zztop11
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,537
Oct 10, 2014 0:54:51 GMT
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Post by zztop11 on Aug 9, 2021 1:36:07 GMT
1. There is sort of a food shortage here. There is food but not what I want. I brought a lot with me but I want nice hot meal in a sit down restaurant. Most of the places are grab and go. Tired of burgers. 2. Tired of them running out of things. Who runs out of hollandaise. It's eggs and butter basically. (I think they must get a mix from Sysco and ran out of that. Are the chefs true chefs or "wannabe chefs"? 3. Ice cream- How do you run out of that? They have really good hand dipped. Saw about 5 people having hand dipped yummy cones. So I go and order and they are out. FOR THE SEASON! Had to resort to ice cream like from 7-11 or place like that. 4. No dinner reservations available at Lake Yellowstone hotel. Even for people staying there. I ask to be put on a list in case someone cancels. They say if someone cancels, they are not taking a new reservation in its place. (I guess that's cause they ran out of hollandaise sauce and ice cream and can't feed them 5. There is s-l-o-w internet where they say there is none and no internet at some places that they said would have it. (I am not at a place that said they would have it and they do. Slow but... A. Some good things are that the smoke hasn't deterred from the views that much. B. We saw horny bison hold up traffic for an hour and that was fun to watch. They were so close on the road that I couldn't help but see his anus. (I hope he doesn't mind.) C. Talking to others is a lot of fun. Hikers going from Mexico to Canada and vice versa. D. The weather has cooled off. It was 90 at first and we couldn't enjoy it. Too hot. Then 50 yesterday and today 70. Has anyone else been this summer? What are your experiences?
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Post by brynn on Aug 9, 2021 1:50:12 GMT
Not Yellowstone, but I just returned from the Fraternal Order of Eagles convention in Phoenix. The resort had a wonderful pastry chef(s); the deserts were wonderful. I was served chicken breasts at two banquets and a luncheon. That disappointed me. 113 degrees outside the last two days.
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Post by voltagain on Aug 9, 2021 1:52:50 GMT
1. There is sort of a food shortage here. There is food but not what I want. I brought a lot with me but I want nice hot meal in a sit down restaurant. Most of the places are grab and go. Tired of burgers. 2. Tired of them running out of things. Who runs out of hollandaise. It's eggs and butter basically. (I think they must get a mix from Sysco and ran out of that. Are the chefs true chefs or "wannabe chefs"? 3. Ice cream- How do you run out of that? They have really good hand dipped. Saw about 5 people having hand dipped yummy cones. So I go and order and they are out. FOR THE SEASON! Had to resort to ice cream like from 7-11 or place like that. 4. No dinner reservations available at Lake Yellowstone hotel. Even for people staying there. I ask to be put on a list in case someone cancels. They say if someone cancels, they are not taking a new reservation in its place. (I guess that's cause they ran out of hollandaise sauce and ice cream and can't feed them 5. There is s-l-o-w internet where they say there is none and no internet at some places that they said would have it. (I am not at a place that said they would have it and they do. Slow but... A. Some good things are that the smoke hasn't deterred from the views that much. B. We saw horny bison hold up traffic for an hour and that was fun to watch. They were so close on the road that I couldn't help but see his anus. (I hope he doesn't mind.) C. Talking to others is a lot of fun. Hikers going from Mexico to Canada and vice versa. D. The weather has cooled off. It was 90 at first and we couldn't enjoy it. Too hot. Then 50 yesterday and today 70. Has anyone else been this summer? What are your experiences? If they are having staffing issues and/or food delivery issues they well may end the season early instead of having irritated people. Whether or not they get a mix doesn't really matter. If they need a delivery of eggs/butter and it doesn't come they are not running into the village grocery to buy what they need. It would wipe out the needs of the people that live there. It is an area with a low vax rate and one of the states with a higher active case rate.
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scrappinwithoutpeas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,998
Location: Northern Virginia
Aug 7, 2014 22:09:44 GMT
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Post by scrappinwithoutpeas on Aug 9, 2021 1:54:14 GMT
My DD & her roommate were there (Yellowstone) a few weeks ago on their drive out west from Northern VA. They had made reservations in advance because they were traveling with roommate's dog and needed to be absolutely sure they had a place to stay that would accept the dog. They loved it and really enjoyed the sights. I think they did mention that there was not much variety as to the food/restaurant choices, but they were on a cross-country trip so I'm sure they had more than their fair share of food ups and downs along the way - not just in Yellowstone.
There are weird shortages all over the country though, probably largely due to trucking/transportation issues & delays. We were in Nantucket last week when their tiny airport ran.out.of.jet.fuel. All flights that weren't cancelled outright had to be diverted to include a stopover at Logan for refueling...fun times.
