LandBoatRide
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Jun 14, 2006
IMO, bad servers give bad service, good servers give good service. Period. Method of payment is generally irrelevant. (Please don't quote that sentence without reading the rest of this post, lol).
For those worried about service during free dining this month, relax. Most EVERY guest in the restaurants are on DDP now (literally over 95%). It isn't possible for servers to overlook you and focus on guests in which the gratuity is not included, because there are none, lol.
Even if you are on the DDP (regardless of the time of year), there is EVERY incentive for your server to give you good service. 1) It's the right thing to do. 2) No server is immune to guest complaints to a manager for poor service and the reprecussions that follow. 3) DDP guests are sometimes apt to tip over on the gratuity. In other words, a server tries to give really good service to say "yeh, I know my tip is included, but I'll treat you well anyway" with the hopes of getting a bit extra, if even only a couple bucks. 4) DDP guests are often the most pleasant. Many DDPs research the restaurants and menus and are generally excited about their carefully chosen dining experience. This attitude is contagious.
Ultimately, Disney is not Denny's. Disney NEVER struggles to keep their restaurants staffed with servers except in rare circumstances (restaurants with low business, like ALL Star Cafe, for example.) As such, management does not let lousy servers stay on the floor for very long, provided they are made aware of problems by guests. As such, guests have every right to complain when warranted.
Before complaining on a server though, there are several things to consider, IMO. Is their station clearly a nightmare? (like the stories on various threads of difficult large parties, high maintenance tables next to you, language barriers, etc. etc). Is slow service due to server or the kitchen? Are you having to wait because the restaurant assignor sat them 3 other tables at once? Also, how was your attitude when you sat down, attentive and pleasant, or whiny, indifferent to their greeting of you, etc etc. Lastly, is the server just having a bad day in general? Do know that servers do not get a break on the floor -typically go 6 straight hours on the floor holding their pee, stomach growling, on their feet, and most always having half a dozen things to do (table 1 needs 4 drink refills, I have to greet table 2 in the next 60 seconds per disney standards, table three has dessert melting in the kitchen that I have to run get, table 4 needs me to split their check 4 ways and swipe 4 cards, etc etc). Most every other Disney employee gets a scheduled break every 2 hours of their shift.
This will not apply to most people on here, but is another way of looking at things. Before blaming things on poor service, ask yourself if you are a poor guest (we've all seen them, and I've been that person before when having a bad day). Are you generally ready with a drink order, or do you agonize over this monumental decision ( a decision you have faced at EVERY restaurant you ever went to) for minutes while the server clearly gets bogged down waiting on you (or, more often, your children). Just somethin to think about. Again, how is your attitude when the server first greets you? A smile and respect is contagious, as are a frown and rudeness.
Also, I would imagine being a Disney server is tough as far as timing and style of service. "Fine dining" is generally slow paced, but is that what a guest expects at Disney? There is simply no way of knowing if the guest is in a hurry (has a fastpass, wants to see fireworks, etc) or wants a more moderately paced dinner like in the real world. This is important to communicate ("Just to let you know, we have a fastpass in 40 minutes" or "my kids get restless after 30 minutes" or "we are in no hurry tonight, take your time" etc. etc.) A server is not a mind reader, but armed with this info can either speed up dinner or take a more relaxed pace, whatever suits you best. Yes, experienced servers can usually gauge this, but not always. I've read on here guests feel rushed at some places. Is the server rude? Maybe. Or do they expect you'll be jumping up for fireworks in 15 minutes so best to serve the main course now so it doesnt get cold later? Maybe.
In the end, you'll most likely get good service at a Disney restaurant. If not, figure out what the problem is - sevrer or situation? If the server is clearly the problem, then ask to see a manager and express your disappointment. If you prefer anonymity or avoiding confrontation, write a letter. And always express your experiences (good and bad) on boards like this, after all that's what a thread like this is for.
Just my two cents.
For those worried about service during free dining this month, relax. Most EVERY guest in the restaurants are on DDP now (literally over 95%). It isn't possible for servers to overlook you and focus on guests in which the gratuity is not included, because there are none, lol.
Even if you are on the DDP (regardless of the time of year), there is EVERY incentive for your server to give you good service. 1) It's the right thing to do. 2) No server is immune to guest complaints to a manager for poor service and the reprecussions that follow. 3) DDP guests are sometimes apt to tip over on the gratuity. In other words, a server tries to give really good service to say "yeh, I know my tip is included, but I'll treat you well anyway" with the hopes of getting a bit extra, if even only a couple bucks. 4) DDP guests are often the most pleasant. Many DDPs research the restaurants and menus and are generally excited about their carefully chosen dining experience. This attitude is contagious.
Ultimately, Disney is not Denny's. Disney NEVER struggles to keep their restaurants staffed with servers except in rare circumstances (restaurants with low business, like ALL Star Cafe, for example.) As such, management does not let lousy servers stay on the floor for very long, provided they are made aware of problems by guests. As such, guests have every right to complain when warranted.
Before complaining on a server though, there are several things to consider, IMO. Is their station clearly a nightmare? (like the stories on various threads of difficult large parties, high maintenance tables next to you, language barriers, etc. etc). Is slow service due to server or the kitchen? Are you having to wait because the restaurant assignor sat them 3 other tables at once? Also, how was your attitude when you sat down, attentive and pleasant, or whiny, indifferent to their greeting of you, etc etc. Lastly, is the server just having a bad day in general? Do know that servers do not get a break on the floor -typically go 6 straight hours on the floor holding their pee, stomach growling, on their feet, and most always having half a dozen things to do (table 1 needs 4 drink refills, I have to greet table 2 in the next 60 seconds per disney standards, table three has dessert melting in the kitchen that I have to run get, table 4 needs me to split their check 4 ways and swipe 4 cards, etc etc). Most every other Disney employee gets a scheduled break every 2 hours of their shift.
This will not apply to most people on here, but is another way of looking at things. Before blaming things on poor service, ask yourself if you are a poor guest (we've all seen them, and I've been that person before when having a bad day). Are you generally ready with a drink order, or do you agonize over this monumental decision ( a decision you have faced at EVERY restaurant you ever went to) for minutes while the server clearly gets bogged down waiting on you (or, more often, your children). Just somethin to think about. Again, how is your attitude when the server first greets you? A smile and respect is contagious, as are a frown and rudeness.
Also, I would imagine being a Disney server is tough as far as timing and style of service. "Fine dining" is generally slow paced, but is that what a guest expects at Disney? There is simply no way of knowing if the guest is in a hurry (has a fastpass, wants to see fireworks, etc) or wants a more moderately paced dinner like in the real world. This is important to communicate ("Just to let you know, we have a fastpass in 40 minutes" or "my kids get restless after 30 minutes" or "we are in no hurry tonight, take your time" etc. etc.) A server is not a mind reader, but armed with this info can either speed up dinner or take a more relaxed pace, whatever suits you best. Yes, experienced servers can usually gauge this, but not always. I've read on here guests feel rushed at some places. Is the server rude? Maybe. Or do they expect you'll be jumping up for fireworks in 15 minutes so best to serve the main course now so it doesnt get cold later? Maybe.
In the end, you'll most likely get good service at a Disney restaurant. If not, figure out what the problem is - sevrer or situation? If the server is clearly the problem, then ask to see a manager and express your disappointment. If you prefer anonymity or avoiding confrontation, write a letter. And always express your experiences (good and bad) on boards like this, after all that's what a thread like this is for.
Just my two cents.
Thank You!!!
Maybe because we just order what we want without over analyzing, over/under buying, whatever. 
