Do you complain at Disney restaurants?

[autumnpalm]

I've read a lot of reviews and comments about many different WDW restaurants where people have been disappointed in their food. Whether it isn't cooked properly, not made to order correctly or just plain inedible, if you look around there are tons of DISers who are unsatisfied with certain restaurants.

I'm just wondering how many of y'all complain or mention the food quality? Personally, if I'm at a Disney restaurant (I'm thinking generally TS here but I suppose it could apply to CS as well!), I am paying quite a bit of money for the food. If my meal has something wrong with it... if it is cold, the meat is covered in fat... whatever... I generally bring it to the attention of a CM.

Of course, I do this politely and have only received positive responses. In every situation the CM has done everything possible to make the situation "right" and we have left our meal happy and with a great impression of Disney service. In fact, awesome customer service is one of the things that keeps us coming back!

I don't think I'm too demanding. If something isn't my preference, I don't start demanding a free meal! But if I am unhappy with food quality or preparation, I give the restaurant an opportunity to make it right. Sometimes just having the meal heated up a bit makes a big difference! But I have always been incredibly pleased with our Disney dining experiences and the food usually ends up being one of my favourite parts of the trip!

I'm just wondering how many other DISers are like me? I don't really like the word "complain"... because I am always sure to be polite, non-forceful and very appreciative and grateful when the situation is fixed! Anyone else?

 

[disnut8]

If I ever found anything to really complain about my meal, I would say something. But then again, I've never found anything so hugely wrong with my meal that I couldn't eat it. Not at Disney World. I am been disappointed with some of my selections but that was either with the restaurant itself (not what I expected like with California Grill) or the selection of food (something I thought I would like I didn't but that's not the restaurant's fault).

One thing to remember when voicing a complaint to the server is that if you food is prepared incorrectly, that's not the server's fault necessarily. If the server didn't communicate your wishes, yes, that needs to be told to the server. But if the food comes out cold or something like that, that blame lays with the kitchen. So cut the server a break with complaints. I once had a chicken dinner (not at Disney) come out raw in the middle. I told the server about it but also said I knew it wasn't her fault and she needed to talk to the kitchen about it.

 

[jemgumby]

I have only complained once at Disney and that is because the flat bread pizza from Mara was cold/greasy and inedible. I politely explained the situation and they gave me my money back. I only complain when something is wrong with the food like undercooked, cold, too greasy, fatty, etc. I don't complain when I just don't "like" something.....

 

[Keara'sMom]

We just had a bad experience at Rose and Crown. DH's food was cold, so he sent it back to be warmed (he did so nicely, I might add). Unfortunately, after 20 minutes, my dd and I were done with our food, and dh hadn't seen his again--or any sign of our server. He complained to the manager, who agreed to comp the meals, but the whole situation was handled badly by the restaurant staff. To make matters worse, it was dd's 13th b-day!

So...to answer your question, yes, if something is not right, then we complain or at least point it out. The food at WDW is very expensive and pretty mediocre (at least to us), so when it's less than okay, we let folks know.

 

[lizzyb]

It would have to be pretty bad for me to complain. To me its not worth complaining if its gonna leave a sour note on my trip.

 

[Toad_Passenger]

Having been around the food industry for a good portion of my life, I find it very hard to complain anywhere.

I don't want to dissuade anyone from complaining since it is your right to have your food prepared to your liking, but a lot of the stories you hear about "in the kitchen" are true.

Even if you are super pleasant about sending your food back, a lot of chefs will still probably take it VERY personally, and, just the fact that they now have to "re-fire" your meal along with all of the others they're working on, tends to make them cranky, and who knows what they'll do.

I would hope that Disney Chefs are above doing anything nefarious, but it's tough to weed out all the bad eggs.

I rarely send food back anywhere.

 

[TDC Nala]

If it's inedible, or stone cold, or they've given me the wrong food, or they've put something on the food or the plate that I have specifically asked to be left off (like mayonnaise on a sandwich - at WDW and elsewhere I don't know how many times I've asked for no mayonnaise only to receive a sandwich with mayonnaise) it's going back, without regard to the chef's ego or what they "might" do to the food. If the odds are that the chef is going to contaminate the food (which I think is actually a felony in some states depending on what they choose to contaminate it with), then I would just not eat the offending portion and complain to a manager (NOT to the server) with a view to not paying for the food. Whether it does any good or not, who knows, but I'd do it.

Many people don't complain because they consider it confrontational and they don't wish to become involved in a confrontation, especially on vacation.

 

[koolaidmoms]

Yes, I do complain. I have asked for new fish at GG. I have sent back plates of food and have mentioned times I have seen cross contamination in buffets. I have asked for managers to clear plates from our table when our waitress disappeared unexpectedly and when the waitstaff "forgot" rolls, our salads and drink refills before our entrees arrived I again asked to speak to a manager. If management does not know something is wrong they can not fix it. If no one ever says this is unacceptable why would they change?

But, also at the same time I try to go out of my way to complement (and let management know) about exemplary service and food. We have had excellent meals at GG, Biergarten, 50's Cafe and CP and I have asked to speak to a manager about the excellent service from some very overworked waitstaff.

I feel if I can take the time to point out the negative I should also spend equal time pointing out the good things somewhere else.

 

[goofy4tink]

Only once so far..and that was at Crystal Palace. We had a horrible server. We tipped very little..about 5%. He was never around, never refilled our glasses, never removed our dirty plates. We finally had to get another server to find our server so we could pay the bill. On the way out, the manager asked how everything was...told him the food was good as usual but our server had been extremely lax and we had tipped accordingly. He wanted to remove the tip but I said it wasn't an issue..just let it go.
At Yachtsman last month, I ordered my steak medium rare, but it came out medium well..it was like leather. I didn't send it back simply because I was with a large group and didn't want to hold them up since my steak would have had to be done from scratch.

