Disappointed

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

I think the thing to remember about the BB is that EVERYONE wants a waterside table. Imagine how difficult that must be for them, since they only have a handful of them to give away. If I hads to deal with that every minute of every day, I'm not sure how I would be able to handle it if there weren't a policy in place to help me.

No reason to be snarky, but it's understandable....

 

[Krissy Marissy]

I think the thing to remember about the BB is that EVERYONE wants a waterside table. Imagine how difficult that must be for them, since they only have a handful of them to give away. If I hads to deal with that every minute of every day, I'm not sure how I would be able to handle it if there weren't a policy in place to help me.

No reason to be snarky, but it's understandable....

That isn't the true complaint here though. She is upset in general by the way she was treated. I also had a bad experience the other day. It isn't right. Sounds like MANY of us have had a rude woman while trying to schedule our PS's. Which should never happen. I dont care if they had a bad day, sounds like a bad month. When you are in the customer service field...esp disney, you do not have bad days. You leave your issues at home and every single phone call should be treated like the most important one you are on. You should not feel like you are bothering them or taking time away from their important day to schedule meals with them. They should be happy we are even spending money in their park instead of walking across to denny's. I could go on and on but I wont...I will calm down. To conclude...there is no excuse for any disney CM to be rude to someone who was polite...never.

 

[CaliforniaDreamer]

Totally agree with the last poster. Usually, when you deal with CMs, you feel the magic. That's the whole point of Disney!

Anyway, yes, we have noticed that the lack of magic can be found at the check in/hostess of BB.

OP, I'd make sure my BF wore his birthday button (he should pick up at City Hall). Although with the new birthdays are free policy this year, Dl has more birthday people than ever. Still, it can't hurt. Definitely show up early and explain you haven't been to DL in 15 years and it's his b-day so you'd really like to wait for a waterside table. I hope you guys have a great time!

(btw, a lot of people do not want a waterside table. I love them, but others have had experiences with rude people in the boats, calling out, flashing cameras, etc.)

 

[alexandria674]

I am so sorry you had a rude CM, maybe she was having a bad day, but believe me she is in the minority of the people who work at Disneyland, most of the people I have encountered are very pleasent. If this CM is bothering you, talk to a supervisor and try to get someone else to help because if someone is rude to you, there will probably be little help.

 

[mechurchlady]

At disAbilities we have a standard answer for CM problems.

Know your legal rights and know the rules that pertain to the situation at hand. If a CM is rude, wrong or whatever the ask for a lead or a manager.

That is my pat answer to anyone having CM problems. Complaining to the media or on boards does not help the matter. The management need to know immediately that there is a problem so they can talk to the person at that moment while they are snarky, mean, rude or whatever. They need those complaints at the time of the incident so they can log the complaint and investigate while the CM's memory is fresh.

It is hard being a CM or work in any service industry type of job because you get so many Silly Guests, complainers, people who do not know how many are in their party, people who whine, people who yell at staff, and other things that employee around the world deal with on a daily basis. Maybe she has a loved one who is dying, a mean boss, health issues, disabilities, sick kids at home, or bills that are piling up. I would hope that with a little talk from a lead she would learn to be more civil.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Welcome to DIS!

Just thought I could comment a bit to perhaps make you feel a little better about your BF's phone call.

...The CM told him that we could not make seating requests, and that everything was on a first-come-first-serve basis....

This is 100% correct information. The reason they are called "Priority Seating" and not "reservations" is due to the fact that you are not getting a reserved table, but rather sat in a priority order over guests that just walk up. Many people think it is just a Disney term for reservations, but they use it because they want to be very clear that you do not have a reserved space at a certain time.

At the Blue Bayou, this is very much the case for every seat in the restaurant, much less the ever popular water tables. We have eaten at the BB many many times over the years and this is exactly how they handle PS's there. Also, in case you are not truly ready for it, expect to wait. And if you really want that water table, expect to wait even longer. There is a chance you could get seated sooner, but expect the wait and be pleasantly surprised when/if you don't have it.

I'm reluctant to even make any other reservations, even though we have several restaurants on our list in which they are strongly recommended. I don't want to have to change our plans because of rude CMs.

Why are you reluctant to make any more PS's (note: not reservations )? Your BF got the PS you both wanted. I understand you feel you got a CM who may have been having a bad day, but why would you let that stop you from making any other PSs? There is no reason to not call and book additional PSs if you want them. You mention that you don't want to have to "change your plans because of rude CMs." Then don't.

- Dreams

 

[Dizneydaz]

OP-Hope you get what you want. Arriving early sounds like a great plan. As a side topic I wanted to mention that even when they ask you if you are celebrating anything when you make PS, don't expect anything when you eat. Few weeks ago I made PS for WCT for lunch while we were already at the park (called a few hours before-this works great!) Anyway, the CM on the phone was very pleasant and asked if we were celebrating anything? A first I said no, then I remembered that DD9 had just been given a medal at school for being on Honor Role again (straight A's). She said she made a note. As we were seated at WTC the hostess mentioned "I see your celebrating something special today". We said yes. That was the extent of it. No mention by our server or anything else. I'm not sure why they really ask since with the free birthday promo and the whole CELEBRATE theme, many guests are celebrating. If all they are going to do is mention it as you are seated, what's the point? Just wondering....


Okay, back to our original scheduled programming......

