Waitresses at 50's Prime Time

[JaimJaim76]

Hello, I was just wondering if the waitresses "pick on" all of their customers? I have no problem with it, I think it will be fun but my husband is kind of reserved and I dont know how he will respond to it, lol...I mean there is no way he will stand in a corner or sing "Im a Little Teapot". I was just curious if they do this to everyone or do they kind of get a feeling for the people they are waiting on first.
Thanks!

 

[wdwrich]

In our experiences there, the wait staff is pretty adept at recognizing which individuals don't want to "play", and work around them appropriately. YMMV.

 

[PSUGuy]

We had a waiter for our party of 6, wifey and I, our daughter, SIL and 2 grand kids. My daughter got all of the 'treatment' because she just couldn't keep her elbows off the table. She eventually got sent to stand in the corner, and yes, she's the most outgoing one of us with the best sense of humor. The rest of us behaved.

Bill From PA

 

[PoohBear]

We had a waiter recently who would not leave our teenage son alone. I hope he's still not there. We love to play along with that type of thing but our teen is mortified by all the attention. When we arrived, he very politely and respectfully explained to the waiter that he did not want to play along. We explained to the waiter that we would play along just please leave our son out of it.

I guess that irked him. He refused to take his order. Then when my husband asked him to take our son's order, he relented. My son was very patient but deeply embarrassed. The waiter refused him drink refills. He had to wait for his food. Then, when it was time for dessert, he refused again to take his order. I ordered for him and then passed it on to him. The waiter saw this, made a huge scene, then took his dessert away and dumped it. Thankfully, my family stood up and left (I thought my hubby was going to hit him). I sat and waited quite a while just to pay the bill. I stopped to talk to a manager on the way out but they told me they were too busy.
I think most of the waiters there are pretty good at sensing who has a good sense of humor and who doesn't. I definitely think this guy was the exception. But be aware some have gone too far.

 

[xipetotec]

Well then just tell your husband to follow the rules in the kitchen! No Elbows on the table and eat your dinner! ( Just joking )


Actually, if it helps at all, I myself am very shy and I had a great time there and can't wait to go back. Of course, we were two tables, and my table had our "cousin" who went easier on us that the table my aunt and mom were at. They had an older "aunt" serving them, and she was "stricter" ... But out of our group of 15, we ALL want to go back next time.

 

[clutter]

I want to work there when I retire.

 

[Get me to Disney!]

We went there in Sept. My DD is 12 and picky, picky eater. She got chicken with mashed potatoes, etc. Well, she liked the chicken but hated the mashed potatoes. I cleaned my plate so no issues for me but whomever didn't clean their plate, our waitress sang choo choo sounds and fed one last spoonful to those who didn't eat. My daughter said later she wanted to puke LOL but it was fun. In the next room, other people had a different waitress and they literally laughed all through dinner. I don't know what their waitress was doing but I wanted her to be ours!!!

 

[ThumperandLitenin]

Love 50's Prime Time Cafe.

If you are really as shy as some folks have reported, then don't go. It is what it is, and shouldn't be compromised by people who don't want to play.

Now that sounds mean, but I am not trying to be so.

To put it another way, it would be like riding Cali Rapids and being upset that you got wet, or reserving a table in front of the stage at Hoop-Dee-Doo Review and be upset about being picked.

Now all that being sad, I think the CM took it a little too far with the shy teen. I'm sure they do that all the time, but usually finally get a crack of a smile out of the shy ones. Unfortunately in that case, it didn't happen. Use that as an example of what can happen.

May the diners beware!

 

[xipetotec]

To put it another way, it would be like riding Cali Rapids and being upset that you got wet, or reserving a table in front of the stage at Hoop-Dee-Doo Review and be upset about being picked.

!

This echoes what I've always said about the "green" line at Mission: Space. They shut down a centrifuge so people can experience the ride without the spinning... but the spaceflight G's are what the ride is all about! ... Why not make a special track on Space Mountain and Big thunder that just goes straight for those who don't like drops, or maybe a Tower of Terror elevator that just drives around without dropping...

Like you said, not trying to be mean, but there are thrill rides and those who don't like them don't go. Besides, it's not like there isn't a fair amount of warnings on MS.

