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

[Luv2Roam]

We have eaten at many WDW restaurants. And DDP diners are usually around us. I have not noticed anyone being treated any different.

 

[Evil Queen 12]

I have to say that we did not experience bad service on the Dining Plan last Sept. We will be going this July and of course, paying for the Dining plan. I hope we don't experience bad service though. I have heard from people on this website that they did experience bad service since they were on the Dining plan and I worried about that before our trip last year.

 

[lynninpa]

During our trip last year, we were on the free dining plan-and we had wonderful, very attentive and very friendly servers! As a former waitress and now as someone who loves to eat out, I truly think that 9 out of 10 times the way one is treated by a server depends on the customer's attitude. Just my humble opinion!

 

[Microcell]

Lynn- you hit the nail on the head, I was a server too and I felt the same way.

 

[indigoxtreme]

We have always had excellent service on the dinning plan. Had the free plan last Sept and this Feb we paid for the plan. We ate at many many places and had great service and left additional $ for the servers at the restaurants. 1st time we were there for 8 days and 2nd time in Feb for 10 days.

 

[mlwear]

On DP last year I did feel the way OP describes at one TS only. The others were wonderful.
I do not believe in any way could it have been how we treated the server as it started as soon as we were seated (and we are always exceptionally polite with our server and insist that our children are too). We were there just a few days before free dining began and I believe this TS, Concourse, was testing the waters for many people on the dining plan, but am unsure. We were most definitely rushed and we felt as if we were being treated as people who were trying to get something for nothing (we paid for the plan!) Our server was very snippy when telling us everything we could not have (we didn't even ask) even being sure to mention that if we wanted coffee at the end of the meal we would have to pay for it as we would have already had our included beverage. She impatiently wanted us to order and asked us to order our appetizer, entree and dessert at the beginning of the meal (my first and last time there so that could be their standard way of doing things I have been to other places that asked for dessert orders early), but it definitely had the attitiude of hurry up and tell me what you want and I'll get it out to you as soon as I can and you'll be out of here. And they sure did. Our courses came out very close together. It was ridiculous. My steak was very poor quality, but everyone else had wonderful food. I did ask the manager if they were trying to figure out how to handle free dining in a few days and if that was the cause for all of this. He assured me that it wasn't. Anyway, I certainly hope that was an isolated experience or if not, that they have changed. Absolutely, definitely felt like a second class citizen there that night. But, EVERYWHERE else was wonderful.

 

[Kimkimba]

We went last August on the free dining plan and were treated very well. I thought all the servers from Le Cellier to CRT were exceptional.

 

[patsal]

We were treated better in December on the plan than in July without it, though in July there was only one place where we were given minimal attention--which kind of weirded us out.

 

[crisi]

People have a bad experience and they look for something to blame.

Off the dining plan, we dined at Jiko last October. Most people here rave about Jiko, we ended up with Mr. Sourpuss for a waiter. We had two children with us. Now, its hard for me to tell, was the barely concealed contempt the waiter had for us do to the children, or did he treat all his customers like that? Did he mess up all the orders, or was it "punishment" for bringing kids into a fancy restaurant. Part of me was ready to blame the "kids at Jiko" thing (there were other signs than the waiters attitude - we were seated off in a corner of the side room in an empty restaurant). Part of me believes we just got the one bad waiter at Jiko on a crummy night.

How do you really know if your bad service is due to the dining plan, or a waiter having a bad night, or just a plain old bad waiter?

 

[mlwear]

People have a bad experience and they look for something to blame.

Off the dining plan, we dined at Jiko last October. Most people here rave about Jiko, we ended up with Mr. Sourpuss for a waiter. We had two children with us. Now, its hard for me to tell, was the barely concealed contempt the waiter had for us do to the children, or did he treat all his customers like that? Did he mess up all the orders, or was it "punishment" for bringing kids into a fancy restaurant. Part of me was ready to blame the "kids at Jiko" thing (there were other signs than the waiters attitude - we were seated off in a corner of the side room in an empty restaurant). Part of me believes we just got the one bad waiter at Jiko on a crummy night.

How do you really know if your bad service is due to the dining plan, or a waiter having a bad night, or just a plain old bad waiter?

