Do you tell server TIW before ordering?

[mjr0483]

Do you tell the server you will be using TIW when they first visit the table?
My fear is with the built in gratuity service may take a step back.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

No, after. Unless they specifically ask about TIW. (Note that TIW is not a dining plan. they will ask you if you are on a dining plan. You can say no.)

Unless it's the pub, where the bartenders will hold my TIW card for me to run a tab. I like that better than my credit card being held...

I see this fear a lot but I have not ever experienced it. There's a built in tip for parties of 6 or more too. The server can see right off if there are 6 or more at the table - no hiding that. And when I've been with a large party, I've seen very little of this service slip that people seem to fear. And...you can reduce the tip by speaking to a manager if you don't like the service.

 

[bumbershoot]

Nope. It’s not a dining plan, so they don’t need to know ahead of time.

 

[HopperFan]

I always tell them so they are prepared when time to run the bill. Why would I? Because it saves me waiting an extra back and forth to adjust the bill, which can be 10 minutes or so I can get back to enjoying my day. And, there is no reason not to ... they ask if you are on any dining plans? or however they word it ... while not technically the AP and the TiW are discounted dining memberships.

If anything it would be a nod that I get a 20% discount, so maybe I'll add dessert if I'm enjoying myself, or order extra drinks since alcohol is covered. AND if the service is good I might add more to the tip rounding them to 20%. It's in their best interest to keep us happy.

I have rarely had poor service and honestly, those times I had Free Dining ...........

 

[gillep]

I always do, I feel like I have a better chance of actually remembering to use it if the server knows about it too, but I am notoriously bad with remembering to use things like loyalty programs, discounts, and coupons.

I have never felt like I received poor service due to the server knowing about the TIW ahead of time, but it isn't something that has ever really crossed my mind to think about.

 

[Hopefully]

We always do too. I have never experienced less service because they this

 

[TeresaWen]

We always do. Never ever had a service issue.

 

[SanderMC]

I always tell them up front. When they ask if we're on the dining plan I always say no but I do have TIW. Never had bad service because of it.

 

[lovin'fl]

We used to and began to notice horrible service at our must-do place, Ohana. After several crappy visits, we took Ohana off our list for 4 years. After a while, we missed it so when we started going back I thought I'd try telling them I had TIW at the end of the meal. And what do you know...great service again. Going for our 3rd trip back next week.

 

[cluvsdisney]

I always tell them up front. When they ask if we're on the dining plan I always say no but I do have TIW. Never had bad service because of it.

I do the exact same thing so they don't just bring the check then have to re-run it with the TIW discount. We never had bad service because the tip was automatic.

 

[Deb & Bill]

They usually ask if you are on any dining plan when they take your order. When we had TIW, we always told them at that time and it was never a problem. Same with DVC or AP discount.

 

[MikeOhio]

TIW is not a dining plan. There is really nothing to gain from telling them ahead of time.

I always tell them at the end of the meal.

 

[bumbershoot]

TIW is not a dining plan. There is really nothing to gain from telling them ahead of time.

I always tell them at the end of the meal.

As we’re finishing up, but before the check, I tended to pull the TIW card and my ID out (often as the server checks on us so they see it) and place them on the table, so they knew it before running the check.

But I wasn’t keeping it from them ahead of time for service concerns.

It’s simply that it’s not a Dining plan, so the answer is “no” when they ask about a Dining plan.

And the very first time, when I told them of TIW at the beginning, they forgot anyway, so...

 

[pattyw]

Yes- we always tell them . We've never experienced bad service because of it. If we get really good service, we add to the automatic gratuity.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

[QUOTE="bumbershoot, post: 58880323, member: 141567"]As we’re finishing up, but before the check, I tended to pull the TIW card and my ID out (often as the server checks on us so they see it) and place them on the table, so they knew it before running the check.

But I wasn’t keeping it from them ahead of time for service concerns.

It’s simply that it’s not a Dining plan, so the answer is “no” when they ask about a Dining plan.

And the very first time, when I told them of TIW at the beginning, they forgot anyway, so... [/QUOTE]

I pull out the TIW card as well. I don't think I've ever been asked for my ID, but I always charge to the room using my MagicBand and the names match. Never had a problem. I usually increase the gratuity to be at least 20%, sometimes all the way to 25% if the service has been exceptional.

 

[CinderALLIE]

Another person for not mentioning it. I don't want to risk potentially getting bad service because they know automatically included and others have stated it is not a dining plan. I also don't care if it takes longer to run as I get to enjoy the AC more before heading out into the sweltering heat LOL.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I've been asked for an ID. But I don't see that they need to have it before time to pay. I usually hand them both the TIW and the credit card and they run them at the same time. It's not that I think I will get bad service for having one, it's just that I don't see the point of mentioning it before ordering because it's not relevant then (but the dining plan is, because the checks are run differently).

 

[gharter]

We usually tell them up front that we have TIW. Never had bad service at any restaurant where we have used it. If anything, the service may be better. If you paid for the card, it takes spending so much to break even or save. You may be more likely to be a higher spending table per person.

 

[Princess_Lisa]

I always do, I feel like I have a better chance of actually remembering to use it if the server knows about it too, but I am notoriously bad with remembering to use things like loyalty programs, discounts, and coupons.

I have never felt like I received poor service due to the server knowing about the TIW ahead of time, but it isn't something that has ever really crossed my mind to think about.

I've forgotten to mention discounts a number of times, but one time that hurt the most was during the 45th when some places were giving 20% passholder discounts. I mentioned to the person who seated me that I was a passholder, but forgot to mention it to the server. Didn't think about it until later when I was looking over my receipts.

 

[Dean Marino]

YES, we DO. Been doing this for years. 16 SIG Restaurant visits per year x 12 years = 192 meals.

Not ONCE have we experienced poor service, or lack of attention. On the contrary - ALL staff has treated us like Royalty.
Just a guess, but KNOWING that there will be a minimum 18% gratuity helps a LOT. I said "minimum", because we generally bump this up to our preferred 20%.

TIW is not some DDP ... and the staff knows it.

All personal opinion - I'm not necessarily right, no one else is necessarily wrong.