It was bound to happen...

[pooch]

yes, a great deal of thread space has been devoted to the demise of "service" at the TS restaurants. The blame for this has been laid, time and again, at the foot of the automatic 18% tip associated with the DDP. Complaints far and wide that servers are not doing their job because they know the tip will be there.

Well, be careful what you wish for!!! Flame suit on!

 

[gina2000]

I believe bad service can be attributed to overcrowded restaurants and a lack of support staff both of which I have seen at WDW in the last year.

 

[DisneyBaby2004]

yes, a great deal of thread space has been devoted to the demise of "service" at the TS restaurants. The blame for this has been laid, time and again, at the foot of the automatic 18% tip associated with the DDP. Complaints far and wide that servers are not doing their job because they know the tip will be there.

Well, be careful what you wish for!!! Flame suit on!

No flames from me as I was going to post exactly the same thing.

 

[bicker]

We must have been very lucky in February. We spend an entire week at WDW, on the Dining Plan, and didn't encounter much bad service at all.

 

[cherokeemamma]

I have done the DDP 2 x's and have only rec'd poor service at one TS location. I blame that on the fact the ac wasn't working and it was hotter than hades. It was a miserable experience all the way around. Otherwise , we have had outstanding service.

 

[Mickey-4-Me]

We had "bad" service once. At Chef Mickey's, our server took our drink order and disappeared for the night. We had plates stacked at the end of the table. I don't think she deserved 18%. However, I would gladly give her 18%+ for the DDP to once again include gratuity.

Okay, I'm over it. (But not enough to purchase the new DDP).

 

[patsal]

Up until this July I would have said the same thing--bad service what are people talking about I've never really encountered it, maybe here and there, but never full fledged bad service. Fast forward to July 2007--some of what had been the best restaurants were so overcrowded, and so full and so noisy and the waitstaff so busy, so frazzled that it was very poor service. Not everywhere, but at three venues even my teen made a comment about poor service. Just too many really loud people dominating the servers time--you know squeeky wheel! ANyway I chalked it up to summer, over booked, under staffed and too many people on the DDP--I guess I thought so many were on the DDP because I saw so many three course meals, and so very much waste when people didn't even know what they were ordering and when it came they complained,oh I don't like this. No to sound but some people on the plan really should have stuck with CS and buffets--they really would have ben happier and would have known what they were ordering.

 

[wwaleye]

We had wonderful service at all our TS meals in July. We tend to eat on the early side, 5:30-6:30, and then get a snack later in the evening.

 

[jcpuppy.com]

I am unsure why they took the tip out and yet didn't reduce the DDP by 18%?
Then, they took out the appetizer worth $5-$8 or so and didn't reduce the DDP by that amount.
I love the DDP and was irritated by everyone moaning and groaning about the tip, service and too much food. No one forced you to take it, or eat it and some of us found it to be perfect just the way it was. Now you have something that is totally a waste of time and money. Thanks

 

[NMW]

No to sound but some people on the plan really should have stuck with CS and buffets--they really would have ben happier and would have known what they were ordering.

Well, perhaps with the new plans, those people will go back to CS meals and buffets.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I am unsure why they took the tip out and yet didn't reduce the DDP by 18%?
Then, they took out the appetizer worth $5-$8 or so and didn't reduce the DDP by that amount.

Tip out for two reasons (my opinion only): First, Guests complained about servers getting tipped no matter what level of service they provided (e.g. the waiter who disappears upon learning you’re on the DDP gets the same 18% as the employee of the year waitress who gives perfect, and perfectly-timed, service) and not being able to control that; and second, Disney paying the tip was a perk/bonus of the DDP – now they have many people ‘hooked’ on it, and don’t need to offer as much financial incentive. Oh, and one more - with Guests responsible for the tip, they/we might be less likely to order THE most expensive item on the menu.
$37.99 - $2.13 (typical designated snack price) - $11.00 (average counter service meal price) = $24.86. Remove the tax from that and you have a table service “cost” of $23.24. Figure an allowed beverage price of $2.00 and an average dessert price of $6.00 – this means ANY entrée with a menu price of $15.35 or more means the Guest is getting more value from the Basic Dining Plan than they’re paying for it.

 

[Luv'sTink]

I still do not understand how anyone could have complained that the tips were included. Even if the service was so so, it would have cost most people more than $40 a day to eat decent food, period.

 

[jcpuppy.com]

Tip out for two reasons (my opinion only): First, Guests complained about servers getting tipped no matter what level of service they provided (e.g. the waiter who disappears upon learning you’re on the DDP gets the same 18% as the employee of the year waitress who gives perfect, and perfectly-timed, service) and not being able to control that; and second, Disney paying the tip was a perk/bonus of the DDP – now they have many people ‘hooked’ on it, and don’t need to offer as much financial incentive. Oh, and one more - with Guests responsible for the tip, they/we might be less likely to order THE most expensive item on the menu.
$37.99 - $2.13 (typical designated snack price) - $11.00 (average counter service meal price) = $24.86. Remove the tax from that and you have a table service “cost” of $23.24. Figure an allowed beverage price of $2.00 and an average dessert price of $6.00 – this means ANY entrée with a menu price of $15.35 or more means the Guest is getting more value from the Basic Dining Plan than they’re paying for it.

I think you missed my point..they took all that way and kept the price the same...that is silly

 

[Lil'DisneyMom]

We only had bad service at one of our TS last Sept and we had a TS everyday for a week.

I can't believe that so many people are so upset that the tip is gone. I was disappointed myself, but oh well. Last year at most of our TS, we still gave our servers a tip even though it was included with the DDP. Sometimes the servers really do deserve a nice tip.