Alcohol Pressure

[Freiden8]

It's so awful to hear people have experienced a lack in service because of not buying alcohol.. No customer deserves such ill treatment for their order, but for all that server knows, that patron is a recovering alcoholic and it is taking all they have to not place that order. Tsk. How disappointing.

 

[cedricandsophie]

My husband and I usually order a bottle of wine with dinner. But have never felt pressured. Most times we have to ask for the wine list. Last time at CG I was with my two kids. They each ordered a salad and appetizer and I ordered the cheese plate for all of us and the Spicy tuna roll appetizer for dinner. The server was great. Of course I also had two 19 glasses of wine! But we have TIW card and every time I alert the servers we have it which I always do at start of meal their eyes light up! Automatic 18% tip. But I haven't had service go down because of it. We go to DW a couple times a year and eat in a lot of signature restaurants. I have rarely had mediocre let alone bad service.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I've never felt pressured to drink.

 

[GillianP1301]

First off, any food server who is put off by what I order is automatically making themselves less of a tip, so it's really not in their best interest at all.

As for ever feeling any pressure, I don't believe I have. Last trip we did 2 signatures and one I had one and the other I didn't, service was fine at both. I also don't think it's necessary to not order wine just because other members of your group aren't, but that's an aside really. The point is, you can order whatever and a good server will provide the same level of service, regardless of your order.

 

[Roxyfire]

I definitely feel the eyeroll from some waitstaff when I order just a water at some restaurants. Sometimes, that's really all that sounds good especially when it's hot outside. Or I ask for the beer/wine to be brought out with the food. I don't want to sit there getting refill because it takes a while for the food. I'm sure with me being mostly with my son (so only a 2-top) they perceive the tip as being low anyway. Plus they assume a child will be messy/difficult when he's quite the opposite. It's funny how some people create their own self-fulfilling prophecy.

 

[bwang123]

don't some waiters have to tip back the bartenders/bus boys a certain percentage of their total tips? I know its different from restaurant to restaurant but if that's the case, the unnecessary attitude probably could be that part of their tips is going to the bartender even though you are not even ordering drinks.

 

[LBlovesM&WDW]

We have experienced this at Chefs de France. We were greeted warmly and all went downhill when we declined wine. So I get it.

 

[bumbershoot]

No, they'd be fine with it I'm sure. They know we occasionally drink, we simply have never done it in their presence before. We usually go to WDW twice a year, so one trip alcohol free won't kill us. Think of the money we'll save!

Oh ok.

Wanted to also mention that there is no need to share the fact that you have TIW until the end of the meal. That way you don't have to worry about THAT being a reason for funky service. It's not a dining plan in the wY that they mean when they ask if you're on a dining plan.

Also, even if you have told them, if you have poor service that doesn't change, you can see the manager to have that tip changed. That CAN be done.

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

I've never been pressured to order alcohol at a restaurant at Disney, but I have been pressured to order dessert and/or appetizers, which I generally don't eat anywhere. I've also gotten attitude from servers when I only order water to drink.

 

[smiths02]

We don't drink a lot.
When we went in 2009, we went with ILs and they don't drink at all, and we don''t drink around them, I don't remember any problems.
On our trip in 2015, we also didn't order alcohol at most meals (it was just not worth it trying to have to wrangle toddlers), and found no problems. In fact, on our Yachtsman night, DH got sick and I had to go alone with 9 year old and two toddlers. So I was ordering WAY less than planned: 1 iced tea, 3 kid drinks, 2 kid meals, 3 kid desserts, one steak...we did have a specialty cake (it was $65, so it maybe made up for DH not eating). Anyhow, the server was just excellent.

On the other hand, in Feb at Narcoossee's, we ordered two cocktails, two wine flights, two apps, two steaks, side dish, one dessert...and were treated fine but not special

 

[pa. dad]

We are planning a trip to Disney with my parents who don't drink. And out of respect for them, my wife and
I will likely not order wine (or any other happy juice) with our meals.

Does anyone else feel pressure, particularly at the signature restaurants, to order alcohol during sit-down meals at Disney from the wait staff? I know the $13 glass of wine really helps the waiters' improve their average bill total, and I get that, but I really don't want to feel like I'm being cheap when we simply order food. Plus none of us are huge eaters. We usually just order a main course and share a dessert. The glasses of wine has traditionally balanced out the lack of appetizers.

My concern primarily stems from an experience at the California grill where my wife and I both ordered sushi, with two $12-14 glasses of wine, mind you. The waiter kept telling us that the Sushi was not big enough for a full meal and was more of an appetizer. He seemed really put out that we were not ordering main courses. When he dropped off the Sushi, his comment to us was simply "here are your appetizers." And was as cold as I have ever seen a waiter be. If he was at all pleasant about it, he would have quickly found out that we'd have ordered another round of Sushi, and two more glasses of wine. Probably, dessert to boot. BTW had TIW card and the 18% tip was already guaranteed.

