Just the two of you?!

[JustCallMeMommy]

DD and I are often a party of 2, and while I haven't noticed this as a problem at Disney, I have been pretty certain it was happening in local restaurants. Since parties of 2, in theory, will generate a smaller tip, the server may concentrate on larger parties. I have also seen it when almost everyone at a larger table orders water - I think they assume we're going to skimp all around, not that we just prefer water.

 

[Moliphino]

I think that is luck of the flow though. I bet for every time you have seen a larger party get seated before you, there has been time when you have been seated before a larger party because the 2-top opened up more quickly. They try to judge flow but of course people do what they do and take the time they take.

I agree. We checked into LTT early last trip as a party of two (the park was so crowded we just wanted to eat and leave) and they told us they were running about 45 minutes behind. We were seated 15 minutes before our ADR time.

 

[Amunet]

I've only had this happen, that I can remember at Ohana breakfast and Afternoon Tea. The problem, though, is that it seems targeted more at us as a couple because the other couples around us were definitely getting better service. That instance with Afternoon tea was early on in my WDW years and didn't do anything but the Ohana, we spoke to a manager because we have eaten there multiple times and it was just ... so underwhelming (and kind of rude). We did go back to Afternoon Tea and now try to go every time we visit (if it's in the budget).

As others have said, bring up your grievances at the time they happen, still be polite but tell them at the time. Disney seems to appreciate that for the small things so they can handle it quicker.

 

[JenSop]

Bummer! Sounds like you've had some really bad luck. We don't have kids, so we're always a party of two, and have never had the issues you're talking about. Although I'll say it looks like we go to different restaurants than you. But we've always been treated exceptionally well! (knock on wood - don't want to jinx it!)

 

[gharter]

We have gone twice a year for the last 3 years as just 2 of us and have not noticed any difference in how we were treated at any restaurant. We have gone to many of them with a group of 2 and of 4 and seen no difference.
When i have gone solo, if anything, I have been treated even better by the staff.

 

[TikiBabe]

DF and I go all the time as a party of two, and never have any of these issues.

 

[Quicklabs]

As a party of two adults, we always seem to get the very worst table in the house.
.

 

[goofyintoronto]

I know what you mean, I've noticed that my DS and myself normally get the shaft at restaurants in terms of longer wait times (for a 2 seater table...since those are limited, and they wont seat us at a 4 top, so we wait longer). Crystal Palace is a good example.

We've also noticed that the 2 seaters are not usually in the prime areas and usually off to the side. At Teppan Edo we are always seated on the sides/edge. The view isnt as good as it is in the front. At 50's yes, we had the same experience...we were placed in a corner with zero shenanigans. None at all. The server was very sweet, but we were disappointed.

For those that say they've had nothing but STELLAR service as a couple, that's wonderful. And congrats. But that's not everyones experience. All im saying is that i can totally relate to the OP.

 

[loves to dive]

May just be your luck. It's always just been my son and I and we've been going for about 35 years. There have been a few time through the years that there have been 3 of us since he took his sister once, one of his girlfriends once and his ex-wife a few times but I've never noticed the service being any different during those times nor have I found it any easier or harder to get an ADR. Of course, we don't make our ADRs until the day of usually around 2 or 3 in the afternoon so that might have something to do with it and we don't eat at buffets, AYCE or character meals.

 

[goofyintoronto]

I wanted to add another thing...I too have noticed that its difficult getting an ADR for two people. Quite often i'd make an ADR for 3 or 4 ppl (which is easier), then i'd just change it afterwards.

As a party of two adults, we always seem to get the very worst table in the house.

Yes, completely agree. Always the worst table. Its rather annoying.

 

[Moliphino]

As a party of two adults, we always seem to get the very worst table in the house.
.

I've noticed that in some places, but not all. At LTT we've gotten the same little table both times, shoved up against a wall by itself right next to the main walkway. Other restaurants have seated us at 4 tops, and we've had really nice booths at La Hacienda and Spice Road Table in the past.

 

[Jennasis]

Sorry. Every table we've gotten has been prime.

All I will say is that DH and I are at Disney, we are always cheerful, polite, engaging, and enthusiastic. Always. That may have something to do with why we always have stellar service and fantastic seats.

 

[CraigInPA]

My wife and I have experienced both extremes.

