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View Full Version : Guess what I was told when making Dinner Reservations @ Goofy's kitchen?



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ima_mickeyfan
07-20-2005, 12:25 PM
I called to schedule dinner for a thursday, thinking won't be as crowded as a friday or sat. evening, but hey it's goofy's kitchen, I don't think it will really matter what day you go, it's going to be busy.. so I tell the rep I need a res. for 5pm. she says I don't have a 5pm, but I have a 5:10 pm. ok, no problem she asked if there was a special occassion, so I tell her what is happening. then next she states that we have a time limit of 1 hour and 30 minutes to spend in the restaurant. Well I don't know about many of you guys but when we go out to dinner it's usually about an 1hour by the time we order and get our food, taking into consideration that it's buffet style, that should cut down on time, but I was thinking with all the excitement and entertainment going on inside, that may not be enough time. I want my kids to be able to eat and be entertained with out the rush. dh said bull cr*p, for the price I pay I will take as much time as needed, what are they going to do, have you removed from the restaurant? what would they do?
that just blows my mind a time limit what do they do stick a timmer on your table? lol :rolleyes:

Disneynerd
07-20-2005, 12:29 PM
That's really bad! Don't let it spoil your magic! It was probably a new CM who made a mistake. Am I right? Cast members?:confused:

ima_mickeyfan
07-20-2005, 12:34 PM
That's really bad! Don't let it spoil your magic! It was probably a new CM who made a mistake. Am I right? Cast members?:confused:
I would think its a cast member since it was reservations

peoplearestupid
07-20-2005, 12:35 PM
Keep in mind that there are alot of families that want to dine there also, it's only fair that they have a time limit to keep families from handing out there all night long.

Disneynerd
07-20-2005, 12:40 PM
Keep in mind that there are alot of families that want to dine there also, it's only fair that they have a time limit to keep families from handing out there all night long.Oh man, I don't agree with that. Not just Disney, but in general, consumers pay for the experience, not so much the food. Food's kinda cheap.

pisces
07-20-2005, 12:51 PM
That sounds reasonable. I think it's more of a suggestion than enforcement. Has anyone ever been dragged (drug) away kicking and screaming? That would be funny watching Minnie and Goofy escorting someone out, forcibly.

During my single meals, I took about two hours. I'm a slow eater, (I know how to make the most of an all-you-can eat situation). And, mine was one of those lone tables that aren't in demand. I've seen people sit at Hometown reading a book.

I think they give you about a 30 minute grace period. So you have about two hours total.......which should be enough time to get in all the eating and greeting.

Anything over two hours IMHO ....is excessive. IMHO

kohl
07-20-2005, 12:55 PM
We have been told that before when we were waiting for my sister to meet up with us. We also had never had a problem with the time. I think the LONGEST we have ever been ther was 1 1/2 hours. It is plenty of time for you to eat and see all the characters and dance with them. Believe me, I make sure I eat enough to last me awhile!

hlbtimes2
07-20-2005, 12:57 PM
More then likely they have put a lot of thought in to it. They probably have timed families and came up with an average. When a family is reaching that time "limit" they probably start gently encouraging them to be done (ie: clearing table, not refilling drinks, etc). This probably happens when you are out to eat more then you realize.

Besides, do you really want to be there any longer then that? There are so many other things to see and do! My kids would be antsy to get out of there after 1 1/2 hours.

ima_mickeyfan
07-20-2005, 01:11 PM
More then likely they have put a lot of thought in to it. They probably have timed families and came up with an average. When a family is reaching that time "limit" they probably start gently encouraging them to be done (ie: clearing table, not refilling drinks, etc). This probably happens when you are out to eat more then you realize.

Besides, do you really want to be there any longer then that? There are so many other things to see and do! My kids would be antsy to get out of there after 1 1/2 hours.

I just think it's Tacky to tell someone how much time you have to frequent a place, hell if I was paying by the hour it would be a different story, but it's a restaurant, not like i was planning on being there all night, the food is not the importance it's the fun and interaction with the characters etc. This vacation is for my children and when they are ready to go, then it's time to go... JMO.

Alex S.
07-20-2005, 01:42 PM
It is a bit tacky to tell you, but a lot of restaurants have little tricks of the trade for making sure that tables turn reliably (if they didn't the reservations system would disintegrate).

For a buffet, 90 minutes is a long time, in my opinion. I doubt they'd set an egg timer and throw you out when it was up, but you'll probably find it difficult to be there much longer than that without dawdling.

pisces
07-20-2005, 01:59 PM
Yeah well, I've got my own tricks of the trade to eat them under the table and extract every last dime out of them.

