Dining plan changes to KILL Free Dining???

[lilclerk]

Maybe we just got lucky, but on the one time we used the dining plan, we had incredible service at every restaurant. :shrug: Except the time we ate at Planet Hollywood on a Saturday night and it was horrifically busy. But that was our bad idea. We went back on a Tuesday evening and it was wonderful. The servers would stay and talk to us about our trip and give us Disney advice, and help us get the best value for the plan (good for them and us.) And we added the plan about two weeks before our trip and I got all our first choices for ADRs, just being a bit flexible with times. This was in February, but still.
I dunno... again, sounds like we were just lucky, but we thought the plan was great.
I don't really mind the changes to the plan. I definitely don't need a gigantic 3 course meal every day (though I would prefer to keep the appetizer and lose the dessert because I'm weird.) But to lose the tip AND the appetizer and only drop the price $1 just seems like a huge loss of value to me. I'm sure you can still come out ahead on the plan, but we don't particularly like the fancy restaurants and feeling like we need to order the most expensive thing on the menu just to not lose money. Seems silly.

 

[DisneyBuff]

I think it's horrible to complain about the the free dining option just because of you consider it an inconvenience to those who can't wait till the last minute to get a TS reservation. Are you serious? It's just a freaking restaurant! It's not like you can't just eat somewhere else, it's not causing you to miss rides and it's not the end of life as you know it. :brick:

To me it is much more then just an inconvenience. When I call up several months in advance and try to get 1 night at an Epcot restaurant and can't get it that is a problem. Not including taking away being able to walk into a restaurant. Sure I could walk up to a quick service counter but I would rather try and have at least 1 meal sitting down at a good restaurant. The dinning plan makes it very hard to do so.

Eatting is part of the experience. Just like the shows and the rides.

 

[barbara]

I will still go during the free dining (if they have it) but I will be spending less money in the parks because I will have to tip.

 

[disneydudette]

Free Dining w/o tips included = STIFFS GALORE!

Why are you ONLY assuming that Free Dinning will result in "stiffs" Wouldn't this be a huge side effect for EVERYONE using the plan, not just those on free dinning? That seems like common sense to me.

Just because it's "Free" dinning, it does not mean those that booked it are "cheap" people. Many of us choose Free Dinning due to the savings, not because it was just "free" food. I know many people that opted to keep their 40% code or book the room only rate do to better savings.

 

[JimboJones123]

Why are you ONLY assuming that Free Dinning will result in "stiffs" Wouldn't this be a huge side effect for EVERYONE using the plan, not just those on free dinning? That seems like common sense to me.

Just because it's "Free" dinning, it does not mean those that booked it are "cheap" people. Many of us choose Free Dinning due to the savings, not because it was just "free" food. I know many people that opted to keep their 40% code or book the room only rate do to better savings.

#1 I've worked in food service. Coupons/Discounts are bad for servers.
#2 I know many servers. Coupons/Discounts are bad for servers.
Why are you ONLY assuming that Free Dining won't result in "stiffs" .

 

[cymbaldiva]

#1 I've worked in food service. Coupons/Discounts are bad for servers.
#2 I know many servers. Coupons/Discounts are bad for servers.
Why are you ONLY assuming that Free Dining won't result in "stiffs" .

Why are you only assuming that it will? :veryconfu

 

[JimboJones123]

Why are you only assuming that it will? :veryconfu

Why are you only assuming that it will?

We can play this game all day if you want???

 

[cymbaldiva]

I just stepped in to the thread and found your negativity a bit amazing is all...

You are more than free to go ahead and assume the worst - doesn't mean the rest of us have to

 

[Shrike]

All I can say is that here is no such thing as "free dining", anymore than the DME is a "free" service. All these costs have been incorporated into the inflated prices they charge for hotels, park tickets,etc. Maybe you're not laying down that money on the table, but it certainly isn't "free".

TANSTAAFL!!!


As an aside, I'll cheer the day the dining plan goes the way of the Dodo.

 

[JimboJones123]

Thanks. I'm glad I can assume the worst. I have worked as a server -- and the new details on the DDP are very disturbing to me. Having it offered Free is even harder to swallow. I do see more tips being withheld. Sorry if you believe that all Americans tip the same. The most concerning thing though would be the added expense of having to keep an extra $200 or so for tipping. That's a lot of spending money for my family when we go on the free dining trips. Now it's something we will have to add to the on trip budget. I'm sorry I don't have unlimited disposible income. I'm just saying it's a bad deal for both of these 2 parties if free dining is added.

I think I've been more than clear where my points of view are coming from. If connecting the dots is too hard or too "high concept" you might be better to avoid this thread.

Yes, I do have negitive feelings from both the consumer and server points of view. Sorry if your inability to be empathetic to either of these viewpoints is making this thread difficult for you. Life in the bubble must be bliss.

"Amazing"ly, I do feel for the parties that are blindsided to the changes. I also feel sorry for the servers that will suffer. "Amazing" also is that you could bash me for having feelings to support either of these sides?

