THE BULLY PART IS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO COME FOR FREE DINING, SOME OF THEM IN THEORY HAVE NEVER EATEN AT A FULL SERVICE RESTUARANT EXCEPT MAYBE A FAST FOOD BREAKFAST PLACE, BUTMOST ON THE FREE DINING PLAN ARE REALLY GOOD AND EVEN OVER TIP US...
I started reading this thread yesterday and this part has struck a nerve with me. It has been bugging me ever since I first read it.
I have a trip planned the last week of August with my mother and sister. Yes, it's the first week of free dining. However, we had our plans made before Disney offered free dining. They offered, so we took them up on it. We were going with or without the free dining. This will be my first time using the DDP. I am looking forward to seeing how it will work.
Now let me say, I grew up in very rural area of Pennsylvania. Not too many "high class" restaurants where I grew up. BUT...I was taught manners and respect!! I have been taught to tip well....for good service.
When DH and I were first dating, he took me to Toronto for a quick weekend vacation to see Phantom of the Opera. We went to a nice place for dinner the night before. The service we received was awesome. The waiter definitely knew how to make his customers happy. We spent three hours
from appetizers to dessert. Our waiter insisted we take our time and relax - even with an extremely busy restaurant. He was there when we needed him, without asking. He knew what to recommend on the menu. I have never had service like that before or since. Our bill came to $120. DH tipped him $60!! That's right....
50% of our bill!! He was
that good.
On the flipside, we went to one place in SEPA (near Philadelphia), that the service was horrible. We sat at our table for 45 minutes before the waitress even brought water to our table. Then, it was another 25 minutes before she took our drink order. It was almost 2 hours before we got our lunch which only consisted of sandwiches. We left her $1. The service was horrible and her attitude was worse.
Moral of the story, we tip based on service alone. If it's good, the server will get a good tip. If it's above and beyond, their tip will also reflect that. And, if the service is atrocious, there will be no rewarding bad service. I do plan to tip above the 18% while I am doing the free dining in August. If the service is good. If it's bad, the server will get nothing above what is included.
I do feel bad for the "good" servers who get tables who won't know the tip is no longer included or who don't know it's custom to tip. But, I can say, I don't feel bad for those who just take the automatic 18% for granted and think they can get away with poor service/attitude.
However, as others have said, Disney survived before DDP and I'm sure it will after if it comes to that.