Coral Reef Restaurant - Diver/menu - Discontinued for 2009

[disneyin2008]

My husband and I dined here for one of our 45th Anniversary dinners this past Sept. I had contacted Debbie in July and she assured me that everything was a go--all we had to do was 'show-up'. We were seated at a table for two right in front of the tank, perfect, but when we were given our menus they were just the regular ones--I had to spoil the surprise for my husband and tell our waitress that we were to have the Personal menus--she seemed annoyed and left to find out where the others were--came back after a long wait and said that there wasn't any record of any Personal menus for us. I asked to speak with a manager and she immediately told me that the manager was in a meeting and could not be disturbed. A few minutes later a very nice man arrived with the Personal menus that I had ordered with Debbi. He told me that they had been 'miss-placed' He then assured me that everything else would go very smoothly--which it did--two divers soon swam up to our table with our sign-saying Happy 45th Anniversary, threw shells for confetti and people in our area stood up and applauded us. Other than the rough start--it was very nice. When we were leaving the restaurant, the gentleman followed us out to apologize and gave us the sign that the divers had. Our waitress did mention that the divers probably will NOT be doing this after December and she wished that they would discontinue the menus as well.

How cool getting to keep the diver sign....I think that's the first time I've heard of anyone getting that. Sad about the rocky start, but at least it got better!

While I'd agree that it was a little rude for the server to make that comment in front of a guest, I can totally see why it would be a hassle for them and they'd want to discontinue it. YOU seemed to be polite in your exchange about the menu, but I'm guessing that's not the norm, and the server takes the brunt of the misplaced mistakes.

There was a rumor a while back about them charging for the divers, which would certainly cut down on the number of requests. I've got a diver scheduled but not for something as important as a 45th wedding anniversary....I just want to tell my pre-teen girls how proud I am of them. Now I'm feeling a little guilty that requests like mine may have created the monster that the diver program has probably become. I guess like a lot of things at Disney this freebie has gotten out of hand.....not really abused, but certainly over used. Maybe with the 2009 theme of celebrations they're concerned that it will get worse. Can you imagine everyone in the restaurant having a personalized menu, lol. I mean really, don't we all go to WDW to celebrate something....if not a real event, we at least try to make it celebratory and special, so this fits right in. And with boards like DIS the word spreads fast about little things like this....it was probably once a rare occurence that only happened when the staff was told of a special event....now we're all writing asking for it, lol. Such is the world of Internet.

I'm getting more and more excited though about our trip...the girls still have no idea of the surprises in store for them.

 

[shadowryter]

i've just emailed debbie, hoping she can help me out at such short notice, we leave in 3 weeks.
we've got a 1.50pm ADR, does anyone know if they do the divers at lunch time? (although i suppose in the grand scheme of things it doesnt really matter because i'm doing divequest at 5.30 that day, so will be in there myself!! ) (if anyone cant get a diver for dinner on the 13th november, i'd be happy to give you a wave!! )

We had our Aug lunch ADR at 1pm and were there for a little over an hour. Our diver arrived around 15 minutes after we were seated and they just kept on coming even as we were leaving. Your ADR time should be just just fine.

 

[eeyoresnr]

My husband and I dined here for one of our 45th Anniversary dinners this past Sept. I had contacted Debbie in July and she assured me that everything was a go--all we had to do was 'show-up'. We were seated at a table for two right in front of the tank, perfect, but when we were given our menus they were just the regular ones--I had to spoil the surprise for my husband and tell our waitress that we were to have the Personal menus--she seemed annoyed and left to find out where the others were--came back after a long wait and said that there wasn't any record of any Personal menus for us. I asked to speak with a manager and she immediately told me that the manager was in a meeting and could not be disturbed. A few minutes later a very nice man arrived with the Personal menus that I had ordered with Debbi. He told me that they had been 'miss-placed' He then assured me that everything else would go very smoothly--which it did--two divers soon swam up to our table with our sign-saying Happy 45th Anniversary, threw shells for confetti and people in our area stood up and applauded us. Other than the rough start--it was very nice. When we were leaving the restaurant, the gentleman followed us out to apologize and gave us the sign that the divers had. Our waitress did mention that the divers probably will NOT be doing this after December and she wished that they would discontinue the menus as well.

you don't happen to recall the name of your server do you?

