SOLO: Weird check in at Hollywood & Vine

[mslangen]

Hi,

Right now I am staying at Walt Disney World. It has been great so far. What I experienced this evening at the Hollywood Studios is just weird. I had a reservation at the Hollywood & Vine. I went to the podium to check in. A lady with Ipad asked for my name. She found of course my name in the system. Of course she told a party of one, but they say that all the time, also weird in my opinion, because one oerson is not a party... But I don't mind that anymore. After that she asked me, and now comes it: are you guys staying on site? Are you guys on the dining plan? Sorry, but does this castmember have just this phrase in her head, or doesn't she lik a solo diner? The worst is that everyone could hear it. The service in the restaurant was good and I enjoyed the food very much, but it was not a good first impression. I know, I will never see those people etc. But feld uneasy though.

Has any of you, solo diners, ever had such an experience?

 

[jagfanjosh3252]

Hi, Right now I am staying at Walt Disney World. It has been great so far. What I experienced this evening at the Hollywood Studios is just weird. I had a reservation at the Hollywood & Vine. I went to the podium to check in. A lady with Ipad asked for my name. She found of course my name in the system. Of course she told a party of one, but they say that all the time, also weird in my opinion, because one oerson is not a party... But I don't mind that anymore. After that she asked me, and now comes it: are you guys staying on site? Are you guys on the dining plan? Sorry, but does this castmember have just this phrase in her head, or doesn't she lik a solo diner? The worst is that everyone could hear it. The service in the restaurant was good and I enjoyed the food very much, but it was not a good first impression. I know, I will never see those people etc. But feld uneasy though. Has any of you, solo diners, ever had such an experience?

I'm surprised you never been asked they before. It's something they asked all the time. It is a way for them to keep track of stats or something I'm sure. Not I've been asked that a lot. Solo or not

 

[mslangen]

I'm surprised you never been asked they before. It's something they asked all the time. It is a way for them to keep track of stats or something I'm sure. Not I've been asked that a lot. Solo or not

Its not about these questions, its the fact that I was there alone as a solo diner and she asked me where are YOU GUYS staying. She could have asked me instead where are you staying sir or something like that. I mean, there were no other guys besides me.

 

[DaisyDuck001]

This reminds me of a time when I arrived solo at the Disneyland parking lot, and as the parking lot attendant took my payment and gave me a parking permit, he said, "Hi, folks", even though I was the only one in the car. I think he'd been saying it all day and he wasn't even paying attention.

 

[Viva Las Disney]

Liberty Tree Tavern and Primetime Cafe both called for the "last name" party when my seat was ready. They didn't say party of one or anything like that but I also thought it odd that they referred to me as a party.

I figured it was probably so they weren't announcing to anyone within earshot who is traveling alone.

The calling you "guys" is weird though. I'm guessing it's just a force of habit for that individual CM because I don't think I was ever referred to as a plural other than when they announced my party.

 

[Lyndarella]

I think they repeat so much each day, and don't even hear what they are saying. I dined alone at the Wave in Feb. and the waitress first said, "Hi! How are you doing today?" I answered what a wonderful time I was having. Then she said, "My name is Angela. How are you doing today?" I didn't know what to say so I just mumbled. "fine."

 

[MarissaMouse]

It could also be that she was thinking you might be traveling alone but meeting up with others later. People in my family often travel separately but then dine/explore together.

 

[KEEFy88]

This reminds me of a time when I arrived solo at the Disneyland parking lot, and as the parking lot attendant took my payment and gave me a parking permit, he said, "Hi, folks", even though I was the only one in the car. I think he'd been saying it all day and he wasn't even paying attention.

I can second this.
When i used to work in the food industry it was more of me just following a routine.

 

[Wallaby]

Don't make it personal. It's most likely "standard operation" routine for them to repeat the same phrase to everyone, no matter what group size it is.

 

[LaLalovesWDW]

Ok, that is too funny!! Yes, on my first solo trip there, I just brushed it off as them saying it so much during the day they don't even notice you are alone even when it is a "party of 1" LOL... I do recall the parking thing and the CM saying something like "Welcome home guys!" or something to that effect. I actually looked around my car to make sure there was no one else there......