You are absolutely right. It does not seem to be a trend given the replies to the thread.
I do believe my experience at Concourse was due to the dining plan, but I have been wrong before The server had tables near us and I could hear her interacting with those customers and she was much different. The runners rushed our food, as well. It just seemed very orchestrated as a dining plan experience and being that it was two days (maybe three) before free dining was to begin, I believe it was a trial for how to handle more parties on the dining plan in a couple of days. I did want to report my experience.
But, there is no way that anyone can isolate all other factors to determine if bad experiences were a result of the DP or not. A good point to keep in mind. At any rate, I am not concerned about using it this year. Other than one bad experience, the rest were wonderful. In fact, I believe in a couple of instances using the DP gave us better service. Now, reading the replies in this thread, I feel even more confidant that everything will be fine.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Off the dining plan, we dined at Jiko last October. Most people here rave about Jiko, we ended up with Mr. Sourpuss for a waiter.

I think we had the same waiter last January and we were not dining with children, nor were we on the dining plan. He was very unpleasant and condescending; I will never dine at Jiko's again.

 

[melomouse]

OP -

I have to ask, given the replies on this thread, as to where you got the idea that DDP guests were treated like 2nd class citizens? Were you referring to treatment at WDW, at TS or CS, or here on the DIS?????

 

[traviesojmt]

On DP last year I did feel the way OP describes at one TS only. The others were wonderful.
I do not believe in any way could it have been how we treated the server as it started as soon as we were seated (and we are always exceptionally polite with our server and insist that our children are too). We were there just a few days before free dining began and I believe this TS, Concourse, was testing the waters for many people on the dining plan, but am unsure. We were most definitely rushed and we felt as if we were being treated as people who were trying to get something for nothing (we paid for the plan!) Our server was very snippy when telling us everything we could not have (we didn't even ask) even being sure to mention that if we wanted coffee at the end of the meal we would have to pay for it as we would have already had our included beverage. She impatiently wanted us to order and asked us to order our appetizer, entree and dessert at the beginning of the meal (my first and last time there so that could be their standard way of doing things I have been to other places that asked for dessert orders early), but it definitely had the attitiude of hurry up and tell me what you want and I'll get it out to you as soon as I can and you'll be out of here. And they sure did. Our courses came out very close together. It was ridiculous. My steak was very poor quality, but everyone else had wonderful food. I did ask the manager if they were trying to figure out how to handle free dining in a few days and if that was the cause for all of this. He assured me that it wasn't. Anyway, I certainly hope that was an isolated experience or if not, that they have changed. Absolutely, definitely felt like a second class citizen there that night. But, EVERYWHERE else was wonderful.

Sorry, but just a question regarding your post. Has anyone refused to order apetizer, entree and dessert at the same time when asked? We will be at Disney during free dining in Aug. I would prefer never to order them all together. I see my TS meal as a time to relax and enjoy the meal. Just wondering what type of response any of you got when you refused to order them all at the same time. Thanks.

 

[mlwear]

Sorry, but just a question regarding your post. Has anyone refused to order apetizer, entree and dessert at the same time when asked? We will be at Disney during free dining in Aug. I would prefer never to order them all together. I see my TS meal as a time to relax and enjoy the meal. Just wondering what type of response any of you got when you refused to order them all at the same time. Thanks.

We were never asked to order all three at once anywhere else. We did ask at Concourse, if we could order them separately and were told "no, with the dining plan they need to get the whole order in at one time" I'm sure I don't have it word for word as it was about a year ago. The server did specifically mention this being a condition of the dining plan. I would like to know other experiences of DP at Concourse. It was disappointing that our food came out so quickly that we couldn't finish our apps. before dinner and dessert was on the table before we were half-way through with our entree.
Of course, often we place our entree order with our appetizer order but order dessert later. However, I was lucky enough to go to Morton's last week and the server there said that desserts had to be ordered at the time we placed our meal order. So, maybe some places do it that way.
But, no where else was so militant in demanding that we order everything together nor do they even request. Other TS's were very relaxing and let us linger.
I really hope the Concourse incident we experienced is something that has been resolved. But, I would not worry about taking my time esp. at other locations. You will enjoy

 

[Belle23]

I just got back a few weeks ago and I went to the following restaurants:

Rose and Crown-I remember our waiters name because he was so good his name was Barry and we even left an additional 18%.

Le Cellier- I can't remember our waiters name, but he was very friendly and all of the employees at the front was very friendly as well.

Biergarten- Now here I was not impressed with the waiter. He was very friendly don't get me wrong, but when it came down to needing refills he was giving them to the family's around us, but never filled our cups. I finished my drink rather quickly because it was like in the 90's outside and I was very thirst so I was not happy to have an empty cup through 3/4 of my meal. At the end I was even searching for him and he like dissappeared and when he walked by finally I was waving my arm and he looked the other direction and just passed on by. So I had to eat my ice for water! ( Sorry of my rant now!)