Anyways I was curious if anyone else was treated poorly due to what they ordered or not ordered, particularly alcohol? I just want to be loved by my servers !

Whenever I go into a restaurant Disney or othewise and I am only going to order "just appetizers" , I will say to the waiter something like "I had a late lunch today or I'm a little under the weather today so i'm just going to have a light snack today." And usually the waiter or waitress will understand.
As to the alcohol, sometimes I will have some with a meal and sometimes i will not but I never feel the need to offer any explanation for that.
If I get rudeness, I'll tip accordingly and/or complain to the manager.

 

[Jing]

As someone who enjoys all manner of wine and spirits, I will say that a server like some of the ones described would just as easily sneer at someone ordering wines-by-the-glass, "value" selections, or the trendy cocktail of the season as they would someone sticking to tap water or soda.

 

[Mainemama]

I have never been bothered. Sometimes I order a drink, my DH does not due to a medical issue. He often orders water, and sometimes we all do. As others have said, it is hot! Plus, with the refillable mugs, there is only so much ice tea I can drink. I have never gotten attitude from a CM. I am wondering if families with children (me) would not be as expected to order drinks? My in-laws are like yours, and after being sat down by my MIL 20 years ago to hear the house rules (no alchohol), I will never order a drink in front of her!

 

[missbrooke06]

Of course I feel pressure to drink at Disney. It's either that or throttle the extended family I travel with.

 

[piccolopat]

Have you talked to your parents to see if they would feel uncomfortable if you had a glass of wine? I drink very little, probably less than 10 glasses of wine in a year. I prefer ice tea, water or club soda with my meals but it doesn't bother me if others are drinking. I've never had a problem with pressure to drink at Disney.

 

[imthemamahere]

Like several others have said, I haven't felt "pressured" to drink at Disney World. And we typically dine at the signature restaurants that have wine flights and wine pairings and the like. I drink alcohol only rarely, and my husband never does.

But I have had waiters decide my table wasn't worth their time upon first glance - a few times when I was in college (I guess assuming a table full of college kids was only going to order fries and stiff on the tip?) and a few times when my son was particularly small (I guess figuring that a baby/toddler would make a mess and be noisy and generally be unpleasant to be around?). While I prefer when waitstaff is friendly - and I'm always prepared to be friendly, myself - I just ask that the service be effective and efficient. When that doesn't happen is when I look to speak with a manager.

If your server at any sit-down restaurant, Disney or otherwise, doesn't treat you well, regardless of the reason, you can definitely ask to speak with the manager before you go. A server whose attitude becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy isn't really doing well for himself, or for the restaurant. Just speak to precisely what the server did (or didn't) do that was wrong/offensive/rude. It doesn't improve your experience that day, but it might very well mean it gets better before your next visit.

 

[brertoad]

Thankfully we have never had a problem like that at Disney, I don't think we've ever been pressured to order extra food or drinks. I'd say there are just as many people or more not having any alcohol as there are those who are having alcohol. I know what you mean about feeling somewhat obligated or self conscious to order something more, especially if you are just eating light, and your check may be smallish. But, I usually am the designated driver even though I do like to drink on occasion, I am usually not drinking most of the time. When we go to the lounges, most of the time I just ask for ice water when DH orders alcohol, and then drop the "I'm driving" line to the server so they know, most Disney servers are great.

 

[sndral]

We've eaten at almost every Signature restaurant at WDW & V&A's and are generally non drinkers and I've never noticed a 'change in attitude' when we ask for sparkling water, soda or ice tea. Perhaps it's because we often have deluxe dinning so they know we'll be ordering appetizers, entrees and deserts so their tip won't suffer. I also typically tip at least 20% (the norm where I live) and we're a pretty relaxed easy going bunch, so we seem to always have good service and more often than not we have really good service.

 

[maxiesmom]

It's true. I'm not a huge drinker and will sometimes get a glass of wine or a cocktail but lots of booze + rich food at restaurants + walking around in muggy florida swampy heat is not a great combo!

Pssst. That is why you do a late dinner. I hate being full and walking around in the heat, add alcohol, and it is not a fun time. I've taken to doing late-ish dinners, mostly after 7 pm. That way I can have an adult beverage along with my meal, and know I won't be rushing to get on a ride in the Florida heat.

 

[aretha30]

your experience was not because of what you ordered but because you had a poor server.

Enjoy your dinners with your family, you will be fine (and we rarely if ever order alcohol when dining out and never experienced that)

This! We rarely drink when we go out, especially at Disney after a day in the hot FL sun. Order what you're comfortable with. Your waiter/waitress should be professional no matter what.