Poor service because of the DDP?

[allstarfan707]

I can't say that we have ever had a bad experience with the DDP. This will be our 3rd time using it. Our servers are always wonderful. For the people who are stating that they have had bad experiences I wonder if it's because they know they are getting the tip either way and that is why the servers aren't that great. (just a thought). But personally I have never had a bad experience. I do think that the menus have been greatly reduced as far as what they are offering to us on the Dining plan. That said, we are doing it again because it is a good deal for my family of 5.

 

[mrludwig]

I wonder how much waiters and waitresses get paid an hour?
I'm curious if this may have something to do with the poor service with DDP customers?
Are They just trying to get a good tip from non DDP users, to make ends meet?
If this is true, it's still no excuse for bad service but it's just another reason why Disney should pay their employees higher wages.

I don't know how much they get paid but I do know that on the DDP that 18% of the bill is added for gratuity. I am assuming that they would get that amount but maybe they only get a percentage of that.

Six years ago we used the plan and we definitely saw a difference in attiutdes of the staff and how we were treated, etc... I finally said soemthing to one of the waiters on that trip. Most of the people that used DDP at that time were not running up a large bill to where the tip would be very much. Which did not make sense to me as we always order an appetizer, entree, and dessert when on the plan. If I were paying for some of these meals out of my pocket we would not be ordering all the food we get when on the plan and my bill would be considerably lower.

We just came back and I am glad to say that our experiences using the DDP was much better. I did not notice any difference in how we were treated. I was looking for a difference after our last trip. My three biggest complaints would be that most of the waiting staff were having to bus their own tables as well as wait on them. Disney could get a lot more people in and out if they had more "bussing" staff. The menus do not have a lot of variety for quick service meals and for kid's meals. We had a very hard time using up our quick service meals. We were sick of the same old choices. The last complaint is they tell you that you can use quick service meals for snacks but we had a very difficult time finding a place that would do this for us.

 

[mmcguire]

You can search old posts. My personal favorite that was removed was the duck at Chefs de France. Now it is chicken.

People can also look back at cookbooks containing recipes from WDW restaurants. I have a Cooking with Mickey one that I bought at WDW several years ago, and it's sad to see that so many classy and exotic dishes/beverages once offered have been largely replaced with blase mediocre ones.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Six years ago we used the plan and we definitely saw a difference in attiutdes of the staff and how we were treated, etc... I finally said soemthing to one of the waiters on that trip. Most of the people that used DDP at that time

Just to avoid confusion - while this poster did purchase some package that included food, the Disney Dining Plan (DDP) at issue has only been in existence since January 2005.

 

[jess20k]

So far we haven't received poor service for being on the DDP. Luckily, we have had overall wonderful service! I hope that doesn't change!!!!

 

[mrludwig]

Originally Posted by mrludwig
Six years ago we used the plan and we definitely saw a difference in attiutdes of the staff and how we were treated, etc... I finally said soemthing to one of the waiters on that trip. Most of the people that used DDP at that time
Just to avoid confusion - while this poster did purchase some package that included food, the Disney Dining Plan (DDP) at issue has only been in existence since January 2005.

Thanks for clarifying my mistake. I forgot that it wasn't really the DDP. It was part of our package but it worked basically the same way. Sorry for any confusion that was caused by this.

 

[Buttercup Roberts]

The dining plan, especially the free dining plan times, are making the restaurants all over Disney decline in general. Portions are smaller, the cooking is less thoughtful, recipes have been dumbed down, menus shortened, and cheaper less fresh ingredients trucked in.

I hate to say it, but I used to think of dining as a feature of my vacations, and now we are eating most meals off site or in our home away from home kitchen.

I still have a few favorites, mostly for the atmosphere. I can only think of one or two places where I'd go for the food itself.

Disney dining has become overwhelmed.

Just the humble opinion of a long time AP holder.

 

[inkkognito]

Since we live by WDW now, it has been YEARS since we used a dining plan. But back when we used it via the all-inclusive plans, I would have to say that the service was actually better. Like someone else said, I think they wanted to be sure that we'd order as much as we could so their tip would be as high as possible.

 

[Pooh Bear Hugs]

I've got to say we had the worst service ever in LTT in 2000 and DH refuses to ever go back. The server didn't listen it was a nightmare, the manager was lovely but by then it was too late. Also in 2000 the servers in the rose and crown were rude so I agree it's the servers just as much as the plan.

