Horrible Experience - Warning

[Rneighh]

Does anyone besides me think it is odd that the OP has never responded or said anything back. Makes me think she likes to stir the pot. Attorney my behind, I'm married to one and work in his office. He sees problems long before they occur -- part of the job. She (anyone in fact) would have told someone they were leaving the table empty but would be back.

Renee

 

[bavaria]

I have been on both sides of the table - as a server at a buffet, and as a single diner.

I would have definitely made someone aware that I was stepping out, or at least left a significant personal item. (leaving a scarf for instance won't do - it just looks like a lost and found item)

I eat breakfast at buffets in hotels in Germany almost daily when I am travel, same at Disneyland Paris, and do exactly that when I need to step out. Same if I dine at WDW and need to step out.

Unfortunately, servers are often held responsible for 'skips' and the restaurant had no way of knowing that the OP was returning. She failed to let anyone know, and there was an unfortunate but frankly not unexpected result.

Hopefully everyone here has learned a valuable lesson, including the OP.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

I'm certainly not willing to blame the OP, as the whole thing was an honest misunderstanding. However, I do think that getting that worked up over the situation is a bit of a stretch. Maybe I've got a high tolerance for embarrassment but if someone said out loud "I thought you walked out?!!?" I would have said, "Nope. I'm right here." and sat down to finish my meal. I hardly think by making the statement, or putting "walkout" on the resort bill, that anyone meant to imply that the OP was some sort of a deadbeat loser.

 

[annie_in_wonderland]

Does anyone besides me think it is odd that the OP has never responded or said anything back. Makes me think she likes to stir the pot. Attorney my behind, I'm married to one and work in his office. He sees problems long before they occur -- part of the job. She (anyone in fact) would have told someone they were leaving the table empty but would be back.

Renee

Oh gee, I missed the "she's faking being an attorney" clue! Of course we all know that an attorney never would have let this happen. What was I thinking!

 

[annie_in_wonderland]

I'm certainly not willing to blame the OP, as the whole thing was an honest misunderstanding. However, I do think that getting that worked up over the situation is a bit of a stretch. Maybe I've got a high tolerance for embarrassment but if someone said out loud "I thought you walked out?!!?" I would have said, "Nope. I'm right here." and sat down to finish my meal. I hardly think by making the statement, or putting "walkout" on the resort bill, that anyone meant to imply that the OP was some sort of a deadbeat loser.

You are right. You seem like a nice easy going person and it would be a good thing if all of us could be that way.

 

[Boardwalk Tigger]

I hardly think by making the statement, or putting "walkout" on the resort bill, that anyone meant to imply that the OP was some sort of a deadbeat loser.

What does it mean then???

 

[02bBarbie]

Obviously they were NOT welltrained since it wasn't a walkout (and they had to reverse their charge) and insulting a patron is never OK. Disney does not do business in this fashion. It is also not Disney's style to turn tables so quickly that you can't use the restrooms. ::cop: Have a Disney Day!

It looked like a walk-out point-blank. Most people do not take 15 minutes in the bathroom. If I were a server and I saw a table of mine empty after about 7-10 minutes I sure would start thinking that someone walked out. I would definitely feel that way after 15 minutes.

I feel that Disney did the right thing by reversing the charge - I also feel that the 'Ohana staff did the right thing by covering their bases. I cannot comment appropriately about the waitress' comment as I wasn't there as an unbiased third party observer (which neither the waitress or OP were so obviously their stories would be biased) But you cannot deny that after 15 minutes it looked like a walk-out. That is an incredibly popular restaurant and I'm sure there were patrons that were anxious to be seated.

 

[Sammie]

It really is irrelvant to blame and truly there is no blame. OP could have prevented the situation she became upset about by telling someone. End of that discussion.

As to the waitstaff, I see they did nothing wrong either. Not like they called the police on her. As to whether they used a tone and were rude, who knows we weren't there. More than likely they were just frustrated to be put in that situation.

