Originally Posted By phruby I havn't heard of that kind of poor service since DCA's previews back in 2001. I remember waiting 45 minutes for someone to hand me the wrap sandwich over in the farm area. I could see my order sitting there but the people handling the cash registers refused to give me the food. Finally they did and it was disguisting.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>I've eaten a burger at Taste Pilots. Was it a fake!?<< I've eaten a "burger" there too. I'm no food snob, believe me. But there's something about the Taste Pilots burgers that are just inedible to me. I've tried it three different times, and each time was worse than the one before. You can get okay-to-good burgers elsewhere in the DLR, so it sort of bewilders me as to why the ones at Taste Pilots are so grim.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance I just remembered, I had the chicken at Taste Pilots, I think, and my husband got the burger. So I should just shut my mouth now.
Originally Posted By Kidz-n-k9s <<But there's something about the Taste Pilots burgers that are just inedible to me>> I've had one there and don't remember it, but my husband REFUSES to eat there again. Said it was the worst.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA It's a well known fact, pilots don't know how to make good burgers!
Originally Posted By TP2000 Disney can't make good hamburgers, that's a well known fact. I think that's why there are only one or two burger places left in each park; they have thrown in the towel after years of failure. Disney does best with mid-grade food and minimal mid-grade service, like at the French Market or Plaza Inn or Boardwalk Cafe. The food at those places is generally acceptable, and the CM's only have to provide minimal service functions to keep the buffet line moving and cash registers humming. Where Disney falls apart is when they try and go upmarket, with the Blue Bayou a rare exception. But at Carthay Circle the service was just really unpolished and sloppy. Steakhouse 55 on a recent visit had the air of amateur night with shleppy looking CM's in polyester size XXXL vests and muu-muus trundling about making a scene over trivial things. And the last time I went to the Trattoria the poorly trained girls working the hostess stand could barely speak between all the gum chewing and the "well, like" phrases they used while trying to decide which open table to finally seat us at. I've given up on getting quality, polished service at Disneyland Resort food locations. I try, honestly I do, and then I remember why I should stop trying. If I'm smart that particular day, I walk out and go have dinner at Catal. Or just get in my car and drive 10 minutes to the Orange Cirlce for dinner at one of the excellent restaurants or cafes there.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 Been to Napa Rose? Service there has been exemplary every time, at least for me. The trouble with park restaurants is that cm's tend to be fairly low paid and don't do it for very long. That's one thing if you're just running a cash register, but waiting at an upscale restaurant is a particular set of skills that isn't as easy as people think. And so while you run into some excellent servers, especially those who have been around a while (e.g. Oscar at CC), you more likely have a college kid who's not looking to do this for a career and will be out of there when he/she gets a chance. I agree the Buffeterias are often the best choice. I don't know what the rules are about paying better for some places than others... but it would be nice if Sutton could exert a little pull and maybe get some extra pay and training for the Carthay waitstaff. Reviews of the food and ambiance have been excellent, but the service reviews have been all over the map.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "But at Carthay Circle the service was just really unpolished and sloppy." That certainly wasn't the experience I had. In fact, it was just the opposite. The Napa Rose was exceptional the one time I ate there and with the same chef heading kinks you experienced will vanish once the place has all cylinders firing. I also had good service at the Winery when it first opened. I haven't been back there, so I can't say what it's like now. I will also say that the bar staff at Trader Sams is excellent.
Originally Posted By TP2000 Napa Rose has always been spot on, and time has only made them more stellar. I almost don't consider Napa Rose to be in the Disney empire, just because it's so good and so unique. I consider Napa Rose to be a part of the greater Orange County fine dining galaxy of stars, instead of Disney's. The Lounge at Napa Rose is also very, very well operated and managed. The whole place is just stellar. That said, I was there having cocktails with a friend last month and we noticed that the decor is just now starting to look a bit tired. It's a contemporary vibe that is just beginning to show some wear and some age, and they should be considering a light cosmetic upgrade and rehab on the interiors within the next year or two. It needs to be kept very fresh and crisp, and after more than a decade of use it's time to refresh and update things a bit. I'll chalk up the sloppy ambience and unpolished service at Carthay to teething pains, even though the place had been opened for a month when I ate there, with drinks downstairs first. I'll try it again I imagine, maybe at Christmastime. Let's hope they are on top of it, as it's a truly stunning facility aesthetically.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance "I consider Napa Rose to be a part of the greater Orange County fine dining galaxy of stars, instead of Disney's. " Yeah, but you're wrong
Originally Posted By KCCHIEF I love Napa Rose and have always had great service and food there......even my 12 year old request to go there each visit.
