"On the plan" vs. "Not on the plan"

[MickeyNicki]

Do you think guest that are not on the free dining plan get better service and food as opposed to those that are on the plan? Do you think they get special treatment in anyway?

 

[pezpam]

We've done it both ways and never noticed any difference.

 

[Aimeedyan]

No, I don't think there is a difference.

Besides, how would the waitstaff know who got it for free and who paid for it? It wouldn't be fair for them to assume everyone got it free and treat them as such. I don't think the waitstaff cares much...

 

[CamColt]

We used the plan for the first time for free last week. We had very good- excellent service all around. I didn't notice any differences from when we have dined without the plan which is many meals over many trips.

 

[disneypharm]

No, I don't think there is a difference.

Besides, how would the waitstaff know who got it for free and who paid for it? It wouldn't be fair for them to assume everyone got it free and treat them as such. I don't think the waitstaff cares much...

I agree.

 

[MickeyNikki*]

Do you think guest that are not on the free dining plan get better service and food as opposed to those that are on the plan? Do you think they get special treatment in anyway?

I don't think so, I don't think they would know if you are paying for it or it's free. BTW - Nice screen name!

 

[gatour]

I can't imagine that the kitchen staff would know, so food quality between diners shouldn't differ

 

[hercamore]

I don't think the waiter give a rip whether or not a family paid for the dning plan or got it for free.

herc

 

[wdwfan1]

I thought the original poster mean either "on the dining plan" or "not on the dining plan (out of pocket)", but I could be wrong.

 

[bicker]

Hard to say what the OP meant, since the word "free" was in the message. Regardless, there has been enough information shared, over the last few months, to indicate that variability in service received isn't correlated to being on the Dining Plan or not, and of course we know that the service have no way of knowing who paid for the Dining Plan versus who got it for "free". Variabilities in service seems to be more strongly correlated to the specific server, and perhaps to some extent, to the specific patron.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

I've felt no different treatment or service with the plan or without the plan.

 

[Leota]

I had my only really bad service at CG on the free dining plan last year. Now, whether that was due to being on the plan or not, I have no idea. In fairness to our server, he had a really difficult table of a dozen or so, including several children whose parents maybe should have had them under better control (not to sound judgemental, but these kids were EVERYWHERE & so was their food, their crayons, their toys & apparently their gum - It looked like a tornado touched down in that area of the restaurant) I actually felt sorry for our server, as slow as he was, and so did my son.

That same trip, we had a very interesting discussion with our server at Narcoossees on how the plan reimbursed & tipped. I was glad that we were in the habit of tipping a little extra because I felt the plan wasn't tipping properly from our talk. (I was the one who bought up the topic, not the server. He never complained an iota. As a former restaurant worker, I am always very interested in talking business with other restaurant folks)

 

[PamNC]

I had my only really bad service at CG on the free dining plan last year. Now, whether that was due to being on the plan or not, I have no idea. In fairness to our server, he had a really difficult table of a dozen or so, including several children whose parents maybe should have had them under better control (not to sound judgemental, but these kids were EVERYWHERE & so was their food, their crayons, their toys & apparently their gum - It looked like a tornado touched down in that area of the restaurant) I actually felt sorry for our server, as slow as he was, and so did my son.

That same trip, we had a very interesting discussion with our server at Narcoossees on how the plan reimbursed & tipped. I was glad that we were in the habit of tipping a little extra because I felt the plan wasn't tipping properly from our talk. (I was the one who bought up the topic, not the server. He never complained an iota. As a former restaurant worker, I am always very interested in talking business with other restaurant folks)

I'm curious - how do they get tipped? Do they get 18%?? 15%?? I'd like to know so I can add a little extra for great service. This is our first time on the dining plan.

PamNC

 

[Aimeedyan]

I'm curious - how do they get tipped? Do they get 18%?? 15%?? I'd like to know so I can add a little extra for great service. This is our first time on the dining plan.

PamNC

They are tipped 18% but it is paid to them through their check so it is taxed and they don't take it home immediately. of course all waitstaff should always report their wages for tax purposes but I think we all know that doesn't always happen Those being tipped on the DDP have no choice - it is done for them. And they don't get anything back until they receive their next check.

 

[bethbuchall]

We were there for two weeks. The first week was the first week of "free" DDP, but we were not on the plan (stayed off-site). The second week we were on the "free" DDP. I didn't notice a difference in service between the two weeks.

 

[Leota]

They are tipped 18% but it is paid to them through their check so it is taxed and they don't take it home immediately. of course all waitstaff should always report their wages for tax purposes but I think we all know that doesn't always happen Those being tipped on the DDP have no choice - it is done for them. And they don't get anything back until they receive their next check.

The 18% was under negotiation when I went on free dining last year. At that time, they were still only at 15%. It was pretty much a sealed deal when I spoke with our server.

 

[jenelope]

I had a waiter pay lots of attention to a friend who was staying off-site and paying out of pocket and not as much to me, dining on the plan. He perked up when I ordered a glass of wine out of pocket. We did quite a few meals that way and it was the only time I noticed a difference. And it could have been the result of me knowing exactly what I wanted and my friend needing some guidance.

I think it's a difficult thing to judge unless you're comparing a single waiter at the same restaurant and the same time. And even then, disparity in service is hard to determine.

 

[Gina35]

They do receive 18% in their checks as noted. Most of the time we left additional money as we felt we had superior service and wanted the server to receive money up front. The only time we did not leave additional gratuity was in LeCellier. We were extremely disappointed in our service this yr (have ALWAYS had wonderful service in the past and truly believe it was just this one server) and wished we could have left LESS than 18%.

 

[keishashadow]

In early '05 we were among the 1st to utilize the plan, we did feel as though we received 2nd class service, especially @ the yachtsman. Do think alot of the confusion resulted in the cm's unfamiliarity with the program and their frustration.

We used it again in Dec. '05 & felt that the overall server attitude had declined a bit, which may have been an unfair comparison based on DCL server's excellent attention to detail.

This June even my DS noticed, along with the menu changes becoming more standardized, that the service still was not up to the previous high standards we had expected & enjoyed. It was competent, a few shining moments but, certainly not magical.

 

[kellyf2626]

We did not notice a difference in service at all. We also had a lengthy discussion with our server at San Angel regarding tipping, etc.... She said it was nice to get a larger check when she was paid...she was able to save more. But, being a former server myself (back in the college days!), nothing beats cash in your hand!!