But I digress... I just thought your point brought up a another sticking point with me

 

[LockShockBarrel]

I've been there a few times and I've never seen any server take it that far unless the person was willing to play along. I get that it's an interactive experience or whatever, but that server crossed a line IMHO. It seems most of them have a 2 joke rule, if they try to play with you or joke with you twice and you don't respond to it, they'll back off. There definitely are exceptions, and I can imagine it can be hard to read some people, but if you explicitly tell them "step off!" they should stop immediately, it's no longer fun and they should just stop before someone gets really mad. I would consider someone who behaves like that a liability for the restaurant. Eventually he could provoke someone into violence (which granted shouldn't happen but people have a breaking point) and if someone has that bad of a time there, they're going to tell everyone about it and it's very likely that the people that hear about it are going to say "hm maybe we shouldn't go there".

 

[JaimJaim76]

We had a waiter recently who would not leave our teenage son alone. I hope he's still not there. We love to play along with that type of thing but our teen is mortified by all the attention. When we arrived, he very politely and respectfully explained to the waiter that he did not want to play along. We explained to the waiter that we would play along just please leave our son out of it.

I guess that irked him. He refused to take his order. Then when my husband asked him to take our son's order, he relented. My son was very patient but deeply embarrassed. The waiter refused him drink refills. He had to wait for his food. Then, when it was time for dessert, he refused again to take his order. I ordered for him and then passed it on to him. The waiter saw this, made a huge scene, then took his dessert away and dumped it. Thankfully, my family stood up and left (I thought my hubby was going to hit him). I sat and waited quite a while just to pay the bill. I stopped to talk to a manager on the way out but they told me they were too busy.
I think most of the waiters there are pretty good at sensing who has a good sense of humor and who doesn't. I definitely think this guy was the exception. But be aware some have gone too far.

My goodness, I think I would of been seriously upset. I dont mind playing along and having fun but it sounds to me like that waiter went WAY too far and perhaps needed an attitude adjustment!!

 

[Simba's Mom]

I wonder what they do with solo diners. I'll find out when I eat there in a couple weeks.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

We have been there when you get a lot of attention and not so much. It just depends on who you get I guess. They kick up on who wants to do what too.

 

[Jillpie]

We had a waiter recently who would not leave our teenage son alone. I hope he's still not there. We love to play along with that type of thing but our teen is mortified by all the attention. When we arrived, he very politely and respectfully explained to the waiter that he did not want to play along. We explained to the waiter that we would play along just please leave our son out of it.

I guess that irked him. He refused to take his order. Then when my husband asked him to take our son's order, he relented. My son was very patient but deeply embarrassed. The waiter refused him drink refills. He had to wait for his food. Then, when it was time for dessert, he refused again to take his order. I ordered for him and then passed it on to him. The waiter saw this, made a huge scene, then took his dessert away and dumped it. Thankfully, my family stood up and left (I thought my hubby was going to hit him). I sat and waited quite a while just to pay the bill. I stopped to talk to a manager on the way out but they told me they were too busy.
I think most of the waiters there are pretty good at sensing who has a good sense of humor and who doesn't. I definitely think this guy was the exception. But be aware some have gone too far.

Poohbear, were you aware of the antics of this restaurant before going? And if you were and knew about your son being so painfully mortified by the attention, I'm wondering why did you go? We love Prime Time and go every trip, did you catch his name? We have a favorite server, and I'm sure hoping it wasn't him (but would be very surprised if it were).

 

[jking6]

Sorry to hear about your son's situation. But I have our 1st reservations in Dec. I can not wait to go. My husband is shy but he does love a good laugh. I have a very picky niece with us who will laugh with all the antics the whole time. I am some what concerned about my 17 year DD, she is a little bashful and does not like attention. But if its not on her she will laugh the whole time. She will have her best manners on so attention is not on her.

 

[Missytara]

I have to say my mom is very reserved. She did not like the "attention" we got at WCC - it was a little over the top for her.

However, she much enjoyed the "cajoling" we got from the server we had at Primetime, because most of the attention was focused on me. She was pretty good at noticing that I would take a fair amount of ribbing and my mom got a kick out of the fact she refused me a second glass of wine. My mom isn't much of a drinker and ended up in a nice conversation with our server continually reminding me about having no more than one glass of wine with dinner. It was pretty comical.

