The *New* Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Frequently Asked Questions (FEB2004) Part 2

[dingoballs]

sitting on the balcony sipping a glass of wine, watching the monorail and the boats go back and forth and Wishes.....pretty magical.


Ah...

I am back and that is the thought that kept me going through scout camp!

Every night as I would lay down on my wood and canvas cot in my WWII era canvas tent (no screens no floor) I would picture that scene, our view from RPC room 4401.

What we do for our children

I think you should reward yourself by multiplying the nights you had to endure scout camp x 3 for your next stay at the GF!!

 

[hmp2z]

I was disappointed that they've cut out the gratuity from the dining plan for 2008. I feel so bad for the CM's. Disney keeps making very questionable moves, as far as employee satisfaction, so it's really no wonder we've noticed such a decline in service. One of the big problems that the WDW servers have encountered is that there are many, many guests from overseas who don't realize that tipping is expected. So the removal of gratuity from the DDP is one way to ensure that these CM's won't be getting the tips they need to supplement their approximately $2/hour Disney salary. Nice...

I think that ideally, servers should be tipped based on service, but WDW has such a huge percentage of British & other foreign guests that it really makes it tough on the CM's. They should do something to educate the international crowd about US tipping policies, because otherwise, they're just pulling $$ out of the CMs' hands with this move. Another good option would be to raise the base salaries for wait staff, based on reviews from mystery guests. We do mystery shopping, and I am a big believer in it, as far as enforcing the quality of the employees.

I don't really understand the point of the $40/person/day wine plan; we can probably just buy a decent wine for $80/bottle or under, so we wouldn't need to add the plan. I can bet that Disney will make a profit on it; at least as of right now, our DDE gets us 20% off of alcohol, which is much better.

Just my off-the-top-of-my-head thoughts on the proposed DDP changes. We leave in 2 days!

Cheers!
Heather W

 

[dingoballs]

I was disappointed that they've cut out the gratuity from the dining plan for 2008. I feel so bad for the CM's. Disney keeps making very questionable moves, as far as employee satisfaction, so it's really no wonder we've noticed such a decline in service. One of the big problems that the WDW servers have encountered is that there are many, many guests from overseas who don't realize that tipping is expected. So the removal of gratuity from the DDP is one way to ensure that these CM's won't be getting the tips they need to supplement their approximately $2/hour Disney salary. Nice...

I think that ideally, servers should be tipped based on service, but WDW has such a huge percentage of British & other foreign guests that it really makes it tough on the CM's. They should do something to educate the international crowd about US tipping policies, because otherwise, they're just pulling $$ out of the CMs' hands with this move. Another good option would be to raise the base salaries for wait staff, based on reviews from mystery guests. We do mystery shopping, and I am a big believer in it, as far as enforcing the quality of the employees.

I don't really understand the point of the $40/person/day wine plan; we can probably just buy a decent wine for $80/bottle or under, so we wouldn't need to add the plan. I can bet that Disney will make a profit on it; at least as of right now, our DDE gets us 20% off of alcohol, which is much better.

Just my off-the-top-of-my-head thoughts on the proposed DDP changes. We leave in 2 days!

Cheers!
Heather W

I agree with your thoughts about CMs as the people who will lose out the most, but we have also experienced poor service from CMs who received the automatic 18% gratuity which I wish I could deduct from the bill! Conversely, we've also left extra gratuity in the form of cash for those CMs who really gave us great service.

Maybe this new plan will encourage ALL servers to do their best instead of treating the guests as automatic 18% cash ATMs... as far as the foreign tourists, I'm pretty sure their tour group and/or travel literature includes tipping customs in the USA so I don't think that's a big factor.

We've pretty much done DDP every trip, but not after this year...

Have a great trip!

 

[LoveThatDarnMouse]

Couple things I just wanted to mention. I had been trying for weeks before to book my two youngest on the Pirate Cruise with no luck. When we got there, I went to concierge the day before I wanted the cruise and asked if anything had opened and low and behold, two openings! After I scored those two spots, I booked DH and I for a surprise massage at the spa. All i can say is ahhhhhhhhhhh! It was DH's first massage and he LOVED it and the kids had a blast on the Pirate Cruise. I was a little afraid that the 10 year old would think it was corney but he came off the boat with a big grin. That was just a perfect morning!

 

[matsterrocks]

What time dose DCL busses pick-up at the GF?