 

[kid-at-heart]

Our waitress did mention that the divers probably will NOT be doing this after December and she wished that they would discontinue the menus as well.

That was rude of the waitress. This was a special day and event for you. Even if she was annoyed she should not have made the comment in front of you. I am sorry you experienced her rudeness.

 

[PrincessAli]

you don't happen to recall the name of your server do you?

I don't--and I did want to remember it. After the problem with our menus, she sort of just ignored us--it took forever for our drinks and bread, while the table that was seated next to us ( her table also) was treated much nicer-she even managed to laugh and smile with them, but always seemed in a bad mood when talking to us.-so I can't say it was because she was rushed--just seemed very annoyed with us-even saying, 'Now--are you ready to order? Thank goodness for that nice young man--I don't know if he was the manager or maybe an assistant--but he made an other wise miserable situation perfect!

 

[PrincessAli]

How cool getting to keep the diver sign....I think that's the first time I've heard of anyone getting that. Sad about the rocky start, but at least it got better!

While I'd agree that it was a little rude for the server to make that comment in front of a guest, I can totally see why it would be a hassle for them and they'd want to discontinue it. YOU seemed to be polite in your exchange about the menu, but I'm guessing that's not the norm, and the server takes the brunt of the misplaced mistakes.

There was a rumor a while back about them charging for the divers, which would certainly cut down on the number of requests. I've got a diver scheduled but not for something as important as a 45th wedding anniversary....I just want to tell my pre-teen girls how proud I am of them. Now I'm feeling a little guilty that requests like mine may have created the monster that the diver program has probably become. I guess like a lot of things at Disney this freebie has gotten out of hand.....not really abused, but certainly over used. Maybe with the 2009 theme of celebrations they're concerned that it will get worse. Can you imagine everyone in the restaurant having a personalized menu, lol. I mean really, don't we all go to WDW to celebrate something....if not a real event, we at least try to make it celebratory and special, so this fits right in. And with boards like DIS the word spreads fast about little things like this....it was probably once a rare occurence that only happened when the staff was told of a special event....now we're all writing asking for it, lol. Such is the world of Internet.

I'm getting more and more excited though about our trip...the girls still have no idea of the surprises in store for them.

I personally think she was just trying to let us know that the menus are a pain for them--but actually the person that seats you is supposed to bring the menu to the table as you are seated--so I guess just the fact that I asked her to check on it for me must have set her off. I didn't really care about the menu (well--yes I did)I was more concerned about the diver!!---and that was perfect. Hope everything works for you-even though Debbi told me that I wouldn't have to mention it at check-in----if I was able to do it again---I'd check!

 

[connie1042]

My daughter had the same thing happen. I did not know about it until they returned to the room.They had no idea about any of it. It was a surprise for their 5th wedding anniversary. I had ordered the diver, cake and menus. They got the diver and the cake, but no menus. I have e-mailed Debbie, and she said she would send them. I e-mailed her on Mon. to remind her and she said they were in the mail. Guess what they are still not here. I am going to give it until Mon., then I will e-mail her again. I was pretty bummed it did not go off as planned, but I guess 2 out of 3 is pretty good. Especially if I get the menus in the mail.

 

[eeyoresnr]

I don't--and I did want to remember it. After the problem with our menus, she sort of just ignored us--it took forever for our drinks and bread, while the table that was seated next to us ( her table also) was treated much nicer-she even managed to laugh and smile with them, but always seemed in a bad mood when talking to us.-so I can't say it was because she was rushed--just seemed very annoyed with us-even saying, 'Now--are you ready to order? Thank goodness for that nice young man--I don't know if he was the manager or maybe an assistant--but he made an other wise miserable situation perfect!

If I were you I'd send Debbi an email about this...fo a server to treat anyone this way is unacceptable I know because I wait tables for a living... it's possible that if you give Debbi enough info on your time/date/where you sat/etc she may be able to figure it out as to who the server was and have a little talk with her...I'm glad your diver turned out ok

 

[Sandy321]

I personally think she was just trying to let us know that the menus are a pain for them--but actually the person that seats you is supposed to bring the menu to the table as you are seated--so I guess just the fact that I asked her to check on it for me must have set her off. I didn't really care about the menu (well--yes I did)I was more concerned about the diver!!---and that was perfect. Hope everything works for you-even though Debbi told me that I wouldn't have to mention it at check-in----if I was able to do it again---I'd check!