 

[PoohBear]

Yes, we were aware of the service at the restaurant. We went because we enjoy the food. We did and will continue to go because we enjoy the food there. I think the primary purpose of this particular structure is probably to serve food. This is what we had the biggest problem with. Let me reiterate, he refused to take our son's order. He did not ask him to get his elbows off the table, he did not try to make him stand in a corner, he was withholding food.

At least if you rode Kali river rapids, Space Mountain or TOT... you still got a ride. Maybe with some parts that you did not like but still you got a ride. He wanted food. Maybe he would have gotten it with service he did not like but still he would like some food.

Our son took it pretty well considering his level of embarrassment. He did not pout or cry. He remained composed, tolerant and polite. We have had dozens of wonderful experiences here and as I said before, this guy was the exception.

I enjoy a good laugh as much as the next guy. The servers can continue to be funny without being insulting. They can stay in character and still be human. I have seen them. They do exist. I don't think it is too much to ask a server to cut a child slack.. Especially, if the child asked so nicely and there were so many other willing participants at the table.

By the time he took my son's dessert from him, the waiter was genuinely angry with us. I guess because he never managed to get my son to break?? Believe it our not, I actually felt I needed to tip him extra because he was so angry and I was a little scared. But I guess I should see a therapist about that. LOL

I want the OP to know what is possible, so she can decide how her husband may react. As another post pointed out, some people may be provoked to the point of violence and I would not want to see that happen to anyone, especially on vacation.

 

[vroomagain]

Yes, we were aware of the service at the restaurant. We went because we enjoy the food. We did and will continue to go because we enjoy the food there. I think the primary purpose of this particular structure is probably to serve food. This is what we had the biggest problem with. Let me reiterate, he refused to take our son's order. He did not ask him to get his elbows off the table, he did not try to make him stand in a corner, he was withholding food.

At least if you rode Kali river rapids, Space Mountain or TOT... you still got a ride. Maybe with some parts that you did not like but still you got a ride. He wanted food. Maybe he would have gotten it with service he did not like but still he would like some food.

Our son took it pretty well considering his level of embarrassment. He did not pout or cry. He remained composed, tolerant and polite. We have had dozens of wonderful experiences here and as I said before, this guy was the exception.

I enjoy a good laugh as much as the next guy. The servers can continue to be funny without being insulting. They can stay in character and still be human. I have seen them. They do exist. I don't think it is too much to ask a server to cut a child slack.. Especially, if the child asked so nicely and there were so many other willing participants at the table.

By the time he took my son's dessert from him, the waiter was genuinely angry with us. I guess because he never managed to get my son to break?? Believe it our not, I actually felt I needed to tip him extra because he was so angry and I was a little scared. But I guess I should see a therapist about that. LOL

I want the OP to know what is possible, so she can decide how her husband may react. As another post pointed out, some people may be provoked to the point of violence and I would not want to see that happen to anyone, especially on vacation.

I don't think it is fair for people to place blame on you or your family. I have read a lot about 50's PT and the sentiments have echoed what has been said here- the waitstaff knows pretty well who isn't enjoying it. With that, I wouldn't hesitate to bring someone to dinner who was shy because I would feel they are 'safe.'

Also, what you described sounds nothing like the good natured ribbing that I've heard about.

 

[disneyfan100*]

DH and I have been there 3 times and we have always had a regular restaurant experience. I notice they tease more with tables with large groups and kids around us. Maybe after a day of walking all over and waiting in lines we don’t look like we want to joke around.

 

[NMAmy]

Sorry to hear about your son's situation. But I have our 1st reservations in Dec. I can not wait to go. My husband is shy but he does love a good laugh. I have a very picky niece with us who will laugh with all the antics the whole time. I am some what concerned about my 17 year DD, she is a little bashful and does not like attention. But if its not on her she will laugh the whole time. She will have her best manners on so attention is not on her.

My dd is a bit of a ham so it always makes me laugh that she's paranoid at PT. When she was younger, she'd use her best manners and put her leftover food on my plate. It was obvious to everyone what she'd done since she'd had a completely different order but our server began calling her "my little angel girl with the perfect manners" and holding her up as an example to the other, less mannered diners. On subsequent visits, she decided to just go with it and got fed a few bites of what she hadn't eaten along with choo choo and airplane noises.

OP--most of the servers are pretty good at knowing who wants to play.