How do you NOT tip a bad server on free dining???

[nurseypoo5]

I'm appalled at reading how so many of you have had faltering service from CMs at TS restaurants lately. Its even more appalling knowing that im basically forced to tip someone who might otherwise be so rude to me that I might infact have a ruined meal because of a server.

If this were the case, than i feel its my right as a customer to UNDER tip, or worse, not tip at all. I'm not talking about someone who is simply a bit slow, or new, im talking about one who makes me feel uncomfortable by sighing at my requsts, eye rolling, disappearing thru the whole meal, generally sucking at his job.

These servers make great tip money. Where else would you (in real life) take your family of 4 to a restaurant that costs 140.00 and tip them nearly 20%...most of us do NOT make it a habit to spend 170-200 on a large meal for 4 family members, including tip and tax.

I expect 5 star service from waiters when i'm paying 5 star prices. Yes i know Disney charges 5 star prices for 3 star dining, but still...it must be a pretty coveted waiter job.


What can one do if one is treated with poor service. It seems it would be most irritating to know that the waiter KNOWS that no matter how sucky he is, he still gets a tip.

yeah, that is annoying.

 

[zurgswife]

Talk to the manager is your only recourse. For free dining they are tipped automatically you have no control.

 

[indigoxtreme]

Fortunately the two trips we have used the dinning plan we have always had great service and I have left extra tip as it is only 18% they get not 20%, when I have real good service at home I always tip 20%, so when I have excellent service I increase this to 22 to 25%. However if I would ever have bad service I would immediately get up and ask for the manager from another server since mine is probably no where to be found. If the manager does not please you with a decent outcome, call Disney Dining immed even while in the restaurant and report the server and the manager.

I think the only places I hear about poor service is in the WS at some of those restaurants. This of course does not include LeCellier as it has always been excellent food and service. I believe that all in all your service should be excellent. Just don't expect the worse, expect the best. Disney is really pushing this dining plan and they will take poor comments seriously.

 

[patsal]

Expect the best and ask for a manager if it becomes an unbearable experience. No one should feel less important just because the DDP was free.

 

[mom2my3kids]

It's hard as a serving not tipping someone. But I would make a fuss to the manager if I get horrible service..

 

[salmoneous]

If Disney works like most resorts, tips are split and shared (can somebody confirm?) So (1) the server isn't getting nearly as much money as you think and (2) not tipping wouldn't really affect your server.

Personally, I love the idea of included tips - it puts us one step closer to doing away with tips altogether. For folks on the Dining Plan, tips are essentially gone. The cost of paying the CM's is built into the price you pay. Just like the cost of paying the CM's at the resorts and parks and built into the price we pay there. Why on earth do we have a system where Disney underpays some CM's, and expects customers to make up the difference with direct payments?

Just like at the parks and resorts, I don't think the lack of a tip is going to drive CM behavior.

 

[melomouse]

Sometimes I wonder if those who EXPECT bad service are more likely to GET bad service...

The answer, of course, nurseypoo, is that you would speak to a manager, as you would in any other restaurant.

I take all the comments with a grain of salt. Though I think the restaurants are more crowded due to DDP, I do not thus conclude that my service will be bad on my upcoming trip. We know that there have been cutbacks at WDW over time - thus we read reports here on the DIS about mousekeeping slip-ups, stressed CM's at check-in, and the occasional surly server.

As for the tipping of 20% - yes, it's the norm. Mileage may vary depending on personal /regional habits.

 

[Nancyg56]

We paid for our DP last January, and I was very happy with the quality of the wait staff. All were informative, and friendly, and made each meal enjoyable. We only had one server that was less than stellar, and he was still very good, I would have left the tip. In the event that your service is substandard, report your CM to the manager.

We will be going during the free dining, and I assume that the CM.s will be very busy.

 

[jarrdisney]

I was on the dining plan once. I had an awful meal at CA Grill and they comped the whole thing and had us back for "free." I doubt they will undertip the server, rather offer you something in return. But heck, your "eating for free on the DDP or saving tons of money." (insert sarcasm here) So why complain about it?

 

[Hanover]

We went during free dining last August and had great service in every restaurant except Chef Mickey's. Our waiter there forgot our son's milk and didn't come back to the table or anywhere close for 20 mintues. He also never refilled our drinks. He did apologize and was very nice, I think he was just really overwhelmed with tables. He was the only one that we did not tip additionally. Each of our other wait staff we tipped at least $5 more. At that time, we were never asked by a waiter/waitress if we were on the DDP. When we went in January 2006, we were asked (we were on the DDP) and still had excellent service. We went in May 2006 and were asked only at 50's Prime Time if we were on the "packaged plan" (we were not on the DDP) and had great service again.

 

[CathrynRose]

If this were the case, than i feel its my right as a customer to UNDER tip, or worse, not tip at all.

You must be a *joy* to wait on.

The tip is included with your dining plan - and in your case, it's free...so no, you cant under tip, or -stiff- your server.

If youre THAT disgusted and annoyed with your service for the meal, then talk to a manager.

 

[cuscott]

You are on the free dining plan, so everything is FREE. Is it really worth possibly costing someone their job, because you are not happy with your service for a meal that you didn't even pay for? If the service is ever THAT bad, and I have never ever had service THAT bad at disney then yes speak to a manager.

