being rushed through TS

[DVC Sadie]

This problem has become noticably worse since the Dining Plan started. We spoke with a CM during our visit in July (don't want to say where so she won't get in trouble). Most of the CM's are not happy about the Dining Plan - small tips, rude guests, etc.

We have been going to TS restaurants at WDW for many years now and have noticed many changes in the past year - none good. Menus are becoming more standardized and many restaurants have lost their signature dishes. CM's at some locations confirmed this observation saying that they have been told it it a measure to save $$. I would assume this is because of all the free dining that Disney is giving away in order to book rooms. It's kind of sad because a lot of the restaurants are no longer as exceptional as they once were.

I think the hurried meals are here to stay . . .

Great post and ITA! We have been dining in WDW for many years and we have noticed the same. Soon all the TS restaurants will serve the same generic food no matter which restaurant you choose. So many dishes have been taken off of the menu or completely revamped since the DDP has started that for special meals we now eat offsite.

We must have run into the same CMs . Several of the CMs also told my dh and I that they too did not like the DDP.

 

[rlduvall]

While I have read that the servers automatically receive an 18% gratuity, (which is really not too bad) I then read that Disney reimburses the restaurants only $25. per person - adult, no matter what is ordered. Now this possibly might only be relevant to non-Disney owned restaurants; not sure. But if this is true for all of the restaurants and the server only gets 18% of $25. no matter what, I could see a legitimate morale problem.

I work for a very large insurance company, but each division has to create a budget and meet certain number criteria that is usually out of our control . . . ultimately it's all a numbers game. Does anyone know how Disney handles the accounting for the dining plan for each restaurant, non-Disney or Disney owned?

 

[ElizabethB]

I agree, DVC Sadie. CM's have told me that they don't like DDP either. Why? Because there used to be faster table turnover when everyone wasn't ordering appetizer, entree and dessert. The added tips from appetizers and desserts aren't enough to make up for the fact that the tables turn over fewer times in a shift. That's probably why CMs and management are working hard to turn tables quickly.

As for DDP, itself, well -- we really enjoyed the free DDP a couple of weeks ago. We maximized our TS credit usage and enjoyed some fine 2TS meals. Food was tasty, pace was good (except that it appeared they were running pretty low on good lobsters at Narcoosee's as the week went on).

Our experiences at 1TS meals -- whether we used the plan or paid OOP were, generally, disappointing. Though, I'm happy to say we experienced none of the rushing that seems to be afflicting others. We lingered for a couple of hours at lunch at Coral Reef watching the fish. But, we paid OOP and the value simply wasn't there. The $10 shrimp cocktail had a few medium grade, medium size shrimp and simply wasn't worth $10.

The problem I see with DDP is the same problem with health plans and HMO's -- you've got to be in one. HMO's negotiate a set price for services. But, if you're not in the HMO and just walk in off the street, you'll be billed much more for the same service than the HMO is billed.

Same with DDP -- if you come in and you're on the plan, perhaps you don't care that the $10 shrimp cocktail is really worth only $4. But, if you have to pay an actual OOP $10 for that shrimp cocktail, it's going to be annoying.

I think DDP will result in an experience similar to mass market cruise lines -- much convenience for families and groups (due to the fact that the meals are pre-paid), plus a lot of food with none of it being all that great.

Oh well. There was once a "Prague Spring" when dining at WDW was truly a pleasure and a delight. I'm afraid those days are gone. We pretty much confine ourselves to the signature restaurants anymore.

What I can't figure out is why Disney is letting Epcot World Showcase restaurants become so generic and poor. There simply isn't that much to do in WS, other than shop and eat. If the food becomes totally generic and programmed, it will be hard to justify a day's admission to Epcot, IMO.

A decade or so ago Disney got the brilliant idea that it would be cheaper if every WS shop had the same merchandise. So, one of our trips in the late 80s or so we noticed that every shop, no matter which country it represented, suddenly had the same Mickey T-shirts and not much else. I recall thinking what is the point of going to Epcot if there is nothing unique or interesting in the shops? Fortunately, that business strategy did not prevail -- no doubt because someone smart realized there is nothing to do in WS but shop and eat. Now, the same attempt is being made with the restaurants in WS. I hope the strategy doesn't prevail with the restaurants, but I'm afraid it probably will.

