Poor service because of the DDP?

[Lewisc]

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.

The Maya Grill, and Pepper Market were always run by an outside company and not by Disney. Specifically it's run by the same company that runs San Angel Inn in EPCOT.

 

[Disney Padawan]

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.

That's ridiculus! Why can't they advertise (online, radio, flyers, whatever) that they're wanting help! Are they worried about their image? It's going to hurt more than just their image if they don't resolve this. 6 to 7 days, 10 to 15 hours is enough to make even the nicest person insane. This is a deep hole they need to fill ASAP, because it's just getting deeper with time.

 

[Pixie_Dust]

Have you ever received slow or bad service at a WDW restaurant because you were under the DDP?

We had the worst service ever at the French restaurant last year, and we were not even on the DDP, but we could tell they had adjusted their restaurant to accomodate the DDP, resulting in really bad attitudes and terrible service.

 

[Tam1067]

We just returned July 17 from 8 nights on the DDP. I can say that our service in 8 TS restaurants was very good to excellent, and we always told our server straight out that we were on the DDP.

At Prime Time, we had the best server ever who noted DS was not eating his mac 'n' cheese, and offered to get him anything he wanted--and ended up having the kitchen send out some plain noodles for him. She then went back and brought out a cup of melted butter. I never had a server do that at Disney or elsewhere, DDP or not.

This was our second trip on the DDP, and I have never felt that we were ignored or treated badly because of it. I think Disney's servers generally try to do a good job for all the guests, whether they're DDP or not.

 

[Disney Padawan]

We just returned July 17 from 8 nights on the DDP. I can say that our service in 8 TS restaurants was very good to excellent, and we always told our server straight out that we were on the DDP.

At Prime Time, we had the best server ever who noted DS was not eating his mac 'n' cheese, and offered to get him anything he wanted--and ended up having the kitchen send out some plain noodles for him. She then went back and brought out a cup of melted butter. I never had a server do that at Disney or elsewhere, DDP or not.

This was our second trip on the DDP, and I have never felt that we were ignored or treated badly because of it. I think Disney's servers generally try to do a good job for all the guests, whether they're DDP or not.

This is good to hear. I'm glad you're experiece went well. Maybe Disney has made some recent changes, who knows? Anyone else have some service (good or bad) stories to share?

 

[Barbers2005]

Dh, and I took the inlaws to WDW on the ddp for an 8 day trip last May and thought that the service was good/excellent- we are from NY though, so maybe our expecations aren't that high . At Le Cellier and WCC especially the waiters were very attentive and overall we just had efficient and friendly service. We were very pleased with the entire dining experience with one exception- the waitress at Hollywood and Vine was extremely rude. Nothing to do with the ddp, though. I look a lot younger than I am (27), and when I ordered a drink it was obvious she thought I was underage. She kept "forgetting" to bring it even with repeated (polite) reminders. Then our waitress did a disappearing act and when she finally showed up again she had our check in one hand and my drink in the other. We had been finished eating for at least 10 minutes already!

 

[Disney Padawan]

Dh, and I took the inlaws to WDW on the ddp for an 8 day trip last May and thought that the service was good/excellent- we are from NY though, so maybe our expecations aren't that high . At Le Cellier and WCC especially the waiters were very attentive and overall we just had efficient and friendly service. We were very pleased with the entire dining experience with one exception- the waitress at Hollywood and Vine was extremely rude. Nothing to do with the ddp, though. I look a lot younger than I am (27), and when I ordered a drink it was obvious she thought I was underage. She kept "forgetting" to bring it even with repeated (polite) reminders. Then our waitress did a disappearing act and when she finally showed up again she had our check in one hand and my drink in the other. We had been finished eating for at least 10 minutes already!

I hate when they do that. I'm glad you're experience went well otherwise.

 

[dvcbud48]

Has anyone ever offered the waiter or waitress a cash tip before eating to see if the service might get better? I know the tip is included with the dining plan but, maybe a few dollars in advace.........or even just to let them know they would get a cash tip at the end of the meal.

Just a thought.

 

[Nancyg56]

Has anyone ever offered the waiter or waitress a cash tip before eating to see if the service might get better? I know the tip is included with the dining plan but, maybe a few dollars in advace.........or even just to let them know they would get a cash tip at the end of the meal.

Just a thought.

I have never felt the need.

