Good Manners

[alebisi]

here in Italy they usually ask you if you want your plate removed or not, but while I was at Disney in 2004, I didn't really realize if they did this or not.. maybe because I was 15 by that time

 

[wishspirit]

I was just curious really and hadn't really noticed before this incident It doesn"t bother me either way

It is just one of these things that is automatic with me - and I am only 37 ( not some stuffy fart from the dark ages)

Yes, unless they ask it is terribly rude. I went out for a meal today, and the table was quite small, so as soon as my companion finished they asked if her if she wanted her plate taken, which is fine. If they take it without any asking or interation, then yes its rude.

Thats how i was brought up, and i am only 19!

 

[tinkbutt]

Yes, unless they ask it is terribly rude. I went out for a meal today, and the table was quite small, so as soon as my companion finished they asked if her if she wanted her plate taken, which is fine. If they take it without any asking or interation, then yes its rude.

Thats how i was brought up, and i am only 19!

I hope that no one took offense to my comment! I actually asked a bunch of my friends all from 19-25 and no one has heard of this. I was just saying that maybe this has not been passed down on the maryland eastern shore! I believe europeans usually have better manners than some (ok MOST) americans so maybe it just got lost in translation

 

[Jubilee]

This is "proper" manners in the US too. However, it is my experience lately that unless you are at a really nice restaurant, servers often clear dishes before everyone is done. It doesn't only happen at Disney.

--Daneen

Exactly. I'm a former server in fine dining and we were told to feel the table out. They want us to take plates to get them out of people's way -- because a lot of Americans would think it's poor service for them to NOT be removed immediately.

Honestly, I knew with Europeans to leave the plates until everyone was finished, but sometimes I would get it wrong and American would like to keep his plate until his guest/s were finished. Embarrassing for me! As a rule, I don't take the man's plate until his wife is finished, but I'll sometimes take the woman's plate if she finishes first (hardly ever) and we're always taught to take a plate if it's pushed to the side, has the fork flipped upside down, or has a napkin on it.

 

[BriarRosie]

I think a strong exception to the rule should be buffets.

When you eat at a buffet, you're expected to get a new plate each time you visit a station. If the servers didn't remove the old plates, you'd have quite a stack of dirty plates on the table!

I think everyone should expect this at a buffet, and appreciate that it's considered GOOD when they do this. As for menu ordering table service, I don't mind having my plate taken away when I'm done.

 

[disneyholic family]

I believe europeans usually have better manners than some (ok MOST) americans so maybe it just got lost in translation

you must not have been in europe recently if you believe this...(and you must never have been in france )

 

[luke]

Oh yes, I find Americans generally have much better manners than most Europeans

 

[disneyholic family]

Oh yes, I find Americans generally have much better manners than most Europeans

i don't know if americans have better or worse manners, but americans on average certainly will stand in line more obediently than many other nationalities....
that was what we most disliked about disneyland paris .....we constantly felt as if we had to fight for our place in line....very different from WDW....

 

[BRobson]

you must not have been in europe recently if you believe this...(and you must never have been in france )

the times we have been to DLP some of the manners have been shocking!

 

[tinkbutt]

oh I am not saying anyone actually uses the manners they were taught but they seem to know what is the proper way,now if they follow those rules

I know I have learned a lot from other board members that I never knew would be considered rude

 

[WaltD4Me]

I may be the odd ball but I would much rather have my plate taken away as soon as I am done eating.

I totally agree. I don't like sitting there with the empty plate, I would much rather they clear plates as people finish and not wait until everyone is done.
I didn't know it was bad manners to do so though.

 

[luke]

I wouldn't say it's bad manners, just over here it's considered bad service.
I think it's more to do with not wanting waiters 'messing about' at your table while people are still eating.

 

[lilmrsellis]

I don't think I've ever been to a restaurant where they just yank your plate out from under you when they think you are done. They always ask and I always say yes.

As far as Europeans having the best manners, totally wrong. I think it is just because they sound so nice even when they are being horrible. We had a waiter on a cruise who said Americans were some of the nicest people in the world. He said Americans are almost always polite and when you see them off the ship, they are always saying "Join us." It was touching really.

 

[disneyholic family]

I don't think I've ever been to a restaurant where they just yank your plate out from under you when they think you are done. They always ask and I always say yes.

As far as Europeans having the best manners, totally wrong. I think it is just because they sound so nice even when they are being horrible. We had a waiter on a cruise who said Americans were some of the nicest people in the world. He said Americans are almost always polite and when you see them off the ship, they are always saying "Join us." It was touching really.

americans really are nice ... very nice and very friendly..

i was just thinking about this when i was home visiting in suburban detroit in June...(i live overseas now - on the "wrong" side of the atlantic)....
how very friendly and nice everyone is....i really love midwesterners and detroiters in particular....just nice people....people that you want to sit and spend time with....
i went to my high school reunion when i was home and i was struck by it.....i'd forgotten how very nice detroiters are.....
ok - so now go ahead and make your detroit jokes...but detroit and michigan really are lovely, whatever the bad press might have you believe....

 

[FireDancer]

I prefer having my plate taken away as soon as I am done and will actually ask the waiter/waitress to take it. I don’t need to look at my dirty empty plate while everyone else finishes eating.

 

[luke]

do you not think that's a bit unfair on those still eating? To have a waiter fussing round the table?
Oh and I'm not sure about those 'soccer' teams in your sig either

 

[Cyrano]

When I trained as a waiter we were always told never to remove patrons plates until the entire table was finished. Normally asking to be sure in case someone was just have a break
I think I would have been quite annoyed if any waiter/waitress remove anyone plates.
The expection is in buffet restaurants where they want to keep the tables clear as patrons go up for refills or different courses.
Shame that this happened at the GF

 

[FireDancer]

do you not think that's a bit unfair on those still eating? To have a waiter fussing round the table?
Oh and I'm not sure about those 'soccer' teams in your sig either

I don't think it is unfair. Sometimes I am the last one eating, sometimes I am not. I don't really notice it all that often. There is a little bit of a difference in the way restaurant service is here. I can’t speak for England but I know in Italy the waiter comes around a lot less often and you have to ask for more. Over here when your water glass is empties it is refilled almost without asking. In Italy, it stays empty until you ask for a refill. I think it is a bit of a standard of service difference. Not better or worse, just differenet.

What do you mean about the 'soccer' teams...I though all the scousers were Man U fans and Juventus just gave you the opportunity to concentrate on the domestic league for a couple of years

 

[luke]

seriously, that last comment is a bit out of order, the juve one I mean

 

[Jubilee]

Well the good that comes from this post is that everyone can see we have different standards. I'm sure WDW servers are torn because of differing etiquette opinions.