The food situation at DCA is rough

[Skyegirl1999]

So, food service was pretty dreamy on our August trips (with low crowds). Mobile order spots were plentiful, pick-up times were quick, walk-up reservations were often an option… the early-summer advice to “put your mobile orders in early” was thankfully unnecessary.

FYI, this is not the case today at DCA. I was surprised to open the app at 10:30 and find that most places that serve lunch were showing time slots starting at 11:30 or later (some, like Pym’s, were already later than 12:30). There have been zero walk-up spots anywhere except Goofy’s or Storyteller’s “due to high demand.” At least a few of the Halloween food items have sold out. We were able to pick up our Smokejumpers 11:30 order with only about a 10-minute wait, but when we left, there were at least 30 or people standing in the mobile order return section outside the restaurant, waiting to be let in to wait in another line to pick up food. Standby food lines are pretty nuts everywhere we’ve walked by.

This is not a complaint, but a warning to visitors that, at least on busy days, I’d go back to putting orders in early and being prepared for a wait when you’re picking up. Have some snacks on hand if your group gets hangry.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I think this is a good warning. I really feel for the people that do not use smart phones and who do not have credit cards loaded on them. I recently went to DL with my brother, and he doesn't have his credit card on his phone and doesn't want to, so I told him he might want to add a Disney or Visa gift card on his phone. But, it's going to be rough for many guests, in my opinion.

 

[V.I.N.CENT.]

I think this is a good warning. I really feel for the people that do not use smart phones and who do not have credit cards loaded on them. I recently went to DL with my brother, and he doesn't have his credit card on his phone and doesn't want to, so I told him he might want to add a Disney or Visa gift card on his phone. But, it's going to be rough for many guests, in my opinion.

They really need to improve the way you use gift cards in the app. You must enter the 16 digit code each time. Sure, I cut and paste to do it, but it adds an unnecessary step that causes me to exit the app.

 

[DLgal]

We were there Saturday and had some pretty lengthy waits for our mobile orders at Pizza Planet and the Studio Catering truck. Oddly enough, my one son wanted Plaza Inn Fried Chicken and they were not doing mobile order there and we waltzed right in at 1:30pm, got our meal, had no line to pay, and had plenty of seats available to choose from inside. It was really quite bizarre, given the crowd levels overall that day. My husband took my other son to Pizza Planet and they literally had to wait like 20 minutes to grab 2 slices of pizza after hitting "I'm here." My other son was done with his entire lunch before they got the notification that the order was ready, and we are talking pizza slices here. It's really inconsistent.

We did place our mobile orders a few hours ahead of time. I wasn't going to take any chances. We did end up moving a couple ahead a bit due to the snag at the Pizza Planet. That kind of threw off our timing on getting our other meals.

 

[cwbronco]

I think this is a good warning. I really feel for the people that do not use smart phones and who do not have credit cards loaded on them. I recently went to DL with my brother, and he doesn't have his credit card on his phone and doesn't want to, so I told him he might want to add a Disney or Visa gift card on his phone. But, it's going to be rough for many guests, in my opinion.

So is something like Google pay the way to go? Or are able to pay through the Disneyland app?

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

So is something like Google pay the way to go? Or are able to pay through the Disneyland app?

My credit card is linked through the Disney app, so it's the default unless I choose another payment method.

 

[Skyegirl1999]

It's interesting that you guys bring up gift cards. Outside of Smokejumpers, someone came up and asked the CM if there was a way to use a gift card for mobile order. The CM told them no, they needed to wait in the (very long) line for a cashier if they wanted to use a gift card.

I mentioned that actually, they've now added a way to pay with gift cards and showed the guest how to do it. When you're trying to go through the steps real quick and show somebody, it's really obvious what a convoluted process it is! I hope they add the option to store gift cards the way you can credit cards, but I'm also glad at least there IS an option to pay with a gift card now. It's a step in the right direction.

The CM didn't seem too interested in the info, but hopefully at least now they're aware that it's possible...

 

[DLgal]

So is something like Google pay the way to go? Or are able to pay through the Disneyland app?

Google pay doesn't work in mobile order. Using that is like having to pay in person, basically. You have to tap the phone to the payment terminal for that to work. Just add a credit card to the Disneyland app under your profile. It's the easiest option, honestly. Save the gift cards for merchandise or food cart purchases.

 

[AndrewC]

Do mobile food orders code as restaurants for Chase or Amex cards? When I first used them just as they were coming out (2019? 2018?) they sadly did NOT code as restaurants…. That’s a lot of bonus points I missed out on…

 

[amyg1975]

On Sunday at DCA I opened the app at 10:50 to order Pyms and the earliest was after 1pm. We ended up walking out to Downtown Disney and walked right in to Naples.

We did mobile order for Pizza Planet on Saturday and while the return time was quick, we did have to wait awhile to get our food, and they are short staffed so they didn’t have their full eating area open. I was quite irritated because we circled three times before a table opened and after we sat down, they opened the other area. What’s crazy is that they said they were short staffed yet the the workers never got a chance to clean tables because guests were hovering over tables and people left.

