Ridiculous wait at Mama Melrose...

[pezaddict231]

We've had family members that had issues with this restaurant taking forever, and we went for the first time less than two weeks ago. We arrived at our ADR time and were seated promptly but were then left to wait at our table for almost 45 minutes before our order was taken, server checked in from time to time saying she'd be back in "a few minutes". It took over 2.5 hours for this meal. Food was great, server was nice, but it just took forever!

 

[englishrose47]

While this may have been at a very busy time . We experienced even longer wait in September , huge crowd checking in no control over those pushing ahead of you, when we finally were seated the service was awful and the food not that good . MM is OFF my list permanently !!

 

[alicat8]

We've had family members that had issues with this restaurant taking forever, and we went for the first time less than two weeks ago. We arrived at our ADR time and were seated promptly but were then left to wait at our table for almost 45 minutes before our order was taken, server checked in from time to time saying she'd be back in "a few minutes". It took over 2.5 hours for this meal. Food was great, server was nice, but it just took forever!

As a former waitress, that make me cringe!!!

 

[MolonLabe]

This was the week before Christmas, I was there 5-10 minutes early. I hate people defending them, I have to show up early but hey can make you wait 1 hour?

This. The one and only time we did Mama Melrose was for F! as well. We showed up exactly 15 minutes early and waited an hour and 10 minutes for a table. Same thing, 1 fast pass and "sorry were really busy today". It was ridiculous, we rushed through dinner and barely made it to F!.

Food was lousy as well, worse than the garbage they serve at olive garden. We went during the week after Thanksgiving, crowd levels of 4-5 all that week. It has nothing to do with "Christmas week". Almost every other review for Mama's garbage is the same way. an hour wait for a table unless your adr is at 11:00 or 11:05.

 

[tstidm1]

I would never take a 45 minute wait for any Disney Restaurant with an ADR. If that Happened, I would've thought This is not worth my time and cancelled after 30 minutes waiting. Would take the $10 a person charge. You don't treat people with that long of a wait. Thanks for the warning on this restaurant.

 

[kamik86]

For all of those saying that you would want the restaurant to only take 80% reservations and then if they don't get backed up that day take walk ups:

Would you really want that? Would you really want to be shut out of getting an ADR to be able to eat at your favorite place to have walkups manage to get it because they happened to show up at the right time? Personally I would rather have the ADR and if there is a bit of a wait have the decision be mine if I eat there or not instead of being shut out.

Again the above assumes a place that runs on time 9 out of 10 nights but occasionally gets back logged. Not somewhere like Ohana that from reports here seems to run backlogged by 6 PM more often then it doesn't.

Finally, many people have said they can't stop people from hanging out. Sure they can! It's their restaurant. They can do it in the same way people have suggested is adequate compensation: If they see they're getting backlogged, and tables aren't paying their check or are still sitting after having paid their check, a manager can come over and tell people "Normally, we'd love to have you stay. But we're really busy tonight. We'd like to offer you a special FP+, good at any ride at any of the parks, if you could kindly free up the table in the next few minutes." How can offering the FP+ to people who've already eaten be any worse than offering it to the people who've been made to wait an hour?

I didn't read all the other posts only a few after this but what would really happen if disney started doing this is on really busy nights it would become an "insider trick" to wait at the table an extra 15-20 min. Why because on a slammed night the lines outside are long. That ride you really want to go on has a longer line then that and doesn't come with a seat and drinks. So wait 15-20 extra minutes and you have a good shot of getting a fast pass just for leaving! This would probably make the system worse. It sounds like a good idea. Just like the GAC system did, until there was such abuse that it no longer worked as designed. The same would happen here, only faster.

 

[kamik86]

BINGO.

And I don't get everyone getting so worked up about being only 5 minutes early instead of 15. Did something magical happen in that 10 minutes that would have made a difference?

I also don't get the "It's Christmas" excuse. They have X tables. They accept X ADRs. Do people eat slower the closer it gets to Christmas?

OP, you have to understand. Disney is trying to max how much money they can squeeze out of every inch in the parks. If that means overbooking people and slapping on a CC guarantee so you can't leave when you've waited too long, well that's just how it is.

Actually I would not be surprised if people did stay longer the more busy the parks are.

Close to christmas the parks are slammed. Wall to wall people you can barely move. However since the restaurant only allows in the people eating there you suddenly have a chair (we know the parks don't have nearly enough seating when slammed) a place to relax and many less people around you. So if your next thing doesn't start for a bit... say its 5:15 and the family that is just about done only wanted to do one more thing in the park... see fantasmic.