They said ,we thought you left, which they did and it was a reasonable assumption.

What I don't understand in these threads is why come to the DIS and share it, if you don't wish to risk further over it. Just deal with it there and move on.

 

[pepperw23]

udsweetpea:"So is there a better way to saying "I thought you walked out"?

YES THERE IS! I posted suggestions earlier in this thread. She should have said. "I'm so sorry. I thought you had left" or just say nothing and reverse the charge." The woman was already seated and eating her dessert. There was no reason to embarass her with implying that she walked out on a bill. The waitress didn't think before she spoke. Obviously the OP hadn't walked out. This is a different situation than running after someone who has already left the restaurant. I'm very surprised that Disney hasn't covered this in their employee training.

I have to agree with this.

I also agree with other posters that the whole thing could have been avoided with a simple note to the server.

Bottom line was the OP did not walk out on her bill and should not have been left with the feeling that she did something wrong. A quiet "oops" on the servers part would have been fine.

 

[StampMom]

As to the waitstaff, I see they did nothing wrong either. Not like they called the police on her. As to whether they used a tone and were rude, who knows we weren't there. More than likely they were just frustrated to be put in that situation.

They said ,we thought you left, which they did and it was a reasonable assumption.

My thoughts exactly! I typically don't have a high tolerance for embarassment, but I honestly don't think that I would have been embarassed in this situation. IF any of the other diners were even paying enough attention to hear the waitress's "I thought you'd left" comment, they would have been able to see with their own eyes that the waitress had obviously been mistaken! It's not as if the waitress chased the OP down and said "Come back here you deadbeat! You have to pay for the food you just ate!" She just stated a fact, "I thought you'd walked out." What's so embarassing about that? My response would have been "Nope, sorry -- my son just takes a long time in the potty sometimes! I'd prefer to put this on my credit card rather than charging it to my room, though. Thanks."

 

[momtoBrandon&Jacob]

To the OP, you were there for a whole week and this is the nonsense that you decided to report about. I really hope this was not the highlight of your trip. If I were you, I'd shrug it off and move on. I'm sure this incident will not go on the BAR registry or whatever registry attorneys are on.

 

[Boardwalk Tigger]

Most people do not take 15 minutes in the bathroom. If I were a server and I saw a table of mine empty after about 7-10 minutes I sure would start thinking that someone walked out.

That is an incredibly popular restaurant and I'm sure there were patrons that were anxious to be seated.

This doesn't justify the waitress's remarks to the OP. She was already reseated and eating her dessert.

 

[02bBarbie]

All the waitress said is, and I'm quoting the OP here, ""I thought you just walked out on the check!!!!!"

That's it. Sorry, I don't see where that's so horrifying.

 

[Mermaid_Ariel]

Do you expect the waitstaff to be mindreaders? Honestly, if you left no signs of returning (like a jacket hanging on the chair, or a hat on the table, etc), what would you expect them to think after 15 minutes? I don't think it would've been entirely difficult to communicate with the waitstaff or the podium that you might be at the bathroom for a little while with your child. I don't see what the big deal is at all.

I don't think the waitress' intent was to embarrass you. I doubt with as crowded as Chef Mickey's is that anybody cared or even heard what was said. I don't know why you were taking it so personally.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

What does it mean then???

Just what it sounds like, that she thought she walked out on her bill. Clearly, she didn't, as she was standing right there in front of the server, so problem solved.

Put yourself in the OP's shoes. You walk back to your table and find it bussed. You find your server and say "Um, where is my food?" Your server says "OMG! I'm so sorry, we cleared your table because you were gone for 15 minutes and I thought you walked out!" I'm fairly certain that the server was far more embarrassed than the OP! I certainly wouldn't be freaked out, I mean, what's the big deal?

 

[CamColt]

I think this thread has run its course and is getting too heated with not so nice comments. Let's remember to play nice everyone.