I'm sorry you had a sub-par experience at Yellowstone. Just know that you are not alone with vacation woes. I'm glad the weather is good and that the smoky air hasn't been a problem. I hope you got some good scenery. The bison caravan sounds pretty exciting! My DD didn't see anything like that but they loved exploring the whole area in and around Yellowstone.
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Post by fuji on Aug 9, 2021 1:59:16 GMT
Sorry your trip isn't as great as you hoped. I do know that stores were having trouble stocking the Hollandaise sauce earlier this year. Our grocery stock person wasn't sure why but said they had been trying to get it for several weeks with no luck. It was also out at every other store I checked. I saw it back in stock recently so I bought a few (because I'm definitely not a chef 🙂). There must be another shortage.
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Post by Darcy Collins on Aug 9, 2021 2:08:47 GMT
1. There is sort of a food shortage here. There is food but not what I want. I brought a lot with me but I want nice hot meal in a sit down restaurant. Most of the places are grab and go. Tired of burgers. 2. Tired of them running out of things. Who runs out of hollandaise. It's eggs and butter basically. (I think they must get a mix from Sysco and ran out of that. Are the chefs true chefs or "wannabe chefs"? 3. Ice cream- How do you run out of that? They have really good hand dipped. Saw about 5 people having hand dipped yummy cones. So I go and order and they are out. FOR THE SEASON! Had to resort to ice cream like from 7-11 or place like that. 4. No dinner reservations available at Lake Yellowstone hotel. Even for people staying there. I ask to be put on a list in case someone cancels. They say if someone cancels, they are not taking a new reservation in its place. (I guess that's cause they ran out of hollandaise sauce and ice cream and can't feed them 5. There is s-l-o-w internet where they say there is none and no internet at some places that they said would have it. (I am not at a place that said they would have it and they do. Slow but... A. Some good things are that the smoke hasn't deterred from the views that much. B. We saw horny bison hold up traffic for an hour and that was fun to watch. They were so close on the road that I couldn't help but see his anus. (I hope he doesn't mind.) C. Talking to others is a lot of fun. Hikers going from Mexico to Canada and vice versa. D. The weather has cooled off. It was 90 at first and we couldn't enjoy it. Too hot. Then 50 yesterday and today 70. Has anyone else been this summer? What are your experiences? We had the opposite problem when we went to Yellowstone a few years ago. We decided to stay in Jackson Hole and had all the conveniences you were looking for your first list - but damn that drive got old after a few days! ETA and how many imbeciles have you spotted around the animals? That was by far the worst part for me. A father running at a bear with his elementary daughter for a pic - it was just so bad.
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Post by Zee on Aug 9, 2021 2:12:10 GMT
It was sort of like that at the lodge I stayed at in Washington in May, but I don't care at all about what I eat on vacation for the most part so I was fine with the lodge restaurant's takeout (and it was takeout only) or getting something local (very limited in that area) or just eating some snacks. I'm all about being outdoors, hiking and exploring. Food isn't high on my priority list.
I also would much prefer 90 over 50, I hate being cold and it's August so that's something that would annoy me!
I hope it gets better for you. Cool that you got to see the bison. I have never been there but will definitely visit some day.
Oh and the internet...we had to pay for it and it was the slowest internet ever. Usually there was no phone signal at all so we couldn't call or text anyone. It was sort of like being on vacation in the 90s, almost freeing in a way.
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Post by cindyupnorth on Aug 9, 2021 2:25:44 GMT
I think this is pretty standard for national parks this year. We stayed out of park at a dude ranch. I think it was. 15’min drive in every day, we ate breakfast every day at the ranch, which was very good, and then just snacks during the day. Dinner was back at the ranch or drive in to cody
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Post by ~summer~ on Aug 9, 2021 2:31:28 GMT
We were supposed to be in Yellowstone but postponed it due to heat/timing (which seems to be a theme for me this summer). I think the worst part of national parks is the food - it’s either burger and fries and nuggets or fine dining at select lodges. You just have to remember you’re there for the amazing scenery not the food and be happy you are actually in the park. Usually you can have a trade off with better food/your own kitchen but then you are outside the park. Sorry you are disappointed though
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snowdie
Full Member
Posts: 165
Dec 30, 2018 4:45:59 GMT
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Post by snowdie on Aug 9, 2021 3:12:58 GMT
Lol I live in Illinois and haven't been able to buy cheese sticks the last few weeks. Strange times!
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Post by psoccer on Aug 9, 2021 4:05:20 GMT
We went to Yellowstone this summer. We had ice cream but not the hand dipped. It was good. We didn’t really eat in the park. We ate in Jackson Hole and also in Gardiner. I was concerned that that the park would be too crowded but we never felt it was too crazy. Even when we went to Old Faithful. We had spotty internet too, but that’s been typical in many National parks, for us. I told my kids I’m getting a cabin in Yellowstone next year and I’m going to unplug.