 

[paintnolish]

I am currently in the food industry, and honestly, it is not a big deal if you send something back. It gets remade or fixed. I have never, EVER seen anything bad done to anyone's food.
That being said, I have never had to complain at WDW about my food or send anything back. We did have horrible service this last trip and left my version of a bad tip- 15%! I didn't complain, becuase I know how it is to be a server (which makes me more and less understanding-our server obviously needed help and never once apologized for any of her screw ups). I figured someone would eventually complain about her.

 

[yenlee]

I've never complained, but I once wished that I did. I had a lobster at Narcoosee's that was totally blah (really chewy), but I just enjoyed it as best as I could. But at the end of the meal my wife was raving about how great her lobster was and how it was so tender. After that, I wished I had sent mine back. I've never ever sent back food at a restaurant. I mean, every time you order food at a restaurant, there is some uncertainty, right? But considering that I was looking forward to this lobster all week and dished out 2TS for it, I was pretty bummed. (The lobster also happened to arrive at the table at the exact moment that the fireworks started behind me, but that's no one's fault of course.)

 

[kaytieeldr]

I'm just wondering how many other DISers are like me? I don't really like the word "complain"... because I am always sure to be polite, non-forceful and very appreciative and grateful when the situation is fixed! Anyone else?

You mean "bring to the attention of", right? Once. Due to a miscommunication between the server and me, I ordered the wrong entree in a Disney restaurant. When my meal came, and I took a bite and realized the error, my server took it upon herself to make the situation right.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Interesting topic,
just a reminder, tipping discussion and personal tipping habits are not allowed as a topic for discussion

 

[arcticdisneylovers]

I might complain bitterly to my husband But I would rarely ever complain at a restaurant. If it was really bad service and not just because the server had way too many tables my tip would reflect that, but I've never complained to a manager. At McDonalds if the fries are stone cold I'd ask for new ones I've had food I didn't care for, but mostly that's just personal taste. I'll be doing a Dining Review for our next trip so I guess everyone will see if I really am picky afterall

 

[dbk1029]

Having been around the food industry for a good portion of my life, I find it very hard to complain anywhere.

I don't want to dissuade anyone from complaining since it is your right to have your food prepared to your liking, but a lot of the stories you hear about "in the kitchen" are true.

Even if you are super pleasant about sending your food back, a lot of chefs will still probably take it VERY personally, and, just the fact that they now have to "re-fire" your meal along with all of the others they're working on, tends to make them cranky, and who knows what they'll do.

I would hope that Disney Chefs are above doing anything nefarious, but it's tough to weed out all the bad eggs.

I rarely send food back anywhere.

I really don't believe this at all. I've worked in the food industry and I've never seen this happen myself. Have you Toad_Passenger? I really dislike when people proliferate this urban legend...

 

[Nadjalu]

Yes I complain if something is wrong with food or service. Same goes if it is wonderful.
90% of the time we always speak with a manager mostly to tell them of the nice food or service, so yes if something is bad I will say something.

It never ceases to amaze me that managers always thank us for the compliments and say it is refreshing to hear nice comments because most people just complain when something is bad.

I guess it just makes me feel better to have said nice things for 99 times, so on that 100th when it isn't good I don't feel guilty saying so.

 

[Kay1]

Usually, I will. The other day I was surprised by cool tofu at Sci-Fi. It tasted fine so I made the decision to just eat it. but I will send things back if something is seriously wrong (like the Paleo Shrimp at T-Rex).

I noticed that the Vegetarian Pie at R & C was tremendously improved since the last time we tried it and I wonder if they didn't change it because of complaints.

 

[autumnpalm]

We definitely do tell the manager if we've had a particularly great experience as well. Often I will also write down the name of a CM that was wonderful and send a letter at the end of our trip outlining the great CMs we encountered. I think all feedback is important, good and bad!

As far as the chefs "doing stuff" if there has been a complaint... I would really hope not! In high school I worked at a coffee shop and never saw anything like that happen. I would be quite surprised to hear that sort of thing going on in Disney.

 

[ppony]

Having been around the food industry for a good portion of my life, I find it very hard to complain anywhere.

I don't want to dissuade anyone from complaining since it is your right to have your food prepared to your liking, but a lot of the stories you hear about "in the kitchen" are true.

Even if you are super pleasant about sending your food back, a lot of chefs will still probably take it VERY personally, and, just the fact that they now have to "re-fire" your meal along with all of the others they're working on, tends to make them cranky, and who knows what they'll do.

I would hope that Disney Chefs are above doing anything nefarious, but it's tough to weed out all the bad eggs.

I rarely send food back anywhere.

Thanks for this post Toad.
This is why I don't, or if I don't like something, I just don't eat it. Last trip, I didn't like my entree and just told the waitress as such. thankfully she took it off the bill, but I didn't order anything else (and she didn't ask me either ). I would have been afraid of anything I'd have ordered anyway. I'm very Pooh sized so I try to pick and choose my calories and I have just gotten tired of eating things I don't like just becuase theya re in fornt of me. I also don't like to be "the problem customer" because I feel bad for the waitstaff. Been there done that. They're just the messengers half the time. It may not be the way I "should" do thing, but it just is. So if I find food just not worth it anymore (like at Chef M's) I'll just not go back anymore.

 

[B-Ride]

I would definitely complain if something warranted it (food cold or service really bad) but so far we haven't had any problems.