So what is the deal with servers wanting your entire order?

[nanadeb]

Really? Do you have any more examples of this happening? I hear so many positive reviews of Disney Dining, so this is alarming to a newbie.

We were on the free DDP in September. The only restaurant that insisted we order everything at once was Coral Reef. The server said that it was because it made it easier for the kitchen staff.

 

[jarestel]

Really? Do you have any more examples of this happening? I hear so many positive reviews of Disney Dining, so this is alarming to a newbie.

Well, it's only my perception and that doesn't necessarily mean squat. But as a (fairly) experienced WDW diner, it does seem like the primary goal of many of the restaurants today is simply the strapping on of the feed bag, as opposed to providing a unique dining experience for the customer.

But either way, you walk away with a full belly so in that respect, all should be fine.

 

[wdwmaw]

We were just there in Oct. and spent 12 nights on the dining plan. We were asked to give our whole order at once (drink,app,entree and desert) at every sit down we had (LeCellier, Rose and Crown, Kona, Wcc, Prime Time and Coral Reef. At three of these we were the first seating for dinner and one was for lunch and that resturant was half full for I don't think they were helping the kitchen keep up. We also ate at Sci-fi and he took drinks then everything else, we ordered the same meal that a couple next to us ordered and the food was falling off there plate there was so much, ours was half that much. We were on the dining plan and they weren't). It was almost silly the difference in service and my dh even made the statement that was how we use to be treated here, not any more.We were tempted to tell them at check-in of the resturant that we were not on dining plan till we were through with our meal to see if that changed anything. We will be going back this month over the holiday period and will be paying opp/dde card and can't wait to see the difference.

 

[dreambound]

We were just there in Oct. and spent 12 nights on the dining plan. We were asked to give our whole order at once (drink,app,entree and desert) at every sit down we had (LeCellier, Rose and Crown, Kona, Wcc, Prime Time and Coral Reef. At three of these we were the first seating for dinner and one was for lunch and that resturant was half full for I don't think they were helping the kitchen keep up. We also ate at Sci-fi and he took drinks then everything else, we ordered the same meal that a couple next to us ordered and the food was falling off there plate there was so much, ours was half that much. We were on the dining plan and they weren't). It was almost silly the difference in service and my dh even made the statement that was how we use to be treated here, not any more.We were tempted to tell them at check-in of the resturant that we were not on dining plan till we were through with our meal to see if that changed anything. We will be going back this month over the holiday period and will be paying opp/dde card and can't wait to see the difference.

How do you know they were not on the dining plan? Just curious.

 

[3csluvthemouse]

We experienced this during our last trip, and I was just curious about others experiences and thoughts. Although I don't consider myself timid, it does make me uncomfortable and I feel rude saying "we don't want to do it that way". I know this is silly on my part, because ultimately, it is my vacation and money. We don't spend a huge amount of time in the restaurants, just a normal amount-we don't sit around when we are through. I guess I will just need to be more assertive and not worry about it!

 

[dahirsh]

I've only had it happen twice. Both times at lunch at LTT, both times on the dining plan. A year and a few months apart

 

[dis-happy]

Weird how experiences can differ. We just returned from out Thanksgiving trip and were on the DDP for the first time ever. We ate at: Mama Melrose, Kona, Teppanyaki (or whatever it's calling itself now), Le Cellier, CP and LTT. All but Le Cellier was a dinner. We were never asked to order all 3 courses at once. A couple of times I felt a little hurried to finish, order dessert and vacate the table, but it wasn't ever rude, and for the most part I understood that they needed to seat and serve the next set of guests. One of the GOOD things about the dining now: they quickly bring you your check and receipt; I find with kids this is a big help, much better than waiting around forever after a meal while everyone gets cranky.

 

[Paul in CT]

Well, it's only my perception and that doesn't necessarily mean squat. But as a (fairly) experienced WDW diner, it does seem like the primary goal of many of the restaurants today is simply the strapping on of the feed bag, as opposed to providing a unique dining experience for the customer.

But either way, you walk away with a full belly so in that respect, all should be fine.

You are very considerate. For the prices charged at the WDW signature restaurants I would not be happy if this treatment were to occur. Those prices should guarantee a "unique dining experience" IMHO. To this point we always have except for once at Citrico's.

 

[disneyholic family]

we're just back from 9 days there and this never happened to us....
we only ordered desert at the end and were never asked before that....

we also NEVER felt rushed in ANY of the restaurants we ate in, regardless of how busy they were...

we ate at the following during our stay:

citricos (dinner)
brown derby (lunch)
50's prime time (lunch)
the italian restaurant in epcot (can't remember the name) (lunch)
tokyo dining (dinner)

i know there were others but i can't think of them right now..

by the way, we weren't on the dining plan...

