Staff Not Happy About Dining Plan?

[Disney Marathoner]

Did anyone find that their server had a negative reaction when they mentioned that they were on the Disney Dining Plan? My husband and I were treated rudely at the Liberty Tree Tavern and the server at the California Grill literally rolled her eyes!
I don't get it!

 

[mom2my3kids]

We dont go until october, But I feel I would of said something to them. I also would call disney and find out what the problem wasy. Heck the servers get 18 percent tip off of your bill. That is pretty darn good, and that is guranteed.

 

[bicker]

I wouldn't read too much into the reported actions of a single CM. Disney employs tens of thousands of CMs, and not every single one of them will have the pristine MMC demeanor that Disney would like them all to have.

 

[jcanary]

reimburses the restaurant or do they actually get the tip on the whole bill. I was thinking about this the other day after I read a thread on this board where they thought the restaurnants were only reimbursed about $22 per dinner. So is the tip based on the 22 or the true total of the dinner? I would like to know, because if it is in fact on the 22, we should be leaving a tip on the amount above the 22 for the server. Anyone have any thoughts on this???

 

[Lewisc]

reimburses the restaurant or do they actually get the tip on the whole bill. I was thinking about this the other day after I read a thread on this board where they thought the restaurnants were only reimbursed about $22 per dinner. So is the tip based on the 22 or the true total of the dinner? I would like to know, because if it is in fact on the 22, we should be leaving a tip on the amount above the 22 for the server. Anyone have any thoughts on this???

AFAIK the Disney owned restaurants base the tip on the total dollar value of the food you order. AFAIK most of the non-Disney owned restaurants such as Chefs De France base the tip on the amount of money Disney is paying the restaurant. If you watch the non-Disney restaurants ring up your check you see the menu price being discounted down to what Disney is paying them.

One of the posters is a server at WCC and confirmed this information, she has friends that work in the non-Disney restaurants.

I never got bad service. I think the bad service post was a bad server or a good server having a bad day.

 

[jonimce]

WOW, on the old dinning plan, Silver and disney magic, when we told them we were on the plan they bent over backwards to take care of us. There must be a big change. They always made sure we knew how to take full advantage of the dinning credits. We almost always left extra because everyone was so nice.

 

[kerry34]

I cant say we had any bad service while on the dining plan. Out of all our servers only one stood out as making our experience extremely enjoyable. The other servers were just there, not extremely friendly, but not rude by any means. I can't say that we received bad service though. Generally the servers were all prompt with the food and attentive with refills. I can also say that for all the restaurants that offered an appetizer off the kids menu, the servers made sure that we were aware of that. On a few occassions we left an extra tip, especially to the excellent server at Trails End. Sorry to the OP that you had this happen to you. I would think that the servers would just love the DP especially since the tip is a guaranteed 18% at most places. How can you go wrong.

 

[momupnorth]

The only place where we felt we were treated differently was Coral Reef , we had 6:00 ADR arrived at 5:50 and requested a table closer to the Aquarium for the kids and that we would be happy to wait if needed. They seated us right at 6:00 but tried to put us at the very back of the restaurant even though almost half of the room was empty. I said that we would like to move up and there seemed to be a problem with that and dining room supervisers began discussing it. I did overheard one of them mention we were "on the Dining Plan". Finally after I pointed out that there were numerous 4 person seats available did the superviser reluctantly show us to a better table with a deep sigh and eye roll.
Our server after that was great though!!!

 

[cornflkgrl]

Can you tell them your on the dining plan at the end of the meal instead of the beginning? Then maybe they would treat you nicer. We are on the dining plan and going in 3 days and if this is okay I am not going to tell them right away.

 

[budbeerlady]

We didnt tell them untill the meal was over and we pulled out the card. Still had bad service at LTT but anyway!

 

[zurgswife]

9 women on the dining plan in Sept. 4 restuarants fine to excellant service one the worst service I have ever experienced. I'm a waiter from way back and it clearly a large group of women and on the dining plan. She was aweful and it was at the Yachtsman....When we complained to the manager she argued with us at the hostess stand ....

 

[Disney Marathoner]

mom2my3kids is right. I should have said something. Maybe I should change my name to DisneyWimp! Also a side note: We did have great service at the Rose & Crowne and Le Cellier. Ruth and Liz were awesome!

 

[Hopefully]

This question comes up over and over again concerning the Dining Plan.
We had Wonderful service at every restaurant we ate at in October.
We always left an extra tip, we felt it was earned.
We always told them upfront we were on the Dining Plan.
I personally don't think that the episodes of reported poor service are related to the Dining Plan at all. I think, as others have said, it is either a unique "bad" server, or a good server having an off night.
JMHO

 

[dabute]

I went last year in September and had the dining plan for free. Everyone was super nice and helpful. We were not treated like second class citizens at all.

 

[DeirdreTours]

We went on a 9day trip with dining plan last fall. I don't think we got generally poor service because of the plan, rather I think the service has, overall, become much worse because the servers now have too much to handle. Our servers weren't rude, they were simply so rushed that they forgot things, neglected to return for refills, etc. Each server is simply handling too many tables (and there are no longer busboys at any of the restaurants to help the servers).

 

[jl]

We were @ Disney World early in Feb.& definitely ran into 1 rude CM @ Concourse Steakhouse. It was our 1st dinner of our trip & we did point out that we were on the DP - "Jimmy" rolled his eyes & just generally wasn't interested. We did have ADR's scheduled for later in the week @ Concourse - we cancelled them & went elsewhere just because he was not too pleasant. Must say every other CM was great especially @ Le Cellier!

 

[HayGan]

During our December trip, we had wonderful service at every restaurant. Sure some servers were more outgoing than others but they all provided excellent service. And they al knew from the start of the meals that we were on the dining pla (and paying for some meals OOP)

 

[eblack0409]

All of our servers actually loved the fact we were on the dining plan.....18% guaranteed tip! DH ordered the smaller size steak at Concourse, and our server brought him the larger one....just means bigger tip for him!

 

[clombardi]

We used the Dining Plan in July and My DH and I both felt like every server we had went out fo their way to be helpful! They pointed out appetizers that were pricey and offered glowing icecube drinks to DDs at several TSs.

I think part of the motivation was to get the check total as high as possible but who could balme them?

The bottom line is: we were treated as if we were paying out of pocket.

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

Our only negative service, with 11 nights of Dining plan from two trips would be RIDICULOUSLY slow service at Kona Cafe.