Which restaurants do NOT have "audience participation"?

[littleladykaty]

Perhaps I should ask specifically which places do have major participation from guests as My fiance and I just don't do that sort of thing...(bad childhood experience for me...he just doesn't do that...) anyhow...I was hearing great things about the food at WC and now i'm so glad I read the thread about it so I know to avoid it! Mostly my sweetie and I just want to have polite service, eat our food in peace and go...not a lot of fun, but it's how we like it.

I hate to be stared at, laughed at, singled out etc...I just die every time and I don't take it well and I don't want to feel that way on my honeymoon!

thanks!!!

 

[sjw4870]

I would avoid Whispering Canyon Cafe and 50's Prime Time Cafe. I also don't really enjoy those types of experiences but have eaten at both places multiple times. Usually if the server senses you are not into it, they'll leave you alone.

 

[jann1033]

i'd stay clear of wcc, primetime, ohana( althought that is more like a show and you can ignore it easily) and maybe beirgarten as you sit with people you don't know there. truthfully i don't like it either so was nervous about wcc but it was fine. I do think the waiters know who to interact with and who to let be innocent by standers my husband does like attention and probably would have liked more interaction so he will love it when we go to wcc with the family most of whom are more outgoing than me

we had great service and a good meal in the past at BD, Lecellier, chefs, Kona ( although that was close seating it seemed so not real private) and all wait staff there were not over the top "i want to be your best bud "types

 

[Sleeping Jedi Beauty]

I've read that if you tell the servers at WCC that you don't want to do the antics, they'll keep you out of it, but you may want to check with WCC to confirm that. There may be a way to have the food there, but avoid the antics.

 

[littleladykaty]

ACK!! OHANA?! That's where we have our first ADR!!! I had heard there was a show and I desperately hope there aren't like...roving fire eaters!! Seriously, I will not be able to relax if I have to worry about that sort of thing! Mostly b/c it will annoy my fiance (wow, he'll be my HUSBAND by then ) He is a doll but he has a killer "I'm not amused" face and I don't want anyone to be offended! I know that the performers are just doing their jobs, which is why I want to avoid these places.

thanks to all for the tips of places to avoid!!! Especially the Beirgarten...I can't imagine eating with people I don't know...which is why I don't do cruises!! Y'know I've been cheerleading all my life and no one would ever know how painfully shy I actually am!

 

[allegracristina]

The show at 'Ohana is a lot of fun! You will be able to enjoy your food, while being treated to beautiful music and dancing. It pays to keep an open mind at Disney-you'd never imagine how much fun you can have if you let go a little.

 

[sjw4870]

Don't worry about Ohana. The antics are more geared towards children. Might be loud, but I've never felt embarrased or self-conscious there. A little tip - the later you eat, the quieter it will be. Also, there is a "main" room and a room behind the fire pit. The room behind the fire pit is much quiter (for example, people who want to be in on the antics do NOT want to be seated there). On my last visit, I had a ADR for 9:50pm, was seated behind the fire pit, never heard any of the activites from the other room (not sure if I just couldn't hear it or there were none). An added bonus - nice view of Wishes.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

I'm sure you'll be avoiding the character meals, then. The interaction is pretty low-key, but if you're painfully shy, it's better to be safe than silly....er, sorry.
You might want to avoid Teppanyaki as well, and Marrakesh. Teppanyaki shares tables, and Marrakesh has a belly dancer (very classy, but she does sometimes come up to tables).
Now that I think about it, the dinner shows would be out, as well. HoopDeDoo Revue has audience participation, as does the Spirit of Aloha Luau, although it's generally easy to opt out of...I've never been singled out for particular attention, and those that are generally volunteer for it, or are volunteered by their companions.

 

[Sammie]

I've read that if you tell the servers at WCC that you don't want to do the antics, they'll keep you out of it, but you may want to check with WCC to confirm that. There may be a way to have the food there, but avoid the antics.

Would not count on that. I saw them make this couple miserable one night, by bringing it to everyone's attention that, "They Don't Want to Play". They were really razzing them about it.

It was sad, if I had been them I would have left.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Avoid Whispering Canyon, O'hana, 50's Prime Time.
We're just like you Littleladykaty and were miserable at all 3 spots. And tho we weren't forced to actually participate in anything, it was nearly imposible to avoid all the noise, shouting, straw-throwing, stick horse racing, hula parades, etc etc going on around us.

 

[RC Fan]

I am pretty shy but have had no problem with Ohana or WCC. As well, I don't find the characters at the character meals pay much attention to adults.

It's not a restaurant, but the one place you will want to avoid is The Adventurers Club in PI. I might as well have had 'shy and backward' tattooed on my forehead.

 

[Tinker*Shell*Bell]

While I would love to experience WCC and 50's PTC the other adults in my group feel the same as the OP about it. My mother specifically said she would get up and walk out if they acted the way I was describing WCC. Since I know she was not kidding I changed out ADR's because I too would not count on them leaving us alone if we asked.
Don't feel bad about not wanting that experience. I did a lot of research and the only 2 places we are avoiding are those two. Other places have a little character interaction but nothing that calls attention to one person and picks on them.
Have a great trip!

