Rude experience at BOG for lunch...

[buzzrelly]

A friend of mine just returned from a trip to the world. They had a great time, except for one experience at BOG. They walked up to the podium for lunch, and the host handed her a menu and told her to continue in the line and order inside. She wasn't quite sure what was on the menu and wasn't sure if her kids would like anything so she stepped aside with her family to look at the menu. The host said to her, "Ma'am, get in line," and she explained that she wanted to look at the menu first, and he got very rude and said, "You can't do that. Get in line." From what she told me, he said it in a very rude way. She was so taken aback that she ended up handing him the menu and leaving. I told her she should have complained at guest services.

Anyone else have a similar experience here or was this an isolated incident? I was thinking about trying lunch here in August...now I'm not so sure.

 

[gjl]

Removed

 

[geek+nerd]

I don't understand why she got out of line to look at the menu that was handed to her while she was in line. ???? What was she planning on doing if they did want to eat there and the line had progressed? Maybe the CM anticipated her trying to get her original spot in line back and there being complaints from other guests.

When we were in line, CMs were handing out menus for people to look at and umbrellas to use for shade. There was also a water cooler and cups set up for people to get a drink.

 

[geek+nerd]

I don't understand why she got out of line to look at the menu that was handed to her while she was in line. ???? What was she planning on doing if they did want to eat there and the line had progressed? Maybe the CM anticipated her trying to get her original spot in line back and there being complaints from other guests.

When we were in line, CMs were handing out menus for people to look at and umbrellas to use for shade. There was also a water cooler and cups set up for people to get a drink.

We also had a very positive experience. I have a number of food allergies, and the CMs were very helpful.

 

[darkwing818]

Not at all. Super friendly and great good. Atmosphere was so cool too. Try it - and by the way, we were told about an hour wait and it took 20 minutes!

Same for us, except the wait time part. Probably should take what your friend said with a grain of salt. But who knows sounds like an unusual situation.

 

[Maleficent Dragon]

Anyone else have a similar experience here or was this an isolated incident? I was thinking about trying lunch here in August...now I'm not so sure.

I think it would be quite sad if you allow one person's negative comments to dissuade you from dining at a particular location, especially being that the friend never actually ate there. We have dined here several times and I have no complaints. I am not trying to defend the CM, especially if he was being unnecessarily sassy, but perhaps he really didn't understand what she was doing. I do agree with you; if she felt he was rude, she should have reported it to Guest Services.

 

[Disneychix]

I would probably chalk this up to the CM is there everyday watching this never ending line and possibly wanted the OPs friends to read the menu while in line so they could keep their spot. The CM most likely sees many people complain about the line and wanted to at least keep them in the flow in case they did decide to eat there.

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

I too wonder if the CM was just trying to head-off the situation whereby your friend goes to the side to look at the menu, decides to stay and "merge" back into the line, which could potentially upset the other guests who think she's cutting. It's such a high-demand spot right now I'm sure they are just trying to keep things moving smoothly, although if the tone was rude, there's no need for that aspect.

 

[letsgoreds]

Guests are known to stand it line to try to 'get a peek' of the Beast's castle without staying for a meal (against the rules). The CM might have thought that is what your friend was trying to do.

Sounds like both your friend and the CM could have handled it better. I get cranky when I'm hot, and July in FL isn't something I would ever try ; )

Instead of 'ma'am please stay in line' it should have been, the CM should have explained to her that she can take as long as she likes to review the menu as she stays in line for the kiosk. His brevity definitely felt rude.

The friend should have just done as the CM suggested, and stayed in line (not a big request). I'm sure she wasn't the first group to step out of line, and from experience (day after day after day after day), he probably learned it is better for guests to bail later vs. try to get back in line.

It is a great restaurant, you will love it. Best QS lunch, hands down.

 

[rt2dz]

OK, I'll take the other end. Over the years I have experienced many, many rude CMs. They are just people, and the more Disney lessens their training, the worse it gets. Cutbacks help no one. I have no doubt that what your friend perceived to be rudeness was.

I have never encountered a restaurant where a guest wasn't allowed to look at the menu before deciding to eat there or not--except places that don't have a menu, but that is usually a very high level of fine dining and you're already going to have a reservation anyhow. There is no reason anyone should be forced into line to look at a menu. It's not fair to those behind you that you need to go by, it might not be good for the kids who then get hyped up about eating in the castle and then told no because you know they won't eat anything--I have a son with Autism and that would be the worse thing ever! It should never have happened. If she was still blocking the line, she should have politely been asked to step out of the way.

