Avoiding the Dining Rooms?

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

I just wanted to add something about removing the tips.

Just because you aren't going to the MDR you should still tip your servers. They work in Cabanas and even the pool quick services places. Please consider tipping them they work their tails off all over the ship. They really depend on the tips.

Good luck, DCL is great with accommodating guests.

Agree 100% with ctnurse, when we choose not to dine at our scheduled dining area we still tip them the full amount. When they are not serving dinner you will frequently spot them in the background working another dining venue around the ship. Tips are a big part of their income and I will not take that away from them because I choose not to show up. We will typically miss a couple nights each cruise because we make reservations for Palo and Remy. I don't calculate how much to remove from the tips for the two nights we skip.

DCL does advertise that they will work with peoples dietary needs, don't feel like you are putting them out. I will be surprised if I don't get a very negative response back on this suggestion but here goes, tip a little above the recommended if you feel you are putting them out (which I don't believe you are). Luckily we do not have any issues with diet in our household. But we frequently add more onto the recommended tip recommendation just because we always feel like we got great service from our dining crew.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I was under the impression that the stateroom attendant, Senses and MDR tips were not pooled, but all other tips (Cove Cafe, bars, deck drink service) were?

The $12 per night that is termed Gratuities is not pooled, as such. It is divided among your specific room host and dining room servers ($4 to room host; $4 to server; $3 to asst server; $1 to head server).

Any beverages you purchase have an auto gratuity (15%) added. That money is pooled to be divided by all beverage servers and bartenders. I've also been told that your asst dining room server is in that pool (since they also do drink orders).

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I will be surprised if I don't get a very negative response back on this suggestion but here goes, tip a little above the recommended if you feel you are putting them out (which I don't believe you are).

I'm not sure why anyone would give a very negative response to this. It's common sense that if you feel a server is doing something extra for you, you should tip them accordingly. But alas... common sense isn't so common, is it?

 

[squirk]

The $12 per night that is termed Gratuities is not pooled, as such. It is divided among your specific room host and dining room servers ($4 to room host; $4 to server; $3 to asst server; $1 to head server).

Any beverages you purchase have an auto gratuity (15%) added. That money is pooled to be divided by all beverage servers and bartenders. I've also been told that your asst dining room server is in that pool (since they also do drink orders).

Thank you! Yes, that was my understanding.

 

[kiford]

Any beverages you purchase have an auto gratuity (15%) added. That money is pooled to be divided by all beverage servers and bartenders. I've also been told that your asst dining room server is in that pool (since they also do drink orders).

I believe that if you add an additional tip on top of that, that it goes to the specific server/bartender. I usually do that - not a huge amount but even a small additional amount usually seems to result in them remembering me and my preferences. Only costs a few dollars extra per cruise and it enhances my experience due to very prompt service, sometimes going the extra mile, and they know just what I like and how I like it. Especially the assistant server - the good ones will usually figure out very quickly that I like a glass of wine with dinner and I always go with whatever is pairing my entree and that I like a pre-dinner drink from that night's specialities and will almost always pick the one with champagne or presecco. I've sometimes missed ordering my dinner drink and the server will bring me something anyway based on my prior preferences knowing that I'll probably accept it (always do). That kind of service is why I'm OK putting an additional tip on. Also possibly helps with being remembered by staff between cruises which has happened several times.

I also second what others have said about plainer items on the menu as well as substitutions. It's not hard to get plain grilled chicken breast, salmon, steak, plain potato, steamed or plain vegetables as normal menu items if you need to avoid spices or other ingredients. They, or similar items, were on the menu every night on our last cruise.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I believe that if you add an additional tip on top of that, that it goes to the specific server/bartender.

Yes, any additional gratuity (cash or added on the charge slip) goes directly to your server or bartender (whoever you designate).

 

[cedricandsophie]

While I will eat almost anything and the spicier the better, we have traveled with family that don't want that at all. There is plain chicken breast, steak, salmon, salads and veggie options on every menu. And my teenage grandchildren often order off the kids menu if they don't see something they like although we discourage and won't allow chicken tenders every night! But the ADR is so much more than the food, it's the ambiance, getting to know the servers, enjoying time together. We have been on 18 Disney cruises and never once have we eaten in cabanas for dinner. I just don't see the point although apparently there are a lot of people that do. We do Palo at least once. As for tipping, it wouldn't occur to me to not tip even if I chose not to come. As it is, I usually add $20 or $40 to the tips for our two servers and on one cruise actually added to the head server because he worked really hard and was always around.

