Beware - Spoodles Policy

[swincha]

I totally agree. I've never heard of any restaurant giving free milk refills. Even free pop refillls are rare around here.

every restaurant we go to give free soft drink and milk refills. we also travel all over the country

 

[swincha]

Well, they shouldn't complain when they get zero for a tip then!!!! If a waitress did that to me she would get zilch.

since we were at disney i did give her a 15% tip. she might not even notice the slight but she knew i wasn't happy about it. the only way a server will figure this out is by the size of the tip.

 

[swincha]

Let me understand this????

If a waitress charged you for something that she is REQUIRED to charge for...you would not leave her a tip????

that wasn't her but me. i left a tip however she should have told me the milk was not free refills or their policy should be noted on the menu. there is not reason why the customer should not know the prices or policies of the restaurant. just because i am at disney doesn't mean i am going to just hand all of my money away without knowing prices.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Well, they shouldn't complain when they get zero for a tip then!!!! If a waitress did that to me she would get zilch.

You quoted my statement which did not pertain to the salad issue. Does your statement pertain to the salad issue or merely my quote which pertained to the milk issue? Are you saying that if you ordered an extra milk when the menu didn't say free refills on it and the waitress charged you for it you'd tip her zero???

I am surprised by how nasty this thread is getting.
I didn't take anything as nasty. And I sure didn't mean for my answers to be nasty. If they were apologies.

 

[swincha]

I can also see why one of the posters was upset at being charged for a milk refill, it's so common in most restaurants to get that free. I used to ask if refills were free before ordering but it's been so common I've stopped asking and just assume it is anymore, I'll make sure to ask at WDW.

I have also shorted a tip when overcharged for something that I shouldn't have been. Even tho the policy is not the waitress's fault they are the ones who itemize the ticket so if I'm getting charged for a kids drink or dessert that the menu said was included that's coming off their tip (this has happened many times). That works both ways tho as I found out tonight, we had horrible service extremely slow and didn't refill water or check back with us but she didn't charge extra for the salad H ordered instead of a side (menu said $1.49 extra) or the extra cup of soup so we gave her a decent tip. Flame proof suit on but I would have shorted the tip by the extra charged for the child's salad.

Calie

i didn't think to ask because we had done it all week at disney and had never been charged for refills for soft drinks or milk. the server at the sci fi made a huge mistake as dh and i wanted so share a meal but she misunderstood when i asked her which she would recommend the pasta or ribs and then i ordered the pasta to split and even asked for it to be split in the back. and she brought out both. she couldnt' take one back and we were not charged. the teens ate the extra ribs. she got way over the 20% from us. she also was a very good waitress.

 

[DISUNC]

This is the first time I have heard of this one. That is awful! Why charge double for the same thing? If the prices for a child's meal is based on size, why would it make a difference who ordered it? Portions are out of control and children's meals are a way to reduce the size of the portion for lighter eaters.

YES! I agree totally with you.

Even if it has been discussed on these boards before (i never saw any postings before) not everyone reads these boards (they should!). Besides, something can be written on these boards daily, but if WDW dont post that they double food prices for any reason on their menu...it still WRONG...and I believe maybe illegal (switch & bait)!

 

[Meezers]

I don't have children and have never been a waitress.

That said....here in the Atlanta area I ask sometimes if I can order from the children's menu. Sometimes the entrees are just too big....also I have many friends who have had bariatric (sp?) surgury and just cannot eat that much food.

I think being charged double for a child's portion is just plain silly. Whose business is it what menu you order from if your apetite is satisfied. Some people just want to eat a smaller meal!

In reference to the milk. I don't think I have ever noticed a resturant where milk refills are free....I will keep a look out. That said....if I was a waitress and someone ordered more milk...I would quietly tell them that milk refills are not free. Since most places have free refills of tea and soda...this would be a fair thing to do.

