DDP and Bad Service?

[mom2taylorandemily]

Has anyone else noticed that once you tell your server that you are on the DDP, the level service that you receive at the restaurants changes. We noticed at a few restaurants that as soon as we said we were on DDP, the server would say ok, tell us how the meal would go and then we barely saw them again. The exceptions to this were: Le Cellier, LTT, and Ohana's for dinner. All the servers here were wonderful and we left an extra tip to show our appreciation for their service. Is it possible that the servers are not putting forth the extra effort based on the included gratuity? I hope this changes this year with the gratuity being left out, because there are a few places that we would have left less than 18% on the table as a tip for poor service.

[eeyoresnr]

we just returned from 8 days and ate at Hoop-de-doo, Coral Reef, Crystal Palace, Garden Grill, and O'hanas for breakfast and with the exception of the Hoop-de-doo our service was awesome. our server at Coral Reef was Jayne and was the absolute best (and I wait tables for a living so I can be overly criticle at times:rolleyes1 ) and we never had any problem after telling them we were on the DDP.

[memorykeeper]

I just returned as well and I thought the service was horrible. We were basicly left on our own after the drink orders were taken and if we requested anything whether it was a refill or paper napkin it took a very long time. The one exception to this was Hollywood and Vine for dinner. We ate there for lunch as well and that service was bad. Now that tips are not included maybe the service will improve.

[poohbear227]

Forgive me for asking because I'm completely new to the DDP, but do you need to mention to the server or to anyone that you are on the DDP prior to the end of your meal after you receive the bill?

Also, what would be the motive for the decrease in service quality? Because the tip is prepaid?

[SereneOne]

We recieved excellent service from all of the restaurants we ate at and they knew ahead of time that we paid for the DP.

We ate at Coral Reef, Liberty Tree Tavern, Akershus, Boma, Whispering Wind Cafe, Le Cellier, Crystal Palace, Tony's Town Square, on the plan.

[Dotty]

Interesting that you mention this because at several restaurants we distinctly got the feeling that we were being virtually ignored, and the service was ridiculously slow.

On several occassions we even half joked amongst ourselves that .. 'they already have their tip, what do they care'....

We found this happened at several restaurants (but not all).

It will be interesting to see whether there is a difference in 2008!

[billdisneynut]

Forgive me for asking because I'm completely new to the DDP, but do you need to mention to the server or to anyone that you are on the DDP prior to the end of your meal after you receive the bill?

Also, what would be the motive for the decrease in service quality? Because the tip is prepaid?

They ask if you are using the DDP when you check-in for your reservation.
I have not had a problem with service except at China.

[TDC Nala]

I cannot say that the service was any different anytime I was using the DDP except for one incident at Raglan Road, and we had people at the table on DDP and people who were not.

Any other time I got abysmal service in a WDW restaurant (twice that I can think of in all the times I ate in restaurants there) predated the dining plan.

At any rate, as of tomorrow the gratuity is not included in the dining plan.

If you have a party of 6 or more, you're going to have an automatic gratuity added, otherwise the point is now moot.

Moving this up to the Dining Plan board, as it's been discussed there.

[TXMommy]

We noticed no difference - in fact, we had great service everywhere we ate: Chef Mickey's, 50's PT, Cinderella's Royal Table, Whispering Canyon, and Le Cellier.

[Texas lady]

We had used the Dining plan since 2005, and the only restaurant we didn't give additional tip to the waitress is the Coral Reef ( bad service). In my opinion if the waitress/waiter knows the customer is determining the amount of tip they get I do believe service will get a lot better.

[Dotty]

We had used the Dining plan since 2005, and the only restaurant we didn't give additional tip to the waitress is the Coral Reef ( bad service).

Re: Coral Reef - thats funny... several people have mentioned that they received good/excellent service there... I guess it just goes to show that the level of service depends at least in part on your luck at the time!?!

[Sparkie]

We were in Disney 7/07 the week after 4th of july. Ate at CRT, Hoop, 50's, Sci-Fi, WCC, Capt Jacks, Chef Mickey, Crystal Palace, Donald's Breakfast, Coral Reef, and Concourse steakhouse. (all dinner except Donald's)

For the most part our service was very good.

I would say excellent service at CRT and Coral Reef.

Average service at Hoop, 50's, Sci-Fi, Capt Jacks, Chef Mickey, Concourse and Donald's.

Below average service at WCC- we had a ressie for 8pm and were seated close to 9pm- which after a long day spent waiting at the airport just made us too tired to really enjoy the meal. We were also seated at the kitchen entrance and while our server provided basic service there was nothing extra- I think maybe she was just tired and all out of fun.

