Is the turn around for the bill getting longer?

[MaryKatesMom]

I haven't been in a few months but last week in every restaurant the service was slow. Some were slow with drinks, some were slow with the food but each and everyone left me sitting there waiting for the bill with the record going to Le Cellier. I could see the waitress waiting to run the bill through, there must have been some sort of problem, maybe this was happening at all of the TS restaurant. Maybe there was a billing problem at the computer because she was in line waiting to run my card through. I felt bad for her, she was clearly embarassed.

We'd be long done before I could find a server to get the bill. The table would get cleared. I'd get the bill, put down my DDE and resort key and wait some more. It would take a while to be picked up and was never immediately returned. It was a running joke who would be "Bill Girl" or "Bill Boy". The person designated to wait for the credit card to be returned while the rest of the family left the restaurant.

I'm not blaming the servers each one was pleasant and helpful. Everyone got a 20% gratuity. But the problem was so consistent that it did feel like they had to run to the castle to do the transaction or something.

Did they change the computer system or make some change in billing that would cause this? Is this the result of the automatic 18% being added?

I'm not complaining just observing and curious.

 

[IluvKingLouis]

That's funny, as I felt rushed at every sit down. For me the sitdowns are a chance to get away from the chaos and relax. I've been to Europe and I'm not suggesting that I should have to wait an hour for our check , but on our last trip we had entree's brought to our table 4 minutes after our appies....talk about feeling rushed!

 

[Uncleromulus]

Last week the only place where everything was slow seemed to be at Citrico's.

 

[BuffaloGal]

The computers were being updated in the past week. However, what was probably the problem was actually your DDE card. DDE cards require a manager approval to be put through and it's not always easy to find your manager. You'll reduce your time a bit by mentioning that you have it when you order your last course and giving it to your server. That way, he/she can track down a manager while you are munching and not waiting.

 

[garneska]

We were just at Disney Dec 18 to 21. We had the same experience with wait times for our bill and we also have DDE. We waited 30 minutes to get our bill from breakfast at Kona. We were also told Disney was updating the computers from the manager. I think it is strange that Disney would update just before Christmas as the busy time is approaching. I also have a complaint about DDE. Why should the server need a manager to get the discount? I have a valid card, shouldn't the server just be able to run the card and have the discount approved. What is the point of a card? Needless to say it is a bit annoying.

 

[OrlandoMike]

I think it is strange that Disney would update just before Christmas as the busy time is approaching.

Getting the computers ready for the changes in 2008 with DDE and DDP.

I have a valid card, shouldn't the server just be able to run the card and have the discount approved. What is the point of a card? Needless to say it is a bit annoying.

You would think! My only thought is a server could purchase a card for themselves, and then swipe their own card to discount checks thus "stealing" from the company.

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

My only thought is a server could purchase a card for themselves, and then swipe their own card to discount checks thus "stealing" from the company.

How would using the server's DDE card versus the guest's DDE card be stealing? Isn't it the same 20% discount?

 

[suzannews]

We are still having computer problems in my restaurant. On Friday night, only 1 of 5 computers were working. The new updates for 2008 have overloaded the system.

 

[buzzgirls&dad]

We were at WDW from Dec8th-19th and didn't really find dinning to be slow but getting the bill took forever. We too had a running joke about how long it would take to get the bill. We kept saying for restuarants that have such back logs for ressies they might want to speed up the billing process. I don't really think it had anything to do with the DDE or DDP as be paid OOP. (how's that for a Dis sentence)

 

[Cindy's Mom]

I blame the DDP. DDP is responsible for everything WRONG in WDW

(FTR, I'm a 4 time proud user of the DDP and its a joke people)

 

[OrlandoMike]

How would using the server's DDE card versus the guest's DDE card be stealing? Isn't it the same 20% discount?

A guest comes in and orders $100.00 in food. Leaves $115.00 in cash. The server swipes their own DDE card knocking the bill down to $80.00. The $15.00 tip just went to a $35.00 tip.

 

[udsweetpea]

As a server at Disney, I feel the pain. For the DDE card, I need to hunt down a manager or a cashier to swipe their card to give you the discount. Add that on to the quadruple seating I just got and the four separate checks I just got for a DDP, and there's the "slow" you're talking about.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

The computers were being updated in the past week. However, what was probably the problem was actually your DDE card. DDE cards require a manager approval to be put through and it's not always easy to find your manager. You'll reduce your time a bit by mentioning that you have it when you order your last course and giving it to your server. That way, he/she can track down a manager while you are munching and not waiting.

Thanks. I knew there was a computer issue of some sort. We had some great servers so it didn't make any sense to suddenly slow down right when I'm about to tip them.

I understand about getting the manager and we'll do that next month.