Coronado Springs Pepper Market Question

[HMGar]

We are going to be on the quick service dining plan and have decided to stay at Coronado Springs. We have been researching the restaurants available at CSR and noticed that Pepper Market works a little differently from other food courts at other resorts.

I read that a 10 percent gratuity is added to the bill and a family pays at the end of the meal instead of paying directly after selecting the food. How does this work with the meal plan? If we are required to pay a gratuity at the Pepper Market, will we have to carry cash with us in addition to our cards for our dining plan?

Thanks in advance for any information you can give us.

 

[buzznina]

The PM is great for the QS plan, everything is covered by the plan. I found a youtube clip that was pretty good awhile back that may help. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaNRJq4XIRs

 

[aladams2]

PepperMarket is now a buffet worth one quick service meal on the dining plan for lunch and breakfast. Dinner is the same as you mentioned, buy what you want and pay afterwards. You can take it "to go" and eat outside or buy the pool at dinner and there is no 10% charge. HTH

 

[lisam427]

we stayed there last september and had the ddp. with the ddp they didnt automatically charge you a required tip. if we ate there we just left it for the waiter (only ate there twice). most meals we just got them to go and ate either in our room or by the pool, avoiding the tips. the food was delicious. we loved pepermarket and ate all of our counter service meals there.

 

[ls3015]

Pepper Market stinks for expecting a tip from everyone, You don't have to pay one you you don't feel it's deserved. With what the price of the food is (HIGH) the tip should be included.

 

[catheren]

Pepper Market stinks for expecting a tip from everyone, You don't have to pay one you you don't feel it's deserved. With what the price of the food is (HIGH) the tip should be included.

The 10% tip charge (tip is not on to-go) it because the PM is TOTALLY different than all other WDW resort food courts. The PM doesn't expect a tip, it is a recommendation, because of the extras you are getting. YOU can decide when settling your bill NOT to pay the tip.

You are seated by a CM, you have cloth napkins, eat off regular plates (not plastic/styrofoam) and regular silverware/glassware, your CM will bring you water/drinks (not given a paper cup and you don't have to go to and get your own drink or refills). You then proceed to the station/s of your choice and order your meal, then immediately go back to your table and eat. And you eat a hot meal! The CM's keep returning to refill drinks, and clear your plates, especially if you go back for more food/dessert. The CM also cleans your table when you are finished. My opinion, the CM deserves 10% for all the above. Heck, people tip go to DD and tip more than 10% for a coffee!!

At the other food courts you have to wait in a line and pay before you can eat, (food is usually cold by the time you pay), and don't forget you have to find a table (get your own drinks, plastic utensils, paper napkins, and get your condiments) Or someone in your party has to find a table when you walk into the foodcourt and wait for you to do all the above... then don't forget to clean up your table when done dining.

Just my opinion, but a 10% tip at the PM is very acceptable,

A question for you ....do you tip your CM at a WDW buffet??

 

[HMGar]

I am a tipper. I used to work for tips, so if tipping is appropriate, I ALWAYS tip. The reason for this question and concern is because my family is trying to decide between CSR or POFQ. We get the dining plan because we don't want to worry about food costs once we're on vacation.

The concern over staying at CSR is that we will still have to worry about money out of our pocket even though we're on the plan. Since we are tippers, not tipping is not an option for us.

I think we will be staying at POFQ for this reason. We want our trip paid for and just enjoy our vacation once we're there. The only extra expense is going to be our souvenier purchases.

Thanks for the info all. It has helped make up our minds.

 

[catheren]

I am a tipper. I used to work for tips, so if tipping is appropriate, I ALWAYS tip. The reason for this question and concern is because my family is trying to decide between CSR or POFQ. We get the dining plan because we don't want to worry about food costs once we're on vacation.

The concern over staying at CSR is that we will still have to worry about money out of our pocket even though we're on the plan. Since we are tippers, not tipping is not an option for us.

I think we will be staying at POFQ for this reason. We want our trip paid for and just enjoy our vacation once we're there. The only extra expense is going to be our souvenier purchases.

Thanks for the info all. It has helped make up our minds.

Please re-read my post it was not geared directly to you and questioning your tipping. I was directing my post to the PP. But I do hope you found my info regarding how the PM works was helpful. Also, they are doing a "trial" buffet now for breakfast and lunch at the PM. It is QS, no tipping at breakfast and lunch. Also, CSR has RIX cafe for the QS no tipping, that you are looking for. Could be a QS dinner option at CSR. Take a look at the menus for both resorts on www.allears.net.

Personally, recommend CSR, it is a mederate with a "deluxe" resort feel. Best of luck with your tough desicion, but it will be great whatever choice you make!

 

[ls3015]

I totaly agree I would stay at POFQ before CSR too, One reason, you don't have to tip for the table settings or someone to get you a drink, I can still do that, I can throw away my own plate when i'm done, If i want to tip I will go to a TS resturant, Pepper Market Stinks from all the spices.

 

[jujube]

I totaly agree I would stay at POFQ before CSR too, One reason, you don't have to tip for the table settings or someone to get you a drink, I can still do that, I can throw away my own plate when i'm done, If i want to tip I will go to a TS resturant, Pepper Market Stinks from all the spices.

I think The Pepper Market's aromas are wonderful! All those spices-fabulous.

