How to NOT be rushed through your meals?

[jo-jo]

I don't think that was the case. The server placed the bill on your table so the server gave you the bill. If ANY party - not just yours but ANY party had walked out without paying the server had given the bill to the party.

So go to the end of the shift and the server hadn't given that bill to ANY party. And no receipt was listed for that bill. Who would pay? The server. Not that ANY party who had left.

The server had to protect his/her butt because of not so nice people. Of ANY party. Not just yours.

But that's the only time we've been given the bill within 10 mins of being seated.

 

[mom2my3kids]

We are supposed to deliver the check after first checkback, which is three minutes after delivery of your food..I wait till about half way through and explain there is no rush but that I will be your cashier..I continue to check on them and continue to get them anything they need up until they pay..Its SOP at my place of employment and if they call in the survey its the first question, so I can get docked off my survey points if I don't deliver it after first check back...So never assume...

 

[AllyBri]

We eat at WDW all the time and have never been rushed.

 

[GAN]

I've felt rushed before, but we simply eat at our usually pace ...and we tip accordingly.

Part of the issue is they certainly want to turn tables -who wouldn't, but the other side is that there are probably many guests that want to get in and out ..for whatever reason(fireworks, fast pass, etc)

 

[Uncleromulus]

I think servers cant win for losing, you bring the bill early they get mad you wait and they have to wait a couple minutes for the bill they get mad..People eat as slow as you like take your time..Campers are people who are done eating, don't want any refills but will sit at your table for 2-5 hours just talking..Servers make money on how they turn their tables.....if you are eating they wont have a problem at all, its the campers that they have a problem with..

Absolutely! And when once in a great while if you are meeting with someone you haven't seen in a long while and want to talk, let the server know so he can alert the manager--and then tip extra for taking up the table. That has worked just fine the very few times I've done it.

As for rushed, once at the Brown Derby we saw a family in such a hurry to "eat "and get to Fantasmic that they demanded the bill BEFORE any of the food arrived!!!

 

[Disneylover99]

As for rushed, once at the Brown Derby we saw a family in such a hurry to "eat "and get to Fantasmic that they demanded the bill BEFORE any of the food arrived!!!

Sometimes when I see people post questions such as, how long will it take to eat at a restaurant cause I have to be somewhere else 40 minutes later.....I have to resist the urge to respond, "If you have to ask, get quick service."

 

[perditax]

Ahhh, I'd love to have this problem. The SO and I are the types to get pretty antsy after sitting in a restaurant for a long time. The end result is that we are always those people sadly sitting for half an hour, waiting for a glimpse of our waiter with the check.

 

[VikkiLilyBee]

I've felt rushed before, but we simply eat at our usually pace ...and we tip accordingly.

Part of the issue is they certainly want to turn tables -who wouldn't, but the other side is that there are probably many guests that want to get in and out ..for whatever reason(fireworks, fast pass, etc)

Sometimes servers will try and rush you for the exact opposite reason... you don't want to leave because you have perfect firework viewing. The Rose & Crown suffers from this terribly. I've seen a guest sit down at 3pm, order just an entrée and a glass of water, then just ask for refills on the water while reading a book up until 8:30, when a couple more people join them for desserts and firework viewing! This is a servers idea of hell! It's often an assignors idea of hell as well, because that table is locked. And you're not allowed to actually ask a guest outright to leave!

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

We ever felt rushed at any meal.

However there have been times we saw people trying to stay at a table beyond a reasonable meal time to watch fireworks. I felt is was rude of them as others were waiting for their table.

AKK

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Don't go to LeCellier. Seriously I think if I hadn't gone along with the "rush" I would not have ever seen the server. He took my order, brought my wine and appetizer fine. RAN by and THREW my entrée on the table 3 minutes later and that was it... he was gone until he showed up with the check I couldn't have asked him to return the entrée until later unless I tripped him and it never occurred to me that at someplace that says they are "Signature" and charges that much they would bring the entrée before the appetizer was eaten. Good restaurants don't do that!

I disagree with a lot of folks on here.. it's not the guests job to pace a meal by holding back the orders, it's the staff's job to do that.. If you have to teach your waitstaff something is wrong!

 

[anniemae]

I think there are a lot of people at Disney who want fast service. They may want to get back to the rides, or have cranky kids who have a tough time sitting for a long meal etc. So there are probably many who want the fast paced meal and getting in and out quickly is preferred.

If you don't, I would speak up and tell your server you are not in a hurry. Then I would order one course at a time.

