Would you complain?

[mommaU4]

We just got back from our WDW trip late last night. Overall we had a good time. One of the things I was looking forward to was eating at the Whispering Canyon Cafe. I had never been there before but heard how fun it was.

We ate breakfast there our last day there (sat) and the waitress we had wasn't that good. The food took a long time to get to us and when it finally did my DD9 wanted ketchup for her eggs. I knew what happens when you ask for the ketchup and couldn't wait to see her face.

I called the waitress over and my DD asked for some ketchup. The waitress looked at her and said "Well if you want it you have to holler for it" and walked away! My DD just sat there confused. None of the other diners had to yell for their own ketchup. Their waiters all did it for them. DD was not about to stand up and yell. I was going to go grab a bottle from a nearby table but she said she didn't want it anymore.

After the meal my DH stayed behind to pay the bill and he told me a little girl at a nearby table asked the same waitress for the ketchup only to be told the same thing. So this poor girl (he said she was about 5 or 6) stood up on a chair and yelled but with all the noise no one heard her. DH said she sat down and looked kinda sad so the girls dad stood up and asked for it but no one responded to him. He finally asked one of the busboys who told a different waiter and that waiter finally got them some ketchup.

I was really mad when I heard that. I mean part of the draw of going there is for the atmosphere, (not the food which wasn't any better than IHOP or Cracker Barrel) and the whole ketchup thing is a part of that. Our food was late to our table and when it was finally brought out it wasn't even by our waitress. She was in the back more than she was on the floor. And she took forever to bring back DH's credit card and reciept.

DH wants to complain about this waitress but I'm not sure who to contact. If she didn't want to yell for the ketchup then she should have at least grabbed a bottle for us instead of just walking away. I don't think this type of restaurant is where she should be working. She did nothing to make it fun at all. Something we were all very much looking forward to turned out to be a very poor experience.

 

[kpm76]

Sorry your experience wasn't that great but I think what you described is typical for WC. We've been twice and loved it. You need to know that the waitstaff is "rough around the edges" and that's part of their act. The ketchup thing is not necessarily something that happens all the time and you can't count on it. Same goes for the straws and the very large glasses of water or soda. It's a hit or miss. Again, sorry you didn't like it but I would not complain about the waitress, it sounds like she was doing her job and "in character."

 

[tiggersmom2]

I think it would have been best if you had complained WHEN it happened. I say this is a "lesson learned" and now you know not to go back, if the experience has truly turned you off.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

So it is "in character" to completely ignore guests and not get the ketchup. I think it would have been better for her to rudely return with it in character--than to rudely just do nothing about it at all.

I don't know what happens with ketchup--but if it is too busy...I would expect that at least one bottle be brought---so what if the "show" part doesn't happen.

We ate there during Hurricane Frances. And while everything was tapered down due to the hotel being on lock down for 2 days--completely ignoring the needs of guests (not just ignoring for show) wasn't part of the deal.

 

[kpm76]

So it is "in character" to completely ignore guests and not get the ketchup. I think it would have been better for her to rudely return with it in character--than to rudely just do nothing about it at all.

I don't know what happens with ketchup--but if it is too busy...I would expect that at least one bottle be brought---so what if the "show" part doesn't happen.

We ate there during Hurricane Frances. And while everything was tapered down due to the hotel being on lock down for 2 days--completely ignoring the needs of guests (not just ignoring for show) wasn't part of the deal.

That's WC...it's not for everyone. The waitstaff is not gushy. The OPs DD wanted ketchup, the waitress told her to yell for it, she didn't and maybe the waitress thought she changed her mind. Maybe she should have just brought it over but part of the fun of going to WC is allowing yourself to be a part of the act.

 

[ilovepcot]

Quickly making a note to avoid this place! Somehow, it just doesn't sound very "Disney". If a family hasn't dined there before, how would they know to expect such treatment from waitstaff? Seems they (waitstaff) would just appear ultimately rude.

