Stigma on Dining Plan has Truth

[Mouse Man]

This topic has been debated 1000 times over.
Either you love the dining plan or you don't.

I fall into the category of:

THE DINING PLAN BLOWS!
IT'S BEEN A MAJOR FACTOR IN THE DECLINE OF SIT DOWN DINING AT DISNEY WORLD!!!

Anybody who says the quality of table service meals and service is better now than before the Dining plan is full of crap........... or an idiot!
And trust me, the cast members WOULD LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT TO GO AWAY!!!!

Just my humble opinion, have a Magical Day!

Oh well it just goes to show that they still grow em big and dumb in CA. Left coasters sigh :hammer:

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

But I thought you were from New Jumper?

 

[Mouse Man]

But I thought you were from New Jumper?

As you would politely put your a bloody ER

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

So I've been told.

 

[Mouse Man]

Okay enough LOL time to hoist a cold one and drink to a good vacation.

 

[v_misses_epcot]

The reason you are asked if you are on the DDP is very simple and not some nefarious way to slip you some top secret limited menu, lower your level of service or sneeze on your steak. It is simply to make sure that the server informs the guest of what is and is not included. Most people on the DDP have no clue how it works or what it includes. Many people are under the impression that the DDP is like cruise ship dining where they can order what ever they want and it is taken care of. Asking if they are on the DDP and explaining what it includes avoids the sticker shock if someone orders the left side of the menu thinking that it is taken care of because they are on the DDP.

This is true, you get the same menu as everyone else, etc etc... But there have been times where as soon as the waitress or waiters knows we're cast members, all niceness goes out the doors. Especially when we take out the coupons that they give us during the winter time. I mean we're "guest" as well at that very moment and we don't appreciate the bad service and attitude from fellow cms. And it always happens at Ohanas! lol We never see our waiter or waitress again for a long long time once they know we're cms. That's another thing I hate, they're still getting the 18 percent gratuity even if the service is bad when you're on DDP or our discount as a cm. We have complained before about the service but I still think that they get the tip. It's a whole mess really but we will continue to use DDP and our discounts, it goes a long way when trying to save imho.

 

[Master Yoda]

This is true, you get the same menu as everyone else, etc etc... But there have been times where as soon as the waitress or waiters knows we're cast members, all niceness goes out the doors. Especially when we take out the coupons that they give us during the winter time. I mean we're "guest" as well at that very moment and we don't appreciate the bad service and attitude from fellow cms. And it always happens at Ohanas! lol We never see our waiter or waitress again for a long long time once they know we're cms. That's another thing I hate, they're still getting the 18 percent gratuity even if the service is bad when you're on DDP or our discount as a cm. We have complained before about the service but I still think that they get the tip. It's a whole mess really but we will continue to use DDP and our discounts, it goes a long way when trying to save imho.

I was worried about a similar thing happening when TiWL added a mandatory tip. I decided that if the service was horrible I would not use the TiWL card and leave no tip at all. I would be spending the same amount of money but the server would get the message that a TiWL guest is not a free payday. To date I have never had to do this. I have always received at worst adequate service but good or great service tend to be the norm. Just a couple of months ago I had a server at Raglan Rd that was so good I had him have a manager come over so I could tell him how great of a job he did and he got around a 50% tip. A similar situation to the one at Raglan seems to happen about once a year for us.

 

[Tiggerish]

While waiting for our table for two at Chefs de France last month (TiW, not dining plan), a family of three walked up with no reservation and was encouraged to wait for a table (they had the DDP). The mother seemed very suspicious, but sat down next to me and asked how long we'd been waiting. I told her that we had already been waiting about 20 minutes or so, but it was still 5 minutes before our reservation time.

The walk-up family was actually seated before us, and we wound up at the table right next to them. There was much quizzing of the poor waitress as to what they could or could not order, especially for the child, which resulted in some pretty slow service for us, but of course that was not the waitress' fault.

So, there's an example refuting the original theory. :wave:

 

[MattyFresh]

The only issue I have had with DDP was at Cali Grill, our waitress was very friendly and eager to provide us with great service......then she found out we were on the dining plan. I think that was one of the last times we saw her until it was time for the bill. She was very short and acted like she didn't want to deal with us, but was completely different with her other tables around us, the paid cash for the meal. Its a shame because with it being a nicer restaurant I was considering leaving her extra on top of the tip that was included at the time. But instead, she got nothing more.........her loss.

 

[blackthidot]

Just say no when they ask...after you eat and get your check say that you are. Who cares. What can they do? If you really feel like you are treated differently then say no. They can correct it.

 

[v_misses_epcot]

I was worried about a similar thing happening when TiWL added a mandatory tip. I decided that if the service was horrible I would not use the TiWL card and leave no tip at all. I would be spending the same amount of money but the server would get the message that a TiWL guest is not a free payday. To date I have never had to do this. I have always received at worst adequate service but good or great service tend to be the norm. Just a couple of months ago I had a server at Raglan Rd that was so good I had him have a manager come over so I could tell him how great of a job he did and he got around a 50% tip. A similar situation to the one at Raglan seems to happen about once a year for us.

