Xtra tipping on the dining plan

[MouseearsDeb]

I've read several reviews/threads where once a server finds out you are on the dining plan the quality of service drops. I was thinking, , that when we are seated and proceed to tell the server that we are on the DDP, to *casually* ask if it is OK to tip extra if the service is above and beyond what I would consider normal. I can't decide if this is too goofy (no pun intended:lookaroun ) of a thing to bring up or if anyone else has tried this. Maybe it's not really necessary. I know tips are included, but I don't mind dropping a couple extra $$ if the server is fantastic!

What do you think?

 

[Monty]

I didn't find any problems with service while on DDP. I did make a point of adding extra for exemplary service, but didn't even hint it was a possibility. If people regularly add a bit when it's warranted, maybe the "problems" will go away.

To be honest, I have seen people treat their servers horribly throughout their meal and then leave the restaurant loudly berating the service they got "because of being on DDP"! If I had been their server, they'd've been lucky to see their food at all [recognizing this, I don't work in the service industry :lol:].

I am always polite with servers, they have a job to do. I say "please" when I order and "thank you" when they deliver. I say "excuse me" if I need their attention or there's a problem with something and say "thank you" when they've listened to whatever it is that's a problem. The only time I've ever had bad service wasn't in a Disney restaurant, it was here at home. A girl was very slow in getting meals when they were ready in the kitchen, getting bills to people when they were finished, etc... I took a moment to ask her if she was OK and she broke down in tears, her father was in the hospital and she really didn't want to be working, but the restaurant was short-handed. She hadn't even told her Manager. I told her Manager, he gave her the rest of the night off and I drove her to the hospital to be with her dad. I also gave her her tip before she got out of the car.

 

[RonAnnArbor]

I have never experienced any problems with the servers at any of the WDW restaurants. People online here always complain about this or that. If anything, I have seen the opposite - absolutely horrendous guests demanding things from their servers and expecting to be in and out of a sit-down slower-paced restaurant in 15 minutes. You don't need to drop any hints about extra tips to the servers. They do the best job they can. If you like the food and the experience, leave a few extra dollars on your table. They already get a sizable gratuity included with every meal they serve. A long long time ago in a galaxy far far away, I worked at a restaurant in NYC. I would have felt insulted if someone suggested I would get a bigger tip if I served them better. All of my guests were the same.

 

[MouseearsDeb]

I worked at a restaurant in NYC. I would have felt insulted if someone suggested I would get a bigger tip if I served them better. All of my guests were the same.

This is what I was concerned about. We've never had a problem with service at WDW but we've never used the DDP either. I guess as long as we don't give them a reason to be a bad server then there shouldn't be a problem.

Thanks for the insight!

 

[Senderella]

Being an ex-server myself, I can understand why the service isn't top notch just by looking around. That aside, I'm also a lot more relaxed about service. You can look around and if the section is full, of course it's going to take awhile for you to get a refill. There are other guests that need something as well. We've never had bad service at any of the WDW restaurants and we're always on the DDP. We're very friendly and courteous towards our server. If they come around and ask if we'd like **insert something here**, we say "please, when you get a chance." We've told them at the beginning of the meal as well as at the end of the meal that we're on the DDP. No difference in the level of service we received. We also usually tip a little over the DDP automatic grat. Chances are if you're good to your server from the start, you won't have a problem. There's always an off chance a server is having a bad day.. just got out of the weeds and isn't fully back in smiley mode yet.. or like MontyMon said having personal issues... been there done that myself. Even if that's the case, the best thing to do is just be relaxed and friendly with your server regardless.

In the words of the character Monty from the movie Waiting... "I guess we should feel some sort of guilt, but she broke the cardinal rule; never **** with people who handle your food". :goodnevil *evil grin*

 

[MouseearsDeb]

In the words of the character Monty from the movie Waiting... "I guess we should feel some sort of guilt, but she broke the cardinal rule; never **** with people who handle your food". :goodnevil *evil grin*

EEWWW! One of my worst fears is someone having done something to my food!


We're always nice and do the please/thank you/etc. I'm sure there won't be a problem. Just, when I have read the comments on the bad service, I guess they tend to stick out more than the exceptional service.

Prime Time 50's is probably THE BEST service/CM we've every had. He was sooo funny!

 

[Senderella]

EEWWW! One of my worst fears is someone having done something to my food!


