The Most ANNOYING Bartender in the World!

[jiminyfan]

last year he made the call for my id (I'm 39) and I told him that after he sees my age I am going to give him a BIG KISS for carding me at such an old age. The female bartender loved this, she said you got an old one here. I handed him the card, he verified my age and I then told him I need to give my kiss. He didn't seem too please, but did crack a smile. The others at the bar liked my offer. My wife still gets mad whenI told her I was carded at 39!!!

Going back this fall, I hope to get carded again at 40, even if the signs says if you look 30 - this makes me ten years younger than I am. WaHoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Dawa bar has a great selection of drinks and if you get by the personality, he does make excellent drinks - doesn't skimp on the liquor but not overbearing. I have no problems going back again and again and again!!!

 

[Tess]

He is a bit on the condescending side, isn't he! You should (or maybe you have) sit at the bar itself sometime. He can be downright nasty to people.

There was a time that Dawa served Safari Amber, no longer--it's been a few years I think. Anyway, God help me, I asked for one several years ago and I thought I was going to lose my head! He indicated in a very snitty voice that if I wanted a Safari Amber, I had to go into Tusker House--he was no longer able to serve it! I went to Tusker and avoided him that day! Good luck finding a time when he isn't there. . .he's been there every time we've been to AK and passed the DAWA! He reminds me a little bit of James VanPragh, the psychic guy--not to insult the medium.

All that said, I do enjoy a relaxing visit to Dawa on a warm day!

The other side of that coin is the really friendly and fun bartender. Thankfully, WDW has many of those, too! One of our favorites is the guy at BB in the outdoor hut. I really wish I was better with remembering names--I'm sure my husband remembers them both!

 

[SoonerKate]

I've dealt with that guy before. Instead of the plastic, more credit-card like licenses that most states have now, Oklahoma still has laminated licenses with no magnetic strip on the back. There's also a space on there with a red box that says "Under 21 until: (date)". If you're over 21, that box is just empty, but it's on your license no matter what.

My boyfriend, John, tried to get a drink at the bar and the bartender yelled at him for his ID, so John gave him his driver's license. The bartender saw that it was a laminated ID and that the "Under 21" box was empty and told my boyfriend that it (his real drivers license!) was the worst fake ID he'd ever seen, and refused to serve him.

 

[LJC1861]

I first visited the Dawa bar with my friend Lisa back in January 2001. We love strawberry daquiris and Bryon suggested we try it made with Captain Morgan rum. It was the best daquiri we had ever had. We went back for several more that trip. The first time we visited he asked us both for ID...we are both over the 30 year mark...and were quite flattered to be asked for ID. Yes he is loud....he has to be to be heard over the buzz of the guests and the african drums that often play in the plaza. Yes he is insistant about ID.....he has to be. Disney does employ many secret shoppers to check on things and all it takes is one violation and you will be fired. Yes he gets hyped up...he LOVES his job and he has to move quickly to serve the many guests that want their drink NOW, especially when he is the only one behind the bar as is often the case.

We did not have a chance to come back again until September that year...shortly after 9/11. I live in NYC, not far from ground Zero and had considerable difficulty even getting out of NYC to take this much needed vacation. Lisa and I both love Animal Kingdom and it was our first destination after she picked me up from the airport. As it had been a difficult few days we decided to take a breather, stop at the bar and have a drink. We wanted another of those wonderful daquiris. As it happens Bryon was at the bar that day. Not only did he remember us, he remembered that we liked daquiris, we were from NYC and that we liked them made with Captain Morgan. Although he could not remember our names the did remember that they started with 'L'. Pretty impressive for someone we had not seen in 9 months.

Say what you want, but Bryon is OK in our books and we will continue to visit the bar and our friend. Give him a chance. Once you get past the loud, energetic veneer he is a really great guy.

Linda

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Good to hear a different perspective on this guy and I am always impressed when any CM remembers me.

 

[montessori]

I also enjoy reading the various experiences everyone has had with Byron. Thanks for his name, I couldn't remember it.

I'm not surprised he has his fans, he wouldn't be working there if he made EVERY customer mad!

I realize that DW has "spotters" who keep an eye on Disney employees. We have a running joke with a few bartenders there, who seem to think that maybe I AM a spotter!

I've also watched bartenders working alone there when they are bombarded by hoards of guests all at once. They all make sure they aren't serving anyone under 21, but you barely know it's happening.

Last week, the Dawa Bar was not particularly busy yet we still saw 3 groups of people walk away upset with Byron. There's just something wrong with that!
He can make a good drink, he does remember who we are, but I still think he needs to work on his "bar-side" manner.
I'm sure his tips are affected by his demeanor, I know I don't leave my usual 25 - 30 % there.

(What he did to SoonerKate and boyfriend is totally over the top and beyond the call of duty.)

The Dawa Bar is a great little bar and everyone should go and have a drink there!
Just because we don't appreciate Byron's style, doesn't mean he bothers everyone like he bothers us.

Happy Weekend, everyone!