Are You Rushed??

[cat83]

I saw somebody mentioned, and I agree- the only time I felt rushed was once at Rose and Crown.
It made no sense to me- it was late lunch, and the tables were maybe half full.
We could only figure that maybe our server was due for a break once her tables were out?

But beyond that single incident, I've never had problems!

 

[dvcdisney]

Generally, I do think it depends on each TS restaurant and whether it's busy or not. I have found that in some places, when we are in a hurry, it seems like they take a very long time between the meals. While other places, my main course arrives 5 minutes after my appetizer. And in most cases, we don't send it back. I guess we're just happy, it's not taking a long time. We are always with our children, so the faster the better.

However, if we wanted to take our time and savour each moment while we're relaxing, we would order one meal at a time. I think most waitstaff are unsure whether you are in a hurry or not. And the way you order will probably give them an indication of whether they should rush your order or pace it out longer. We've only had one CM ask us if we were in a hurry or would like a leisure dinner. I think he really wanted to know so he can decide when to order. I don't think most like to ask since they don't want to appear like they are rushing you out.

So to answer the OP's question, I do sometimes feel rushed, but at Disney, we always seemed to be in a rush anyways, we don't get too upset. We don't drink wine before, during or after dinner. We have two children who, although they are mostly patient, would not appreciate sitting there for an excessively long time. I think our dinners have been around 1.5 -2 hours long and I find this sufficient. We have had dinners that lasted 3 hours long (not even a special show) and it was excruciating to watch our waitress go in slow motion. So, sometimes, if the dinner feels a little rushed, we eat at our usual pace (which in most cases is fast anyways) and the waitstaff tends to gauge our preference.

I think the best advice is ordering each meal separately if you don't want to be rushed.

 

[Missytara]

I saw somebody mentioned, and I agree- the only time I felt rushed was once at Rose and Crown.
It made no sense to me- it was late lunch, and the tables were maybe half full.
We could only figure that maybe our server was due for a break once her tables were out?

But beyond that single incident, I've never had problems!

I eat out quite a lot and have gotten to know the bartenders and servers very well where I eat.

Usually if you see someone in a rush right after a big "lunch rush" - they may be dying to take a cigarette or restroom break....

If you see someone in a rush mid-afternoon, it means they may have gotten "cut" early for that day if it was slow and they suddenly want to leave. I don't know why - a lot of times, it would be the same person that complained the day before they didn't make enough money. The next day they want to get out early, which means they aren't making as much money as the person that elected to stay.

 

[mom3sonstt]

As long as the keep my drink filled I don't really care about the rest of it. I hate sitting with an empty glass and they walk by and ignore it. On a solo trip a few years ago I ate at Hollywood and Vine - I was on an end table near the middle of the restaurant so my waitress went by me frequently. For some reason that day I was exceptionally dry and would inhale the lemonade as soon as she sat it down - she got to the point where she just automatically had one on her tray for me every time she came by. She is my all time favorite waitress. On the other hand, DH and I went to Buffalo Wild Wings a few weeks ago mid-afternon, so not busy at all, sat in a table near the podium where most of them hung out waiting to seat people or doing up tickets. I had nearly finished my drink before they brought my food and was half way through my meal before they brought me a refill. I was about ready to go fill it myself when they finally brought me one.

 

[Tara922c]

From an ex-server point of view. The server has no idea whether you are in a hurry, or not. I have had guest get mad because they wanted to get in, and out, and I have had guest get mad because their food came out too quickly. My best advice is to let the server know that you are in no hurry, and would like to enjoy your drink before making any food choices. I am impaitent, and the kind of person who says bring it when it is ready. I also have a two year old who is ready to go after an hour. I never felt rushed while dining at DIS, but I have felt like my server was taking forever! Everyone is different when it comes to dining out, but I bet if you just let your server know, he or she will be less likely to rush you.

 

[tony67]

As others have said it will depend on the restaurants, the manager and/or the waiter.

If I am not in a rush I will order my drink first.
When they bring the drink I will order the app.
They will usually push for you to order the entree at the same time, but I usually tell them I am still looking. (BTW - Do not close your menu they will assume you are ready to order)
I try to order the meal when the app comes.
If the waiter is being a pest then I will tell them we will order when the app comes.
The other advantage of this is if the app comes and it looks large you may order something less for your meal.

Too many times in Disney the meal has come a few minutes after the appetizer and then you really do feel rushed.

 

[Jerry@dvcstore]

I have never felt rushed while dining at any Disney restaurants. I would say I have dined at Disney more than 127 times. I'm local and eat at Disney all the time ( at least 2 a month).

 

[movie77]

I've never felt rushed and I think for the most part they don't do my biggest pet peeve which is taking someone's plate that is finished while someone else at the table is still eating.

 

[Dziactor]

When I went in June I felt like they took too long. Coral Reef and Le Cellier seemed to take forever.

 

[BriarRosie]

It's pretty standard practice at restaurants (both inside WDW and in the real world) to order appetizers and main course at the same time. Not saying it happens everywhere, but it certainly happens much more often than not. So, to suggest this is an indicia of the restaurant intending to rush you is not correct, in my experience.

I've often ordered appetizers and an entree at restaurants that aren't in Disney, because it doesn't often happen to get the entree too quickly. It's more common to happen at Disney, though.

What we ALWAYS now do at every WDW restaurant (in fact, at every restaurant) is first order drinks while we look at the menu. Then we order our appetizer, letting the server know we're in no hurry and will order the entree when the appetizer arrives (or even when we're done eating the appetizer). THis prevents any rush on the part of the restaurant and we've found the servers seem to appreciate that we're what they term "low maintenance" and not just campers.
That gives them time to attend to the many patrons who are in a hurry.

