50's Prime Time Blunder

["Cinder" Ella's Mom]

I took my kids to 50's Prime Time for dinner last week. My DH was working and couldn't join us for dinner. Our waiter came over to our table, which seated 4, and started yelling, "Who is missing here?'' Then he yelled to the man at the next table that he would have to pay for us because the man always pays and we had no man with us. I told him we were fine, but he just kept harping on this. Now, this was no big deal for us, but I kept thinking of some of the posters here who were going to Disney after the death of a father/spouse. What if they were in that situation and their young kids were at the table? Kind of sad and awkward....

 

[Motherofboys]

[QUOTE="Cinder" Ella's Mom;38324925]I took my kids to 50's Prime Time for dinner last week. My DH was working and couldn't join us for dinner. Our waiter came over to our table, which seated 4, and started yelling, "Who is missing here?'' Then he yelled to the man at the next table that he would have to pay for us because the man always pays and we had no man with us. I told him we were fine, but he just kept harping on this. Now, this was no big deal for us, but I kept thinking of some of the posters here who were going to Disney after the death of a father/spouse. What if they were in that situation and their young kids were at the table? Kind of sad and awkward....[/QUOTE]

Wow, I find that insulting on so many levels! As a woman, as a mom, as a "bread earner"...not sure why he thought that was an appropriate or even remotely funny thing to say?

I think I would email the restaurant manager on that one, give them a heads-up that just b/c the restaurant is 50's themed, that kind of humor is not appropriate or appreciated! How sad would that kind of nonsense make a mom who was recently divorced or widowed? And to say it with her kids there like there is something "missing" from their family.

 

[Jennasis]

Well it is supposed to be the 50's LOL!

 

[KellyWasHere]

Well it is supposed to be the 50's LOL!

Yeah, that was my first thought.

But on the other hand we went a few months after my dad died, my mom went with us, and that would've been pretty horrible had something like that happened to us.

This is why I've never done 50s Primetime, some of the stories just seem too OTT. I know many people have great experiences, and it was one of my parents favorite places to eat at WDW ... just doesn't sound like my cup of tea.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

As a single mother, if this were to happen to me, I think my response would be as follows! Well, as our waiter, "you're the man", so I guess you're picking up our tab, how thoughtful!

 

[Melanie230]

Wow, I find that insulting on so many levels! As a woman, as a mom, as a "bread earner"...not sure why he thought that was an appropriate or even remotely funny thing to say?

I think I would email the restaurant manager on that one, give them a heads-up that just b/c the restaurant is 50's themed, that kind of humor is not appropriate or appreciated! How sad would that kind of nonsense make a mom who was recently divorced or widowed? And to say it with her kids there like there is something "missing" from their family.

I dont think the waiter meant anything by it. It is suppose to be the 50's. I was yelled at for having my elbows on the table several times. Wasn't a big deal. I think we all should just have a laugh about it.

 

[The Hendies]

I think if you know what Prime time is about, you can be somewhat ready for their 'schtick'. But I would feel really bad for someone who just stops in. DH is not particularly fond of being singled out, so we skip this one!

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I think if you know what Prime time is about, you can be somewhat ready for their 'schtick'. But I would feel really bad for someone who just stops in. DH is not particularly fond of being singled out, so we skip this one!

Yeah, you really do need to know what you are getting yourself into. OP, I don't think he meant it to be as you have taken it, he probably saw that there was supposd to be somone else in the party and went with the role.

DH won't go back to 50's PT or Whispering Canyon Cafe (I asked for ketchup, lol)

Suzanne

 

[Satchmo128]

.....and this is why I am SO hesitant to try 50's Prime Time. I just don't think that I would enjoy the type of "schtick" that they do there.

 

[newrygirl]

I find it sad also when you go to a resturant for the fun and they do nothing, we went to whispering canyon recently for the first time, I booked it for the simple fact my youngest ds loves ketchup and I wanted to see his face when he asked for some, well he asked for some ketchup, our waiter walked over to a table, got 1 bottle of ketchup and put it on our table, I was sooooo disappointed.

 

[MamaJessie]

Not my cup of tea. Good to know how over the top the schtick is there so I don't go there. I get all embarrassed when someone at the table near mine is getting happy birthday sang to them, let alone the waiter doing something like that :lol:

Although a friendly note might not hurt, he might not see how easy it could be for someone to be hurt by this.

