Mini (or Minnie) Vent About Beaches and Cream

[Jennasis]

Definitely frustrating. Disney generally wont seat a party of 2 at a table for 4. Whatever the circumstance.

 

[WishICouldSpeakWhale]

Did they give you a pager when you arrived? Otherwise, I'm not sure how they could mix up different guests.

We checked in at Bon Voyage last November, and they said we already checked in. Uhh, no, we just got here. A moment later, someone called our name and we were seated. Our last name is very unique, and the first name matched too. I have no idea what happened to the people who checked in under our reservation, but we were seated immediately and they were not. So even with a pager, I can see how they might seat the "wrong" people.

Also, OP, I can't even imagine how frustrating this must've been. No excuses at all. When they say the wrong party in your place, they needed to make any accommodation to help you out. I do also hope they helped out the people who checked in our reservation too.

 

[Madame]

We’ve found this about B&C as well. They say they’ll text you.... but not if you don’t have a US cell number, so we literally sit there for the 15 mins early we show up, then the 30 plus mins they are “running late.” Walk in & the restaurant is only 1/4 full!!! & we’ve been sitting there watching people come out - not a restaurant full exited.....

I’m no longer turning up early for B&C (nor for H&V, but that’s another story). I’m also going to start asking if there’s room at the counter if they don’t have a table ready. Yeah, I’ve heard that bit about just cleaning off my table one times too many. Too bad we love the grilled cheese so much

 

[brockash]

Ppl. keep talking about them seating parties of at the booth. We have never had that happen, it's always been at one of those tiny tables. The only time we get a booth is when we're 5 or 6....so if OP saw parties of 4 getting seated I'd assume it was at the same size table as where they were going to seat the party of 2.

 

[manning]

There were 4 of us. I use a walker and not very mobile. The hosted started to take us back to a table in the back. The 1st booth is empty. I walk up to the booth and stop and told her I have hard time walking and would like the booth. She walks outside then comes back in and gives us the booth. Instead of being gracious she makes it a big deal. I was courteous the whole time.

 

[Shellbells]

I would have been annoyed too. Disney has us making ADRs 180 days in advance, we spend a lot of money for the food and time is precious while you're there.

 

[DISNEYSQUIRRELS]

We get very frustrated by this too @Shanti.
The waiting is one thing, it’s what you do at Disney. What takes it to the next level is when you are finally walked in to be seated & you see all kinds for empty tables.
SMH

 

[Daisy1940]

We checked in at Bon Voyage last November, and they said we already checked in. Uhh, no, we just got here. A moment later, someone called our name and we were seated. Our last name is very unique, and the first name matched too. I have no idea what happened to the people who checked in under our reservation, but we were seated immediately and they were not. So even with a pager, I can see how they might seat the "wrong" people.

Also, OP, I can't even imagine how frustrating this must've been. No excuses at all. When they say the wrong party in your place, they needed to make any accommodation to help you out. I do also hope they helped out the people who checked in our reservation too.

A similar thing happened to us at 50’s Prime Time last summer. I checked in and they asked for first name only, didn’t check party size, and gave no pager. A few minutes later they called my first name but different party size. Given my name is very common I thought nothing of it. After 10-15 minutes of them calling the name i double checked that they had clicked the correct reservation when I checked in (I’m sure you know where this is going) and they hadn’t, they had checked in another party with my name. We had to wait an additional bit while they found us a table and got everything straightened out. Luckily we weren’t in a rush but I always give last name and party size when checking in now even if I’m not asked.

 

[Nancyg56]

Definitely frustrating. Disney generally wont seat a party of 2 at a table for 4. Whatever the circumstance.

@Shanti this is why you waited. No matter what the Cm told you, you were never going to be seated in a table that could squeeze more people into it. The initial mistake was troublesome, but the fact that you are able to see others seated when you waited compounded the frustration, and I get it. B&C is even more of an issue for seating becuase of it's size.

 

[LucyBC80]

Definitely frustrating. Disney generally wont seat a party of 2 at a table for 4. Whatever the circumstance.

