Hot Chocolate Weirdness

[MediumSizedMermaid]

Just got back from a trip, and like the title says I had some...odd experiences ordering hot chocolate. So on Sunday morning I was at MK and did a mobile order breakfast at Friar's Nook and ordered a hot chocolate at $3.79. It came out pretty much exactly as you'd expect. All good.

Later in the evening we were at DHS and I ordered the same thing at Fairfax Fare. Exact same menu description, exact same price. There I was given hot water, two packets of Joffrey's hot chocolate mix, and nothing to stir it with. I hadn't planned on sitting so had to awkwardly try and mix it together near the table where the cutlery and napkins were, and had to use a plastic spoon to mix, which you generally don't want to do with hot beverages in case of the plastic slightly melting and contaminating the drink.

So am I crazy at being taken aback at this? TBH if I'd known what I'd be getting at Fairfax I would not have ordered at all. Even if it's functionally the same stuff in terms of it being Joffrey's mix and water, I'm just not willing to pay almost four bucks for something I have to 'make' myself. I feel like both the menu description and price should be different so you know what you're getting into and for the inconvenience of having to deal with the mess of powder, etc.

I.e. Hot Chocolate $3.79

Hot Chocolate (Mix Your Own) $2.79

 

[Schneewittchen37]

I'm thinking the staff that handed you the mix are deserving of some earnest feedback. That doesn't sound like a standard operating procedure.

I've ordered hot chocolate at many amusement parks and sporting events. I've never had to mix it myself.

 

[soniam]

Definitely weird. The only time I’ve ever “mixed” anything myself at Disney is when they ran out of tea bags but still had hot water. I used my own tea bag. It was cold and they had ran out the day before.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Just got back from a trip, and like the title says I had some...odd experiences ordering hot chocolate. So on Sunday morning I was at MK and did a mobile order breakfast at Friar's Nook and ordered a hot chocolate at $3.79. It came out pretty much exactly as you'd expect. All good.

Later in the evening we were at DHS and I ordered the same thing at Fairfax Fare. Exact same menu description, exact same price. There I was given hot water, two packets of Joffrey's hot chocolate mix, and nothing to stir it with. I hadn't planned on sitting so had to awkwardly try and mix it together near the table where the cutlery and napkins were, and had to use a plastic spoon to mix, which you generally don't want to do with hot beverages in case of the plastic slightly melting and contaminating the drink.

So am I crazy at being taken aback at this? TBH if I'd known what I'd be getting at Fairfax I would not have ordered at all. Even if it's functionally the same stuff in terms of it being Joffrey's mix and water, I'm just not willing to pay almost four bucks for something I have to 'make' myself. I feel like both the menu description and price should be different so you know what you're getting into and for the inconvenience of having to deal with the mess of powder, etc.

I.e. Hot Chocolate $3.79

Hot Chocolate (Mix Your Own) $2.79

guessing you mobile ordered at both places. based on what happened at the small park I work at this past December on a cold night. we ran out of hot chocolate . we could not make it fast enough. this stand makes for our stand plus half of smaller stands in park. our park does not mobile order but I can seeing what happened to you where this could happen. that night many people where like how could you run out when told none was available. glad I was not in a window that night. and yes all of our hot chocolate is made from powder

 

[buzzgirls&dad]

There was a time not too long ago that the Market place (QS) at the BC gave you hot water and you mixed the drink together yourself. That was the last time I ordered and it was the same Nestle's mix that you get 6 for $1.49 at the grocery store.

 

[Genie+]

Just a guess - but maybe their machine broke.

 

[ambula603]

This happened to me, I ordered it at the Boardwalk Deli and was given a packet and a cup. I had just ordered some (came made, delicious!) in the park at Animal Kingdom and was confused because I couldn't tell the difference from the menu.

 

[rdaky]

We ordered hot chocolate at Creations and received a packet. My understanding is that is standard procedure depending on location. Not every location has a hot chocolate dispenser and some only have hot water for the convenience of hot tea or cocoa.

 

[Genie+]

If this is intentional - quite ridiculous. There is no where else where I’m handed hot water and a cocoa packet.

We ordered hot chocolate at Creations and received a packet. My understanding is that is standard procedure depending on location. Not every location has a hot chocolate dispenser and some only have hot water for the convenience of hot tea or cocoa.

Do you mean Connections, the place with the Starbucks and Liege Waffles?

There’s zero excuse for a restaurant that size not to have a hot chocolate machine if it’s on the menu.

