Dine and Dash (as in, not paying for your meal)

[ethanwa]

Yesterday was Mother's Day and I took my wife and two kids to Via Napoli in Epcot for dinner. We were seated next to two overweight woman, one white one black, and a young boy child, maybe 6-7 years old. They looked to be from Chicago seeing all of the Chicago Bears football team stuff they had on. I am being extra descriptive to give you a picture in your mind of what they looked like.

Anyway, I noticed when they were done with their meal they were acting strange. One woman put the backpack on on her kid, got up, and left towards the front exit. I thought nothing of it at first because maybe they needed to be somewhere or go to the bathroom or something. But then the other woman a minute later started looking around, and then just stared over at our waiter. As soon as the waiter turned his back and left the area, she bolted for the exit! I knew almost immediately that they were doing a "dine and dash". I saw no bill on their table, nor did I remember seeing the server bring a bill.

Sure enough, the waiter came over and wondered where they went. I told him I think they left without paying. As time went by, our suspicions were confirmed. What a bunch of jerks! I don't understand how you can afford to go to Disney World, but can't afford food?

My question is:
- Since the people eating most likely reserved their table with a credit card (because it was Mother's Day and there was no walk-up seating), can they track these people down?
- Not being in the food industry, does this happen often?
- And what can/does Disney World do about this?

It really pisses me off because we all have to pay more in higher food prices to cover the losses from people who steal!

 

[Mommy2TwoMickeys]

Ugh!!! What A Disgrace!!!! I sure hope Disney can track them down!

 

[Aggiegrl]

I'm not sure if Disney will anything, but the answer to can they track them down is absolutely.

Even as a walk up with no credit card history, there are cameras everywhere in the park. Every time you scan your admission media at a turnstile, restaurant, or fastpass, Disney knows your location. I about 2 years ago, as we were getting off Buzz, security was waiting. I was nosy and watched as stolen merchandise was removed from a family's backpack.

 

[NYDisGuy]

No wonder the prices keep going up. I'm pretty sure they can track them down since they assign the table to the name, although they could easily dispute the CC charge since they never signed the bill. I'm guessing the server could contact security to be on the lookout for these people too and they could setup at the exits. Truly disgraceful.

 

[jeffbear]

I'm not sure if Disney will anything, but the answer to can they track them down is absolutely.

Even as a walk up with no credit card history, there are cameras everywhere in the park. Every time you scan your admission media at a turnstile, restaurant, or fastpass, Disney knows your location. I about 2 years ago, as we were getting off Buzz, security was waiting. I was nosy and watched as stolen merchandise was removed from a family's backpack.

Yeah ... and as they continue to increase the use of Magic Bands (and thus RIFD chips on nearly every guest), tracking down people who engage in troublesome behavior will become less and less difficult. They have those passive RFID data collection points all over the parks, after all. Sooner or later they'll be able to track down your location quite easily.

I mean ... that's great for safety and security (imagine how much more quickly they can locate a lost child), but I'm sure it will causing some privacy concerns in the general community.

 

[bastos]

When I waited tables, usually one table a night would leave w/o paying in the restaurant. Low rent? Absolutely. Of course, we have no idea WHY they left. Maybe they had an emergency... The kid took off... A death... I could think of a few reasons I would leave quickly - but most of them, I would probably alert someone.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I assume they can track these people down unless they were walk-ins.

 

[TimothyG]

Yes, they can track them down and it happens frequently.

Disney is pretty much the worst place to commit a crime. They have surveillance EVERYWHERE. With the exception of your hotel room and the bathroom, you can safely assume that you are on camera. They scan your MagicBand at every store, restaurant and attraction you walk into (those locations that don't have it yet, it's coming). There are also security officers in plain clothes enjoying the park all day and watching people.

My guess is that they were probably tracked down by a security guard later in the day and given a trespassing order (which means they can never step foot on the FL property again); however, there is a chance that they weren't. A lot of people are in the park and it's impossible for Disney to catch everything. They have a budget set aside for theft so it's expected for this to happen. It's not really worth it for Disney to investigate something that only cost them a few bucks.

