Horrible, horrible review of Raglan Road....UPDATE #62

[jayhjay]

I know Raglan Road is not a Disney restaurant but I do think Disney has got to do somethng about the wait in Raglan Road. We went at 4:00 in the afternoon and the restaurant was very, very empty but we waited and waited and waited in between courses. Our waiter was nowhere to be found. Our drinks were never refilled. After we were all done we waited atleast 30 minutes for the check and during our meal I saw the table next to us waiting and the father signaling the waiter to get his attention and he sat at the table for a very long period alone and his family went outside while he sat there waiting for the check.

I think this is interesting b/c in the evening when were were the experience was very different, probably b/c it was during the entertainment period. We got there in time for the first set and after it was over, all the tables around us got our checks during the break. I think they were trying to get us out and another group of tables in before the band started again b/c once they came back, I am sure most folks don't get up in the middle. I actually thought we were rushed out a bit.

Anyway, this in no way excuses your treatment, I just thought it was interesting the changes later in the night.

 

[GoodFairies]

I've never used the dining plan but from these boards it appears that adding the automatic gratuity to out-of-pocket items ordered by people using the DDP is standard practice. This of course doesn't excuse your terrible service, but does explain the added tip, which should have been 18% to match the automatic gratuity on the DDP.

 

[tiggersmom2]

I would think it should have been 18% too if she was going by the ddp, but it clearly had 20% typed out on the receipt.

 

[Tinkerspell]

Yes, it was nice not to have to carry cash but service like that deserves a BIG FAT "0" for a tip. QUOTE]

Eh, I wouldn't say zero, it just makes you look cheap. Two pennies on the table makes a point. Seriously.

 

[Ciciwoowoo]

Its sad that service can so impact your dining experience. We have also had that happen to us at Kona and we have never been in it since. (Not quite as bad as your experience, but worse than a local truckstop!)

Management sets the tone for its employees, and it is obvious in this case that management doesn't give a rats behind for customers, or at least customers on the dining plan. We are headed to WDW in December, and I've been seriously considering cancelling one of our ADRs to make room for RR. Now, I'm reconsidering my consideration.

Make sure you write a letter and include details of all of this in the letter. Disney will want to know because RR is not owned by Disney, and this is a flagrent abuse of the DDP credits! Think of the potential money Disney could lose if this happened at least once a day, every day? Shoot, if I were an auditor in Disney right now, I would hightail it over there and go through their records with a fine-tooth comb!

 

[lookingforward]

I had a horrible experience at Kona last October and wrote a letter. I was given my dining credit money back (they calculated the five meals from our dining package and automatically refunded I think about 100 to our credit card AND they gave us all one free meal (except alchohol) to be used within one year. We did go back and it was great, so that was a relief. But the letter got a professional and very kind response and made me feel so much better.

I don't know exactly why but when I have a bad experience at disney it seems so much worse than if it happened any where else. I just expect excellence from all things disney and am so shocked when I don't get it.
Like "how did this happen...wheres the magic!???" Thankfully it does not happen often.

 

[princesspat209]

Sorry to hear your horror story of reglan road. We ate there in sept.& everything was fine so I just booked us there for a J an. 2008 trip but after these reviews I maybe rethinking it. I was also told by member services that they are not on the list for the DDP for 2008 yet either so if that ends up the case may cancel them any how. Hope you get some positive feedback from disney, nobody should be treated that way .:

 

[GSDRescuer]

I got upset just reading your report!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was thinking of trying this restaurant, but now.......I definitely will NOT!!!! There is no excuse for being treated that way!!!!

 

[wld4mky]

yikes, we have eaten there in the past and have ressies for our trip at Chrstmas.I hope the wait staff and manager are gone.
Sorry for the bad time!!

 

[drag n' fly]

Reports like this one make me happy that tip will not be included in the dining plan any longer. Yes, it was nice not to have to carry cash but service like that deserves a BIG FAT "0" for a tip. And I'm with the others .....find some addresses and start writing, thats ridiculous.

If we receive service like that I immediately request the name of his/her supervisor and contact them asap in addition to what everyone else suggested.

