50's Prime Time Blunder

["Cinder" Ella's Mom]

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.

OP here. I agree...he didn't mean anything by it. I just think it could really hurt some families. I knew about the shtick, but didn't expect that. Even my kids who have a dad that lives with them were like, "Wow, what a bummer that dad isn't here..."

 

[MissBritt]

Yes, that could be a potentially hurtful thing for the waiter to bring up, given a particular kind of group. I wouldn't have an issue with writing to the manager and/or WDW about it. I am surprised by some of the stories about PT I read here- we were hesitant to go because we really don't like to interact with our servers much, and sure enough, we got a quiet, timid waitress who took our orders, delivered our food, and spoke no more than 5 words. But the other "cousin" in the vicinity was loud and boisterous enough to make up for her.

 

[maxiesmom]

I have to say that almost any comment could be found offensive by someone. Lighten up people.

 

[rosiep]

My personal opinion is that it was meant to be funny, and if you have personal reasons why you don't think it is I understand that; but life is full of painful reminders.

The CM was acting as a character. It's impossible for him to know who is going to be sensitive to what.

 

[phorsenuf]

My personal opinion is that it was meant to be funny, and if you have personal reasons why you don't think it is I understand that; but life is full of painful reminders.

The CM was acting as a character. It's impossible for him to know who is going to be sensitive to what.

Exactly. And the more people continue to complain or be offended by things the more things will go by the wayside at Disney.

 

[tlbwriter]

I just don't see the need to rub anybody's face in it (separation or loss) when there are so many other ways to be funny. I don't think the problem is that it was offensive (since it's supposed to be in the 50s, I don't mind joking about the 50s mentality that every woman has to be taken care of by a man), but I do think it was potentially very painful, and that's the problem.

 

[ROEDISNEY]

I see both sides of this. I love this place you know how it is going in. I would not call the mgr on this the man could lose his job and he was just trying to have fun. He meant no harm so in my opinion laugh it off and move on. Just my opinion.

 

[rosiep]

I just don't see the need to rub anybody's face in it (separation or loss) when there are so many other ways to be funny. I don't think the problem is that it was offensive (since it's supposed to be in the 50s, I don't mind joking about the 50s mentality that every woman has to be taken care of by a man), but I do think it was potentially very painful, and that's the problem.

But anything has the potential to painful now doesn't it? Maybe the shirt the CM is wearing looks like the one Dad used to wear, or maybe that TV show they're showing was his favorite, maybe (and this is a joke people...) he choked to death on string beans.

My condolences to those who have lost love ones, but do you avoid turning on the tv because the television shows have dads ( or moms or kids) in them?

(My solution would be to simply take the CM aside and explain the situation and ask him to take another tact)

 

[ZoZo]

Just wanted to share a personal experience. Several years ago, my husband passed away. About a month later, I went to a furniture store to buy a chair. I was paying with a USAA credit card (and many people are aware that USAA cards are issued only to military people and their families). Well, the salesperson said something like, "Who was in the military, you or your husband?" I replied my husband had been in the military.

For some strange reason, the salesperson said, "Well, what did you do, divorce him or kill him?" I guess he was trying to be funny, but since my husband had passed away just a month before, it was kind of shocking. After a big pause I said, "Actually, my husband passed away a month ago." The poor guy felt so awful, he stammered and apologized about five different times. He even sent me flowers to apologize.

So I guess the moral of the story is, err on the side of caution. You never know what's going on in people's lives.

 

[maxiesmom]

But anything has the potential to painful now doesn't it? Maybe the shirt the CM is wearing looks like the one Dad used to wear, or maybe that TV show they're showing was his favorite, maybe (and this is a joke people...) he choked to death on string beans.

My condolences to those who have lost love ones, but do you avoid turning on the tv because the television shows have dads ( or moms or kids) in them?

(My solution would be to simply take the CM aside and explain the situation and ask him to take another tact)

Exactly! Someone could say that their asking what color soap is in the bathroom is insulting because they are color blind. Or telling them to remove their elbows from the table is insulting because they have arthritis.

