Has 50's Prime Time Cafe "toned down"?

[maxime29]

We got back from our Christmas trip to WDW. One of our favorite traditions is to eat at the 50's Prime Time Cafe. We've always enjoyed the antics that our cousins or aunts do. However we noticed that this trip they weren't as lively as in previous years. Cousin Richard took care of us this visit. While we enjoyed him, he did have one table get "upset" over him apparently as he was lightly making humor with people from New York. The family across from us was from New York and laughed at it, however a table across in the other room wasn't too pleased. One of the guys got upset, walked to him and whispered something in his ear. (Not to generalize either, but they seriously looked like mafia type people; they did pull out a LARGE stash of money when they paid for their meal). It seems like he and the others around him had to tone down the show to prevent another thing like this from happening. We could definitely tell that he was different after that guest talked to him. We still enjoyed him and our visit.

I wanted to ask you all does this seem like a common occurrence? Not necessarily guests telling the CMs to stop but if the overall show has had to be lightened in order to prevent guests from being offended?

Side note: the pot roast rules! :slurp:

 

[sknydave]

Wow. I really wish some people could lighten up.

 

[Zummi Gummi]

I think it totally depends on your aunt/cousin. We had "Aunt Penny" last time and she was by no means toned down.

 

[Figments Friend]

Possibly, but i know the "cousins" will gage you and see how well you respond to the first few interactions.

If they read that you are ready and willing to "play", they go all out. When i visited in September, "Mom" herself came out and took great care of me. I was more then happy to play along, and we had a ball. I think "Mom" enjoyed it too, as i was left with the impression that she missed playing and that i was one of the recent few that was open to the "game". It was probably the best interaction yet i have experienced there. She told me "Dad" was doing the laundry so the main course may take a few minutes to arrive. Later on after dessert i told her "Dad" had come out and said the laundry was done and that he wanted me to tell her. She laughed, and said she had better check on him and makesure he was'nt getting into trouble. Fun stuff like that...along with the usual manners scolding and elaborate stories about my distant cousins and Uncle George. She was ready to play and i was ready to...so that exceptance of interaction led to the great experience.

So i think it depends a lot on how keen you are towards you host/hostess that determines how far they go playing their role.

I love the 50's Prime Time. I make it a point to hit it for lunch and usually Sci Fi for dinner when i do MGM.

 

[Master Yoda]

I haven't noticed the general show being toned down but the cast members will alter their act a bit depending on the guests and their reactions. If you get a room full of a bunch of families that get into the act it can be quite entertaining but all it sakes is one stick in the mud to blow it for everyone. It would be kind of nice if their was a way to warn or advise people of what goes on at Prime Time so those that don't get into that sort of thing will pick another restaurant.

 

[BryandPeter]

Yes I agree.

I was there the first week in December and found it was very toned down. We were ready to have fun with the waiter, but he did next to nothing. I was a bit disappointed.

 

[dvcnut39]

I was there the first week in December and found it was very toned down. We were ready to have fun with the waiter, but he did next to nothing. I was a bit disappointed.

We also had the same experience during our last two trips. I hope "they" start to pick it up again. We miss the fun.

 

[LudwigVonDrake]

I once asked a waiter at the 50s that because WDW gets people from all over the world if all nationalities get the humor of the Prime Time Cafe. He said the Japanese get it because they understand the concept of manners but that the #1 "nationality" that has a problem at the 50s is AMERICANS. He said that somehow A LOT of people don't pick up on the fact between the front door and their table that they are in a THEMED RESTAURANT!

BTW, for the record, not all us New Yorkers are "Mafia type people" :lookaroun

 

[IcicleM]

Possibly, but i know the "cousins" will gage you and see how well you respond to the first few interactions.

If they read that you are ready and willing to "play", they go all out. When i visited in September, "Mom" herself came out and took great care of me. I was more then happy to play along, and we had a ball. I think "Mom" enjoyed it too, as i was left with the impression that she missed playing and that i was one of the recent few that was open to the "game". It was probably the best interaction yet i have experienced there. She told me "Dad" was doing the laundry so the main course may take a few minutes to arrive. Later on after dessert i told her "Dad" had come out and said the laundry was done and that he wanted me to tell her. She laughed, and said she had better check on him and makesure he was'nt getting into trouble. Fun stuff like that...along with the usual manners scolding and elaborate stories about my distant cousins and Uncle George. She was ready to play and i was ready to...so that exceptance of interaction led to the great experience.

So i think it depends a lot on how keen you are towards you host/hostess that determines how far they go playing their role.

I love the 50's Prime Time. I make it a point to hit it for lunch and usually Sci Fi for dinner when i do MGM.

That's so awesome that you had so much fun with it. I've been to the Prime Time Cafe manys a time, but have never really had fun with it. Now that I'm more out-going and more into acting, I really want to go back and go all out with my servers. ^_^

 

[darthjohnny]

We got back from our Christmas trip to WDW. One of our favorite traditions is to eat at the 50's Prime Time Cafe. We've always enjoyed the antics that our cousins or aunts do. However we noticed that this trip they weren't as lively as in previous years. Cousin Richard took care of us this visit. While we enjoyed him, he did have one table get "upset" over him apparently as he was lightly making humor with people from New York. The family across from us was from New York and laughed at it, however a table across in the other room wasn't too pleased. One of the guys got upset, walked to him and whispered something in his ear. (Not to generalize either, but they seriously looked like mafia type people; they did pull out a LARGE stash of money when they paid for their meal). It seems like he and the others around him had to tone down the show to prevent another thing like this from happening. We could definitely tell that he was different after that guest talked to him. We still enjoyed him and our visit.

I wanted to ask you all does this seem like a common occurrence? Not necessarily guests telling the CMs to stop but if the overall show has had to be lightened in order to prevent guests from being offended?