 

[ReneeA]

I want to go on the record of someone who enjoys a relaxing dinner to break up the day within the parks. To us, we use this time to unwind, and actually enjoy the meal. This would be the same with or without our daughter. I never like to order the entree at the same time as the appetizer at any restaurant. All it takes is one inexperienced waiter/waitress and they both come at the same time or worse the entree comes first (it has happened).

I would like to hear the perspective of the people who want to rush through dinner. Is it a matter of losing time at the parks or catering to kids? Especially seeing the comment about kids getting tired of sitting. I may be in the minority but to me it is alien that a child would not be able to sit for dinner for an hour or so. I would expect that they eat dinner every day.

At 3 & 4, my kids can easily sit through an hour dinner. At about 75 minutes, they start getting restless and then they try to entertain themselves, which usually includes picking at one another, or making some sort of noise which is intrusive to other diners. They also don't really eat much...and easily eat most of the appetizer, pick at the meals, then pick at the dessert, so I can see how they get bored if they aren't actually very hungry while the meals are being served.

I like it to be as painless for all involved - both us and other guests and LIKE to get in and out for dinner.

 

[Lesley]

It's not that I wish to be rushed, but a 2yo only eats so much food and it only takes so long for her to eat it. It isn't developmentally appropriate to make a 2yo child sit while you linger over coffee. Our meals generally do take about an hour from the time we sit down to the time we sign off on the check. Sitting for 15 minutes while waiting for the meal isn't all that difficult and the kids always seem to have time between courses even if the adults don't. Once we get to around an hour the novelty of the food, crayons and whatever other distractions we have wears off.

I would fully expect a 12yo and an 8yo to be able to handle a relaxed meal. Beyond a certain point a child under 3yo isn't able to do that (not counting non-mobile infants)....and even up to the age of 7 or so kids have differing abilities to sit still with nothing else to do. In our family our 11yo can sit for a good meal and appreciate it, our 6yo is still learning but is mostly able to handle it (as long as her brother isn't picking on her...) but our 2yo is definitely in the earlier stages of the learning process. We've often had to pass on dessert at a restaurant because she has reached her limit.

In many families dinner at home isn't as formal as in a restaurant...when the kids are finished eating they are allowed to leave the table. At a restaurant this isn't usually an option. We also don't often have separate courses at home...and dessert, if we have it, will be an hour or more after we finish dinner...the kids have a break to go play in between.

I do agree that giving a guest their ice cream sundae before they are finished their entree is not good service (or any course before you are finished the previous one...things get cold and the table gets too crowded). I mean, what kid is going to want to continue eating their meal when there's ice cream sitting there melting? But the obvious solution is to not order dessert until you are finished (or almost finished) with your dinner.

From what I have heard from restaurant servers, its not uncommon at all to get very low tips or none at all. So I assume that getting 18% on a bigger meal than most people generally order is a benefit to the servers....and that's not counting those of us who will tip more for great service.

 

[brbenoit]

At 3 & 4, my kids can easily sit through an hour dinner. At about 75 minutes, they start getting restless and then they try to entertain themselves, which usually includes picking at one another, or making some sort of noise which is intrusive to other diners. They also don't really eat much...and easily eat most of the appetizer, pick at the meals, then pick at the dessert, so I can see how they get bored if they aren't actually very hungry while the meals are being served.

I like it to be as painless for all involved - both us and other guests and LIKE to get in and out for dinner.

I just want to clarify (so others don't read it that way) that I am just curious.

IMO 75 minutes isn't bad, I've seen kids get bent out of shape in much less time. The important thing is that you seem to be aware of their tendencies and everyone's enjoyment of the meal. I wouldn't consider 75 minutes rushing through dinner. Of course there will be a point where attention span runs out if they are done eating.

Sometimes it seems like some kids have never been to a restaurant in their life. I always wonder how much is nature vs. nurture. When I see the parents who do nothing I tend to lean towards the later.

 

[kcrew]

You can rationalize all you want, but to try to put entrees on your table when you are only half way through your appetizer is unacceptable. This happened to us at Tony's. I just told the person bringing the meals(it was never our server), that it was unacceptable and to return it to the kitchen. There is swift service and then there is rushed service.

 

[ReneeA]

I just want to clarify (so others don't read it that way) that I am just curious.