 

[JTBE]

W

However, we felt bad for making the serving team and cooks go out of their way to accommodate us, even though that's part of their job. We feel that we wasted time at the sit-down meals because it just wasn't suitable for us, so we are considering this time just foregoing all sit-down meals and just heading to Cabanas each night. Is that allowed? Do we just go to Guest Relations and remove the tipping charges for all the restaurant staff?

Hi-- You really should not remove your tips even if you don't visit the main dining rooms. I am not sure if you noticed on your last cruise, but the dining room staff serve in all the dining areas-- they serve you breakfast and lunch too but you may not have noticed that since they may not have served you directly. Please don't make some lame excuse to remove your tips.

 

[Starwind]

Thank you for your replies. I didn't realise Cabanas was similar to the MDRs in the evening, or that it was not available on the first and last night. We will have to rethink our dining options then I know kids meals are always an option, anywhere in Disney, because we frequently have to have them. We have a IBS suffer that requires a more traditional, basic 'meat and two veg' meal, and one that does not do well with spices/herbs. I understand what you mean about knowing your server and talking in advance - it's what we did last time, but it didn't exactly work. So, we will see.

In addition to the kids menu there is also the "lighter fare" portion of the MDR menus.

Most meals I have on DCL cruises comes from the "lighter fare" menu. I have multiple food allergies and it works really well.

The lighter fare section will always have a chicken (slow roasted chicken breast) and a beef (grain-fed grilled steak) option as well as a vegetarian option. There may be an additional option (e.g. shrimp). Basically, chicken breast or steak (you can specify it be plain with no spices and such) with garden vegetables (they can do them steamed with nothing on them) and steamed white rice or baked potato. I often pre-ordered the same for lunch in an MDR. Also, you can mix things up a bit, so if you want the plain chicken breast but there is a veggie on the main menu you really want, you can ask for that. If you want extra rice, or two baked potatoes, or the chicken but the smashed potatoes from the kinds menu, all that is ok.

If you have concerns about being able to get the "basic" items, you can talk to your serving staff and see if it would be easier to pre-order the next nights's dinner at the end of each dinner. For food allergies this is usually what they do and I find it very helpful -- I can order what I want, and if something needs modified it usually can be. it also gives me the ability to order off the main part of the menu and have things modified so they are safe -- e.g. to be able to have butternut squash soup or french onion soup, which normally would not be safe; because I am pre-ordering they can make it safe. Also, I have been known to order soemthing off another night's menu -- e.g. I wanted butternut squash soup two nights in a row. My serving team assured me this was not a problem

Finally, it may be worth discussing the dietary needs with the DCL special services team before your cruise -- they may have suggestions on how best to handle it in a way you are comfortable with and that makes it work well for the dining staff.

SW

 

[Twilight Terror]

Thank you all very much for your replies. We were not aware that the serving staff worked in other dining areas during the day - we were under the impression that MDR staff remained in the MDR throughout the day, either working shifts or on breaks. There was no intention to actively avoid tipping these people, but we come from a culture where tipping does not exist. Of course, we are well versed in Disney tipping from many years of visits, and to tip a server who has been visiting our table, delivering endless refills, drinks and food is unquestionable. But to be paying a tip for a service we did not receive is a bit of a foreign concept. We liked the taxi analogy, which helped put it into perspective, but as my sister pointed out, "we never called the taxi in the first place; it just turned up!"

As for Cabanas, we have since reconsidered our plans for using that thanks to the responses here. You have all saved us from going hungry at certain points of the trip! The suggestions on the lighter menu would have been great, if steak, chicken or seafood were eaten! At the moment, we have decided to visit our head server when we first board, and discuss a menu plan with them, so they have advanced notice about the situation. If they can accommodate those requests, then we will head to the MDR as normal. If not, then I assume we will be making use of room service or Flo's.