They figure they don't want to wait in that huddled line for 2 hours so they are going to sit and chat for 30 min and then wonder over. So they don't get up until 5:45.

Now if the parks weren't crowded that day they wouldn't feel the need to line up for fantasmic an hour early and that 1.5 hours would be plenty of time to get in another ride or two. So they would be more likely to leave.

 

[Disneylover99]

For all of those saying that you would want the restaurant to only take 80% reservations and then if they don't get backed up that day take walk ups:

Would you really want that? Would you really want to be shut out of getting an ADR to be able to eat at your favorite place to have walkups manage to get it because they happened to show up at the right time? Personally I would rather have the ADR and if there is a bit of a wait have the decision be mine if I eat there or not instead of being shut out.

Yes. Of course. It's not going to be my favourite place anymore if I have to wait almost an hour from checkin time to be seated and then be rushed out of the restaurant in record time. That's what happened to us at our first and only visit to MM. Dining should be a relaxing, enjoyable experience and this was not. That's why we won't be back.

 

[steves100]

Actually I would not be surprised if people did stay longer the more busy the parks are.

Close to christmas the parks are slammed. Wall to wall people you can barely move. However since the restaurant only allows in the people eating there you suddenly have a chair (we know the parks don't have nearly enough seating when slammed) a place to relax and many less people around you. So if your next thing doesn't start for a bit... say its 5:15 and the family that is just about done only wanted to do one more thing in the park... see fantasmic.

They figure they don't want to wait in that huddled line for 2 hours so they are going to sit and chat for 30 min and then wonder over. So they don't get up until 5:45.

Now if the parks weren't crowded that day they wouldn't feel the need to line up for fantasmic an hour early and that 1.5 hours would be plenty of time to get in another ride or two. So they would be more likely to leave.

Yes the people staying in the restaurant longer makes sense. But, Disney with all their IT/tracking info should know this from YEARS of experience

 

[steves100]

I have no idea why it changed. I do know that no matter what Disney decides to call their seating method, there will be people who insist that they have a gauranteed spot at any given time. WE have been regular guests at WDW for over 10 years, since my DGD was 4, and have only encountered one long wait, and never any that lasted over an hour. I know that some restaurants fall behind, and we compensate for that time, either by avoiding them or making ADR's that we can live with if they run late. What I can say fom experience is tgha no matter what, there wil lbe people who want Disney to be the same as the "real World" and will insist that it is their way that matters. The OP seems to be one of those people. No one has suggested the wait was acceptable, but did try to explain why it may have occured. Most of those people have been disparaged by the OP. I am using his "observations" as an example why Disney could call their ADR's Call ahead seating and get in line's" and he would still be upset.

Oh im sorry, if you find it ok to wait 10 minutes online to check in. That's is normal at all restaurants! Then wait another 55 for table. C'mon, From other people's post this isn't a unique situation at MM. Never again there!

 

[steves100]

In fairness to the rest of us, several said that we would have been unhappy and your first post didn't mention you asking for the Fantasmic issue to be fixed. What did you ask them to do and what reason did they give for refusing?

Didn't ask them for anything, that was the point to the thread. Didn't know the guy at the front desk was the manager (there we r about 4-5 people there at any time). He is the one that gave me the fast pass, which just seemed like a slap in the face, HEY YOUR TIME ISN'T WORTH ANYTHING.

BTW MM defenders, why do you think they give out FastPasses???

Ahh, maybe because they are FREE????

 

[mom2my3kids]

This was the week before Christmas, I was there 5-10 minutes early. I hate people defending them, I have to show up early but hey can make you wait 1 hour?

The thing is the manager cannot predict how long people are going to stay seated, they may be slow eaters or just campers...Its a estimated wait time so anything goes.....Now would I be irritated yes as I hate to wait but its the name of the game...

 

[kamik86]

Didn't ask them for anything, that was the point to the thread. Didn't know the guy at the front desk was the manager (there we r about 4-5 people there at any time). He is the one that gave me the fast pass, which just seemed like a slap in the face, HEY YOUR TIME ISN'T WORTH ANYTHING.

BTW MM defenders, why do you think they give out FastPasses???

Ahh, maybe because they are FREE????

What would you want them to offer?

It sounds like you wanted to be offered money off your bill since that wouldn't be free. However I could just as easily make the argument that this would be unreasonable as money back wouldn't compensate for lost time. (and I have seen this argument made here, that people didn't want money they wanted service and to make up valuable vacation time).

So to me it makes sense that if what you lost is time you should get back something that helps with time (like fast passes). If what you lost would cost you money then you should be compensated with money.

