Dining Plan & Service

[staceylynnga]

We will visit WDW at the end of January 2009 and have, for the first time, opted for the basic Dining Plan. I have already reserved 5 ADRs for dinner (using 1 TS for each) and 1 character breakfast (Crystal Palace - paying out of pocket). I am nervous b/c I seem to find those dining reviews that express a lack of good service once the server finds out the family is on the dining plan. I am looking for any and all thoughts on this.

Thanks!

 

[imthatgirl]

we had bad service in only one restaurant and i truely believe we would have bad xervice regardless.
unless your a table of 6 or more the plan you are on has no effect on your bill.

 

[Monica20039]

It's in their best interest to provide good service since their tip isn't automatically included unless it's a larger party. Don't let the reviews get you down, take them with a grain of salt. There are so many people on the DDP that surely they can't provide bad service to everyone.

 

[Markstudy]

Just got back from 6 day trip on deluxe meal plan

Great service in 15 of 15 meals ( I was so full we skipped a lunch and two breakfasts or it would have been 18 meals 3x6)

It would be more fun if I could come her and rant and complain about something.... but nope! Service was perfect. How boring is that

California Grill
Jiko
Sci-Fi
O'hana(sp?) at the Poly
Chef Mickey
Norway Princess meal
Crystal Palace
and a few more....but you get the idea

 

[staceylynnga]

Thanks so much for your thoughts so far. My husband and I are generally good tippers (I've been a waitress - I know that servers rarely see their hourly). I do agree that many people will comment when they have a negative opinion. It's just easier for most people to complain. Thankfully, I have read some wonderful reviews on the boards. And while I can't see taking the camera out to photograph each dish (I think my husband would leave the table LOL), I do love the pictures. This trip it will just be me, my Dave, and our son Nathan (who'll be almost 19 months when we go).

We have ADRs at Kona, Le Cellier, Chefs de Fr, Boma, & Coral Reef. I suppose I was most concerned about Coral Reef & Chefs. Either being rushed or just too slow/disappearing waiter.

Thanks again!

 

[Cheshire Pirate]

We just got back last Saturday, and we had the six day free dining plan. We only did five TS meals, since we did Hoop Dee Doo and that is two credits a piece. We did:
Crystal Palace breakfast
Garden Grill lunch
Coral Reef lunch
Hoop Dee Doo 5:00 dinner
Chef Mickey's breakfast

I was very pleased with the service and the meals at all of them. Never once did we have to wait to be seated more than a few minutes, and the waiter at Coral Reef was so, so great when my son threw a tantrum, bringing him three little squishy toys to play with. We never felt rushed or felt like the restaurants were too crowded. In fact, lunch at Garden Grill was mostly empty.

BTW, we were never asked by the waiter/waitress if we were on the Dining Plan. The host/hostess always asked us that.

I would have thought that if the service was going to bad during any time of the year, it would be during the free dining plan time frame. That just wasn't true for us. I would do it again in a heartbeat.