Why do servers ask are you on the dining plan?

[Moliphino]

They usually scan your band at the beginning of the meal if you're on the DDP, one band per room using entitlements.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I have repeatedly heard servers guide guests through what is and what is not included on their particular dining plan after guests affirmed that they have purchased the plan. There are many Disney guests who don't fully know what they have purchased and what is included. I, personally, know of one family who thought that their purchase of the dining plan meant they had unlimited food and beverage for their entire trip. They ran out of 7 nights of credits in about 4 days.

 

[MKTokyo]

So they can repeatedly remind you that tips aren't included.

I about snapped on one waiter who told me 4 times that the tip wasn't included. Did my face say "I don't tip?" I had this happen several times on my first DDP trip.

One reminder = fine. I'm sure there are people who mistakenly think the tip is included.

Two reminders = annoying, but okay. Maybe they forgot they already mentioned it.

Three reminders = asking for me to write "INC." on the tip line

 

[MissionMouse]

An item often overlooked is there are various dining plans and not all of them are universally accepted at every TS restaurant

 

[bumbershoot]

Do they also verify that you have adequate credits before taking your order? I’ve not done the dining plan but once sat next to a family at Via Napoli who left without ordering as they didn’t have credits and didn’t want to pay cash.

I don’t think they do,though your post kind of shows that they do since they didn’t order. That particular restaurant is a rough one on the dining plan because you can’t share pizzas etc. it’s not like other Disney-owned places on the Dining plan. Easy to not know the specifics.

The server might also have explained to them what the plan covers and they realized they didn’t have the credits.


As for the original question...people just can’t be relied on to know what they are buying. The servers don’t want troubles, so they go over it.

 

[Nancyg56]

So they can give you subpar service because the tip is guaranteed?

As for those jerks who skipped out Since Disney should know who they are and where they are staying I hope they got an unpleasant surprise at check out.

The tip has not been included in many years, however when it was my service was never subpar.

In regards to anyone who tries to dine and dash in Disney, the result is never pretty. We were enjoying dinner one evening at CP and the family seated near us, and who was very close to an exit door, skipped out. I was a server for most of my younger life and knew immediately what the silent ruckus was when this occurred. Within minutes the entire family was hauled back into the restaurant and seated right back at their table. They were given the opportunity to pay, they did. And they were led away....probably to face the rest of the consequence. They had two little kids.

It's not cynicism. It affects them (wait staff) positively when people order more. It's admittedly not a complete answer, which could likewise begin and end with, "because their service script included the line..." but I dont think this version really explains the situation either.

There is a reason servers always look thrilled when we let them know we went DxDDP.

To be clear, a good waiter drives up the ticket price with good service. Ever leave an ice cream shop without buying? I have. It's not because icecream suddenly lost its appeal.

A good server provides information that may positively impact their tip, however a good server does not push the bill up once the guest indicates they do nto want the extras. That negatively impacts their tip. Most people have a finite amount of money so of the bill goes over the tip often goes down. In my experience, the food pushers never last too long in any good restaurant.

OP- I agree that teh servers ask abou the plan becuase there are three different plans, all include different things, and many people are in the dark over what is and is not included. My DH is always confused over what is included and what is not, and if my DD or I was not there the server assisting him would be a Godsend. He would still get whatever he wanted, but he would not be surprised at the end of the meal. Bet you a buck the servers have learned the hard way what happens when some folks order without knowing what is included, what is not, and then cannot pay the bill.

 

[RealBlast3]

I have been on the deluxe dining plan many times over the years. I don't recall ever having a server making a big deal to me that the tip wasn't included. Or having a server proceed to recommend to me the most expensive items on the menu upon hearing I was on the dining plan. They usually just point out what I can order on the menu and make sure I know about stuff that may be exempt from the plan.

To head them off at the pass, I often volunteer before they even ask the info I am on the plan as well as tell them that I will be ordering beyond what the plan entails and I am fine with paying out of pocket for whatever that is, so they know.

But really, the servers are mostly hard-working folk who are just doing their job. I have had pretty outstanding service, generally, over the years. If you want a more relaxed meal, I find the service tends to be superior and less rushed overall at the resort restaurants compared to the theme-park ones, with a few exceptions here and there.

 

[Lisa F]

You can have a bad server anywhere but I think that for the most part they ask because they want to be helpful and they want to avoid any issues on anything that is not included and having any surprises at the end of the meal. and I'm sure some want to be "super helpful" and point out the more expensive things on the menu since it's "included" also knowing it will drive up the tip... but hey, you are on vacation and they gotta make a living. Many people perceive that as value anyway so done properly they would feel like the server was being a good server by helping them maximize the plan.

 

[smiths02]

You can have a bad server anywhere but I think that for the most part they ask because they want to be helpful and they want to avoid any issues on anything that is not included and having any surprises at the end of the meal. and I'm sure some want to be "super helpful" and point out the more expensive things on the menu since it's "included" also knowing it will drive up the tip... but hey, you are on vacation and they gotta make a living. Many people perceive that as value anyway so done properly they would feel like the server was being a good server by helping them maximize the plan.

Just to add we've been 3 times on TiW...where the tip at 18% IS included. When I stated we had TiW, the server always looked relieved...it seemed to be more of a relief of not having to explain how anything worked or tell us we couldn't order one thing or another or remind us that tip isn't included.

I'm am sure MANY Disney servers have been through the ringer when a patron is enraged that the appetizer or cocktail wasn't included in the Dining Plan or many who don't understand that the tip is not included or how much should be tipped (I mean, we have heated threads about tipping here...from people who order a $75 meal but believe that tipping $5 per person is adequate to people who think tip is included to people who are from countries where tipping is not the norm and are unsure).