 

[JW9DVC]

We are heading out on our second cruise (Dream) in August, and we previously had issues with the food served in the dining rooms - it's not to our taste. We met with our serving team beforehand as we know it would probably be an issue, so they were aware. They did a great job trying to cater to us, including allowing orders off the children's menu, and presenting us with a special meal on the last day.

However, we felt bad for making the serving team and cooks go out of their way to accommodate us, even though that's part of their job. We feel that we wasted time at the sit-down meals because it just wasn't suitable for us, so we are considering this time just foregoing all sit-down meals and just heading to Cabanas each night. Is that allowed? Do we just go to Guest Relations and remove the tipping charges for all the restaurant staff?

Just what was needed from them? Allergies or tastes?

JW

 

[Twilight Terror]

Allergies, in a way. We have an IBS sufferer that has a very sensitive gut. All holidays are challenging, even our regular WDW stays, as we have to select where we eat based on menus and how it fits in. Any major changes to diet can have bad affects. We tend to stick to buffets where food items are individually selected, or staying in 1-bedroom DVC accommodation and preparing our own lunches and dinners. We are those crazy people that go on holiday and cook! I am hopeful we can work around it with the serving staff, we were just trying to go prepared/avoid hassles if we could.

 

[malbergotti]

There is also a spot on the online check in where you can list any specific dietary issues. I would recommend doing this in advance of boarding, then all of your servers would already know that you had specific food requests

 

[Twilight Terror]

That sounds like a good idea, only our dietary requirements are not a specific issue such as nut-allergy or gluten-free diet. But perhaps worth putting the note "we require an amended menu and will speak directly to the head server"?

 

[squirk]

Thank you all very much for your replies. We were not aware that the serving staff worked in other dining areas during the day - we were under the impression that MDR staff remained in the MDR throughout the day, either working shifts or on breaks. There was no intention to actively avoid tipping these people, but we come from a culture where tipping does not exist. Of course, we are well versed in Disney tipping from many years of visits, and to tip a server who has been visiting our table, delivering endless refills, drinks and food is unquestionable. But to be paying a tip for a service we did not receive is a bit of a foreign concept. We liked the taxi analogy, which helped put it into perspective, but as my sister pointed out, "we never called the taxi in the first place; it just turned up!"

Let's be clear - you don't have to tip at all if you don't want to. If you feel like it's outside your comfort zone to tip for service you did not receive, you're well within your discretion to withhold the tips.

Still, that's kind of a crap deal and an unwelcome surprise for your assigned serving team, who earn a pittance and who really count on those tips. Perhaps you can let DCL know well in advance that you will be skipping the MDR so that the table assignments can be reallocated fairly, rather than leaving one team unexpectedly losing one-third of their anticipated tip income. That seems like a fair compromise, I think?

 

[bumbershoot]

But to be paying a tip for a service we did not receive is a bit of a foreign concept.

OH, sure, it's totally strange.

But if you look around at breakfast, you'll see your servers working in there. On one cruise our server and my son noticed each other in Cabanas, and once we greeted him he just wanted to make us happy. He was how I found out you can request plain poached eggs over at the eggs benedict area. He even brought them out to us, rather than having us stand around.

I didn't notice where you are from, but it seems that most/all of the time, cultures that do not tip pay their servers livable wages. In America, in many states, we do NOT pay servers a livable wage. In many states, "server minimum" is in the $2 or $3 per hour range. Therefore, tips are absolutely necessary for them to eat, let alone pay rent.

On a cruiseship, it's the worst of both worlds. The ones serving the public are paid almost nothing. They absolutely rely on tips. But it's not always obvious when tips are required; like thinking that if you're not using their services, why pay tips? They probably are serving you, just elsewhere.

That sounds like a good idea, only our dietary requirements are not a specific issue such as nut-allergy or gluten-free diet. But perhaps worth putting the note "we require an amended menu and will speak directly to the head server"?

I would put a far more specific note. What do you not eat?

We are vegetarian. We find most of the veg food onboard (Dream, at least) to be atrocious. We cannot stand the menu at Enchanted Garden. The first night of a cruise they can only do basic stuff that's off the menu. So we do NOT go to EG that first night; we have started requesting a different dining room. So we go somewhere with a menu we can deal with, and that night we request help for the other nights. (vegetarian Indian food) We can't get that food the first night, but the chefs behind the scenes can make it for us the subsequent nights, so we have something that's actually tasty.