Rancho on Sunday night was the easiest- no mobile ordering and fully staffed. It was perfect

 

[dieumeye]

Had similar experience with mobile order at DL Saturday and DCA on Sunday.

Also had to wait 10 minutes for a couple Jolly Holiday treats. Doesn’t sound that bad on paper maybe, but 10 minutes is a long time to wait after punching “I’m here” when you’re just standing there and have no idea whether your order will be ready in 30 seconds or 30 minutes. Definitely not a good customer experience.

I wonder if this was the busiest weekend in awhile and that put strain on the system at the level they have staffed up to.

I know “staffing” is blamed for a lot of issues, but I wonder how much of it is a slow hiring/training process, versus how much is just them trying to see what’s the lowest staff levels they can get away with.

 

[gelatoni fan]

Do mobile food orders code as restaurants for Chase or Amex cards? When I first used them just as they were coming out (2019? 2018?) they sadly did NOT code as restaurants…. That’s a lot of bonus points I missed out on…

Yes for Chase. I have not tested Amex.

Had similar experience with mobile order at DL Saturday and DCA on Sunday.

Also had to wait 10 minutes for a couple Jolly Holiday treats. Doesn’t sound that bad on paper maybe, but 10 minutes is a long time to wait after punching “I’m here” when you’re just standing there and have no idea whether your order will be ready in 30 seconds or 30 minutes. Definitely not a good customer experience.

I wonder if this was the busiest weekend in awhile and that put strain on the system at the level they have staffed up to.

I know “staffing” is blamed for a lot of issues, but I wonder how much of it is a slow hiring/training process, versus how much is just them trying to see what’s the lowest staff levels they can get away with.

Sometimes after getting the notification, I've gone up to the counter and it turns out my order wasn't even done. So on top of the 10 minutes, it's an additional minute or two as they go around finding all the things needed to put together the order.

One other word of caution to people using Mobile Order is that they do run out of certain food items. They'll usually bring it up if you try to order in person but if you do mobile order, they may substitute your item without asking you. Had that happen to me last week.

 

[Nonsuch]

Google pay doesn't work in mobile order...

Apple Pay works

 

[DLgal]

Apple Pay works

I would venture a guess that someone who uses Google pay does not have an Apple phone.

 

[amyg1975]

I forgot to add that when the return time for Pym's was 2+ hours return time we walked by to see about ordering in person... the line was out the door and they had to have a person outside to tell you where the end of the line was located.

 

[bwvBound]

We've given up eating inside the parks. Today we had a super experience at Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen (table service) with a "last minute" reservation. FWIW, we split a Jambalaya and chicken sandwich and both agreed it was way too much food ... but so, so good. Loved every bite ... but ooof! No wild rides for the rest of the afternoon ... LOL

 

[Lm3js]

fyi for AMEX - mobile order so far does not code as food and beverage.

 

[kappyfamily]

So, food service was pretty dreamy on our August trips (with low crowds). Mobile order spots were plentiful, pick-up times were quick, walk-up reservations were often an option… the early-summer advice to “put your mobile orders in early” was thankfully unnecessary.

FYI, this is not the case today at DCA. I was surprised to open the app at 10:30 and find that most places that serve lunch were showing time slots starting at 11:30 or later (some, like Pym’s, were already later than 12:30). There have been zero walk-up spots anywhere except Goofy’s or Storyteller’s “due to high demand.” At least a few of the Halloween food items have sold out. We were able to pick up our Smokejumpers 11:30 order with only about a 10-minute wait, but when we left, there were at least 30 or people standing in the mobile order return section outside the restaurant, waiting to be let in to wait in another line to pick up food. Standby food lines are pretty nuts everywhere we’ve walked by.

This is not a complaint, but a warning to visitors that, at least on busy days, I’d go back to putting orders in early and being prepared for a wait when you’re picking up. Have some snacks on hand if your group gets hangry.

We’re here now and at CA all day. This was definitely not the case for us today at all. We ate at Shmoozies, walked right up to order, Pyms test kitchen, did walk up and was less than a 10 minute wait in line, num num cookie no wait at walk up, Lamplight had reservation checked in early and was seated 5 minutes later. So was a very easy day for us today on the food situation!

 

[Skyegirl1999]

We’re here now and at CA all day. This was definitely not the case for us today at all. We ate at Shmoozies, walked right up to order, Pyms test kitchen, did walk up and was less than a 10 minute wait in line, num num cookie no wait at walk up, Lamplight had reservation checked in early and was seated 5 minutes later. So was a very easy day for us today on the food situation!

That’s great! As I mentioned in the OP, it is very dependent on crowd levels. A random Wednesday in mid-September isn’t going to be a “busy day” the way that Labor Day weekend was. But on weekends, I’m going to go back to scheduling some mobile orders in the morning!

 

[evilmommie]

Definitely have to use different food strategies Holiday weekends vs week day visits. That’s for sure! Loved my visit this past Tuesday. All of the Halloween treats were available and it wasn’t packed.

Every time I book a visit on a weekend or Holiday, I always book one ADR either in park or DTD. Makes life easier and then just grab snacks to fill the hunger gaps.