IMO 75 minutes isn't bad, I've seen kids get bent out of shape in much less time. The important thing is that you seem to be aware of their tendencies and everyone's enjoyment of the meal. I wouldn't consider 75 minutes rushing through dinner. Of course there will be a point where attention span runs out if they are done eating.

Sometimes it seems like some kids have never been to a restaurant in their life. I always wonder how much is nature vs. nurture. When I see the parents who do nothing I tend to lean towards the later.

My kids average three sitdown restaurants a month. We don't dally, and order one appetizer to share, entrees and no dessert usually. That typically doesn't take more than an hour. The are well behaved for the first hour, then after that all bets are off.

I was informed by my then 3 year old's preschool teacher that a 3 year old has on aveage, a 20-25 minute attention span. To demand or expect any more than that is pushing it. They need something other than just food to hold their attention after that.

 

[bicker]

The problem I see with DDP is the same problem with health plans and HMO's -- you've got to be in one. HMO's negotiate a set price for services. But, if you're not in the HMO and just walk in off the street, you'll be billed much more for the same service than the HMO is billed.

Great analogy!

I think DDP will result in an experience similar to mass market cruise lines -- much convenience for families and groups (due to the fact that the meals are pre-paid), plus a lot of food with none of it being all that great.

Which seems to be exactly what the marketplace was looking for: A simulation of "all-inclusive" treatment, at a non-all-inclusive price.

 

[4boysmom]

I mean, what kid is going to want to continue eating their meal when there's ice cream sitting there melting? But the obvious solution is to not order dessert until you are finished (or almost finished) with your dinner.

I agree totally. We were shocked when we were odering our appetizer & entree (again, @ Sci-Fi) that she also wanted our dessert order at the same time. We had to scramble to look over the dessert area of the menu because we weren't expecting to need that info so soon! If I had had time to think I would have definitely told her to come back during our meal & we'd order dessert then but she seemed insistent that we order everything then.

She was also the only server who didn't bring a cup of water out to our 2yo when we ordered a round of waters! She said he wasn't on the plan (duh, of course!) & only the rest of us got food/drink on it! Can you imagine ... WATER on a hot day!! We had to share our waters w/ him.

 

[bicker]

she seemed insistent

Remember, folks: They work for you. If you want something, or something to work a certain way, tell them.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

The fastest meal I had on record, and maybe when I say fast is the castmember was like a whirlwind talking so fast and just bringing the food at 100mph, no sooner would he clear appetizers, then the main food was out, that food left the table, dessert and coffee was there...was as Alfredo's. Now I suppose if it was slower, I might be thinking what the heck is going on in the kitchen..sometimes it is so difficult to find the right speed.

I do like quick service, but the fact that he spoke so fast and was running around our table, made it seem even faster. The food was good, I cannot fault him for his attention to our table, it just felt a little too speedy for us. We were 4 adults..who were in and out in approximately 50 minutes....which for dinner seemed speedy.

 

[dznymom1]

I read many posts at the beginning of free dining about how long people were waiting to be seated for their ADR's. Some of this may be a result of them overbooking the restaurants because they didn't account for the time for the extra courses. I imagine they got many, many complaints from people waiting too long, and their 'fix' might have been to tell the servers to turn the tables over more quickly. I will definitely use some of the suggestions here (such as ordering my entree after my appetizer arrives) when we have our turn on the plan next week.

Obviously, they also have some lousy servers out there. I would have been really angry if my 2 year old was refused a glass of water That is just wrong.

 

[MEK]

OK - I may be the exception here - BUT, I am usually starving when I get to dinner. I am happy to get my drinks fast, my appetizer fast, and have my entree not linger too far behind. I think 75 - 90 minutes for dinner is great. I never felt rushed. I honestly believe you can set the pace - if you take control.

I thought every single CM who served me was delightful. I find the dining at Disney far superior to my usual dining experiences at home. Granted, I am not into fine dining, like some people may be, but I would rather eat at Disney any day. I don't live in an area with a lot of upscale dining experiences, so I don't have many comparisons.

I ate at Le Cellier (great), Prime Time (great fun), CP (good), Coral Reef (good), & Whispering Canyon (poor quality food). WC was the only meal I was disappointed with. Last time - Sci Fi was my least favorite.

______________________________________________

Max is my favorite cat!

