What happens to the 'Be Our Guest Restaurant' outdoor queue now it's summer?

[StephyDee]

If they had thought ahead they wouldn't need to be passing out umbrellas as it would have been in the shade.

That line is about an hour from one end of the bridge to the other.

Okay, yes I agree that the queue could have been planned MUCH better. Umbrellas help, but aren't a long term solution, especially in a place that's warm and sunny (besides the rain of course) much of the year. What I meant by my comment only was that they at least had SOMETHING for the guests. I have been in situations similar to this before (other theme parks actually), and when people would complain of the heat and sun, the attendants would just shrug and say things like "What do you want US to do about it?!" and "Well, that sucks." They sometimes won't even acknowledge it, and try to ignore the complaints.

Of course, most of us expect Disney CMs to be more courteous than that, but at least they did something, even if it wasn't that much. I'm just being my optimistic self and looking at the bright side. Maybe they can plan a French-style awning that'd have some patterns and ties to BATB. Then have some fans every so often blowing on the guests. Yes, it'd ruin the ideal picture of the whole area, but if it helps people stay cooler, then maybe they could find a way to make it fit in with the theme? Heck, even awnings the same patterns as the bridge would be better than nothing.

 

[Nancyg56]

Okay, yes I agree that the queue could have been planned MUCH better. Umbrellas help, but aren't a long term solution, especially in a place that's warm and sunny (besides the rain of course) much of the year. What I meant by my comment only was that they at least had SOMETHING for the guests. I have been in situations similar to this before (other theme parks actually), and when people would complain of the heat and sun, the attendants would just shrug and say things like "What do you want US to do about it?!" and "Well, that sucks." They sometimes won't even acknowledge it, and try to ignore the complaints.

Of course, most of us expect Disney CMs to be more courteous than that, but at least they did something, even if it wasn't that much. I'm just being my optimistic self and looking at the bright side. Maybe they can plan a French-style awning that'd have some patterns and ties to BATB. Then have some fans every so often blowing on the guests. Yes, it'd ruin the ideal picture of the whole area, but if it helps people stay cooler, then maybe they could find a way to make it fit in with the theme? Heck, even awnings the same patterns as the bridge would be better than nothing.

Stephy- they had to do something. This restaurant is an attraction, no question about it, and there was no forethought about how to handle the queue. If this was TS, the line would be managed by the reserved times, and folks are sent away if they show up too early. This is a CS restaurant, so folks have no choice but to swelter in endless sun if they do not want to lose their place. I have no idea how to correct this. The restaurant is situated so that it appears far away, high in a hill. It is lovely to see and awnings, canopies, etc, will change the atmosphere.

I know that as a CS restaurant, BOG is wildly successful, but perhaps taking ADR's for it may alleviate some of the wait times.

 

[beer dave]

Stephy- they had to do something. This restaurant is an attraction, no question about it, and there was no forethought about how to handle the queue. If this was TS, the line would be managed by the reserved times, and folks are sent away if they show up too early. This is a CS restaurant, so folks have no choice but to swelter in endless sun if they do not want to lose their place. I have no idea how to correct this. The restaurant is situated so that it appears far away, high in a hill. It is lovely to see and awnings, canopies, etc, will change the atmosphere.

I know that as a CS restaurant, BOG is wildly successful, but perhaps taking ADR's for it may alleviate some of the wait times.

I don't think it will be long before it is exclusively a TS.

 

[Nancyg56]

I don't think it will be long before it is exclusively a TS.

I agree. Frankly, the CS options tasted better than the TS meal, and I think that was because they are so busy the staff feels the need to speed up the meal. If they went strictly TS, Disney can solve several problems that this restaurant is experiencing. There is no way Disney can continue such a makeshift workaround to manage the queue, but ADR's will solve that. Right now, there really are not enough TS options in the MK, and if BOG goes strictly TS, it can handle a tremendous number of people, and manage crowd flow as well. I would not close it between lunch and dinner, except to clean. If the menu is the same for lunch and dinner, Disney can stagger guests and accommodate those families that prefer an early dinner. And of course, TS on the DDP is a moneymaker for WDW. Even less expensive options take one TS credit, and IMO, those options were good.