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Post by marysue63 on Aug 9, 2021 4:56:29 GMT
We were at Yellowstone in late June and was so disappointed that we left a day early. The little food that was available was not good and they were always running out of a few dishes. The parking lots would be so crowded, even though we started early each day. It was my 4th or 5th time there, I don’t think I need to go back.
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Post by ntsf on Aug 9, 2021 5:08:48 GMT
it sounds like you were expecting a resort experience and you got.. a national park. limited funding for things like high speed internet, variety of eating places, etc.
I would either recreate somewhere else or change expectations. and with the pandemic shortages are to be expected.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 5, 2024 4:53:01 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2021 5:33:34 GMT
Not Yellowstone, but I just returned from the Fraternal Order of Eagles convention in Phoenix. The resort had a wonderful pastry chef(s); the deserts were wonderful. I was served chicken breasts at two banquets and a luncheon. That disappointed me. 113 degrees outside the last two days. Which hotel?
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zztop11
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,537
Oct 10, 2014 0:54:51 GMT
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Post by zztop11 on Aug 9, 2021 12:39:56 GMT
it sounds like you were expecting a resort experience and you got.. a national park. limited funding for things like high speed internet, variety of eating places, etc. I would either recreate somewhere else or change expectations. and with the pandemic shortages are to be expected. No, wasn't expecting a resort. I was expecting to have some seating outside of the places we stayed so I could sit and read a book or do my embroidery. I was expecting some food other than burgers or chicken patties. It's wrong of them to put beautiful photos of food on the website under dining and then not have any of it. I was expecting internet in the places they say have internet. Just stuff like that. For what I am paying per night, they did not deliver. With the staffing shortage, maybe they should have closed one of the lodges and consolidated workers to give a better experience. They were surely able to staff all of the gift shops!
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Post by smasonnc on Aug 9, 2021 15:09:16 GMT
Someone wrote a hilarious book illustrating complaints about national parks. Sounds like "No hollandaise" would make a good entry. Subpar Parks
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Post by Bridget in MD on Aug 9, 2021 19:00:47 GMT
Someone wrote a hilarious book illustrating complaints about national parks. Sounds like "No hollandaise" would make a good entry. Subpar Parksthose posters are hysterical!
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Post by tuva42 on Aug 9, 2021 19:07:18 GMT
There is a HUGE shortage of ice cream making equipment and the supplies to repair machines if they break. Ice creams stores across the country are suffering. Give them a break. They don't WANT to be out of ice cream.
Yes, restaurants are struggling, too. Most of them are running at only 50-75% staff, so they can't take as many reservations.
Hollandaise sauce is difficult to make and can only last a short time. If they are out, its because they don't have enough cooks in the back. None of this is their fault.
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Post by workingclassdog on Aug 9, 2021 19:25:18 GMT
I get it... I would have excepted some kind of dining other than fast food. Fast food does get old. And running out of stuff. Seems strange this early in the season. I would much rather have 50 degrees than 90 any old day. I hate the heat.. so 50 sounds wonderful.. Heat just zaps the energy out of me. Internet when we are in the mountains here is spotty at best.. used to that.. it's just the way it is.. after living here for over 20 years, I deal with it..
Edited to add.. maybe running out of food goes along with lack of employees? I would say there isn't much they can do about that. Like you said, close some things down and condense it to one area?
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J u l e e
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,531
Location: Cincinnati
Jun 28, 2014 2:50:47 GMT
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Post by J u l e e on Aug 9, 2021 19:26:21 GMT
Someone wrote a hilarious book illustrating complaints about national parks. Sounds like "No hollandaise" would make a good entry. Subpar ParksThese are fantastic!
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Post by lisae on Aug 9, 2021 19:39:26 GMT
I'm not sure this is so unusual in any time. We went to Yosemite once in June and it was impossible to get a dinner reservation. Hotels had been booked for months. I learned. When we went to Yellowstone which happened to be a September, I made all my reservations far in advance. It's probably a little worse given the labor shortage and everyone wanting to travel because they didn't last year but I think
Summer in a National Park = crowds and shortages.
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Post by Memo on Aug 9, 2021 20:20:50 GMT
Our son is working a seasonal job in West Glacier, started in early May. He's keeping track of number of ppl each night, just so he can average and quantify for his resume after the season. They are a small restaurant, only open from 5:00-9:00 pm, fine dining, and they are probably averaging about 120 covers a night. They have been so busy that they have extended their season and will be closing on October 18 instead of the original date of October 4th. Our son decided to stay and work those 2 extra weeks because he's loving it up there. National Parks are extremely busy right now and because of the pandemic, I'm sure it was hard to forecast fully how this season would pan out. There have been some pretty rude guests, but by far most have been nice and have been tipping generously.