The worst meal ever at Disney was in LeCellier, where they put us on a 2 top between two tables of four. Every time the waitress came around, we got to look at her rear end as she leaned over to serve the farthest people. Almost as bad was when we were seated at a 2 top at 'Ohana next to the kitchen, and our waiter ignored us to the point that we had to call attention to the poor service to the manager. At Liberty Tree Tavern, they offered us a 2 top next to the kitchen, which we refused, and then put us at a 2 top in the middle of one of the rooms. I don't know why LTT even has 2 tops, since the table is too small for the amount of food which is included for dinner.

On the other hand, we have had excellent service at signature restaurants, even when it's just the two of us.

 

[kaytieeldr]

For those that say they've had nothing but STELLAR service as a couple, that's wonderful. And congrats. But that's not everyones experience.

Nobody is doubting the OP's poor experiences. Just most posters have either not experienced that run of bad placement.

 

[Lisa F]

Crystal Palace is a good example. And we've noticed that the 2 seaters are also not in the prime areas and usually off to the side.

where is a prime area in CP? I honestly have never felt like I had a bad spot, we are usually in a table off the center bench seating which is fine by me, but I've also sat along the straight benches and also up against the window on the other side. I don't feel like any seat is particularly worse than another, the characters go to all of them and nothing is that far from the buffet. I'd rather be a little further in the restaurant than right on a main path for everyone carrying plates personally.

 

[goofyintoronto]

where is a prime area in CP? I honestly have never felt like I had a bad spot, we are usually in a table off the center bench seating which is fine by me, but I've also sat along the straight benches and also up against the window on the other side. I don't feel like any seat is particularly worse than another, the characters go to all of them and nothing is that far from the buffet. I'd rather be a little further in the restaurant than right on a main path for everyone carrying plates personally.

Regarding the "prime area", I actually wasn't referring to Crystal Palace. I suppose I should've separated those two paragraphs. ...its fixed now.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Sorry. Every table we've gotten has been prime.

All I will say is that DH and I are at Disney, we are always cheerful, polite, engaging, and enthusiastic. Always. That may have something to do with why we always have stellar service and fantastic seats.

So you're assuming that people who have had a less desirable seat/table were rude and deserved what they got? Or that people who are not as cheerful shouldn't get a decent table? I'm always cheerful polite and engaging as well. Always. I use to be a server so I know how hard their job is. Keep in mind I actually don't recall ever getting a rude waiter at disney world or receiving crappy service. Sure, there have been times where i have waited a long time to get a drink refill for example, but I shrug those off easily. As i said, i know how easy it is to forget something like that when you're swamped with several tables. All im saying is that I understand what the server means when they say they've been shafted with a crappy table. I have experienced that not only at disney, but at other restaurants too. To be honest i've gotten use to it, so its not a huge deal. As long as the service is good, im happy.

 

[Lisa F]

Regarding the "prime area", I actually wasn't referring to Crystal Palace. I suppose I should've separated those two paragraphs. ...its fixed now.

oh ok.

I think all of us here have had bad service once in a while but I think a lot of us don't feel it is related to party size. I've had some great and some terrible service and I have never correlated it to party size. Same thing for good vs. lousy tables. Sometimes you just get one in a bad spot but I have not noticed that parties of two are, as a trend, in bad spots in restaurants. it may be easier to shoehorn the occasional one-off two-top into a subpar spot than a large table but I don't think as a trend all of the two-tops are in bad locations. In Ohana the two-tops (3-tops actually) are some of the best tables, up against the windows with views of the castle, while the large parties are seated in the more chaotic interior.

I'm just saying it's not a "trend" against tables for two, not that bad locations or bad service never happens. I don't think parties for two are being picked on at WDW.

 

[Pkltm]

We have experienced bad service either as a group of two or a group of six or more, but a group of 4 or 5 excellent, especially at Liberty Tree Tavern, we actually had to speak to the manager to remove the automatic gratuity there. It was the worst experience we had a Disney.

At O'hana I actually thought we were invisible. So OP I do get where you are coming from.

 

[Moliphino]

I'm just saying it's not a "trend" against tables for two, not that bad locations or bad service never happens. I don't think parties for two are being picked on at WDW.

We had dinner at BOG once and were seated next to another party of two and had the same server. He was so attentive to them and essentially ignored us. Pretty awkward when our tables were literally six inches apart and the difference in service was so obvious. I don't know what his deal was, but it wasn't party size.