One and done?

2hapykdz

DIS Veteran
Joined
Aug 30, 2015
Does anyone have a place that they just always wanted to try (Disney Must Do) and when they did they realized..."Ok ....this isn't all that great....never have to come back again? Just got back from from WDW last week and we finally tried Hoop Dee Do. I'm gonna get a LOT of flack...but that's my one and done! The show was good... but the food and the service were just MEH! We were there for over an hour and 45 minutes....but somehow I still felt rushed....weird. Our waiter was a 60 something guy that couldn't be less enthused to be there....and the 1 little request of grilled chicken for fried chicken for my wife even though not a problem and was brought out before the dessert. The ribs were tough and the chicken was greasy. Beans and corn were over cooked. Cornbread, salad and dessert were very good. And even though the beer and wine is "bottomless" it took an "act of Congress" to get 1 refill. And there is sooooo much food waste....just watching the wait staff dump buckets of uneaten food into bins was really awful. The show was "sappy and kitschy" exactly what was expected....and being a ham I would've love getting picked! Curious what are some other places that ya just had to try that were a "Disney Must"....and you're satisfied with 1 time only!!!
 
San Angel Inn. I'd always wanted to eat and watch the boats go by, but when we were there the service was atrocious. We'd booked the Candlelight Processional package and it was an off hour (I think 3pm) for the 6:15 show. The restaurant was only half full, but service was incredibly slow. With the package we got three courses, it took so long for them to take our order that we ordered all three courses at once. We ate our appetizers when they arrived, then waited and waited...and waited. Finally our waiter came by and asked if we were ready for dessert. We had to inform him we hadn't received our entrees yet and he seemed really confused. There was a table near us with a different server and they'd been sitting over an hour waiting for their food (I think they had drinks and no cash and therefore couldn't just walk out). I remember them complaining to the manager and he sort of brushed it off until we piped up and said the same thing. And then we barely made it to the candlelight processional that was the whole reason we booked that meal...I will say I love the ambiance of the restaurant and MAY book it again in the future, but would just plan on apps + drinks and reserve a lot of time.

Others that are one and done for us (but that we weren't looking forward to as much as San Angel Inn) are Tony's and Chefs de France. No huge issues there, but we found the food and service at both to be mediocre at best and see no need to return when there are plenty of other favorites and new places to try at WDW. We also weren't impressed by Artist Point compared to other signatures, but I could give it another shot sometime.
 
Whispering Canyon Cafe for us. We asked for a quiet table as we went for the food, not the experience. It was 'okay' but not good enough to tempt us back again I'm afraid, which is a shame as we love visiting Wilderness Lodge as we go in December and the decorations are amazing.
 


CRT and Mama Melrose.

I know character meals aren't 'fine dining' and maybe I just had too high of expectations for eating in the castle but our experience was mediocre at best. Loud, chaotic, rushed character interactions and the food wasn't that great. Not magical at all. We won't go back but it'll save us some money next trip!

Mama Melrose was the worst meal of our trip. I love Italian food and was so looking forward to it but once was enough. We waited forever to be seated, our waitress was grumpy and we all felt sick after eating the less than stellar food. Once and done!
 
Spirit of Aloha is a one-and-done for me. I don't regret going the one time. I liked the show and the food wasn't horrible, but nothing about it would be worth repeating IMO.

OP, I managed to get 3 beers out of my server that meal--and it wasn't easy. If my husband were there, I think he may have gotten 4, but he takes his beer drinking very seriously. LOL!
 
1900 Park fare! The GF was lovely, but we had a 7:15 reservation and were seated sometime around 8 pm, none of which I cared about. The real problem was that it was a buffet with just really normal food, not a lot different from every other buffet at Disney but priced at $50 per person! The characters were good but really for 5 women, that bill was $250.00 without tip. We were on the dining plan so we did just pay the tip but at 20% that is still $50 for a very standard buffet. IMHO I would definitely say I'm glad I did it but for sure it's a one and done for me!
 


Spirit of Aloha- had an okay time, but would be completely content on never doing it again... BUT, to each his own, as we do Hoop Dee Doo every year! :)
 
I agree with OP... Hoop de Doo. Food was ok, show was cute but won't be on our list for future trips. Also.. Hollywood & Vine.... Never. Again. But to each his own...I have friends that love Hoop and H & V and have them on their "must do" list for every visit.
 
CRT and Rose & Crown for us. CRT was just disappointing with the food and the portion sizes for how much you pay. I know everyone goes for the princesses, but for how much it costs, they could pony up bigger portions and a better menu.

Rose & Crown, service was good and atmosphere was very nice. Fish fry was garbage, worst I've ever had. And that was why we went because we heard they had the best fish fry.
 
Skippers Canteen, the service was extremely slow, and the food was disgusting (overly salty, like I could have made better in a dorm room).

But to emphasis the positive thats one of the only bad meals I've had at Disney.
 
Be our guest dinner was very underwhelming. i know it's very popular but one and done for us. service was great and food came out quick but not worth what we paid. 30 min wait to meet the beast put the nail in the coffin. on the other hand, we LOVE BOG lunch.
 
Ohana dinner. I was so excited for the food, and we were disappointed with everything. The atmosphere was nice, and our waiter was great, but it just didn't live up to our expectations. We loved breakfast. Although, we aren't big eaters for breakfast so probably won't go back. Would rather just have a snack bar or something little and some juice, then eat a bigger meal at lunch or dinner.

Coral Reef- really no reason. The food was good. Having to wait 20 minute past our ADR then entering to maybe 5-10 tables occupied was annoying, but not a reason to not go back (maybe they were short on staff?). Just didn't do it for us.
 
Whispering Canyon Cafe for us. We asked for a quiet table as we went for the food, not the experience. It was 'okay' but not good enough to tempt us back again I'm afraid, which is a shame as we love visiting Wilderness Lodge as we go in December and the decorations are amazing.

We are debating between WCC (especially if we end up staying at WL), Diamond Horseshoe, and possibly Trails End for our trip. WCC gets the best reviews, but we don't want to partake in the antics either. I know people say that's the fun, but it's not our cup of tea. I've read some reviews say they have a coaster for red and green, and others haven't been offered them. We really just want to go for the food. Diamond Horseshoe would be convenient, but a lot of the trip advisor reviews aren't too good.
 

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