 

[GAN]

Ahhh, I'd love to have this problem. The SO and I are the types to get pretty antsy after sitting in a restaurant for a long time. The end result is that we are always those people sadly sitting for half an hour, waiting for a glimpse of our waiter with the check.

....and when you have all time in the world, they push you out the door. You must be like me -can almost never get in the "right" line at the store!

 

[clarklink]

I found this post because I'm searching to find out "how long it takes to eat" different places not because I'm in a hurry, but so I can block off enough time and NOT be in a hurry. I'm going on a low crowd, but free dining week so currently setting aside 90 minutes for character meals, 60 minutes for non-character table service, and 45 minutes for quick service. Other suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[DisneyMim]

We have at least one table service a day at a WDW and never feel rushed. We always do a late seating, even when our kids were young and order one thing at a time. I don't know but I think we give off the appearance of "we're taking our time so don't even think of rushing us". We always order wine, either a bottle or multiple drinks so I think that could be it too. We usually spend around 2 hours at dinner. A lot of the servers know us (we've been going forever) so this could be it too. I don't think you can be rushed if you don't want to be. So many people are always in such a hurry to get somewhere else that I think the servers have picked up on this. We use dinner as a very relaxed family time. One of the best parts of our Disney vacations.

Enjoy The Magic!

 

[Cinderella94]

I found this post because I'm searching to find out "how long it takes to eat" different places not because I'm in a hurry, but so I can block off enough time and NOT be in a hurry. I'm going on a low crowd, but free dining week so currently setting aside 90 minutes for character meals, 60 minutes for non-character table service, and 45 minutes for quick service. Other suggestions would be appreciated.

This sounds reasonable and should leave you with some wiggle room. Since the character meals are buffets, you set the pace of your eating, and I've never had to wait 90 minutes to see all the characters at any given place. Usually those take about 60 minutes too. But like I said you'll have some wiggle room.

You could also do a quick service faster than that, depending on the members of your party.

 

[TheDisneyNurse]

I never really want my ADR's to go more than an hour, unless it's Ohana or a character buffet. Usually my problem's the opposite. It takes too long!

 

[JerseyJanice]

I've said this before and I'll say it again--I am always amazed when people talk about being rushed at WDW meals. We have had the exact opposite experience--being stuck 2 to 2 1/2 hours.

I still get mad over the Garden Grill dinner we had one trip. It took forever to be seated because we were a group of six. I told our waitress we were trying to make Illuminations and to please bring out check out with dessert, but it still took her forever and a day to settle the check. We walked out to see the fireworks going off in the distance.

 

[bettybooplove]

I've never felt rushed during a meal and I can't think of a meal that was too long (character buffets and 'Ohana always take at least an hour but that's fine because those experiences come at a premium).

If I felt I was being rushed I would purposely ignore any bills that were slapped on my table or any attempts to get rid of me before I've even finished my meal. But then again I'm sure there are special circumstances as someone else mentioned. If it's a party of 6 or more, it's going to take at least an hour and a half; any server would know that. But if it's a party of one who has been fiddling at the table for 2 hours, well, that's when I could see the server trying to scoot someone along.

 

[Roxyfire]

I found this post because I'm searching to find out "how long it takes to eat" different places not because I'm in a hurry, but so I can block off enough time and NOT be in a hurry. I'm going on a low crowd, but free dining week so currently setting aside 90 minutes for character meals, 60 minutes for non-character table service, and 45 minutes for quick service. Other suggestions would be appreciated.

I think that's a good estimation. You may end up waiting in line at QS spots longer than you anticipated if you go at peak times. Try to stick to 11-11:30 for lunch and 4:30 to 5:30 for dinner. You might not be that hungry at that time but at least you won't be fighting for a table. Also check out the advance ordering locations if you don't have the dining plan! That could save you a lot of time as well.

 

[stitchfan75]

Once at Ohana while we (family of 9) still had full plates of food, server came by and said "ready for dessert". Umm no. We went on with eating and no one came back for a long time. We finally had to ask someone to get the dessert.

Some yrs ago, we were eating at Boma for breakfast. After we sat down with our FIRST plate, the server came by and stood the bill fold between my DH and I like a center piece. We moved it away and asked a manager about it. She said sometimes that done because people eat and then walk out without paying. Sooooo being rude and pushy is gonna make want to pay faster if we were planning on skipping out??????

We had the same experience at Ohana and Garden Grill, they were bringing out the next course before we were even done with the 1st. All of the buffet meals we had weren't too bad but we don't tend to linger while eating anyway.