Do you all love buffets???

[pongo]

Am i the only one that really doesnt like buffets i read so many threads on here from people raving about the buffet restaurants and think i must be a bit wierd because i really dont like them .Yes they are fantastic value for money which is great especially if there is a lot of you and yes for a lot of people they are part of the american holiday but i still dont like them i find myself so overfaced with the amount of food at them that its a bit offputting and usually by the time ive eaten my entree im stuffed anyway i just go up for more because its there:confused2 and then end up regretting it as i feel so uncomfortably full .Now i can eat believe me i used to be 21 st but they are too much for me :omg: i would rather pay a little bit more and go elsewhere please dont flame me all you buffet lovers im just interested to see if anyone else feels the same ;)

[MickeyMadMandy]

Do you know what I like the most about buffets? My kids like what they like and won't eat 'new', 'different', or we get 'today I don't want it hot/cooked (ie carrots)', or I want 'this off the menu but not with that bit...' - get the picture?

Buffets cover it!! End of story. I can eat in peace!

I sometimes worry about the hygiene side of things and hate to see such waste, but no-hassle-feeding-kids wins every time!

[jwalowls]

I like where there is lots of things to choose from as i dont know what i want alot of the time

[Scotsmomma]

I like them for breakfast....but not so keen on the dinners.....but our hotel in Tenerife a couple of weeks ago was the best buffet dinner I've ever had.....omg I was eating for Scotland....amazing roasts.....steaks.....chops etc....have to agree though you tend to go overboard....We were eating till I thought I'd burst

Much as a lot of people slate Ponderosa....I love my Ponderosa brekkie in Orlando.....can't wait

[pongo]

Do you know what I like the most about buffets? My kids like what they like and won't eat 'new', 'different', or we get 'today I don't want it hot/cooked (ie carrots)', or I want 'this off the menu but not with that bit...' - get the picture?

Buffets cover it!! End of story. I can eat in peace!

I sometimes worry about the hygiene side of things and hate to see such waste, but no-hassle-feeding-kids wins every time!I can see why they are a bonus to you if you have fussy eaters fortunately or unfortunately i think sometimes:d:my 2 will eat anything so i dont have that problem but im glad you mentioned the hygiene issue as well i was going to but thought folk will REALLY think im wierd if i mention that as well :pgig:

[tinks75]

I WANT A BUFFET BREAKFATS! I like them, have thought about the hygeine issue before too but again, hassle free kids eating wins everytime

[jwalowls]

I just like the breakfast buffets mainly

[Sue]

Not a huge fan as I tend to like my hot food hot and not barely tepid! But I do like Hollywood and Vine for Fantasmic and we are doing 2 buffet character breakfasts next trip, definitely not Ponderosa though!!

[craigsteeps]

I love buffets !!! Breakfast, dinner, evening meals, supper, you name it i want buffet !!


:d::d::d::d:

[pongo]

Not a huge fan as I tend to like my hot food hot and not barely tepid! But I do like Hollywood and Vine for Fantasmic and we are doing 2 buffet character breakfasts next trip, definitely not Ponderosa though!!I was starting to think i was the only one Sue we have done the buffets at chef mickeys and crystal palace but they just happen to be buffets we went for the characters not because they are buffets although i have to say they were better quality than your standard sizzler etc buffets !!!

[carys]

I don't think they are great value for us as you only eat what you can eat which isn't that much really ! I prefer breakfst buffets but we are nevr ready for them in the morning lol We will have them when we saty at HRH and PB though . Chef Mickey was the best one for kids I thought with hotdogs etc.

[BevS97]

Do you know what I like the most about buffets? My kids like what they like and won't eat 'new', 'different', or we get 'today I don't want it hot/cooked (ie carrots)', or I want 'this off the menu but not with that bit...' - get the picture?

Buffets cover it!! End of story. I can eat in peace!



I also like them for the kids. No waiting for the food to be delivered, if they don't like something it's not a bit deal they can just get something else, and there is always something that everyone wants to eat.

however, I don't really like the cheaper offsite buffets like Ponderosa or Golden Corral, but I do really like the ones on site.

[paulap]

I must admit I like a sit-down meal served to my table but we have kids so buffets are a much easier option as you can always find something for them to eat - and I can also get them to try new things as well.

[purple myra]

I will tolerate a buffet breakfast but in general I prefer my food brought to me on a plate!

