Why were we asked if we were staying for the Christmas Party?

[musketeer]

A few weeks ago during our visit, we were eating dinner at the Liberty Tree Tavern. Our dinner was at 6:45pm. I realize that people use dinner reservations to "sneak into" the Christmas party, but that was not our intention at all, we weren't going, we didn't plan on going, and were going to leave right after dinner regardless of the christmas party. In fact, when I booked the dinner reservation, I didn't even know that the party existed.

ANYWAY, while we were eating dinner, a guy who looked like a manager or something was going around to tables asking if people were staying for the party, we said no, and it looked like he kind of made a note on a piece of paper. But then when we were done, no one said anything to us. In fact, I was kind of hoping we'd be escorted out through some backstage way or something to avoid the crowd. We weren't, and the crowd was a nightmare.

Don't worry, I didn't look at anything that was going on and had no fun that I didn't pay for.

But my question is, why were we even asked?

 

[timeman]

The reason he probably asked was so that he could give you the wristband that you have to wear if you are there for the party.

 

[RonAnnArbor]

I don't think that is the reason. It's a ticketed affair, and anyone entering the park gets the wristband after 4:00 pm with the party ticket -- if they were at dinner at 6:45 they would have already had their wristband if they were staying for the party. They no longer do the "wristband" stations around the park like they used to, even on EMH nights -- everything is controlled from the front entrance.

It was most likely just statistics for the management for future planning, and had nothing to do with your particular evening of visit. For example, if they went around and only 3 or 4 families were not staying for the party, they probably don't worry too much about it. But if 20 - 30 families were not staying for the party, they might in future years cut off bookings for dinner earlier in the evening...

I would imagine that they probably did the statistics every night during the MVMCP this season to see if they need to adjust anything for next season.

 

[wm49rs]

The reason he probably asked was so that he could give you the wristband that you have to wear if you are there for the party.

We had dinner at LTT one evening, same as a MVMCP event, and we indeed were planning on attending. But, instead of having us go all the way back out to the front gates, we were given our wristbands inside the restaurant. It may have come across in an awkward fashion, but I'm sure the intentions were courteous.....

 

[splashmtnfan]

They still do the wristband stations within the park. We received ours at a station in Tomorrowland on December 3rd. Per the prior poster it was probably to give you the wristbands if you had not received them yet.

 

[heartodisney]

Did you stay in the park and enjoy the rest of the evening?

 

[parkgoer]

Did you stay in the park and enjoy the rest of the evening?

from his post, It sounds like no...

 

[rct247]

Guests with dinner reservations that are close or go over park closing and into a separate ticket event are sometimes required to get wristbands as well. These wristbands are separate and different from the party/event wristbands. They are usually more basic, different color, and texture. This helps when it comes to clearing. The wristband shows you can stay for your reservation, but don't permit you to stay all night or enjoy any of the party/event offerings (including rides,shops, and other restaurants).

My guess is that the restaurant manager was either making a note of who needs these special wristbands, who is staying (and paid) and needs the event wristbands, and who needs a cast member to escort them to the front once they are done eating.

I'm not sure if any of this actually took place with you or anyone else in the restaurant that night, but that is my best explanation based off how things are usually done and me filling in detail gaps here and there.

 

[Atomicmickey]

CM's are unfailingly friendly. Why didn't you just ask him what was up? I'm sure you'd have gotten an answer.

 

[wdwfan22]

They no longer do the "wristband" stations around the park like they used to, even on EMH nights -- everything is controlled from the front entrance.

That isn't true, wristbands are still distributed from areas within the park on party nights.

 

[musketeer]

CM's are unfailingly friendly. Why didn't you just ask him what was up? I'm sure you'd have gotten an answer.

A couple reasons. First, I didn't even really think about it until much later. And second, I was dealing with my twin 20 month old girls who were eating dinner later than usual, and had endured a 1,100 mile drive, plus 3 days of park going.

 

[disneydata]

Restaurant managers are required to inform the Duty Manager when their restaurant is clear of non-event guests for the evening. He was probably making a note of your table number to make it easier when it comes time.