Quality of service at table services

[*QueenB*]

We just returned from a week long trip to the world. This was our first time doing the dining plan so we did a lot more table services than we normally do. About half of our table services had extremeley poor service (i.e waiting way to long for refills on drinks , rarely coming by to check on us and several occasions of not getting what we ordered) Now I understand the occasional mishap but it just seemed to happen way to often. Since we have not done many table services I was just wandering is this normal. My husband was convinced that it was becuase we were on the dining plan that we were getting poor service from our waiter/waitress. Any opinions?

 

[HunnyJar]

We just returned from a week long trip to the world. This was our first time doing the dining plan so we did a lot more table services than we normally do. About half of our table services had extremeley poor service (i.e waiting way to long for refills on drinks , rarely coming by to check on us and several occasions of not getting what we ordered) Now I understand the occasional mishap but it just seemed to happen way to often. Since we have not done many table services I was just wandering is this normal. My husband was convinced that it was becuase we were on the dining plan that we were getting poor service from our waiter/waitress. Any opinions?

We were there from September 9-18 and we only had bad service once at it was at a buffet. All the other restaurants we had either good or even beyond good service. We also always do the dining plan. I'm sorry you had poor experiences, but I really do not believe this to be the norm.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

There's only three times I remember having really bad service at Disney. Only one of those times was I on a plan, so no, I don't think DDP or OOP has any effect on service.

 

[mhconley]

We ate at 9 TS meals on our 9/17-25 trip, 7 on the DDP and 2 OOP. We had consistently good to excellent service. We had essentially zero problems with our wait staff and may went above and beyond.

Martin

 

[Bell30012]

We usually do the DxDP when we visit WDW. With very few exceptions I feel that we have always had very good service. Now I understand that during free dining periods the waitstaff may be overwhelmed or even a bit harried by the sheer number of people that keep coming through but I've still felt we had good service.

Maybe we are just lucky or have missed the bad times.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

There is also, to an extent, a "progression" for many servers. (This does not apply to non-US in the World Showcase countries.) This is not a hard and fast list, and steps can be skipped.

But lowest tends to be the buffets, many of the servers are not much more than busboys for bringing drinks and clearing tables. Then the full-service locations in both the Parks and Resorts. Then up to the Signature Restaurants.

And as I was once told by a server at the V&A CT, she had been working at The Yachtsman Steakhouse for several years. One day, after the pre-opening team meeting the manager said he wanted to talk to her in his office. Had her sit down, and then said something to the effect of: "I was asked to tell you there is going to be an opening for a server at Victoria and Albert's, and would you like to apply for the position." She said it was such a shock that she was very glad she was sitting down when he asked the question.

 

[Tricia1972]

OP - I am sorry that you had poor service at Disney. When you have a lot of table service as part of your vacation, it can hurt the overall feel of the vacation. I hope that you had a good time outside of poor service at restaurants.

A few posts had to be removed. Just a friendly reminder that there is a dedicated thread to tipping discussion. Thread guidelines are in the first post.

 

[cbg1027]

I generally find service at Disney to be better than anywhere else. Of course there are some meals where the service leaves something to be desired, but on the whole I've been quite happy with my service, from the buffets places, regular table service, and signature.

I've never been on the DDP, so I don't know if that has anything to do with it, but it shouldn't.

I think you just had bad luck with service on that trip.

 

[Cafeen]

I also just returned from the world, and noticed the same at most restaurants that I went to (19 TS meals). I also noticed that many times, when the server would catch a larger table (I was a party of 2 for 9 meals, and 1 for the other 10), my service would slow down considerably and the larger party would get much more personal attention from the server.

If the server did NOT have a larger party, most of the time it was just fine and a couple times, even with a large party, it was great, but it seemed a common trend that my smaller table (party size and/or total order) would get worse service than a larger table (even than a larger table ordering just drinks and desserts, as happened at Hacienda). This happened at buffets, normal TS, and even 2 of the 4 signatures that I went to.

While I understand that larger parties do need a bit more attention, a good server should be able to keep up a decent amount of attention to both the larger and smaller parties (there were times I had to go 10+ minutes with an empty drink making straw sucking noises (occasionally, not like I was constantly doing it) before I even got asked about a refill...)

I also noticed that at most of my solo meals, they were trying to rush me out a bit quicker (got the entree just as I started my app several times, and once even before the app!). While that's very much preferable to slow service in my book, it's still something to note.