 

[littleladykaty]

Thanks to all for the very valuable information!!! A lot of people who don't enjoy that sort of thing are given a hard time by people who do. A lot of my family is very...errmmm...boisterous let's say...and are forever calling me a "stick in the mud"...grrrrr...I just like things the way I like it...it has nothing to do with "letting go a little" or being uptight or whathaveyou...there is nothing wrong with having a preference in dining experiences and considering what it costs to stay at Disney I figure we should maximize the extreme fun and avoid the things that we wouldn't like! I'm going to WDW for my honeymoon for goodness sake, I can't be that much of a stick in the mud!

thanks again!!

 

[MareQ]

Thanks to all for the very valuable information!!! A lot of people who don't enjoy that sort of thing are given a hard time by people who do. A lot of my family is very...errmmm...boisterous let's say...and are forever calling me a "stick in the mud"...grrrrr...I just like things the way I like it...it has nothing to do with "letting go a little" or being uptight or whathaveyou...there is nothing wrong with having a preference in dining experiences and considering what it costs to stay at Disney I figure we should maximize the extreme fun and avoid the things that we wouldn't like! I'm going to WDW for my honeymoon for goodness sake, I can't be that much of a stick in the mud!

thanks again!!

DH and I are more reserved people but we had no problems with WCC or Prime Time - I can however see how some MAY have issues at those two places. As for 'Ohana - there is no audience participation - it's mainly just games for the kids. It is loud but I woudl at least try there because the food and serving style is different.

You may want to avoid character meals - the characters will come to every single table and will interact with you even if you ask them to skip you.

 

[littleladykaty]

you know what's funny is I LOVE the characters at Disney...maybe not while I'm eating, but I waited in line for 3 hours with mostly 3 year olds to have my pic taken with Pooh when I was at Disneyland one year(major pooh obsessin when I was in college)...I promised myself I wouldn't say anything stupid (as one of my sorority sisters worked at DL as a character and said that adults are always acting like they really ARE pooh or mickey or whomever...) so I get up there and say "I'm SO EXCITED to meet you!!"

I guess that my DF and I just enjoy the intimate experiences of dining more than the loud boisterous ones!

 

[Kitka]

My husband had a real issue with WCC because of being put on the spot. He was the one person most singled out throughout our breakfast. We didn't enjoy it at all. So yeah, I wouldn't recommend it if you have a problem with the possibility of them doing that to you. Not my idea of fun.

 

[maggiew]

I've read that if you tell the servers at WCC that you don't want to do the antics, they'll keep you out of it, but you may want to check with WCC to confirm that. There may be a way to have the food there, but avoid the antics.

My Dd said she didn't want to participate in the horse race thing. They didn't make her do it. But as "punishment" for not participating, she had to pass out the certificates to all the other kids.

Our server forced DH to go up with the other guys even though he didn't want to. Once he saw what they were supposed to do, he just stood there and didn't do anything. They didn't force him to do the 'buttercup' dance, but they did force him up there. Of course, no one could "force" DH if he didn't want to go. But he protested a little and finally went up there after much harassment by waitress. But that is because he didn't know what he was in for. If he had known, he wouldn't have gone up. (It was our first time there.)

Maggie

 

[littleladykaty]

Okay seriously...I know this is Disney and all, and it's all in the spirit of "fun", but for servers to continually harrass people who have said that they do NOT want to participate in something, to single them out for making a choice not to participate is inappropriate. I am a social worker, I work with children who are so painfully shy in large groups that might well be physically ill at such treatment...talk about worst nightmare. A lot of people suffer from social anxiety disorder but don't want to appear uptight so they go along with certain things or are pressured in to things. My dad used get very annoyed when I wasn't as "outgoing " as he thought I should be so I worried that I was letting everyone down if I didn't shine all the time. I love Disney, I always have...but I enjoy it in my way and I just hate it when people with boisterous personality types ridicule and harrass those of us who are more reserved. I'm not even reserved really...I've been cheerleading all my life...I have no trouble making friends...but I need to be allowed to do things at my own pace...and the very thought of a place like WC puts that horrible anxiety knot in my stomach...GRRRRR I would be afraid that my DF might say some very undisney like words to any server who felt it necessary to pull him up on a stage or ridicule him for not wanting to do more than watch!

I am aware that this is sort of silly to get all worked up about, but for goodness sake, live and let live y'know?!

 

[goodeats]

Definitely avoid WCC and 50s PT! It's all in good fun, but you don't want to ruin your day.

You might want to avoid character meals. Also, Hoop Dee Doo Revue has an audience participation 'scene'.

I haven't dined at 'Ohana since 2002, but I don't remember any required participation. The games and stuff were for the kids, we just ate. Although, I didn't really enjoy the food anyway. Kona Cafe is much better (and quieter!)

Where do you have ADRs currently?

 

[curiouser]

Not flaming you at all, just a suggestion: if you don't like getting extra attention during your meal I'd avoid telling the server its your honeymoon or wearing your bride/groom mouse ears in the restaurant. The servers might do something extra for you that might bring more attention to your table than you want. Last time we were at Ohanas, main guy on the microphone went over to the table of the married couple and had everyone clap for them. If you want to avoid things like that happening, you might want to play discreet in the restaurants.

HTH!!