Poor service at Crystal Palace. We barely saw our server. Dirty plates piled on our table, drinks not refilled, waited an eternity for our check, and the food was YUCKY! On previous trips we have had breakfast and dinner. Both previous trips the food and our service was much better.

Do I think the change in service is directly related to a guest on the DDP? Probably not. I think its like most businesses. Not enough help. Therefore leaving the server with little time for individual attention to each guest and just trying to do the minimum.

[yitbos96bb]

Has anyone else noticed that once you tell your server that you are on the DDP, the level service that you receive at the restaurants changes. We noticed at a few restaurants that as soon as we said we were on DDP, the server would say ok, tell us how the meal would go and then we barely saw them again. The exceptions to this were: Le Cellier, LTT, and Ohana's for dinner. All the servers here were wonderful and we left an extra tip to show our appreciation for their service. Is it possible that the servers are not putting forth the extra effort based on the included gratuity? I hope this changes this year with the gratuity being left out, because there are a few places that we would have left less than 18% on the table as a tip for poor service.

Yes, It irritated me... but the servers who DID treat me well (like at Cali Grill and Jiko) got an extra tip because I was so ticked. Our Artist Point experience was dreadful; we did not see our waitor but twice the entire meal. I was livid by the end of it and talked to a manager about it.

No fears... this will change VERY fast under the new plan.

[yitbos96bb]

We had used the Dining plan since 2005, and the only restaurant we didn't give additional tip to the waitress is the Coral Reef ( bad service). In my opinion if the waitress/waiter knows the customer is determining the amount of tip they get I do believe service will get a lot better.

We had good service on XMAS Eve this year at Coral reef... but it was SLOW. Not the waitresses fault, just kitchen was crawling.. she kept us informed, and drinks filled, so she got good marks.

[yitbos96bb]

They ask if you are using the DDP when you check-in for your reservation.
I have not had a problem with service except at China.

I wonder if it is a tolerance thing... I can deal with NOT seeing the waitress AS LONG AS my drink is filled. If it takes too long to fill it (and i mean like I'm sitting for 5-10 minutes) then it starts to bother me. I Usually ask them to bring me two during my meal so I don't run out.

[memorykeeper]

My service on Christmas day was bad at the Garden Grill. We had a 2:00 reservation with a 5:00 candlelight Processional and it took almost an hour and a half to get seated. We finished our meal at 4:50 and the waiter handed us our processional tickets and told us to hurry up or we would miss our priority seating. Needless to say we didn't make the candlelight. There was just no way to exit the restaurant, locate our stroller, and fight the crowd all the way to America in 10 minutes. We didn't let it ruin our day but there were dozens of families left with this situation due to their slow service. In general our impression was that the staff did not work as hard to please us because they knew they already had the tip.

[TDC Nala]

My service on Christmas day was bad at the California Grill. We had a 2:00 reservation with a 5:00 candlelight Processional and it took almost an hour and a half to get seated. We finished our meal at 4:50 and the waiter handed us our processional tickets and told us to hurry up or we would miss our priority seating. Needless to say we didn't make the candlelight. There was just no way to exit the restaurant, locate our stroller, and fight the crowd all the way to America in 10 minutes. We didn't let it ruin our day but there were dozens of families left with this situation due to their slow service. In general our impression was that the staff did not work as hard to please us because they knew they already had the tip.

This must have occurred someplace other than the California Grill, which is not located at Epcot.

This sort of thing happened with regularity long before the dining plan or automatic gratuities. It is why I generally recommended to interested parties that they attend the processional before eating. Christmas Day may be another thing altogether, though.

[mulderxcoltrane]

Garden Grill maybe?

[rcraw45425]

