Disney Rewarding bad behavior - crowded parks show

[Schrute Farms]

I just got around to listening to the crowded parks show. I had a similar experience to the one Kevin had on my recent trip in November.

We had ADR's at Beer Garten(2 families, 8 total people). We arrived about ten minutes before our scheduled time and had about a 40-45 minute wait from our arrival time. No big deal we waited patiently in the shops, our kids(four total all under age five) colored Duffy fans and we were fine.

When it was our time, we checked in to be seated and heard a rukus at one of the tables near the door. Apparently a family, who didn't have ADR's, was tired of waiting, walked in, found the first open table, sat down and refused to get up until they were served. The dad claimed he spoke to someone else that just got sat and the other table didn't have ADR's either and his family had waited long enough.

The flustered cast member tried to explain that they were fully booked with ADR's for the night, had other groups waiting for this table and would try to fit them in when they could, but this guy was having none of it. Eventually the cast member gave in and this group was served.

I was mortified for many of reasons, among them that Disney just taught this guy with his kids watching that if you pitch a big enough hissy fit Disney will give you a table anywhere.

 

[auroralark]

That really stinks. I'm sorry, but security should have been called. People have to learn to wait their turn. You're no more important than anyone else.

 

[Stacy's a freak]

Wow, that is audacious! I can understand, though, how it would be hard for a castmember to enforce a policy when unruly guests do something like this. They certainly can't manually remove them from the seats. Would you expect them to call some Disney Security to forceabily remove the "guests"? The rukus caused by that would have been spread by Twitter and/or Facebook to reach thousands+ in mere seconds.

Unfortunately, it sounds like the cast members did what they could to avoid a further scene. It stinks but I don't blame Disney castmembers for this situation. I think they did what they could to enforce the rules then chose the least bad option to handle it.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I read an article the other day wondering what has happened to customer service? The author of the article wanted to know what ever happened to the good old days when "the customer is always right?" She made some valid points in the article, but didn't mention that in the good old days customers were much more reasonable and civil with far fewer demanding bullies like the guy at Beer Garten. A situation like that is tough, Disney is known for customer service, what do you do in a situation like that? The CM could have called security, but chose the least disruptive option.

 

[moepanz]

I know a woman who pulls stuff like this at Disney all the time. She goes the week of Thanksgiving (stays off site) and does not make a single ADR. She is very proud of how she walks in to which ever restaurant she wants to and makes such a scene they seat her whole party of 5 adults and 3 kids right away just to shut her up. She has even pulled in Chef Mickeys on Thanksgiving day.
She thinks this is hysterical. "what are the stupid kids at disney gonna do kick me and my family out?" People (I use that loosely) have caught on that Disney does "reward" bad behavior so they take full advantage of it.

When I saw that your issue happened in November I really have to wonder if it was her.

 

[LilyWDW]

While I do think security should have been called, I can also see it from the CMs perspective. The situation was solved by letting them stay and they decreased the tension and disruption to others by handling it this way. If security had been called, the situation would have gotten more out of control before it got better.

I am not shocked that people behave this way. I've worked retail and have had stuff thrown at me and been threatened with violence if I didn't give in to a customers demands. Even had someone hint at shooting me because I wouldn't process a return. I have had to call the police to have a person escorted out of the store. There are some real jerks out there.

And as a note... I never gave in.

 

[Button]

Not sure i'd wanna tick someone off that was serving me food. Who knows what happens behind closed doors.

 

[WaltD4Me]

Not sure i'd wanna tick someone off that was serving me food. Who knows what happens behind closed doors.

A reasonable concern. I waited tables for years and some of things I saw....

 

[kbelle8995]

I wish that these rude people got a taste of their own medicine.

I was at a restaurant once with my family. We were not at Disney but at a local eatery. It was breakfast and you always had to wait up to an hour or more. Anyway it came time for us to finally be seated after an hour and this rude group walked around us took the table the server was heading us to and yelled "We will take this table." and commenced to throw their stuff around refusing to move.

The restaurant staff was in slight shock, apologized to us again and again and scrambled to find another table for us.

I was pretty mad at them time.

 

[Diane Holland]

While I do think security should have been called, I can also see it from the CMs perspective. The situation was solved by letting them stay and they decreased the tension and disruption to others by handling it this way. If security had been called, the situation would have gotten more out of control before it got better.

I am not shocked that people behave this way. I've worked retail and have had stuff thrown at me and been threatened with violence if I didn't give in to a customers demands. Even had someone hint at shooting me because I wouldn't process a return. I have had to call the police to have a person escorted out of the store. There are some real jerks out there.

And as a note... I never gave in.

