Bad attitude towards DDPers?

[storybookmum]

I begin to get discouraged. I should probably know better by now, but it seems that one person after another is posting that they believe they're getting bad attitude for being on the Dining Plan, that the wait staff seems to resent them. Also that things are so confused at the cash registers that the people around you start to despise you for the delay. Not just in your own ordering, but in the way they ring things in, and how long it takes.

I find this a bit daunting. It's our first time on the DDP, and it seems to make such sense for us.

Overall, do you find this an accurate perception? If so, there's nothing I can do now but steel myself for it - but I'd like to know if I'm getting an unfairly negative expectation.

 

[TDC Nala]

I had two servers mention this weekend that they don't like the dining plan, but that was only after I said I wasn't using it.

Anyway, the tip isn't included in the plan, so they have no reason to treat you badly since their tip is tied into the way they treat you.

Personally I would not worry what other people think. If you want to use it, use it.

 

[mom2cinderella]

Not only did we not get any attitude on our trip, but several of the servers went out of their way to explain the plan and make sure we understood what we could get.

Michele

 

[Luv2Roam]

We don't use it a lot. But we have used that, and other discounts at various times. I cannot say I can tell a difference whether we pay full or with DDP.
Not to diminish personal experiences. But think of all the guests who are served daily at WDW. There is bound to be slip-ups or unhappy guests somewhere.
I have had a few bad experiences. (Not horrible. But sub par.) But I consider how many times we have dined at WDW over the years and I can name 5 bad experiences, including counter service.
Sure, anything can happen. But I would say the odds are in your favor they will not and everything will be fine.
I find far worse table servers outside of WDW than in.

 

[bamor]

No, no attitude at all last week.
Our TS restaurants were Teppan Edo, Spoodles, Coral Reef, Ohana Breakfast,
Narcoossee's, and Mama Melrose. All asked if we were using DDP when checking in. I just charged all the tips except for the breakfast to the room rather than carry cash on me. Every couple of days I would go to the front desk and get a receipt, just to be sure all was correct.
Other than the server being a dud at Mama Melrose (but I think he would have been that way even if we weren't on the DDP), we had no complaints about the service.
It seems when there are multiple parties sitting together using mulitple cards is where it gets very confusing for everyone. But no, we were not given any attitude at all.
No worries, it was fine for us. Just enjoy.

 

[colinsdad]

Just like anything else in life, those who have a bad experience are the most vocal.

DDP is here to stay, and Disney employees know it.

Disney took the tip out of the plan a year or so back so the servers have nothing to complain about. Tip is based and should be paid upon service received now even though they put a "suggested amount" on the bill.

Before servers did have something to complain about because someone would get a $40 steak and the tip was based on the cost of the plan. Good for us, bad for them. You'll see some complaints about that too on this board. The "DDP used to be soooo much better when the tip was included" posts.....What they should be saying is "I loved being able to get a $50 meal and tip on a $20 meal".

Consider me one of the silent majority who likes DDP, and will continue to use it (and not complain). If you use it right, you save a lot of money, especially on the kids. Don't use it for Character BF, don't use 2TS for dinner unless you're on DDXP and use TS for dinners. Follow those rules and you'll usually end up ahead.

 

[luckytobeme88]

We have always been using and will always use the DDP especially the Deluxe plan. We have never encountered any bad services because of the DDP. Why should they anyway? When we are eating with the deluxe plan, we order the appetizer, entree, dessert and drinks(and some booze too ) We usually max the bill which in terms increases the server's bottom line too.

 

[Allison]

I haven't noticed an unusual amount of people saying this.

It's really not something I would worry about.

 

[RoseGrows]

We are leaving in 24 days - my husband and I are taking our grown sons and their wives, along with our grandchildren - we have 3 rooms and I purchased Deluxe Dining Plans for all of us - (except the 1 year old). I know that we have planned several evening meals together - that should be interesting. I hope it isn't too much of a problem. Heaven knows, we paid enough for the dining plans, I hope that we won't regret it. I am too sensitive to being treated badly in a restaurant. I will feel bad if the restaurant doesn't honor the plan politely, even though there will be 7 of us using our meal plans. Now I'm worried. I wanted this trip to be perfect.

 

[luckytobeme88]

I am too sensitive to being treated badly in a restaurant. I will feel bad if the restaurant doesn't honor the plan politely, .... I wanted this trip to be perfect.

If you are really sensitive about how you will be treated in a restaurant, DON'T go to 50's Primetime.
All DDP participating restaurants will honor the Dining plan. Just tell your servers know once you are seated that you are all on the Deluxe plan. They will inform you as of what will be covered with your plan(appetizer, main dish, non-alcoholic drink and dessert) The tip for party of 6+ will be automatically included in at 18% of the bill before tax. The servers will let you know when s/he presents you with the bill as to where to sign and which to keep for your record. Never any problem with us. You will be an expert in no time.