 

[DizzDoll]

We experienced rude/inattentive waiters last year while on the DDP - at Tony's and at the Yacht Club Galley. The waiter at Tony's was downright rude, and I'm one of the negative posters for Tony's because IMO their food sucks, so this waiter did nothing at all to counterbalance a negative opinion, and the one at the Galley disappeared, in a poof, must be a stunt man for a great magician, although he did make up for this by giving the 3 kids glow cubes for free. Yeah, I know, big whoop but it made the kids happy.

 

[gina2000]

When a restaurant is understaffed and overbooked, service and food suffers. I think it's pretty evident that the overwhelming response to the DDP has put restaurants in that precise position. Judging from the rumors flying about changes in the DDP, WDW seems to be addressing this problem based on reducing patronage.

 

[mom2my3kids]

Maybe servers are not as helpful or attentive to one table over another b/c they just don't like the people at that particular table. Who knows?? I'm not saying this is all the time. Maybe there are some who treat customers differently that are on the DDP. I don't know why they would. They're getting an 18% gratuity. Ours have always been very helpful and encouraged us to order more. (Obviously, b/c they will receive a tip based on the total food bill.)

Part of being a server is almost like acting. I mean, they have to build a rapport with their tables. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad. They also have good days and bad days. At one table, they may seem chirpy and the other seem rude. It could be from the vibe they got. I'm not saying it's right, but it can happen. I just don't think they are treating people bad b/c of the DDP.

You are absolutely right on key here, being a server (not at disney) you have to come into it with a smile and and pretend you are in another world. You have to be happy and smile even if you don't want to. Now can you be happy happy all the time, no you have bad tables that just gets to you. I just go to the walk in and cool down and come back out like nothing has happened. There is no reason why a server should be rude, unless a guest is being rude to you. Then you can get snippy, that is one thing I won't let happen is someone who is having a bad day and wants to take it out on me because I happen to be there. I just get the manager and send them out, I don't need there money that bad to be treated like dirt..

 

[kaytieeldr]

Has anyone ever offered the waiter or waitress a cash tip before eating to see if the service might get better? I know the tip is included with the dining plan but, maybe a few dollars in advace.........or even just to let them know they would get a cash tip at the end of the meal.

Just a thought.

You mean, like, bribe the server to treat you well? Nope.

 

[Disney Padawan]

Has anyone ever offered the waiter or waitress a cash tip before eating to see if the service might get better? I know the tip is included with the dining plan but, maybe a few dollars in advace.........or even just to let them know they would get a cash tip at the end of the meal.

Just a thought.

It's clever, but I don't feel that guests need to do that.

 

[graygables]

Has anyone ever offered the waiter or waitress a cash tip before eating to see if the service might get better? I know the tip is included with the dining plan but, maybe a few dollars in advace.........or even just to let them know they would get a cash tip at the end of the meal.

Just a thought.

after more than a few poor service experiences on the DDP (and a couple while using the DDE), I began telling the host/hostess to please inform the server that I tip commensurate with service. Simple, straightforward. I usually get a surprised lifted eyebrow, but every time I've used that line, I've had better service. The few times since then I've had poor service, I have spoken with the manager (BEFORE signing anything) and had the bill adjusted accordingly so the server did NOT receive the full 18%. I'm not hard to please. Be prompt taking/delivering our order, keep our glasses from getting empty, and don't ignore me if I wave at you for some reason. I don't even care if you're slightly grumpy as long as you treat me as any other patron. If you do that, you'll get a little extra on the table (commensurate with service). I think if the server understands that there is an expectation of excellence up front, s/he is more likely to rise to the occasion. Too often, in EVERYTHING (schools, customer service, restaurants), the public does not have an expectation of excellence so there is a "why bother" attitude.

 

[darlak]

You mean, like, bribe the server to treat you well? Nope.

I don't care if we call it a bribe. I'll still do it to get better service. It's my vacation. I want to be kept happy and I'm willing to pay extra to get what I want. The Dis is full of people who have different opinions about what they want. For example, some of us stay at Deluxe resorts and some of us stay at Values. You spend your money where you feel it's worth it to you. Same with this issue.

 

[Disney Padawan]

I don't care if we call it a bribe. I'll still do it to get better service. It's my vacation. I want to be kept happy and I'm willing to pay extra to get what I want. The Dis is full of people who have different opinions about what they want. For example, some of us stay at Deluxe resorts and some of us stay at Values. You spend your money where you feel it's worth it to you. Same with this issue.

