Originally Posted By Autopia Deb I can't do this any more because my son can now eat an entire large pizza and still be hungry, but the portion size is usually large enough to split. Which is the only way I'd ever have room for dessert. So for any one NOT traveling with a teenage boy this is a good way to go. BTW, the pot roast is super yummy!
Originally Posted By skinnerbox <<If you're tired and just want to eat dinner, it probably is not the best choice. But if you're up for something fun and uniquely Disney, it's perfect.>> Which is the strongest argument yet for taking this establishment off the current reservation system. When your reservations are made months in advance, you never know what you're going to be like on the day of your reservation. There have been several times when I've flown out of SFO feeling fine, only to wake up the next morning at WDW sick as a dog. Restaurant reservations? Worthless. Give me toast and oatmeal from the food court instead. And even if I'm feeling better in a few days, I might not have the energy for a place like Prime Time. And if your server isn't very adept at picking up on sullen moods, you're going to end up feel even worse, when you're goaded into doing things that will drain your energy even further. Participatory dinner theater, which is basically what Prime Time is, really needs to be done when you're fully in the mood for it. I'd rather see this place switch to 50% same day reservations at the front gate/50% walk-ups for this reason. Then everyone who's there will actually want to be there, which will improve the overall experience.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper ^^^That makes too much sense, skinner. You know that can't be done.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>Participatory dinner theater, which is basically what Prime Time is, really needs to be done when you're fully in the mood for it. I'd rather see this place switch to 50% same day reservations at the front gate/50% walk-ups for this reason. Then everyone who's there will actually want to be there, which will improve the overall experience.<< Makes sense to me, too. It is not the place for the hyper-vacation-planner that is on a tight schedule and/or exhausted from a day of theme park commando.
Originally Posted By danyoung >But the servers should know to back off when it appears a guest doesn't want to play along.< We've talked about this before, but this is the same problem I had. My server "cousin" had a real problem with my elbows on the table. I played along a couple times, but she just took it way too far into nagging territory, and it became not fun really fast. >It also has a very nice bar that is one of the very few places within a Disney Park that serves alcohol.< Well, each park other than the MK has a place to drink. And Epcot has both the Rose & Crown Pub and the tequila bar in Mexico, as well as plenty of beer & wine spots around the World Showcase. Drinking in a Disney park - perfection!!!
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>My server "cousin" had a real problem with my elbows on the table. I played along a couple times, but she just took it way too far into nagging territory, and it became not fun really fast.<< That's because you just don't listen. Now, go clean your room.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Trippy - if you are in Chicago anytime in the future don't lert anyone talk you into going to Ed Debevic's - downtown -if the schtick at Prime Time is offensive - it's the same kind of schtick but the staff is actually rude to you and insulting on purpose--and they NEVER turn it off. the burgers/food are pretty good but you have to deal with a highly interactive staff...I have seen people get up and leave.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Trippy - if you are in Chicago anytime in the future don't lert anyone talk you into going to Ed Debevic's - downtown -if the schtick at Prime Time is offensive - it's the same kind of schtick but the staff is actually rude to you and insulting on purpose--and they NEVER turn it off.>> I've never been to the one in Chicago, but my former brother-in-law took me to the Ed Debevic's in Phoenix (now closed). As you can guess, I wasn't impressed...
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan If schtick is distasteful And you're bugged by those joking Waiters that dance and sing, There's a very good chance More than high probabililty Participatory theater dining ain't your thing.
Originally Posted By tashajilek "I played along a couple times, but she just took it way too far into nagging territory, and it became not fun really fast." I think for myself i would feel uncomfortable rather than having a good time. I really do like the theming and the idea but it wouldnt be for me.
Originally Posted By danyoung Well, I don't mind a little playing, but the server really needs to know when someone is ready to play and when someone's just a tired ol' guy who wants to eat and be more or less left alone!
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Althought the 50s themeing may be unique to Disney's 50's Prime Time Cafe, the wait staff's behaviors and antics are part of the charm of Durgin Park a restaurant in Boston's Quincy Marketplace. At Durgin Park the wait staff are known for and expected to be "surly".
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Most of the waiters and waitresses I've ever encountered anywhere in Boston (going back over the past 40+ years) are "in theme" then. LOL, it's a great city but wow, chock full of the angriest servers on earth.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Kar2oonMan, I have always said you can tell when your in a room of Bostonians. They are very "unique". Dugin Park is one of Boston's oldest restaurant and had been around for over 100 years. I think the wait staf sizes up the party when you enter the establishment to see if you are ready for the "Boston" treatment or not.
Originally Posted By KCCHIEF I almost hate to add to this topic...but...I am wandering if this has happened to anyone else but my family. I made reservations there for December 2006 and had read up on this restaurant. I had 3 kids with me and was very much anticipating the kidding around and what have you. Our waitress was so cute ....but, she took our order and served us and that was it....none of the things that I had read about happened.....and I was surprised. There was another family in the same area with us and they were served just like us.... To this day..I have no idea what was going on...or if it is just a hit or miss kind of thing.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I have never eaten at this restaurant. I prefer the Brown Derby for their Cobb salad and grapefruit cake or SciFi Drive-in for it's themeing.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb Some servers are better at the interaction and roll playing than others. It is definitely a YMMV type of place.
Originally Posted By Christi22222 We aren't the best at this sort of stuff in my family. But after tons of rave reviews, we gave it a shot about 5 years ago and went in with the best attitude we could have. But then the waiter had some sort of problem just before being assigned to us. Then his drama ensued through our meal. Everyone else had a nice dinner, while we were ignored, got wrong orders, had a waiter who was nearly in tears the entire time, and would not give us dessert no matter how hard we tried to flag him. We saw the manager and several servers interact with him and be part of whatever drama was occurring. Then they would give us furtive and embarassed glances. But not one of them helped him or gave us to another server who wasn't in crisis. I was horrified. And very pissed when I got the absurdly high bill. We have never been back and won't be going in the future. I don't care how much folks love the place. (And I've been to Ed Debevic's in Chicago. It was fine.)