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Now that we pay OOP I do notice a sense of "relief" from the waiter when we tell them we don't have the DDP. They don't have to give the big speech of how the DDP works, what is included, what isn't included, what can be shared, what can't be shared, etc. And I never get reminded about the tip.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Just to add we've been 3 times on TiW...where the tip at 18% IS included. When I stated we had TiW, the server always looked relieved...it seemed to be more of a relief of not having to explain how anything worked or tell us we couldn't order one thing or another or remind us that tip isn't included.

I'm am sure MANY Disney servers have been through the ringer when a patron is enraged that the appetizer or cocktail wasn't included in the Dining Plan or many who don't understand that the tip is not included or how much should be tipped (I mean, we have heated threads about tipping here...from people who order a $75 meal but believe that tipping $5 per person is adequate to people who think tip is included to people who are from countries where tipping is not the norm and are unsure).

I replied before reading your response. But yup I get the same thing when I say we are paying OOP vs. when we used to do the DDP.

 

[DisneyHardin]

So they can repeatedly remind you that tips aren't included.

I about snapped on one waiter who told me 4 times that the tip wasn't included. Did my face say "I don't tip?" I had this happen several times on my first DDP trip.

That's annoying. We've been Dining Plan users for years and I don't think we've ever had a server even mention the tip before. I would definitely be inclined to leave a lesser tip if the server made a big deal out of a tip.

 

[Pumbaa_]

To clarify, w TiW the gratuity is not incl7ded with the bill, it is automatically added to the bill. Semantics, but an important distinction

As others have said, people don’t always know what they buy. A friend said, my TA said we needed it, etc. by asking upfront your server can do their best by advising you what is included and what is extra.

I never tell the server when we had TiW. This is not a meal plan but a discount. I did tell them before they brought the final check.

 

[disneygirly]

I don’t think they do,though your post kind of shows that they do since they didn’t order. That particular restaurant is a rough one on the dining plan because you can’t share pizzas etc. it’s not like other Disney-owned places on the Dining plan. Easy to not know the specifics.

The server might also have explained to them what the plan covers and they realized they didn’t have the credits.


As for the original question...people just can’t be relied on to know what they are buying. The servers don’t want troubles, so they go over it.

What do you mean by "you can't share pizzas etc.."? How do they keep that from happening?

 

[ncc1701]

Now that we pay OOP I do notice a sense of "relief" from the waiter when we tell them we don't have the DDP. They don't have to give the big speech of how the DDP works, what is included, what isn't included, what can be shared, what can't be shared, etc. And I never get reminded about the tip.

Agreed we have noticed that when we order and that includes QS locations.

 

[smiths02]

What do you mean by "you can't share pizzas etc.."? How do they keep that from happening?

It used to be that everyone had to use a credit.
So they don't monitor the food once it is at your table, but everyone has used a credit. (If on DDP or DxDP)

 

[bumbershoot]

Just to add we've been 3 times on TiW...where the tip at 18% IS included. When I stated we had TiW, the server always looked relieved...it seemed to be more of a relief of not having to explain how anything worked or tell us we couldn't order one thing or another or remind us that tip isn't included.

I don’t tell them about TIW up front. They ask about dining plans. I don’t have one.

We talk about how I’m paying and what discounts I might get towards the end of the meal.

To clarify, w TiW the gratuity is not incl7ded with the bill, it is automatically added to the bill. Semantics, but an important distinction

Yes.

What do you mean by "you can't share pizzas etc.."? How do they keep that from happening?

It was described before my post so I didn’t get into it. I disliked (intensely) our food and service at VN so have dumped most of the knowledge of them, but you cannot have just one person order a pizza when you’re on the plan. Everyone has to order and use credits.

So if that family thought they’d just use a couple credits and order for the whole family, they were likely told up front that they couldn’t.

 

[smiths02]

I don’t tell them about TIW up front. They ask about dining plans. I don’t have one.

We talk about how I’m paying and what discounts I might get towards the end of the meal.

I have been asked at the beginning of the meal about TiW. I think we had about the same service we had in our 3 trips before we had TiW (one OOP, two DDP) as we had with TiW even if the server knew.
Sometimes, we told them, because we knew it would be take longer to not tell the server and need to have the bill run twice.

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

Isn't that interesting, do they check to see if you people on the DDP have the credits needed for a meal? Never occurred to me, as I've only done the Deluxe dining plan less than a handful of times. Interesting thread.

EDITED, SO SORRY @BEASLYBOO,
this post was meant in response to
@OrangeCountyCommuter

Wow... Judge not and all that.
I have only once in my over 30 visits at WDW had poor service. We are almost always on one dining plan or the other. I have NEVER heard from anyone else saying they had poor service because they were on the Dining plan.
AND, secondly, the family MAY NOT have had enough funds to pay out of pocket and believed they had enough credits. That actually happened to our grandson and his GF at a restaurant. The wait staff (mistakenly) told them (PRIOR TO ORDERING) that they did not have enough credits. We were in HS they were in Epcot. So, they left, and called us. We were able to immediately reach our TA who straightened everything out without us having to go to guest services. Disney gave them 2 free dining credits for the hassle and arranged for them to go back and eat there with an open ADR.
So please, before you react so harshly, realize that there may be underlying reasons THAT YOU ARE UNAWARE OF.

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

One reminder = fine. I'm sure there are people who mistakenly think the tip is included.

Two reminders = annoying, but okay. Maybe they forgot they already mentioned it.

Three reminders = asking for me to write "INC." on the tip line

I disagree with the 4 times, but there was a time when the DDP INCLUDED tips. When they did the switch, they were letting people know so as for the wait staff not to get stiffed.
4 is excessive.