Dining Plan

[acourtwdw]

We have used the dining plan twice and are doing it again in Sept. I think it is great for the guest but wanted to know what it is like for a server.

Just curious- what is the CM take on the dining plan? Do you girls and guys like it or hate it? What changes would you like to see in 09? Are you getting your tips? Same for DDE?

Can't wait for September :)

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Hmm, Also going in September and got the dining plan (for the first time)

How do you tip the server CM's?

Do they give you a seperate Dining card? All the other times, I just charged the meals to the room card which had a credit card attached. No problems on tipping, etc.!

[Euterpe]

If you as a guest understand the DDP, then it's wonderful. If you don't it's pretty much guaranteed hell for the Cast Member at every meal during your stay.

It's kept on your room key, which can also be used as a credit card. So make sure you check your receipt that they charged your for your counter service/table service rather than charged it to your room. I've done it once or twice on accident. So just make sure you check.

Your whole party's meal plan is kept in a single pool, so to buy 6 counter services, the CM only needs one room key.

Table services can be exchanged for counter services, but not vice versa. There was some debate about this so it might have changed, but I doubt it, but one counter service can also be exchanged for three snacks.

Breakfasts are only an entree and a drink, no desert.

Please keep track of how many meals you have left. It's a huge hassle if you run out and don't know it. At the bottom of every receipt, it tells you how many coupons you have remaining. The F&B people can't tell you how many you have left, you can check at the front desk, and I'm assuming at Guest Relations and maybe ticket sales?

Always get a drink. I think it's a brilliant idea to buy those refillable mugs, and use those when you eat at the resorts, and then get a water as your drink with your Counter Service to take to the parks... It seems obvious to me, but the number of people who turn it down even when I tell them... It's kinda shocking, but they are Disney guests so...

That was long, but I think I covered what I can remember off the top of my head. Any other questions?

[Euterpe]

Oh! And tips!

Well, I don't know for sure... but I think it adds 18% automatically to the bill, but if you feel your Server went above and beyond, there's a line where you can give them more, just like when you eat at a Full Service restaurant as a Cast Member. But I was QSR, so I'm not totally sure how that works.

[glendalais]

Oh! And tips!

Well, I don't know for sure... but I think it adds 18% automatically to the bill, but if you feel your Server went above and beyond, there's a line where you can give them more, just like when you eat at a Full Service restaurant as a Cast Member. But I was QSR, so I'm not totally sure how that works.

Actually, with the new changes to the Dining Plan for this year, the gratuity is only applied automatically if you're in a group of 6 or more. Otherwise, you just have to tip the "old-fashioned" way (by leaving Cash or on the Card Slip).

WDW F&B does include a card explaining this inside the payment folder, in order to prevent any mixups.

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Thanks for the heads up. I normally tip 20 to 25 percent, depending on service, so I assume that the meals will be changed to the DDP "credits" and the tip charged to the room "credit card reserve"

[acourtwdw]

This will be our 3rd trip using the DDP. We are doing the Deluxe this time just because we are there for 8 days and we have a lot of TS ADR's. We love it. A lot of people on other boards are complaining that the tip is no longer included, but we don't care either way. We never have bad service at WDW. A big thanks to all the F&B cm's make that our trip even more magical.

Annette :)

[Rob562]

Thanks for the heads up. I normally tip 20 to 25 percent, depending on service, so I assume that the meals will be changed to the DDP "credits" and the tip charged to the room "credit card reserve"

If that's how you want to charge it, yes. You can also leave cash, use a separate credit card, etc.
With my group of friends, we're throwing $40 each onto a Disney gift card (bought a Ratatoille card through the mail). We'll use that "tip pool" to pay for our tips rather than figure out who-owes-what at each meal. If we have anything left over at the end of the trip, either we'll tip our final server more (if they're deserving of it), or we'll get ice cream or something.

-Rob

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

If that's how you want to charge it, yes. You can also leave cash, use a separate credit card, etc.
With my group of friends, we're throwing $40 each onto a Disney gift card (bought a Ratatoille card through the mail). We'll use that "tip pool" to pay for our tips rather than figure out who-owes-what at each meal. If we have anything left over at the end of the trip, either we'll tip our final server more (if they're deserving of it), or we'll get ice cream or something.

-Rob

Thats a great idea! I guess that means that you have to have the server "run" two cards through, the key card for the DDP, and a second one to make the tip?

Out of habit, I don't carry that much cash when on vacation.

[Princess Susi]

Actually, with the new changes to the Dining Plan for this year, the gratuity is only applied automatically if you're in a group of 6 or more. Otherwise, you just have to tip the "old-fashioned" way (by leaving Cash or on the Card Slip).

WDW F&B does include a card explaining this inside the payment folder, in order to prevent any mixups.

Thanks for the heads up. I normally tip 20 to 25 percent, depending on service, so I assume that the meals will be changed to the DDP "credits" and the tip charged to the room "credit card reserve"

Not neccessarily! The DDP does NOT include tips anymore except in the case of 6 or more people, so you have to tip AT THE TIME OF THE MEAL! If you don't it will NOT automatically be charged to your room credit card and you end up stiffing the server. It has changed and it is confusing, but be sure to tip at the time of the meal in cash or ask the amt to be taken from your room credit card, if you can even do that. We just ended up tipping in cash every sit down meal we had, because it was easier. MANY CMs are getting stiffed on tips because of the new changes and it sucks for them. Make sure they get their tip.

susi