Should add that once in awhile the servers try to get us to put the whole order in and suggest they will not send it all to the kitchen at once. That hasn't worked out well, so we don't do that any longer...

That's a good plan, and I agree that servers who push for both tend to screw up the timing anyway. But I think this person below has stated what I had been thinking....

From an ex-server point of view. The server has no idea whether you are in a hurry, or not. I have had guest get mad because they wanted to get in, and out, and I have had guest get mad because their food came out too quickly. My best advice is to let the server know that you are in no hurry, and would like to enjoy your drink before making any food choices. I am impaitent, and the kind of person who says bring it when it is ready. I also have a two year old who is ready to go after an hour. I never felt rushed while dining at DIS, but I have felt like my server was taking forever! Everyone is different when it comes to dining out, but I bet if you just let your server know, he or she will be less likely to rush you.

I agree that servers aren't clairvoyant. They don't know if you're trying to get to the Magic Kingdom for the Christmas party, or if you're just having a leisurely dinner. If we stated up front that we'd appreciate a quicker pace or a slower pace depending on circumstances, I'm sure the servers will accommodate that.

 

[fairestoneofall]

The only placed I've ever felt rushed was at CRT breakfast.

 

[Desnik]

The only place I felt rushed was at Chef Mickey's dinner. This was on almost every time we have been there, which is about 5 times.

 

[mom3sonstt]

I've never felt rushed and I think for the most part they don't do my biggest pet peeve which is taking someone's plate that is finished while someone else at the table is still eating.

Can I ask why that is a pet peeve? I have noticed it done on occasion, but there are usually at least 5, sometimes 6 of us and getting plates out of the way has usually been appreciated. But then again, if it's the boys that are done and their plates removed, they are also liable to leave and get back to their park excursions.....

 

[crisi]

I've seldom felt rushed. However, remember that Disney books their restaurants completely full and expects to turn over their tables in an "average" amount of time. If your meal is TOO leasurely, someone is waiting for you to leave and is past their ADR time. It isn't uncommon at Disney to get seated half an hour past your ADR time - and we've sometimes waited longer than that.

And while we've seldom felt rushed, last trip there were at least two occasions where the service was FAR too slow.

Signature dining for us takes about two hours or a little longer to consume 3 to 5 courses (some combination of app, cheese, salad, entree, dessert) and wine. We are in and out of the one table service restaurants generally somewhat faster. But the 5:00 pm reservation for Rose and Crown that we didn't leave our table until 8:00 (and were being urged by our server, who had a lot of guilt over the service, to stay for Illuminations) was a little bit of overkill.

 

[MICKFan]

Thanks everyone......great plans.

 

[kiwicassie]

I have honestly never felt rushed at a Disney restaurant. I've had late ADRs going right past park closing and the servers have always been nice and let us take our time.

 

[LoveMickey]

We are not ones to be rushed at dinner either and the only time I've experienced being rushed was at Tuto in Italy.

They brought out our food while we still were eating appies and within 5 minutes of us ordering it.

I did not like our dining experience there. And I am not one to complain much.

 

[GailT]

Just take your time within reason, I am sayig don't spen hrs. upon hrs. but enjoy your mail < I never ush and the staff never rushs me, I eat the same way I would in a rest. here at home Have a FUNtastic time

 

[PoohsFan1]

What we ALWAYS now do at every WDW restaurant (in fact, at every restaurant) is first order drinks while we look at the menu. Then we order our appetizer, letting the server know we're in no hurry and will order the entree when the appetizer arrives (or even when we're done eating the appetizer). THis prevents any rush on the part of the restaurant and we've found the servers seem to appreciate that we're what they term "low maintenance" and not just campers.
That gives them time to attend to the many patrons who are in a hurry.

Should add that once in awhile the servers try to get us to put the whole order in and suggest they will not send it all to the kitchen at once. That hasn't worked out well, so we don't do that any longer...

We do this also. DH always gets a beer of some sort while I get some sort of frozen fruity drink while looking over the apps. After we are done with our apps and the servers are ready to take the plate away, that is when we order our entrees....the same goes with the desserts, once after we are done with the entrees it is onto the sweet things. The only time we order entrees right at the start of dinner is for our DDs because they are usually starving by the time we sit down for dinner and when they are done with their dinner they always color on the kids menus or if there is a dessert that lets out their artistry (make your own sundaes or paint your own cookie) then it usually takes them a while to create it leaving DH and I more than enough time to enjoy our meals without them getting crabby.

 

[dvcdisney]

Can I ask why that is a pet peeve? I have noticed it done on occasion, but there are usually at least 5, sometimes 6 of us and getting plates out of the way has usually been appreciated. But then again, if it's the boys that are done and their plates removed, they are also liable to leave and get back to their park excursions.....

I'm not the poster, but I could guess that it's all about dining etiquette.

I grew up with these basic etiquette: begin eating only after everyone has received their plate of food, not getting up until everyone is finished eating and not clearing the plates until everyone is finished etc. However, since I met my husband, all that has gone out the window. We do tend to stick with it when we eat out or at a dinner party. But at home, my children are halfway through their meals before we even sit down and my husband gets up as soon as he's done. He always wonders why I just sit there at the table after I'm done and I usually explain that it's just polite for the others who sit at the table, but he doesn't think we need to do it at home.

But he does find that it's important to present the food nicely on the plate when he serves it (he does most of the cooking) even at home. I figured, it not a dinner party so just drop the food on the plate and let's eat since my son has a hockey game or my daughter has ballet.