90 minutes is not that long when you are chatting with the characters. The macarena takes up at least 10 minutes, and they do that a couple of times and hour. The pail dance is another 10 minutes, 2 or 3 times an hour.

---I always have to have my prime rib specially cooked (no pink), so that takes 5, or 10 minutes.

Bathroom breaks, phone calls. (I've no trouble stretching out the time). I chew my food 21 times, to aid in proper digestion :p .

....all of those things add up.

What's everyone's idea of a leisurely meal? I've been to some 5-8 course Passover Seders that lasted 4 and 5 hours.

But, in general, two hours is my limit. After that they are scraping me up off the floor.

Hakuna Makarla
07-20-2005, 02:02 PM
WOW and hour and half, that seems like more then enough time. We went, my kids interacted and we ate and were out in less then an hour. we ate a ton, enjoyed our selves and well to me 90 minutes is way more then enough time. Its buffet, and well you get it and sit right down. As far as the omlets we had them and we had plenty of time to see and interact with the carectors. I am sure you wil see this is way mucho time to be at a table, any table.

spectromen
07-20-2005, 02:05 PM
Just think of what it's like to be a Dining phone cast member though - every day, you come into work and there's some new restriction/policy that you have to quote to each and every guest or risk getting a poor score on a phone monitor (which undoubtedly occurs based on past phone jobs I've had). While it's human nature to want to get enraged at the person on the phone, remember it's not them who came up with the "latest and greatest" dining rule :)

pisces
07-20-2005, 02:07 PM
Ok, now I finally realize why it's better for me to dine alone.

But, that's my whole philosophy about savoring everything and going at a leisurley pace.

Shortiemetoo
07-20-2005, 02:07 PM
I must say that all the restaurant service was great...no really long lines that didn't move...and the CM's were wonderful..
I think at a buffet 1 1/2 hours would be sufficient...however I doubt as stated earlier that they would kick you out right on the dot...I think they are more just giving the time limit as a courtesy to know what to expect and to help you be aware that you will get in during your scheduled time this way also!!
What goes around comes back around!! :D

pisces
07-20-2005, 02:18 PM
There are worse things ya know.

They could do like the Colonial Buffet in Long Beach---where they've got signs up all over warning you NOT to take anything that you don't intend to eat. In other words: Don't waste our food.....clean your plate OR ELSE !!! :eek:

I'm sure they hate when people fill up their plates and don't eat any of it, fill their plates again........and waste even more.

----The trials and tribulations of running and all-you-care-to-eat buffet !

hlbtimes2
07-20-2005, 02:23 PM
There are worse things ya know.

They could do like the Colonial Buffet in Long Beach---where they've got signs up all over warning you NOT to take anything that you don't intend to eat. In other words: Don't waste our food.....clean your plate OR ELSE !!! :eek:

I'm sure they hate when people fill up their plates and don't eat any of it, fill their plates again........and waste even more.

----The trials and tribulations of running and all-you-care-to-eat buffet !

Some times I think they put up signs like that to keep people from taking food, with the intention of filling up a doggie bag. It's to easy for people to take 3 extra servings of something, then say, "oh dang I'm to full to eat it, better take it home", and walking off with a doggie bag full of roast beef.

lisap
07-20-2005, 02:24 PM
We must be the speed-eating family. :rolleyes: I don't like to make my kids hang around and be restless at a restaurant--they start disturbing other diners and annoying their parents ;) . Buffets are good in that they are faster-- you can serve yourself--and just wait for the check. I'm sure the characters are aware of the time guidelines and make their rounds so that each cycle of guests can visit.

I look forward to the time I can linger over a meal. Probably in about ten years. ;)

tinkerbelle901
07-20-2005, 03:24 PM
I made brunch reservations for Tuesday Aug. 2 and was told the same thing, that we had a maximum of 1 1/2 hrs. I wasn't sure if I heard her correctly but obviously I did. I just ignored it since I think we'll be done within that amount of time. And if we're not, like someone else said, what are they going to do, toss us out? I doubt it.
I have to admit if I was paying $35pp for dinner, I'd be reluctant to come back if I felt like I was being rushed out of the place.Just my opinion.

shawnarae
07-20-2005, 03:35 PM
It is plenty of time. We went with a group of 12 last August (2 of them 12 were babies) and in 1 hour (maybe an hour and 15 minutes at most) we were done & ready to go. Most everyone had 2 or more plates of food, and dessert. Plus we did the dancing and saw A TON of characters. We got the first dinenr reservation given and it was great to get in and out. When leaving it was so busy and people were waiting for tables. So I can see how and why they give the hour & 1/2 limit.