And if all else fails (pirate night menu), it's the kid's menu. Mac and cheese and broccoli. Perfectly fine dinner. Just odd, eating it in Royal Palace.

 

[Twilight Terror]

I didn't notice where you are from, but it seems that most/all of the time, cultures that do not tip pay their servers livable wages. In America, in many states, we do NOT pay servers a livable wage. In many states, "server minimum" is in the $2 or $3 per hour range. Therefore, tips are absolutely necessary for them to eat, let alone pay rent.

On a cruiseship, it's the worst of both worlds. The ones serving the public are paid almost nothing. They absolutely rely on tips. But it's not always obvious when tips are required; like thinking that if you're not using their services, why pay tips? They probably are serving you, just elsewhere.

Yes, we are not American, and have a livable minimum wage for all jobs. I am fully aware that all service staff in the US rely heavily on their tips. We are normally on TIW for WDW, so 18% is added automatically, but we frequently add more when service is great. And as I mentioned previously, we were actually unaware that these servers worked anywhere else, but now we are

I would put a far more specific note. What do you not eat?

We are vegetarian. We find most of the veg food onboard (Dream, at least) to be atrocious. We cannot stand the menu at Enchanted Garden. The first night of a cruise they can only do basic stuff that's off the menu. So we do NOT go to EG that first night; we have started requesting a different dining room. So we go somewhere with a menu we can deal with, and that night we request help for the other nights. (vegetarian Indian food) We can't get that food the first night, but the chefs behind the scenes can make it for us the subsequent nights, so we have something that's actually tasty.

And if all else fails (pirate night menu), it's the kid's menu. Mac and cheese and broccoli. Perfectly fine dinner. Just odd, eating it in Royal Palace.

What can be eaten is probably a shorter list! But thanks for making me aware that the first night might be a little difficult to accommodate. Might have to be a kids meal or three I think I will try and take a good look at the menus in the lead up to the cruise, and see if we can work out a selection that is perhaps a mix and match of various dishes, to reduce the extra work needed? But I will try to put together something much more detailed for the online check-in section.

 

[over50visits]

I wish tips were included in the cruise fare. But they are not, and sadly some groups of cruisers seem to have a reputation for not tipping. So sad for the servers. And forever some who skip the MDRs will think they do not owe a tip since they received "no service."

Disney does not offer the option of booking a cruise without the MDRs. That's their offer, and when you book a cruise you accept it. Then to not the tip the servers that you reserved is so unfair. The taxi didn't "turn up," you ordered it.

The food is very good, the ambience fantastic, and the servers are real people who are working long, hard hours to earn an honest living. At the very least, if you are not eating there, stop by the first night and give them the courtesy of telling them that, and pay those tips because they go to all the other servers (including yours) who wait on you all day, throughout the ship. Pay those tips. It's a small part of your total cruise fare, and it shows real respect for these wonderful folks who are there at your beck and call every evening, and throughout the day.

 

[book_junkie]

My husband has Crohn's which is a more extensive form of IBS as well as a couple of food allergies- when we cruised they were wonderful with his needs. Any missteps and he'd be in massive pain for the entire trip.

We checked the "other" box on the allergies needs, then spoke to someone at lunch as to what would be safe. At dinner, we met the staff and he explained exactly what he could and couldn't do- it took a while as they wanted to make sure they got it right. He worked off the menu in each rotation restaurant, and they made substitutions or plainer things when needed (for example, he cannot do a rice pilaf, but plain rice is fine). After that first night, they had him order for the next day after dinner so that they'd have everything ready "at service" they called it.

If they can get all of his needs down, I'm sure they can get yours as well. Give them another chance, just explain exactly what you can and cannot eat and go from there.

 

[sparklinducky]

My Mil is Celiac and also has IBS the head waiter spoke to her at the start of the cruise and asked what was best for her to eat, she oked her menus the night before. The dining staff never seemed put out in any way. In fact seemed very pleased that they could make her trip easier. The MDR was amazingly accommodating they did mention that it is much easier to accommodate food needs if they are called in before the cruise, this helps the prepare before hand.