 

[Teki]

Only once, I was making a PS for goofys kitchen and I tried to let the CM know it was our 1 year (dating not marriage, but I didnt say that) anniversary and she told me the only did birthdays. Other then that Ive never had a bad experience with a CM when calling to make a PS. There is bound to be one bad apple occasionally. As far as getting a water side seat Ive never sat anywhere accept for water side accepting one time. The first time I went to BB I was sat right by the kitchen and I was allitle annoyed so I talked to a cast member and I got free dessert. Also I asked how to get a waterside seat and the cast member there said to ask when I check in. So the next time we went I simply let the CM know we were willing to wait a few extra minutes for a water side seat and Viola. Enjoy your trip to BB and don't let one bad apple spoil your trip!

 

[pixiewings71]

my hostest was the best an worked with my dh being sick an my son hating the food an still made sure we had what i wanted (deserts) an stuff she was so nice an she got the biggest tip i could leave that trip. i know i ddint do much to others but she got a nice one. because she really went out her way to help us.

the phone ive had two issues once was hung up on i couldnt understand her an then click. Then i had one who seemed to know nothing i had to talk them though how to look up what i was talking about. it was nuts do i know more then some there new ppl? from these boards lol

Jade, I think you're referring to your server being amazing. Since you're referring to her tip I'm guessing you mean the server. Our servers have always been great, it's the hostess who greets you when you check in that I've had "issues" with.

 

[Disney Dreams]

...As we were seated at WTC the hostess mentioned "I see your celebrating something special today". We said yes. That was the extent of it. No mention by our server or anything else. I'm not sure why they really ask since with the free birthday promo and the whole CELEBRATE theme, many guests are celebrating. If all they are going to do is mention it as you are seated, what's the point? Just wondering....

Wasn't it nice to have it mentioned? It was important enough to you to state on the phone and the CMs took the time to enter it in the books (system?) AND mention it when seating your family. I think that's cool!

 

[CaliforniaDreamer]

Wasn't it nice to have it mentioned? It was important enough to you to state on the phone and the CMs took the time to enter it in the books (system?) AND mention it when seating your family. I think that's cool!

(I edited this - who knew Dl TS restaurants were giving away free b-day desserts? I was there with b-day people and we never got anything -although maybe the person making the PS did not mention the b-day)

The point of the OPs reaction would matter to someone running the company -- you want people to feel welcome and invited from their first contact with your organization. Most of the CMs on the phone do that very well. For whatever reason (as they said, everyone has a bad day), this one wasn't spreading the magic that day. There are so many of them, just call back.

 

[SilentFeline]

Many people are mentioning that PS's are not reservations. Please keep in mind that it has been quite some time since either me or my bf has been to DL, and neither one of us knew anything about PS's because we were both so young the last time we visited. I didn't even know about PS's until I came upon this board, and so many of you know what they are that nobody thinks twice about the whole process. Apparently, I misunderstood. But this was only our first PS arrangement, and we have obviously learned a few things.

Secondly, I understand that people have bad days, especially in the customer service field. I have been working with rude customers for several years, and I would have understood the CM's position a lot more if my bf was being rude to her in any way while he was on the phone with her. The problem is that even though this lady had problems with being rude to us, my bf never once sounded impatient or raised his voice. This CM really made us feel like we were wasting her time, and I do not believe that we should have been treated in such a manner. As Krissy Marissy said, employees should leave their problems at home. I do it all the time. In fact, I have been experiencing an unusual amount of stress (especially over the past 4 months), and I am usually very successful at leaving my problems at home unless a customer is being deliberately rude to me.

I will not let this whole situation ruin our trip. I was just very upset at the time I wrote my original post. I thank you all for your feedback and tips. We will both have a wonderful time, no matter what happens.

 

[Disney Dreams]

...employees should leave their problems at home....

Completely agree, but they are human.

...this was only our first PS arrangement, and we have obviously learned a few things.

This is great!

We will both have a wonderful time, no matter what happens.

Yay! And hopefully you have called back and made those other PS's you wanted.

Here's to a great trip,
Dreams

 

[pixiewings71]

fyi, When we went in Jan. for DBFs bday he got a FREE choc. mousse dessert at BB, they did not sing to us which was fine but we did get a free dessert. Didn't matter, we got a cookie boat anyway. LOL I do think that at TS places you are supposed to get a small dessert but I'm not 100% sure.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

lol yes ty wow sorry but yes thats who it was.

 

[avalon451]

LOL I hate getting sung to-- I think it's so embarressing, I've threatened my DH with horrible consequences if he ever gets waitstaff to sing to me. Once when we were out for my birthday (at a very elegant restaurant) the server had found out it was my BD, and she came sauntering out with a gorgeous little chocolate mousse molded on a plate, dashes of kirsch and cream and all that fun froofy stuff, and a candle lit on the top. All I could say was, "You're not going to sing, are you?" She laughed and said, "Oh, please don't make me sing, you'll be sorry."

We really lucked out on our two visits to BB. We had lovely hosts and servers, both times. Last time in particular; the hosts looked very frazzled, and were beset on all sides with people wanting to get in without PS's. But when I patiently waited my turn and made it to the podium to check in and give my waterside request, they smiled and said, "Welcome, Gail, come on in. We'll seat you in just a minute." Loved our lunch. Pictures on Page 6 of my trip report, linked in my signature below.

 

[LavenderPeach]

fyi, When we went in Jan. for DBFs bday he got a FREE choc. mousse dessert at BB, they did not sing to us which was fine but we did get a free dessert. Didn't matter, we got a cookie boat anyway. LOL I do think that at TS places you are supposed to get a small dessert but I'm not 100% sure.

Yes, I got a free dessert at Cafe Orleans on my birthday this past November. Free Mickey Beignets! Yum!