We were treated extremely rudely by a server at Tony's Restaurant on our 25th Anniversary - and i wrote down her name, and specific time info etc....

then I emailed guest relations - including my phone number - and they called back - but do you think I can find the info of the server?? NO... lol but it helps to email - esp to let them know how special the menus and divers are - I understand that the divers are pay for the priveledge of diving - and they get to decide if they want to hold up the signs - so if you ask me its no skin off disney's nose - its one of those magical guest to guest things!

Disney is cutting back on so much, they need to remember the magic!!

 

[Stefy]

Hi

Can y'all tell me more about this. Am thinking about doing it as a surprise for DB when we go in Dec. Is Coral Reef the only restaurant that does this?

Thanx

Stefy x

 

[hearts8701]

artist point also does this its a paper menu with your last name printed on the bottom

 

[glo]

I have been looking this up all morning. Are they doing it for 2009? Is there still no cost for it?

 

[Tricia1972]

There is no word for 2009 yet. As of right now they are not taking reservations/requests past December 2008.


There is an 11 page thread on Coral Reef, divers, and personal menus. There are lots of pictures and even a video or two.

I am going to merge this into that thread so we can keep the Coral Reef Menu and Diver information in one thread.

 

[annej]

We ate at Narcoosie's this last trip and they gave us personalized menus as a surprise. we had eaten there earlier inour trip and then went back the last night. It was a sweet surprise and we had no idea why they did it. we loved Narcoosie's! Our new favorite!

 

[Monny2AE]

I emailed Debbi about a month ago and she said they were not taking any requests for 2009 and to check back with her in December I'm thinking since the theme for the year is Celebration, they would still keep doing the diver and menu. It doesn't give the early 2009ers much time to plan something though.

Just found this thread and read a good bit of it. Loved the pics!!!

I was all excited until I read some posts about them possibly discontinuing it for 2009.

We're going Jan 24-31 and are having lunch at Coral Reef for my husband's birthday. I really wanted to surprise him with a personalized menu, diver and cake. My kids would love it. I really hope they don't discontinue it or make it something that you purchase and charge an outrageous amount for it. I DO understand the amount of work that goes into making all the magic happen but it's Disney and magic is supposed to happen at Disney!

 

[Tricia1972]

Just found this thread and read a good bit of it. Loved the pics!!!

I was all excited until I read some posts about them possibly discontinuing it for 2009.

We're going Jan 24-31 and are having lunch at Coral Reef for my husband's birthday. I really wanted to surprise him with a personalized menu, diver and cake. My kids would love it. I really hope they don't discontinue it or make it something that you purchase and charge an outrageous amount for it. I DO understand the amount of work that goes into making all the magic happen but it's Disney and magic is supposed to happen at Disney!

I really hope that they can keep up with the magic, I think it's wonderful! Though I have wondered for the past few months if they'd be able to continue offering it and the thought of it being discontinued had crossed my mind. It's just so popular now, and I wondered if they could offer it for 'free' anymore.

Hopefully they find a way to make it work!

 

[heatherlynn444]

be very careful about this....it doesn't always happen. my sweet husband wanted to surprise me with a menu and diver, and when he called was told they would ahve to "check on" the diver aND they never got back to him. he sent the pictures for the menu and was all excited about it and they LOST the menu. he was all excited about surprising me with it and was totally bummed out. i dont think it ever got printed to begin with. and when i surprised him witha menu in dec, they had to go in teh back and search and finally found it. just be aware this is totally hit or miss...

 

[Tbella]

I have e-mailed the Coral Reef severl times with the first e-mail being over a month ago and haven't received a reply. I wanted to set up a banner dive and personalized menu for my husband. Does anyone know how long it takes before someone gets back to you?

 

[4lilpoohs]

I sent my first email on 10/1. I sent a second one yesterday and still haven't heard anything.

 

[roxy83]

I emailed her on Monday and had a response by Tuesday. I sent a second message on Wednesday and had an immediate response.