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.