 

[bicker]

I don't think you're the exception, really, and I think that's really the problem for those of us who prefer a more leisurely meal -- we're the exceptions at WDW, more likely. It isn't surprising to me, therefore, that you found the service to be delightful.

 

[DisneyMim]

I have to say that we were not rushed at all. We recently came back from a two week WDW vacation where we paid for the dining plan and were not rushed at any of our meals. Each course took a perfect amount of time. I guess each experience is different. I would have been really upset if we were rushed because my family loves our dinners out and we always spend much more time than the average party. I will say though while we are on this subject, that on our last trip this past March we had dinner in the castle and did feel very rushed. We were NOT on the dining plan for that trip. When we started planning our ressies for our August trip I asked the kids where they wanted to eat and both of them said no to the castle. Just for info, we did not go to any character meals this August as I felt that we would be more likely be rushed. I'm sorry that this happened to some of you. I would not have been happy.

 

[tpayne]

Does the wait staff at WDW work for tips/tipwages or are they paid a normal hourly wage plus whatever tips they make?

 

[bicker]

Servers at WDW are paid just like the majority of servers at full-service restaurants across America: They're paid a token amount, often less than the minimum wage, and make the vast majority of their income through gratuities.

 

[fivefordisney]

I agree, DVC Sadie. CM's have told me that they don't like DDP either. Why? Because there used to be faster table turnover when everyone wasn't ordering appetizer, entree and dessert. The added tips from appetizers and desserts aren't enough to make up for the fact that the tables turn over fewer times in a shift. That's probably why CMs and management are working hard to turn tables quickly.

As for DDP, itself, well -- we really enjoyed the free DDP a couple of weeks ago. We maximized our TS credit usage and enjoyed some fine 2TS meals. Food was tasty, pace was good (except that it appeared they were running pretty low on good lobsters at Narcoosee's as the week went on).

Our experiences at 1TS meals -- whether we used the plan or paid OOP were, generally, disappointing. Though, I'm happy to say we experienced none of the rushing that seems to be afflicting others. We lingered for a couple of hours at lunch at Coral Reef watching the fish. But, we paid OOP and the value simply wasn't there. The $10 shrimp cocktail had a few medium grade, medium size shrimp and simply wasn't worth $10.

The problem I see with DDP is the same problem with health plans and HMO's -- you've got to be in one. HMO's negotiate a set price for services. But, if you're not in the HMO and just walk in off the street, you'll be billed much more for the same service than the HMO is billed.

Same with DDP -- if you come in and you're on the plan, perhaps you don't care that the $10 shrimp cocktail is really worth only $4. But, if you have to pay an actual OOP $10 for that shrimp cocktail, it's going to be annoying.

I think DDP will result in an experience similar to mass market cruise lines -- much convenience for families and groups (due to the fact that the meals are pre-paid), plus a lot of food with none of it being all that great.

Oh well. There was once a "Prague Spring" when dining at WDW was truly a pleasure and a delight. I'm afraid those days are gone. We pretty much confine ourselves to the signature restaurants anymore.

What I can't figure out is why Disney is letting Epcot World Showcase restaurants become so generic and poor. There simply isn't that much to do in WS, other than shop and eat. If the food becomes totally generic and programmed, it will be hard to justify a day's admission to Epcot, IMO.

A decade or so ago Disney got the brilliant idea that it would be cheaper if every WS shop had the same merchandise. So, one of our trips in the late 80s or so we noticed that every shop, no matter which country it represented, suddenly had the same Mickey T-shirts and not much else. I recall thinking what is the point of going to Epcot if there is nothing unique or interesting in the shops? Fortunately, that business strategy did not prevail -- no doubt because someone smart realized there is nothing to do in WS but shop and eat. Now, the same attempt is being made with the restaurants in WS. I hope the strategy doesn't prevail with the restaurants, but I'm afraid it probably will.

Great points and well-said!

 

[bicker]

Keep in mind that the food is quite different from restaurant to restaurant at Epcot. While the core ingredients are the same, beef, chicken, fish, pork, that's to be expected. What differs is the manner in which they're prepared and presented, and that's more than enough variety for the vast majority of guests, some of whom actually complain about how there isn't a place to get a good, "basic" meal at Epcot. Luckily, there really is enough options for the vast majority of guests to be satisfied.