Why all the double talk?

[DisneyWishes14]

I bring up Europe as in every country I have visited in Europe, you pay for your meal and that is it. I have never been rushed out of a place in Europe as I am here in the states, as the servers are not working for tips, but working to serve their customers. One place kept bringing our group coffee refills after we had paid the check and we sat for a good hour more, no one was pushing us out. That is a huge problem in how dining is perceived here, as it is a volume race of the number of butts in chairs vs a dining experience where the establishment wants you back and will do their best to get you back as they win with butts in chairs all the time. I digress.....

In Europe, servers are paid a living wage and usually also have great benefits. So, while they are serving their customers, they are also making enough money to support themselves and their families. In FL, tipped worker minimum wage is $5.03 and they have a completely unstable income which is completely reliant on how many customers they have, what the customers order, how busy the restaurant is, if the customer tips at all, etc. So, YES, they are literally working for tips. That is how they make their living. Whether you agree with it or not, that is the way it is set up in the US. And, no, just because you paid park admission doesn't entitle you to spend as much time as you want in a restaurant. Have some compassion. I'm sure you expect to be paid for the time spent at your job as well.

BTW, you apparently have never been to Copenhagen where the restaurant staff will literally kick you out if your reservation time is over and the next party is waiting for their reserved table.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

The main concern that many of us have is that Disney is going to put a stop to sharing at BOG and it will become an eatery that requires one credit or one set price to enter. WE have seen Disney react by shutting down any of the "loopholes" that exist when it becomes clear that there is what they consider to be abuse.

Disney does not need to "find a better solution" when it comes to pre park opening breakfasts, they aleady have the market cornered. So far they have been very easy on meal sharing in BOG, which I think is fantastic, but if they find that too many people are entering on one "ticket" and then helping themselves to beverages etc, while sharing that one platter..this little perk will be closed as well. I do not will reduce the price of these meals, but they will eventually make it a per head charge, just as you suggested.

Personally, I believe that BOG has an identity crisis and for the life of me I cannot understand why the management has allowed this restaurant to waffle between being a fixed price eatery and an ala carte cafeteria. Pick one and run with it, but for the love of God, make up your mind! No wonder there are people who will finagle a cupcake to get inside, it is like an attraction! The cupcake is their ticket to view the Rose!

Good points. I also like the ability to share a meal, especially for those who are not big eaters. We have shared meals at BOG simply because we didn't want to order food that would just be thrown away. I would, however, not go in and order a single cupcake and take up a table for that cupcake. It would feel very wrong to me.

Are there a significant amount of people who do this? I have not seen it.

I am not saying that I think they should force everyone to order a meal. My point was that IF Disney thinks it is a big problem at BOG that people are taking advantage of Disney's hospitality and sharing meals or ordering cupcakes, then raising meal prices does not seem to be the way to solve that problem. Seems raising meal prices would encourage fewer meals and more cupcakes. The conclusion might be that the sharing of meals is not what Disney sees as a problem. Maybe, just as with ticket prices, they simply feel the market can bear the price increase. Like everyone else, I am just speculating.

 

[Nancyg56]

Since I never do the DDP I won't be paying $25 for anything...that's y I pay OOP..and bring food with me then I can do what I want and be fast and happy....if I choose to sit in BOG , enjoy the atmosphere for 15mins and just order a drink and fries and enjoy the AC thats my right...then yes go on as many rides as I can...that's just plain smart...now I've seen the castle,refreshed myself and maximized my ride time in the park...just plain smart

Right now, at breakfast, which is the only fixed price meal there, you can do this, just as you can at the other meals they serve. Because Disney allows this, i am never going to say you should not enjoy the Castle and cool off.

Well this will work at BOG unless disney decides that too many are doing this and all pre-park ADR restaurants have to be fixed price locations. So that you get charged money just for walking in the door.

Until then yeah, everyone can order whatever they want.

Exactly. WE already know that I believe Disney will curtail this after they think they have trained us that we need a prepark opening breakfast in order to gain an advantage. I happen to believe that you do secure extra park time, and I do book pre park opening breakfasts when we travel to Disney. I like being IN the park when the attractions open, and I like that we have already eaten.

7DMT is just about the shortest, lamest ride and certainly NOT worth jipping waitstaff or screwing other families out of a table who actually WANT to eat there. The dog eat dog mentality of Disney these days is what will be the ruin of this park. Not DDP, or higher ticket prices. It's the complete lack of concern for your fellow park goers. It's greedy and just plain weird.

