Really horrible service at The Plaza Restaurant :(

LadyTrampScamp&Angel

DIS Veteran
Joined
Apr 30, 2001
Messages
3,093
Wow, worst experience we've ever had at a Disney World restaurant.

Had an ADR for lunch, check in at the outside podium, 25 minutes later and after watching people who checked in after us be seated - went back to the podium CM. There seemed to be a bit of a language problem with this CM, I noticed he was from Venezuela (and if that's spelled wrong I apologize). He tells me that he doesn't see me on his list now. I say I've been standing here the whole time and no one has called our name. He has me write my name on a piece of paper and I ask if we'll be able to go in soon, which he never answers. So we're waiting again and there are two other parties that are getting upset as they haven't been called either. Twenty more minutes pass and one of the other delayed parties start pointing out that there are 3 tables that have been sitting empty (I had noticed that too). They were in view through the door. None of the staff seems concerned, I've tried to talk DH into going somewhere else but he says we'll just have to wait there. Finally we're seated and our server was very sloooooww, the kids are hot and hungry and fighting which just contributes to how unhappy I am with the service. Everyone else in my family has ordered milkshakes so when those arrived it helped with the hot and hungry problem and I have to admit (I tasted 3 flavors!) they were really good.

While waiting for our lunch to arrive I see that there are seven empty tables now in our room that no one is clearing or seating guests at, I'm guessing that's about 1/3 of the room. It's after 2 pm by this time so my first thought is that the lunch rush was over. So out of curiousity I take a look outside and sure enough, I see all those hot groups of people waiting to be seated. Those tables sat there for 30+ minutes before a server in no big rush cleared the remaining few and people began to be seated.

Ok, I've never worked in food service but I just don't get this - especially at WDW when I expect them to have their processes together. I think what bothered me the most was that none of the staff seemed like they cared, or tried to expedite things. It was like talking to a wall, they pretty much ignored you.

My cheese steak sandwhich was ok, the ice cream and brownie dessert I had was wonderful - but I don't think we'll do The Plaza Restaurant again soon :(

I had considered talking to the manager but that person was busy trying to reunite an eldery Albanian woman with her family, she had gotten separated and they couldn't find anyone who spoke Albanian (I kid you not!). We had listened to that whole thing unfold while waiting for our table.
 
A VERY similar experience happened to us at Hollywood & Vine- it'll really ruin a restaurant for you. Whenever I think of H&V I think about how I'd like to never eat there again.
 
Isn't it a shame? I had heard good things about the Plaza too, now it'll be a long time before I'll be willing to try it again.
 
That's awful! The only thing I can think to tell you is that the waitstaff decided to take a "break" while the manager was distracted, but that doesn't make things any better. :sad2:

Was the rest of the food okay?
 

Yes, my family was happy with the food - and the desserts and shakes again were wonderful.

I also wondered if the manager being occupied had something to do with the poor service but it was really crazy bad. I felt so sorry for the people behind us also while all those tables sat empty.

I also still wonder if the CM was having trouble with names and checking people in. I saw him ask a couple of others to write their names on a piece of paper for him also. Come to think of it they rotated him out and someone else was at the podium as they filled those seven empty tables.

My DH was teasing me about being the table monitor but :confused3 it had gotten my attention by then.
 
That's awful! We always have lunch here and never had a bad experience like yours. Hopefully they get their act together.

You really should write disney about your experience. They need to know if something is working right.
 
I have considered doing that, not because I want anything, just don't want to see bad service at WDW. It may have been a fluke on that day but again the worst was the no action from the staff when you talked to them. I'm sure they get somewhat immune from customer complaints but they really seemed to care less.
 
I'm sorry to hear about your poor experience at The Plaza. We have eaten there on the last five or six trips and absolutely love the food and have always had good service (although we always seem to get the elderly lady as our waitress almost every visit). I hope one day down the road you will give it another try.
 
We have eaten at the Plaza twice and both times had a great experience. I am sorry you had such a bad time and I totally understand your frustration. It sounds like a really off day. I would try it again. If the food was bad that is one thing but since the food was good - maybe they were just short staffed or training new cast members.
 
That stinks. We've had 3 great experiences at Plaza. Maybe they were short-handed in waitstaff or in the kitchen.
 
There's just so many good places to eat at WDW that given a bad experience, it'll take me awhile to go back.

I'm glad so many have had a nice time there but I'll give it a few years . . .
 
There's just so many good places to eat at WDW that given a bad experience, it'll take me awhile to go back.

I'm glad so many have had a nice time there but I'll give it a few years . . .

I totally understand and agree with ya. We had 2 bad meals on 2 different trips (Nov 2007 and Dec 2007) at Le Cellier due to bad food (service was great). We wont be back for a while if ever. There's just so many other places we would rather go.
 


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