[Bozza]

I've made my comments known on the Golden Corral/Ponderosa type places before. I've only visited one and I can't remember which one it was now. I found the whole thing frightfully depressing - lots of sour-faced Brits stuffing their faces with as much as they could. It really did seem to be a case of "all you can eat."

I've also made my comments well known on the Disney buffets. I think these represent tremendous value - decent quality fresh food and magical character interactions. People on here often brand them 'expensive' - I really don't think they are at all, although those used to the buffets described above may see them as such. But they'd be wrong IMHO.

The only non-Disney buffet I've been impressed with is Sweet Tomatoes - a wonderfully refreshing change from the fare elsewhere and well worth a visit.

[BarryandCaron]

I also like them for the kids. No waiting for the food to be delivered, if they don't like something it's not a bit deal they can just get something else, and there is always something that everyone wants to eat.

however, I don't really like the cheaper offsite buffets like Ponderosa or Golden Corral, but I do really like the ones on site.

Exactly the same here Bev plus we usually eat at the character buffets where there is an incentive to get DS2 to eat before the characters come.

I like buffets myself because I can try bits of things and not waste a huge amount if I don't like it.

Caron

[SquishyT]

We like breakfast buffets although we have had some really nice dinner buffets. Boma's at the AKL is very nice. Again you can over do it. We ate at Cape May Cafe for dinner (Clambake) and we ate soo much that I felt physically sick.

Mind you this was after losing 9st in weight over the previous two years then eating American size portions and forgetting that previous trips to Florida were when I was a lot larger.

[tazman]

We love Buffets. Breakfast is the best though. Cant beat it for value. Chef Mickeys is also great. Cant go wrong for choice.

[nmurray]

I really like buffets, like getting a little bit of everything!! My hubbie is not so keen he doesn't like the thought of the food sitting around for ages. I do like to have variety on my hols though so we do some buffets and some sit down restaurants too. I do feel the sit down restaurants are more relaxing with being waited on though.

[Jaydee]

I don't mind the buffets you have in Disney with the characters
but the majority of the time I prefer my food to be brought to
me :d:

[KittyKat]

Also not a buffet fan and I can't stand to see plates piled high with a mix of sweet and savoury stuff. I'm really fussy about things that go togther so when I do eat at buffets I'll use two or three plates (but not full plates). I also didn't like meals served 'family style', I like my own food on my own plate.

Kitty

[debs2028]

Don't mind Buffets I have 3 booked this year. Boma,Chef Mickeys and Donalds breakfast but I prefer a sit down meal. It sometimes gets on my nerves everyone getting up and down having to sort out the little one. I would rather the food be brought to me even though there is less choice!!!

[Gepetto]

Breakfast buffets only, we love the character breakfasts but some of the International Drive buffets leave a bit to be desired.
G

[becky2203]

Not really a fan of buffets, did one buffet breakfast on our last hol and that was 1900 Park Fayre. Oh did one buffet dinner as well and that was Shamu Rocks. So it would seem there has to be either characters or whales there for me to go to a buffet. :D

Did Ponderosa once on our first trip to FL (before we knew better!) and never again!

[Treacle44]

I love the buffets, something for everyone and a chance to try new things. :)

x

[jaci]

Am i the only one that really doesnt like buffets i read so many threads on here from people raving about the buffet restaurants and think i must be a bit wierd because i really dont like them .Yes they are fantastic value for money which is great especially if there is a lot of you and yes for a lot of people they are part of the american holiday but i still dont like them i find myself so overfaced with the amount of food at them that its a bit offputting and usually by the time ive eaten my entree im stuffed anyway i just go up for more because its there:confused2 and then end up regretting it as i feel so uncomfortably full .Now i can eat believe me i used to be 21 st but they are too much for me :omg: i would rather pay a little bit more and go elsewhere please dont flame me all you buffet lovers im just interested to see if anyone else feels the same ;)
think they are awful!! would only go to a breakfast buffet if it was a major hurry!!!

[Leanne1977]

Buffets are great for me being a veggie as I can pick and choose exactly whats ok for me. Its also good for my boys particularly my youngest who is soooo fussy!:omg:

We do love the on-site buffets but I have always been a bit dubious about the off-site ones. We have been to the buffet at Sizzler which was nice but I steer clear of the chinese buffets off-site unless they come highly recommended from villa owners and Florida residents who post here.:thumbs-up

[dvc]

We love buffetts both on and off site. We all like different things to eat and at a buffett each member of the fmaily can eat their own choices. That way everyone gets to eat what they like and there is much less waste for us.