Saying that, I'm pretty sure it was an isolated incident. That CM could be poorly trained (first paragraph), having a bad day/moment, whatever. I would not let one report stop me for seeing for myself. Oh, and I totally get why your friend didn't report it. 90% of the time, it isn't worth the hassle. It's better to let it roll off your back and get on with your vacation.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[rustyanchor]

we had dinner at BOG, not lunch. i wasn't that impressed w/ the food, but our waitress was absolutely over-the-top nice, in fact i think she was one of the nicest CMs we encountered on our whole trip (and that's saying a lot)! it was very cute because she kept talking about how much she loves beauty and the beast and was sooo excited to be working there. we had great service there.

 

[buzzrelly]

Thanks for all of the replies. She definitely wasn't holding up the line. In fact, she was doing just the opposite and allowing people to go past her while she and her family decided. I'm glad this is not the norm. I won't let it affect my decision on whether or not we try in next month.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

In all of our many, many, many trips we really have NEVER had a rude CM.

I also think it would be very sad to not go to BOG based on 1 person's story and not even know what the other side was.


AKK

 

[bumbershoot]

I have never encountered a restaurant where a guest wasn't allowed to look at the menu before deciding to eat there or no...

Right, but you either go to where a menu is posted and look at it, and THEN decide to get into line, or you look at the menu while IN the line.

You don't take a time out from the line to look at it, and then expect to jump back in, in front of guests who have no idea who you are or where you came from.

She definitely wasn't holding up the line. In fact, she was doing just the opposite and allowing people to go past her while she and her family decided.

But eventually she was going to jump back in, and the CM probably knew that there was a high probability that that action would cause problems with the people she got in front of. Yep she was already in front of them, but they didn't know that.

 

[juliebug1997]

I've been to a couple of restaurants (not necessarily at Disney) where they have handed me a menu to peruse as I approach where you order. I took that time to decide what I wanted. I have even left the line when I decided that I didn't want to eat there.

 

[rt2dz]

Right, but you either go to where a menu is posted and look at it, and THEN decide to get into line, or you look at the menu while IN the line.

You don't take a time out from the line to look at it, and then expect to jump back in, in front of guests who have no idea who you are or where you came from.

But eventually she was going to jump back in, and the CM probably knew that there was a high probability that that action would cause problems with the people she got in front of. Yep she was already in front of them, but they didn't know that.

If you read the post, she asked the CM if she could see a menu, stepped to the side and looked it over. She was being told to look at the menu while in line and then decide. I haven't been there yet, but from what I'm understanding from many of the posts, the menu isn't posted somewhere central to look at. Or, it's so crowded that people grab menus to look at in other areas. Very, very common practice. Disney does it themselves. We've often been handed a menu to look over at Brown Derby or Le Chefs de France before deciding when they've had walk up room available. I've never *noticed* a menu posted for quick service. And there are reports of it at BOG (in this thread) doing just that too.

She never said she was going to jump back in line in front of others. She was looking at the menu to decide if she wanted to get in line and stated as much. I find it odd to assume anyone would do that. I witness just the opposite at every place I go, people staying out of line to look at the menu, decide, and then get in line behind others going ahead of them.

I think the big thing you are missing is that the friend hadn't even decided IF she wanted to eat there. Why was she being forced into line to decide IF she wanted to eat there? I'm sure all the people she would have to squeeze by on the way out, with possible upset kids at this time, would love that (sarcasm) over her making her decision to eat or not eat there (if that had been the case) before getting in line and being allowed to go ahead of her while she made that decision.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[babyrich]

Are you sure it wasn't Gaston at the podium? I hear he can be quite rude.....

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Are you sure it wasn't Gaston at the podium? I hear he can be quite rude.....

Maybe she or he had a bad day, once perusing the menu she could have easily stepped out of line if nothing appealed to her. Reporting people for such an insignificant incident is a waste of time for both parties IMO!

We've had lunch twice, never an issue, the 1st time it was a bit confusing, got through it and the food is worth the short wait!

I judge restaurants and everything else for that matter on my own experience!

 

[steph12]

I also agree that the CM probably was just having a bad day b/c most are very nice. I'm wanting to try BOG on our next trip and hope we have a better experience than this!

 

[mickeysgirlj]

A friend sent me this post, I know exactly who you are speaking of, she is very rude, My girlfriend and I had dinner there one night in May, we asked if we could sit on the rocks like everyone else inside the gate, she all but bit our heads off!!
I have her photo and posted it on FB, I will post here as well once I find it again.
I will be complaining to Disney about her, very unmagical!!