Chefs de France, thumbs down!!!

[ShannonMB]

I can see how the OP is ready to cross the restaurant off her list simply for bad service. That can really just give you a bad vibe about the place in general, and with so many other great places to try at WDW (and Epcot in particular), if I get super-bad, ruin my dinner service, that will be my last visit. I'd be more likely to return if the food was bad, I'd assume I ordered the wrong thing. But being treated poorly, nope.

I am also one who will not flag down a manager to complain. I don't care for the confrontational experience of asking the waiter to get his manager so I can complain about him. And I'm certainly not going to miss Illuminations over it. IMHO, a manager should know EXACTLY what is going on in a finer restaurant -- in the kitchen and on the floor. If this waiter can't handle his job, the manager should be able to observe that just by being in the restaurant with him for a few shifts. If the manager can't keep competent wait staff AND good food coming out of the kitchen, then I will pay my automatic 18% tip, but I won't be back. Now, if it's just minor, okay, or if it's a previous favorite, but truly awful, forget it.

 

[BriarRosie]

The whole auto-gratuity issue would be a moot point if everyone didn't mention they had the TiW card at all until the check arrives. I'd ask to see the manager before paying. If the server isn't quick to bring the manager, I'd stand up...which might get results. If you tell the manager that you have had to ask 3 times for anything, the manager would want to know in order to address the issue with the cast member. You'd probably be able to adjust gratuity before they process your TiW card, as well.

And the servers at the restaurant more than likely have the 1 year contract from the International program. I'm sure the turnaround is huge. I give a restaurant a couple of chances before I write it completely off my list, unless both the food AND service were equally horrid.

 

[food4me]

That's a perfect example for why the required gratuity isn't a smart idea. The server shouldn't get 18 percent of your bill for doing nothing. Did you complain to the manager about the poor service? Of course, I understand why you wouldn't. Who wants the hassle while they're on vacation?

How was the food? I've never been there, but it is on my "try list."

 

[kaytieeldr]

Unfortunately, I didnt speak to the manager, illuminations was about to start and we wanted to leave and get a good spot. I know I should have addressed it there but I did not.

If you had addressed it DURING the meal, instead of waiting until the check came/you were in a hurry to leave, the manager could likely have resolved the situation THEN - probably by improving your service.

disclaimer: I am not blaming the OP, saying s/he was wrong, or anything else of which subsequent posters may wish to accuse me. It's just that, given the spacing of the food delivery, it appears the party had ample time to locate a manager and let them know there was a problem, while waiting for their meal.

IMHO, a manager should know EXACTLY what is going on in a finer restaurant

Hard to tell, if every Guest getting unsatisfactory service chooses not to inform management either because they don't want to make a scene, because they have/want to get somewhere else soon, because they don't want to waste valuable vacation time (or at least any more valuable vacation time than was already wasted waiting overly long for service, because they assume management "should know".

 

[kaytieeldr]

Unfortunately there are servers out there who...

Your completely wrong and have no idea what you are talking about!

He's not wrong. I've met OrlandoMike, and I know he speaks (well, posts) based on personal knowledge/experience. Your response is extremely rude and out of line.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I won't be going back - there is a much better brasierre about 10 miles from my home

Okay, I know what you meant... but are you aware what you actually typed?

 

[Ron from Michigan]

Sorry about your poor service. That is the one thing that I don't like about the TIW card or the dining plan. The servers get there 18% even if the service stinks. It should be up to the patron weather they deserve this % of tip.

 

[dolcezena]

I'm a little scared to dip my toe into the pool of this debate, so to speak....

But I also can't keep my mouth shut....So here I go...

Some people are meant to work in the service industry, some are not. I happen to love my job, & it takes a heck of a lot to "knock me off my game." The facts of the job that you are going to deal with difficult co-workers, difficult management & difficult clients. ("Difficult" is the best word I could come up with...)

From what I can tell, Disney DEMANDS high standards, & if you take a job with them, well, you better be on your game, all the time. If all you're looking for is tips, go work at Hooters, or the equivalent.

Personally, I would die for the chance to work at Disney, & I'm sure I'm not alone.

Maybe some of these "I'm going to get my 18%" servers should remember...there's plenty of us willing to take their place!

*Ahem* Having said all that - remember the kitchen staff shares in your server's tips.

Personally, if the service has sucked & the food has been good, I make a point of seeking out the manager & telling them that I want the tip to go to the kitchen staff for their great job. It's a very effective way for them to pinpoint the problems in their restaurant!