We love Cape May and its variety but we also love Golden Corrall and Pondersosa, Sizzlers etc. Good food, cheap and filling - Yum yum!

[carys]

Having thought about it a bit more I do think they are the best places to give yur children some decent food instead of the usual chicken strips and burgers !

[buffalo]

Also not a buffet fan and I can't stand to see plates piled high with a mix of sweet and savoury stuff. I'm really fussy about things that go togther so when I do eat at buffets I'll use two or three plates (but not full plates). I also didn't like meals served 'family style', I like my own food on my own plate.

Kitty
That is the reason I like buffets, because I can try a bit of everything. I agree with the plates spilling over and would rather have small bits on my plate that I can enjoy.

[ojoboots]

Im not a big fan but we always have dinner at Crystal Palace



:tigger::tigger::tiggerbou:tigger::tigger:

[JudyC]

The only Disney buffet's we have done is Boma which was very good, and the Hollywood and Vine which was just ok.

I'm not keen the standard buffet places outside Disney, preferring Perkins or Bob Evans for breakfast. They're a few more $'s but quality over quantity wins with me.

[annie-lisa]

I was starting to think i was the only one Sue we have done the buffets at chef mickeys and crystal palace but they just happen to be buffets we went for the characters not because they are buffets although i have to say they were better quality than your standard sizzler etc buffets !!!

we went to crystal palace in feb. the buffet was atrocious, very little choice, the cabinets with what choice there was were not restocked very frequently, i really felt it was a waste of money. we could have had two golden corral meals for the price of one dinner buffet there and i do object to being told how much i am expected to tip!
last week we booked for the buffet in the german pavillion in epcot but cancelled when we arrived to check in as the price had gone up to $32 - i'm sorry but that is a rediculous price.
we usually go to sizzlers for breakfast andG.C. for dinner

[sunkisser]

we usually go to sizzlers for breakfast andG.C. for dinner


Same with us. there is always something for the kids and GC have lots of veggies too. My kids don't eat that well at home!

[Enright78]

I've made my comments known on the Golden Corral/Ponderosa type places before. I've only visited one and I can't remember which one it was now. I found the whole thing frightfully depressing - lots of sour-faced Brits stuffing their faces with as much as they could. It really did seem to be a case of "all you can eat."



The only non-Disney buffet I've been impressed with is Sweet Tomatoes - a wonderfully refreshing change from the fare elsewhere and well worth a visit.


Strongly agree with this. We really don't like buffets at all, the honourable exception being Sweet Tomatoes. We didn't really even like Boma to be honest. Even when DD was small we didn't use them, just not to our tastes.

[ameliaUK]

We used them as with 3 kids there was somthing for everyone at a reasonable price
My kids are good eaters but enjoyed the variety ,was a bit of a novelty to them

[freckles]

We go for two or three buffet meals throughout our fortnight. Its a "Florida" thing to do and a bit of a novelty. The girls really like it and there's something for everyone. We have one blow out breakfast and a Golden Corral dinner. And we liked Ci Ci's pizza buffet too - incredible value & my girls' idea of heaven!

I wouldn't like it every night though.

[ameliaUK]

Oh yes my Dh loved Cicis Pizza and what great value for money

[sylvy]

:wavey: No I'm with you :thumbs-up do not like to eat at them,the character breakfast are ok but no way would I eat at the other well known ones.:wave:

[BevS97]

.....
I've also made my comments well known on the Disney buffets. I think these represent tremendous value - decent quality fresh food and magical character interactions. People on here often brand them 'expensive' - I really don't think they are at all, although those used to the buffets described above may see them as such. But they'd be wrong IMHO.

The only non-Disney buffet I've been impressed with is Sweet Tomatoes - a wonderfully refreshing change from the fare elsewhere and well worth a visit.

Man I hate it when i find myself agreeing with Bozza.......

I think compared to Pondorosa the Disney buffets look expensive, but conver them to pounds and they aren't too bad. We normally go for lunch which is somewhat cheaper than dinner and generally the same food.

The german buffet mentioned above is excellent. We went one year, a little bit dubiously but i think we were hungry and couldn't get in anywhere else. I was pleasantly surprised, the food was excellent and the show they put on was really good, it was Christmas and they did Silent Night in German - it was a really magical experience.

