Originally Posted By sweetpea70 This trip we will have a rental car so I was thinking its time to try In n Out. Is it worth a spot in my precious DL itinerary? My family loves burgers and its hard to find a decent one at DL. It looks like there are 2 locations near DL. Are there any differences?
Originally Posted By dlkozy In-n-Out's burgers are always fresh. They control the product from beginning to end-they even raise their own beef! Their standards are such that if you walk into 1 INO, you have walked into them all. Hint in regards to their fries, I always ask for mine to be well done-I love the crunch! AND if you want to experience what Disney service USE to be like-go to INO. They are trained in the "Old Disney" tradition. Their namebadges were even created to look sort of like Disney's! (Pays to have 3 children who all work for INO!)
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan I have never had any dealings with any In-N-Out employee that was less than great. I'm not sure how they do it, but they seem to hire the best and brightest to staff their locations. I think you'll enjoy In-N-Out sweetpea. That said, I don't want to OVERsell the place, either. The food is really good and all, but if you're going to feel stressed like you should be back at Disneyland, then it may not be worth it. I discovered In-N-Out in the early 1980's. A friend and myself were staying at a motel on Brookhurst -- midway between Disneyland and Knott's. We had no rental car and had to take a bus or cab to visit Disneyland or Knott's. One night we wandered over to the shopping center and into an In-N-Out Burger. We were hooked. I'm so happy to see that as they have expanded all over the place, they remain true to what made them popular to begin with.
Originally Posted By MKKPlus2 I always make a stop a In-n-Out whenever we travel to CA or Las Vegas. One night I didn't eat with everyone else and waited til 9:30pm to eat dinner just so I could have my double double with onions, fries, and choc milk shake (was the last night before we flew home). It's SO worth it to me. I like to go to the one up Harbor near the Disney Outlet. Gets some of my shopping done and my In-n-Out fix in one shot. (note: Disney Outlet is across the street from the In-n-Out)
Originally Posted By ABBY I LOVE In and Out. If you decide to go be sure to check out their "secret" menu. You can see it here: <a href="http://www.in-n-out.com/secretmenu.asp" target="_blank">http://www.in-n-out.com/secret menu.asp</a> We like to go to Sonics when in Southern CA, since we don't have them up north.
Originally Posted By SoThisIsLove Thank you, ABBY! We were there last week (here in AZ) and I overheard someone order something "animal style" and I just thought to myself: "What a freak!" Now I know the "secret", too! I was first introduced to In 'n Out in the early '90s and everyone, it seemed, had altered their bumper stickers to read something else.... I love the place and will be eating there tonight. Thanks for the back story of their training, dlkozy. Do your kids enjoy working there? How's the pay? I think out here it starts at $9/hour.
Originally Posted By 8 ilovemickey 8 AHHHH how I LOVE In-N-Out. I think it is definitely one of those things that everybody should try once! Pretty much everyone I know loves it but there are a few people who don't. I ate In-N-Out every night for dinner this weekend! Haha. And I HATE fastfood! Oh I am so tempted to drive over to In-N-Out at this moment but I must resist!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Well we are planning In and Out, Taco Bell, Wendys, Del Taco, A&W if we can find one, Der Weinerschnitzel. It will be so great to be home!!!!
Originally Posted By danyoung >I have never had any dealings with any In-N-Out employee that was less than great. I'm not sure how they do it...< They do it by starting their workers at around 11 bucks an hour! It's a lesson that Disney needs to take to heart. And be prepared for a somewhat greasy but totally delicious burger!
Originally Posted By ABBY <<I was first introduced to In 'n Out in the early '90s and everyone, it seemed, had altered their bumper stickers to read something else.... >> Yep, I remember this too ! LOL
Originally Posted By MerryMouseWife I rarely eat fast food and when I do, I eat In and Out. I just love the freshness of their burgers and fries, although, I, too, like the fries well done. My kids get it all the time; however, I limit my intake to about once every 3 months or so. We finally got one close to our house in Tempe near ASU. Yay!