I think this is one incredibly harsh post. No one is hurting waitstaff in BOG, this is a CS restaurant and there is no tipping. It is also one crazy huge restaurant and there is a lot of open seating available. Until Disney determines that the "free" rise is over ...it is perfectly acceptable to use an ADR to eat in BOG, and share. I do think that this will end, but do not kid yourself...... Disney knew exactly what they were doing. They sold an expensive meal and "allowed" people to use the restaurant as an advantage to get in the park by approving splitting meals. I think this will change when Disney decides it is in their best interests to enforce the price, and since they increased the cost I think that time is nearing, but until Disney makes that decision...not one of us..not me....not you....has the right to scold people for doing what Disney has authorized. And make no mistake...there is not one CM who will circumvent the decision if Disney removes sixths "loophole".

As t the Mine Train.....I finally rode it in December, and if I was one to have remorse over missing an attraction on previous trips, even with my FP....this would be one attraction that I would experience it for.

Thank you! I appreciate this so much! I know I shouldn't care but I'm a bit too sensitive and don't like being spoken with as if I'm doing something wrong.

I'll focus on DD and make our vacation as magical as I am capable!

You are not doing anything wrong, This discussion is a hypothetical discussion, and it was in response to the OP. The only restaurant that is "sensitive" is BOG, but unless and until Disney changes therules, you are fine. BOG is only sensitive because it is such a cluster in regards to the breakfast menu, fixed price, but order what you want...split what you want....Until BOG figures out it's identity enjoy the little perk of ordering and splitting foods!

Enjoy your trip with your little one, and make sure you get her picture in front of the mosaic in the entry way.

 

[TeresaWen]

Good points. I also like the ability to share a meal, especially for those who are not big eaters. We have shared meals at BOG simply because we didn't want to order food that would just be thrown away. I would, however, not go in and order a single cupcake and take up a table for that cupcake. It would feel very wrong to me.

Are there a significant amount of people who do this? I have not seen it.

I am not saying that I think they should force everyone to order a meal. My point was that IF Disney thinks it is a big problem at BOG that people are taking advantage of Disney's hospitality and sharing meals or ordering cupcakes, then raising meal prices does not seem to be the way to solve that problem. Seems raising meal prices would encourage fewer meals and more cupcakes. The conclusion might be that the sharing of meals is not what Disney sees as a problem. Maybe, just as with ticket prices, they simply feel the market can bear the price increase. Like everyone else, I am just speculating.

So sharing a meal because it is just "so much food" is ok. But having cupcakes & coffee is wrong???? I just do not get it.

Oh and the world does not revolve around the mine train. Not everyone making early reservations to get what others think is an unfair advantage in some line. Did it once with a fastpass. That was enough.

Not going to Be Our Guest for coffee & cupcakes because somewhere out there may be another party who wants to split waffles? Really? Somehow I am responsible for the fall of Disney because I ordered only drinks & desert taking a spot away from someone else?

 

[HopperFan]

Now the whole issue with BOG is way more complicated and it seems most just are not connecting the dots or hearing what is being said.

Everyone is screaming that the prices keep going up there and it's not worth that much ............. why are they going up? when the menu hasn't changed, the service hasn't changed ...................... because people are going in, taking up tables and not eating. The restaurant has fixed costs that have to be covered, staffing costs that have to be covered. It is a dining business, not a rest area. It IS different from all other QS in that it takes ADRs and it is extremely popular.

Disney totally prepared everyone that breakfast would be prix fixe ... like a character meal, like HDDR, like buffets charge, per head .......... then they didn't follow through. This equated to lots of seats filled with non-eaters. It's frustrating for those who want to EAT there but now can't because the cost has been driven up by the non-eaters. It's frustrating for those who want to EAT there but can't because seats are filled by non-eaters. It's a profit center that is sabotaging itself.

Been twice for breakfast ........... an obvious number of guests do not get food. I've seen many where Mom & Dad are splitting a meal and the kids are eating a breakfast pulled out of the backpack. I have seen 6 adults around a table on their phones while they all pick at a single meal and pastries. NOW that they don't even have to buy one meal, they can just book and pay $3-5 cover charge for the family to take pictures inside or walk empty Main Street with photos or get to rides early. Disney has set this up, it is allowed but it's frustrating that this will once again affect the cost of eating there.

It would be so easy to fix it, but they just keep digging it deeper, driving the meal cost up. Make the restaurant Prix Fixe as it was advertised it would be. With everyone paying for their meal, like they do at other Disney restaurants set up that way, they could actually lower the per person cost and make it a reasonable meal with predictable and consistent income and profits.