 

[The_Aviator]

I can see how this sort of thing would suit the era, but as a waiter/waitress I would not bring up something like this on more than one occasion. It would just get silly and go beyond the fun that many associate with the 50's PTC.

The OP has really opened my eyes about this sort of behaviour, I would never have thought of how a family who have recently lost a father, brother etc would react to these sorts of 'antics'.

I think it would be a wise idea to contact the manager or something just to express your feelings about such things, perhaps they too have not realised what these sorts of things could imply for diners.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

I can see it from both sides.

Yeah it would totally suck (whoa sorry my inner teen girl just popped up) if something had happened where a father/husband figure was missing for a negative reason like divorce or death. I would hope that a PT server would be able to get the hint that a family is not responding to their antics and let a joke go. I could see this kind of thing ending up really bad if the guests happened to be a lesbian couple or something to that effect. Yes you do have to be willing to be a part of the mischief but I've read a few reports, and they're not super common, about servers who made seemingly inappropriate jokes (the bald man who got his head buffed with a towel comes to mind...) but I don't think that at least the bulk of the servers ever make a joke in a malicious way.

 

[Euphoria027]

It's definitely not worth overreacting about. Maybe it's a little bit over the top but then again, isn't a restaurant where you may have to stand in the corner for not finishing your vegetables also a little over the top?

 

[aubriee]

It's definitely not worth overreacting about. Maybe it's a little bit over the top but then again, isn't a restaurant where you may have to stand in the corner for not finishing your vegetables also a little over the top?

Excuse me, I take my mom to WDW at least once a year. After a very long illness we lost my dad March 10, 2009. I already had a trip planned for May (two months after he died). We almost didn't go, but decided we needed to get away. If some waiter had said something about not having a man in our party, he would have been taken aside and given an earful. My mom was still barely holding it together at that time and cried at the drop of a hat. We were there just to get away from our grief.

 

[The_Aviator]

I think there are some differences between standing in a corner for not eating your vegetables and what is being discussed by the OP. I'm thinking that what happened to the OP would be more likely to cause hurt/offence than that would.

There is a line between where the antics are funny, and when they just get too personal and start to ruin the fun.

 

[tlbwriter]

It's definitely not worth overreacting about.

You're right, it's not worth overreacting about. Nothing is. That's why it's called overreacting.

It is not overreacting to contact the manger and point out hurtful this kind of joke could be. You could spare someone else a painful experience.

 

[Motherofboys]

I think there are some differences between standing in a corner for not eating your vegetables and what is being discussed by the OP. I'm thinking that what happened to the OP would be more likely to cause hurt/offence than that would.

There is a line between where the antics are funny, and when they just get too personal and start to ruin the fun.

I agree, standing in a corner or being scolded for having your elbows on the table - that is what I would expect at PTC.

Not jokes about needing a man to pay for you or to complete your family - that is just in bad taste and not funny at all

If that had happened when we took my mom after my dad left her, she would have burst into tears. Some people just don't think about things, it seems funny to them so they say it. But I really don't think this is the kind of humor that anyone would expect at a Disney restaurant, regardless of the 50's schtick.

 

[Cherinva]

I've been to 50's a couple of times and I like what the CMs do...however, I do feel like that was over the top, and I can see where that would be hurtful to someone.....hopefully, it won't be repeated.

 

[disneypolybride2008]

i can see how that could be a bad situation. they should do antics that are not going to easily offend others, and that server must have said that a ton of times b/c most people dont have a man in their party. I agree to insist the waiter pay! refuse to pay and tell the manager, if it did upset you you'd probably not have to pay b/c of that.


I'll never forget dining at 1900 Park Fare on my actual birthday. It was great until the mad hatter came along and SHOUTED what's wrong with your hair, you look like a bird!

I thought it was inappropriate to say that about someone's appearance. I have a faux hawk, but i dont need everyone looking at me b/c the mad hatter is SHOUTING and insulting me.

The following year we went back, and it was the same mad hatter and i told him what he said and how it hurt my feelings and he nearly came out of character and said sorry. That made up for it. Then he shouted about getting tea and went off.