We're always nice and do the please/thank you/etc. I'm sure there won't be a problem. Just, when I have read the comments on the bad service, I guess they tend to stick out more than the exceptional service.

Prime Time 50's is probably THE BEST service/CM we've every had. He was sooo funny!

LOL Deb! You really shouldn't worry about it. Everyone's always got something to complain about and the complaints always stand out more so than the screaming praises for some reason.

 

[JimboJones123]

I have gotten bad service, and I'm a great guest. The one thing I don't get --- Why you would give slow service to DDP guests. GIVE THEM FAST SERVICE, IT'S CALLED TURN AND BURN. This baffles me more than anything. Get me out if I am willing so you can get the next table. Oh well.

 

[kachow]

I have to believe the dining plan is probably looked at as a good thing by servers. I don't know what exactly the tipping percentage is that they're given by the plan, but I have to believe getting a guaranteed 15% tip would be preferable to the number of times they probably get screwed by tables that don't know proper tipping ettiquette. Plus, I know when my wife and I go in November that at most of our sit down meals we'll be ordering drinks, so they'll be due a seperate tip on that... as long as they're attentive.

 

[JimboJones123]

18%

 

[TwoTigersMom]

Other than the normal politeness of saying please and thank you, we always try to ask for everything at one time. When we place our food order, we always say "we'll need extra napkins, spoons, ketchup for the kids etc." I also warn them, laughingly if I'm particularly thirsty that day and might be gulpring down several glasses of water to rehydrate.

If they can bring everything you know you'll need in one trip, then going back to get incidentals won't be quite as time consuming for the server.

I've always done the 3 sit down meals a day plan and we've never had a bad meal at Disney.

 

[Floridasunshine]

We stayed with the dining plan in busy March. Maybe i got lucky, but the service we got from the restaurants where we used the dining plan was EXCELLENT! It was the three restaurants where we did NOT use the DDP that the service was less than stellar.

I think the idea of saying you would tip better is not a good one.

 

[MouseearsDeb]

I think the idea of saying you would tip better is not a good one.

Agreed!

 

[shoppingnut]

I've done the DDP and the service in all the restaurants was excellent.

 

[Jenerella]

I think you are right to drop a little hint, but only if you really will tip extra. I am a server, and it is hard work (though most think it's not), extra $ is always appreciated.

Gratuity on checks is a beautiful thing. Some people are so completely rude and make absolutely ridiculous requests. Most don't even say please or thankyou. Those things are appreciated also, and don't go overlooked.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

; never **** with people who handle your food". :goodnevil *evil grin*

or as a cook found out when I was in the military

"never **** with squaddies food unless you are prepared to get a good kicking."

It will always end in tears.

Oh and as a foreigner tipping etiquette doesn’t apply to me, a polite thank you is all that should be required. After all I’ve taken the trouble to visit the colony

 

[Monty]

Oh and as a foreigner tipping etiquette doesn’t apply to me, a polite thank you is all that should be required. After all I’ve taken the trouble to visit the colony

In fairness, Florida wasn't a British colony... Might have been Spanish, I think.

:lol:

We Canucks occasionally point out things like the reason the White House is white is the paint job it got after we torched it, but it's not really nice to do so... So I won't. :lookaroun

 

[Tinkershelly]

In fairness, Florida wasn't a British colony... Might have been Spanish, I think.

:lol:

We Canucks occasionally point out things like the reason the White House is white is the paint job it got after we torched it, but it's not really nice to do so... So I won't. :lookaroun

I frequently don't point that out as well.

 

[JimboJones123]

FYI, you may get treated WORSE. It's kinda like being a "smart-". "I 'may' give you more money 'if' you give me special treatmen. Seems like a VERY rude thing to do. It's like putting a stack of dollars on the table and taking one away whenever something doesn't go to your liking. Sometimes service isn't perfect... but you'll get by, otherwise, ask for a manager. They WILL make sure you are taken care of.

 

[MouseearsDeb]

FYI, you may get treated WORSE. It's kinda like being a "smart-". "I 'may' give you more money 'if' you give me special treatmen. Seems like a VERY rude thing to do. It's like putting a stack of dollars on the table and taking one away whenever something doesn't go to your liking. Sometimes service isn't perfect... but you'll get by, otherwise, ask for a manager. They WILL make sure you are taken care of.

I think I've already agreed it is the WRONG thing to do. But, I do have to say that I've been to a few rest., not WDW actually, that I would have liked the stack of dollars idea.