OT - anyone else stand in line for Mandarin 'free dining'

[iluveeyore]

LOL - not exactly WDW free dining, but my DH, two teenage sons and my oldest son's girlfriend stood in line for four hours (yes, I know - duh!) to get a free buffet at the Mandarin today - oh well, not much else to do - got to read my book and get a good sunburn. At least the meal was good, and no bill to pay when we were finished. So we're all stuffed, happy and have a story to tell.
Anyone else broke enough to suffer that long for free food????

 

[SandraC]

I went my mother-in-laws house for free tea and cookies

 

[mousy_in_canada]

I did wait, but gave up after 4 hours and had a least 3.5 more to go... sorry but I won't wait 7.5 hours for food even if it's free. We went to Montana's instead. My kids were getting mighty hungry and one of them came close to fainting with the heat and smokers around her, so we left and got everyone food.

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

Are you kidding
No way in hell would I wait in line for a free meal, sorry! I saw it on the news and was actually very disturbed. Some people were coming on saying they should let them in b/c they were offered a free meal and they want it "now". The line ups were huge and they were even telling people that were closer to teh end of the line that they probably won't get in and these people still stood in line Seriously! The food there isn't even that good.
We actually went to Boston Pizza for a very quiet and relaxing meal!

 

[SaraMc]

We drove by on our way to the festivites in downtown Burlington and the line up went through the plaza and around and down the street. No thanks.

 

[fivebyfive]

Some people were coming on saying they should let them in b/c they were offered a free meal and they want it "now".

ROTLFMBO. Sounds like some folk on these boards. You know the type -Disney offers them something for FREE and yet they still complain about it.

 

[iluveeyore]

I knew everyone would think we were crazy
That's okay, we'll never do it again - and I would never have done it with small children - but we have teenagers, and it was actually fun standing around spending the time with them since they had to wait with us. We just figured after two hours we were committed, so we just kept waiting. I actually packed some snacks, and they were passing out water while we waited, so it was kind of like tailgating without drunken idiots around. We even had fun talking to people around us. We joked with the kids that they should hand out fastpasses like WDW so we could go see a movie and come back when it was time to eat!
We were at the new one in Niagara Falls, and the food was actually good once we got in.
Like I said, we'll never do it again, but we have a crazy story to remember with our teenagers.

 

[Mickey1Fan]

It was a really wonderful thing for Mandarin to do and I like your thinking eeyore that it was family time!

I like the fast pass idea

I did not go because I do not like the food at Mandarin.

 

[brighteyes]

I did not know about this, but would nto have went anyways. I heard on the radio this am that a guy waited in line for 7 hours and his gf had heatstroke. And the best part once they were done their one plate of food, they were asked to leave. No sign anywhere about a one limt plate. LOL


No way I would wait anywhere near that long, free food or not.

Happy Canada Day.


Stephanie

 

[candielips]

I also would never have waited but did they seriously only allow people one plate? That seems a little unbelievable.
Anyways, Mandarin could not have asked for better advertising. Pretty smart on their part.

 

[iluveeyore]

I do not know why that couple was only allowed one plate - the only logical reason is that they were there at closing time. We were inside for at least an hour and had several plates each, all very good.
I know it was hot and sunny where we were, so we were happy Mandarin kept bringing by water bottles, and we all took turns sitting off in the shade as we moved along. Or we'd take breaks and go into the mall that was open from 12-5 (Niagara Square). Like I said, we'll never do it again, but it was quite an experience we won't soon forget.

 

[abirdd]

Every year I see the advertisement for Mandarin's Free Food on Canada Day. Every year I wonder just how mental the lineups happen to be. Thank you for posting your experience!

With our young kiddos, we'd never be able to cope with the wait. With teenagers, I think the wait is probably a good one - since you'd totally get family time, as you mentioned!!

 

[brighteyes]

I do not know why that couple was only allowed one plate - the only logical reason is that they were there at closing time. We were inside for at least an hour and had several plates each, all very good.
I know it was hot and sunny where we were, so we were happy Mandarin kept bringing by water bottles, and we all took turns sitting off in the shade as we moved along. Or we'd take breaks and go into the mall that was open from 12-5 (Niagara Square). Like I said, we'll never do it again, but it was quite an experience we won't soon forget.

Well I heard it on Z103.5 this am. The guy said he drank tons of water but said they were only allowed one plate and was ticked cause there were no signs anywhere that said that. He went to the Scarborough location - don't know which one but just what I heard. He lined up at 5:00 am and got in about 2:30 or so.

Steph

 

[minnie56]

NOT A CHANCE!

I wish they would donate food to food banks instead.

 

[pxlbarrel]

Hmmmm....makes me wonder about the guy who says he only got one plate of food and then was told to leave. I find that hard to believe ... probably somebody who just wanted to complain after waiting so long for FREE food.

It's estimated that the Mandarin spent half a mil on this Canada Day gift. I find that incredibly generous.

 

[kimmiec]

i know how crazy busy they are when they aren't offering free food, i didn't even chance it, and it's my fave place to eat

 

[Lynda Silk]

My DS17 and his friends waited 7 hours to get into The Mandarin in Brampton. When they came back to our house, they said 'never again!'.

But there was no limit to how much they could eat. One of the boys said that he had 2 1/2 plates, and I think he ate the least of all of them. So I'm not sure why that other fellow was only restricted to 1 plate.

 

[Tantor]

NOT A CHANCE!

I wish they would donate food to food banks instead.

me too!