 

[Silver Queen]

We were at Chefs de France in December with the TiW card and had a great experience. Julie, our server, was delightful and provided exceptional service. On a previous trip we had server at Kona that we weren't happy with. (We didn't have TiW then.) She took a very long time to serve our cocktails and then served them with our dinners. We sent the dinners back and when we were ready we were given fresh filets. Even though that server was notably the worst of our trip we still sent back to Kona last weekend and had a great server. Basically we have not found that the server knowing about our TiW card has affected our service.
I have no problem with the 18% gratuity on the check. We usually tip at least 20% so it's saved us a little money and we don't have to do the math. In the case of exceptional service (which we had at Bistro de Paris on Sunday) we tip more.

 

[bsbrady]

But a gratuity should not be automatically added, because then it becomes a surcharge. I looked up what gratuity means:

a gift of money, over and above payment due for service, as to a waiter or bellhop; tip.

If we are being forced to pay this than it is no longer a gratuity. I dont want to sound cheap because I usually leave 20%.

The other thing is, this was implemented because people were tipping on the after discount cost, which is wrong, but no servers are complaining that most people tip on the total cost of a bill, but you really should tip on the cost minus the tax. Most people just look at the bottom line price and figure out what to leave on that.

 

[Todd&Copper]

Okay, I know what you meant... but are you aware what you actually typed?

That's spell check for ya!

 

[yitbos96bb]

But a gratuity should not be automatically added, because then it becomes a surcharge. I looked up what gratuity means:

a gift of money, over and above payment due for service, as to a waiter or bellhop; tip.

If we are being forced to pay this than it is no longer a gratuity. I dont want to sound cheap because I usually leave 20%.

The other thing is, this was implemented because people were tipping on the after discount cost, which is wrong, but no servers are complaining that most people tip on the total cost of a bill, but you really should tip on the cost minus the tax. Most people just look at the bottom line price and figure out what to leave on that.

Amazing how EVERYONE who has a problem with this nearly ALWAYS tips 20%.

 

[yitbos96bb]

Sorry about your poor service. That is the one thing that I don't like about the TIW card or the dining plan. The servers get there 18% even if the service stinks. It should be up to the patron weather they deserve this % of tip.

Maybe part of the reason is that many of the patrons are cheap and 15% is their MAX for top notch service and tip just 10% or so for regular service. Essentially, your tip is free with DDE... Assuming that the service is decent at most places... either 1) You are going to be a cheap tipper or 2) You are going to give 18-20% anyway (most people do 20 as the math is easier), so WHY ARE YOU COMPLAINING? If you don't think they deserve 18% GET THE MANAGER!

 

[yitbos96bb]

Yes, but I don't want a hassle. I would have to take extra time from my vacation to complain and justify why I wouldn't want to tip them that much... etc. If you listen to the Podcast, they are basically saying the same thing, plus that if there's an auto 18% then that's all they are getting. I think that it unfairly rewards bad service as well as unfairly punishes great service.

It's not a big deal to me, it just means we just don't buy the card anymore.

1) Just because John, Kevin and Pete say something doesn't make it right or fact. Its 3 guys opinions, just like all of ours.

2) In this economy, most of my waiter friends have been getting hosed on their tips. A lot of cheap people who selfishly can't ORDER less have been leaving 10% or less tips. Now I know these waiters... some of them have been doing this for 10 years or more and are very good. At a minimum, they would be 15%ers on every bill and I would argue most would give 20%. I'm not saying that the 18% was because of this... it wasn't. But it sure as heck helps those waiters as selfish people really do a number on them.

3) You can tip extra... its REALLY easy to do so. It does NOT hurt great service UNLESS you are unwilling to reward great service with some additional money. I've done it... numerous times. I gave my V and A waiter last time I went an extra 10% on top of his added gratuity.

4) 10 minutes to talk to a manager is a hassle? Really? If this is a money thing and you don't want to pay, then its worth the 10 minutes AT MOST (and I have NEVER had it take 10 minutes... usually 2-3). If its a principle thing, then its your DUTY to tell the manager to make the situation better. Either way, the "hassle" really isn't much of one.

 

[yitbos96bb]

Go work at a restaurant some time and you will realize just exactly how ridiculous the statement you just made.

Honestly, if you are too lazy or scared to ask for a manager, you pretty much deserve the bad service as you have now become part of the problem by not correcting the bad service. It takes AT MOST 10 minutes... and I have NEVER had it take that long. Illuminations hasn't changed in 10 years for the most part.... And I'm 100% sure that if you miss the start of it, you'll still be able to catch up to it... I'm also 100% sure, it will be on the next night and the next night, etc.