No worries :) Once you get there, you will understand....it is not unreasonable for the time limit once you have done it a few times and see the crowded times vs non crowded. I am sure if it is not crowded, and no one waiting for tables the staff would not care if you went over the 1 1/2 hour limit. But no one will kick anyone out. Never heard of that ;) ;)


PS~ I liked the breakfast buffet over the dinner.....my opinion! We got the 1st reservation of the day & it was not crowded at all. Also more character interaction for sure :)

wriley
07-20-2005, 03:54 PM
Yeah 90 min will be more then enough time, especially with kids. Me and my parents, my daughter, and brothers family all finished within about 30 - 40 min and the kids were restless much before then. See if they didnt have a time limit then they couldnt give you that reservation. The time limit would only come into play if the restaurant was full.

The Mouse Is Back
07-20-2005, 04:01 PM
Yeah well, I've got my own tricks of the trade to eat them under the table and extract every last dime out of them.

90 minutes is not that long when you are chatting with the characters. The macarena takes up at least 10 minutes, and they do that a couple of times and hour. The pail dance is another 10 minutes, 2 or 3 times an hour.

---I always have to have my prime rib specially cooked (no pink), so that takes 5, or 10 minutes.

Bathroom breaks, phone calls. (I've no trouble stretching out the time). I chew my food 21 times, to aid in proper digestion :p .

....all of those things add up.

What's everyone's idea of a leisurely meal? I've been to some 5-8 course Passover Seders that lasted 4 and 5 hours.

But, in general, two hours is my limit. After that they are scraping me up off the floor.


And it's attitudes like this that force the creation of maximum-time policies.

"Reservations system" means that for everyone who sits around and drags out their time, someone with a reservation time is waiting - and then things start backing up - and then people start getting mad.

The comparison between a buffet-style eatery and a Passover Seder is pretty lame, IMO.


-Allegra-

pisces
07-20-2005, 04:21 PM
"....someone with a reservation time is waiting".

Cry me a river.

If I'm paying $35.00 pp, (don't forget the mandatory gratuity) and have waited 25 years to treat myself to this......of course I'm going to take as much time as I wish.

Single diners are usually treated the worst at restaurants. They get the worst tables, and servers tend to ignore them......because the bigger tips come from larger parties----that's not the case at Goofys, but it happens more often than not.

As a single diner, at Goofys, I take up the smallest table there is. I hardly call that being a nuisance. Those small tables sit empty much of the time. I wouldn't be preventing anyone from being seated or holding any families up. Plus, I tipped (quite generously-I might add) my server, even though the mandatory gratuity made it unnecessary.

At Disney, waiting is not the worst thing. I actually like waiting at Goofy's lobby, because I like to take in the environs, and the characters do come out to the waiting area.

BLUE BAYOU: Even with a reservation, at BB, you still wait for a waterside table, and it could take a while. Once I'm seated at BB, you couldn't tear me away from that table. They are very very limited in there. Nobody really complains about that wait, even with reservations. Their (BB) waiting room is quite pleasant. You can watch the passersby etc.. and it builds anticipation and becomes all the more special once they do call you.

PASSOVER SEDER: I think it's a fair comparison. Goofys is a lot more than just a meal, at least for me. It's an event, to be savored. And I treat (ed) it as such. And meals like that have deep meaning for me, because there are certain experiences in life, which I don't have all the time. Again, if I was going there everyday, maybe I'd just be in and out and chow dow quickly.....but with me, it's not like that. I never know if I'll be back, and I'm certainly not there all that much. I like to extend it as long as possible.

But, I'd never go past 2 hours, if even that. Really.

Disney1968
07-20-2005, 04:58 PM
I ate at Goofy's kitchen last month with my family and they do tell you right when you are checking in that it is only a 90 minute time limit. But that was more than enough time. We actually saw most of the characters twice, plus had a birthday cake for my daughter, with singing etc, and still came in under the time limit.

Disneynerd
07-20-2005, 05:37 PM
I think we all agree that we can comfortably finish a meal in 90 minutes - even with childen. The idea that it is enforced or even recommended is a litte un-Disney. Many of us come from miles and miles away, and like Pisces said there are certain experiences in life as Goofy;) as they may be that we want to savor.
Judging from the opinions in this thread, it seems rare that someone would stay that long anyway, so why make the guest feel uncomfortable with a time limit. We're at Disneyland, the only time we're concerned about is our fastpass return time. We're on VACATION!