Side note: the pot roast rules! :slurp:

Possibly, but i know the "cousins" will gage you and see how well you respond to the first few interactions.

If they read that you are ready and willing to "play", they go all out. When i visited in September, "Mom" herself came out and took great care of me. I was more then happy to play along, and we had a ball. I think "Mom" enjoyed it too, as i was left with the impression that she missed playing and that i was one of the recent few that was open to the "game". It was probably the best interaction yet i have experienced there. She told me "Dad" was doing the laundry so the main course may take a few minutes to arrive. Later on after dessert i told her "Dad" had come out and said the laundry was done and that he wanted me to tell her. She laughed, and said she had better check on him and makesure he was'nt getting into trouble. Fun stuff like that...along with the usual manners scolding and elaborate stories about my distant cousins and Uncle George. She was ready to play and i was ready to...so that exceptance of interaction led to the great experience.

So i think it depends a lot on how keen you are towards you host/hostess that determines how far they go playing their role.

I love the 50's Prime Time. I make it a point to hit it for lunch and usually Sci Fi for dinner when i do MGM.

The 50's Prime Time Cafe, as well as similar restaurants like Whispering Canyon at Wilderness Lodge where the waiters are very loud and interactive, has a policy that you can ask for a quiet meal if you really want it. So those people could have just asked him specifically to tone it down so they can enjoy their meal. But this doesn't mean that the entire restaurant has to tone it down from now on.

I've found, personally, that if you really can keep it up and fool around with the best of the waiters, then they will actually tone it down themselves, if you're really into it.

And just for the record, the Mafia is an offensive stereotype.

Those people were most likely very successful Italian-American business people simply blessed with many friends.

 

[fizzle75]

I was there the first week in December and found it was very toned down. We were ready to have fun with the waiter, but he did next to nothing. I was a bit disappointed.

My wife and I were there the first week of December also and I was very excited about going to Prime Time since we love going to Whispering Canyon but was very disappointed as well. Our waiter did next to nothing as well. I still enjoyed the atmosphere though and hope to go there again when we visit the World in April. Maybe our waiter was just having an "off day".

By the way...this is my first post!!!:sohappy:

 

[radiohost]

YES YES YES YES YES !!!!!!!

Back in the mid 90's that was our family's favorite tradition, to eat and have fun at 50's prime time....Then back in 2001 we ate there, after a 4 year absence, and noticed alot of change..we left very upset that our entertainment, well,, stunk!!!

So this passed summer while an intern in the College Program I ate there a grand total of 3 times....and sadly all the visits were the same...

They hurry you in, get you fed, then hurry you out with little to no entertainment....

On one occasion there was absolutely ZERO entertainment, and between me and my girlfriend I spent $50.....I was a little mad to say the least....

Reaction, untill things there change I sadly will never eat there again and I no longer recommend it to ANYONE anymore....Radiohost

 

[miles1]

YES YES YES YES YES !!!!!!!

They hurry you in, get you fed, then hurry you out with little to no entertainment....

Radiohost

When we were there in August, we found just the opposite even during the free dining frenzy! Our server was an Irish gentleman that was an absolute riot, and encouraged us to linger a while over desert while cracking jokes the entire time. The other cousin working the room we were in was just as funny, especially when he found out the one of the groups was from "Lon Gisland". This was probably the best meal we have ever had in our many trips to the World, and if we could remember the servers name we'd ask for him again.

 

[dxwwf3]

I also think the waiter will adjust to the mood of each guest as far as the show goes. However, yes the Pot Roast still rules

 

[Clark Griswold]

That's kind of sad if the whole theme of the restaurant has been toned down because some guests can't take some jokes. I have only been there once and Cousin Chris was our waiter and he did a great job. I wasn't too crazy about the quality of the food, but I still enjoyed my experience.

"Welcome to Muppet Vision 3D."

 

[saltmom1]

Is Cousin Jason still there ? We had him a couple of years ago and he was great !:sohappy:

 

[FantasMickeyM]

When we went there about 1 1/2 years, out waitress didn't interact much at all. I wish we'd had the waitress who was serving the table next to us though, she was heeps of fun! I think it really depends on the waiter/waitress you get. We're going back real soon, so hope we get a great one then..

 

[justducky78]

I think it all depends on who you get, but yes - I do feel it's been toned down. We were there in May 2006 and our waitress had no personality and didn't really interact with any other guests, from what I could see. I looked around to see how the other castmembers were interacting with guests, and there seemed to be a lot of "nothing" going on.

I remember going years ago and the entertainment seemed a lot more lively - it was a lot of fun to see the waiters picking on my father-in-law! Maybe it has something to do with the number of people in your group?

 

[philsfan2185]

It depends on what server you get and if the sever can tell that you've eaten there before by you playing along with them. Then they know they can be funnier because they know that you know it's all in fun. Sorry if that sounds confusing :lookaroun

 

[Figments Friend]

That's so awesome that you had so much fun with it. I've been to the Prime Time Cafe manys a time, but have never really had fun with it. Now that I'm more out-going and more into acting, I really want to go back and go all out with my servers. ^_^

Definately go back and play! The CM's that work there WANT you to do this...as that is why they are there! Oh sure...you may get someone that might not be as into playing as someone else..but i tell you, they get such a buzz from someone who totally understands what dining at 50's PT is all about and is willing to play with them. Most CM's probably don't get to play as much as they would like to with Guests, since so many that dine there tend not to "get into it". This means anyone coming in that is keen to have some fun will be enthusiastically greeted with a good time. At least is my past experiences this seems to be true.

I can't wait to go back......it's always a great couple of hours spent there just people watching and interacting with the CM's. The food is GREAT too....so that is a added plus!

YAY for Prime Time!