Party of 2 =2nd class citizen

I don't think it is uncommon for vacationers to get treated as second-class citizens at Shula's, specifically, and perhaps more so at resort restaurants by convention centers. There is a clear understanding by these restaurants that, as important as vacationers are, convention goers are more important, and pleasing them (and having them not report disappointment to the convention itself) is going to be better for the restaurant.
 
You might want to delete your phone number at the end of the middle email.
We are always a party of 2 and have not had any issues that I can think of. We have fortunately not been mixed in with a huge convention like that. I am sorry that happened to you. I wouldn’t have eaten there either in that situation. I might have accepted the offer of the other restaurant if the menu appealed to me. I don’t know. Again sorry for your experience
 
I agree with @MinnieMSue about deleting the phone number.
We've always had a great experience as a party of 2 at Shula's. That said, occasionally a restaurant will end up with a very large number of conference attendees.
I would have likely accepted the alternate offer and gone to someplace quieter and less frenetic that night.
 


I agree with @MinnieMSue about deleting the phone number.
We've always had a great experience as a party of 2 at Shula's. That said, occasionally a restaurant will end up with a very large number of conference attendees.
I would have likely accepted the alternate offer, and gone to someplace quieter and less frenetic that night.


Missed the home number , thanks so very much. Not at all wanting to be argumentative , however I made that reservation 180 days in advance, I should not have to accept an alternate dining reservation....their attitude was so blasé about it and continues to be in the email...that is the frustrating part.
 
Not a darn thing wrong with their response to you. They got overrun by convention folk and tried to accommodate you their and when it wasn't good enough for you they tried to get you into the other fine dining establishment.

As a party of 2 we are always treated as a valued customer everywhere we go at WDW. I think you are being unreasonable.
 
You might want to delete your phone number at the end of the middle email.
We are always a party of 2 and have not had any issues that I can think of. We have fortunately not been mixed in with a huge convention like that. I am sorry that happened to you. I wouldn’t have eaten there either in that situation. I might have accepted the offer of the other restaurant if the menu appealed to me. I don’t know. Again sorry for your experience


Thanks for the catch on the phone number, greatly appreciate it.
 


Missed the home number , thanks so very much. Not at all wanting to be argumentative , however I made that reservation 180 days in advance, I should not have to accept an alternate dining reservation....their attitude was so blasé about it and continues to be in the email...that is the frustrating part.
We always make dining ressies 180+ out.
But, if we waltzed into a very large, loud group of conference attendees, we'd choose to go elsewhere. I realize that's a personal decision, but it's our money and our night out. My take on very large groups--they generally don't get more meek and quiet as the night wears on.
 
I completely agree that as a party of two we felt like we were given the worst seats and we were almost forgotten by our servers. This happened on our April 2019 trip at Sanaa, Sci-Fi and Skipper Canteen. At Sanaa we were placed against the wall next to the check-in desk and the server took our order and we waited, and waited, and waited. It took over a half hour to get out Bread Service after we ordered it. The server was apologetic and she comped the appetizer, but then it took another half hour for the entrees to come. It was a good thing we weren't in a hurry.

At Sci-Fi they placed us in the back row of the car at the very back left of the room. At least the service here was good.

Our table location was fine at Skipper Canteen, but this was another place where the service took forever.

I'll be back in 16 days, but this time with a group of 12 - let's see how they treat us then!
 
I completely agree that as a party of two we felt like we were given the worst seats and we were almost forgotten by our servers. This happened on our April 2019 trip at Sanaa, Sci-Fi and Skipper Canteen. At Sanaa we were placed against the wall next to the check-in desk and the server took our order and we waited, and waited, and waited. It took over a half hour to get out Bread Service after we ordered it. The server was apologetic and she comped the appetizer, but then it took another half hour for the entrees to come. It was a good thing we weren't in a hurry.

At Sci-Fi they placed us in the back row of the car at the very back left of the room. At least the service here was good.

Our table location was fine at Skipper Canteen, but this was another place where the service took forever.

I'll be back in 16 days, but this time with a group of 12 - let's see how they treat us then!

Thank you for understanding and I hope you have better luck.
 
I am not a fan of posting somebody's email concordance, its out of respect and privacy for that individual.

I totally understand why it took so long for you to get a reply, you communicated through social media and the corporate email system, things take time. A phone call would have gotten you a quicker reply.

As for your service, yes your table location sucked, twice! You declined the table they had available, twice too. It happens. They probably had a few tables for two that were open when you arrived. The others may have been put together for groups or were occupied by others that were in no rush to leave. They can't snap their fingers to make them appear.

This is the downside to the Swan/Dolphin, the reality is that this was designed to be a convention hotel. We tried to go the bar a couple nights, it was slammed. I wasn't going to fight the crowed just for a drink.

I totally feel for your situation and your frustration. Unfortunately, you made a reservation the same night they got slammed by a large convention that swarmed the restaurant. Honestly, it sounds like the manager did what she could with what she was facing at the time and offered you an option to go to another restaurant.

Now that my kids are grown it's my wife and I, we dine just the two of us 90% of the time. There are times we get a table that isn't ideal. If I am seated next to a server station, kitchen or near the bathrooms I ask to be seated else where. But thankfully that is very rare.
 