 

[bicker]

2.69 for a cup of milk is overpriced when soda is 1.19. if there are no free refills as in every other restaurant i have taken my children to then i should have been told. it is their responsibility to put things like this on the menu or tell the customer.

Sorry, but we'll just have to agree to disagree about those things. I disagree that that was overpriced for the milk, and I disagree that the server is responsible for warning you about the fact that you're incurring a charge for a refill.

I do agree with you that the server shouldn't have "sold" items to your teen. I think that they try to treat teens and children as adults to enhance the experience -- they shouldn't do so to get teens and children to order more. If they want to advertise while taking an order, they should do so to the adults only.

 

[bicker]

I think being charged double for a child's portion is just plain silly. Whose business is it what menu you order from if your apetite is satisfied. Some people just want to eat a smaller meal!

The issue isn't getting a smaller meal -- the issue is only a matter of price. The cost of the ingredients that go into the food is trivial compared to the other costs associated with eating at a restaurant. For example, if I remember correctly, half of a $15 entree "should" cost $12-$13. Some restaurants do offer that, but many do not because customers would find spending only a few dollars less while getting half as much food to be unsatisfactory -- since there isn't a price that is acceptable to both customer and supplier, many restaurants don't bother offering smaller portions. Indeed, most restaurants provide gargantuan portions to help substantiate the high price they would be charging anyway.

Children's menus, however, are offered almost exclusively as a loss-leader -- a c'mon to get the adults to come into the restaurant and order the adult entrees.

 

[LeCras]

You people don't realise just how lucky you are to even have free refills. This concept doesn't exist in Europe, on any drinks whatsoever. Some places in Scandinavia will even charge you for a glass of tap water... As far as children's menus are concerned, most places in Europe won't let you order from them at all if you are not a child.

You have it pretty good over there...

Charlotte

 

[yusinskas]

For light eaters: If you want a lighter meal, rather than using the children's menu, you may want to consider ordering an appetizer. I don't know how it would work with a meal plan, since I never use them. At any rate, they can't charge you double for ordering only an appetizer instead of a meal.

 

[MELSMICE]

2.69 for a cup of milk is overpriced when soda is 1.19. if there are no free refills as in every other restaurant i have taken my children to then i should have been told. it is their responsibility to put things like this on the menu or tell the customer. there were no prices of drinks other than the shake special on the menu also which i think is wrong to begin with.

So you did know that milk cost more than soda?

I have never been to a restaurant that they offered free milk refills, only soda. As far as the $5 bottomless milkshakes, that's the special they were offering. It has nothing to do with the fact they were charging $2.69 for milk $5 for unlimited milkshakes. Think about it. How many people/kids could drink much more than one milkshake with a meal? Most people would probably order 2 - you'll get the occasional person that would order 3, so they are not losing money at all in that case.

 

[MELSMICE]

i didn't think to ask because we had done it all week at disney and had never been charged for refills for soft drinks or milk.

If you didn't think to ask then why is it the server's fault for not telling you? She didn't think to mention it just like you didn't think to ask.

Obviously, not every restaurant has the same policy, therefore, if someone is concerned about pricing they should ask so there are no surprises.

If my children or myself want another drink close to the end of our meal & it is something I know I will be charged for that I also know they won't finish I will either order them tap water or let them split something.

 

[MELSMICE]

As far as a children's menu goes, any menu usually clearly states what ages they recognize as "children". I wouldn't order off it for myself or an older child until I asked if this was okay.

That being said, if I was told it was okay I would expect to get the portion size & price that was listed on the menu, unless told otherwise. If I asked to order off this menu & was told I could but the price would be double & the portion larger I would make my decision at that time.

Quote:

the point is first it was 2 cups of milk and disney shouldn't be allowed to take advantage of their customers. also letting other people know these things can give you a heads up on choosing what you want to order.

I don't believe Disney is trying to take advantage of their customers by charging for a 2nd glass of milk. I really believe that if you are concerned about whether you'll be charged or not or concerned with the price then you need to ask. Don't always assume things.

