Using credits or OOP

[CAJUNBLAZE]

I have read that when you are seatted the first thing they ask you if if you are on the dining plan. I have three more table services than credits. So I will pay OOP for three TSs. I have decided that i will depend on the service,if I will use the credits or pay out of pocket. Since the DDP allows for 18% tip I feel it only fair to give that to the service that deserves it plus any additional tip. If I do get bed service,I dont think they deserve the 18% and a lesser tip will be given and paid OOP. Is this fair? What do I tell them when they ask if on the ddp?
TIA

 

[Pumbaa_]

The server asks up front if you are on meal plan because of how they have to input the orders (have to separate the cash from the plan). So in your plan, the server will have to redo the check if you deem they are worthy of the 18% gratuity.

If you have 3 meals OOP planned, have you instead thought of mixing and matching? Have 1 or 2 people use DDP and the others pay OOP? This would get you an appy and a dessert on the plan and then have the other person just order an entree.

But I would base my decision of OOP versus TS credit on the price of the meal rather than the worthiness of the server.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Hmm… well, you could tell first the Host/ess (who will be the first person to ask if you’re using the Dining Plan, and then your server, your specific intention and the purpose behind it. That should get you excellent service.
I’m curious, though – is there a particular reason you’re considering bribing your server this way; or is there some reason you feel the server’s employer shouldn’t compensate that person in a standard way for services for which you are not paying?

 

[bicker]

What do I tell them when they ask if on the ddp?

Since you're on the Dining Plan, you should tell them you're on the Dining Plan. If you don't get good service, discuss it with the manager, at the moment you have the bad service, giving the restaurant an opportunity to "make good". If you still don't consider your service adequate, complain to the manager and politely ask for a refund (of your credits). Typically, that will prompt some action commensurate with what is necessary to address the service break-down.

 

[CAJUNBLAZE]

I consider dining part of my vacation, it takes valuable time away from the parks. If I can get better service by doing it myself at a cs, then i dont agree someone should know they get 18% of my bill for any type of service. I would rather them not know, I dont want to think I am rewarding them I just want them to do their job that they chose to do. Recent postings have me wondering about the service at WDW. I dont want my dining to be a hit or miss! I understand things happen, but not with service. I am one that is glad the tip will not be on the ddp next year.

By the way my ddp was not free!!! I paid rack rate for my rooms. I would get a 50% discount on rooms if I didnt book ddp.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Sounds way too complicated for me. You are still better off using the DDP credits for the most expensive meals and paying OOP for the less expensive meals. The difference in the price of the meal versus the tip should be your influencing factor.

Also sounds a little bit like you are expecting poor service. Keep in mind that the thousands and thousands of people that go to Disney every day, we hear a handful of tales of poor service. That is the exception, rather than the rule.

 

[Tink3Belle]

I would go by the cost rather than the service - too complicated to do it by the server.

 

[kaytieeldr]

While I don’t agree that we’re ‘paying’ for Free Dining via rack rate for rooms (check out the rack rate on a non-Disney hotel some time; the information may well be on the emergency notice on the inside of your room door. I stayed somewhere in Las Vegas recently, and while I paid between $0 and $35 per night, the rack rate for something equivalent to a Moderate is $400, but I digress), a family of four is effectively getting a discount of $127.96 per night, plus DISNEY – not the Guest – pays the gratuity on all meals for which DDP credits are used as payment.

The explanations and suggestions offered by the other posters in this thread make absolute sense. In my opinion, it appears that what the OP intends to do is pretty much the same as the relatively insulting (to the server) and ideally rare practice of placing a stack of coins or bills on the table and telling the server at the beginning of the meal that this will be their tip - and then removing money bit by bit if the customer isn't happy.

In all honesty, if one goes into a situation expecting the worst, one will generally find the negative in that situation.

In direct response to the OP's question,

What do I tell them when they ask if on the ddp?

you could try telling them exactly what you intend to do, and see what response you get. You might be right - it might work.

 

[patsal]

IMHO the way you are thinking is too complicated. I'd figure out which TS have the lowest value and pay OOP for those. I just returned and though I had "poor" service at a few locations I don't thnk it was so poor that I still would not have left an 18% tip. I declined to leave additional tip to bring it up to 20%+, but not so bad that I would have left nothing. Really the tip is covered but really not included in the @$40 per person per day. Figure $25.00 minimum for TS, $12.00 for CS and $4.00 for snack and you've exceeded what you put out for the plan. Be careful not to spite yourself in an attempt to correct the possibility of poor service.

 

[salmoneous]

In direct response to the OP's question, you could try telling them exactly what you intend to do, and see what response you get. You might be right - it might work.

Oh, I can see that going over well...

Dear server: I want to make absolutely sure you don't get a tip unless you give me the level of service I want. I'd rather pay out of my pocket for this meal rather than use credits I've already paid for to ensure that you don't get a tip you don't deserve.

 

[kaytieeldr]

No, silly
"Dear Server - I expect you to provide me with excellent service, no matter how I ultimately pay for my meal. It's very important to me that you realize your gratuity depends on it."

 

[bicker]

I think either of those advisories would be more likely to prompt poor service than prompt good service. While it won't be true of everyone who says it, a good number of people who would say that would come across as un-please-able.

 

[CAJUNBLAZE]

I guess, I did get a little stirred up with all the bad service reviews. I will go ahead and use the ddp for the expensive ressies and pay oop for the cheapper ones. If I get a server with an off day, I will just have to turn that around and make them smile( spread them some magic). Thanks for the advice and reminding me that thousands are served everyday and we hear about only a couple of bad experiences.

 

[lilyv]

I think either of those advisories would be more likely to prompt poor service than prompt good service. While it won't be true of everyone who says it, a good number of people who would say that would come across as un-please-able.

Boy do I agree. These days, there are plenty of high maintenance people that are nearly impossible to please. Service industry folks are getting to the point of "No matter what I do, they will still be unhappy. Why should I even bother to try?"

 

[Pumbaa_]

I guess, I did get a little stirred up with all the bad service reviews. I will go ahead and use the ddp for the expensive ressies and pay oop for the cheapper ones. If I get a server with an off day, I will just have to turn that around and make them smile( spread them some magic). Thanks for the advice and reminding me that thousands are served everyday and we hear about only a couple of bad experiences.

Hope your first trip to the World is magical and stress free. After all, you will be in Disney World!!!!

 

[Tam1067]

We just returned Tuesday from 8 nights on the DDP. We always told our server ahead of time (they generally ask) and always, and I mean always, received excellent service. I had no complaints at all. I can't imagine trying to keep this information from the servers because if they know you're on DDP, they tell you what exactly you can get (and what you can't if there are limitations like on the glow cubes or other drinks).

Based on my experiences, problems of bad service on the DDP are not really common at all.