Some little things at the MK

[GrammieBee]

Ice water in a cup is a good example of something that we do not actually have to have, but somehow think we do. The water in the drinking fountains may not be icy cold, but it will keep you hydrated. Which is the purpose of drinking lots of water in the first place.

 

[Lord_Vader]

We used filtered Camelbak bottles last summer, mostly filled from drinking fountains but sometimes would get ice water at QS locations to fill them too and never had a problem.

 

[Hakunamatata]

Ice water in a cup is a good example of something that we do not actually have to have, but somehow think we do. The water in the drinking fountains may not be icy cold, but it will keep you hydrated. Which is the purpose of drinking lots of water in the first place.

Good point. The boundaries between needs and wants is quite grey these days.

 

[EdC]

The turkey sandwich at Cosmic Ray's tastes like ham. Worst Turkey Sandwich I've ever had in my life.

Well, that's my update. Thoughts?

DW and I can concur with you that Cosmic Ray's is probably our least liked quick service in all the parks. Perhaps Pizza Planet wins, but that's just thematically based. Actual food wise, I'd much rather walk across the park to go somewhere else.

 

[H2O_Mouse-Ears]

I feel like the dining options in MK are the worst of all the parks. There needs to be some non-character table service dining options at MK.

 

[RayTheFirefly]

Lol @ what this thread has become.

 

[EdC]

I feel like the dining options in MK are the worst of all the parks. There needs to be some non-character table service dining options at MK.

Isn't Tony's Town Square a table service? https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/magic-kingdom/tonys-town-square-restaurant/

 

[EdC]

Lol @ what this thread has become.

Lol, it didn't have far to fall

 

[H2O_Mouse-Ears]

Isn't Tony's Town Square a table service? https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/magic-kingdom/tonys-town-square-restaurant/

Right. Forgot about Tony's and Beast's Castle. Not on the level of some of the other table service options in other parks but I guess they are passable due to the atmosphere they provide.

 

[Nubs70]

OK, I am confused about how I should feel about a recent experience I had at Loews Don CeSar Beach Resort and Spa concerning "complimentary" ice water.

In just about every public space around the resort off to the side somewhere you will find a glass dispenser filled with ice water. The center of the canister is filled with with some type of fruit/vegetable to infuse it with flavor. Next to it is an ice bucket and a stack of 6 oz. plastic cocktail glasses. They had one of these stations in the lobby, lounge, the shopping galleria, 2 by the pool (the cucumber infuse water in the morning was quite nice on my slight-ish hangover), 2 by the beach acces, one by the ping pong/foosball tables. And there was this young guy whose entire job appeared to be going around and fill the dispensers and ice buckets.

Now my concern is how much this ridiculously decadant service is costing the resort.

PS: At the Lobby Lounge, the bartender first gave my Dad his Scotch and Water, then my Classic Mai Tai, then some house made bar mix to snack on. How does this place stay in business?

It is a cost but it is also a service whose cost can rolled into the price of the room. That is why one can expect an increased level of service the more expensive the room price. If a place claims to be a deluxe experience, they need to provide deluxe service.

 

[COProgressFan]

Good point. The boundaries between needs and wants is quite grey these days.

As are the boundaries between good customer service and poor customer service.

 

[BrerJon]

I understand cups are money but they just seem ... ridiculous counting cups. I do get it but it seems so over the top to me in a place like WDW to be that specific about cups. Yes, I know, it's a business.

There are two reasons why locations count cups, all profit related. In some areas, they only count alcohol cups, as whereas Disney supposedly doesn't pay anything for its soda, it does pay for alcohol, and missing booze cups are a quick way to spot CMs giving free drinks to their friends, but a few lost soda sales here and there won't break the bank.

In locations where soda sales are the primary item instead of an extra item, they're often more specific about paper cups, as giving away drinks would have a more substantial profit impact on those locations, so counting cups is the only way to keep a rough count of sales - given that the soda machines don't keep track of how many portions are dispensed.

That's why if you want a larger water cup, it's always wise to get it from a quick service location instead of an outdoor foods cart.

 

[Hakunamatata]

As are the boundaries between good customer service and poor customer service.

Of which the latter drives customers away which does not seem to be a problem for Disney right now?

 

[ford91exploder]

Just curious. What ever happened to using a water drinking fountain to get a drink? Or does it have to be ice water in a cup to be acceptable? Or don't they have drinking fountains anymore, for whatever reason?

Sanitation issues.

 

[ford91exploder]

Ice water in a cup is a good example of something that we do not actually have to have, but somehow think we do. The water in the drinking fountains may not be icy cold, but it will keep you hydrated. Which is the purpose of drinking lots of water in the first place.

I'd fill from a hose, before I would use a public drinking fountain these days.

 

[RayTheFirefly]

I'd fill from a hose, before I would use a public drinking fountain these days.

 

[ford91exploder]

PRECISELY!

 

[COProgressFan]

Of which the latter drives customers away which does not seem to be a problem for Disney right now?

Says who? Disney absolutely has been driving customers away.

While the MK has been swamped the past few years, the other parks have seen dropoffs, especially Studios. And revenues are only being supported by price increases and service cutbacks.

There is more to measuring WDW's success than turnstyle clicks. And that's not even including vacancy issues at resorts. @ParentsOf4 has done a number of wonderful dissertations about the subject you might want to read.

The bottom line is, Disney charges premium prices. Do they provide their formerly reknowned world-class service or not?

 

[Hakunamatata]

Says who? Disney absolutely has been driving customers away.

While the MK has been swamped the past few years, the other parks have seen dropoffs, especially Studios. And revenues are only being supported by price increases and service cutbacks.

There is more to measuring WDW's success than turnstyle clicks. And that's not even including vacancy issues at resorts. @ParentsOf4 has done a number of wonderful dissertations about the subject you might want to read.

The bottom line is, Disney charges premium prices. Do they provide their formerly reknowned world-class service or not?

I will believe Disney has customer service issues when I start seeing wide spread discounts and free dining during peak seasons.

 

[chiefs11]

I'd fill from a hose, before I would use a public drinking fountain these days.

THIS.

I am far from a germophobe, but public drinking fountains skeeve me out.