My thought is, as horrible as this is... if there are little ones with the party in question then I would not call security or do anything to further the drama. Let the family have it, and give them a good experience and for God sake let the children have a modicum of enjoyment at Disney World!! Most likely, this family has reached their limit for what ever reason we don't know and how horrible is it to just let them in. I would be willing to do that. ( Just give me a fast Pass somewhere?) O.K.?

 

[Diane Holland]

My thought is, as horrible as this is... if there are little ones with the party in question then I would not call security or do anything to further the drama. Let the family have it, and give them a good experience and for God sake let the children have a modicum of enjoyment at Disney World!! Most likely, this family has reached their limit for what ever reason we don't know and how horrible is it to just let them in. I would be willing to do that. ( Just give me a fast Pass somewhere?) O.K.?

 

[smidgy]

My thought is, as horrible as this is... if there are little ones with the party in question then I would not call security or do anything to further the drama. Let the family have it, and give them a good experience and for God sake let the children have a modicum of enjoyment at Disney World!! Most likely, this family has reached their limit for what ever reason we don't know and how horrible is it to just let them in. I would be willing to do that. ( Just give me a fast Pass somewhere?) O.K.?

this is SO WRONG on many levels.

you do NOT reward bad behavior.

yes, it IS hard for the cast member... I have been a waitress and a bartender for most of my adult life, I am 55. sometimes you have to deal with weird, unruly, irate, unhappy, unfair customers. you do NOT give them what they want when it hurts other customers.

it is not fun to deal with people like this... that is why it takes a specaisl person to be a waitress/bartender. you need to be friendly and happy at all times, and yet deal with idiots...

and as far as any little ones in the party... it's best the little ones learn that bad behavior does not have good results.

 

[Diane Holland]

By the way, hello to all of you - this is my first experience with posting and I really do not know what the heck I'm doing. I do know this however, since 2008 which was my first trip to WDW, I have been 5 times with my children,and a 6th coming up in Feb. solo because it means that much to me.

I have been reading this site for a couple of years and have learned so much from you all. It truly is an honor.

Respectfully,

Diane

P.S. How do you post a picture by your name?

 

[rn4val]

What is wrong with eating counter service if you don't make ADRs.? I wouldn't reward bad behavior. How about just ignoring them and not serving them. Hopefully the would eventually leave. They tied up the table anyway. I would have called security too. They are not more important than the other guest who did make ADRs. I feel sorry for kids growing up with parents like that. With that example they will grow up to be just like that. Don't reward bad and bulling behavior.

 

[dansyr2514]

One word I truly believe in " karma"

 

[Phil'sFrontier]

One word I truly believe in " karma"

I am sure they got it right back from the staff. Not saying serving a plate you just sneezed on or something is right....but people like this deserve the same treatment they give to others imho

 

[TMcDwyer]

By the way, hello to all of you - this is my first experience with posting and I really do not know what the heck I'm doing. I do know this however, since 2008 which was my first trip to WDW, I have been 5 times with my children,and a 6th coming up in Feb. solo because it means that much to me.

I have been reading this site for a couple of years and have learned so much from you all. It truly is an honor.

Respectfully,

Diane

P.S. How do you post a picture by your name?

Welcome Diane!!! I sent you a message with instructions on how to post a picture next to your name. Let me know if you have any other questions.

 

[kaligal]

Wow, that is audacious! I can understand, though, how it would be hard for a castmember to enforce a policy when unruly guests do something like this. They certainly can't manually remove them from the seats. Would you expect them to call some Disney Security to forceabily remove the "guests"? The rukus caused by that would have been spread by Twitter and/or Facebook to reach thousands+ in mere seconds.

Unfortunately, it sounds like the cast members did what they could to avoid a further scene. It stinks but I don't blame Disney castmembers for this situation. I think they did what they could to enforce the rules then chose the least bad option to handle it.

They could have told them they could sit there all day long, but they weren't going to be served.

That would get rid of them without force or even a show of force.

Disney lets everyone do whatever they want. As more and more people figure this out, we get more bad behavior.

 

[RabbitFood]

Isn't Biergarten a buffet? I'm sure they'd have no problem serving themselves, with or without direction from the waitstaff.

 

[dvc at last !]

I know a woman who pulls stuff like this at Disney all the time. She goes the week of Thanksgiving (stays off site) and does not make a single ADR. She is very proud of how she walks in to which ever restaurant she wants to and makes such a scene they seat her whole party of 5 adults and 3 kids right away just to shut her up. She has even pulled in Chef Mickeys on Thanksgiving day.
She thinks this is hysterical. "what are the stupid kids at disney gonna do kick me and my family out?" People (I use that loosely) have caught on that Disney does "reward" bad behavior so they take full advantage of it.

When I saw that your issue happened in November I really have to wonder if it was her.

WOW - that stinks for the rest of us !