Is it misleading that some resort counter service locations are open 24 hours?

[KAB1]

And this is why Disney has option. If this really is a concern for you then you can stay someplace like GF or BW or BC that has 24 hr room service. I know that it costs more but you are asking for an extra service beyond the norm.... so like any extra service you pay for it. I know I'm going to hear but only the deluxes have it and we can't afford a deluxe. But if it is that big of a deal then you only go when you have enough money to pay for it. (Disney is all about options. If you can't survive a night without a 3am burger.... well there is your option.) Most people however would be of the minority if they choose not to come to Disney because they couldn't order a burger at 3am. Disney is aware of this and their revenue is the bottom line. Disney wants to make sure its guests are happy but they have to draw the line somewhere. Cause while it is our happy place... it also still a business!

Completely Agree

 

[jenjersnap]

Thank you for that photo of Captain Cook's, DonaldDoleWhip. I was confident that the grill hours were listed but didn't want to assert that without photo evidence.

I don't think it is misleading at all and I say that as a person who has often been on the search for hot food late at night because our flights typically arrive after 11 p.m.

We have found places on property to get late night eats, primarily Picabu in the Dolphin. Their grill has been open 24 hours (though we didn't get there last time so not sure if it is still true. We rent a car and our new first night, late night tradition is Steak and Shake!). Once we tried the McDonald's at 1:30 a.m. only to be told that nothing fried was available, our choices were burgers (which none of us will eat), yogurt parfaits from the coolers and drinks. They were out of all other cold food and refused to use the fryer. Obviously they have concerns about wasted food and, perhaps, manpower ... maybe those concerns are shared by WDW too.

 

[cymbaldiva]

Once we tried the McDonald's at 1:30 a.m. only to be told that nothing fried was available, our choices were burgers (which none of us will eat), yogurt parfaits from the coolers and drinks. They were out of all other cold food and refused to use the fryer. Obviously they have concerns about wasted food and, perhaps, manpower ... maybe those concerns are shared by WDW too.

Wow - really? At a 24 hour McDonalds? I ask because our local 24 hr McDs has their full lunch/dinner selection available from 11 am til 6 am.

I don't disbelief what you're saying, it just sounds very...odd. Maybe they were just cleaning the fryers that night or something...?

 

[jenjersnap]

Oh, it happened all right and I agree totally that it was a surreal experience. We asked why there weren't more options available and they wouldn't give us a reason - I would think they would have told us if they were cleaning the fryers? I dunno though.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Exactly. So why shouldn't fresh cooked food be available in a CS establishment be available 24 hours a day when they claim to be open 24 hours?

Because the fresh food from room service is prepared in a kitchen completely separate from the snack bar, and the food choices provided on the room service menu are similar, if not identical, to the menu items in the full service restaurant - not the snack bar menu. That location prepares its own food.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Indeed, it is so common, that I would expect that most eateries that are fully operational 24 hours (are there really any?) would make a point of that specific fact. In other words, the expectation should be that there will be limited service overnight, unless they say others.

Well, that's actually why the sign the OP posted specifies the items listed are available after 11 AM. They're not breakfast items, the location isn't going to prepare them during typical breakfast hours, and by putting that start time on the sign, they don't have to answer repeated questions or turn down order after order. I'm sure the breakfast menu has an opposing time indication on it - something like 'served until 11 AM' or 'available 6 AM - 11 AM'.

It doesn't mean those items are available from 11 AM until eternity, or even until breakfast service starts. Common sense

 

[cluvsdisney]

Because the fresh food from room service is prepared in a kitchen completely separate from the snack bar, and the food choices provided on the room service menu are similar, if not identical, to the menu items in the full service restaurant - not the snack bar menu. That location prepares its own food.

That's kind of the point - the grill is right there. Food can be prepared there if Disney chose to make it available. I wasn't suggesting the room service kitchen prepare food for the counter service place.

I was not one of those "people in the know" mentioned earlier on this thread who was aware of how these places operate in the middle of the night. Of course, now I know that the grill closes at 11 per the picture posted. Prior to this thread, I would have expected a hot menu (even if limited) to be available 24 hours a day and I would be disappointed to show up to find out that was not the case.

I am curious if they ever did serve some sort of hot menu 24 hours a day. If it's available, people may partake. It's hard to say how popular it would or wouldn't be if it's not an option at this time.

 

[KAB1]

That's kind of the point - the grill is right there. Food can be prepared there if Disney chose to make it available. I wasn't suggesting the room service kitchen prepare food for the counter service place.