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>They do it by starting their workers at around 11 bucks an hour!<< I'm sure that helps, no doubt. But I'd be curious to know what else they do differently -- general management attitude, getting "buy in" from hourlly employees, etc. Because I believe if McDonald's simply raised their starting wage, they wouldn't necessarily get that same result.
Originally Posted By Lisann22 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In-N-Out_Burger" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I n-N-Out_Burger</a> Corporate Culture: In-N-Out pays its employees significantly more than the federally mandated minimum wage of $5.85 per hour and California's minimum wage of $7.50 per hour — currently starting pay is a minimum of $9.50 per hour.[19] For its full-time associates, the company offers complete employee benefits,[20] and provides 'fringe' benefits in the form of annual company picnic, gifts at Christmas, the opportunity to participate in a variety of other company-sponsored activities, as well as paid holidays and paid vacations. According to the company's website, on average, each of their 200+ store managers earn just under $100,000 annually, and have been with the company for 13 years. [21] The restaurants are closed on Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter. It is one of the few chains to receive a positive mention in the book Fast Food Nation. In-N-Out is active in the communities it serves. Every year the company provides free burgers to participants marching in the Rose Parade, provides cans for donations, matches customer donations 3-to-1 in April for National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and underwrites various fundraisers to support local charities and non-profit organizations.[22]
Originally Posted By dlkozy >>>"Thanks for the back story of their training, dlkozy. Do your kids enjoy working there? How's the pay? I think out here it starts at $9/hour."<<< Yes. My oldest DD worked there from age 16 all the way to 23-she went to college out of state and they told here whenever she was home even if she just wanted to work a day or two, to just give them a call. They work around kid's schedules and are pleasant about it. My other DD is a manager at an In-n-Out here-if I have any complaint it is that they pay kids too much! It has been hard for her to really want to be a full time student when she is paid SO MUCH! My caboose just started with In-n-Out in June-he has already had his first raise and working on his second. He is currently making about $9.50 per hour. The starting pay depends upon where you live ie San Francisco and the Bay Area makes more than we in in No CA.
Originally Posted By dlkozy >>>"According to the company's website, on average, each of their 200+ store managers earn just under $100,000 annually, and have been with the company for 13 years"<<< AND that is not counting the BONUSES and the TRIPS that can be earned!
Originally Posted By SoThisIsLove Wow, amazing, dlkozy. They seem to have captured the magic formula on keeping employees (and, as a result, customers) happy. EVERY time we've gone to the ones in our area, we've always had nothing but cheerful smiles and quick, efficient service. It wouldn't seem odd to have it happening at DL at all, because it captures a very happy, magical experience. Kindness, happiness, attentive service.... C'mon, Disney execs. You can do it. Pay your workers more. Keep 'em happy and they'll make the magic that we all want.
Originally Posted By dlkozy >>>"I'm sure that helps, no doubt. But I'd be curious to know what else they do differently "<<< Literally it starts at the hiring process. They can afford to be picky because they pay so well that there is ALWAYS an abundance of applicants. If you want a job at INO, you had better come DRESSED looking like you really want the job. Jeans, shorts, etc will not get you a second interview. My girls went dressed up and my son went in with shirt and tie. You had better be perky, friendly, outgoing, decent grades, and keep direct eye contact during your interview. Once hired, if you are not happy and doing ALL that you can do to make a customer's experience a happy one-they will warn and then they WILL send you home. I know kids that were fired for just that.
Originally Posted By SoThisIsLove Thank you so much for that insight. Trying to get DD to descend from her ivory tower and actually work "fast food". Maybe this will help.
Originally Posted By smeeeko davewasbaloo: there's an A&W that we found in Buena Park. My mom used to go there (in Michigan) so I was feeling nostalgic so Sean & I went there and got the hamburgers and cheesecurds (mozzerella cheesestick) good stuff but very naughty. We ordered them for "here" so we got served in the "frosty mugs" =) perfect!
