Why do they ask if you are on DDP when you check in for reservation?

[Will316]

Just curious, but EVERY single TS restaurant we went to this week asked us if we were on the DDP plan when we checked in for our reservation. Why? For example, at the buffets where it's the same price regardless, what do they care? I SOMEWHAT understand it at the non-buffet places in case the waiter needed to guide you towards what you are "allowed" to get. But at the buffets? One of them even asked to SEE MY CARD after I told him we were on the DDP, like I was lying about it. At Crystal Palace the guy at the desk said "we're going to put you in the dining plan area" as if there were two separate buffets?

Anyone know about this? The real reason I'm curious is that we are going to go out of pocket for one or two TS and I'm wondering if it makes a difference which ones, are you treated differently? Hmmm. If so, is being on the DDP considered "better" or "worse"?

 

[reducereuserecycle]

just a guess....maybe they are trying to make it easier on the servers to keep track so they will know how to make the check but that seems rude to ask to see your card as if you were lying!

 

[tkitty]

"Why do they ask if you are on DDP when you check in for reservation? "
Why, so they can put you in the "special" section, with the "special" menu!!! Oh, and the "special" trainee waiter!!

I don't feel we were ever treated differently when using free dining, but when the waitstaff knew, they accually offered us options we may not have known about, like smoothies and malts for the drink, and they knew what was allowed and helped us if we seemed confused.

 

[catne]

One of the reasons they ask to see your card is to verify the number of people on the plan. Some restaurants also want to check which plan you have...there are a surprising number of people who have no clue how the dining plans work...like they think they have a plan with table service when they actually have the quick service plan. When we were on Deluxe, they always asked to see the card...obviously to verify that we really did have the deluxe before we ordered appetizers, I'm sure.

 

[mkleinbe]

At Le Cellier and Sci Fi, our server told us about the smoothies and shakes that we could count as our drink. I don't feel that we were ever treated differently. We still have to tip, so I think it would behoove a server to treat everyone the same.

I don't think DDP or no DDP is an issue. I think what makes the difference is your server. A bad server is a bad server period.

 

[Colleen27]

Just curious, but EVERY single TS restaurant we went to this week asked us if we were on the DDP plan when we checked in for our reservation. Why? For example, at the buffets where it's the same price regardless, what do they care? I SOMEWHAT understand it at the non-buffet places in case the waiter needed to guide you towards what you are "allowed" to get. But at the buffets? One of them even asked to SEE MY CARD after I told him we were on the DDP, like I was lying about it. At Crystal Palace the guy at the desk said "we're going to put you in the dining plan area" as if there were two separate buffets?

Anyone know about this? The real reason I'm curious is that we are going to go out of pocket for one or two TS and I'm wondering if it makes a difference which ones, are you treated differently? Hmmm. If so, is being on the DDP considered "better" or "worse"?

That is a strange comment about the dining plan area, but I think it is pretty standard for them to ask if you're on the plan. Even at buffets there are sometimes questions of what drinks are included, and the party size noted on your card is one of the "checks" in place to keep guests from using DDP credits for guests not on their reservation. Also, the card notes which plan you are on; at non-buffets they check it before explaining what is included so that they know if you're on the deluxe plan with appetizers or the basic plan without.