[jwalowls]

I like the burgers Luke

[Lesley_Perschky]

Enjoy the buffet style places, it suits our budget as we cant afford to go to expensive restaurants to eat.

[Bozza]

Man I hate it when i find myself agreeing with Bozza.......

You've said that at least a couple of times now.

Why do you hate to agree with me?

[pinkypominnie]

I like to eat at all kinds of places, from buffets (and know I am not a sour faced brit who just likes to stuff my face, although I did chuckle at the description - it gives me the chance to try new things ;)) Disney dining, upmarket, cafes - variety is the spice of life :) xx

[kerryh]

Im not keen on buffets, i find the food is usually lukewarm. Id rather order a meal thats fresh.

[mobeckwith]

we dont as a family generally like buffets,but the exception was boma,even dh who hates buffets really liked it here,also islands dining room for breakfast at the rpr was good mo:wave:

[truesdpr]

Not really great buffet fans at all. Have done them for breakfast and the odd character meal but in general prefer table service.

Pam.
:wavey:

[BevS97]

Why do you hate to agree with me?
Because 90% of the time I don't, so those rare times when I do surprise me :)

[jan2794]

i am not a big eater so prefer to have a sit down meal rather than a buffett. do like the golder coral thought.

[san40blue]

I love buffet breakfasts and hate buffet dinners, went to golden coral and felt ill, i like a nice meal but there was just too much of everything, had some southern fried chicken and it was yucky. I will stick to a nice meal brought to the table.:D

[Big_Mark]

Tried quite a few, from expensive to cheap but I have only ever really enjoyed one and that was at Sweet Tomatoes, I think it was because it made a nice change to eat food that wasn't the normal fare at the restaurants, ie ribs, burgers, pizza etc

[Bozza]

Because 90% of the time I don't, so those rare times when I do surprise me :)

Bizarre given most of my posts are middle-of-the-road Orlando-related advice that pretty much toe the accepted line. :confused2

(Surprise and hate are quite different things, too)

[The Bobbo's]

I was going to say that I'm not a fan of buffet restaurants either but then realised my two favourite places to eat are Sweet Tomatoes and Boma... Doh!

[Bozza]

Yep - also a Boma fan - a schoolboy error to miss that from my post above.

[Minniesmum]

We dont like hot buffets, but we do like the salad buffets at ruby tuesdays and sweet tomatoes.

[susieb]

They are superb with two hungry whingeing 5 year olds! The thing I like most is no waiting - my nephew cant sit at a table for more than 15 mins so it's great having buffets.

If I didnt have young kids with me, no way would I go!!

[TinkTatoo]

Buffets work well for us. DS's autism means that not only is he a fussy eater with limited things he'll eat but he is also not very good at waiting for someone to take our order and then wait for it to be brought to our table. He's much happier when he can go up and get something to eat right away. As someone already said, buffets are a great way for him and DD to try new things. They can take a small amount on their plate and it's no big deal if they don't like it. We'd much prefer to mix and match with sit down meals and we try and include one or two on each trip so that DS gets used to them.

[Bozza]

The 'less waste' line is a very bizarre one, and one I disagree with strongly. Maybe DIBBers are the exception, but I see huge amounts of food wasted in buffet establishments whenever I'm in them. People either pile their plates up excessively and/or take things they might not like so leave stuff behind.

Because of this some places, although not in Orlando as far as I'm aware, have started "fining" those who leave leftovers behind. I don't think the point of these fines is to compensate restaurateurs for those who consume too much, but to make people aware of food wastage on a planet where millions still live with malnutrition every day.

[freakyjo114]

I'll do them cos DH loves bourbon chicken at Golden Coral but I prefer not to have to queue for my food or eat food that has been there for more than 15 mins!

[gala]

I dont mind buffets but they wouldnt be my favourite. We absolutely loathe Boma. Twice we have been and twice the food was dreadful. We loved 1900 Park Fare and Sweet Tomatoes and thought Crystal Palace was quite good.

Margaret

[winnie-T-P]

I love them for the simple fact i can look at something and think "hmm that looks nice" and try lots of different things! They are fab for the kids because they can choose the things they want to eat,but we always made a point of saying "just get a little bit and if you eat that then go back for more if you want to" that way they didnt waste anything-unless it was maybe a new dish they hadnt tried before but got a little to try and didnt like it!

I love the breakfasts especially because i am a bit of a fruit bat,so i could eat as much fruit as i wanted!!