 

[jackie101]

7 of us just got back & we had no TS problems with the dp.

 

[luckytobeme88]

7 of us just got back & we had no TS problems with the dp.

There were 11 of us in this past July. We had 3 rooms among us. Charging all our meals to 3 different cards was not complicated at all. Like I said so many times before, let your servers knows before ordering.

 

[RAPstar]

Just like anything else in life, those who have a bad experience are the most vocal.

DDP is here to stay, and Disney employees know it.

Disney took the tip out of the plan a year or so back so the servers have nothing to complain about. Tip is based and should be paid upon service received now even though they put a "suggested amount" on the bill.

Before servers did have something to complain about because someone would get a $40 steak and the tip was based on the cost of the plan. Good for us, bad for them. You'll see some complaints about that too on this board. The "DDP used to be soooo much better when the tip was included" posts.....What they should be saying is "I loved being able to get a $50 meal and tip on a $20 meal".

Consider me one of the silent majority who likes DDP, and will continue to use it (and not complain). If you use it right, you save a lot of money, especially on the kids. Don't use it for Character BF, don't use 2TS for dinner unless you're on DDXP and use TS for dinners. Follow those rules and you'll usually end up ahead.

I connection with this, I read somewhere that people were getting into screaming matches with waiters because of the tip not being included. It was suggested that those certain people had just rebooked without reading to see if anything changed (so it's there own fault, IMO). I could totally understand why some CM's may not like the DDP with that in mind. But still, as with all places where the employee's depend on tips, they should realize that their tip is dependent on their job. Just my 2 cents.

 

[catne]

I connection with this, I read somewhere that people were getting into screaming matches with waiters because of the tip not being included. It was suggested that those certain people had just rebooked without reading to see if anything changed (so it's there own fault, IMO). I could totally understand why some CM's may not like the DDP with that in mind. But still, as with all places where the employee's depend on tips, they should realize that their tip is dependent on their job. Just my 2 cents.

when we booked TS in May and again for September this year, the CMs taking the reservations made a point of asking if we were on the DDP and then explaining that the tip was not included. They spelled it out.

As for how we were treated, we had excellent service at all our restaurants. Some places were extremely good at their job, others were just good. But no "attitudes." Most CMs we encountered really, really seemed to enjoy their jobs.

 

[RMulieri]

I didn't have any issues whatsoever when I went in Sept .all the waitstaff was very pleasant.

 

[inaminute]

This is the first I've read of people being treated badly because they're using the DDP. Since we started going in 1989 we've had ONE really bad dining experience, and it wasn't because we were using the dining plan. We were paying cash. We've had some dining experiences that were nothing special and others that were fabulous.

The two times I have used the dining plan were great. The servers were, in general, wonderful. One or two have been less than talkative, but that's o.k. There was one who seemed very distracted and not very talkative at Prime Time. That was the first time I had the pot roast there and I loved it. Right as we were leaving he stopped me and handed me a card with the recipe for it! He may not have been the most vocal "cousin" I ever met there, but he was, by far, the most considerate.

 

[cjlvsccm]

OP, don't worry. If you have any questions or need anything clarified, just ask the server before you order. A lot of them ask up front if you're on the dining plan.

The only time we saw any trouble was at Cosmic Ray's just a couple weeks ago. A dad in front of us apparently wasn't sure what was included with his kids' meals, and the cashier seemed harried at having to explain it several times. When it was our turn to order, I started off telling her "No dining plan", and she smiled and said "Bless you! What'll you have?"

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I've used the dining plan twice, and have never felt that way.

 

[beroh2253]

4-1 week trips over the past 3 years , 3 times the free DDP and 1 paid and the wait staff was always great. No complaints at all.

 

[kcashner]

Disney took the tip out of the plan a year or so back so the servers have nothing to complain about. Tip is based and should be paid upon service received now even though they put a "suggested amount" on the bill.

Before servers did have something to complain about because someone would get a $40 steak and the tip was based on the cost of the plan. ...What they should be saying is "I loved being able to get a $50 meal and tip on a $20 meal"..

When the DDP included the tip, it showed the tip amount. It was 18% of the retail price of the food, not a percentage of the cost of the dining plan. I can't speak to whether or not the server actually got the amount that was shown on our receipts, but the amount on the receipt was more than generous. There was a "stink" with the food servers union when Disney announced that the plan would no longer include the tip because the servers were concerned that they wouldn't be tipped as well.

Basically, by removing the dessert and the tip, Disney decreased what we get on the plan without changing the cost. It went from being a great deal to being an ok deal.