I was not one of those "people in the know" mentioned earlier on this thread who was aware of how these places operate in the middle of the night. Of course, now I know that the grill closes at 11 per the picture posted. Prior to this thread, I would have expected a hot menu (even if limited) to be available 24 hours a day and I would be disappointed to show up to find out that was not the case.

I am curious if they ever did serve some sort of hot menu 24 hours a day. If it's available, people may partake. It's hard to say how popular it would or wouldn't be if it's not an option at this time.

They did serve hot food all night, but that what going back about 20 years ago. I remember being able to get hot dogs and nacho's after the parks closed. The food and fun center at the contemporary also served hot food all night.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I was able to find a picture of the breakfast menu for the Food & Fun Center which lists a time you can purchase items off it from 7:00 AM - 11:00 AM. So unlike their lunch/dinner menu which said those items were available at 11:00 AM, at least their breakfast menu lists a time when those items were no longer being made.

 

[cymbaldiva]

No: Not misleading. If you're hungry, you can get fed. Often, too much detail leads more so to confusion and glazing over than people actually internalizing all the detail you provide.

So you're saying a sign that states hours of operation is too much detail?

Yes, it's actually extremely common - almost surely more prevalent than 24 hour eateries being fully operational for all 24 hours. Another example: "24 hour room service" generally doesn't mean every item on the menu is available every hour of the day.

Indeed, it is so common, that I would expect that most eateries that are fully operational 24 hours (are there really any?) would make a point of that specific fact. In other words, the expectation should be that there will be limited service overnight, unless they say others.

Once again - I disagree .... I have been to many establishments that are 24 hours (I'm a nite owl) - I have found that the establishments that limit the menu have signage and/or menus that state this.

On the misleading issue, it isn't at all. Its well known that the grill closes at 11pm (all over every site) and at least at the Poly in room info and the CMs let you know.

I'm sorry - apparently it's not well known. We're on a site for Disney fans and some didn't know. Considering that we're the exception and not the norm, do you really think that the average visitor just "knows"?

And this is why Disney has option. If this really is a concern for you then you can stay someplace like GF or BW or BC that has 24 hr room service. I know that it costs more but you are asking for an extra service beyond the norm.... so like any extra service you pay for it. I know I'm going to hear but only the deluxes have it and we can't afford a deluxe. But if it is that big of a deal then you only go when you have enough money to pay for it. (Disney is all about options. If you can't survive a night without a 3am burger.... well there is your option.) Most people however would be of the minority if they choose not to come to Disney because they couldn't order a burger at 3am. Disney is aware of this and their revenue is the bottom line. Disney wants to make sure its guests are happy but they have to draw the line somewhere. Cause while it is our happy place... it also still a business!

Or the option I exercise - take our rental car off property to eat. Which considering Disney's current marketing plan isn't the option that they want their guests to choose.

Well, that's actually why the sign the OP posted specifies the items listed are available after 11 AM. They're not breakfast items, the location isn't going to prepare them during typical breakfast hours, and by putting that start time on the sign, they don't have to answer repeated questions or turn down order after order. I'm sure the breakfast menu has an opposing time indication on it - something like 'served until 11 AM' or 'available 6 AM - 11 AM'.

It doesn't mean those items are available from 11 AM until eternity, or even until breakfast service starts. Common sense

Apparently our definition of common sense greatly differs. Common sense would tell one if that there is no closing time posted on a menu that those items are available. Would it really be that difficult to put a closing time on the grill sign? No, of course not - just Disney doesn't do it.

I remind myself all the time that the real world doesn't apply to Disney, and I'm fine with it. Saying that it's common sense to follow their logic though? That's just fan boy talk.

 

[Lewisc]

Not misleading at all. Food is available 24 hours a day. Different foods are available at different times.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I was able to find a picture of the breakfast menu for the Food & Fun Center which lists a time you can purchase items off it from 7:00 AM - 11:00 AM. So unlike their lunch/dinner menu which said those items were available at 11:00 AM, at least their breakfast menu lists a time when those items were no longer being made.

But the lunch/dinner menu you posted earlier specifically DOESN'T say the grill items are available from 11 AM to 7 AM - service you seem to expect from your initial post. It would be surprising if, somewhere in the restaurant, there wasn't an indication that the grill closes at a certain time.

As for the cold foods not being restocked in the middle of the night, it's likely that those foods are prepared fresh daily either at the hotel or at some central site on property and delivered to the various resorts. It would, therefore, be both unreasonable and impossible to place not-yet-prepared food in the coolers in the middle of the night.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I'm sorry - apparently it's not well known. We're on a site for Disney fans and some didn't know. Considering that we're the exception and not the norm, do you really think that the average visitor just "knows"?