Now, I will say there were some very good lights when it comes to the service as well, most notably as Crystal Palace (solo breakfast, on the 40th), San Angel Inn (solo lunch), Maya Grill (solo dinner), Flying Fish (solo dinner, at the bar), and Le Cellier (solo dinner).

(Reposted and tweaked. As original removed due to use of the "T Word" sorry about that, it wasn't intended to be the focus of the post)

 

[MedicBill]

I've been down at Disney for a week now and I have the DxDP. I've noticed that the service is much worse than the last time I was here as well. The first night we were here we had dinner at the Royal Table. Our waitress forgot our appetizers. Since then its routinely been a 10-15 minute wait to get our Room key back after paying for the meal. I feel like i've spent more time in restaurants this trip than on rides.

 

[sarmat1]

While I didn't necessarily notice poor service during the meals, trying to deal with the check so we could get out of there was a different issue. We weren't on DDP, but still it was just pay with a credit card situation. It took forever to get the check, then forever for the server to return to pick it up, and then who knows what they were doing trying to actually swipe the card. Overall payment process took was too long and since it seemed to happen at several TS, I don't think it was isolated. Worst was Crystal Palace. 30 minutes after we were done eating just to be able to leave.

 

[HunnyJar]

While I didn't necessarily notice poor service during the meals, trying to deal with the check so we could get out of there was a different issue. We weren't on DDP, but still it was just pay with a credit card situation. It took forever to get the check, then forever for the server to return to pick it up, and then who knows what they were doing trying to actually swipe the card. Overall payment process took was too long and since it seemed to happen at several TS, I don't think it was isolated. Worst was Crystal Palace. 30 minutes after we were done eating just to be able to leave.

This is the same problem that we had at Crystal Palace on September 11th. We had to ask a different CM to get our server for the bill. My husband handed the server the card with the bill so that we wouldn't have to wait for him to come back to pick it up. Took another 10-15 minutes for him to come back with the card. This was the only restaurant we had any issues with though.

 

[HadesTX]

We were there on the deluxe dining plan from 9/28-10/2 & we ate well. We had excellent service from all but two places & the service there was good.

We were seated before our ADR time in most cases, never had to wait more than 5 minutes except at Sci Fi & that was maybe 10 minutes... and they were packed!

All of our servers were attentive, kept our drinks filled & explained the menu & dining plan out very well. Also most explained how to fill out the receipt to us.

The only server I'd say was a bit distant & borderline rude was a waiter at Ohana. But his assistant, runner, whatever he was... was awesome & more than made up for the other man.

I was pleasantly surprised. I was expecting horrible food & service.

 

[janabananas]

I had really fantastic service at all of my 1 TS credit restaurants, while my 1 signature experience at Brown Derby was the absolute worst, and I was solo there. I was using TIW and told the waiters/waitresses this when asked if I had any dining plans. I will never waste my money there ever again. I have heard great things about it, but I was not impressed.

 

[TDC Nala]

There's no reason for a difference in service because the party is on the dining plan. The incentives for the server are the same whether the customer is on the dining plan or not. And I don't turn over my TIW until it's time to pay the bill. TIW is not a dining plan. When I am asked if I am on a dining plan I say "no."

And how is a server to know if the customer is on free dining or has paid for the dining plan? The key cards don't make a distinction between the free and the paid dining plan. There are customers in the park who have the dining plan and were not eligible to get it free (DVC members, those using military room discounts, AP holders who didn't want to buy 2 day tickets) so it can't be assumed that everyone who has a dining plan got it free.

 

[janabananas]

There's no reason for a difference in service because the party is on the dining plan. The incentives for the server are the same whether the customer is on the dining plan or not. And I don't turn over my TIW until it's time to pay the bill. TIW is not a dining plan. When I am asked if I am on a dining plan I say "no."

Thanks for the info. I didn't realize I could do that. I thought I had to say something at the beginning of the meal, like if you go to some places you have to present a coupon before hand or they won't accept it.

The whole experience, at HBD, from the guy checking me in that gave me a funky smirk when I checked in and he saw I was a party of 1, the hostess who sat me that was quite unpleasant, and the waiter who was very nice but disappeared. He had 2 tables: me and a 2 top. Oh well, leasson learned, I don't plan on returning.

 

[dvcHammer]

If you want good service do not go to eat during peak times. Lunch at 12:30pm is not a time for good service.

 

[HadesTX]

We got really lucky. All of our meals were at peak times & we never had bad service. Now peak time in the summer... I doubt our luck would hold.