Can you not tip on the 2007 Dining Plan for bad waitress?

[VLee]

We had the most horrible experience with a waitress named Sandy (older lady, short brown hair with glasses) at Spoodles on Tuesday, October 9. In fact, it was so bad, we wanted to not give the automatic tip. Was this possible?

We were celebrating my mother's 80th birthday. The host was kind enough to give us a booth instead of the back corner table where we were first headed.

Upon getting our drinks, my sister (who has scleroderma and very sensitive fingertips) dropped her straw trying to get it in her glass. She politely asked Sandy for another one. The reply was, "sure..no problem."
Upon Sandy's third trip to our table--with still no straw-- my sister reminded her that she needed a straw. Sandy's replied with a sarcastic tone and words to the effect, "Oh, I think I can handle that..sure." Upon her return, she tossed FOUR straws in my sister's direction.
My sister placed a straw in her drink. At least twice after that, the waitress made a point of saying something to my sister about the straws, such as "Do you need some more straws? About more straws?
My sister replied no, then this waitress picked up one of the straws in the middle of our table, jerked the paper off of one end and shoved it into my sister's glass (which already had a straw). We were shocked and the more we thought about the more insulted.
We waited at least 15 minutes for her to return for the dessert order. (In fact, I had to ask another waitress to send her back to get our order.)Obviously my sister was insulted and replied that she wanted her dessert, but needed no more straws.
Then Sandy began to carry on with remarks such as "Oh, I pushed you too far, huh,...must have pushed you over the limit. She never apologized at all. At that point, I calmly replied to her (she was squatting at our table with her chin almost on the edge.) that yes, she had gone too far, and now, would she kindly have the manager come to our table.
Sandy replied.."sure...no problem...I can do that."
We waited at least 15 minutes again. My sister was wondering how we could keep from giving her the tip on the DDP.
The manager never appeared. I approached a lady passing through and asked to see the manager --that we had had a problem with our waitress. This lady replied that she was the manager...and Sandy had not said anything to her. She came to our table and we explained what had happened. She tried to cover and say that we needed to end the night with a nice birthday surprise for mom. She arranged for a the $12.50 cake to be delivered to our table.

But what, can you do about a bad waitress, when the tip is automatic? I know this will change in 2008, but boy, how I wish I had had a choice that night!
I still plan to write a detailed letter to someone, but any suggestions on who to write would be appreciated.
It really put a damper on our otherwise nice dinner.

Perhaps, I will ask for Sandy upon return to Spoodles -in 2008- or when I am not on the plan...so I can really give her the kind of tip she deserves--NOTHING!

 

[suzannews]

We had the most horrible experience with a waitress named Sandy (older lady, short brown hair with glasses) at Spoodles on Tuesday, October 9. In fact, it was so bad, we wanted to not give the automatic tip. Was this possible?

Yes, the manager can take the automatic tip off of the check but to be honest, I've only seen it done once.

 

[dqpowell]

As I understand it, no. That can't happen.

That's because on the 2007 DDP, you are not tipping. You pre-paid for a meal plan, and Disney is tipping the wait staff.

Now, can a manager override that? Possibly. It would depend on whether that kind of thing is allowed in the contract that Disney agreed to with the servers. Certainly, the servers would not be in favor of such a thing. But in terms of how the 2007 dining plan works, you are not the one leaving the tip.

This all changes for 2008, of course.

David

 

[smidgy]

having used the DDP often, we usually leave it as is, or (often) leave extra, to bring it up to 20 percent. I am sure if there were a problem disney would compensate us. as a bartender/server most of my adult life, I would bring a problem to the attention of the manager, they really DO want to know about problems, so that they can solve them asap. there is nothing worse than hearing about a problem 4 weeks later and then trying to solve it.
we have actually had a MINOR problem, but it was solved in a professional manner, in true DISNEY fashion!!!
a big plus to all the CMs that make the magic happen!!

 

[smidgy]

VLEE... please call and talk to customer services. It has been my experience that they are very accomodating,

 

[50 years Too!]

Wow, that was despicable behavior!
Please make sure to follow up on this.
Spoodles is not Whispering Canyon.

Deb

 

[Nancyg56]

The service you got deserved a trip to a manager. Your family was not given poor service, you were insulted for a simple request and a manager can address that behavior effectively. When a tip is decreased or withheld the server has a slight loss of income for that table, when a manager is involved a server needs to consider their continued employment.

I would imagine that Disney has a low tolerance for employees insulting guests and that while misunderstandings can occur, continues sarcasm and insults would be addressed. Contact Spoodles and request a manager, detail your experience and then express your concern that this kind of behavior will happen again to another family if it is not addressed.

 

[kaytieeldr]

But the OP's issue was addressed, fortunately, in that she was able to locate the manager on her own - who then tried to make amends (not 'cover') by providing her party with the birthday cake. Yes, sure, write to Disney as well - but just to make sure they're aware of this problem CM, not with the expectation of 'getting' anything. It's entirely possible Spoodles has already taken steps to make sure this doesn't happen to another Guest.

If the OP does choose to write to Disney, make it brief and to the point. She doesn't need to include her sister's medical issues - most people don't even know what scleroderma is, plus, her sister wasn't treated poorly because of that.

 

[NMW]

That's why the 2008 dining plans are going to make some people happy. The tip will now be back in their hands.

 

[MsAmerica]

Unfortunately, we had this waitress in August and she was a terrible server.

Luckily, we have a Disney Dining Experience card and left her a minimal tip.

Unfortunately, starting in 2008, they will automatically be adding an 18% to all DDE bills. So if we ever get someone like Sandy again, we will have to talk to the manager instead of just taking matters into our own hands by leaving the waitress less.

Sorry you had a bad dining experience.

MsA

 

[kaytieeldr]

I think, though, the 'automatic' tip can be addressed before paying the bill; on the current DDP, since, as pointed out above, the tip is being paid by Disney, not by the Guest, the only recourse is discussion with management.

Now, I'm not saying the venue will remove or adjust the automatic tip if the situation legitimately warrants it (as, for example, in the OP's experience), but since the money is coming directly out of the Guest's pocket when the bill is presented there should be some way to actively address the issue.

 

[VLee]

Thanks to all for input on our horrible experience. I see where someone else had this same waitress in August.

Now, I do intend to write in detail --but WHO is the best person to write..
I don't want any compensation from this, but this person does need to know that she will be reported for her rude and sarcastic attiutude. Hopefully, if others have had her, they will also follow up with comments.

 

[just another guy]

That's why the 2008 dining plans are going to make some people happy. The tip will now be back in their hands.

until Johnny Redneck comes in for a fancy meal, leaves no tip, and the server then takes it out on the remaining DDP guests of the night. Trust me, its gonna happen.

Thanks to all for input on our horrible experience. I see where someone else had this same waitress in August.

Now, I do intend to write in detail --but WHO is the best person to write..
I don't want any compensation from this, but this person does need to know that she will be reported for her rude and sarcastic attiutude. Hopefully, if others have had her, they will also follow up with comments.

I don't really think it matters exactly who the email is sent to. Disney is pretty damn good at passing along email to all people that should get it. Send it to a generic disney email address, and I would bet good money that resort manager, the food and beverage manager, her area manager, and her manager will all hear about it.