 

[TheRatPack]

We were scheduled for a dinner there this trip but I cancelled it. We were not impressed with Whispering Canyon and had the WORST waitress/server....she was horrible and just downright hateful. We go to Disney to have fun and hate when we get bad service...it really ruins a restaurant experience if it's supposed to be a fun restaurant. 50's seemed fun and I really really wanted to go but I don't want to be let down again and with a family of 7 it's not just a live and learn thing....it would be close to 200.00 and that's an expensive lesson LOL

 

[ngvenice]

[QUOTE="Cinder" Ella's Mom;38337181]OP here. I agree...he didn't mean anything by it. I just think it could really hurt some families. I knew about the shtick, but didn't expect that. Even my kids who have a dad that lives with them were like, "Wow, what a bummer that dad isn't here..."[/QUOTE]

Know what you mean and agree that was a bit too much. Every Friday we go out for a nice sit down family dinner and when my husband was deployed to the M. East I continued to do this because I wanted to give my kids some sense of normalcy you know not change our routine, keep on trucking sort of thing but my kids (very young at the time) would get bummed out because "Daddy" was not there. If this would of happened to us back then, they would of broken down into tears esp. my son and I would of broken down seeing them.

 

[maxiesmom]

We were scheduled for a dinner there this trip but I cancelled it. We were not impressed with Whispering Canyon and had the WORST waitress/server....she was horrible and just downright hateful. We go to Disney to have fun and hate when we get bad service...it really ruins a restaurant experience if it's supposed to be a fun restaurant. 50's seemed fun and I really really wanted to go but I don't want to be let down again and with a family of 7 it's not just a live and learn thing....it would be close to 200.00 and that's an expensive lesson LOL

Reconsider!! I have had 2 meals at the Prime Time, and both times our server was great. He made my niece go wash her hands, and then asked her what color the soap was. He "made" my nephew eat all of his peas from his chicken pot pie to. Both "cousins" were wonderful, and so was the food.

Don't let one bad post scare you away from something you would probably enjoy.

 

[emmabemmainc]

I love 50's PT--it's one of my favorite places to eat at WDW. However, I could definitely see how that could be hurtful (even though I'm sure it wasn't his intention). I've been a single mom since day one (not totally by choice), and I could see it bothering my 9 year old daughter a little. Although she's used to having no father around, she also knows that she is unlike the majority of children and she's still hurt by his (her father's) actions.


I do love the PP's response who said that they'd ask the waiter if he was going to pay!

 

[si-am]

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.

About five years ago, we were at MK waiting on Spectro, and the Main Street "citizens" were out and about. My brother, 22 at the time, had shoulder length hair that he wore in a ponytail, and one of the characters kept shouting at him: "Bearded LADY! Oh, bearded LADY!"

My bro had a good attitude about the whole thing but I would have been mortified if it were me! I think maybe characters could leave people's appearance out of the act.

 

[Alexander]

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.

Oh, but at 50's Prime Time, our waitress had the whole restaurant sing to DS because he got embarrassed when just she sang, so she yelled, "Hey, everybody, it's your cousin's birthday, lets all sing!" DS crawled under the table and I cried I was laughing so hard.

I have to say that almost any comment could be found offensive by someone. Lighten up people.

Amen

My personal opinion is that it was meant to be funny, and if you have personal reasons why you don't think it is I understand that; but life is full of painful reminders.

The CM was acting as a character. It's impossible for him to know who is going to be sensitive to what.

Absolutely! How on earth could he ever know what would offend every single person who walks through the door!

Exactly. And the more people continue to complain or be offended by things the more things will go by the wayside at Disney.

Yes, and then they'll complain because nothing is fun anymore!

I just don't see the need to rub anybody's face in it (separation or loss) when there are so many other ways to be funny. I don't think the problem is that it was offensive (since it's supposed to be in the 50s, I don't mind joking about the 50s mentality that every woman has to be taken care of by a man), but I do think it was potentially very painful, and that's the problem.

