Outstanding Server Award

[JodyLynC]

Did you receive really good service from a restaurant at WDW? Did you have an experience that just made you go "Wow!"? Tell us.

It can be counter service, table service, or snack cart. It can be a server, cashier, manager, host/hostess, whoever.

Tell us where, when, who, and what!!!

For those of you getting ready to go on vacation soon, try to remember your outstanding servers and tell us about them when you get back.

(No negative reviews, please. We wanna hear the good stuff.)

 

[Tricia1972]

Cousin Mikey at 50's Prime Time Cafe. We came ready to play and that was a good thing!

He was attentive and treated us very well as far as food goes, but his act was incredible! Admonished my dad for not eating his veggies, and brought them back to him with whipped cream and sprinkles as his dessert.

He worked with all of the tables and involved us in each other's games. Not so we were uncomfortable, but just enough that we felt comfortable chatting with the tables around us.

There was a birthday in the room, so we all had to sign a card that Cousin Mikey bought, because the rest of us were "too cheap to buy a card". We signed the card, sang and congratulated our friend from the other table.

My son's 2nd birthday was the next day, he wasn't wearing his birthday button because we're one day people with Birthdays. Anyway Cousin Mikey discovered his birthday was the next day when asking the kids at the beginning of the meal. He asked my older son how old he was. He held up four fingers and shyly said four. Cousin Mikey was sensitive to my son's shyness, and moved to our other son. He asked him how old he was, and our younger DS, who is not bothered with shyness, promptly held up two fingers and shouted TWO.

Well my older son was having NONE of that. See his brother was turning two the next day. Shyness disappeared and DS corrected that he was 1. We told our older DS that it was OK, that he'd be two tomorrow.

After dinner, out comes a cupcake for DS!! We were shocked, and DS was THRILLED! We sang, and because we were too cheap to buy a card, the card from Mikey went around the room and everyone signed for him.

Absolutely FANTASTIC time, and wonderful attention.

Adding my dad, if you knew him you'd know that he never smiles for pictures. He was laughing so hard he couldn't help it!

 

[stellablue]

I really liked Maria from Beaches & Cream. She was just very sweet and attentive.

I also loved Ellen from 50's Prime Time. She was very down to earth, funny, and graciously got us through a not so fun dining experience (not her fault, just poor luck next to some not so fun guests).

 

[Sugardimples]

No contest - Billy at California Grill. He is by far the finest server I have ever encountered anywhere. Knowledgeable about both the food and the wine list, willing to take the time to educate the diner without making you feel like a dummy, attentive, gracious and personable. The best!!!!!!

 

[dvcdisney]

Unfortunately, I can't remember our waiter's name in Coral Reef. He was amazing. He was attentive, even though he had so many tables. He asked us if we wanted refills. He showed my son all the hidden mickeys in the restaurant and on his vest. He was very pleasant. He has been working there for quite a long time.

We were so happy with the service that we gave him an extra tip and spoke to the manager. The manager was so happy to hear from us because he mentioned that he usually gets complaints and that he glad to hear the compliments. However, he was not surprised that we had great service from him. So now, I wished I remembered. I would try to request him if he was available next time.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I have several, luckily I keep a restaurant journal, so I have most of their names.

Laurie, at CA Grill, very attentive and sweet.

Patrick and Zach, both at Le Cellier. Both of them were very attentive and friendly. Zach is probably the best server I ever had.

Karen at Crystal Palace, again very attentive.

Clifford, at Flying Fish, (who I believe may have also been my server once at Brown Derby,) very helpful.

Paul at Boma, excellant, made great recommendations, and very friendly.

Bridgid at Ohana, very friendly, really took time to talk to me and my mom.

There were also two male servers I had at CRT and Jiko in 2005. I don't have either of there names unfortunatly. The server at CRT stayed nearby and made sure he was there to take my pictures with the princesses, and my server at Jiko went out of his way to have the chef make me something that was no longer on the menu when I asked about it.

I had a much longer list, but edited it down, since it was much too long before. Service at Disney, is generally IMO excellant.

 

[jonestavern]

Brown Derby:
Ashley from Cocoa Beach,
attentive w/o hovering, spot on suggestions, so pleasant, a real joy!
Also, Ryan from Cambridge Mass:
very efficient, friendly really made us feel at ease and special!
Great suggestions! A Pats fan!
Both of these servers were @ luncheon times.

Tutto Italia:
Viviana, from Como, Italy:
informative, pleasant excellent service!
Lunch

CG
Ron--don't remember where he's from, Kentucky? Tenn?:
very spot on suggestions, relaxed & elegant, friendly; made our experience wonderful.
They were jamming (fireworks timing) but our service was smoothe & efficient!
Dinner

Cap'n' Jack's
Patti from St. Pete's
Great suggestions, super service (despite being jammed) and could a person be much more friendly or pleasant?
Lunch

Rose & Crown Pub
Carl, UK; Bartender
Personality plus!
He was sure to mention that the DDE inc tip now, too. I know this has been a problem for some posters, but Carl made sure we were informed.
We were at R&C frequently (well, perhaps DH more than I!) this trip & in the past & Carl is
always convivial & welcoming!