The ridiculousness of some of the people on this thread really just blows my mind.

I can see how the OP is ready to cross the restaurant off her list simply for bad service. That can really just give you a bad vibe about the place in general, and with so many other great places to try at WDW (and Epcot in particular), if I get super-bad, ruin my dinner service, that will be my last visit. I'd be more likely to return if the food was bad, I'd assume I ordered the wrong thing. But being treated poorly, nope.

I am also one who will not flag down a manager to complain. I don't care for the confrontational experience of asking the waiter to get his manager so I can complain about him. And I'm certainly not going to miss Illuminations over it. IMHO, a manager should know EXACTLY what is going on in a finer restaurant -- in the kitchen and on the floor. If this waiter can't handle his job, the manager should be able to observe that just by being in the restaurant with him for a few shifts. If the manager can't keep competent wait staff AND good food coming out of the kitchen, then I will pay my automatic 18% tip, but I won't be back. Now, if it's just minor, okay, or if it's a previous favorite, but truly awful, forget it.

 

[pianoronni37]

I have to say, DH and I got the worst service at Chefs de France. We were there for at least 2 1/2 hours, and we had expressed when we sat down (at 7:15pm after waiting about 1/2 hour past our reservation time) that we REALLY wanted to get out for Illuminations - that didn't happen.

The food was stone cold and flavorless, and we received it after 45 minutes of waiting but we were in a hurry so we didn't say anything, ate it extremely fast, and didn't get any refills on our drinks...

Then it took FOREVER for the waitress to bring us our check, we didn't even see her in the dining room!!

So with the double combo of terrible cold flavorless food and inattentive service, we will not be returning any time soon.

 

[Lynn5700]

Aww Sorry about your experience OP.

 

[Dreamfinder2]

I've never been afraid to ask for a manager, and have done it twice at WDW.

What I've found - and not to say this is the definitive approach - is to deal with the situation with all humility. As in: "I'm sure that your server didn't intentionally set out to make our experience a challenging one. But I think she would appreciate knowing that we weren't satisfied, so that she can give her next guest a better experience than we had. And I thought that you, as manager, needed to know, too, because you want to give the best you and your restaurant are capable of."

It's just operating in that "a kind word turneth away wrath" mode, and being gracious yet firm seems to work wonders. I got what amounted to a total comp at Pepper Market once, and at Emeril's in New Orleans, too. I didn't ask for either. But that's just me.

Actually, that's what Cesar Milan teaches with dogs, too ... "be calm and assertive."

 

[ShannonMB]

Go work at a restaurant some time and you will realize just exactly how ridiculous the statement you just made.

Honestly, if you are too lazy or scared to ask for a manager, you pretty much deserve the bad service as you have now become part of the problem by not correcting the bad service. It takes AT MOST 10 minutes... and I have NEVER had it take that long. Illuminations hasn't changed in 10 years for the most part.... And I'm 100% sure that if you miss the start of it, you'll still be able to catch up to it... I'm also 100% sure, it will be on the next night and the next night, etc.

The ridiculousness of some of the people on this thread really just blows my mind.

Wow!!! I do agree with you on one point, the ridiculousness of some people on this thread really blows my mind, too!!!

I have worked in restaurants, for both good and bad managers, and I can assure you that the good ones I worked for knew EXACTLY what everyone was up to in the front of the house. I am also the best restaurant patron anyone could ever want to serve -- I am polite, kind, practically bus my own table, and do not make unreasonable demands/requests, ever. I do not DESERVE bad service, period. All I'm saying is that if I have horrendous, ruin my meal service, I will not be back at that establishment. It's not my duty to alert anyone. They have lost my business, that's it. Done. My perogative. And I have plans for Fantasmic! or Wishes tomorrow night, not repeating Illuminations just so I could get something off my chest.

You apparently have much experience running and asking for a manager (since you say I have "...never had it take that long"). Obviously you like "getting into it" with people, or you probably wouldn't be so rude to me. I must wonder from the demeanor of your post if perhaps you yourself don't DESERVE the bad service you get from time to time.

 

[bsbrady]

So now its my fault I received bad service. What a twisted way of looking at things. My answer is simple, I will never eat there again and I post my experience on this board and thats it.

And btw, If I want to see illuminations from the beginning that is my choice, why should I let a bad experience at a restaurant spill into to rest of my night.