 

[hrcollectibles]

Family of four. Bill = $150. Tip = $27. $27 x 10 = $270

So yeah, 18% = Hundreds of dollars over 10 days easily. Guess you aren't that much of a generous tipper after all???

I am a very generous tipper...While I am there (wdw) i don't eat at a table service at every meal. so I do not tip at every meal.. Also I do not have a family of 4...

 

[hrcollectibles]

I don't think 15% has been the average for at least 2 years. Besides, unless I receive bad service, I'm usually tiping 20-25%.:shrug:

Same here...

 

[erasure fan1]

I am a very generous tipper...While I am there (wdw) i don't eat at a table service at every meal. so I do not tip at every meal.. Also I do not have a family of 4...

I have a family of 3 and if you take the average cost of our sit down meals you come up with $140 for tips with 7 day dining plan. It may not be much to some but that with all the other increases is a fair bit to some of us.

 

[RiversideBunny]

A few questions about the mechanics of the DDP in 2008, without the gratuity's being included, and how it will affect tips.

The reason this is important is that I, like many other people, won't be carrying around cash in the parks just for tips.
I would prefer to put tips on the room charge.

When the guest gets the bill will it be laid out like this, for example?


Dinner $72.00
Less credits for DDP -$72.00
Balance Due 0.00
TIP/Gratuity ________
Total ________

___Charge to Resort Room: Resort ________ Room # ________
___Charge to credit card: Amount _______


CONCLUSION:
If the mechanics of paying for the meals make it easy for guests to leave tips then there will be more tips.
If, on the other hand, it is awkward to leave a tip due to its having to be in cash, then there will be less tips.

 

[disneydudette]

#1 I've worked in food service. Coupons/Discounts are bad for servers.
#2 I know many servers. Coupons/Discounts are bad for servers.
Why are you ONLY assuming that Free Dining won't result in "stiffs" .

Actually, I think you should reread my post, I mentioned everyone, including those on Free Dinning:

Why are you ONLY assuming that Free Dinning will result in "stiffs" Wouldn't this be a huge side effect for EVERYONE using the plan, not just those on free dinning? That seems like common sense to me.

Assuming only makes an A$$ out of you and me... but I guess in this case... just you

 

[JimboJones123]

"Free" dining with a cost. Expect to pay between x and y dollars for this added free benefit. Doesn't add up. Nobody's being an A$$ -- as far as I knew. Thanks for setting that straight. Wouldn't want to be mis-represented in your eyes and all.

 

[MickeyFan77]

#1 I've worked in food service. Coupons/Discounts are bad for servers.
#2 I know many servers. Coupons/Discounts are bad for servers.
Why are you ONLY assuming that Free Dining won't result in "stiffs" .

Have to jump in. ITA with this statement. I am a server at a local family place and numerous times have been stiffed or under tipped when someone has had their billed paid for them. If someone paid my bill I would tip more. I think in general there will be lots of people stiffing or undertipping, and sometimes that will just be because they don't understand.

 

[JimboJones123]

Have to jump in. ITA with this statement. I am a server at a local family place and numerous times have been stiffed or under tipped when someone has had their billed paid for them. If someone paid my bill I would tip more. I think in general there will be lots of people stiffing or undertipping, and sometimes that will just be because they don't understand.

Amazing what happens when somebody chimes in that actually does the job. There is nothing worse than going home with $8 for an 8 hr day.

 

[brianhorn]

My family and I have been to WDW 5 times in the past 3 years and are returning again in Sept. We have took advantage of the free dinning last year and look forward to it again this year. I think that regardless of the free dinning or dinning plan, restaurant would be booked and reservations would be necessary. As soon as my room is booked I start making dinner reservations. Eating at Disney is one of the main reasons we return time and time again. We have found several outstanding restaurants, Boma's one of our favorites. Another reason is my son has a milk allergy and every restaurant we have been to has been happy to accommodate. We even celebrate his birthday at Garden Grill and they where able to provide a milk free cake. For us the free dinning makes the difference in cost between going once a year or twice.

 

[cymbaldiva]

A few questions about the mechanics of the DDP in 2008, without the gratuity's being included, and how it will affect tips.

The reason this is important is that I, like many other people, won't be carrying around cash in the parks just for tips.
I would prefer to put tips on the room charge.

When the guest gets the bill will it be laid out like this, for example?


Dinner $72.00
Less credits for DDP -$72.00
Balance Due 0.00
TIP/Gratuity ________
Total ________

___Charge to Resort Room: Resort ________ Room # ________
___Charge to credit card: Amount _______


CONCLUSION:
If the mechanics of paying for the meals make it easy for guests to leave tips then there will be more tips.
If, on the other hand, it is awkward to leave a tip due to its having to be in cash, then there will be less tips.

Now that's a really good idea - 'tis good to see a viable solution come out of all this fussing :sohappy: