Rude CM vent

[maxiesmom]

I still don't understand how replying "yes" to a question when asked makes someone "grumpy" or "rude". And a sigh is now rude? Sounds like the CM was just tired or overwhelmed, most likely because of the new discounts being offered. How about cutting them some slack? There was no foul language, or insults. Even Disney CMs have bad days, and it doesn't sound like they were being purposely mean. If they were out and out mean, and told you you were stupid for calling and wasting their time, then I would agree that they were rude. But a one word answer and a sigh? I think a mountain is being made out of a molehill.

 

[sha_lyn]

I can not believe some of the responses to the OP. Those of you that don't have to deal with a loved one with a food alergy should thank your lucky stars. I know I am glad I don't have to deal with it. But I sure have an understanding of it.

Just as we have birthdays, anniversaries, etc. noted on reservations (and the restaurant staff then knows about them) people who have to worry about food allergies have them noted. Of course the staff then knows about them too. Honestly it is much more important to have an allergy noted than a special occassion.

OP sorry you had to deal with a grumpy CM.

Well said....

OP I can't believe the reaction you are getting, well actually I do. See you have said something negative about their sacred WDW which could never do anything wrong. Therefore it must be you that has the problem.

As for people not imagining there being a cross contamination, luckily you've never had to thing about it. The reality is that cross contamination happens all the the time.
Also why is it sao hard to imagine that the person doing the planning is making certain the allergy is on the dining reservations? No where did the OP say anything about their room reservation, so I have no idea where those comments are coming from.

 

[DawnCt1]

Cross contamination from gloves would do it.

Notifying the reservationist is beyond "overkill". DS#1 had a huge, expansive rash from eating strawberries when he was little. He was covered with a rash from head to toe and itched for 5 days, even with Benedryl. The allergist told me that everyone reacts to strawberries if they eat enough. I guess he ate a lot. Since then, he has eaten strawberries and has not had a reaction. Clearly, DSs reaction was "dose related". That said, don't assume that the line cook in any restaurant is going to respond to a notation on a reservation. An adult can handle this with the server at the point of service. Anything more, seems like a serious case of "micromanaging".

 

[OceanAnnie]

Sorry you had to deal with a cranky CM. No fun.

 

[wowsmom]

My guess is that other than deserts, Strawberries tend to be a very rare ingredient in food. There are exceptions but I cant imagine my hamburger and fries from SCI FI being contaminated with strawberry residue.

True, but here in Southern California, they tend to use them as garnish a lot. We've had more than a few times where we didn't think to tell the waiter "no strawberries" and the plate came out with berries on it and we've had to cut off part of DS's burger so he wouldn't end up ingesting any of it.

 

[bumbershoot]

Sorry you got a grump.

And I understand why you would mention the allergy on your dining reservations (er, ADRs?). They pretty much tell you to, don't they? So they can have the chef ready to come out and talk to you, yes?

 

[rie'smom]

Apparently Niki ran into a CM who was ignorant. Disney needs at least 72 hours notice for food allergies. They also request that you note the allergy on your reservation:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/tips_for_touring/allergies.htm

 

[Evil Genius]

Ask to speak to the chef at any TS restaurant. Explain the severity of the allergy, they will take care of it from there. As for the CS, not many of them serve strawberries.

 

[DawnCt1]

Why are you amazed that she put an allergy on a dining reservation? While I'm not quite sure that noting it on the dining reservation will actually accomplish anything, I don't understand why people are acting so surprised that the OP requested it.

Because absolutely nothing will be accomplished by doing so, and it is extreme micromanaging for an adult diner. My Dad was always allergic to shell fish. He didn't order shell fish. We never notified any restaurant ahead of time that he had a shell fish allergy. It is TMI for workers who probably don't particularly care when they have to put out hundreds of meals per day. The server is the one to tell. If she wants a good tip and you establish a nice relationship at the start, then no one suffers.

 

[sha_lyn]

Because absolutely nothing will be accomplished by doing so, and it is extreme micromanaging for an adult diner. My Dad was always allergic to shell fish. He didn't order shell fish. We never notified any restaurant ahead of time that he had a shell fish allergy. It is TMI for workers who probably don't particularly care when they have to put out hundreds of meals per day. The server is the one to tell. If she wants a good tip and you establish a nice relationship at the start, then no one suffers.

Aparently WDW disagrees with you...read the post that is 2 posts above yours.

ETA: is the posting order going nuts again. When i first check, the post was 2 posts before Dawn's, now it is the one right after it.

 

[rie'smom]

I agree. I am amazed. I couldn't imagine putting a food allergy on any reservation unless I was going to be sequestered in my room and at the mercy of room service! Even then?

I can't see how having a food allergy noted on your room reservation does you any good. The people to go over it with are the chefs and wait staff at the restaurants you visit.

I also don't see how answer "yes" when you asked if it was on your reservation was rude.

while the CM should not be rude....I do think that it is kind of unrealistic to rely on information being shown on a reservation..........


it seems that the best way to handle an allergy would be to work with the wait staff directly at the time you are ordering...........

I am confused...this is your DH you are talking about...can't he make sure before he eats or drinks anything that there is indeed no strawberries in the food or the drink???

CM said the word "YES" 2x...naa, she did seem rude to me.

Because absolutely nothing will be accomplished by doing so, and it is extreme micromanaging for an adult diner. My Dad was always allergic to shell fish. He didn't order shell fish. We never notified any restaurant ahead of time that he had a shell fish allergy. It is TMI for workers who probably don't particularly care when they have to put out hundreds of meals per day. The server is the one to tell. If she wants a good tip and you establish a nice relationship at the start, then no one suffers.

Disney needs at least 72 hours notice for food allergies. They also request that you note the allergy on your reservation:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/tips_for_touring/allergies.htm

 

[loribell]

Apparently Niki ran into a CM who was ignorant. Disney needs at least 72 hours notice for food allergies. They also request that you note the allergy on your reservation:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/tips_for_touring/allergies.htm

And that is why the OP had it noted. Not overkill or micromanaging.

 

[maxiesmom]

Well said....

OP I can't believe the reaction you are getting, well actually I do. See you have said something negative about their sacred WDW which could never do anything wrong. Therefore it must be you that has the problem.

Actually what I think happened is the OP is concerned about her husband. So she is stressing out, and decides to call and double check that it is on her reservations. But she gets a CM who is probably going crazy because of the new codes and packages that Disney just opened up yesterday. So instead of a nice chat she gets a sigh and a one word answer. Which, because the OP is concerned to begin with, she takes as being rude. And some of us are just pointing out that it makes more sense to notify the restaurants directly.

But I don't see what the CM did that was so horrible.

 

[Doe]

Notifying the reservationist is beyond "overkill". DS#1 had a huge, expansive rash from eating strawberries when he was little. He was covered with a rash from head to toe and itched for 5 days, even with Benedryl. The allergist told me that everyone reacts to strawberries if they eat enough. I guess he ate a lot. Since then, he has eaten strawberries and has not had a reaction. Clearly, DSs reaction was "dose related". That said, don't assume that the line cook in any restaurant is going to respond to a notation on a reservation. An adult can handle this with the server at the point of service. Anything more, seems like a serious case of "micromanaging".

"overkill", "micromanaging"? For those of you who don't have life threatening or serious food allergies please for the love of pete stop assuming you know how to better deal with it. I think that those of us who have to deal with it for ourselves, our spouses or our children might just know what we need to do to keep ourselves safe.

 

[loribell]

Actually what I think happened is the OP is concerned about her husband. So she is stressing out, and decides to call and double check that it is on her reservations. But she gets a CM who is probably going crazy because of the new codes and packages that Disney just opened up yesterday. So instead of a nice chat she gets a sigh and a one word answer. Which, because the OP is concerned to begin with, she takes as being rude. And some of us are just pointing out that it makes more sense to notify the restaurants directly.

But I don't see what the CM did that was so horrible.

What are these new dining codes/packages?