 

[Lewisc]

Actually you're the one trying to take advantage of the server and the restaurant. YOU DIDN'T ASK what it cost AND YOU ASKED for a refill. Free milk refills are not common and fountain soda costs Disney a lot less than milk.

the point is first it was 2 cups of milk and disney shouldn't be allowed to take advantage of their customers. also letting other people know these things can give you a heads up on choosing what you want to order.
why is is nasty when it is a complaint about disney? i can choose how to spend my money. we dropped alot of money at disney but if my child is going to sip a little on a 2nd milk i would not have ordered it. actually if she would have kept the water refilled that would have worked just as well. i would have had him just take a few more sips of water.

i guess its nasty when i defend my right to complain about a situation. don't worry i will send them a letter about this also.

 

[Gymbomom]

2.69 for a cup of milk is overpriced when soda is 1.19. if there are no free refills as in every other restaurant i have taken my children to then i should have been told. it is their responsibility to put things like this on the menu or tell the customer. there were no prices of drinks other than the shake special on the menu also which i think is wrong to begin with.

i have been a waitress she should have taken the 2nd drink off. so she did not get the additional $5 i would have gave for a 20% tip she got a 15% one anyway. normal tipping really is 15-18% anyway. i just happen to give 20% or more for very good service. imo she did not give very good service and she knew i wasn't pleased about the price of the milk or the refill price. so maybe next time she might say something. then again maybe not.

I just don't agree. If you based your tip on lack of other drink refills and other service..I don't see anything wrong with that.
Did you know most employees do not have the power to "take it off" or not to charge for something?? That their tables get audited to make sure they have rung something up. iF she had not rung you up for the 2nd milk, the next time you would have said Well I didn't get charged last time.... Managers REALLY ask their employees to ALL follow policies. She might have even have to ordered the milk and received it from a seperate employee. She couldn't receive it if she didn't have a ticket. Where we have eaten there have never been refills on milk, specialty drinks, or capp/espresso drinks.

I stand by saying the waitress could not read your mind, she is not charge of the menu, prices, or policies, you should not base your tip on that. If you want to know if there are free refills, Ask. If she gave you poor service then I would understand, but your first post mentions nothing of poor service, just complaint about $2.69 milk charge.

 

[Gymbomom]

While I still have children under the age of 9, the kids meals are a non issue for me, but I will watch reports on the double price for kids entrees. We travel with my mother and my brother is 13 and eats like a bird. I am glad we found out about this before we leave. I can't remember, but it seems like kids meals are not exactly cheap at some places, wouldn't double the price= an adult meal??

 

[goodferry]

I am glad I saw this thread, you learn something new everyday! I didn't know about Disney's policy regarding the children's menu. As to the milk issue, I have never been to a restaurant that offered free refills on milk, and there is usually an indication on the menu, something to the effect of "free refills on soft drinks and ice tea only". We have always made it clear to the kids that they can have a glass of milk, but after that they can get water if they are still thirsty.

 

[Lewisc]

she could have taken it off when i asked about it and showed my surprise at the price for each milk and the extra charge.

You don't have the slightest idea if she could have just taken it off without getting in trouble. If the milk was originally in single serving cartons it may well be inventoried. Milk is NOT included with the mug refills and most of the posters experience is milk refills are not included in most restaurants.

Really not fair to penalize a server because you didn't ask or because they were unwilling to give you something for free.

I wonder if the guests trying to "work the system" with the MYW Dining plan is causing Disney to become strict in charges that might have been waived in the past.

 

[crisi]

I wonder if the guests trying to "work the system" with the MYW Dining plan is causing Disney to become strict in charges that might have been waived in the past.

And I wonder if they are managing to cover costs with the MYW plan even without guests "working the system." I really hope that the plan will not mean Disney has to "get tough" with cash customers in order to be able to "pay" for "oh, sure, you can use two kids credits for a meal at California Grill." And I really hope the quality doesn't suffer in an attempt to make it work.