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3. Some of Disney’s best restaurants are no longer worthy recommendations

Goldfish in Mac n' Cheese at the Garden Grill

Image: Jett Farrell-Vega

One of the most common frustrations our readers mention is declining food quality at Walt Disney World. While restaurant recommendations ultimately come down to personal preference, there has been a notable shift at some of Disney’s previously-remarkable restaurants—to the point they are no longer good recommendations at all.

We detailed in the past our surprise over the disappointing changes at Epcot’s Garden Grill. Readers echoed that they’ve experienced similar declines at Liberty Tree Tavern, Restaurant Marrakesh, Crystal Palace, and even Ohana to some degree, with plenty more that can be included on the list. Hope isn’t entirely lost for these Disney mainstays, but even many of the items presented at Epcot’s festivals throughout the year bear the mark of a shift away from the legendary quality of Disney yesteryear (whose idea was the “glownut” again?).

Some blame the Disney Dining Plan for the changes. Others point to Disney corporate leadership. Either way, while Walt Disney World still has loads of wonderful food, prices have gone up while quality has gone down at many locations.

Light Lab at Epcot Food and Wine Festival

Image: Jett Farrell-Vega

You don’t have to completely scratch your favorite locations off your list. However, before you make reservations for your next visit, it is wise to do a search for recent reviews on your favorite restaurants on Google, Yelp, TripAdvisor, and even here at Theme Park Tourist. Look for reviews that specifically mention that the reviewer used to love that location but things have changed (this is what many of our readers responded with about their experience with lunch and dinner at The Garden Grill). If you see a consistent shift towards complaints, consider making your valuable dining reservations at one of Disney’s other establishments. The Rose and Crown, Tusker House, The Flying Fish, Biergarten, and Satu’li Canteen are just a few of the great options that still receive thumbs up from our readers and writers!

Also, on the subject of dining…

4. The Disney Dining Plan is almost never a good deal

Epcot Food and Wine Festival Cast Members

Image: Disney

We’ve touched on this subject before, but it is worth revisiting: the Disney Dining Plan is no longer a no-brainer for saving money on Walt Disney World dining.

It’s not that the dining plan is terrible. Particularly if you eat lots of heavy meals and like the budgeting option, it is still worth researching and considering. However, if you are looking to save money, you likely will do better by putting your dining budget on Disney gifts cards.

The main issue is value. Most guests are not horking down prime rib and buffets for every meal. Many visitors report a common issue ending up with too many snack credits at the end of the trip. While you can certainly find creative ways to spend these, is it money that you wouldn’t have spent if you hadn’t been on the dining plan? Even when free Disney Dining Plans are offered, take the time to do the math to see if you are spending extra on full price resort rates. If it works out in your favor, awesome, but it isn’t worth just assuming like it used to be.

If you are really determined to try to figure out if the Disney Dining Plan is a value for your family, you have a few options. There are several simple calculators online that will give you a general estimate on if the dining plan is worth it. If you really want to pinch pennies, you may need to break out a spreadsheet and peruse through menus of the restaurants you are planning to visit. Consider what you would spend if you weren’t on the dining plan, then calculate that. If you are the types who avoid eating breakfast in the parks, bring your own snacks and water, and don’t eat particularly heavy, you will likely save money skipping the Dining Plan.

What is some other Walt Disney World advice you have heard that has changed dramatically?

 
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Comments

One of the reasons there is no really "good time" to visit Disney any more is that parents no longer care if their children miss school. The parks used to be less crowded a couple of weeks before a holiday because families would go on vacation at the break. Now, with "home schooling", and a lack of concern about children missing school, there are very few times of the year, if any, when the parks are less crowded, especially the Magic Kingdom. I haven't seen small crowds there in many years.

great to see these published. Hope lots of your new readers who are researching their first trip see this.
After doing both our own research on wait times for EMH days on non-EMH, then testing our theories in the parks, we avoid EMH days completely now.
As too with the dining plan. I kept every receipt a few years ago and did the math at the end, Dining plan would have cost us hundreds more.
Glad to see someone updating those old recommendations.

I miss the classic Akershus restaurant in Norway. Has it gotten better? For awhile after the buffet was dispensed with, it was really lacking, and I stopped going. Should I try it again?

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