Some people may feel the need to do this, I however feel we should expect good service, specially when it already costs so much to be there.

 

[shaycamp21]

We have used the dining plan (during free dining) twice and the service was good to excellent. At one or two restaurants in the past two years we received not necessarily bad service but not as good, however I never felt it was related to being on the dining plan but rather just that server. However, I do think the food choices have become more limited due to the dining plan. I would recall reading menus on allears looking forward to ordering certain dishes (i.e. crab cakes, lobster) then reading a menu update to find that it is no longer on the menu.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

We have had 2 bad encounters with the free DDP, both in 2005.

First one was at the WCC. The waiter asked us if we were on the DDP. When we said yes, he said "oh great, another table on the dining plan". Now I understand there is a lot of kidding around in that restaurant, but believe me, he was NOT kidding. We felt terrible as he was quite loud and rude about it. When he came back, we asked him what was wrong with customers on the DDP? He said that the tips show as income and he didn't used to show tips as high as he received on his taxes. My dh said later on (in our room) that it was a darn good thing that he didn't work for the IRS because he would audit him instantly. He made me feel so sorry for him that we left him a huge cash tip. Not only that, but every restaurant we went to after that we left a big cash tip on top of the DDP. Hello, stupid me. I would hardly complain about an 18% tip, even if I did have to claim it on my taxes.

The second time was at Capt'n Jacks and it didn't have to do with the meal or service. It was the table in front of us. I guess since they didn't have to pay for the food, the one lady got good and drunk and felt the need to SCREAM at my ds talking about someone being sick on the bus on his school trip (he was a 13 year old boy for pete's sake - vomit was a favorite topic of conversation). She was SCREAMING as him so loud the entire restaurant was staring at us and her. I was so stunned I didn't know how to respond, so I said nothing, just stared at her with my jaw dropped. She said she had lost her appetite due to what my ds was saying (PUH-LEASE - and may I add, WHY was she listening to our conversation anyways). Anyhow, they recredited the entire table theirs FREE meals that they ate 75% off, even her alcohol just to get her out of the restaurant. I was so upset that I couldn't eat a bite of my meal, and even though they credited it back, I was the only one who couldn't eat, so it was never used anyways.

Other than those 2 meals, we enjoyed the free DDP. It will be interesting to see how it works out for us this year.

 

[Disney Padawan]

We have had 2 bad encounters with the free DDP, both in 2005.

First one was at the WCC. The waiter asked us if we were on the DDP. When we said yes, he said "oh great, another table on the dining plan". Now I understand there is a lot of kidding around in that restaurant, but believe me, he was NOT kidding. We felt terrible as he was quite loud and rude about it. When he came back, we asked him what was wrong with customers on the DDP? He said that the tips show as income and he didn't used to show tips as high as he received on his taxes. My dh said later on (in our room) that it was a darn good thing that he didn't work for the IRS because he would audit him instantly. He made me feel so sorry for him that we left him a huge cash tip. Not only that, but every restaurant we went to after that we left a big cash tip on top of the DDP. Hello, stupid me. I would hardly complain about an 18% tip, even if I did have to claim it on my taxes.

The second time was at Capt'n Jacks and it didn't have to do with the meal or service. It was the table in front of us. I guess since they didn't have to pay for the food, the one lady got good and drunk and felt the need to SCREAM at my ds talking about someone being sick on the bus on his school trip (he was a 13 year old boy for pete's sake - vomit was a favorite topic of conversation). She was SCREAMING as him so loud the entire restaurant was staring at us and her. I was so stunned I didn't know how to respond, so I said nothing, just stared at her with my jaw dropped. She said she had lost her appetite due to what my ds was saying (PUH-LEASE - and may I add, WHY was she listening to our conversation anyways). Anyhow, they recredited the entire table theirs FREE meals that they ate 75% off, even her alcohol just to get her out of the restaurant. I was so upset that I couldn't eat a bite of my meal, and even though they credited it back, I was the only one who couldn't eat, so it was never used anyways.

Other than those 2 meals, we enjoyed the free DDP. It will be interesting to see how it works out for us this year.

WOW and Double WOW!!!

It was sure nice of you to give the waiters extra tips like that. I know some of them do deserve it, specially after all they go through.

As for your second experience, I don't know how you did it, you must be an . If that was me, I would have been thrown out of the restaurant.