 

[disneylizzy]

I've come to the conclusion that WCC just isn't for me. We were there 3X one trip (Hurricane Frances hit) and that was 2X too many. Some people love it, but it makes me kind of uncomfortable. Love WL, love Artist Point, love Chef Mickey's, but not WCC.

To answer the question - no I wouldn't complain, its part of the schtick there.

 

[Skylarr29]

I would have complained... that drives me crazy. If this is going to be part of teh atmosphere and they even advertise it that way (on all the travel channel shows etc) then they need to have a standard and consistancy. I dont think it is fair that they can just participate with some people and the rest just see all the fun happening around them. I would have told a manager that is how I felt. I also would not have left a tip. I do not leave a tip for horrible service that I believe is the waiters fault( they dont control how long it takes to cook food etc)

 

[allie&mattsmom]

Uugh, I would have definitely been upset! I probably would have complained while we were there though. She should have at least given you the ketchup for Petes sake! We've eaten at WC numerous times and never had a bad "waiter/waiter" experience. And any time my kids asked for ketchup, the waiter/waitress yelled and pointed and made a HUGE deal about it, but didn't tell my kids they had to yell for it and then walk away. IMO, that's just not right. Truthfully, the only reason we go there is for the atmoshphere (my kids love it) and only when we are staying at WL. We wouldn't make a special trip to eat there b/c I agree that the food is just "okay". I tell ya though, if I ever had a bad experience like you did and like many others that I've heard about, I would have no reason to want to go back, and that's coming from someone who's "home" DVC resort is at WL. Sorry for your bad experience.

 

[Skylarr29]

That's WC...it's not for everyone. The waitstaff is not gushy. The OPs DD wanted ketchup, the waitress told her to yell for it, she didn't and maybe the waitress thought she changed her mind. Maybe she should have just brought it over but part of the fun of going to WC is allowing yourself to be a part of the act.

I dont agree. Not bringing what was requested especially when it was from a child is just plain rude and bad service. That shouldnt be part of the "play" no matter what people still expect service while they are having fun. The "play" is for the staff to yell for the ketchup and everyone brings it.... even if she was playing she should hae come back and given a bottle if the child had not yelled for it.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

That's WC...it's not for everyone. The waitstaff is not gushy. The OPs DD wanted ketchup, the waitress told her to yell for it, she didn't and maybe the waitress thought she changed her mind. Maybe she should have just brought it over but part of the fun of going to WC is allowing yourself to be a part of the act.

I don't know what the "act" is--as I said it was modified for good reason when I was there.

But the other table did and it didn't work. We're talking about a child and when the waitress noticed that there was no ketchup on the table later--there are ways she could have "acted" to indicate that it was all just banter and that she still expected the child to yell for it. But it wasn't ever brought up again. It was negligent of the wait staff.

There are ways to play it out without completely abandonding service.

 

[icebrat001]

I think in a case like , if you are going to complain that it needs to be done while you are still there. Although, complaining now wouldn't hurt either.

 

[mommaU4]

That's WC...it's not for everyone. The waitstaff is not gushy. The OPs DD wanted ketchup, the waitress told her to yell for it, she didn't and maybe the waitress thought she changed her mind. Maybe she should have just brought it over but part of the fun of going to WC is allowing yourself to be a part of the act.

I didn't want gushy. There was another waitress there who was very loud and abrupt and it was obviously part of the act. That's okay.

My DD is shy and would never yell in public (unless it was at her older brother ) but what about the poor other girl who was told the same thing by the same waitress and she tried to yell for it and no one heard her or paid attention to her dad?!!! That upset me just as much if not more because the poor dear tried. They had to have another waiter do it for them.

I didn't care that the waitress didn't yell for it, although that is what they advertise. It was breakfast so maybe she was having an off morning. But she could have grabbed a bottle for us, or at least have come back to check to see it we ever got the ketchup. We never saw her again until she brought the bill.