 

[goofy4prez]

I don't understand this at all. If a person wants to go into and experience a dining establishment at Disney, they make the reservations, take the time they need/want to enjoy it, pay their check, and leave. It should not be dictated on time. It should not be dictated by how much they spend. It should be dictated by the CUSTOMER, who is always right BTW. I really don't care if I tie up a table for hours, if that is what I want to do and I am a paying customer, so be it.

This comment I find extremely shocking and one I have so much I could say. Perhaps it's because I was a server to help with the finances while I was in college years ago. In my almost 8 years on the DIS I have rarely, if ever flamed a person by something they posted. I'm not sure what the rules are with the moderators so I'm just going to leave it at that and say I hope whomever would do this at a table for hours certainly enjoys their order of french fries and refills of water.

P.S. No the customer is not always right... Just the ones who are wrong think this is true.

 

[nco91590]

Right now, at breakfast, which is the only fixed price meal there, you can do this, just as you can at the other meals they serve. Because Disney allows this, i am never going to say you should not enjoy the Castle and cool off.



Exactly. WE already know that I believe Disney will curtail this after they think they have trained us that we need a prepark opening breakfast in order to gain an advantage. I happen to believe that you do secure extra park time, and I do book pre park opening breakfasts when we travel to Disney. I like being IN the park when the attractions open, and I like that we have already eaten.



I think this is one incredibly harsh post. No one is hurting waitstaff in BOG, this is a CS restaurant and there is no tipping. It is also one crazy huge restaurant and there is a lot of open seating available. Until Disney determines that the "free" rise is over ...it is perfectly acceptable to use an ADR to eat in BOG, and share. I do think that this will end, but do not kid yourself...... Disney knew exactly what they were doing. They sold an expensive meal and "allowed" people to use the restaurant as an advantage to get in the park by approving splitting meals. I think this will change when Disney decides it is in their best interests to enforce the price, and since they increased the cost I think that time is nearing, but until Disney makes that decision...not one of us..not me....not you....has the right to scold people for doing what Disney has authorized. And make no mistake...there is not one CM who will circumvent the decision if Disney removes sixths "loophole".

As t the Mine Train.....I finally rode it in December, and if I was one to have remorse over missing an attraction on previous trips, even with my FP....this would be one attraction that I would experience it for.



You are not doing anything wrong, This discussion is a hypothetical discussion, and it was in response to the OP. The only restaurant that is "sensitive" is BOG, but unless and until Disney changes therules, you are fine. BOG is only sensitive because it is such a cluster in regards to the breakfast menu, fixed price, but order what you want...split what you want....Until BOG figures out it's identity enjoy the little perk of ordering and splitting foods!

Enjoy your trip with your little one, and make sure you get her picture in front of the mosaic in the entry way.

I'm aware there's no tipping at BOG. But there's about 15 posts on here from people saying that even if they DID have to tip, they wouldn't care about taking up a table for 2 hours and just have coffee and leave a buck or two. Unless my reading comprehension is off, people WOULD be willing to screw a waiter over to be the first ones in line at Mine Train. I find that to be weird and thoughtless.

Disney makes policies probably believing the best in people, until they start trying to beat the system and ruin it for others (disability card anyone?). I'm not that invested in this topic, but I don't like people thinking that their wants and needs trumps all others. It's wrong.

 

[pumba]

I hope that everyone who wants to experience BOG gets a chance to...I havent been and its ok..but if we wanted to...Going in and seeing the different rooms and ordering maybe an appetizer and a cold drink..then leave..that would be my only reason....
I am glad that we are all civil to each other and not making this a thread that we would have to shut down..
and NO SHOW HERE...keep on moving on ..
Enjoy your planning of your vacations

 

[Three cats]

I've only skimmed this thread but can't for the life of me understand why BOG would have that $5.00 cupcake on the menu to begin with? They've got to know that there are people out there who will go in and order 2 cupcakes for 6 people to "split".

 

[Nancyg56]

I've only skimmed this thread but can't for the life of me understand why BOG would have that $5.00 cupcake on the menu to begin with? They've got to know that there are people out there who will go in and order 2 cupcakes for 6 people to "split".

For now, they must be okay with it When and if they are not...cupcake gone! LOL!

 

[DisBuckMan]

It should be dictated by the CUSTOMER, who is always right BTW. I really don't care if I tie up a table for hours, if that is what I want to do and I am a paying customer, so be it.

Statements like this are generally made by people who have never dealt with the public before (especially in a service oriented role), or people who fail trying to run a business. There has never been a more wrong saying than "the customer is always right".

