot of restaurants in the parks and at the resorts.

Yep. Thread could've been over after one post.

 

[Lewisc]

Restaurants in the Swan and Dolphin are pricey but offer restaurant quality dining. Disney restaurants are starting to be wedding catering hall quality

 

[BK2014]

After eating at Cinderella's Royal Table for lunch today, I can understand why people may not like prix fixe meals. We wanted to try this dining experience for the first time, but we could have done with less food. I am a large man and I came out of there stuffed and weighed down. I would not have wanted spend any time out in the Magic Kingdom exploring in the heat. Luckily. we were just there to eat our final meal before driving home.

I completely understand not wanting to lose money on people just coming in and ordering one appetizer or dessert. But I don't think forcing everyone to order an appetizer, entree and dessert is the answer Maybe just make a requirement that everyone must order an entree and make the rest ala carte? And since this is an in-park restaurant, it is not like you can eat half of your food and get a to go box and take the rest home. Unless you are heading straight back to your resort.

 

[Lewisc]

After eating at Cinderella's Royal Table for lunch today, I can understand why people may not like prix fixe meals. We wanted to try this dining experience for the first time, but we could have done with less food. I am a large man and I came out of there stuffed and weighed down. I would not have wanted spend any time out in the Magic Kingdom exploring in the heat. Luckily. we were just there to eat our final meal before driving home.

I completely understand not wanting to lose money on people just coming in and ordering one appetizer or dessert. But I don't think forcing everyone to order an appetizer, entree and dessert is the answer Maybe just make a requirement that everyone must order an entree and make the rest ala carte? And since this is an in-park restaurant, it is not like you can eat half of your food and get a to go box and take the rest home. Unless you are heading straight back to your resort.

Think of it as buffet. You don't eat every option. You don't have to order dessert, just because you have that option.
Disney is charging what guests are willing to pay for OK food.

If Disney offered a lesser price for guest who want to skip dessert it would be the dollar or two Disney is saving on the cost of ingredients, not a hypothetical menu price.

Likewise reducing the portion size would only save a few dollars but would result in guest complaints about Disney being cheap

 

[RoseGold]

I view the prix fixe as a cover charge, which is fine with me. Operationally, I totally get it. The downside is accommodation for specific guests, which Disney has decided isn't worth doing at these venues. They're totally booked, so I get that too.

I don't go to Disney for food and am spoiled in my daily restaurant experience. I went to Be Our Guest post-Covid. I was expecting mediocre, and I thought it was pretty good! Though the check in person told my permanently disabled family member in a high-tech wheelchair to "park the scooter" at the entrance. Bet she won't do that again.

 

[chicagodisneyguy]

Disney has made the decision they want $xx per seat in revenue for this eatery. I think the prix-fixe is really the easiest way for them to accomplish that. If it was a regular menu with high prices they would definitely get the cupcake and water crowd to some extent. A minimum spend could work....but then I think they'd constantly get people trying to get out of paying it for whatever reason. Prix-fixe allows them to meet their goals and is the path of least resistance for DISNEY (not so much the diner).

It obviously isn't the best option for people with light appetites, allergies, or picky kids. But if BOG is any indication, they are not going to change. I get the disappointment some people have, but I'd look at it as more of an experience that includes food versus a good value dining option.

 

[Merlin's Magic]

Disney isn't set up to have prix fixe menus. They're just not. They are set up to turn over tables as quickly as possible, get people in and out, and not have them linger.
When you force people into a full sit down meal, it goes against the goal of turning over the table quickly. Now you have people who either have to stuff themselves quickly or leave half the food on the table, or, in best case scenario, tell the staff to wait and eat at a proper pace.

It just doesn't make good customer sense.

It's a shame, because there are more restaurants we won't be eating at now. I'd rather finish my meal, walk around the park, and grab a dessert/coffee when I feel a little less full.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

Prix fixe is only one of a bunch of dining styles at Disney. Buffet, tapas, family style, fixed price, ala carte, quick service….there is literally something for everyone and at a variety of price points. Not everything has to work for everyone

 

[Dismama2boys]

Prix fixe is only one of a bunch of dining styles at Disney. Buffet, tapas, family style, fixed price, ala carte, quick service….there is literally something for everyone and at a variety of price points. Not everything has to work for everyone

Of course. But as some of us keep pointing out, there are several restaurants that are almost experiences themselves, and anyone who it doesn’t work for is shut out. And that’s fine for some, but for kids who are dying to eat “in space” or in a castle it stinks to let them down.

 

[Marrila]

Prix fixe is only one of a bunch of dining styles at Disney. Buffet, tapas, family style, fixed price, ala carte, quick service….there is literally something for everyone and at a variety of price points. Not everything has to work for everyone

Exactly this. I'm glad WDW offers variety. We pick and choose what works for us over the days of a visit.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

Of course. But as some of us keep pointing out, there are several restaurants that are almost experiences themselves, and anyone who it doesn’t work for is shut out. And that’s fine for some, but for kids who are dying to eat “in space” or in a castle it stinks to let them down.

Then you have to look at it like you’re paying for the experience and not the food, and go anyways. I hate buffets, but I did plenty of $$$ character meals when my kids were little so they could have the experience. And it never dawned on me to complain that it was buffet and not a regular menu.

 

[Dismama2boys]

Then you have to look at it like you’re paying for the experience and not the food, and go anyways. I hate buffets, but I did plenty of $$$ character meals when my kids were little so they could have the experience. And it never dawned on me to complain that it was buffet and not a regular menu.

I understand your point, and we, too, have done many overpriced buffets simply for the characters. But with a buffet, there usually more options for food, and if you find even one thing you like, you can fill up on that and at least feel like you’ve had a meal. But with prix fixe, you are MUCH more limited, and if you like the app but not any of the entrees and don’t eat dessert, you’re SOL. You then just paid $75 pp or whatever it is, only to go grab counter service after. I don’t have a problem with the price, I have a problem with the limits it puts on how you can eat. I’ll pay $500 for my family to eat mediocre food to see characters. At least they got to eat SOMETHING. I will not pay $500 for 4 out of 5 of us to leave hungry due to sensory issues with food and the lack of options they offer. In the real world, “prix fixe” usually means an outstanding, fancy meal, usually sans the little kids. At Disney, it means mediocre banquet hall food and many people have small children with them. It’s frustrating when it’s a place your kids have eaten before and are dying to go to again, but suddenly now doesn’t meet your needs (BoG). Or the kids have seen the PR for the new space restaurant and can’t wait to see it….except they can’t. It’s hard to explain that to them, and feels callous when it keeps getting dumbed down to basically “well then it’s just not for you! Enjoy your Cosmic Rays!” Yes, because that’s in the same category. (I don’t mean to pick on you here - tons of people are saying it everywhere.)