Question for any restaurant CMs

[mickeysgal]

I have been reading a lot of trip reports, where guests have been upset with the CM service at sit down restaurants. Most feel it is because the tip is included in the Dining Plan.

My question is....how can my family tactfully let the wait staff know that we are going to be tipping in addition to the dining plan tip? We always tip above the norm and want to insure a pleasant dining experience. I don't want to insult the CM's by saying they wouldn't give 100% without the additional tip.

 

[LandBoatride]

This should work...

"Hi, we're on the dining plan. I know your gratuity is included, but are we allowed to leave extra tip?" I suspect the server will sheepishly say yes and then be sure to provide top notch service. And, if the service is still subpar, simply dont tip extra!

This is the way to go, play stupid while still getting your point across.

 

[Nansafan]

This should work...

"Hi, we're on the dining plan. I know your gratuity is included, but are we allowed to leave extra tip?" I suspect the server will sheepishly say yes and then be sure to provide top notch service. And, if the service is still subpar, simply dont tip extra!

This is the way to go, play stupid while still getting your point across.

What a great idea! We will not be on the dining plan but there are 10 of us traveling. At many restaurants WDW and elsewhere, groups of 8 and more they include the gratuity. That is really a shame since I and my brother are generally 20% tippers not the 15-18% the restaurant tacks onto the bill.

 

[mickeysgal]

This should work...

"Hi, we're on the dining plan. I know your gratuity is included, but are we allowed to leave extra tip?" I suspect the server will sheepishly say yes and then be sure to provide top notch service. And, if the service is still subpar, simply dont tip extra!

This is the way to go, play stupid while still getting your point across.

That is a great idea!!!! Very subtle and polite. Thanks so much!!!!

 

[bgraham34]

Yeah I might have to give that a shot.

 

[Monty]

I've never had bad service on or off the DDP. I'm always polite and friendly. Not wishing to put others down, but you get what you give... If you treat a person well, they return in kind. If you are a demanding customer and never say a "please" or "thank you" during your meal, don't be surprised by mediocre or bad service, you don't deserve better [but you'll probably blame the DDP]. Even if you are a demanding customer you'll be treated better if you're nice about it.

 

[nickcarraway]

If you don't want to announce it beforehand by asking a question or possibly make the server feel uncomfortable by having to answer "yes" then just leave the extra cash on the table under the salt shaker. Whatever you do, don't leave coinage. That's tacky.

 

[mickeysgal]

My family and I are always exceptionally nice and polite to the staff at restaurants. We have small children and believe that it is proper to have good table manners and we feel that it is right to lead by example (also my husband was a cook for many years and knows what happens to rude customers...I won't say anymore). While I know a few of the guests who complained, and others I just read the reviews on different boards, I have to admit I don't believe it is all about the money (tips). There has definitely been an increase in table service guests, since the DDP, and maybe the CM's are just worn to thin. I'm sure I will have a great time, and enjoy the food. We are DVC members and don't usually eat outside of our villas, but we thought we'd give it a try and dine at places we would have never eaten at before. I will definitely try the above suggestion, and make sure I tip generously....

 

[trr313]

I can understand that if you have a party of 8 or more tips are included but I have had it happen where it was and the CM was less than par, what should you do then. I think sometimes maybe they know that they are for sure going to get the 18% that they maybe don't care as much to provide good service. I'm not addressing this to all CM at sit down rest. so don't jump all over me on this one.

 

[Ciciwoowoo]

I've never had bad service on or off the DDP. I'm always polite and friendly. Not wishing to put others down, but you get what you give... If you treat a person well, they return in kind. If you are a demanding customer and never say a "please" or "thank you" during your meal, don't be surprised by mediocre or bad service, you don't deserve better [but you'll probably blame the DDP]. Even if you are a demanding customer you'll be treated better if you're nice about it.

Hey, I'm one of those who complained about the DDP, and I am none of the above examples you have mentioned. I work for a living, and I realize just how important tips are to the normal waitstaff... I may not have a lot of money, but I always try to tip 20%. I say please and thank you, and try not to be excessive with my requests.

You really have no business generalizing people like that. I have a lovely word for you in my head, but I really am not going to mention it here.

 

[Monty]

Hey, I'm one of those who complained about the DDP, and I am none of the above examples you have mentioned. I work for a living, and I realize just how important tips are to the normal waitstaff... I may not have a lot of money, but I always try to tip 20%. I say please and thank you, and try not to be excessive with my requests.

You really have no business generalizing people like that. I have a lovely word for you in my head, but I really am not going to mention it here.

You're absolutely right, it was a generalization. If it doesn't fit you, then it wasn't intended to upset you. I was speaking strictly from my own experience and observations and cannot possibly have seen or experienced everything. Based on my experience I made a generalization that I prefaced with a statement that acknowledged it was a generalization "Not wishing to put others down...". If, despite that, you took offence, then you have my heartfelt apologies, for I certainly had no intent to upset you or anyone else.

 

[MouseearsDeb]

I can understand that if you have a party of 8 or more tips are included but I have had it happen where it was and the CM was less than par, what should you do then. I think sometimes maybe they know that they are for sure going to get the 18% that they maybe don't care as much to provide good service. I'm not addressing this to all CM at sit down rest. so don't jump all over me on this one.

From prior experience and others suggestions, I would say ask for a manager.

 

[LandBoatride]

From prior experience and others suggestions, I would say ask for a manager.

Yes, this is always the last recourse available to a guest and should be used when warranted. As Im sure we would all agree, just make sure the problem is the server and not the situation. For example, if the server is clearly in a very busy station or is swamped with very demanding/needy guests at a table near you, cut them some slack. On the flip side, good servers know how to multi-task...for example, when going to the station to get drinks for one table, good servers know to look/ask other tables if they also need drink refills.

Just know that a server can easily get very bogged down very quickly by one table. When that table literally asks for 6 different things at once, and all these things are located in different places for the server to find (a drink in the side station, some butter from the kitchen, a napkin from somewhere else, some random side sauce that is in the back cooler, an extra child's menu from the lobby, a clean spoon from the dishroom, etc etc), then a server is doomed as 3 other tables all need them at the same time. This is an extreme example but you get the idea. I have always found that by simply looking around me, I can tell the difference between a hard-working busy server versus a lazy server.

If you find however that the server is never helping anybody (frequently absent), or if they help everyone EXCEPT you consistently, then you have a problem. I like the suggestion of checking your own attitude first, but when the server is clearly the problem, then get a manager. I have never personally needed this form of recourse at a Disney restaurant, but I'm quite sure it is justified at times.