Tables in Wonderland question

[Telcogirl]

I am a big fan of the TIW card. We used it back when it was the Disney Dining Experience.

On my last two trips, when we used the card at a lounge, the server always had to call for a Manager to come and put some sort of code into the register.

I imagine the same thing happens at the restaurants, too. But, when you are in a lounge, like the Bellevue Lounge for example, the manager is downstairs at the Flying Fish.

We waited a good twenty minutes to pay our tab. I don't remember that happening when it was the DDE. Anybody have any thoughts on this?

 

[TDC Nala]

It's nothing new. It's always been this way, a manager must approve the discount. I no longer drink at Victoria Falls because once the bartender refused to accept the DDE, my guess was that he did not want to call the manager to come up from Jiko to do the approval. This was several years ago.

 

[Telcogirl]

It's nothing new. It's always been this way, a manager must approve the discount. I no longer drink at Victoria Falls because once the bartender refused to accept the DDE, my guess was that he did not want to call the manager to come up from Jiko to do the approval. This was several years ago.

Hmmm, I do not remember that when we used the DDE. I guess I don't understand what the manager is approving. They are not asking to see my ID, in fact, they never even glance in our direction.

All it does is prolong the amount of time to cash out. On my trip in March, I was staring to panic in Mizner's Lounge because we were about to miss the EWP while waiting to pay our bill.

 

[n2mm]

Yes we've used the DDE/TiW card since it was offered to AP holders and we've always had to wait for a manager to approve it. Yes, at the lounges there is some whining involved about having to get a manager to approve it. I try now to make sure the server knows that we are using it, just so they can keep tabs on where the manager is.

 

[disney minnie]

i always give them the card at the beginning of the meal or drinks and this seems to help a little

 

[Uncleromulus]

Along with Telcogirl, I can't figure out why a manager has to "approve" the discount either. The card is the card, so it's just extra work for everyone (managers included) when they become involved.

 

[GME]

I don't have my card on hand, but doesn't the TiW card have a magnetic strip on it? I don't see why Disney has set up its procedure in the current manner. As long as the server verifies that the holder of the card is at the table, then he or she should be able to enter the card number on the back and/or swipe it and 'git r done.'

 

[BCV23]

A server who was at the Polynesian for many, many years told us that in the past a server could just apply the discount. Apparently there was quite a bit of abuse so WDW began the policy of requiring a manager's approval.

It changed sometime before DDE opened to AP holders.

 

[n2mm]

Yes, I too have been told that this prevents the CMs from giving the discount to anyone (friends). This has been like this for a long time because prior to getting the TiW (DDE) my DH use to be a CM and the manager must also approve the CM discount when dining.

 

[madalex]

I had a similar experience to the OP at the Rose & Crown Pub during my trip in early April. The bartender could not locate the manager, so it was a good 15 minutes from getting my Bass Ale "to go" until I was actually able to leave (I waited patiently for awhile until I finally got fed up and was prepared to pay for the beer without using the dicount; of course, that is right when the manager showed up).

I agree that it is annoying and incomprehensible, but this is Disney's policy, so I just accept it as a price I have to pay (in addition to the $75) in order to use the TIW card.

 

[camlace]

Who are we to say what controls Disney as a business wants to put in place on their transactions. If the policy is a manager needs to approve any discounts, then it is what it is. If you don't want to wait, then don't use the card.

I have worked in both food service and retail and it is not unusual to have management need to approve certain transactions. Discount abuse is a major issue in the customer service industry...so to protect the bottom line companies need to be sure controls are put in place.

 

[GME]

Who are we to say what controls Disney as a business wants to put in place on their transactions. If the policy is a manager needs to approve any discounts, then it is what it is. If you don't want to wait, then don't use the card.

Umm... we are paying customers? And it's not like the program does not have a benefit for Disney, either. People with the TiW card tend to be 'frequent flyers' who patronize Disney restaurants quite a bit. What Disney may give up in terms of the discounted price, it more than makes up for with total dollars spent by TiW card holders. Businesses change procedures all the time to respond to customer needs.

 

[Uncleromulus]

And while I may not mind waiting a couple of minutes for the server to round up a manager, the 15 and 20 minute waits I'm reading about are a bit much. And irritation on the part of lounge CM's is also a bit much.

Should add that our waits last trip weren't all that long (except for one morning breakfast at the Wave where it took about 10 minutes for the server to connect with a manager).

 

[TDC Nala]

I do understand them having the rule that managers must approve if they found they couldn't trust the servers to input the discount properly because they were using it for their friends, etc. If that was allowed to go on, it's possible Disney would just do away with the discount program altogether, so it's good they found a solution.

But I was not pleased with the bartender not accepting the discount at VF because he didn't want to get the manager. Maybe he thought I would yell at him if I had to wait.

 

[GJF323]

I guess I may have waited this long and not realized it because I was chatting with others at the table, but how does this make sense when compared with a place like the Pop Century food court where the CM just swipes the TIW card (maybe not even that - I can't be sure she did) and pushes the appropriate button on her register (you can see the TIW button at the top of the screen)?

 

[missminniemouse]

I generally tell them that I have TIW when we place our order. We've never waited excessively long to pay at the end of our meal.

 

[TDC Nala]

At restaurants you generally do not have to wait because the manager is in the restaurant. At a CS, there are not many CS that accept TIW.

At some of the lounges, the manager may be in the restaurant rather than the lounge and sometimes the restaurant is in a different area of the resort, and sometimes I'd guess the manager just isn't on the floor and they have to track him or her down.