Do you get treated differently when the staff finds out you're on the dining plan?

[Missy Mouse]

This is inspired by a response to another post I made regarding our dining experience at Boma. She said that once the staff found out she was on the dining plan they did not return for a good hour. This was experience twice while dining during the free DDP. The worst was at 'Ohana. Once our waitress found out her tip was secured, she ignored us the entire time. We had to flag her down to get our meat and she never brought us our sides for the meal, or the towels, and she screwed up our drinks. When we went back I actively requested a different waitress, and we had a great experience with her. She kept calling us "cousin" and was such a southern sweetheart. We left her an extra tip! I have learned not to tell the restaurant if we're on the plan unless they ask and I can honestly say there's a big difference in the quality of service.

 

[traviesojmt]

We were at WDW Aug 21-31 on the free dining plan. I can honestly say that our service was wonderful. The only place where our service was less than great was at Tony's Town Square. Our waiter was attentive, but had a generally sour disposition. I really don't think that it had anything to do with the dining plan however. He appeared to have the same disposition with every table he serviced. I did not feel that our being on the dining plan hampered our service at all.

 

[missycj96]

I have been to restaurants at disney many times over the past few years. This year we had the dining plan - there was no difference. All the servers were great and it was no different than when I was not on the dining plan.

 

[masonsmousermom]

We have only visited Disney with the DDP. While there were times that we did not receive great service, I think that it was more the server than the DDP. Other times we received impeccable service! I wouldn't worry about all of the hype with the free dining. There are plenty of others that are saying that service is great and food is fantastic as usual! Have fun!

 

[indigoxtreme]

We have been on the free plan last year and paid oop for the DDP in Feb. We had no difference at all in the service. All knew we were on the plan both times and our service, food, everything was magical. We also left extra tips at the TS meals as the service was well above normal.

 

[powellrj]

we did the dining plan for the first time this year. We had great service at all of our meals.

I can't say the same about other times we have been before the dining plan. Rainforest was so bad we have no desire to ever go back and we have never had good service at Hollywood and Vine and we have been there several times.

I think its really just luck of the draw and has very little to do with the dining plan.

 

[Amyrlin]

I am hoping that the servers are relaising they they can do very well out of DDP, getting the DDP tip and some extra as well.

 

[ReneeA]

We were there from 8/27 to 9/3 with the DDP and had really GREAT service the entire time we were there.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The only thing I'm confused about is that I didn't think the individual servers brought the skewers of meat to the tables? I thought those were other CMs whose specific purpose is to serve the meat?

 

[emmabelle]

We had great service, 8/22-8/29 and especially enjoyed 50's PT, the waiter was so nice telling us to just order two milkshakes instead of three since there were four of us sharing our last three credits. He brought an extra glass, so we didn't have to pay for an extra drink.

 

[P-Dust]

We had nothing but stellar service while on the DDP. (knock on wood...we have free dining in 22 days...) We always left an extra tip if they were attentive...and they were.

 

[Tam1067]

We had good service everywhere we went, I think, with the exception of some mediocre service at the Princess Storybook dinner in Norway--and we had the DDP.

 

[1000th happy haunt]

We tried the dining plan in May and received excellent service.

 

[momof4va]

This is inspired by a response to another post I made regarding our dining experience at Boma. She said that once the staff found out she was on the dining plan they did not return for a good hour. This was experience twice while dining during the free DDP. The worst was at 'Ohana. Once our waitress found out her tip was secured, she ignored us the entire time. We had to flag her down to get our meat and she never brought us our sides for the meal, or the towels, and she screwed up our drinks. When we went back I actively requested a different waitress, and we had a great experience with her. She kept calling us "cousin" and was such a southern sweetheart. We left her an extra tip! I have learned not to tell the restaurant if we're on the plan unless they ask and I can honestly say there's a big difference in the quality of service.

Just got beack yesterday and the service was great at all of the resturants except one, The Garden Grill. The kids did not get there deserts and they were trying to push us out of the restaurant. I guess they over booked. BTW the portion sizes are not smaller as someone else indicated in a post earlier. In fact the steaks at Le Cellier were huge. The Strip steaks were 2 1/2 - 3 inches thick and were at least 10 inches long. The looks on my kids faces were priceless when the wait staff set them in front of them. I think that the servers are happier that they are guaranteed at least 18%. I mean there are people out there who leave 15% or less.

 

[maxaroni]

We had a very positive experience, both this year and last on free dining. No complaints whatsoever with service.

 

[emememem]

Just back, had DDP through our DVC(not free), had excellent service throughout our short stay. We ate at Captain Jacks, living seas, and Concourse steak house....

 

[mrludwig]

The last time we went to WDW we had the dining plan with our package and at several restaurants our service changed dramatically as soon as they found out we were on the plan. Some of the places that we were treated bad were Chef Mickey's, O'Hana's, and Sci-Fi. Sci-Fi was the worst, the waiter actually rolled his eyse and made a face when we told him. I even went as far as asking him what the problem was. I asked him if they did not get a fair percent amount. We all ordered the appetizers, entree, and dessert so the bill should have been plenty high that he would have made a good tip. If we ordred an alcoholic drink or something that was not included we left a tip for that portion too.

We are going in 07/07 and I was nervous to get the dining plan after our experience the last time but after all I have read I decided to give it a try one more time. Plus my family likes to go to the table service restaurants and this is much more cost efficient.

 

[SnowWitch]

We vacationed in July and paid for the plan. The only meal where I felt ignored was at the Kona Cafe. Mind you we dined there twice for dinner and once for lunch and only had one poor experience. The server was not horrible she was just preoccupied with other tables. The other experiences we had were all very positive.