Counter Service at Disney Parks

[Cold in Saskatchewan]

On a recent 10 day stay at Disney World we noticed that the counter service at 4 theme parks was not very great. We often had to wait a very long time for our meals after we ordered and there seemed to be confusion behind the counter most times. Employees seemed to go out of their way to ignore the customers to make sure they didn't get "flagged down" to help you which made it next to impossible to get anyone's attention to even ask about your order! On more than one occasion we didn't get exactly what we ordered and saw other individuals arguing with the employees about their orders as well. If someone didn't get what they ordered, the employees would just ask them what they thought they were missing and woudld throw it on their tray just to get them out of their way. Sometimes the people that ordered after you got their meals long before you did. It was very strange and not at all like the service/attitude we encountered in every other aspect of our visit. Just wondered in anyone else has had similar encounters during recent visits.

 

[ConnieB]

We've been here a week now and I haven't seen any of bad service like you're describing.

As for others getting their order before you, sometimes that has more to do with what food is already made and what is still being made. I've had this happen at the local McDonald's too, so I know it's not bad service, just that my stuff took longer to put together. I actually appreciate it when they delay my order to be sure it's all together first....then I have a better chance of everything being hot when I get it, instead of half the order sitting on the tray for several minutes cooling down while we wait for a missing item. I'd rather they keep it under the warming light a few more minutes and bring it to me all at once.

The employees ignoring you could simply be that they're working hard at getting their job done and I know for ME the noise level is quite distracting, I can only imagine the volume they're hearing all day long. Remember they have a dozen orders coming in at them constantly, so if they allow themselves to be distracted they're bound to get way behind!

I realize it's hard to be patient when you're hungry and the smell of the food as you stand there is making your stomach growl, and you're anxious to get done with the meal and on to the fun, but I really think they are doing the best that they can in a very chaotic atmosphere.

 

[disnut8]

In reality, the counter service process at Disney World is very organized. What you see are the Cast Members trying to keep up with the demand. The job is not easy. It's very demanding. And I know I couldn't do it.

If someone didn't get what they asked for, I do agree that it's difficult to flag down someone to explain the problem. But you shouldn't try and flag down anyone except a person who is giving the trays of food out. The other people are trying to fill other orders and can't stop easily or the entire process slows down.

I don't think any place is going to just give food out because a customer says their order is wrong. Then anyone could claim their order is wrong and get whatever they want.

It's kind of funny because we will often just order two beers. But our drinks aren't poured until the people in front of us have had their order completed. So if there's a family of six with all kinds of special requests, we have to wait for them to leave before our beers or even poured.

Counter service is like a reverse duck. Legs paddling like crazy above the water but calm under the water.

 

[MickeyNicki]

That happened to me just once, this past Oct at Peco Bills. We ordered a taco salad and bottle of water and everyone that ordered after us got their food before us...there were plenty of taco salads just sitting there. No one heard me when I said excuse me so DH stepped up and a nice CM worked apologized and gave us a peanut butter brownie for our trouble.