WCC
MT can't remember where she's from
Oh, my word, she is absolutely hysterical!
Excellent waitperson, also!
When we were on DDP & didn't have room for dessert, she suggested we let her box up a bunch a chocolate chip cookies for us. Mmmm!




I'll add more later


Jean

 

[JodyLynC]

The manager was so happy to hear from us because he mentioned that he usually gets complaints and that he glad to hear the compliments. However, he was not surprised that we had great service from him. So now, I wished I remembered. I would try to request him if he was available next time.

I'm going to try to make an effort to point out excellent service to managers whenever I can. At one of the grocery stores I shop at, they have a "rose" program. Whenever one of the employees is noticed by customers for giving great service, they get a "rose" emblem to put on their name badges. I think it is a great idea! We are so quick to voice our complaints. I am going to try to be as quick to dole out the compliments. Whose with me?

 

[LowesChevy]

Bruce & Nadim are great servers at Citricos. We had Bruce this past trip in October and Nadim for the past 3 years when we went in May. Always attentive, informative and courteous with their service.

It was cool, we asked Bruce about the behavior of some of the guests and what the worst was he had ever seen. He told us a few stories that were unbelievable. There were some severly misbehaved children there that night, which is what brought the subject up.

We also asked him how long he had been at the restaurant, which was since it opened as Flagler's. Another interesting note is that Citricos wait list for opening server positions is a 3 year wait. The servers loved to work here and do not like to leave often.

When the servers are friendly and show their personality, it not only makes the meal complete, but the entire experience enjoyable. If the server does their job well you often overlook other snafus you may encounter.

There have been many other great servers, but these two guys really stand out. I really need to start writing down names

 

[traceycooper]

Neil at AK character breakfast - he completly won my cynical dad over on his 1st day at WDW

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I'm going to try to make an effort to point out excellent service to managers whenever I can. At one of the grocery stores I shop at, they have a "rose" program. Whenever one of the employees is noticed by customers for giving great service, they get a "rose" emblem to put on their name badges. I think it is a great idea! We are so quick to voice our complaints. I am going to try to be as quick to dole out the compliments. Whose with me?

We have the same kind of thing at the store I work at. People will tell me how helpful I am all the time, and that's great, but I'd like it better if they told my manager how nice I was.

 

[myprincessgirlisa]

our server at CR was AWESOME!!!!

If i ever see him again,,,,,I am REQUESTING him!!!!!!!

not only was he great & attentive, but he was funny & had a great FUN spirited attitude !!!

he made our meal so pleasurable!!

 

[daisy112878]

I agree with a pp about Ashley at the Brown Derby. We had her in Oct and she was soooo good. Explained everything we had questions about on the menu. Was really fun and nice. Dh and I were down again in Nov and ate lunch at the Brown Derby. She walked by our table and stopped b/c she remembered me from the month before. She was just super nice.

 

[jarrdisney]

Gary at AP is by far the best server we have ever had, anywhere. This is coming from someone that eats out at least 3 times a week.

 

[summerlandjeff]

Our waiter, Dominic, at Olivia's in OKW was hands down the best waiter we've had at any WDW restaurant! Funny and attentive he knew just when to arive, just what to say and just when to leave.

 

[CrazedDisFan]

I don't see any comments about buffet waitstaff, so I think I'll comment on our favorite. Paul at Crystal Palace is FANTASTIC! He is attentive, keeps drinks full, plates clear and helpful. The first year od DDP he sat down at our table and explained it all to us. I had a pretty good grasp of how it all worked from the DIS, but it was so nice for someone to go that extra mile. We have been lucky enough to have him for a server 3 out of the last 4 trips.

 

[CinderellyCinderelly]

Brandon @ Coral Reef was AMAZING! We didn't have any bad servers during our week long trip, but none that were good enough to remember their names, either. Even though last years dining plan included tip, we left him a nice one in addition. He was attentive -but not annoying, helpful - not in a way like he was bored with telling everyone about stuff they didn't know, funny, friendly, and to top it all off he was REALLY cute!

 

[laughinplace199]

Nasser (sp?) at Jiko is awesome! He is very friendly and he's great at selecting the right wine for each course. He's fabulous with the kids too! We ask for him every time we eat there.

 

[MarieA]

For us it was Thomas at Yachtsman Steakhouse. He was by far the best server we've had at WDW. Tiffany at Jiko was terrific too.

 

[marivaid]

Wayne at Spoodles
Katy at Crystal Palace
Joseph at Beaches & Cream
Topher at Cali Grill