 

[rdaky]

If this is intentional - quite ridiculous. There is no where else where I’m handed hot water and a cocoa packet.



Do you mean Connections, the place with the Starbucks and Liege Waffles?

There’s zero excuse for a restaurant that size not to have a hot chocolate machine if it’s on the menu.

LOL yes. I meant Connections. I have no idea why I called it Creations. sorry for the confusion! Yes, they gave us cups with a packet of instant mix.

I mean you get your own soda there. You get your own coffee, too. I think you basically just get your own everything when it comes to a drink. They gave us cups and told us to use the hot water dispenser with the coffee.

 

[rdaky]

Adding though, that's all you're really paying for though- instant stuff. My friend worked the Christmas parties and all of that hot cocoa was just Swiss Miss. The drink in the hot cocoa dispenser, I imagine, is probably also some sort of instant mix.

 

[MediumSizedMermaid]

Adding though, that's all you're really paying for though- instant stuff. My friend worked the Christmas parties and all of that hot cocoa was just Swiss Miss. The drink in the hot cocoa dispenser, I imagine, is probably also some sort of instant mix.

Honestly I don't really care about the quality of the cocoa so much. It's the having to mix it myself without warning or having the proper space and implement to do so and being charged the same price as I paid for a fully prepared cup.

If it had been differentiated on the menu and had a lower price point, fair enough. It was just weird to me that that essentially two different experiences had the exact same exact description and price.

 

[Genie+]

LOL yes. I meant Connections. I have no idea why I called it Creations. sorry for the confusion! Yes, they gave us cups with a packet of instant mix.

I mean you get your own soda there. You get your own coffee, too. I think you basically just get your own everything when it comes to a drink. They gave us cups and told us to use the hot water dispenser with the coffee.

It is easy to confuse Connections with the store next door, Creations. It’s all the same style. Just wanted to make sure because I might give more leeway to a merchandise location not mixing the hot chocolate lol.

It’s true most every hot chocolate is powder mix but hearing it being served as a packet sounds very unprofessional. What would people think if they ordered diet lemonade and were handed water cup and packet of crystal light?

In one word - sloppy. Everything about it.

My family’s in food service and I can’t imagine any of them not having the same reaction.

Imagine the surprise of mom, dad and 2 young kids mobile order hot cocoa for $15+, and the frustrating choice of accepting it or wasting time getting a refund and more time going elsewhere. It’s a set-up for failure. Not to mention dangerous since this is a hot beverage not uncommon for young kids. And we can forget any notion of whip cream!

 

[Betty Rohrer]

If this is intentional - quite ridiculous. There is no where else where I’m handed hot water and a cocoa packet.
ot


Do you mean Connections, the place with the Starbucks and Liege Waffles?

There’s zero excuse for a restaurant that size not to have a hot chocolate machine if it’s on the menu.ot

but if too many order to quickly machine can not keep. happened at my park this December

 

[rdaky]

I agree that it is tacky. I bet it's a huge money and time saver if they're not dealing with the machines. Next time I should just bring my own instant cocoa in my backpack and ask for a cup for hot water instead of paying $3 or whatever it costs.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

I agree that it is tacky. I bet it's a huge money and time saver if they're not dealing with the machines. Next time I should just bring my own instant cocoa in my backpack and ask for a cup for hot water instead of paying $3 or whatever it costs.

that is assuming the machine can keep up with demand. and what would you have a stand do for a mobile order when machine has run out? and yes it happens

 

[rdaky]

that is assuming the machine can keep up with demand. and what would you have a stand do for a mobile order when machine has run out? and yes it happens

Oh I understand that. I'm sure on a cooler day when so many people are ordering hot chocolate that it's harder for the machine to keep up.

I see both sides. I do think it's tacky. But I also think sometimes a packet of instant is better than having people freak out because the shop ran out of hot chocolate.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

what would you have a stand do for a mobile order when machine has run out?

Um, put the mix in the cup with hot water, stir, then hand the customer a mixed cup of hot chocolate?

 

[jillt2ph]

I also find it crazy that not all the resorts have hot chocolate machines. Riviera doesn’t have one, so I head to CB food court for breakfast where they do! I love that there is a machine at the Paddock pool grill at SRS.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

I also find it crazy that not all the resorts have hot chocolate machines. Riviera doesn’t have one, so I head to CB food court for breakfast where they do! I love that there is a machine at the Paddock pool grill at SRS.

some of the machines can not keep up if too many come at once based on where I work