Is Disney restaurant service slipping??

[jann1033]

our last trip before this past jan. was 7 or so years ago and yes it has changed. food is better but service , while not bad, was not the" happy to serve you" attitude it used to be a decade or so ago. we felt this to be true all over, resorts, parks and restaurants.we only had 1 really "rude" waiter in 11 days but did get a number who pretty much did only what they "had" to . before they were all very friendly and cheerful. case in point at ohana, he basically ignored our table of 2 adults( we actually had to wave him down a number of times to get our pineapple after a long period of him totally ignoring us as he repeatedly walked past our table while we did everything to get his attention but reach out and grab him ) while he doted on a large table beside us who basically acted surly to him. i definitely felt in a number of places they catered to larger groups thinking they would get a better tip from them. and no, we are not crabby nor are we rude. while i have at times in other restaurants sent an order back if it is wrong, i didn't in any of the rest. we visited at wdw. only 1 waitress, at trails' end, acted like the "old " disney cms. most acted like they were "just doing their job"...in other words just like they act in the real world!

 

[crbalb]

Our family goes to WDW 3 times a year and we love to eat at sit down restaurants. Over the years, we have come to expect a certain level of service from Disney CMs. I know that they are just "normal" people, but they should work to create magic in a Magical Place.

That said -- we have been to Disney twice in the last month. In May, we spent 10 days and as I reported upon return, service for the first 6 or 7 days was bad -- lack of attention, robotic and even rude. We saw it as a slip in service in some of our favorite places. It seemed the Disney Management had not been encouraging their staff to strive to improve.

In early June, we went for the weekend and experienced a totally different spirit. The CMs went out of their way to make things special. At the BWVs, CMs were playing with balloons and engaging the children, then giving the balloons away. At MK, many CMs rounded up a large group of children to sing and dance on Main St. while waiting for the parade.

Maybe some changes are in the works. I hope so.

 

[hannahryan]

I really think it is individual personality. We ate at Beaches & Cream one night and Darlene was absolutely one of the best servers we've had anywhere. We went back a couple of days later and were served by someone else. It was like night and day! This second server had no personality and was not very helpful. We ate at Kona cafe several times for lunch and one of the reasons it was so great was because of our awesome server Billy...he is the best! We went back for dinner one evening and the service was completely unremarkable. Just like in any industry, you have your great workers and not so great workers.

 

[Erikarate]

Hi Uncleromulus...

It's been awhile since I've been active on the boards...very busy with work...

Anyway, we will be going to Disney in 6 days , so when I get back I'll provide detailed reviews. (will be away from 7/8 - 7/20)

This year we are also spending our first three nights at Portofino Bay Club Level at Universal, so I will be able to compare Disney vs. Universal...

 

[Tinkergirl]

IMHO, I think that when people post on boards it is because they have a strong opinion on a subject. Lets face it, those who don't really care either way or have a "it was good" attitude are not going to post. I also think that if your comparing servise from a few years ago and the posts now, you are not factering in that many people did not have internet access at that time. Therefore, you were basically left to read a guide books opinion rather than from first hand experience.