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Couple things I just wanted to mention. I had been trying for weeks before to book my two youngest on the Pirate Cruise with no luck. When we got there, I went to concierge the day before I wanted the cruise and asked if anything had opened and low and behold, two openings! After I scored those two spots, I booked DH and I for a surprise massage at the spa. All i can say is ahhhhhhhhhhh! It was DH's first massage and he LOVED it and the kids had a blast on the Pirate Cruise. I was a little afraid that the 10 year old would think it was corney but he came off the boat with a big grin. That was just a perfect morning!

How do we book the pirate cruise? How long does it last and when does it start? Dd is 5 and I think she would really enjoy it!

 

[LoveThatDarnMouse]

How do we book the pirate cruise? How long does it last and when does it start? Dd is 5 and I think she would really enjoy it!

Call the WDW Dine number and tell them you're interested in the Pirate Adventure at the GF. It was from 9:30-11 and they give the kids lunch on one of the islands they visit. Your DD will love it!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

I was disappointed that they've cut out the gratuity from the dining plan for 2008. I feel so bad for the CM's. Disney keeps making very questionable moves, as far as employee satisfaction, so it's really no wonder we've noticed such a decline in service. One of the big problems that the WDW servers have encountered is that there are many, many guests from overseas who don't realize that tipping is expected. So the removal of gratuity from the DDP is one way to ensure that these CM's won't be getting the tips they need to supplement their approximately $2/hour Disney salary. Nice... I think that ideally, servers should be tipped based on service, but WDW has such a huge percentage of British & other foreign guests that it really makes it tough on the CM's. They should do something to educate the international crowd about US tipping policies, because otherwise, they're just pulling $$ out of the CMs' hands with this move. Another good option would be to raise the base salaries for wait staff, based on reviews from mystery guests. We do mystery shopping, and I am a big believer in it, as far as enforcing the quality of the employees.

I don't really understand the point of the $40/person/day wine plan; we can probably just buy a decent wine for $80/bottle or under, so we wouldn't need to add the plan. I can bet that Disney will make a profit on it; at least as of right now, our DDE gets us 20% off of alcohol, which is much better.

Just my off-the-top-of-my-head thoughts on the proposed DDP changes. We leave in 2 days!

Cheers!
Heather W

i agree
To lower the cost of the plan by buck and then take out the tip and appy.
Thats takes away alot of value and then to be tipping on a meal thats over 100 bucks a night. Thats an extra 20 bucks per meal. Times 10 days thats alot of extra meal money to add to the vacation budget.

 

[hmp2z]

as far as the foreign tourists, I'm pretty sure their tour group and/or travel literature includes tipping customs in the USA so I don't think that's a big factor.

I agree with you about the automatic 18% gratuity being a disincentive to good service, but I know from speaking to several CM's that the foreign visitors stiffing them on the tips is a huge problem for them. It depends on their location, but for CM's at places that are very popular with the Brits, like Rose & Crown, this is a big issue. Most of the international guests are there alone, not with tour packages, and I guess just don't pay attention to the tipping guidelines.

Perhaps they could keep offering the package with gratuity (at higher rates) to overseas guests, and that might solve the problem. I'm a big fan of the mystery shopping, though, as a way of diverting funds to the employees who work the most diligently. I've noticed so many things at WDW restaurants that just would not fly at the places we mystery shop; I think that having outside visitors critique the service & food would help raise standards.

I don't know what the solution is, but by lowering the package price by $1 and cutting the gratuity, Disney is siphoning $$ directly from the CMs' wallets into their own already fat bank account. Sad... I really am not surprised by the declining service.

Cheers!
Heather W

 

[mlill]

Have a wonderful time, Heather!!! Happy Anniversary!

-Michelle

 

[dingoballs]

I agree with you about the automatic 18% gratuity being a disincentive to good service, but I know from speaking to several CM's that the foreign visitors stiffing them on the tips is a huge problem for them. It depends on their location, but for CM's at places that are very popular with the Brits, like Rose & Crown, this is a big issue. Most of the international guests are there alone, not with tour packages, and I guess just don't pay attention to the tipping guidelines.

Perhaps they could keep offering the package with gratuity (at higher rates) to overseas guests, and that might solve the problem. I'm a big fan of the mystery shopping, though, as a way of diverting funds to the employees who work the most diligently. I've noticed so many things at WDW restaurants that just would not fly at the places we mystery shop; I think that having outside visitors critique the service & food would help raise standards.

