DCL won't accept server request!

[kcashner]

I just received an e-mail from guest relations at DCL, very politely giving me a list of reasons that they are unable to honor a request for a particular server. Isn't that interesting, since it was the head server who suggested that we could request our "friend" for our next sailing.

Oh well, we'll just have to do what we've done before--request a dining change as soon as we board.

 

[ohiominnie]

They will.....just not in advance.

We just sailed the Wonder and wanted to request the server we had last time. I went to the "request dining changes" area (in Wavebands) and asked if it was possible to get the server I wanted. I was on a PTAP rotation. Unfortunately, the server I wanted was starting in Tritons. They said they'd be happy to switch us to his rotation, but we dearly love the PTAP rotation so decided against it. We "took our chances" and ended up getting a MUCH better server (I didn't think that was possible!)

So, DCL was happy to accomodate my request once I was onboard, I just wasn't willing to change!

HTH

 

[rae519]

The past 4 cruises we have taken, we have always gone to Dining Room Changes upon embarkation to request specific servers/head servers/or/assistant servers. Again, we request this upon embarkation and to date, we have never been refused.

It is quite flattering to be "requested" and for us, we know we will get great service with "friends that are like family" to us now.

DCL has never taken requests prior to boarding because often the servers are on vacation and their return may be delayed. Case in point, a married couple (both servers) had to return to their native country after arriving at Orlando International because of a passport problem. They didn't make it on our cruise, but did get on the next one.

Just give it a "please" and a "smile" and you should be all set!!

Rae

 

[kcashner]

Thanks....you are right that always in the past, we have just made the request after we boarded. I only tried it in advance this time at the suggestion of the head server.

Oh well, we'll smile sweetly and try it in Sessions again. Course, DD loves to go see "the cute boy in Sessions." That "cute boy" is actually a head server, but ever since another cast member gave him that title.....

 

[ChattyKathy]

So give me a little jiggle here...who do I want to request for what and when?



Kathy

 

[rae519]

Hi Kathy - after 7 cruises on the Magic, these are my favorites -

Head Servers
MacLean (India)
Gaspare (Italy)

Servers/Assistant Servers
Alex (Phillipines)
Roberto (Peru)
Andrea (Hungary)
Giorgio (Brazil)
Dante (Phillipines)

There are many more but some have left DCL service, others moved into other positions -

This is only those that I have been served by and does not mean that they are the only ones I would recommend.

I also recommend Alina from Shutters for any personal pictures - she is drop dead georgeous and has a personality to match. And if Rico is back at Guest Services, he is the one answer man who can work miracles on the ship!

Yes, I have a lot of favorite people - but my most favorite will always be Fidelio - for his talent and personality at Dueling Pianos.

Rock on Piano Guy!

Rae

 

[gassmandy]

I'll second the idea of Maclean as head server........awesome.......genuine............and very handsome!!!!!
We just had Sunny--Philippines and Johnny--England. They were by far the best we'd ever had!!

 

[rae519]

Originally posted by gassmandy
I'll second the idea of Maclean as head server........awesome.......genuine............and very handsome!!!!!
!!

Ohhh, did I forget to say Maclean was very handsome?????
Now where are my manners!!!!!!!!!

As my 74 year old Mom said, "Oh my God, he is so handsome! He should have been a movie star!" Guess who got a REALLY big tip from Mom that cruise!!!!!!!!!

Maclean goes out of his way for all his guests. If you happen to mention that you like something, don't be surprised if you find it at your table for dinner the next night. I was telling him about my fixation for orange mango soup and rum - well, he made sure that I had it the next night!!! (The soup not the rum!)

I can't wait til our April 17 cruise - just skip by Christmas and head straight to Easter!

Rae

 

[jilljill]

Rae,
Would the Andrea from Hungary you are mentioning happen to married to another server that is also from Hungary? I can't think of his name at the moment. If so we had her last year and liked her a lot.
For head servers we really like Sam from England and Alan from Croatia.