 

[fairymommy]

I'm just wondering how many of these bad experiences are happening during very busy times of the year. If they are it's not just dining, I've read other posts were people were getting cranky because of the sheer volume of people all over disney. Maybe if we don't want these bad experiences we should go to Disney at times when crowds aren't so huge. Hopefully they aren't too huge during our stay which is right after free dining!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Thanks for clarifying my mistake. I forgot that it wasn't really the DDP. It was part of our package but it worked basically the same way. Sorry for any confusion that was caused by this.

Nah, no apology necessary. I just figure, dozens or even hundreds of people read these posts but never respond, so might get confused
Although, actually - while it's too bad you sensed a different (less attentive?) attitude from your servers, your experience does take some steam out of the theory that it's specifically the current Disney Dining Plan that's causing some less that ideal service experiences.

 

[Disney Padawan]

Nah, no apology necessary. I just figure, dozens or even hundreds of people read these posts but never respond, so might get confused
Although, actually - while it's too bad you sensed a different (less attentive?) attitude from your servers, your experience does take some steam out of the theory that it's specifically the current Disney Dining Plan that's causing some less that ideal service experiences.

Hope you're right, some of these posts worry me.

 

[lynninpa]

Just a note of interest...After our "bad experience" at The Maya Grill (which Disney Padawan told about in the first post) we were told by several CMs at CSR that The Maya Grill is no longer run by Disney-it is now run by an outside firm. Just thought that was of interest.

 

[randy4au]

I too was concerned that if a server knew we were using the dining plan (and that they would not have to earn their tip) that we might not receive the best service, so I made a point of not mentioning it until the end of a meal when it was time to pay. During our recent visit, we were only asked once at the beginning of the meal if we were using the dining plan (at Chef Mickey's), but our server was very attentive. The only place where the service wasn't top-notch (not poor, but not great either) was at the 50's Prime Time Cafe, yet being on the dining plan wasn't too blame since our server wasn't told until the bill came (although when everyone orders appetizers, that may be a clue to some servers that a party is using the dining plan). Anyway, I'd definitely use the dining plan again (although free dining would be even better).

 

[MissMet]

I'm just wondering how many of these bad experiences are happening during very busy times of the year. If they are it's not just dining, I've read other posts were people were getting cranky because of the sheer volume of people all over disney. Maybe if we don't want these bad experiences we should go to Disney at times when crowds aren't so huge. Hopefully they aren't too huge during our stay which is right after free dining!

This may be true for others, but for me the two times it happened to me it was the first week of Feb when WDW was really empty. So that wasn't the case for us.

 

[lynninpa]

This may be true for others, but for me the two times it happened to me it was the first week of Feb when WDW was really empty. So that wasn't the case for us.

Same here. Our "bad" experience happened when the restaurant was almost empty-only 4 or 5 other tables besides ours.

 

[honeymo78]

In all of my trips to WDW only 2 have been without some package that included dining. Our experiences have ranged from exceptional to so bad that we needed to talk to a manager. Service could be hit or miss even before the DDP.

Sure some servers may treat you differently b/c they are guaranteed a tip (this is for DDP and the other dining plans) but if they truly are neglecting you, you MUST speak up. Those servers shouldn't be working at disney if they aren't going treat everyone with respect. That said, I think the DDP has increased the popularity of TS dining and perhaps service is suffering b/c servers have more tables to deal with and a more hurried environment than when the majority of diners were paying OOP and only a few diners were on a package.

 

[Disney Padawan]

Just a note of interest...After our "bad experience" at The Maya Grill (which Disney Padawan told about in the first post) we were told by several CMs at CSR that The Maya Grill is no longer run by Disney-it is now run by an outside firm. Just thought that was of interest.

Thanks for posting this. I'm curious if anyone knows more information?

Same here. Our "bad" experience happened when the restaurant was almost empty-only 4 or 5 other tables besides ours.

I plan to go in the end of April, beginning of May, I think it's considered a slow time. If I stay at a moderate, the CSR was my first choice, partly because of the Maya Grill. However, all these bad reviews make me feel a little uneasy, there's been so many on the Maya Grill. I wonder how service will change with the new 2008 DDP?

 

[tigger1bounce]

I have a friend that works in the restaurants at WDW. He told me that much of it has to do with all of the restaurants whether it be in the parks, resorts, or elsewhere are all very under staffed. They are all on mandatory 6 days/10 hour or longer shifts. He actually has been asked to work 7 days some weeks and has worked as many as 15 hours in a day because of not enough help!! I would definately say that this is a major problem.

 

[OverplanninJess]

We experience absolutely wonderful service using the dining plan last year. I'm not quite sure why servers would be upset seeing as they're assured an 18% tip. In fact, at Le Celier last year I wanted to try two different appetizers-the cheese soup (and something else I can't recall) and the waitress didn't even add the cost of the soup to our bill! She was absolutely wonderful to us!