Just returned from 10 night stay. Random thoughts...

[Disneychick75]

OP, sorry about your experiences. I would definitely contact guest services about the waitress at CRT. It seems others here have had a bad server as well. If we don't let WDW know about bad service, they will think everything is fine and no changes will be made.
wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com

 

[anniemae]

I am shocked at the treatment at CRT by the servers. We don't dine there because my kids are NOT into princesses, but from what I hear it is a hard-to-get, expensive meal. I would be royally (pun intended) irritated if I was treated like dirt from our server. I would definitely report any server who treats a customer like what has been described in this thread.

You would think they would have the servers be animated and happy since it is supposed to be a magical and special breakfast.

 

[Mousetopia]

Sounds like we had the same server at CRT! Our server was also completely uninvolved, wouldn't crack a smile and didn't even say goodbye or anything at the end - I just sat there wondering if I was getting a check or something? She really ruined the experience for us. I would never eat there again.

I have heard of this server several times at crt. If everyone took a sec and wrote to customer service at disney likely that would be resolved. Especially helpful if you have the name.

 

[Dbktmc]

I think we had the same waitress at CRT a couple of years ago. We haven't gone back since because of it. She was extremely rude. At one point I asked her if there was any other fruit besides grapes for the kids as an appetizer, and she said in a very rude and hostile manner, Do you see anything else on the menu? I said no, and she said in the same rude and hostile manner, Then there is your answer. I was just asking, not expecting. I completely understood that there were only grapes available, but her answer and attitude was uncalled for. She continued to treat us very rudely throughout the whole meal.

We never made a big deal out of it. We just ignored her behavior because we wanted our son to have a good time. It sure did dampen the experience for us, though. It's just no fun to be around such an unpleasant person at any time, much less at a place like Cinderella's Castle at Disney World!

It seems like it may have been the same waitress. If not, they really have a problem if they have multiple servers with such bad attitudes. If the tip hadn't already been included I would have seriously refused to give her a dime. (And I was a waitress for 4 LONG years through college and I know how important it is to tip.)

 

[anniemae]

I am baffled at how many people on this board have experienced what appears to be the same rude server. It does not seem to be a case of the server "having an off day," which is totally understandable, everyone has a bad day once in a while. But the multiple reports indicate that it is normal behavior.

This treatment would not be acceptable at my local Chili's, so why is it tolerated at DW?

 

[TexasTSL]

It seems like it may have been the same waitress. If not, they really have a problem if they have multiple servers with such bad attitudes. If the tip hadn't already been included I would have seriously refused to give her a dime. (And I was a waitress for 4 LONG years through college and I know how important it is to tip.)

It must have been the same person! It was our last night and our first time with DS at the castle, so it was really a downer for us, but, like I said, we didn't want to let her ruin our day!

I only asked about the grapes because my DS was two at the time and I worried about him choking on them, although he loves grapes! I was just looking back at my notes from that trip, and now that my memory is refreshed I remember that after she was rude about my grape inquiry, I tried to lighten the mood by asking for her opinion on entrees. Her reply, was, Ma'am, try reading the menu. It's all written right there. At that point, I gave up trying to change her attitude! I did write down what she said because I considered complaining but then never did.

Oh, well, I can say that is the only experience we have had with a really rude CM since 2011, when we started going to Disney annually.

My niece wanted to go to Cinderella's castle the next year, but because of the bad taste in our mouths, we went to Akershus instead. Maybe we should give the castle another try sometime and just ask for another waitress if we get this same one!

 

[SaintsManiac]

We had a wonderful experience at CP. Sorry it didn't work out for you, OP!

 

[kristennn]

I hope you complain to them directly too. We ate at CRT and had a male server who was really snotty and offensive. I wonder if they can't be bothered to be nice because their tip is included? It's such an expensive/special dining experience - having your server be pleasant and warm seems like it should just be standard. I DID complain by the way and just got a cookie cutter response that gave no sign that they had even read my email.

 

[brooke789]

Sorry but swim diapers shouldn't be allowed in any public pool. When my daughter was in them and we vacationed we did other water activities. It's gross and selfish IMO.

It's selfish to let a baby swim? Or to want to teach a child (who is not yet potty trained) to swim and save their life from possible drowning?! Wow!

 

[DeluxePrincess]

I can't deal with Crystal Palace anymore. It's so chaotic in there these days.

 

[tmoo]

Our server at CRT was an older male. He was polite and efficient but not really entertaining. The food was decent, but the portions small. The sword was just handed over (which was fine with us). We had a good meal, but CRT doesn't match up to the hype. Given the cost, difficulty to book, and belief this is one of the crown jewel meals at Disney it falls short.

Crystal Palace? If you have young kids and want their picture with Pooh go ahead, other than that avoid it. Much better options. The food and service are probably best described as cafeteria quality. No offense to cafeterias, but they don't cost as much as Crystal Palace.

 

[disney1957@charter]

I'm sorry your server was rude, no excuses for that. However, I agree that if your set expectations that menus will be adjusted or that your children will be fussed over, you already have set your experience up for disappointment. I think folks already have high expectations for a castle meal, when in fact it is basically a character meal in a pretty restaurant, so if you inflate that, well... It's going to fall flat.

Op- you can't go back and change your experiences, but you can avoid that kind of thing moving forward. When you have character meals make sure you go in with your camera ready. If you are rushed or you miss a character for whatever reason, tell the server. Know that cost of these meals is not equal to the foid quality, you pay for the characters, and remember that most servers try very hard to give your family an experience that is magical, but there are times when they cannot control the chaos Aron's them. It looks like you got stuck in that kind of circle. I avoid breakfast in the MK because it seems they are pushed to move families in and out. The servers cannot hide that sense of urgency, I think. I prefer dinner or the resorts for character meals, although I must say that Akershus in Epcot has never let us down.

