Dining Disappointment - Don't You Hate It?

[LuvMyBoys]

Don't you hate it when you have a great meal somewhere and rave about it, so someone goes to that restaurant based on your recommendation.....and then they have a bad experience

I feel so bad, I really talked up Whispering Canyon to my sister and her family and when they went last night that had a pretty crummy time.

The food was good but the service was TERRIBLE, and at a restaurant like that one it makes a huge difference if the service is good (especially for the kids).

I'm really sad that they didn't get to enjoy it like we did.....and I feel kind of guilty that they wasted a TS on WCC and had that experience.

Anyone else ever feel like that?

[spring]

I agree. I think many of have had that experience. I feel responsible because I recommended it in the first place. However, I think a place should not be completely judged by 1 bad experience. Things happen, and people change.

[m4travels]

Don't you hate it when you have a great meal somewhere and rave about it, so someone goes to that restaurant based on your recommendation.....and then they have a bad experience

I feel so bad, I really talked up Whispering Canyon to my sister and her family and when they went last night that had a pretty crummy time.

The food was good but the service was TERRIBLE, and at a restaurant like that one it makes a huge difference if the service is good (especially for the kids).

I'm really sad that they didn't get to enjoy it like we did.....and I feel kind of guilty that they wasted a TS on WCC and had that experience.

Anyone else ever feel like that?

Yeah, I get nervous about that, too. We usually have wonderful service and great times when we go out and we used to let everyone know about it. I think what happens is we get so caught up in our own hype of the experience that maybe it seems stupendous in another's eyes. Some of our friends who have taken our advice actually have said they can see absolutely nothing redeeming about the restaurant that we suggested. We then have gone back to said restaurant and have another phenomenal time. What makes it different??

We've been very fortunate to get into a restaurant at D'land that most people don't even know about, Club 33. I worked with a woman whose son was one of the first members of the club and for quite a while we were going in every month. We went in with wide eyes the first time, had a great experience; good meal, great service, great wine, and, once again, GREAT service (yup, repeated for emphasis). The next time we went in we had our same server and it was an exact repeat of the first time. We sort of became his regular table.

The one time we went and he wasn't there we were placed with another senior cast member. We went with a friend who enjoys food and unfortunately we hit a bad night. Food came out cool, we felt rushed, it wasn't a pleasant time, but the three of us had fun just being together. She did mention when we were leaving that it was nothing like she imagined it would be based on our previous descriptions and said that she would never waste her time going there again.

We went the next week, our normal server still wasn't back; had the same server as the previous week and it was a totally different meal. Everything was perfect. The time we went with our friend was one of those anomalies. It does happen unfortunately.

Sorry your sister and family didn't have a great time. Don't really have much more to say except, unfortunately, things happen. Not a lot of sunshine in that comment though....

[Sugarplumsmom]

Oh my Gosh... I know EXACTLY how you feel!!! When my DD danced with her dance group in the MK in June, I recommended several (and I do mean several) restaurants to a few of the famililies that went- Chef Mickey's, Yachtman's,Fulton's, O'Hana's, le Cellier, Coral Reef, etc and NOT one family enjoyed ANY of them!!!!! I don't know what it was or why but they didn't enjoy them- the only restaurant they raved about was Rainforest in DTD- They thought the food and service were outstanding!!! I like the food at RF DTD but usually the service is rather slow and honestly, I like the food at other restaurants much better....I don't get it but needless to say, I was heart-broken and felt some what responsible for them not liking it and spending so much $$$$ on these restaurants. I am very reluctant to recommend any restaurants now - not just Disney...sorry your sister had a bad time but I do know how you are feeling. Sometimes it is the luck of the draw when it comes to service- now, I just politely tell others, including family that we all have different tastes and I want them to make their own judgements and have their own experiences but, no matter what- I DO recommend going to WDW and keeping an OPEN mind, knowing that there might be small "bumps" in the road. "Bumps" will happen but I tell them not to let it ruin the trip.


Laura

[PrincessFiona]

Don't feel bad about recommending places. You said what you thought was good from your experience. We went to Mama Melrose and the server was the worst. I have never heard anything bad about LeCelliers!

I am sorry they didn't enjoy the food or service but you offered what was good for you.

[m 'n c]

Oh this is my worst fear and I tend to take things to heart when I hear negative responses to my recommendations. I'm sure it is like everyone has already said though with it just depending on your server and how busy the restaurant is on a particular night. Plus there is no telling what mindset these people had when they walked in and ordered that night.

[LuvMyBoys]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels like that. I know it's not my fault and there are so many variables that go into it but still.......you can't help but feeling bad about it!!

In this case it was just a case of bad service and poor communication. WCC is so hit or miss. Our experience there was so wonderful though that I feel really bad that they couldn't have the same kind of fun experience, especially since they were looking forward to it so much.

Oh well, win some lose some.......

[chipndale]

Just wondering what was so terrible about the service? Was the server unattentive? We have eaten there several times and we love it. But on one of our trips we took my parents. Well, my dad did not feel like playing along with the "fun" and the server just left us alone. For the rest of us, it was a very average dinner.

[Disney girl]

I have read where some of you don't understand why some visits are more outgoing than others. It is not always the server. First if someone comes in and does not seem to be outgoing themselves we are not to push the limits. Some guests do not know how to take the antics. And since it is Disney if we upset them we get in trouble. Time is always an issue. As I feel when I get one table that is super needy that I do not get to "play" with others. The other is around the holidays. The lobby has choirs and hand bell choirs in it. We are told we cannot be loud. No pony races at those times. So most antics are on hold. ( we are usually so loud they can hear us on the 7th floor)That makes us feel bad because we want to have fun. I go to work because it is fun and most guests are alot of fun to be around.

[bs4free]

I have read where some of you don't understand why some visits are more outgoing than others. It is not always the server. First if someone comes in and does not seem to be outgoing themselves we are not to push the limits. Some guests do not know how to take the antics. And since it is Disney if we upset them we get in trouble. Time is always an issue. As I feel when I get one table that is super needy that I do not get to "play" with others. The other is around the holidays. The lobby has choirs and hand bell choirs in it. We are told we cannot be loud. No pony races at those times. So most antics are on hold. ( we are usually so loud they can hear us on the 7th floor)That makes us feel bad because we want to have fun. I go to work because it is fun and most guests are alot of fun to be around.

Thanks for that insite, something that makes alot of sense! But that would not have come to mind so quickly!