Originally Posted By xrayvision I guess the management and cast members at Flo's were able to resolve whatever issues they were experiencing was when the OP ate there. I'm happy to report that I ate at Flo's yesterday, I had an enjoyable meal experience.
Originally Posted By SuperDry It sure does sound like Flo's had a bad night when the OP was there. When I was there opening week, I was surprised at how MUCH space was available in the dining rooms. The kitchen and registers were running at what I thought to be a normal, full capacity, and there was maybe a 20-minute wait in line. Yet, once you got your food, there was plenty of room to sit down. This was especially surprising considering how there seemed to be several groups on the outside patio by RSR that either had long finished their food, or were just sitting there to relax. I think Disney did a good job with Flo's in all respects.
Originally Posted By monorail91 I am terrified for all of Cars Land, period. (Crowds-wise, not quality-wise.) So glad I made reservations at Carthay Circle weeks ago, looking forward to BVS away from the crazy mobs.
Originally Posted By TP2000 For those keeping score at home... I ate at Flo's V8 Cafe tonight (Monday), just after the neon lighting moment, right during the dinner hour. It was busy, but they had every register open and tons of CM's bustling about. We were handed menus as we walked in the door, we waited in the pink vinyl switchback queue for approximately 90 seconds and then were sent to the register with the "green flag". We ordered quickly, the girl asked us what sides we wanted and... we stalled as we hadn't had time to decide in line before we were sent to a register. 30 seconds later we had decided (the baked beans and pasta salad are really good!), and about 3 minutes later we were handed our two trays of food and reminded where we could get silverware and napkins. Total time from walking in the door to getting our order was about 5 minutes. 60 seconds after that we had picked up silverware and strolled through a very busy Motorama Girl room and out to the back patio, where we found several open tables right along the rail with a million dollar view of the Racers ride and the Cadillac Range as the warm summer SoCal sky turned from deepening blue to light purple with red streaks to dark purple and finally a very deep dark blue as we left 45 minutes later. DJ and Lightning McQueen drove by as we ate, and we waved to them. Lots of CM's bustling about on the patio clearing tables for you, and a perky as all get out hostess in the Flo's waitress getup offered to take our picture on the patio with the mountains in the background. The only quibble I had with the service was that the Flo's kids (and they were all under the age of 22 by the looks of it) all said "No problem" or "not a problem" to our "thank you" phrasing, instead of telling us "You're Welcome" or "My pleasure". The "No problem" line is so unpolished and too casual for the service industry, in my opinion. Disney should teach them not to use that slang phrase with customers. Oh, and the food was very good. I strongly recommend the pork loin with the Coca-Cola bbq sauce. Overall, I give Flo's V8 Cafe a 9 out of 10. Great food in a fabulous setting. If only the CM's could get just an hour or two of good training in how to interact with customers properly and the polite phrasing to use with them, they could have a rare 10 out of 10 rating.
Originally Posted By DlandDug >>I am terrified for all of Cars Land, period. (Crowds-wise, not quality-wise.)<< There's really nothing to be terrified about. They got it right with this one.
Originally Posted By cheesybaby Flo's is a design triumph. someone said it before, and it's true: it is a restaurant with great capacity and a truly huge amount of tables/chairs, yet every seating "zone" feels comfy and intimate. It does not feel like a big place, but it really is. Plus it's beautiful and has breathtaking eye candy from the back patio - some of the very best in the resort.