We would have complained right then but it was our last day there and we were already late meeting my in-laws.

 

[minnie56]

I just 'don't get' the attraction to this place???

Their food is very mediocre (In fact, I got a nasty bout of food poisoning here) and the shtick (sp??) is oh-so tiresome after the first visit. Would I complain? Nah...probably not.

The staff can not always be 'On' to the satisfaction of everyone. One mans delight...is another mans annoyance. Let it go....reconsider going back perhaps?

 

[LuvTigger]

I dont agree. Not bringing what was requested especially when it was from a child is just plain rude and bad service. That shouldnt be part of the "play" no matter what people still expect service while they are having fun. The "play" is for the staff to yell for the ketchup and everyone brings it.... even if she was playing she should hae come back and given a bottle if the child had not yelled for it.

Ditto. Even if the waitress didn't feel up to the yelling, she should at least have brought the ketchup in a normal manner. To me, what she did was demeaning to the children, and not "fun" at all.

I would write a letter, just to let them know about your experience. I have complained after-the-fact several times (only once at Disney though--had a problem at a store at Disneyland), and I always let them know that I am not expecting anything, but I simply want to make them be aware that I did not have a pleasant experience, and that others may not have had a good experience either, and maybe they should discuss it with the parties involved, or consider changing their policy (or whatever). If I were a business-owner or a manager, I would certainly want to know, even if it's after the event occurred.

 

[tone.def]

I'm sorry, I personally would have handled it there, not now. You may not get a resolution at this point.

 

[SamRoc]

We stayed at VWL last Christmas and had dinner here once. It was just too noisy for us, I didn't find it enjoyable at all, and my 4 year old nephew who was with us kept covering his ears!

 

[kristen821]

I wouldn't complain only because we don't know how that waitress usually is. maybe she was sick with a sore throat or something. With a sore throat you wouldn't want to yell or breath all over people which may explain why she was in back. She also wouldn't tell anyone she was sick because that would get a bunch of complaints too. I would let it go and try the place again. If I saw the same waitress doing the same thing again then I might complain.

 

[mommaU4]

I wouldn't complain only because we don't know how that waitress usually is. maybe she was sick with a sore throat or something. With a sore throat you wouldn't want to yell

I agree. Anyone can be sick or have an off day but she shouldn't have just walked away from us. She could 've just grabbed a bottle and been done with it. But I won't let one waitress ruin the whole experience. And I hope the other family that was there that day with the little girl enjoyed their meal aside from the one incident.

It was a fun place. My kids got to ride the "horses" around the restaurant while we waved our napkins and hollered. And I saw other waiters who looked like they were alot of fun and were very entertaining. I think everyone should go at least once to see what's it's like. I doubt we'll go back though. It was almost $80 for breakfast and the food was just so-so. I'd rather go to IHOP or Cracker Barrell which we could easily have done since we had our own car.

At least now I can say I've been there. And eventually I'll forget the less than chipper waitress and I'll remember the whole experience as being wonderful. Selective memory ya know?

 

[kristen821]

I agree. Anyone can be sick or have an off day but she shouldn't have just walked away from us. She could 've just grabbed a bottle and been done with it. But I won't let one waitress ruin the whole experience. And I hope the other family that was there that day with the little girl enjoyed their meal aside from the one incident.

It was a fun place. My kids got to ride the "horses" around the restaurant while we waved our napkins and hollered. And I saw other waiters who looked like they were alot of fun and were very entertaining. I think everyone should go at least once to see what's it's like. I doubt we'll go back though. It was almost $80 for breakfast and the food was just so-so. I'd rather go to IHOP or Cracker Barrell which we could easily have done since we had our own car.

At least now I can say I've been there. And eventually I'll forget the less than chipper waitress and I'll remember the whole experience as being wonderful. Selective memory ya know?

You are definately right she should have grab the ketchup maybe she forgot. If she hates her job this much she probably won't be there much longer anyway!