 

[Sonno]

Well, you can do what I do at home.

When a waiter/waitress screws up, annoys me too much, /sighs, acts like an idiot... and all that stuff... I just mentally deduct money from what I would have tipped them for each occurance. Like if a waitress keeps coming to my table and asking us if everything is ok every 5 mins or so, each time I deduct a quarter ($0.25) from her overall tip. At the end I figure out the tip ammount minus what I'm deducting and that's what they get.

Works for me.

 

[tw1nsmom]

We've never done the dining plan. However, if I was ever in the situation you describe I would contact the manager and insist on another server making sure that they are the ones who receive the tip.

Having said that, I would only do that if the server was overtly rude to me. It is almost impossible to determine if slow service is the fault of the server or of the kitchen or management. Most poor service I've had was due to the server having been given too many tables and the hostess not understanding how to stagger seating parties in different sections. Servers also have little control over the speed in which the kitchen produces orders. Yes, in some restaurants it's the servers job to time the order, but in many more, the kitchen staff take control. It wouldn't be fair to penalize the server for something that may not be their fault.

I don't mind if people make mistakes, as long as they happily correct them. As I said before, I would only withhold a tip or change servers if the server was rude.

 

[faindrops27]

Tw1nsmom,

You are right,working as a chef. I know. Firsthand. That it all starts from the kitchen. If we are bogged down, in the kitchen. Then everything slows down . Even though the Op. Mentioned. She was not talking about slow service. Just a disgruntled server. Anyhow, who cares. Like another poster said. Take everything with a grain of salt. Everyone has bad days, eh? Go on vacation, thinking about how much fun it will be, getting free food, and free tips. Enjoy!!

 

[hanncam]

About 4 years ago we had HORRIBLE service from this waiter at Rainforest cafe. We had a party of 10 and not only did the server never bother to show up, but he forgot to put in half of our orders with no apology. Half the people were eating while the other half had to wait. I can still remember my children having to go eat after their aunt and uncles plate cause our food had never been put in.... Finally after not seeing the waiter in a looonnngg time we got our food and some of it was not what had even ordered... It was a horrible 2 hours and finally a manager came and comped the entire meal with apologies...I did not hesitate to tell the manager about the neglect from the waiter....

On the other hand, when we have excellent service, we reply in kind. I remember one incident at the 50's prime time where the waitress was so helpful and so great that I made it a point to stop and tell the manager how great that person was and tipped accordingly

 

[NeverlandClub23]

Personally, I love the idea of included tips - it puts us one step closer to doing away with tips altogether. For folks on the Dining Plan, tips are essentially gone.

I couldn't agree with you more!

 

[mom2my3kids]

Sorry but that is plain silly. Do you realize that is our job, I know where I work I have steps I HAVE TO FOLLOW.. YES we have actual secret shoppers that come in and rate us. If we do bad, we do hear about it. We have to be at your table within 3 minutes after you are seated. We have to introduce the specials, take your order, as if you would like a extra side (toast), repeat your order, deliver your food within so much time, depending on breakfast or dinner. Check on you after 3 minutes of delivering your food, check back after 6-10 minutes after that. Then prebus your table and tell you to have a good day and come back and see us. So what you do is plain wrong, because it may be that restaraunts policy and not the server.

Well, you can do what I do at home.

When a waiter/waitress screws up, annoys me too much, /sighs, acts like an idiot... and all that stuff... I just mentally deduct money from what I would have tipped them for each occurance. Like if a waitress keeps coming to my table and asking us if everything is ok every 5 mins or so, each time I deduct a quarter ($0.25) from her overall tip. At the end I figure out the tip ammount minus what I'm deducting and that's what they get.

Works for me.

 

[Mariposa]

Well, you can do what I do at home.

When a waiter/waitress screws up, annoys me too much, /sighs, acts like an idiot... and all that stuff... I just mentally deduct money from what I would have tipped them for each occurance. Like if a waitress keeps coming to my table and asking us if everything is ok every 5 mins or so, each time I deduct a quarter ($0.25) from her overall tip. At the end I figure out the tip ammount minus what I'm deducting and that's what they get.

Works for me.

Ya know, I've seen this theory presented in a couple of threads recently and I'm going to have to print this out for a couple people I know. I was a server off and on for several years and would occassionally have a truly obnoxious customer who would pull this routine. (At least you don't mention telling the server you're deducting from their tip, so kudos on that.) People never seem to believe anyone would actually do that.. "That's twice she bothered me during dinner, subtract 50 cents.. She didn't put enough ice in my drink, another quarter gone!" I've always felt that a tip is earned through the overall attitude of the server and flow of the service- the nicer the place the better I expect these things to be- not on the exact number of times the server checks on you. (The 'the server checked on us too many times' complaint has never really flown with me anyway.. What? You're angry that they're eager to wait on you?)

Outside of my rant about that... If I had a server that sighed and pulled on of these --> when I ordered things, was generally rude to me, etc.. I would definitely ask to speak to a manager- that's just not acceptable, no matter what I paid for my dinner. If I want to be treated badly by the person bringing the food to my table I'd attend more holiday meals with my family.

 

[theprincess]

Tips are included?? I must have forgot about that makes the free dining plan even better~wait till I tell my DH he will be even happier.