We just experienced our first trip with the DP. Our server at 'Ohana was a little snippy after she realized that they had mistakenly booked three adults and one chil and our DDP was for four adults. She was also almost non existant through the entire meal. Only came by once to see if we needed more of anything, no drink refills till she came out with the smallish portion of bread pudding. Her tip after her little bit of attitude went down to the lower number where before she got snippy I had written the larger amount. Our entire meal at Nine Dragons was not up to their usual standard either. When we got to the podium 10 minutes late thanks to boat issues from YC, she took our name, and when I replied that we were on the DP she made us move to the side and stamped a big red star on our seating assignment. WTH? We were seated over on the far side(never sat there before) and the tables were crammed together so closely that we could hear our neighbors conversations and observe the ill mannered children. Our server was very aloof. I have always been allowed to sub kung pao chicken on the sampler dinner for two for one of the non spicy dishes (they also had cut that back to a choice of two from the three offered and deleted the shared dim sum). Now for $43 you get two bowls of soup and a choice of two entrees, now served on plates with a scoop of rice and a scoop of entree. The server was pretty rude, but no one tops the cake like the girl in the pastry shop in France. I explained that I wanted to pay on the room card for our desserts, (three) and use snack credits for the two sodas. She takes my card and tells me that since I'm on the DP I should get another dessert. Okay, add a cheesecake. She swipes the card and starts to chastise me, "you have no CS left! Only snack!" What did I say? I tell her again that I knew that, it was our last night, all I wanted was the drinks taken off as snacks. SHe starts to huff and punch buttons on the register, like I was trying to cheat her. There's no way a slice of cheesecake or a creme brulee would be concidered a counter service meal! Another girl comes up and she starts in about it, the girl says something to her and she swipes my card and says, you have 5 snack credits remaining. Talk about rude!

[MinnieFan]

We just returned from a 10-day trip over the holidays. In spite of the fact that every restaurant we ate at was completely booked due to the large holiday crowds, we had nothing but excellent service at all of the restaurants using the DDP. We paid for a couple of meals OOP and noticed no difference in service. I guess it's just the luck of the draw - some have been unlucky enough to get servers who were less than "magical."

[crystalcml]

We have been on DDP the 2x. I do agree that once some servers find out you are on the plan, the service becomes less than desired. We have also had really great service at the same restaurants a year later. Part of it may be the time of year you go because it's busy and others it may just be the server.

Bad Service:
2007
Donald's Breakfastasaurus (Saw server 1x and he never came back, no refills or anything)

2006
Mama Melrose's (Server not very friendly almost annoyed)

50's Prime Time Cafe (Server did come back much nor were we included on the fun)

Great Service:
2007
Coral Reef (Besides the 1 hr wait or server was one of the best I've had. Very attentive and a breath of fresh air)

50's Prime Time Cafe (Our server was great! He was so attentive even though the restaurant was like overflowing busy. He made time to offer suggestions and have fun with us.)

Liberty Tree Tavern (I've always had great service here and I will continue to go back)

2006
Le Cellier (Server was great)

Liberty Tree Tavern (Server, service and food was excellent had a wonderful time)

[memorykeeper]

Our experience wasn't all bad we had good service at the Crystal Palace and good service at Ohana but 5 out of 7 table service meals the service was not what I've come to expect out of Disney. Maybe it was due to the holiday crowds and added stress on the employess but I wasn't feeling the magic.

[just another guy]

Here's a crazy thought. Bad servers give bad service, and good servers tend to give good service, although at times slip due to uncontrolable events, or just having a bad day.

[solfan68]

We've been using some permutation of DDP since the mid-nineties. I can not think of one instance where I was intentionally treated as a second class citizen because I was on the plan. YMMV.

[bigbabyblues]

We've never had a problem with bad service because of the ddp. We had horrible service at Mama Melrose's, but the table next to us were not on the dining plan (they ordered after us, and we heard the server ask), and they had the same crappy service we did.

[Lowell317]

For what it's worth, last year when tips were included I felt that I recieved better service than I expected. All of the service staff answered any questions I had, gave me great suggestions on how to be utilize the plan, and provided timely and very good service with drinks and food etc. The service is one of the reasons my fiance and I will be returning this march. I can only imagine how it "used to be" seeing all the posts about how everything is going down hill due to the DDP

[Stittsville]

We were on the DDP in May 2007, and our service ranged from acceptable (Ohana's) to excellent (Artist Point). Furthermore, two of my daughters split a meal in every non-buffet setting, which of course reduced the amount of tip the waitstaff received.

We did give an additional tip to the waiter at Artist Point because of his excellent service.

[Nancyg56]

I have used the DDP 4 times and never got the feeling that my server was lackadaisical because we were on the plan. I did have one server who was not good and I did speak to the manager but one server in so many meals is not a pattern to me. I also did not think it was because of the plan, it was clear she was not good at her job.

[Amyg]

We were on DDP for 8 days in the summer of 2006 and did NOT come across "bad" service. Although I did notice the CM at Chef's des France seemed a bit aloof but my DH being a naturally congenial guy spoke to the CM (ask where he's from, spoke some bad French) and the CM did get friendlier.

Perhaps the demeanor of a tired patron is reflected onto the CM? There is no reason that being on the DDP should change a CM's attitude about the patron. JMO. :)