Fortunately I've never had any truly terrible dining experiences like food poisoning, etc. My concern is a growing trend toward a studied rudeness at the podium. It appears that it is part of the "training" and is most undisney-esque. I've run into this at Epcot's Coral Reef and Les Chefs de France. I've heard countless stories about it at Le Cellier. Usually, its a young 21 yr old at the check-in podium who plasters a scowl across her/his face as you approach. In some cases, its comical. Last Fall, I encountered a young 20-something at Les Chefs' podium who scowled, glowered and then growled at me in her lovely french accent, "don't pass without a reservation!" I assured her I indeed had a reservation but given it was 4:45pm and they barely had any guests (I just had to glance in the window), this was over the top. I started to laugh and the more I laughed, the more agitated she became. Park restaurants just ain't all that to require a dragon at the gate. Particularly, a fresh faced baby dragon. Les Chefs has tasty food, but its not as if the barbarians are breaking down the door to grab the profiteroles. Coral Reef . . . even less. My food was good but they just don't have consistently great food and service to ever justify the attitude. We can blame many things: the college program, higher attendance rates and a so what corporate attitude for repeat guests, change in generational attitudes toward service, etc. In the end, especially for those of us who are "of a certain age" and remember when Disney used to mean great service, smiles and welcoming American warmth, its sad. And whoever is teaching or encouraging this behaviour, isn't doing those kids any favour. At some point, they will pull this at another restaurant, whether in their home country or in North America, and they will lose their job. Fast. If you eat at enough Disney restaurants, you will experience highs and lows in food quality and service. Its the bigger trends that worry me.
