The AP adventure - THREAD 6 COMPLETE! About This Page:

[MontiMouse]

Beautiful pictures Cheryl! I agree with you on the clown slide - eeek!!

[zacksmom_1993]

Cheryl-
Thanks so much for your updates! I feel like I'm there with you. The clown slide is so funny. My 11-year-old always notices it when we're taking boats to MGM, and it's his main reason for wanting to stay here. I don't like the looks of it either, and so far I've been able to satisfy him with Beach Club and Wilderness Lodge. Some sacrifice, I know. Thanks again.
Karen

[Luv2plan]

Great updates!! I can't believe what a great view of Illuminations from your room - what a great way to top off a great birthday!!

Oh, and I love the green top you have on at Spoodles!!

BTW, I love Boardwalk, EXCEPT for the Clown!!! If they would just take him down I'd be so much happier!!!

[RobinKay6573]

Cheryl I know what you mean about clowns. I have never liked them either! That slides just looks freeky! Who wants to slide out of a clowns month!

BTW you photos of Illumations from your room are beautiful! What a view!

[Colexis Mom]

Another great update Cheryl (boy that sky was blue)! How great that you met up with Joy and her family right there It's a small world Can't wait to hear about lunch

[pparm]

Cheryl, in your pool pics, something looks like a roller coaster. Is that a body slide??

Paula

[chezp]

[ QUOTE ]
Cheryl, in your pool pics, something looks like a roller coaster. Is that a body slide??

Paula

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, it's called the Keister Coaster water slide.

[chezp]

Wednesday 22 December – part two: how long does it take to get a drink refill and what bit of “hot” didn’t you get?

We made it to the Concourse Steakhouse before midday and waited for it to open before checking in. We had eaten here twice before and had had good meals both times, but for Joy and her family, this was their first time eating here. We were sure it would be again be a good experience… let’s just say as far as the service goes, it was not a good introduction to this place….

I think the guy we had was called Abed. Yes, I “think” that because we saw so little of him! Now let’s be clear, the Concourse Steakhouse was not busy. There were about a dozen tables in total, absolute maximum, that were occupied and our server only had about of those to attend to. Both Mark and I finished our drinks pretty quickly and then we waited and waited and waited for a refill. In fact, Mark timed Abed and after 10 minutes, he still hadn’t come near out table, so I grabbed another server and asked for a refill. Immediately, our server came across! So it took me to ask someone else for a drink for Abed to notice us? So was he doing something important during that time then? Not at all – he was talking to a friend, that’s what he was doing. I know, because we watched him.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, he also got the orders mixed up when he brought them out, then he mixed up the bills, which we asked to be separate and finally we even got our entrées before we were anywhere near finishing our appetisers. I don’t know about you guys, but I think that’s the height of rudeness.

As for the food, well that was fine, with one exception… I had the onion soup followed by the mahi mahi and Mark had the Caesar salad, followed by the stuffed sirloin steak. I saw it was fine, it was after we both sent our entrées back to be re-heated, as they were both tepid when they first turned up. Once they were both properly cooked, they were very good.


Mahi Mahi

Stuffed sirloin steak

We also had good desserts. I had the chocolate pudding cake, while Mark had the seasonal fruit cobbler. It was listed on the menu as seasonal fruit crisp and Joy made the mistake of asking for that.
Oh boy, did she get a lecture from Abed about how it’s called the seasonal fruit cobbler, not crisp, because the fruit has changed. Oh, whatever, but again, how rude! I think you might have guessed by now that Abed did not get a tip from either ourselves or Joy. I hope maybe he learnt from that. Service like that is unacceptable.


Chocolate pudding cake

Seasonal fruit COBBLER! – note we did ask for it with no ice cream, but hey I ate in on Mark’s behalf!

Joy’s dessert – I don’t remember what she had, but it looked so good, I had to get a photo of it!

Concourse Steakhouse:

Appetiser 8½ 6
Entrée 7½ 8
Dessert 9 7½
Service 0 0
Atmosphere 7½ 7½
Value for money 9 8½

Average score 1 (including service) – 6.58
Average score 2 (excluding service) – 7.90

I’m disappointed that we had such a bad time there, especially as it was Joy’s first time there. Honestly guys, it’s not usually like that and it just goes to show the impact that bad service can have on the whole meal. As Kirk kept saying, service is the most important part of a meal and I think he’s right. The one good thing we can say about this meal is that we had excellent company – we were never short of anything to say each other (not just about the bad service! ) and Joy, Kim and Kirk are all great fun.

Once we escaped the clutches of the evil Abed, we headed back to the lobby for some photos:


Joy and I

Kim, Joy and Kirk

A close up of the scene behind us – more decorated goodies!

…and then we dropped Joy and her family off at Fantasia Gardens mini golf, as that was their plan for the afternoon. We had a lovely time with them, it’s just a shame that it was such a poor experience service wise.

Next: Breathless takes our breath away!

[mom2my4dwarfs]

Sorry to hear you had bad service. Sounds like the next installment will make up for that.

[DopeyGirl]

Was that a little "Mountie" bear you were holding?

Sorry to hear about your bad service . . . some people are just so RUDE!!! Looking forward to hearing all about Breathless!!!

[BritDisFan]

Oh dear, what bad service , I'm glad you had a good time with Joy and her family though, great pictures .

Karen

[LizardCop]

Bad Service really sux.... We enjoyed our meal there in December, but the service was less than exected... Hopefully, things will improve!!!

Great Update and wonderful pictures.

[luvnwdwgal]

Bummer about your service at Concourse! That was our favorite restaurant in '02, and we plan on going back this September. Hope Abed isn't our waiter!!
Glad you were able to spend some time with Joy and her family! More please!!

[MickeyMAC]

We've eaten there several times and I agree 100% service makes all the difference.....the food was always good but the service is lukewarm at best.

[jakenjess]

I'm sorry about the bad service. That can really put a damper on a good meal!! Sounds like you did enjoy your time with Joy, Kim, and Kirk, though. Looking forward to hearing about Breathless!!