A warning about Spoodles!

[mommyto3]

Just wanted to post our experience that we had on our recent visit to Spoodles.

First let me say the food was WONDERFUL!! It was our first time at Spoodles, we were staying at the Boardwalk, so decided to try it.

We are a party of 5, me, my husband, daughter (13), son (9), and daughter (6). My 13 year old daughter was not feeling well, tired, and a little weary about the "different" menu items, so she asked for the kids mac and cheese. Our waitress asked her age and said because of her age we would be charged double for her meal. Huh?

I was a little shocked. We were not being cheap. We ordered drinks, appetizers, two of the most expensive things on the menu for our main meal, the other two kids ordered shakes to go with their meals, ect......Our bill came to $116.22

We said okay and didn't question her, but WOW, we paid $12.00 for a bowl of mac and cheese and that didn't include her drink. Of course since she wasn't feeling well she took a total of three bits.

I read on these boards every day and have read several posts about older kids and sometimes even adults ordering off the kids menu without any problems, so I thought I would post this as a "heads up".

As I said before, the food was WONDERFUL, and I would definitely return in the future.

 

[tar heel]

Wow -- that is too much. One of my teens sometimes orders the kids' meal and that has never happened to us. A couple times the server has suggested he get two and often we are charged for his drink.

The menu at Flying Fish says the kids' meal is limited to 12 and under, which is why we've never tried that restaurant. Maybe it's something about the Boardwalk!

 

[donzac27]

That is crazy!!! $12.00 for mac and cheese. I would write a letter to the restaurant and to the hotel explaining the situation, I'm sure they will do something to show some good faith for next time.

 

[CarolAnnC]

Like many of the Boardwalk establishments, Spoodles is a stand alone restaurant and not affiliated with any of the WDW hotels.

I suspect that Spoodles, Flying Fish, ESPN Club and others are not as permissive as the WDW owned restaurants may be.

Sorry your DD was not feeling well. It is a bummer to be ill while on vacation.

 

[Aisling]

Our waitress asked her age and said because of her age we would be charged double for her meal.

I think this was a bad move on the part of the waitress. And I would have been tempted to tell her to keep her $12 bowl of mac and cheese.

In the true WDW restaurants, I can't imagine a CM asking for your daughter's age. The CM would have been happy to oblige you.

I'm sorry you had this experience. It makes me angry enough to not want to eat at Spoodles.

 

[Connears]

DS was 13 last June when we ate at Character breakfast at BC and server asked how old he was and we told him 13. He saw that DS ate very little (not a morning eater!)and he only charged him as a child. We were honest with his age and expected to pay full adult fare, but he made the decision otherwise.
Connears

 

[sugermouse]

I think what they charged you was a disgrace and I would have called the manager over to complain. Since I am supposed to be going to Spoodles next month, I would be more then happy to discuss the matter with the manager on your behalf and post his reply when I return!

 

[jiminy14]

My teenage daughter has eaten off of the children's menu at ESPN club numerous times in the past. We have never been charged more than the price quoted on the menu for her meal. I do make sure to check with the server to see if there would be a problem with her eating off of this menu. Not once have we been told that she could not do it.
Unfortunately, you seem to have encountered a server who was a real "stickler" about the age requirement. I would definitely write to the manager of Spoodles and voice your concern about the charge to him/her.

 

[TwingleMum]

Boy thats terrible. Yeah they got $12 but a whole lot of bad press. I'll think 2x before going here now.

 

[gatour]

I believe Spoodles and Flying Fish ARE Disney owned restaurants, although they may not be considered part of any particular Hotel.

I wondered if they gave your daughter a doubled child's portion and that is why she charged you twice the amount. If that was the case then she should have told you that was what she was doing, then you could have declined the double portion, if you felt at that time your daughter wasn't going to eat a lot.

In any case, I would definetly write a letter to the Manager relating you expience.

 

[mommyto3]

gatour,

Yes, my daughter was given a double portion. We only asked for one mac and cheese but we were told by our server, after she asked my daughter how old she was, that because of her age she "HAD" to charge us double. (In other words, if my daughter wanted the mac and cheese, we had to order a double portion) Sorry for not making that clear in my earlier post.

I have never read about this happening to anyone else on the Dis, so that's why I wanted to give a "heads up". I just wonder what her response would have been if we would have wanted to share an entree. I wonder if they would have allowed that?

Our servers name was Deborah, just in case anyone wants to know.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

That simply doesn't make any sense at all. If someone is ordering off the child's menu, it should imply (and therefore ASK for clarification) that the person wants a child's portion as well.

I've never had a challenge to sharing an entree. Spoodle's in particular serves tapas which are meant to be shared! But an entree is not a tapas, and who knows (in the light of the mac n' cheese fiasco) what she would have said.

I still think it was an over zealous server who did not fully understand the policies of the restaurant. You could take it further, but then is it really worth your time now? You've warned everyone who reads this board, and that is a valuable service. Anyone going to Spoodle's heeding your warning will be prepared to question the charges.

Take care!

 

[Kaycee]

Wow, I'm sorry you had that experience. I'm also sorry to hear your daughter wasn't feeling well.

We were at WDW last week and my DS15, who's a picky eater, ordered off the kids' menu a couple of times and it was never a problem. We didn't eat at Spoodles though.

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

I am sorry you had this bad experience.

Sometimes you get someone who is a stickler for the rules for a reason unknown to you. Perhaps they had had a meeting that very day about bending rules for kid's meals and the server was being watched. Who knows?

We have been to Spoodle's more times than I can count and have never had a problem. We often split entrees and they bring them to use already split with extra sides. We have found the servers to be very accommodating (sp).

 

[Lexxiefern]

Wow. $12 for mac n cheese Sorry this happened to you and thanks for the heads up.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by CarolAnnC
Like many of the Boardwalk establishments, Spoodles is a stand alone restaurant and not affiliated with any of the WDW hotels.

I suspect that Spoodles, Flying Fish, ESPN Club and others are not as permissive as the WDW owned restaurants may be.

Spoodles, the Flying Fish Cafe, and the ESPN Club are Disney owned restaurants, and they are officially part of the Boardwalk Inn Resort -- in the same way that Citrico's, the Grand Floridian Cafe, Narcoossee's, 1900 Park Fare, and Victoria & Albert's are part of the Grand Floridian Resort.

The Big River Grille and Brewing Works is operated by an outside company.

 

[Muushka]

My friend once ordered a desert at a nice restaurant. The waitress informed him that there was only one piece left and it was half the size that it should be. He really wanted it, and said OK. He assumed that they would take a little off the price because it was admittedly not the correct portion. She charged him the full price. He did not complain to the waitress, but he subtracted the price of the missing cake from her tip.

Gotta say, I would have been tempted to subtract $6 from the Spoodle's waitress's tip!

 

[mic_key_mouse]

That's what I would have done, too. 10% for lousy service less 6 bucks leaves 5 bucks. Bet she would learn to not ask in a hurry.

Blessings.

 

[zurgswife]

Even though I was a waitress for years....I think I have to agree that I would have been irritated enough to mention that it was OK..I'd just subtract the additional amount from the tip. I would also have complained to the manager....

If it was an a person that finished the entire double order....but most people don't order double's of the kids meals ...they usually order kids meals because they aren't that big of an eater...

 

[jjsmom]

Not to flame the waitress too badly (I've done it; and it's one of the hardest jobs in the world)... BUT it's obvious she was not properly trained. Everyone in food service knows that if the kids are happy, MOM & DAD are happy, therefore, they'll be inclined to leave a bigger tip!!