It certainly sounds like Shula’s was not a great place to be that night. I wouldn’t have wanted to stay either or eat off the table the guy was sitting on. I’m sorry you had that experience at a place you had been looking forward to dining at. That really stinks and certainly sounds like the restaurant was not at its best that night. But, to be really honest, I think I would have chalked it up to bad luck rather than assume that it was because we were a small party. It seems to me like they tried to make it right with you. Side note: Bluezoo is fantastic but I understand that when you have your hearts set on a different place, it’s not the same.

Totally get wanting to vent (and, again, it does sound like a really bad night) ... but what outcome are you looking for from Shula’s/Swan & Dolphin?

PS: your personal email is still in the string... you may want to delete. Also, I realize the GM’s email and phone are on the Shula’s site but I’m not sure about posting it here.
 
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I've never experienced that, but I've never been to Shula's either.

Any restaurant we've been to, we were treated like everyone else. Actually to be honest there were times it felt like we were more highly regarded than other guests, oddly enough.

Honestly, I have to agree with other people here saying that yeah, a convention is going to be a priority. It happens. They are a business first and foremost. The person you had communications with appeared to be doing everything she could do to make it right. I'm not sure what more you want from them, honestly.
 
99% of the time we are a party of 2 at WDW, we have had our share of poor tiny tables! We actually laugh now and pick our table out on the way to it. We don’t eat at the signature places much so we don’t get to upset about our tables, it is more of a joke now for us!

I am glad you complained and let them know it was not acceptable for you!
 
99% of the time we are a party of 2 at WDW, we have had our share of poor tiny tables! We actually laugh now and pick our table out on the way to it. We don’t eat at the signature places much so we don’t get to upset about our tables, it is more of a joke now for us!

I am glad you complained and let them know it was not acceptable for you!
Thank you for understanding my upset
 
I don't think it was the party of two, rather you bumped into a convention and then were given two bad tables. I would have been unhappy about it also and probably decided to leave especially if it is so loud. I also think the guest recovery was a bit underwhelming. I have been in similar situations before and a smile from the manager, with the admission "You're right, I'm sorry, we are having a bad night" and the offer to buy us a drink or a dessert coupon and we are happy again.

Since my DD's have left for college my DH and I have been a party of two and we find the best service for a party of two is at the bar. The bartender is happy to have a bigger tip, not just drinks. We are are more comfortable ordering smaller plates there and I like talking to the bartender's especially at WDW. I also like being able to lean in easily and speak into my husband's ear, rather than shout across a table at a busy restaurant. We like being able to go at our leisure and not feel rushed once we've gotten our check. Usually if you are eating at the bar you have to ask for your check.
 
I don't think it was the party of two, rather you bumped into a convention and then were given two bad tables. I would have been unhappy about it also and probably decided to leave especially if it is so loud. I also think the guest recovery was a bit underwhelming. I have been in similar situations before and a smile from the manager, with the admission "You're right, I'm sorry, we are having a bad night" and the offer to buy us a drink or a dessert coupon and we are happy again.

Since my DD's have left for college my DH and I have been a party of two and we find the best service for a party of two is at the bar. The bartender is happy to have a bigger tip, not just drinks. We are are more comfortable ordering smaller plates there and I like talking to the bartender's especially at WDW. I also like being able to lean in easily and speak into my husband's ear, rather than shout across a table at a busy restaurant. We like being able to go at our leisure and not feel rushed once we've gotten our check. Usually if you are eating at the bar you have to ask for your check.

Thank you for your response. I was not looking for anything more than an acknowledgement from her that we were not treated respectfully. The fact that her response still validates our treatment was due to the convention is just "wow" to me. Again a vacation where you are in front of your computer at 7:00 am to make your ADRs in advance should get you a "buttock" and bar free dining experience.
 
and frankly a vacation that is thousands of dollars.
Respectfully neither this nor that you expected to pay in the $100 dollar range for dinner, make you any different from any other WDW/Shula's guest.
AND FYI 3 days after I agreed to talk to her she still has not called :>
Three calendar days. She or her boss could easily not work this weekend, or any weekend, or could give their entire attention to the restaurant on weekends...
PS: your personal email is still in the string... you may want to delete. Also, I realize the GM’s email and phone are on the Shula’s site but I’m not sure about posting it here.
I noticed the same thing, along with that the OP has been back to this thread since it was posted, but that informarion has not been edited out :confused3
 
I am sympathetic to the issue of large groups and conventioneers. They can take over restaurants and makes for an unpleasant dining experience for others (whether they are a 2-top or 6-top, definitely not exclusive to a 2-top). But, what are you hoping they do today? Seems that a solution that night, like getting you a quiet table at Bluezoo, would have been much better, which it sounds like they offered to do. It could have salvaged your evening. Based on what you have described, I would have taken their offer to go elsewhere. Like you, I would not have been happy if someone was sitting/leaning on the table I was supposed to have a fine dinner.
 
I have deleted my original post....I just came to see if anyone had a similar experience not be stoned at the town gathering. I have not spoken unkind or disrespectful to anyone here...what in goodness name is wrong with of some you people...so unpleasant.
 

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