Why are those that choose the Disney Dining Package treated as second class citizens?

[Sweedee]

Have many of you found this to be true? *editing to add that I am really NOT a troll! and I am genuinely curious*

 

[ktink]

Luckily we did not experience this on our last visit and I hope not to this trip. What happened?

 

[dmslush]

We were on the dining plan this past July and we were treated wonderfully by all waitstaff.

 

[JeanneNY]

We did not feel like we were treated like second class citizens during our free dining plan last August. Just the opposite, really. We are going again this August, I hope there is no difference in our treatment.

 

[Amyrlin]

I have not done the DDP, but looking at the reports, this appears to be rare and more prevolent at the non disney resturants.

If you are worred just do not say anything about it before hand. We went last sept during free dining,s we were not using it and we were not asked before hand if were were on the DDP.

 

[Enna]

We went last November, and were NOT on the dining plan. We were asked at each meal if we were on the dining plan, and were treated worse than surrounding tables who WERE on the dining plan. The staff knows they get a larger tip from a table that gets apps, entree & desert compared to a table paying OOP, which is more likely to share apps & skip dessert.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

we had no issues on the dining plan last dec it was great

 

[tkitty]

No first hand expeience, yet, but I would also think that they would be happy with the dining plan, since they are sure to get their 18% tip on top of some pretty big tabs.
Maybe it's just too much food for them to deliver to these tables!

 

[daisyduck123]

We spent 8 days on the Dining Plan in January & 9 days in May.

Both times, we consistently had fantastic service!!

 

[MinnieM21]

I've never done the Disney Dining Plan but we are always asked if we're on the dining plan and I'll say no. Sometimes the servers have said good and gave a sigh of relief and smiled. I think it happened about 4 times or so. We only eat dinner at 3 restaurants in the World Showcase, so I don't know about other restaurants.

ETA: We've always had great service even though we barely order any food. Usually just soup or a salad or we split any entree.


OP: Can you elaborate on what happened?

 

[PrincessTrisha]

We've used the dining plan twice (just got back a week ago and used the dining plan) and we have not had any service issues because of the plan.

In fact, it was in the two restaurants where we weren't on the dining plan that I received less than perfect service!

 

[Lizzybee]

We were on the free dining plan last summer and we were treated absolutely wonderfully at most of the restaurants. I paid OOP for our last meal at Donald's Breakfastasaurus and the server wasn't "bad" just uninterested. I suspect it doesn't matter as much whether or not you are on the dining plan as much as it matters who the server is. Personally, if I were a server I'd have no problem with a table I get an auto 18% on tables where people will each order an appetizer, meal, and dessert. Even though there was an auto tip on my meal plan, it was free so I paid a tip to each server (it's easy to be "generous" when the rest of the meal is free). I'm probably not the only one. I guess if I did come across a rude or absentee server, I wouldn't have included much extra tip, if any. The Donald's server got a plain tip, not extra.

 

[patrokls]

We were on the DDP in May and had no problems at all.

 

[oogieboogie]

Had the free dining last year and we weren't treated differently at all, even when we used free dining on some, DDE on others.

Used DDE all the time, no difference in treatment either.

Going to free dining again this year and I don't expect to get second class treatment either. If I do get bad treatment, I will speak up, regardless whether I'm paying full price, on DDE discount, on regular DDP or on free DDP.

 

[Sweedee]

OP: Can you elaborate on what happened?

There weren't any issues for us when we went in Feb, but it just seems that there is an undercurrent of "something" by those that either choose not to use it, by servers who don't like it, or restaurants that don't like it. I wish I could point to just one post in specific, but it's just a multitude of them I have been reading. We had great service in Feb on the DDP...just wondered if that would have changed when we go in Sept. *edited for grammar*

 

[DisneyTeacher]

We just got back from a 10 day trip yesterday and I don't feel like we were treated any differently this trip with the dining plan than past trip w/o the dining plan. We only had bad service at one restaurant (Sci Fi) and she just wasn't around, everyone in her section had bad service.

 

[lilybeth11602]

We went on the DDP last Sept. and had great service. Like was said they get 18% tip and normally We wouldnt each get app. entree and dessert so they come out better from most people I think. I guess we cant expect everyone to be happy all the time maybe these few that werent happy with it were having a bad day.But I guess since its Disneys idea to give it away free the restaurants should be ok with it.

 

[MeLaNie9]

We were on the DDP in mid-May and didn't experience this at all. In fact, we thought all of the servers were wonderful and helpful. We found the DDP to be so convenient - not having to carry alot of cash for meals and tips/tax included. We are confident we saved money with all that you get on the DDP (3 course meals at TS, desserts at CS, and the snacks) especially since we had DS(2) to share with. Frankly, if we had been treated differently because we were on the DDP I would have called anyone on it and basically said "screw you". It was a great, convenient plan for us and we researched it thouroughly and made a good decision by choosing it. Its an available option that you pay for so why worry what other people think about you if you are on it?

 

[disneyfour01]

We just returned May 5th and had wonderful service except for one evening. I don't believe the service that evening had anything to do with the Dining Plan. At every other meal we recognized the staff with additional gratuities because their service was exceptional. We'd do the Dining Plan again, no question.

 

[P-Dust]

We had excellent service at every TS meal.
We, also, would tip extra for service that was "above and beyond".