 

[Nebraska_Disney]

Flame away, as there are so many things servers, ex-servers, wait staff etc say that make me cringe as well. My wife waited tables in college and I work in a very service oriented industry where I spend hours with customers to make sure all their needs are met and in the end they are satisfied. I don't get paid more or less for the service I provide either.

To rush a paying customer out of a restaurant, in which they are enjoying the atmosphere/meal, is nothing but rude and wrong. It should not only work one way. If service is bad/slow/off whatever, don't expect any reward. Sad thing is today, service charges and tips are expected, very, very few actually go out of their way to earn them. The great ones do, but they are far and few between.

 

[Nebraska_Disney]

Since it bugs so many, the customer is NOT always right

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Why can't a person order a cupcake and coffee at BOG or an app and water at signature restaurant and tip 15% if the food/service is just ok.

Dunno. I couldn't care less if someone does this -- totally their right. All is fair in love and WDW trips.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Tipping amounts are a personal decision, but they are part of someone's salary.

I say this as someone who generally OVERtips... tips well out of some sort of bizarre guilt even when the service isn't good: the tip is not part of their SALARY. It should be linked to service provided -- it is NOT guaranteed like salary.

Now, this is NOT a defense of terrible tippers -- who tip poorly for no good reason. Separate issues.

 

[DisBuckMan]

I am sure European visitors are shocked by what is "expected" as common courtesy when it comes to tipping here in the US.

A. Disney World is not in Europe, therefore I'm not sure what point you're attempting to make here.

B. But, since you brought it up, "When in Rome...." Europeans, as well as other visitors from around the world, generally educate themselves to the customs of the country that they're visiting. My wife works for a company based in Austria, and we go over there a couple of times a year, and many of their people come here. There's no shock on the part of the Europeans who come here...they expect it. They don't complain, they don't piss and moan about it. It's just the way that it is.

 

[Nancyg56]

I say this as someone who generally OVERtips... tips well out of some sort of bizarre guilt even when the service isn't good: the tip is not part of their SALARY. It should be linked to service provided -- it is NOT guaranteed like salary.

Now, this is NOT a defense of terrible tippers -- who tip poorly for no good reason. Separate issues.

Tips are actually a huge part of the servers salary. Whether we like the system or we do not, as it stands right now, Servers are paid below minimum wage and they add their gratuities to their earnings statements. Their employer does this as well when he files taxes either on a weekly or a monthly basis. They pay their taxes based on their earned income....including their gratuities.

 

[Nancyg56]

Flame away, as there are so many things servers, ex-servers, wait staff etc say that make me cringe as well. My wife waited tables in college and I work in a very service oriented industry where I spend hours with customers to make sure all their needs are met and in the end they are satisfied. I don't get paid more or less for the service I provide either.

To rush a paying customer out of a restaurant, in which they are enjoying the atmosphere/meal, is nothing but rude and wrong. It should not only work one way. If service is bad/slow/off whatever, don't expect any reward. Sad thing is today, service charges and tips are expected, very, very few actually go out of their way to earn them. The great ones do, but they are far and few between.

There is a reason some business feel that they must charge a minimum.....just sayin'

 

[Nebraska_Disney]

Tips are actually a huge part of the servers salary. Whether we like the system or we do not, as it stands right now, Servers are paid below minimum wage and they add their gratuities to their earnings statements. Their employer does this as well when he files taxes either on a weekly or a monthly basis. They pay their taxes based on their earned income....including their gratuities.

You are correct, we can't change the system as it has been this way for a long time. What I can do as a paying customer, is not reward bad service. If the person wanting to be rewarded actually earns this reward for the service they provide, I have no issue giving 20-40%, and regularly do. I also have no problem leaving 5% if I feel that my service was below what was expected. What grinds my gears is that the 20% is EXPECTED regardless of performance, that is where the fatal flaw of the current system.

 

[aaarcher86]

Flame away, as there are so many things servers, ex-servers, wait staff etc say that make me cringe as well. My wife waited tables in college and I work in a very service oriented industry where I spend hours with customers to make sure all their needs are met and in the end they are satisfied. I don't get paid more or less for the service I provide either.

To rush a paying customer out of a restaurant, in which they are enjoying the atmosphere/meal, is nothing but rude and wrong. It should not only work one way. If service is bad/slow/off whatever, don't expect any reward. Sad thing is today, service charges and tips are expected, very, very few actually go out of their way to earn them. The great ones do, but they are far and few between.

I haven't seen anyone suggest rushing out a customer. But if someone's sipping a coffee for over an hour, I wouldn't be mad about the waitstaff politely trying to move them along.