I’m a party of two. I’ve probably been seated on a table for 4 at least 70% of my time at Disney. And I’ve travelled during some of the busiest times of the year.

 

[kimmyg26]

OP, I'm sorry that you had a stressful time especially on your last day. I do agree that sometimes the Disney dinning system is simply off. You truly should never have had to wait so long.

I certainly am not a veteran poster but have been lurking for a long time. I simply don't get why we all don't take just an extra minute to simply hear out someone else's complaint. Some of valid, some aren't but if its upsets someone sometimes they simply need to vent

 

[GillianP1301]

The "mixing up of guests" would have annoyed me and I don't think there is much more you could've done than what you did, which is question the hostess again after another party was seated after you were told you would be next.

The not seating you at a 4 top when there was a 2 top clearing at the same time, I kinda understand. They would've have known by their ADRs that a party of 4 was set to check-in and had they given you that table, they would've ended up keeping that party waiting extra long. That part honestly, would not have annoyed me, but the overall lengthy wait would have.

Beaches & Cream is a tough one because it is so tiny. Seating one group at the "wrong" table could set off a ripple effect that could take several seatings to recover from. Sorry you had such a long wait, I hope once you were seated you were able to enjoy the nice relaxing meal you wanted.

 

[GillianP1301]

A similar thing happened to us at 50’s Prime Time last summer. I checked in and they asked for first name only, didn’t check party size, and gave no pager. A few minutes later they called my first name but different party size. Given my name is very common I thought nothing of it. After 10-15 minutes of them calling the name i double checked that they had clicked the correct reservation when I checked in (I’m sure you know where this is going) and they hadn’t, they had checked in another party with my name. We had to wait an additional bit while they found us a table and got everything straightened out. Luckily we weren’t in a rush but I always give last name and party size when checking in now even if I’m not asked.

This is a bit of a pet peeve of mine. I don't understand why they don't consistently use pager/text to notify when a table is ready. It's not that relaxing to sit around hoping you catch your name being called. Crystal Palace is the worst for this because there are always so many people lingering around waiting to be seated. IMO, it just slows everything down. Multiply that 1/2 minute or so it takes to find every party by the total number of parties they seat in a day and it's not an insignificant amount of time. Getting a page/text gets your butt moving pretty quickly to the host/hostess.

 

[nkereina]

Beaches & Cream is so small that they won't seat parties of 2 in the booth. Or they only do so in rare instances. If a party of 3 or 4 (or more) has a reservation in the near future, they won't do it. I always prefer a booth and have asked to wait for one during the 4-5 times we have eaten here, and have been told no. The booths, in addition to 1 or 2 tables, are the only ones that can accommodate larger parties and with the popularity of this place, its not surprising they left it open for the larger groups. Had they sat OP in the booth, the group then may have had to wait. So someone was going to have to wait, unfortunately for OP it was them.

 

[Debbie Jean]

Not for everyone, I know, but when we are only 2 people at B & C I always ask if there is room at the counter. Food is the same and service is great. I especially love sitting in front of the ice cream area watching them put "the kitchen sink" together LOL

 

[DLgal]

Our party of 4 got seated at one of those tiny round tables. There was barely enough space for the kitchen sink we ordered. Meanwhile, the whole time we were there, 2 of the booths sat empty.

OP, I'd be annoyed too.

 

[jillt2ph]

There is no rhyme or reason. I have been seated at one of those booths when we were just a party of 2, and the tiny round tables when a party of 4. I am just happy to have a seat!

 

[Inga]

It boils my potatoes when I have a ressie, then wait wait wait....and when I see others getting seated before me. Even worse. My BP would have gone up methinks.

 

[SL6827]

Is Beaches and Cream all that great? Never ate there, so I just thought I would ask. Anything that is really special about the place?

 

[Ensusieasm]

Is Beaches and Cream all that great? Never ate there, so I just thought I would ask. Anything that is really special about the place?

The kitchen sink ice cream extravaganza is the most special item.
Be sure to bring several friends!