I don't know what the solution is, but by lowering the package price by $1 and cutting the gratuity, Disney is siphoning $$ directly from the CMs' wallets into their own already fat bank account. Sad... I really am not surprised by the declining service.

Cheers!
Heather W

That's interesting that the British tourists would stiff their own people. It's not like the CMs are Americans since the CMs are native to whichever country they work in, right?

I agree that the mystery shopper program works very well for companies that are concerned with maintaining and/or improving customer service and satisfaction. I wonder if Disney employs such people... if they currently do, they still have ALOT of work to do!

 

[johnsonet]

Disney does have mystery shoppers

 

[Lives4Disney]

Disney does have mystery shoppers

Really??? I'd love to do that. Would I get paid, lol?? haha....staying at my favorite place and getting paid to do it.


Heather, hope you have a wonderful anniversary & a magical stay.

I am curious about what the mystery magic will turn out to be! Hope it's something good.

Lives4Disney

 

[arbonnette]

I made my RPC reservation for February '08 yesterday morning ...
Today, I checked my e-mail and I had an e-mail from IPO asking for my information, preferred ADRs, etc.
I am happy that they contacted me to say the least, esp. since I can book my ADRs this Wednesday. It saves me from having to contact them and hope for a response.
Despite the negatives I have read lately, I have hope for the IPO and the GF after all!

Btw, I am truly bothered by the proposed dining changes. The whole reason we get the dining plan is so that when we are actually at Disney, we don't have to deal with paying for anything except souvenirs. I totally agree about taking money out CMs pockets, and I hate to see Disney change something that really WAS a value in the first place ...

Have a great weekend, everybody!

 

[hmp2z]

We're excited - we're off tomorrow morning. Has anyone here done the Wishes pontoon boat fireworks cruise? If so, what do you think an appropriate tip would be for the driver?

Channing, we do mystery shopping, not for Disney, but it's awesome; you usually don't get paid for the dining shops, but they reimburse you for the cost of the dinner. We get to try out restaurants that we normally wouldn't go to. I agree that if Disney does have mystery shoppers, they're either not using their results, or they're not employing enough shoppers.

About the tipping issue, the way it was explained to me was that visitors from Europe know that the wait staff there is paid a decent wage, so tips aren't necessary and usually aren't anywhere near 20%. They don't know that servers here make less than minimum wage, so they're not deliberately trying to stiff the wait staff. It's a cultural difference, not a deliberate rudeness. But the end result is that Disney is going to pocket what used to be the tip amount (minus $1!).

We've got planned a Couples Massage at the GF and then a V&A's Chef's Table dinner. Then an Aqua Tour and the mystery dinner on our anniversary, along with a pontoon boat fireworks cruise. So I'm excited - we do have a lot of plans. Wish us luck with room assignment!

Cheers!
Heather W

 

[irisbud]

Sounds like a great trip, Heather! I hope the mystery dinner is fabulous! Best wishes and have a great trip!

 

[princessesrule4]

Hope you have a great trip Heather - can't wait to hear all about it!

 

[Lives4Disney]

Heather, that mystery dining sounds neat. I have also heard about the foreign visitors not really understanding the need for tipping servers. I am sure the wait staff CMs have been stiffed many times. I just don't ever care for the DDP, so all this fuss is a nonissue for me (lucky me) - except for the standpoint of the restaurant changes in general due to DDP....and the CM attitude due to DDP....I guess I am not as lucky as I first thought, lol.

I think a 20% tip is good for the Wishes cruise, wouldn't you think?? I know when we took the Grand 1 out, we tipped 20% to the captain and then a certain amt extra to the 1st mate. That was a chunk of change and not sure what's appropriate. Prior to the cruise we asked the RPC CMs (that we know & felt comfortable asking ) what is customary re tips on these cruises and they didn't know either - didn't even occur to them and they were going to find out for us and for their own knowledge in case other guests asked, but in the scheme of things it didn't happen and we just did our own thing.

Again, hope you have a wonderful time. Happy anniversary!

Channing

 

[NeverSayNever]

HI!

Wondering if you can use your DDP for room service and how many/type of credits does it use?

Thanks!

 

[BrianD]

HI!

Wondering if you can use your DDP for room service and how many/type of credits does it use?

Thanks!

You can use the DDP for room service. It costs two table service credits, per person.