View Full Version : Being hurried along in WDW restaurants?
MrBrady
8 Aug 07, 01:32 PM
I've noticed a few threads where people have mentioned being hurried along by the servers during their meal. I understand why they do this (but don't think it's always acceptable) but what kind of tactics do they try? And how do you fight back?
I've booked other restaurants of course where they have said "well you'll have to be off the table by 9:30pm" or whatever - I know Disney would never say this to you, but how long should they give you at the table?
DD worked in Rose and Crown and I am sure she said that you get two hours at your table. I will check with her later.
traceyt
8 Aug 07, 01:45 PM
Can't say I've ever felt rushed! Most people won't dither anyway, as there are the parks to get back to - we don't rush our meal but we don't hang around either!
Twinkle Toes
8 Aug 07, 01:53 PM
We've had a couple of instances where our main course has arrived whilst we are still eating our starters....we just tell them we're not ready for it and send it back....after all when I'm paying good money to enjoy a meal that is exactly what I want to do and at my own pace. If you do feel rushed at any point just politely tell your server you'd like a few minutes afterall they're not going to kick you out half way through your meal....your money is too important to them!
Gemma x
We saw many people having main courses being delivered to tables where they were not finished with starters at Le Cellier in January. No one actually complained - thankfully it did not happen to me or I would have.
Also the dessert menus were given to us as main course plates being cleared away - every other WDW restaurant we ate at, there was a suitable pause before this happened. We were then delivered the bill before asking for it - and made a point of requesting coffees at that point so they had to take it away and add them on!
Minniespal
8 Aug 07, 02:51 PM
We usually order our starters and once we have eaten them decide what we want as a main course.
I hate being rushed whilst I'm eating, I like to take my time and enjoy my food.
Disney_time
8 Aug 07, 03:06 PM
We usually order our starters and once we have eaten them decide what we want as a main course.
I hate being rushed whilst I'm eating, I like to take my time and enjoy my food.
That sounds a good tactic!
I am particularly interested to hear about folk being rushed in Le Cellier. We have an ADR for dinner on the first night of the Candlelight Processional, which is also during the thanksgiving holiday so I think it will be very busy. We will be paying $48 each plus drinks and gratuity so I don't want to be rushed.
We ate in Coral Reef last year and while we didn't feel rushed, we definitely felt the food wasn't being prepared to order - it was far to quick for that and not very hot - it felt as if the main courses were ready made up in the kitchen for the waiters to lift as soon as they brought back the appetiser plates. I know lots of people feel that time spent eating is time away from rides and attractions, but the waiting staff should not assume everyone wants a quick turn around.
What do others do in order to eat "in their own time"?
The only restaurants we've been 'rushed' were at the Epcot restaurants, although at Coral Reef my dad did say to our server that we would be ordering wine with the meal and wanted a 'nice, leisurely meal'. This seemed to do the trick and while there were numerous table changes around us, we stayed there for quite a while enjoying our meal.
The best 'unrushed' service we've encountered have been at the resort restaurants (particularly the 'signature' restaurants).
Minniespal
8 Aug 07, 03:10 PM
I am particularly interested to hear about folk being rushed in Le Cellier.
We've eaten in Le Cellier many times and never encountered any problems being rushed.
I have to say I've never felt rushed, but with hungry kids we do appreciate prompt service. Saying that, if they bought the mains before we'd finished our starters I'd be sending them back.
That sounds a good tactic!
I am particularly interested to hear about folk being rushed in Le Cellier. We have an ADR for dinner on the first night of the Candlelight Processional, which is also during the thanksgiving holiday so I think it will be very busy. We will be paying $48 each plus drinks and gratuity so I don't want to be rushed.
Unfortunately, both my recent incidents at Le Cellier have been very rushed (December). I don't know whether I hit Le Cellier (both times) on a 'bad' day, but prior to these 2 visits, I'd been before (April/May) and never had any problems with being rushed at all. Le Cellier is extremely popular now and with the Candlelight Processional package it does get very busy, but if you mention to your server that you don't want to be rushed hopefully you should be OK.
Minniespal
8 Aug 07, 03:19 PM
I'd been before (April/May) and never had any problems with being rushed at all.
We were there this part April and May, for both dinner and lunch and never had any problems.
It's worth also mentioning to your server that you would like to eat at a leisurely pace.
Some people do want to just gobble their food down and return to the parks. Whilst others want to relax and enjoy the experience.
Our Le Cellier experience in January is documented in my trip reports - I clearly recorded the times we arrived at the podium for our ADR 6.50pm and the time we left the restaurant - before 8pm!! I had allowed 2 hours, so that we were leaving in time to see Illuminations.
We had tried to take our time, ordered longer cooked steaks and stalled over coffee, but even so out in around an hour for 3 courses and coffee.
I was surprised they did not provide Rennies with the bills!!
Enjoyed the food but hated feeling rushed even though we tried not to be.
Coral Reef was almost the opposite - our server was so laid back that we could not get his attention even when we wanted it at times!
MrBrady
8 Aug 07, 04:50 PM
Well I only have one evening ADR which is San Angel Inn at 6:15pm. The others are all late lunches, which I'm guessing may be more leisurely? We'll be heading back to the hotel after the food so no rush for us.