How do you figure the waiter was rubbing something in anybody's face? He was in character. There is absolutely no way he was intentionally trying to be mean or rude! The first thing our servers always tell us is that this is 1950 not 2010 so be prepared to be treated like such.

But anything has the potential to painful now doesn't it? Maybe the shirt the CM is wearing looks like the one Dad used to wear, or maybe that TV show they're showing was his favorite, maybe (and this is a joke people...) he choked to death on string beans.

My condolences to those who have lost love ones, but do you avoid turning on the tv because the television shows have dads ( or moms or kids) in them?

(My solution would be to simply take the CM aside and explain the situation and ask him to take another tact)

Absolutely!

I love 50's PT--it's one of my favorite places to eat at WDW. However, I could definitely see how that could be hurtful (even though I'm sure it wasn't his intention). I've been a single mom since day one (not totally by choice), and I could see it bothering my 9 year old daughter a little. Although she's used to having no father around, she also knows that she is unlike the majority of children and she's still hurt by his (her father's) actions.


I do love the PP's response who said that they'd ask the waiter if he was going to pay!

We too love 50's PT. It is one of our favorite restaurants! We were there in August and our waitress came up behind me to ask me if everything was okay and she was kind of sneaking up on me....Well, she scared the you know what out of me and I jumped and let out a scream. Our waitress almost had a heart attack because I scared her. The whole restaurant was cracking up. The next time she was coming over to our table, she stood back and said, "I'm coming over there now."

 

[jdisnut]

But anything has the potential to painful now doesn't it? Maybe the shirt the CM is wearing looks like the one Dad used to wear, or maybe that TV show they're showing was his favorite, maybe (and this is a joke people...) he choked to death on string beans.

My condolences to those who have lost love ones, but do you avoid turning on the tv because the television shows have dads ( or moms or kids) in them?

(My solution would be to simply take the CM aside and explain the situation and ask him to take another tact)

Well said.

I see both sides of this issue. Generally, I say err on the side of tact and sensitivity. If I ran the restaurant, I would not approve of one of my servers making the joke in question. Too much potential to upset somebody and little payoff. Best-case scenario, the crack garners a smile or chuckle.

I commend the waiter for thinking quickly and trying a piece of material, but I would retire it and keep searching. Too much baggage when you start on that subject.

 

[jdcthree]

Sensitivity and common sense should have told the waiter to HUSH. Yes, the 50's Cafe is meant to be funny, yes, the servers are kind of rude, yes, any comment can offend someone, but this particular "joke" can just plain ruin someone's day and really hurt them. I would imagine those that have no problem with the joke have never been through the pain the death of a father brings to a child.

If that would have happened to us my son would have burst into tears. We lost my husband, his father, and he misses his Dad so much he can hardly stand it. Why does he need the absence of his Father rubbed in his face while eating dinner in the Happiest Place on Earth? Also, with divorce rates as high as they are these days, how in the world might those kids feel?

Would I pitch a fit about what the server did? No, because he was just trying to be funny and didn't realize what he was doing. Should he be more sensitive in the future? Yes.

 

[rlduvall]

I have to say that almost any comment could be found offensive by someone. Lighten up people.

I totally agree and lest anyone think I must feel that way because I have had no tragedy:

I am only 46 years old and in less than 2 years, lost my mom to lung cancer, my dad drank himself to death and my only sibling committed suicide. Just about anything said to me by anyone could make me sorrowful and resentful if I wanted it to.

While I don't think the Server necessarily used good taste by continuing with this "skit", he was most likely just trying to make everyone laugh - as the 50's Prime Time Cafe is known for. I would never consider contacting a Manager over that.

 

[minijeanie]

waiter was dead wrong...in this day and age when there are many different types of families...I cannot believe that this type of verbage is acceptable.
I lost my husband who was an avid disney addict. If he ever said that to me at a table with my 2 (now grown kids) there...I would of walked out

sorry but yelling about eating your veggies is cute..not having a man at a table is not