 

[disney1957@charter]

No matter what, I have found if I politely ask for the supervisor, or character handler's and share my concern I have gotten overwhelming support and apologies. It sounds from this board Disney better do something about the server's at Cinderella's Table! Being rude is totally uncalled for. I agree, however, that is nice if your child gets special attention, but I see it as a bonus not an expectation. I would have told the hostess about the rude server, but not about the server not making a big deal over your child. There are way too many children in that room at one time to be able to make a big deal over them. We did go for my daughter's 5th birthday there, and they DID make a BIG deal! They had her stand up on her chair, and the Fairy Godmother brought her a certificate that stated she had celebrated her 5th birthday there (it had her name on it and everything - but then when we made the reservation we were sure to tell them we were celebrating her 5th birthday). Then all of the characters circled back to pay a special visit to her. we were very surprised at how much attention she got. Since then, and as she has grown older, we tend to go in January on or near her birthday - if I let them know when making dining reservations its her birthday she gets a little birthday cake and a few characters come over for the delivery of it. I have also ordered special birthday cakes made just for her delivered from the bakery on the Board Walk, and they know that it is "special" and the server that brings the cake out and the characters make an even bigger deal out of it. But one of those special cakes costs a lot more than the regular frozen kind they have at every restaurant.

I agree - no babies in diapers at pools. Ugh, or at least stay in the kiddie pool!

 

[rileyz]

It's selfish to let a baby swim? Or to want to teach a child (who is not yet potty trained) to swim and save their life from possible drowning?! Wow!

In a resort pool with swim diapers I believe it is selfish, yes. I have been on several cruises and to resort pools that have had to be closed and cleaned due to feces. My daughter took infant/toddler swim lessons at the YMCA. The Y or a private pool is more appropriate IMO because you aren't affecting people's vacations that they have spent a good deal of money on. If addition, if an infant is only swimming while on vacation I highly doubt they are learning enough to prevent drowning.

 

[anniemae]

No matter what, I have found if I politely ask for the supervisor, or character handler's and share my concern I have gotten overwhelming support and apologies. It sounds from this board Disney better do something about the server's at Cinderella's Table! Being rude is totally uncalled for. I agree, however, that is nice if your child gets special attention, but I see it as a bonus not an expectation. I would have told the hostess about the rude server, but not about the server not making a big deal over your child. There are way too many children in that room at one time to be able to make a big deal over them. We did go for my daughter's 5th birthday there, and they DID make a BIG deal! They had her stand up on her chair, and the Fairy Godmother brought her a certificate that stated she had celebrated her 5th birthday there (it had her name on it and everything - but then when we made the reservation we were sure to tell them we were celebrating her 5th birthday). Then all of the characters circled back to pay a special visit to her. we were very surprised at how much attention she got. Since then, and as she has grown older, we tend to go in January on or near her birthday - if I let them know when making dining reservations its her birthday she gets a little birthday cake and a few characters come over for the delivery of it. I have also ordered special birthday cakes made just for her delivered from the bakery on the Board Walk, and they know that it is "special" and the server that brings the cake out and the characters make an even bigger deal out of it. But one of those special cakes costs a lot more than the regular frozen kind they have at every restaurant.

I agree - no babies in diapers at pools. Ugh, or at least stay in the kiddie pool!

I agree with this! Stay in the kiddie pool!! I know that will never happen and kids are certainly welcomed in any hotel pool (unless it is designated "adults only") but man is this swim diaper concept gross to me.

A swim diaper does nothing but contain the feces, water flows in and out of the diaper, and if baby has a really soft or messy BM, well, it gets all over the pool where everyone is swimming. I never will understand how this is okay. We were at a hotel last year, not Disney, but I came out of the pool and there was a big bm right by the side of the pool. There were tons of kids and I wonder if a child pooped, then came out of the pool and ripped his diaper off and it fell out. I was shocked nobody stepped in it. It turned me off for the rest of the trip. So gross.

 

[BookGirl305]

q

 

[Amboo]

Around here, a lot of pools won't allow your child in with the disposable swim diapers because they're notorious for leaking. You must use reusable ones, and sometimes even a specific brand. There are some very good reusable ones that do an excellent job. None hold pee, but other than the thought of it being gross, pee isn't an issue. Guess we're selfish because we always take our boys swimming while on vacation and don't plan on stopping.

 

[jessrose18]

i would love to hear about any activities at animal kingdom you did with your toddler!

 

[jaceraden]

See upthread. I either stepped in some, swam in some, or came in contact with some at a water park 13 years ago. I had to find an urgent care that could diagnose and give VERY heavy duty drugs simply to get me well enough to get on the plane and come home.

You're not sure? So, really, you might have gotten sick from unknown pool poop exposure OR food poisoning OR from touching a surface that a hand washing slacker touched OR from a zillion other possible places. I'm very curious how you came to the conclusion that unseen pool poop is what caused you to get so sick, so fast. As someone in the medical field and generally science minded, I'm honestly beyond curious and also fascinated by your logic.

Edited for spelling

 

[rg35]

Have to agree with the OP on Soarin'. My son loved the original and was absolutely looking forward to the new one. He does tend to be on the nervous side, and absolutely hated the new film. So much so that he started crying because he was worried about the "jump factor" effects that they added in the new film.

I happened to enjoy it, but I felt they were too heavy-handed with the CG elements.