I'm not backwards in coming forwards if something goes awry so we will not get rushed through anything! :D :D :D
I enjoyed Le Cellier but like others we were rushed. The server was very attentive but rushed off his feet as he was waiting on so many tables. We had starters on the table when the main course arrived. I think next time we will have an early evening meal.
The worst service we ever had was at Ohana. There we had starters, main course and dessert on the table at the same time. When we said, 'PLEASE do not bring any more food', along came our server with dessert!
The bloomin' food was hanging off the edge. I was eating with one hand while supporting the food with the other. We also had to move some of the food on to the seats!
Margaret
Amyrlin
8 Aug 07, 05:03 PM
In sept we did not feel rushed, but next time we go I'll watch around us, and if it looks like people are beign rushed I will tell the server I am a slow eater!
highlander447
8 Aug 07, 06:16 PM
Hi we did feel rushed at Le Cellier as well, plus Boatwrights at POR was the worst we had our mains delivered at same time as starters delivered , and they did try to leave them, I found YS to let you relax and enjoy your food, as an aside heres a link to an idea by a journalist at the Orlando Sentinel a diners bill of rights http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/food/orl-dinersbillofrig07aug05,0,1027129.story
Celica190
8 Aug 07, 06:46 PM
We ate in Le Cellier in July and did not feel rushed at all! Our server was very attentive but there was no feeling that she was trying to turn us around quickly.
To be fair, once we had our second wind, we were quite keen to get back to the action anyway.
Treacle44
8 Aug 07, 08:46 PM
We felt rushed at Hollywood & Vine, we had to keep asking teh waitress for drinks refills then we she did bring it she also brought the bill with them!
Also at Garden Grill he brought everything out very quickly, dh was going to ask for seconds of the main course platter, but the waiter brought out dessert when we'd just finished the 1st platter. DH was to embarrassed to ask for more then.
traceyt
9 Aug 07, 04:48 PM
I never order dessert when ordering my main course! I like to finish that first, then decide whether I even want a dessert or not. Perhaps that's the way to go - they can't bring your dessert out if you haven't told them which one you want, can they?
BarryandCaron
9 Aug 07, 05:05 PM
DD worked in Rose and Crown and I am sure she said that you get two hours at your table. I will check with her later.
Yes, we were told you are only allowed two hours for this restaurant if it overlapped into Illuminations time although how they would get rid of you I don't know :erm: When we ate there last year we asked our server that we would like to view Illuminations so could she not rush us. She did this so well that we had only just finished our main meal when Illuminations started and we had sat down at 7-15pm :omg:
There's no way a server would be able to hurry us as DS2 is so slow in eating. The trouble we have sometimes is when a server is slow and we want to get off or if DS2 doesn't want to be there.
Caron
Ok so I have asked DD and her reply was - they would say unfortunately we do have a 2 hour dining time and the table is needed for another reservation, but in the year that she was there she never had to ask anyone to leave.
Ok so I have asked DD and her reply was - they would say unfortunately we do have a 2 hour dining time and the table is needed for another reservation, but in the year that she was there she never had to ask anyone to leave.
I'm sure they must factor into that as an "average" - I love my grub and if hungry eat fairly quickly, definitely not a "picker" at it :tounge:
Myself and ex-DH would often be done in less than 2 hours, would struggle to make it to an hour and a half, there must be others like us?
The ones who want to eat and back to the action as well.
Then there are the talkers not eaters, who have the food untouched in front of them for ages...........
zdickens
9 Aug 07, 05:38 PM
Last year we ate at Disney for our entire holiday and didn't feel as though we were being rushed at all. Not that I would dither as I'd rather be shopping or going on the rides, actually found stopping for something to eat rather relaxing.
bigdave
9 Aug 07, 08:20 PM
HI All
we had food turning up with other courses on the tablethis at Le Cellier last year, i asked for the manager and in no certain way asked him to remove items till we had finished one course, very apologetic? and removed items had a very nice and unclutered meal after that
The service and pace of food appearing at the table at Ohana is very rushed, but we made it clear we didn't want to be hurried and they got the message. It was still somewhat manic but we had a great time there.
Thanks for the link Steve - made me smile :d:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/featu...,1027129.story
We've got a 7.30 reservation at the California Grill which we've got to stretch out until 10pm to take advantage of the view of Wishes from the top of Contemporary - what's the chances of getting away with it ;)
highlander447
9 Aug 07, 10:03 PM
The service and pace of food appearing at the table at Ohana is very rushed, but we made it clear we didn't want to be hurried and they got the message. It was still somewhat manic but we had a great time there.
Thanks for the link Steve - made me smile :d:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/featu...,1027129.story
Wouldn't it be great Sue if a restaurant adopted this
LizzyBear
9 Aug 07, 11:04 PM
I'm sure they must factor into that as an "average" - I love my grub and if hungry eat fairly quickly, definitely not a "picker" at it :tounge:
Myself and ex-DH would often be done in less than 2 hours, would struggle to make it to an hour and a half, there must be others like us?
The ones who want to eat and back to the action as well.
Then there are the talkers not eaters, who have the food untouched in front of them for ages...........
Me and bf don't tend to linger either.. We usually take about an hour to have a starter and main or starter and dessert (rarely have all 3 each) and though we wouldn't necessarily mind the starter being served with the main in certain cases (a salad starter for example) I would object to the dessert coming early! We'll probably wait til we've finished our main to order dessert in WDW.
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