 

[bumbershoot]

Because absolutely nothing will be accomplished by doing so, and it is extreme micromanaging for an adult diner. My Dad was always allergic to shell fish. He didn't order shell fish. We never notified any restaurant ahead of time that he had a shell fish allergy. It is TMI for workers who probably don't particularly care when they have to put out hundreds of meals per day. The server is the one to tell. If she wants a good tip and you establish a nice relationship at the start, then no one suffers.

Disney WANTS you to tell them. They ASK you to tell them.

Heck, I had a Disneyland chef call me back; he's the guy in charge of helping guests with food allergies, and we talked for almost an hour (he was very chatty, I kept trying to end the call) about all the calls he gets, the requests, and how much they CARE about their guests needs. They don't want to kill someone, or even have them break out in a rash. They WANT you to tell them on the ADR and in person.

But she gets a CM who is probably going crazy because of the new codes and packages that Disney just opened up yesterday.

Except...she was calling the Dining people, not the package or hotel people.

 

[NikiM20]

Notifying the reservationist is beyond "overkill". DS#1 had a huge, expansive rash from eating strawberries when he was little. He was covered with a rash from head to toe and itched for 5 days, even with Benedryl. The allergist told me that everyone reacts to strawberries if they eat enough. I guess he ate a lot. Since then, he has eaten strawberries and has not had a reaction. Clearly, DSs reaction was "dose related". That said, don't assume that the line cook in any restaurant is going to respond to a notation on a reservation. An adult can handle this with the server at the point of service. Anything more, seems like a serious case of "micromanaging".

Well "clearly" DH's is a noted allergy, It would happen if he ate 1 bite. I dont find it overkill to inform a resturant that DH has allergies. Especially since the resturants in question request that you do so. Call it overkill, call it micromanaging. I could care less., but what I do care about is DH, and if noting a food allergy makes them aware ahead of time,could possible save him from a reaction then thats what I will do.

 

[DawnCt1]

Aparently WDW disagrees with you...read the post that is 2 posts above yours.

Do you seriously think that they aren't going to make an effort towards CYA in their written policies? but if you really think that notifying reservations is "effective", I am going to be sure to tell them that I cannot tolerate an naproxyn at all. SO, if the chef gets joint pain, make sure he doesn't drop any, accidentally, in my food. This isn't quite the same as a peanut allergy, where peanut butter is often added to chile and other foods for flavor and texture. This is about strawberries. A food that is not used that often and that the server, at the point of service can deal with. We are also talking about an adult here. Can we really envision that this couple does not eat out without informing the management that he is allergic to strawberries prior to their arrival? For an adult, this is overkill. I also think that it is an example of how many people totally overplan any trip to WDW. Perhaps she should tell the hotel which type of towel animals she would like.

 

[sha_lyn]

Actually what I think happened is the OP is concerned about her husband. So she is stressing out, and decides to call and double check that it is on her reservations. But she gets a CM who is probably going crazy because of the new codes and packages that Disney just opened up yesterday. So instead of a nice chat she gets a sigh and a one word answer. Which, because the OP is concerned to begin with, she takes as being rude. And some of us are just pointing out that it makes more sense to notify the restaurants directly.

But I don't see what the CM did that was so horrible.

Well WDW wants it to be noted on the reservation, and the OP was doing so.
If she hadn't and had waiting to notify once they arrived as many have suggested, then the WDW pixie dust patrol would be ripping her apart for not following WDW policies. Yet when she is following their policies, she is accused of "overkill" "micromanaging" etc

 

[maxiesmom]

Well WDW wants it to be noted on the reservation, and the OP was doing so.
If she hadn't and had waiting to notify once they arrived as many have suggested, then the WDW pixie dust patrol would be ripping her apart for not following WDW policies. Yet when she is following their policies, she is accused of "overkill" "micromanaging" etc

But it was already noted on her ressie. So wouldn't she have been better served to notify the restaurants themselves, just to be safe?

And I do think the dining CMs are most likely very busy today too. Keep in mind that the codes that were relased are for dates that are pretty close at hand. Well within the time frame to book dining. I'm sure they are getting swamped with calls too.