 

[Uncleromulus]

One reason for this MAY be that many restaurants now have "runners" bringing the food. When your apps arrive and you want to order the entree, your server may be nowhere to be found.
Anyway--when we do order all at once, we always tell the server to pace the meal. Other times we'll just order one item at a time to be certain we don't get the bums rush.
And we've never actually been asked to order all at once anytime at WDW.

 

[chickenskin]

Nope, never happened to us.

 

[SnwflkCts]

Happened to us at CRT for dinner. I think that is the only time. Usually order apps and entree at same time. I don't think this would really bother me either way. It could be because of the "runners" like another poster mentioned.

I even remember at CRT, the waiter said ... if we knew what we wanted, he would go ahead and put it in. He was no where in sight when dessert came -- I remember because DH wanted milk with his dessert and it took an act of congress to get it! But we still had a great time there. (A little unspilled milk never hurt my meal ) ... anyway ... interesting discussion!

 

[Alltiggeredout]

I won't be ordering all at once,because i don't want to order 3courses and then find i'm full after 2.

 

[LeCras]

Never happened to us either. Our last trip we had lunch at Sci-Fi, Biergarten and Planet Hollywood, and dinner at Raglan Road, Alfredo, Kona Cafe, Bistro, V&A, Boma, Cali Grill, Blue Zoo and Fultons. All restaurants allowed us to order and enjoy the food at a pace that suited us.

We don't always eat dessert - tend to be too full at that stage. If I was asked to order dessert before the meal I would definitely let them know this. I wouldn't want to pay in advance for a dessert I would only look at....

Charlotte

 

[OKW Lover]

This really bothers me, and I had a server get quite rude about it when I changed my mind about what I wanted. She first came to the table and said, "This is how we are going to do this" and proceeded to tell us she wanted the entire order. Anyone else experiencing this?

My response would have been "No, that's not how we are going to do it. Please ask your manager to come over." Then I'd ask the manager for a new server and explain that we prefer to order each course separately. I'd also be sure to tip the new server well (assuming they are the least bit acceptable) so that the original server will realize what they missed.

 

[jarestel]

You are very considerate. For the prices charged at the WDW signature restaurants I would not be happy if this treatment were to occur. Those prices should guarantee a "unique dining experience" IMHO. To this point we always have except for once at Citrico's.

In my case, I didn't mean to include the signature dining restaurants in my generalization, but was referring to the bulk of the 2nd & 3rd tier restaurants. The signature restaurants are still, IMO, doing a fine job of balancing customer and business demands.

 

[kent285]

The server said that it was because it made it easier for the kitchen staff.

That's actually pretty funny, considering that it's the server who benefits the most when people order everything all at once. If food is ordered all at once, then the server only has to put the order in one time...one less thing for the server to have to remember.
When my DH and I go out (here at home), we often order our dinner salad first, then order our dinner when the salad arrives. That way there is no chance of my dinner arriving while we are still eating our salad. My daughter was a server this summer, and she said, that while it's o.k. for people to do this, it does make it more inconvenient for the server.

 

[BarleyJack]

Maybe a little off topic, but I have a question. We will be there in January on the DDP. WHY does the server need to know your (our) method of payment before the meal is ordered? Having waited tables in the past, payment type doesn't matter until the ticket is being closed out, at which point you can swipe gift cards/credit cards, apply cash or gift certificates/traveler's cheques?? I know some might say, so they can tell you what's included, etc. My feeling is that should a guest already know what is included in the DDP the source of payment shouldn't matter to the server. I just don't want to be shelling out thousands of dollars for this dream vacation only to receive sub par service at restaurants we've been looking forward to for 180 days only because we are on the dining plan.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I had ten TS meals on our last trip, granted, some were buffets, but we never ordered dessert, or were asked what we wanted for dessert, until after we had finished our entrees.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

If there is a special dessert that needs to be prepared in advance it is customary to notify the kitchen. What comes to mind is a souffle or a baked alaska--neither of which I've seen on a Disney menu.

Prix fixe meals sometimes ask this too, or where there are special tasting menus, but Disney doesn't do this either.

Maybe they were very busy, or were running low on something. Perhaps they have to guests out the door and turn the tables over faster.

I have had that happen at the California Grill, but she brought out the dessert menu while I was eating the entree, explaining that two of the desserts took a little longer to prepare.

And some Disney restaurants do have souffles.