Mailbag editor Stephanie Wien answers the first set of letters this week, which are from readers asking questions about various Disney-related topics—from vacations at Walt Disney World to mysterious monorail vehicles.
First up, Brodie B. writes in about his attempt to win the CareerBuilder Disney Dream Job contest:
I read your park updates every week to keep up to date with what’s going on in the Disney Parks, even if I don’t have a trip planned anytime soon. Boy am I glad I do! If I had missed your recent reminder of the deadline for video entries for the Disney Dream jobs contest, I wouldn’t have gotten one in on time!
As it is, I’m now one of the finalists for the Honorary Jungle Cruise Skipper prize! You can see my video (along with the other finalists) at Disney Dream Jobs at CareerBuilder.com through March 30. After you watch, you can vote for your favorite (especially if your favorite happens to be mine).
Brodie, thank you for the kind words. There are some other MousePad posters who are also finalists in some of the other categories. You can find links to their videos in our MousePad forum here.
Best of luck to you in the contest, and thank you for writing!
Elizabeth writes:
I just thought I’d put in my two cents worth on the “new” Blue Bayou. I visit Disneyland as often as I can. I am an Annual Pass holder and live in Northern California. I try to get down to Disneyland for weeklong trips anywhere from 3 to 5 times a year. My family and I have eaten at the Blue Bayou many times. We have had some great waitresses/waiters and we have had our share of bad ones. However, my family and I never thought we could brag about the food because, in our opinion, it just wasn’t that good. It got to the point that the price of the bill just wasn’t worth the food that was being served. We stopped eating at the Blue Bayou about a year before the “new” Blue Bayou.
Well, we decided to give it another try. We wanted to see if it was as great as everybody was making it to be. So on our 2006 August family vacation I made reservations. However, we decided to go for dessert. My husband and I really didn’t want to spend that kind of money for service or food that wasn’t worthy of a pricy bill. So we ate lunch at Story Teller’s Cafe (what a great time we had) and immediately followed it up with some Pirate dessert at the Blue Bayou. The dessert was pretty good; my son and I shared The Flying Dutchman, while my husband enjoyed some Key Lime Pie. However, the service was just awful! Our waiter was as rude as could be. He was very impatient when I asked questions about the desserts and it was like he was trying to shove us out the door as quickly as possible (over half of the tables were empty).
The water server was as stingy as could be. It was a very hot day so we all ordered water. Nobody would refill our glasses. So finally my son asked the helper for some water. The guy came back and filled his glass. My husband and I stared at each other and then at our empty glasses. So then a short while later, when somebody was walking by, I asked if I could please get some more water. They said, “Sure.” So he filled my glass but still didn’t fill my husband’s glass or even refill my son’s glass that already needed it again. You’re telling me that when a customer asks for water, that the water pourer can’t see that there are two other empty glasses on the table? Or they can’t ask if we would also like more?
And then there were the rolls. What has always been Blue Bayou’s problem with the rolls? Before they changed they used to give you a basket filled with them. I remember one time, our very first visit to the Blue Bayou (three years ago) my husband asked our waitress if we could have more rolls. She replied, “Are you going to eat them all?” Apparently my husband had a weird look on his face because she proceeded to say, “If I get more and you don’t eat them then I get in trouble.” My husband promised her that we’d eat them. And we did. LOL, now they have roll servers. They try to be all fancy about it when in reality they are being even stinger then before. Now they bring a basket and hand give you a roll. Heaven forbid we might want two rolls each.
I have been back to Disneyland two more times since this “new” Blue Bayou incident. Although, I no longer visit the Blue Bayou. The majority of cast members working there are rude, and, well, the food still isn’t worth the money. I’m not a Club 33 member but I do have occasional access to Club 33. I’ll save my money for that… because up there the food and the service is awesome! Worth every penny! Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for the Blue Bayou.
[If you would like to share your views about your experiences with hotels and restaurants from your trips to the Disney parks, be sure to submit your review in MousePlanet’s Hotel and Restaurant Review!]