I love that!! When they still stay in character and just give you the time of your life no matter how you're paying. Ditto! I make sure they get extra from what they're already getting. And it feels great, it feels like we're guest and so far it's been good for us. Like I mentioned, Ohanas just wow, no one likes cms there lol. Do you remember your servers name at Raglan? Ours was Kevin and he was just so amazing!

 

[Master Yoda]

I love that!! When they still stay in character and just give you the time of your life no matter how you're paying. Ditto! I make sure they get extra from what they're already getting. And it feels great, it feels like we're guest and so far it's been good for us. Like I mentioned, Ohanas just wow, no one likes cms there lol. Do you remember your servers name at Raglan? Ours was Kevin and he was just so amazing!

Unfortunately I do not.

 

[tsp]

When my family was at WDW this past Feb. we asked a few of our waiters the question..
"Who tips better DDP or pay as you go folks?" All 3 we asked anwered and said it was pretty much the same.. and one talked to us for a few about it and said that she actually liked the DDP's better because they had usually planned ahead on what they were going to order and it was easier..
I am sure just like folks have different opinions on the DDP .. I am sure the wait staff does also..

 

[mickeysshoes]

We have used the dining plan on each trip with no problems, no rude staff, no bad service, etc. I wouldn't even go to WDW without the DDP because, for us, then our entire trip is paid for with exception of the tips and souvenier money. Although, I'm a very laid back person and it takes a lot for me to complain.

Same with us...i love knowing my food is paid for 45 days before we leave home and i love being able to look at the FOOD selection and not the prices to make my choice for dinner. Tipping is no problem I work that into my spending cash budget. Dont like it now that we have to pay the tip but it will not stop us from using the DDP. I would think they would get a better tip from the DDP folks?!?!?!

 

[pescador1f]

I had ddp on trip last november and had the same service as always, this was my first time with ddp and I really dont get what people are confused about. meal is paid for, alcohol and tip is out of pocket!

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Part of the meal is paid for..........................

 

[momof2inmn]

Trying NOT to be ingnorant!

I have been doing research on the DDP and have seen lots of conflicting reports. Some say appetizers are included (app, entree, dessert) and some say they are not (entree, dessert only). The dates of these posts and websites are current so which one is correct?

Thanks for any input.

 

[DisneyJoe]

I have been doing research on the DDP and have seen lots of conflicting reports. Some say appetizers are included (app, entree, dessert) and some say they are not (entree, dessert only). The dates of these posts and websites are current so which one is correct?

The official word is on disneyworld.com in the Dining plan brochures:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/me...altDisneyWorld/en_us/PDF/2010QuickService.pdf

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/me...alog/WaltDisneyWorld/en_us/PDF/2010Dining.pdf

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/me...altDisneyWorld/en_us/PDF/2010DeluxeDining.pdf

 

[Master Yoda]

I have been doing research on the DDP and have seen lots of conflicting reports. Some say appetizers are included (app, entree, dessert) and some say they are not (entree, dessert only). The dates of these posts and websites are current so which one is correct?

Thanks for any input.

For the basic plan appetizers are no longer included. Appetizers are only included on the Deluxe plan.

 

[entcal]

Our server at Le Cellier on 3/20/10 asked if we were going to use any of the dining plans. When I said 'No', he replied- "Good.. now you're not limited in what you can order". The people at the table next to us heard that, and began to wonder out loud what they would be missing.

BTW, I believe that Le Cellier has been adversely impacted by the dining plans... at only one table service credit, they're flipping tables as fast as they can. I've never had a meal at that restaurant, and it's one of our favorites, that was so rushed and impersonal. Not good.

As a former server at Le Cellier, I can tell you the above is not true. Yes, we had time limits for how long a table should be flipped, but at no point would management ever tell us to rush a guest. Every guest, regardless of DDP or not should get the same experience. If you were rushed, then unfortunately you maybe had a not so great server.

In fact, as a server you much prefer DDP, a typical table will order a lot more than someone not on the plan. My experience with DDP is that guests are not cheaper when tipping, the years of included tip are long gone, and 99% of guests know that.

The Le Cellier menu is in fact tailored to the Dining Plan guests. The Pre-fixed menu, of course is available to all guests but has the greatest value for DDP, adding essentially a free appetizer to their, beverage, entree, and dessert.

It's important to note that the restaurants mentioned in the first post of this thread are both operating participants, and not Disney owned, so the DDP likely impacts the businesses in different ways than at Le Cellier. I still feel that a server would appreciate it in the same way, however, a manager was spoken to at France which could be the explanation.

In my experience in Canada, the only reason you would turn away one party and take the next is simply party size and nothing else. And yes, if a table of 6 people is open we would turn away a party of four and wait for a party of 5 or 6 to walk up.

Also the order of tables being sat also has nothing to do with DDP vs not (and likely the assignor doesn't even pay attention to it). You may not be sat in the order you arrived, a table of 2 checking in before table of 4 could be sat well after the table of 4 due to table availability.

And the reason a server needs to know up front if a table is using DDP is simply to tailor a spiel towards the guests. For instance, a table using DDP I would spiel the Pre Fixed menu as opposed to an appetizer so the guest can get their maximum value out of the plan.

Believe me, there are days when you have almost no tables on DDP and some with almost all tables, and it's on the latter I walked away with more money.

Just some thoughts