 

[NJDiva]

I went to Tusker House for the character breakfast the week of my birthday and the CM at the podeum asked for the typical info, and when she asked how many in my party (btw I made a reservation) and I said 1 she said "awww, that's so sad..." sad????!!! the fact that I got to dine alone without a whiney child in meltdown mode and eat at a normal pace is sad???!!!!
I actually responded back "it's not sad at all, I get to do what I want when I want for as long as I want!" not really sure why she thought it was sad...

 

[Stefecatzz]

I went to Tusker House for the character breakfast the week of my birthday and the CM at the podeum asked for the typical info, and when she asked how many in my party (btw I made a reservation) and I said 1 she said "awww, that's so sad..." sad????!!! the fact that I got to dine alone without a whiney child in meltdown mode and eat at a normal pace is sad???!!!!
I actually responded back "it's not sad at all, I get to do what I want when I want for as long as I want!" not really sure why she thought it was sad...

I would've emailed WDW Guest Experiences about that. Not to get anyone in trouble, but just for feedback. Another guest may not have taken what they said as lightly as you did. I don't know what my response would be. Maybe a laugh & something along the same lines that you said. But that comment shouldn't be said to any customer, in any type of business when they're alone. Things like this urk me, being in the customer service industry for almost 20 years.

 

[DaisyDuck001]

I would've emailed WDW Guest Experiences about that. Not to get anyone in trouble, but just for feedback. Another guest may not have taken what they said as lightly as you did. I don't know what my response would be. Maybe a laugh & something along the same lines that you said. But that comment shouldn't be said to any customer, in any type of business when they're alone. Things like this urk me, being in the customer service industry for almost 20 years.

I agree that such comments are insensitive. If the solo diner had already been sad, this comment would have probably made her/him even sadder.

 

[msjessey]

I am thinking of dining alone one night when i take my daughter to Disney next month and came across this thread. I just read the whole thread and have been literally LOL. Thanks for all those funny stories. A great way to start my morning!

 

[WDWGeek1971]

Its not about these questions, its the fact that I was there alone as a solo diner and she asked me where are YOU GUYS staying. She could have asked me instead where are you staying sir or something like that. I mean, there were no other guys besides me.

Maybe the cast member is from Chicago? It might just be a colloquialism to always use "you guys" or "youse guys" in lieu of the more correct second person, "you." English is becoming a dead language. :-(

 

[Suzie13]

I went to Tusker House for the character breakfast the week of my birthday and the CM at the podeum asked for the typical info, and when she asked how many in my party (btw I made a reservation) and I said 1 she said "awww, that's so sad..." sad????!!! the fact that I got to dine alone without a whiney child in meltdown mode and eat at a normal pace is sad???!!!!
I actually responded back "it's not sad at all, I get to do what I want when I want for as long as I want!" not really sure why she thought it was sad...

I am glad you took that so lightly. If it was me I would have probably complained. Also it's insulting. The thing is it isn't anyones job to even pass judgement. Really whats sad about doing what you want when you want because you can.

 

[Sadie22]

It may be a standard security practice not to reveal that someone is traveling alone. As a mature lady I would not want someone at a hotel or resort to advertise that I was traveling alone. Pursesnatchers can be lurking anywhere. I'm not much concerned about this at WDW, but in general I would not want a restaurant employee to make conversation about my traveling out-of-state alone.

 

[beachta1]

While I think its great you didn't take that comment personally, some people really feel "sad" for others when dining alone. I used to travel a lot for work and would often be alone for most of it. I grew to not have an issue with dining alone or sightseeing. I would get comments from places about being alone, but I just shared that I didn't mind. I agree with many of you that it is nice to do things at your own pace. Other people are insecure about doing things alone, so its their problem, not yours

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

Just a side note, she may be a Northern-American... We say "you guys" to everyone where I grew up (Michigan). I don't think she was being weird or rude, its just a cultural thing that she has and people aren't used to.