why the bad attitude with the DDP?

[punkin413]

In all honesty, how do the complaining DDPers know for sure that the other tables aren't using the Disney Dining Plan?

i can't say for sure b/c it didn't happen to me, but the review(s) that i read where this was mentioned happened at le cellier, where i believe the tables are very close together. so maybe the DDP-ers heard the non-DDPers tell their server that they weren't on the DDP??? i don't know for sure though.

 

[punkin413]

thanks for all your replies! it sounds to me like most of you had good experiences on the DDP. i also believe whoever said that you hear more about the bad experiences than the good was absolutely right. (i'm a court reporter and i see how this plays out in everyday life all the time!). thanks again!

 

[kaytieeldr]

i can't say for sure b/c it didn't happen to me, but the review(s) that i read where this was mentioned happened at le cellier, where i believe the tables are very close together. so maybe the DDP-ers heard the non-DDPers tell their server that they weren't on the DDP??? i don't know for sure though.

Call me a cynic, but I wouldn't be surprised if some of those diners claiming not to be on the DDP actually were, but thought they'd get better service if they denied it up front and maybe appeared to change their minds about the payment method at the end of the meal But like I said, I'm a cynic.

 

[TDC Nala]

I have never experienced that.

I don't see the problem with getting a guaranteed 18% tip. Lots of customers must routinely leave less than that. The diners who want alcoholic drinks will still buy them - and pay 18% on the cash outlay as well because it's added automatically.

As for preferring the tip in cash so you don't have to tell the IRS - I don't have a lot of sympathy with that one.

As to what was posted earlier - any server caught telling patrons that the tip is not included in the dining plan ought to be canned.

 

[Nancyg56]

We used the DDP three times in the past 14 months, once was free. During the trips we also paid OOP for some meals, and paid OOP for some of our party who were visiting. We never thought that the servers were disgruntled with the plan and found that with the exception of one meal our service was excellent. We found that the CM's were happy to explain the plan and that they were professionals.

 

[JimMIA]

We've visited numerous times -- sometimes on DDP, sometimes using the DDE card, other times just paying cash. I've never noticed any difference in service based on how we were paying for the meal. We've usually had very good service, occasionally outstanding service, and rarely poor service -- but I haven't detected that it had anything to do with the method of payment. It seems to have to do with the individual server having a bad day or a particular restaurant being poorly run.

Most of the servers I've talked to love DDP because it brings in more business and therefore, higher tips. I've heard only two complaints -- neither one of which had anything to do with free DDP, because we don't go at that time of year.

The first complaint, which I've heard several times personally, is that the DDP attracts "a different crowd than we usually get." When asked, the servers have said the patrons tend to be more demanding and less appreciative. I've also seen a couple of examples of that behavior.

The other complaint -- which I have not heard personally, but have read here -- is that some of the non-Disney restaurants don't give the wait staff their full tips. Disney supposedly pays something like $22 per TS to the restaurant, and those restaurants compute the tip on what they receive from Disney, rather than the customer's bill. Frankly, I think that's an issue between the waitstaff and their employers...not a DDP issue.

 

[Parla]

The other complaint -- which I have not heard personally, but have read here -- is that some of the non-Disney restaurants don't give the wait staff their full tips. Disney supposedly pays something like $22 per TS to the restaurant, and those restaurants compute the tip on what they receive from Disney, rather than the customer's bill. Frankly, I think that's an issue between the waitstaff and their employers...not a DDP issue.

That is what I had been wondering about earlier. Since if your meal is very expensive then it seems Disney (or the restaurant) would be practically giving the food away. It would certainly suck to work at one of those non-Disney restaurants.

 

[Cinders Mum]

It is going to be interesting to see the difference in service this year. We have FDDP for the first time, but to be honest as non DDP guests last year, we felt (rightly or wrongly) that when a couple of servers found we were not on the plan, and were not ordering 3 courses each, they switched off to us, and did not service our table with the same attention as the table of 6 next to us .... coincidence?? Maybe ...... but as I say it will be interesting to be on the other side of the experience this year

Val
xx