Although I agree the wait was very long I do think a fast pass would have been perfect compensation. There isn't anything they could have done to give you back access to fantasmic.


One other point I haven't seen here but would impact me as a manager making your compensation decision. Assuming fantasmic was at 7 as a PP said, You were cutting it REALLY close for fantasmic as it was. Your reservation was at 5:10. At a packed restaurant (which I would always expect disney to be) I would expect an hour for dinner even if I was eating quickly and not lingering at all. So you weren't going to get out until at least 6:10. Assuming a 10 min walk to fantasmic which is going pretty fast given a crowded park and where MM and fantasmic are. So you were planning to get there just 40 min before the show absolute best case scenario... on a crowded park day. The line may have been at the cut off point by then even if your dinner was on time.

 

[steves100]

Interpreting individuals reiterating WDW's standard recommendation to arrive fifteen minutes before the call ahead seating time isn't nearly "everyone getting so worked up." Most people respond to original posts before reading entire threads - so wouldn't realize that or how many others reiterated the arrive early advice.

As at least one person surmised above, MM is probably being used by diners this year as a comfortable waiting area for Osborne Lights. And yes people tired from the increasing crowds just might dally over an evening meal.


Sarcasm gets you nowhere. There are previous reports since the CC hold went into effect that the charge can be waived in certain situations. Management might not volunteer, but with an almost hour long wait, requesting the waiver might be less aggravating than yelling at internet forum responses that one requested.

They screw up by over booking, or not being able to handle ADDs! I should lose out of Fanatsmic which I booked 6 months previous! Oh yes and not have diner. Great response.

 

[steves100]

What would you want them to offer?

It sounds like you wanted to be offered money off your bill since that wouldn't be free. However I could just as easily make the argument that this would be unreasonable as money back wouldn't compensate for lost time. (and I have seen this argument made here, that people didn't want money they wanted service and to make up valuable vacation time).

So to me it makes sense that if what you lost is time you should get back something that helps with time (like fast passes). If what you lost would cost you money then you should be compensated with money.

Although I agree the wait was very long I do think a fast pass would have been perfect compensation. There isn't anything they could have done to give you back access to fantasmic.


One other point I haven't seen here but would impact me as a manager making your compensation decision. Assuming fantasmic was at 7 as a PP said, You were cutting it REALLY close for fantasmic as it was. Your reservation was at 5:10. At a packed restaurant (which I would always expect disney to be) I would expect an hour for dinner even if I was eating quickly and not lingering at all. So you weren't going to get out until at least 6:10. Assuming a 10 min walk to fantasmic which is going pretty fast given a crowded park and where MM and fantasmic are. So you were planning to get there just 40 min before the show absolute best case scenario... on a crowded park day. The line may have been at the cut off point by then even if your dinner was on time.

Of course they could have offered the next nights Fansasmic

 

[kamik86]

Of course they could have offered the next nights Fansasmic

Wait was your seating a fantasmic package specially for the first show? I know MM does those but not the details of how it works. If your reservation was a specific package then yes I agree this was unreasonable. If they sell it as a package they know where you are going and should be able to get you there.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

if you wanted monetary compensation, and all they offered you at the restaurant was a fastpass, the next step should have been Guest Services (but still no guarantee of monetary compensation).

if this was a Fantasmic package and you missed Fantasmic because of the restaurant service, and they offered a fastpass, then I would have definitely been down at Guest Services.

Fantasmic packages are supposed to be set up for the guest to be able to get to Fantasmic.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

Do people really camp out in restaurants at the park? You pay $100 to get in and then sit in a boring dumpy building for 2 hours? I know HS doesn't have much going for it now but it's still beyond my comprehension people would want to just sit at MM.

 

[kamik86]

Do people really camp out in restaurants at the park? You pay $100 to get in and then sit in a boring dumpy building for 2 hours? I know HS doesn't have much going for it now but it's still beyond my comprehension people would want to just sit at MM.

Yes...

If its raining and they don't want to go back out in the rain they will camp out hoping the rain lets up (just like they do in the doorways of stores)

If its really hot out they will camp out to have AC and drinks

If its really cold out they will camp out for heat

They will camp out for a less crowded place to sit

They will camp out waiting for X event (especially if the restaurant has a view of it... think certain epcot restaurants right before illuminations.)

 

[Nancyg56]

Of course they could have offered the next nights Fansasmic

Did you ask for that? I am still trying to figure out if you asked for a specific compensation for Fantasmic and were turned down, or if you wanted financial compensation and were turned down, or if the FP that was offered was for Fantasmic