Deb L. writes:
I hope this isn’t too silly a question but… my sister and I have dinner reservations at the California Grill [on the top floor of the Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World] for next April at 8:30 p.m. and we’re hopeful to get a window seat to watch the fireworks. My question is this: Could you please tell us what kind of attire is proper for this restaurant? I’ve heard it is very fancy and I’m not too sure what this means so I’m writing to you since I don’t want to be over or under dressed. Thanks for any info you can send my way. BTW, I love this website and look forward to the weekly updates.
You don’t need to wear formal wear by any means, but most people who eat at California Grill do tend toward the more “dressy-casual” end of the spectrum. I would suggest no shorts or jeans, and no T-shirts. I don’t believe there are any specific rules, though.
Have a nice dinner.
Kelly writes:
My family and I are planning a weeklong trip to Walt Disney World the first week of April. This is spring break for our daughter and I wondered if this is an unusually crowded time of year? I have done some research and found the parks are open a little later, so this does make me feel they are expecting a “few” people. But will this be a trip where the lines are hours long and parks are busting with people? Also, we are staying at the Yacht Club Resort and wondered how we can ride the monorail from Epcot, if we walk, to Magic Kingdom? Don’t you have to have a ticket to enter? We are only buying the base tickets, not park hoppers. Thanks!
That will be a busy time at Walt Disney World. Lots of people around the country have spring break at that time and vacation in Orlando. Take advantage of Fastpass and plan to hit the parks early, taking a break as the crowds build.
The monorail stations are outside the parks so you don’t need a ticket to ride it. You can hop from Magic Kingdom to Epcot, transferring monorails at the Ticket and Transportation Center. Have a great trip!
Finally this week, staff writer Lani Teshima addresses this issue of asking for hotel upgrades. Stacie writes:
We are planning our second stay at the Disneyland Hotel this year and I have heard a lot of people on your site say that they just ask to be upgraded to a nicer room or better view if available. We are going in September when it is not so busy and I was wondering if you know if the hotel desk staff will take a tip to possibly accommodate an upgraded room or do you simply just have to ask? Can you clarify for me? I have heard mixed things. Thanks for your help
P.S….loved our first stay at the hotel last year after years of staying at Embassy Suites.
In many finer hotels, tipping the right person results in better service—if not a more appreciative and attentive staff person.
In general, providing a tip for room upgrades is not something that is normally done. The tricky part about trying to tip for a room upgrade is that the person who may have the ability to do so—the desk clerk at a registration counter, for example—is not a person who normally accepts gratuities. Others in the hotel who traditionally accept tips, such as the bell hops, maids, and concierge desk attendants, are not in a position to upgrade your room.
Most room assignments in hotels are done in advance and the information is already entered into the computer by the time guests arrive to check in. The surest way to guarantee a better room (be it a higher floor or a nicer view) is to simply pay for it. For many people, paying a higher room rate for a guarantee to get a specific category or type of room is less stressful than trying to smile one’s way into an upgrade at check-in.
Keep in mind that the Disneyland Hotel has an official level of upgraded rooms. The Concierge level is not necessarily a better room (although the Concierge-level rooms are at the higher floors), but they do provide a better view, and access to their Concierge lounge. Because an official level exists for their better rooms, they may not be able to simply upgrade you without additional payment.
Without paying for a Concierge room, however, you can still ask for certain buildings, certain floors, or even certain views. A simple upgrade to a nicer view or a higher floor may be more easily accommodated.
If you cannot afford to pay for a better room, you might see if you can get Disney magic to work to your benefit in advance. Are you visiting for any special occasion? Is anyone in your party celebrating a birthday or an anniversary? If so, mentioning this at every point that you make contact regarding your stay might work.
Finally, there is nothing wrong with asking at the time you check in to your room. If you try this method, though, since there is no guarantee, you will want to do as much as you can to increase your chances. You might try to check in before the official check-in time by an hour or two. Since the registration desk is often busy processing check-outs until about lunch time, make sure you don’t show up too early. Wait until there is no long line for help at the registration desk so that the clerk cast member isn’t too frazzled. Greet them with a smile as you check in, and explain your situation. There is no harm in asking, since the worst they can do is say no. If “no” is not really acceptable to you, you can always ask if there is a way to upgrade your stay by paying extra.
Have a wonderful trip!