 

[wdwlover25]

Sad to hear people are having to wait so long for a CS meal to begin with. Especially outside with no cover against the sun/rain. What happens when you enter the castle? Is there another large queue area and the people outside are overflow? All I can picture is Peco's Bills with several long lines and a large enough queue area to accommodate everyone inside.

 

[Nancyg56]

Sad to hear people are having to wait so long for a CS meal to begin with. Especially outside with no cover against the sun/rain. What happens when you enter the castle? Is there another large queue area and the people outside are overflow? All I can picture is Peco's Bills with several long lines and a large enough queue area to accommodate everyone inside.

The queue continues inside the castle, and is managed by a CM who lets your party pass to place your order. There are stations to place your order that resemble FP machines from a distance. The areas that is open to place your order is not like Pecos Bill, only a limited number of people pass through at any given time. Once your order is placed you find your seat and a coded rose is used so that the Cm can deliver your meal. They come through with a rolling cart. Actually, I think this part of the process is pretty efficient. This restaurant is huge and can seat a lot of people, and it is roomier than Pecos Bill. I think this process works well, you are not searching for a table like a lost person, trying to leapfrog over others crammed into a dining space that was never meant to seat so many people.

I think that the process itself works well for a CS experience once you are inside. I am almost never frustrated in WDW except if I am trying to eat at Pecos Boll or Cosmic Rays. Holy chaotic! Pecos Bill is the worst setup I have ever seen. Too many chairs, too small tables and condiment and toppings located in areas that require guests to traipse between chairs. Terrible.

 

[wdwlover25]

Maybe once the newness wears off the line will become more manageable. Sounds like a wonderful CS experience once inside!

PB is crazy... If it wasn't for the grilled onion/mushroom bar my DH loves so much I'd certainly take a pass. I'll be begging for BOG as it is and if there's a line out the door in the heat... I won't have a chance!

 

[lugnut33]

I got to preview it last November and I came on here and mentioned this problem, but everybody here just laughed. I remember the comments, "suck it up" and "bring an umbrella".

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

If they had thought ahead they wouldn't need to be passing out umbrellas as it would have been in the shade.

That line is about an hour from one end of the bridge to the other.

I can sell you 200 DVU(Disney Vacation Umbrella) points a year for 30 years for $750.

Actually, the line only takes 30 minutes from 5 feet past the end of the bridge to ordering your food. I timed it for someone when we were there a couple of weeks ago.

I just paid $42 for that exact same umbrella at World of Disney a couple of weeks back. Considering an umbrella only lasts me a couple of years before I break it, I should have held out for your deal!

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

No umbrellas on June 8! It was rotten hot and the CM told us it would be at least 45-55 minutes in the line, so we reluctantly had to pass on lunch at BOG!

 

[StephyDee]

Stephy- they had to do something. This restaurant is an attraction, no question about it, and there was no forethought about how to handle the queue. If this was TS, the line would be managed by the reserved times, and folks are sent away if they show up too early. This is a CS restaurant, so folks have no choice but to swelter in endless sun if they do not want to lose their place. I have no idea how to correct this. The restaurant is situated so that it appears far away, high in a hill. It is lovely to see and awnings, canopies, etc, will change the atmosphere.

I know that as a CS restaurant, BOG is wildly successful, but perhaps taking ADR's for it may alleviate some of the wait times.

This restaurant's situation is tricky, isn't it? Put up the awnings and whatnot, and you lose the magical feel and atmosphere of the whole area (a staple for Disney parks). Leave it be and people suffer in the heat and sun. It's a no-win situation.

I agree that making it strictly TS would make the wait easier to digest. I know it would be for me at least. Of course you'll get plenty of people complaining about the decision, but what alternative will WDW have? These lines are crazy long. That can't be ignored forever.