 

[Threehearts]

I was excited to try Raglan Road and took my family there last summer. The wait was ridiculous for just entrees and drinks. To make matters worse, the food was dry and nasty(4 different entrees). I think that this restaurant is very overrated and it certainly didn't serve food that reminded me in any way of the delicious meals that I had when I spent a summer in Dublin. I'm sorry that your experience was similar to ours. Susan

 

[Tatania]

I was also really looking forward to dining at Raglan Road on my next visit (in 2008) but am thinking twice after reading how shockingly bad the service can be and how rude the manager was.

Among the general public, Disney does NOT have a reputation as being a place for fine dining and I've been trying to change that perception among my friends (at least) by making Disney recipes at all my parties (to rave reviews) and letting everyone know about the wonderful chefs and restaurants there. Unfortunately it only takes a few experiences like this at the Disney eateries for people to think you're either clueless or your tastebuds are way out of whack for praising the food at a Disney theme park.

*edit*

it certainly didn't serve food that reminded me in any way of the delicious meals that I had when I spent a summer in Dublin.

Threehearts - I know what you mean. I was in Ireland in Sept. (West coast mainly) and absolutely loved the food there. I easily gained 10 pounds from the desserts and delicious fudges alone.

 

[abk96]

Wow! OMG!!

I'm so sorry about what happened to you and your family at RR.

We had horrible service here too in July and will never return. We must have had the same waitress. She was very slow, didn't come check on us at all, and we had to ask for bread with our meal. Very disappointing.

If that's the way they are going to treat customers that are on the DDP, they should ask to be deleted from the plan. It's just that simple. And I do believe that it is only being done to the Dining Plan customers.

 

[Belle5]

I am so shocked to hear of your treatment. I have been on these boards almost daily since Nov. of 1999 and your story is probably the worst I have ever heard. I am just furious for you. Please, please do what you can to make someones 'head roll" over there--and I do mean that manager. How dare he!

 

[Luv2Roam]

I ate at RR twice not long ago -- end of August and over Labr Day weekend. I had no issues and the food was very good.

I suggested RR to a couple of DVC-ers on the DDP. Their experience was not as bad as yours, but it was bad.

It really makes me rethink RR. There are too many times I read bad reviews about them. RR seems to be a hit or miss o service and food.

Maybe with the DDP the servers ignore or just don't care since they get % tip no matter what they do or don't do.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

I just read this thread and feel angry myself..

I always recommend this restaurant, but until I eat there again, I cannot do that..

I am asking that the OP please write a letter or email to guest services....if this restaurant accepts DDP then they need to know how it works.. how many credits to take off for the meal and when to add gratuity or not..never mind customer service and serving the meal in a timely manner. Yikes, what was going on in that kitchen that night that they could not get the food out in a reasonable time.

Please know OP that Disney does read these boards, but I would definitely follow up with whatever information you have, date, time, names if you have them to guest services.. At least you will feel that you have done all you can..

 

[WDW Fan]

Thanks for sharing your story with us! I wasn't that thrilled with the food or service when we went last April. We won't be going back after your story for sure!

 

[Mickey&JoshNut]

Wow...after reading what happened to the OP I am glad we decided not to eat there a few weeks ago. I have to agree their customer service is the pits....we arrived at the restaurant at about 3 pm without an ADR....I asked if they had room for two....the hostess looked at her list and said she could "fit us in" and takes us to the dining room which was practically empty....she starts heading to a table and then stops and says the table I wanted to seat you at isn't cleared so I will get it bused right away and then points for us to stand over here. So we wait. Now I have no idea why we have to sit at THAT table when there are many tables free and clean, but oh well. Another hostess comes by and asks if we are waiting for a table. I said we were waiting for a table to be bussed but in the meantime could I look at a menu. She hands me a menu. We move to an area where there is more light to read and were looking over the menu. About 10 minutes passes and I see no one bussing any tables, let alone the "one" we are to sit at. I see the hostess and ask her how long it will be and she says "oh I didn't think you were staying?"....ummm I'm looking at a menu....we decided at that point we were done. I handed her back the menu and said...we are leaving now....and headed to Fulton's for a fabulous meal. I had heard some great reviews of Raglan Road but after reading what happend to the OP and our experience, I doubt I will enter the restaurant again.

 

[englishrose47]

I have ressies for Feb I'm going solo so don't know if that will make a difference . But I am glad I control the tip as that waitress would have gor 2c just as suggested. Plus I would also complain to anyone & everyone about it .

 

[Lureen]

Outrageous!

If you do hear back from Disney, please post the response. I'd be curious to see their reply.