 

[catheren]

I think The Pepper Market's aromas are wonderful! All those spices-fabulous.

spices are a variety of LIFE!

 

[DizDaD7]

The 10% tip charge (tip is not on to-go) it because the PM is TOTALLY different than all other WDW resort food courts. The PM doesn't expect a tip, it is a recommendation, because of the extras you are getting. YOU can decide when settling your bill NOT to pay the tip.

You are seated by a CM, you have cloth napkins, eat off regular plates (not plastic/styrofoam) and regular silverware/glassware, your CM will bring you water/drinks (not given a paper cup and you don't have to go to and get your own drink or refills). You then proceed to the station/s of your choice and order your meal, then immediately go back to your table and eat. And you eat a hot meal! The CM's keep returning to refill drinks, and clear your plates, especially if you go back for more food/dessert. The CM also cleans your table when you are finished. My opinion, the CM deserves 10% for all the above. Heck, people tip go to DD and tip more than 10% for a coffee!!

At the other food courts you have to wait in a line and pay before you can eat, (food is usually cold by the time you pay), and don't forget you have to find a table (get your own drinks, plastic utensils, paper napkins, and get your condiments) Or someone in your party has to find a table when you walk into the foodcourt and wait for you to do all the above... then don't forget to clean up your table when done dining.

Just my opinion, but a 10% tip at the PM is very acceptable,

A question for you ....do you tip your CM at a WDW buffet??

Well said catheren...I too get mad when people tell me they hate eating there because of the tip issue. For everything you said, it to me by far is well worth it. I was at POR, this past Nov. & it just reminded me of the value food court. Always sooo crowded, Never anywhere to sit.. This you go in, get your food at a leisurly pace, sit in a such a beautifully decorated setting, enjoy the fact that youhave HOT food , rather than lukewarm from waiting for a seat, & drop maybe a $5 or something...I mean Really people, You're probably already spendeding somewhere bewteen $3000 & $6000 for you total vacation, Whats another 5 bucks a day.....Well worth the peace of mind..IMHO.

 

[DizDaD7]

Well said catheren...I too get mad when people tell me they hate eating there because of the tip issue. For everything you said, it to me by far is well worth it. I was at POR, this past Nov. & it just reminded me of the value food court. Always sooo crowded, Never anywhere to sit.. This you go in, get your food at a leisurly pace, sit in a such a beautifully decorated setting, enjoy the fact that youhave HOT food , rather than lukewarm from waiting for a seat, & drop maybe a $5 or something...I mean Really people, You're probably already spendeding somewhere bewteen $3000 & $6000 for you total vacation, Whats another 5 bucks a day.....Well worth the peace of mind..IMHO.

 

[Alsobrook]

Out of curiosity, what do you recommend tipping at Pepper for a family of four?

 

[DizDaD7]

Probably a $1 a person...Thats all is needed. but being that sometimes or most times you only have maybe 2 or 3 bucks on you, I always just leave a $5 bill. everyone is happy, and honestly Is that really going to strap you for the rest of you vaca..LoL

 

[Kae]

Having stayed at both go with POFQ. But when we did stay at CSR we also liked Cafe Rix better than the PM.

Kae

 

[Tigger1]

We have always tipped at PM. I would say 10% is a fair tip as they waiter does not take order, bring food to you, ect. They basically bring your drink, refill it and pick up your plates when finished. If you get exceptionally great service tip more. If service is poor, do as you feel.

 

[rznhal]

We stayed at csr in September, and pm was one of the best surprises of the trip! Food was wonderful (we ate there 3 or 4 times), service was the best of the week....consistently!! The five bucks a meal we left for our server was more than worth it!!! Also, some have reported servers reminded them about the tipping, we never experienced that. The servers were just awesome!!! Highly recommend pm! It's every bit as good as wpe, which is also on the qs plan but recommends a tip.

Happy planning!

 

[catheren]

Well said catheren...I too get mad when people tell me they hate eating there because of the tip issue. For everything you said, it to me by far is well worth it. I was at POR, this past Nov. & it just reminded me of the value food court. Always sooo crowded, Never anywhere to sit.. This you go in, get your food at a leisurly pace, sit in a such a beautifully decorated setting, enjoy the fact that youhave HOT food , rather than lukewarm from waiting for a seat, & drop maybe a $5 or something...I mean Really people, You're probably already spendeding somewhere bewteen $3000 & $6000 for you total vacation, Whats another 5 bucks a day.....Well worth the peace of mind..IMHO.

Thanks! I think you and I are on the same page!

 

[DJFan88]

First off I'll say I loved the Pepper Market, the food was definetly a cut above. We always got our food to go and I thought the system of collecting all of our different items (they give you to go boxes) was great. My son loved loved loved the dessert lady and her churros with ice cream! We always ate at the outside tables so tipping was not an issue.
Anyway, one time we decided to eat inside as it was pouring and I'm not sure what happened but no one would wait on us. I even went up and told the guy at the drink station that I was getting my drinks because no one was waiting on us. Still no one came, so I just proceeded to get all of our food as we usually do. It was really weird, I think we were a table in betweeen 2 waiters and no one wanted to claim us (( No! we weren't misbehaving!!!). Anyway, we didn't tip, and didn't try that again.