ETA: Sorry you had a bad experience in Yellowstone. I know that the general manager of the hotel informed the staff that even in May their reservations were almost 90% booked for dinner reservations.
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Aug 9, 2021 20:36:23 GMT
Sorry your experience has been underwhelming. Although, seeing horny bison should be a bright spot! DH and DD were in Jackson Hole the second week of June. Even then, the restaurants they checked with said they'd been booked up for 2 months. Fortunately their hotel did have a small restaurant. One day they drove up to Grand Teton since DD hadn't seen it. DH said the crowds were awful. No where to park, throngs of people everywhere. As a result, there were no animals to be seen. She saw a couple of family favorites, then they left. This is not the year to visit a national park if you don't want crowds of people or a restaurant reservation. I was expecting to have some seating outside of the places we stayed so I could sit and read a book or do my embroidery. We travel with chairs so that we know we'll always have a comfortable spot to sit. REI makes some great ones. Some like Helinox fold up compactly and are easy to travel with.
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crm1367
Junior Member
Posts: 81
Jun 21, 2017 16:54:48 GMT
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Post by crm1367 on Aug 9, 2021 20:46:43 GMT
These are hysterical! I thought the same thing when I read 'no hollandaise' lol
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Post by ntsf on Aug 10, 2021 1:49:37 GMT
I suspect outdoor chairs have been removed due to covid.. they don't want any "gathering".
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Post by brynn on Aug 10, 2021 4:50:53 GMT
Not Yellowstone, but I just returned from the Fraternal Order of Eagles convention in Phoenix. The resort had a wonderful pastry chef(s); the deserts were wonderful. I was served chicken breasts at two banquets and a luncheon. That disappointed me. 113 degrees outside the last two days. Which hotel? JW Marriott Hotel and Resort in Phoenix, AZ
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Post by bc2ca on Aug 10, 2021 5:21:57 GMT
it sounds like you were expecting a resort experience and you got.. a national park. limited funding for things like high speed internet, variety of eating places, etc. FWIW, no hotel can accommodate all their guests in the fine dining restaurant every night. And they don't check to see if you are a registered guest before taking reservations. I'm sorry you were disappointed but this year has been especially hard for the hospitality industry with changing occupancy and other mandates so I'm willing to cut them a lot of slack. Someone wrote a hilarious book illustrating complaints about national parks. Sounds like "No hollandaise" would make a good entry. Subpar ParksToo funny, thanks for sharing.
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The Great Carpezio
Pearl Clutcher
Something profound goes here.
Posts: 2,983
Jun 25, 2014 21:50:33 GMT
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Post by The Great Carpezio on Aug 10, 2021 8:13:06 GMT
I am wondering how much you researched before you went? (Online recent reviews and info). Even during a regular year, relying on brochures is precarious. There are so many ins and outs with travel and especially national parks. The big parks have been overcrowded and hard to navigate for years. There was no way I was going to try and stay at one this summer. I think you’re lucky you even got a place to stay.
However, I also get you. Take each little thing out of context, it sounds silly or dramatic, but when there are a lot of little things wrong every day, it kinda becomes a big thing. We had a similar situation in June. We stayed on the Gunflint Trail near the BWCA. Overall, it was a great time, but there were just so many little (and a couple a bit bigger) things due to covid, luck, and some due to management choices, it was frustrating at times. I will say, now a month and a half later, I mostly have fond memories and can’t even remember all of the issues we had.
Hopefully you end up with mostly just the good memories.
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zztop11
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,537
Oct 10, 2014 0:54:51 GMT
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Post by zztop11 on Aug 10, 2021 12:13:28 GMT
I am wondering how much you researched before you went? (Online recent reviews and info). Even during a regular year, relying on brochures is precarious. There are so many ins and outs with travel and especially national parks. The big parks have been overcrowded and hard to navigate for years. There was no way I was going to try and stay at one this summer. I think you’re lucky you even got a place to stay. However, I also get you. Take each little thing out of context, it sounds silly or dramatic, but when there are a lot of little things wrong every day, it kinda becomes a big thing. We had a similar situation in June. We stayed on the Gunflint Trail near the BWCA. Overall, it was a great time, but there were just so many little (and a couple a bit bigger) things due to covid, luck, and some due to management choices, it was frustrating at times. I will say, now a month and a half later, I mostly have fond memories and can’t even remember all of the issues we had. Hopefully you end up with mostly just the good memories.
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Post by tuva42 on Aug 10, 2021 19:51:47 GMT
Restaurants are running out of food because there is a serious shortage of truck drivers and farm workers.
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