I was invisible at the RainForest Cafe!

[rosiep]

I'd like some advie please. I am a Mom who travels Disney with my beautiful 21 year old daughter. She gets a lot of attention wherever we go...and I am proud of her, not just for her looks but because she is smart, funny and an all around great young woman.

This last Tuesday night we were at the Rainforeset Cafe in DTD and the waiters never looked at me not once! The chatted up my daughter and were very friendly and solicitous to her..but acted as if I wasn't even there.

Afterwards I wanted to say something, but I didn't know how to do this without looking pathetic and jealous....but I was really offended, and I don't think they realized the were doing it.What would you have done?

 

[bumbershoot]

I've been invisible there, too, but b/c the waiters seemed more interested in chatting with my husband...

I don't know that there's much you can say to them, other than maybe possibly talk to your daughter so that she maybe possibly can focus on the fact that she is eating with YOU. But at 21, no matter how terrific she is, she might possibly be more interested in chatting up peers, and might possibly need to be reminded. (channeling my former 21 year old self, thinking of meals with my mom)

By the way, you two look quite a bit alike.

 

[biolabetty]

Boy, do I understand how you feel. My daughter is 22, and we always get excellent service when she's around. I also have 2 much younger kids (ages 6 and 9), and everyone assumes they are her kids, not mine, so the waiters always ask her what the kids want to eat. I, of course, answer them, which really seems to throw them off. I really don't have a solution to the "invisibility" of being with one's very attractive daughter at restaurants, but it does tend to make me feel very old.

 

[Dobie]

Based on your picture, you are BOTH beautiful. . .

I know how you feel. My own beautiful 17 year old brat eclipes me like the sun outshining a clod of dirt.

On the upside, I always take her with me places where I know I will be waited on by young men, because we always get fast, prompt service. . .

 

[pixiewings71]

I'm sorry you felt bad! You can send an email to the restaurant or just speak with the manager if they made you feel bad. It might be worth mentioning as the servers should focus on everyone at the table, not just the ones they perceive as pretty. BTW~I think you're beautiful and you look very much like your DD who is also beautiful!

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

Wow, you guys look a lot alike, and are both beautiful!

I'm sorry they treated you like that. I probably would have made a sarcastic joke "Hey, hello, person over here too!!???" LOL

 

[rosiep]

Thank you for all the kind words. Tara and I are usually mistaken for sisters and thats kinda fun. As I said.I don't think the waiters were aware they were doing it....I like the cute comment of Jendisneylandlver...but the more I observed the behavior the more fasinated by the behavior I became and while I was shocked I also found it comical.

I was at Disney after all...nothing could spoil the magic for me.

 

[jernysgirl]

My own beautiful 17 year old brat eclipes me like the sun outshining a clod of dirt.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Did you pay the bill?

I would have probably made a funny comment like, "Hey, if I were you I'd pay more attention to the person who's going to actually pay the bill." or after the meal, tell the waiter, "Since my dd got all the attention, she'll take care of your tip" (esp. if your dd has no money)

 

[mystic_path]

Dont feel so bad. The waiters are younger (Like around your daughters age) and they do chat it up with the girls. I have been there many times (Not for the attention) but for the food and atmosphere, and I am 25 and I have gotten a lot of attention. My own mum makes fun of me saying "That waiter was hitting on you". I think its a way for them to make tips to be completely honest.

Dont feel so bad. I know exactly what you mean though. Your a beautiful lady as well so im sorry to hear you felt really left out. That really isnt great service.

 

[kylieh]

I don't have an answer re how to deal with the staff, but my 2c, I think you look like sisters, rather than Mum/Daughter. And she got her looks, intelligence, social skills, etc from you.

 

[GregC]

Rosie..LOL I think I saw you guys walking around DTD that day! it's a small world {no pun intendid}..

 

[VegasMike21]

You should of spoke to the manager about it, I'm sure your meals would of been comped and the waiter would of gotten a nice talking to.

 

[mariezp]

Interesting.... I guess we will wait to see if we become invisible in November. We will be traveling with my DS17 and some friends that have a DD17. We may be ignored by both male and female waiters! I'll have to remember to pay attention to their reactions.

 

[DevilDuckie]

Were they rude? Or did they just not flirt with you? If they failed to ask you if you wanted a refill too or ignored you when you spoke you definitely have a legitimate issue and should bring such things to the attention of management. If they simply focused more of their "off topic" chatter at your daughter... well, young people flirt with young people.

 

[Jagdcarcajou]

Heya,

I can't relate to your specific issue so much, but I have problems with the wait staff at Rainforest in general. Basically we don't go there anymore. Food isn't all that anyway.

My experiences there were all the same.

1. Waiter comes by once sat, takes drink order.

2. Brings drinks and takes order.

3. Maybe comes by once for refill, maybe.

4. Sometime between 3. and my hotel checkout time several days later they bring the check...

Good luck if you ever need any other service, or if you might be thirsty or something.

YMMV.

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

Heya,

I can't relate to your specific issue so much, but I have problems with the wait staff at Rainforest in general. Basically we don't go there anymore. Food isn't all that anyway.

My experiences there were all the same.

1. Waiter comes by once sat, takes drink order.

2. Brings drinks and takes order.

3. Maybe comes by once for refill, maybe.

4. Sometime between 3. and my hotel checkout time several days later they bring the check...

Good luck if you ever need any other service, or if you might be thirsty or something.

YMMV.

Not that we eat there all the time... but when we were there in October, we ate there 2 different days for lunch, and have nothing but positive things to say, very attentive, good service, great food... they were especially great with dd (who was 3)... I can understand why the OP felt left out... but I wouldn't let that stop anyone from eating there if they wanted too... we'll be back there in 19 days!! And I can't wait for their lettuce wraps!

--Lisa

 

[Dopey's MIL]

Heya,

I can't relate to your specific issue so much, but I have problems with the wait staff at Rainforest in general. Basically we don't go there anymore. Food isn't all that anyway.

My experiences there were all the same.

1. Waiter comes by once sat, takes drink order.

2. Brings drinks and takes order.

3. Maybe comes by once for refill, maybe.

4. Sometime between 3. and my hotel checkout time several days later they bring the check...

Good luck if you ever need any other service, or if you might be thirsty or something.

YMMV.

I agree. We weren't pleased with the service or the food last Sept. In fact, I asked them to adjust the tab it took 30 minutes! It was kind of an eating nightmare. I love the atmosphere though!

 

[pixiewings71]

We eat there when we visit Disney, so we eat there about once a month. We really enjoy it, the service is good, the food is good, the atmosphere is great.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

We did have a bad service experience in October. Normally we have a great time, so I'm hoping it was a fluke. I really hope their service hasn't gone down hill.

Our experience in October was similiar. We were basically ALL ignored. Drinks weren't refilled, took forever to get the bill. When there was a mistake on the bill the server wasn't very friendly about it.

We plan on going back there in June, because of previous good experiences. If it's bad again though, I'm not sure what we'll think!