 

[Boudin]

Precisely the kind of garbage I go to WDW to escape.

 

[ChernabogHades]

What do the ladies sizes and or ethnicities have anything to do with the story? It may have been classless for them to dine and ditch, but it was equally classless to imply their weight had anything to do with their actions.. Kind of like if someone says "I'm not saying this to be rude.." Guess what, they're about to be rude. Where you giving physical descriptions so we could be on the lookout for overweight Bears fans and steer clear?

 

[asmit4]

I also have to ask you- why did you post about their weight and skin color??? Seems to me you have some deep issues that need addressing.

If both people were white with blond hair and a size 6, would you have posted that information?? Somehow I think we both know the answer to that.

 

[Boudin]

Wait a second... Did you just imply that giving an accurate description of somebody is equally as classless as committing a crime? Witnessed by children? Hardly.

 

[jmkrat]

I don't agree with the dining and ditching, but why did you have to post all this about weight, where they came from etc? I actually find it more bothersome that you were so busy minding their business and keeping such a close eye on them. Couldn't you just have enjoyed your meal and family and left the cast members to deal with everything else?

 

[JimmyV]

I assumed that the description was provided so that they could be caught, or recognized by others who happen to be down there. It is difficult to read any racism into this since one woman was white and one was African-American. Tough to make out a case here that the OP was drawing any conclusions there.

I am being extra descriptive to give you a picture in your mind of what they looked like.

 

[pktbMouse]

Oh my goodness.. whats wrong with you people..the OP was only telling a story!! stop being so sensitive and get off your soap boxes..people are just so touchy these days and flame people for the least little thing...its getting where Im scared to write anything on these boards anymore for fear of being flamed...no doubt I will even get flamed for this comment...let it commence as I put on my flameproof cape...

 

[Frankiemack]

I did this once in Disney - ACCIDENTALLY!

Our first time using the dining plan, our first meal was Chef Mickey's. We had ADR's, confirmed we were on the DDP, and enjoyed our meal. Knowing that everything was included, except for the tip, our waitress brought over our receipt, I didn't even look - left a cash tip then walked out.

At our next meal, the next day, I almost did the same thing but our waitress stopped us and explained that we had to actually provide our KTTW at the time to charge the dining plan to! On my receipt, I noticed the Chef Mickey's meal was not deducted.

That same night, I went back to our hotel, POP, and went right to guest services to embarrassingly explain what happened. The CM confirmed that Chef Mickey's was not deducted from my DDP and proceeded to tell me, "Hey, that was yesterday - it is over with and it looks like you have an extra TS credit to use during your stay." She even offered to make me another reservation...

I was shocked by the CM response...even with her assurance, I didn't use those TS credits due to the fear that it would come back to bite me. When I checked out and used the last of my snack credits, I still had the TS credits there.

 

[pktbMouse]

I assumed that the description was provided so that they could be caught, or recognized by others who happen to be down there. It is difficult to read any racism into this since one woman was white and one was African-American. Tough to make out a case here that the OP was drawing any conclusions there.

I assumed this too

 

[rlduvall]

And if you think dining and dashing is the reason Disney's prices are through the roof I have a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn...

That's good.

As for the Dine and Dash - I don't appreciate what they did, but I firmly believe that what goes around comes around.

 

[22my]

Please don't make more of this than intended. I am an obese woman and wasn't at all offended by the description. I appreciate the detailed description because, as a writer, it helps the situation come to life in my mind. I am also a type to give very detailed descriptions of things, and would hate to think people thought I was racist or prejudiced just because I was describing someone. Seems like the "witch hunts" of old are coming back to life as "racist hunts". Let it go!

 

[KimK2006]

Oh my goodness.. whats wrong with you people..the OP was only telling a story!! stop being so sensitive and get off your soap boxes..people are just so touchy these days and flame people for the least little thing...its getting where Im scared to write anything on these boards anymore for fear of being flamed...no doubt I will even get flamed for this comment...let it commence as I put on my flameproof cape...

When I read the post, I knew what was coming......