Ohana- I loved this place and the cousins were great!!

Sci Fi- Service was ok here nothing bad just very busy and our poor waiter was running around and being very helpful to all of his tables equally.

Mama Melrose- Waitress was nice, but also did a disappearing act on us and finally came and gave us refills half way through our meal so was not so bad.

Crystal Palace- We had an 8:05am ressie and our waiter gave us a tour of the buffet and told us how everything works. He was very nice and also offered to take pics of us with the characters.

Ok sorry this was so long, but I think that with the exception of the minor no refills at Biergarten every one was very good and quick even though we had the DDP.

 

[Lalita]

Mlwear- I have had gone to Concourse Steakhouse so I can share my experiences. I went last year during free dining. End of August. We had the best server, she was very friendly very attentive etc. I forgot her name, though my sister remember it and we tried asking for her this time, but she wasn't in. She let us order a smoothie which only some of us took. She also let us have add on shirmp. For the rest of us that order just regular drinks, she also gave us light up ice cubes. After we finished our meal, she asked if we wanted dessert(actually she brought out the platter with samples, which turns and shows the variety of desserts) we told her we were too full, and she suggested that we could do a take out on them and have them the following morning.

Second trip that we just took a couple weeks ago this past May, we went for dinner and the server was friendly as well, also let us have smoothies and didn't make us order everything all at once. Well if you really think about it, you have to order two out of three anyways at the beginning, I wouldn't mind ordering all three at once though. We were there for lunch, and we also went for dinner and had a ok server she wasn't all that friendly but she was ok. But she also let us have the add on and smoothies.


I personally don't think being on the dining plan or not being on the dining plan makes a difference to to server.

 

[mlwear]

Mlwear- I have had gone to Concourse Steakhouse so I can share my experiences. I went last year during free dining. End of August. We had the best server, she was very friendly very attentive etc. I forgot her name, though my sister remember it and we tried asking for her this time, but she wasn't in. She let us order a smoothie which only some of us took. She also let us have add on shirmp. For the rest of us that order just regular drinks, she also gave us light up ice cubes. After we finished our meal, she asked if we wanted dessert(actually she brought out the platter with samples, which turns and shows the variety of desserts) we told her we were too full, and she suggested that we could do a take out on them and have them the following morning.

Second trip that we just took a couple weeks ago this past May, we went for dinner and the server was friendly as well, also let us have smoothies and didn't make us order everything all at once. Well if you really think about it, you have to order two out of three anyways at the beginning, I wouldn't mind ordering all three at once though. We were there for lunch, and we also went for dinner and had a ok server she wasn't all that friendly but she was ok. But she also let us have the add on and smoothies.



I personally don't think being on the dining plan or not being on the dining plan makes a difference to to server.

Wow. I'm glad you had such great experiences. I really am glad to hear that my experience wasn't duplicated.
Either our server was misinformed or the policy changed between mid-August and late August. We were told that smoothies and light up cubes weren't included and that we would have to pay extra -- we didn't even ask. It was really weird...Again, I am glad your experiences were good and can counter mine.

 

[Lalita]

Wow. I'm glad you had such great experiences. I really am glad to hear that my experience wasn't duplicated.
Either our server was misinformed or the policy changed between mid-August and late August. We were told that smoothies and light up cubes weren't included and that we would have to pay extra -- we didn't even ask. It was really weird...Again, I am glad your experiences were good and can counter mine.

So sorry that you didn't have a good experience. I find them quite one of the more "generous" restuarants with the extras.As for the light cubes, we only got that the first visit last August, and we didn't know until she brought it out that she was giving it to us. But our last meal there was not that great, esecially those scallops were jsut . Will you be trying it out again for your upcoming trip? I recommed Spoddles for 1TS credit, loved it there! And alot of the extras are also included like the add on shirmp and scallops and the different smoothie drinks.

 

[aubriee]

I went during the free dining offer last Sept and then purchased the dining plan for May. I got excellent service everywhere we went (except San Angel Inn in Epcot). At CRT we didn't get bad service exactly, but did have a waitress who was very verbal about not liking the free dining plan, as she felt people were taking advantage of it and Disney.

I'm going again Sept 22nd-30th and expect to get good service.

 

[Tio Marco]

We've used it twice and never had any problems.