 

[PiperG]

Is there a way to check if a server still works on DCL? We had our first cruise experience in December '01, and were treated so wonderfully by Katarina from Croatia. I know she won't remember us, but it would be special to have her as our server.

We sent her a thank you note and pictures afterwards, as we have done with our other servers, asst. servers and stateroom hosts. Do they get them? I sure hope so.

 

[rae519]

Yes, jilljill - Zoran and Andrea were turned back at Immigration because of a passport problem on their return from vacation. I was looking for them, and another CM told me. I did hear that it was a minor thing and they were able to return to the Magic the following week (ohh, but that bite from the airfare!).

There are a few married CM's but they do not discuss it and unless you get lucky, you won't find out. Part of the Disney "hush-hush".

Personally, I could care less who is married to whom - I just like that smile and "Welcome Home" from the friendly faces!

Rae

 

[kcashner]

The good thing is that Disney covers their airfare!

 

[rae519]

Disney does that! Wow! That's great - I always felt so bad because I thought they had to pay for it themselves!!

Thanks for the info!
Rae

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Originally posted by PiperG
Is there a way to check if a server still works on DCL? We had our first cruise experience in December '01, and were treated so wonderfully by Katarina from Croatia. I know she won't remember us, but it would be special to have her as our server.

We sent her a thank you note and pictures afterwards, as we have done with our other servers, asst. servers and stateroom hosts. Do they get them? I sure hope so.

Piper, Katarina was our server on the Wonder in November. She was fabulous and I wanted to take her home with me as she knew how to put my DH in his place. He was always going on about dessert so the one night she would not take his dessert order and brought him out one of everything. Made our whole table's night!

 

[kcashner]

According to my server for the last trip, Disney covers all expenses on the ship (food, uniforms, housing, medical), provides them with internet access so that they can e-mail home, and provides all transportation expenses home for their vacations. However, they get very little in the way of salary, and basically work for tips. I was also able to confirm that if you charge your tips, they get all of it--Disney does not take a portion as a handling charge or anything.

Since they are not US citizens and the ship is registered in the Bahamas, they so not pay US taxes, and are not covered by US labor laws. Thus, they can work long hard hours for low wages, etc. Most of them are very happy. One server told me that he makes nearly 10 times as much on the ship as he could at home. Many of the servers, etc. are supporting families in their home countries. Others are young people out for a good time. I'm not sure how much they are supposed to tell.....but we have many "friends" who have been on the ship with us since the inaugural sailing!

 

[PiperG]

Thanks Miss Jasmine!

I just called DH and he was thrilled! We are going to the appropriate place once we get on the boat and ask for her!

 

[inkkognito]

We just saw Katarina on the Wonder Thanksgiving weekend! She wasn't our server (although she has been in the past), but we saw her at the embarkation lunch in Parrot Cay. She is great!
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[whytcrystal]

We had MacLean as our Headserver in Sept 01 as well. Do the 'Teams' tend to stay together? We had Iguste (sp) and Elle and they were terrific! Would like to ask for them again.

 

[PiperG]

O.k. . .I gotta ask. . .

How does DCL do these swaps? I thought we had tickets in our stateroom with our dining times and table numbers. If we swap tables to get with Katarina, they must have to remove a family and put them elsewhere. How does that family get notified of the change?

Thanks.

 

[kcashner]

No, they do not "swap" you with another family. You go to Sessions with your meal tickets. If they have room, they will move you to the server team that you have requested and note in their computer that your old table is now empty (or has X number of spaces, or whatever.) Not a lot of people ask for a particular server, although that is becomming a more common request. The standard request is to change to a different seating time or a different rotation.

So...say you are on first seating with Joe starting in Animators. You request Katrina, so are moved to late seating starting in Parrot (hypothetically). That allows a family which wanted early but couldn't get it at the time they booked to move to early (if they ask).....does this make sense?

Teams do NOT stay together, since they are on different vacation schedules, etc. They usually stay until one member is going on vacation, then they pair the remaining crew member with someone else. We have a favorite server. We have had him paired with 4 different assistants, 3 different head servers.