[frazers mum]

I love them because you can just keep going back for more and nobody cares!!:thumbup:

[whambar]

I dont really like buffet places like harvester (had worst meal ever at local one:angry:) here let alone anywhere else although I also have children one of which has aspergers and must get something to eat a.s.a.p or he goes into devil mode so I will make exceptions whilst on holiday, I have heard about sweet tomatoes being one of the better ones :thumbs-up. I cannot stand watching people pile on food and mixing sweet (pastries) with savoury on the same plate :nonono:

[HazelDK]

I think Sweet Tomatoes is brill- with salad you can see if it has been there for ages.
Its yummy.
The china panda (cant remember name) introduced me to a fantastic Sesame chicken dish which I have been looking for since with no avail....
I did go to the buffet next to Best Western Movieland and it was all English people and the food was a bit luke warm and the waiters left little confidence in my mind that the food was cooked properly with correct hygiene standards.
But at the end of the day- as long as I cannot see how badly they make it then I dont know and if it tastes good who cares. If food looks a bit yucky you dont eat it; then you never get ill...
I went to Tunisia and had a buffet and sampled a big green marrow. It was scrummy. Wanted to try and cook myself when I got home but they are massive :)

[chris5117]

I dont mind a breakfast buffet once on my holiday, but I find buffet's have lost there novelty value

Chris

[Mulan]

I only do Disney Buffets. mainly breakfast. We did Boma for dinner . I found them bit of a pain as it was just me and my 5 year old. So I each time I go to the buffet I have to go with child and our bags as I did not want to leave ether at the table alone.

[JazzyDuck]

I have mixed feelings on buffets.

They are good when eatting with fussy eatters and children. I like the fact you can take a small plate with only a tin bit on to try and if liked you can return collect a new plate and have a bit more.

I don't like buffets where I see people overload plates with everything from starter to pudding. I also find it can be very wastefull when people take loads of something they have never tried and realise they don't like it and leave large plates of food.

[matt987106]

we personally love buffets

with us all being veggies, the selection can be a little on the low side, BUT we can have our fill and try other veggies stuff that we wouldnt normally try, chef mickey did this lovely mixed salad with pineapple in, boma was very good, did this lovely soup

we have done the cheapo buffets around orlando ( sizzlers , ponda etc etc ) BUT to be honest, we prefere the disney buffets, the food is allways fresh and most of them have characters around aswell, so we dont bother with non-disney now ( i know it costs alot more, but in the grand scheme of a disney holiday, its nothing much )

[matt987106]

I've made my comments known on the Golden Corral/Ponderosa type places before. I've only visited one and I can't remember which one it was now. I found the whole thing frightfully depressing - lots of sour-faced Brits stuffing their faces with as much as they could. It really did seem to be a case of "all you can eat."

I've also made my comments well known on the Disney buffets. I think these represent tremendous value - decent quality fresh food and magical character interactions. People on here often brand them 'expensive' - I really don't think they are at all, although those used to the buffets described above may see them as such. But they'd be wrong IMHO.



very true

we went on a coach shopping trip, well it was a day trip to Kennedy Space Center, cocoa beach and a 2 malls ( we used cocoa beach for a trip to ron jons, as it rained they tried to change the trip to another Mall, every1 on the bus said ok except me, i needed my trip to ron jons ;), i wasnt very popular on the bus :wave: , i did agree to only stopping for 90 mins though, instead of the 2 hour 30 mins ), the first stop was a Ponderosa on I drive somewhere, oh deary me, loads of brits stuffing faces and saying " eat another platefull, got to get our money worth, we will not have to eat lunch at the park " ( well done, you have saved 5 quid on lunch each :confused2 ( though i do admit i ate 14 pancakes, my wife dared me to keep up with the guy on the next table :d::d: the other type of person was the fat american who would stay in the place till they served the lunch time buffet and roll out to his car and home to the trailerpark

not a pleasant place and i would allways try and avoid it now, having sampled the slightly better way disney do buffets

having said that, we had a dinner buffet in the luxor in vegas, the food selection was massive, i watched a american go up to the desert place and fill a dinner plate up with key lime pies and i mean stack them high and eat them all, i had to ask his what he was eating, now i had only heard of keylime pie from natural born killers ( this was 8 years ago ) so i had to try them ;)

[COOLPAUL]

well me i love them i still dont eat to much like most that go there but like you my wife hates them she loves to sit down and be waited on and i guess i do as well and most fo the time it works out the same as well