 

[BigAlsGal]

The restaurant queue is one thing, there are multiple places you could choose to eat, but I can't understand for the life of me why the ETWB queue is right in the sun!! They've always done so well shading, covering, and air conditioning queues. These lines are just open to the elements. I understand they're trying to create a certain atmosphere but this isn't a village in France. It's central Florida!!

 

[Q-man]

Actually, the line only takes 30 minutes from 5 feet past the end of the bridge to ordering your food. I timed it for someone when we were there a couple of weeks ago.

Then they are now way more efficient than there were Thanksgiving week.

 

[Q-man]

I agree. Frankly, the CS options tasted better than the TS meal, and I think that was because they are so busy the staff feels the need to speed up the meal. If they went strictly TS, Disney can solve several problems that this restaurant is experiencing. There is no way Disney can continue such a makeshift workaround to manage the queue, but ADR's will solve that. Right now, there really are not enough TS options in the MK, and if BOG goes strictly TS, it can handle a tremendous number of people, and manage crowd flow as well. I would not close it between lunch and dinner, except to clean. If the menu is the same for lunch and dinner, Disney can stagger guests and accommodate those families that prefer an early dinner. And of course, TS on the DDP is a moneymaker for WDW. Even less expensive options take one TS credit, and IMO, those options were good.

It would make more sense that they designed it to be a TS location and somewhere along the way someone decided it would be CS at lunch without thinking through that there was very little covered queue. But then ETwB isn't cover either.

 

[lugnut33]

This restaurant's situation is tricky, isn't it? Put up the awnings and whatnot, and you lose the magical feel and atmosphere of the whole area (a staple for Disney parks). Leave it be and people suffer in the heat and sun. It's a no-win situation.

I agree that making it strictly TS would make the wait easier to digest. I know it would be for me at least. Of course you'll get plenty of people complaining about the decision, but what alternative will WDW have? These lines are crazy long. That can't be ignored forever.

You don't think they could put in a fake vine and leaf system that would protect people and make it look good?

 

[LockShockBarrel]

Well aside from the possibility of losing the feel or magic of the area, had anyone considered maybe they didn't add an awning or whatever because they don't want people congregating there? What happens when it rains anywhere else? People swarm to the nearest covered area. Perhaps they felt hordes of cranky people blocking paying customers was more of an issue.

I was waiting on the porch at Crystal Palace during rain when I had an ADR there and can't tell you how many times I got bumped and stepped on by people who just wanted to be out of the rain. I definitely thought they should have been asking people to move along if they weren't waiting to eat. I can imagine something similar at BOG.

 

[MissScara]

I agree. Frankly, the CS options tasted better than the TS meal, and I think that was because they are so busy the staff feels the need to speed up the meal. If they went strictly TS, Disney can solve several problems that this restaurant is experiencing. There is no way Disney can continue such a makeshift workaround to manage the queue, but ADR's will solve that. Right now, there really are not enough TS options in the MK, and if BOG goes strictly TS, it can handle a tremendous number of people, and manage crowd flow as well. I would not close it between lunch and dinner, except to clean. If the menu is the same for lunch and dinner, Disney can stagger guests and accommodate those families that prefer an early dinner. And of course, TS on the DDP is a moneymaker for WDW. Even less expensive options take one TS credit, and IMO, those options were good.

I dig it!!!!

 

[StephyDee]

You don't think they could put in a fake vine and leaf system that would protect people and make it look good?

That's the tricky part. PERSONALLY I'd be alright with it, and I think it's possible, but what about other people? There are many people who believe that putting anything on that bridge to help with shade and whatnot would make the whole place lose its magical feel, and I definitely see where they're coming from. I don't know how they can resolve the issue without upsetting a good amount of people. I mean, maybe if they had a market-like setting where the awnings would be big at first, but as you go down the bridge, the awnings get smaller and shorter, causing a similar effect that Main Street does with its buildings? I mean, I'm just rambling random ideas, so who knows if it'd even work, but at least it'd be something.

The more I think about it, the more I get a headache. I hope Disney is at least TRYING to think of a way to resolve it. My poor head would be appreciative.