Not necessarily true. It's possible the OP is being disingenuous or controversial - that there IS signage that we're just not being shown, or that Guests checking into the Contemporary (the most likely patrons of its 24 hour counter service location at 1, 2, 4 AM) are absolutely given this information at check-in.

 

[bicker]

So you're saying a sign that states hours of operation is too much detail?

The counter is operating during those hours. Only the grill is not.

One's own knee-jerk personal preferences regarding what information they wanted to have been provided in retrospect is a horrible gauge of what amount information will please patrons the most when making purchasing decisions overall. In other words, don't trivialize the work of those who decide how to present their offerings to the public just because you don't understand it, and because you're frustrated that you couldn't get a burger at all hours.

 

[fla4fun]

To be honest, I haven't paid attention at Contempo Cafe to see if they post hours anywhere. In the old Food and Fun Center, they did have times on the menu for breakfast and for the hot lunch/dinner menu.

I don't necessarily think it's misleading, but I do think it should be a part of the info package you get when you check in. They should give not only B/L/D hours for the TS restaurants, but also hours and "limited menu between x & y" for the quick service locations. If there is a limited menu for room service, that should be noted as well (It never made sense to me that WL didn't serve room service lunch when it was supposed to be a deluxe). That's what the info package is for. If you're in the room, and you want something to eat, it's a lot less hassle to just look in your info pack to see what's open than to go down to the restaurant to find it's either closed or serving a limited menu. I remember being very surprised that the TS restaurants closed so early on our first trips to WDW. When you are used to restaurants being open until 11-12 pm in the outside world, you don't expect them to close at 9-10 pm like many of the resort restaurants do.

 

[Lewisc]

Most of us are "piling" on. I would expect that a quick service restaurant that's open 24/7 would have a reasonable selection of prepared sandwiches available throughout the night. They might run out of some types of sandwiches but would stock enough sandwiches so customers would have a choice, even at 4a.

Enough vegetarian sandwiches to more then accommodate projected demand, even if that means tossing old sandwiches on a daily basis. Offering a vegetarian the choice of ham and swiss or roast beef isn't really a choice.

I wouldn't expect the entire menu to be available 24/7. I'd certainly expect a late night menu would have limited choices, probably nothing cooked to order.

I would be annoyed if the coffee that's available at 4a was fresh at 10p. Even coffee made by mixing hot water with coffee syrup tastes even viler the longer it sits.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

But the lunch/dinner menu you posted earlier specifically DOESN'T say the grill items are available from 11 AM to 7 AM - service you seem to expect from your initial post. It would be surprising if, somewhere in the restaurant, there wasn't an indication that the grill closes at a certain time.

As for the cold foods not being restocked in the middle of the night, it's likely that those foods are prepared fresh daily either at the hotel or at some central site on property and delivered to the various resorts. It would, therefore, be both unreasonable and impossible to place not-yet-prepared food in the coolers in the middle of the night.

I remember that the closing time for their grill would sometimes change and wasn't set in stone like their breakfast menu, so maybe that's the reason for not saying 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM. In August 2007 which was one month before they closed they extended the grill hours until 12:00 AM because of a huge gospil convention and I only found that out when I walked in after 10:00 PM and saw it opened, so it wasn't advertised. Although it could have been easy for them getting those numbers you see on boards that slide out, so they could change the closing time around depending on that day.

 

[kaytieeldr]

And again we ask - are you absolutely positive the grill closing times aren't (a) posted anywhere in or around the Contempo Cafe / (b) provided in the paperwork each Guest recieves upon checking into the resort - given that the corresponding information IS given to Polynesian and Grand Floridian Guests, as evidenced in this thread?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

And again we ask - are you absolutely positive the grill closing times aren't (a) posted anywhere in or around the Contempo Cafe / (b) provided in the paperwork each Guest recieves upon checking into the resort - given that the corresponding information IS given to Polynesian and Grand Floridian Guests, as evidenced in this thread?

At the Contempo Cafe the times are listed on their electronic menu you see when you walk-in. So that includes breakfast, lunch and dinner, although over there you can still get the lunch items with the dinner itmes and that's until 12:00 AM when the whole location closes for the night, so it's not open 24 hours.

The pictures I posted was from the Food & Fun Center which was the counter service location prior to the Contempo Cafe.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Then I'm very confused about what we're discussing, or rather why we're discussing anything.

Please help. Is this thread about the food selection in the middle of the night at a restaurant that has been closed for somewhere in the vicinity of three years?