BOMA - Bad Dining Experience

[jules_c]

Hi all

Unfortunately we had a bad experience at Boma. We were on the DDP dining plan and had booked Boma as I had heard great reports on the DIBB and really looked forward to dinner there. Arrived and booked in v.busy on the check in desk so took some time to tell them we were there. We were immediately shown to a table and told that Alison would be our server. Anyway she arrived having spent some time with the American family on the table next to us chatting. She asked them if they were on the DDP, no they said. Oh great, explained the buffet and menu etc, then moved on to us. The conversation went

Welcome to Boma
Have you eaten here before?
Me (smiles) - no we havent.
Are you on the DDP
Me - yes we are
:angry:Well it doesnt say on your receipt, didnt you tell them at check in, you are supposed to inform them you know, I will just have to go and let them know.
Me- I am sorry, they were really busy and at the other restaurants they asked us that question at check in so guess it was overlooked.:erm:
Alison - I will just go and change it. What would you like to drink?
Drinks order duly given - off she goes
Comes back with drinks
Alison - Well you know where the buffet is - go and help yourself and then avoided us for the rest of the night! We even had plates stacked up when we had gone from soup to salads to mains.:( Alison then brought our check during the main course which meant she had to clear our table and said we could sign it at any time during our meal and leave it on the table!

Next table seated across from us - American family - Good evening Welcome to Boma, my name is Alison. I will just explain the buffet. Straight ahead are the soups and salads. To the right are entrees, ,meat fish etc. To the left are desserts - the zebra domes are lovely - would you like to ask me any questions?:nonono:

Needless to say DH was disgusted and it spoiled our night, although we remained polite then left..:(

Anyway dont want to put anyone off - we thought the food was very good and made a change to the usual buffet fare especially if you like spicy food but just very disappointed with Alison so good luck with your server - Dont normally feel discriminated because of my nationality in Orlando/US everyone is normally lovely, but have to say on this occasion it definately felt that way. Loved the theme of AKL and would consider using some of our DVC points to stay there in the future - but DH put off slightly by our restaurant experience.

[rhondaridge]

I suspect it had nothing to do with nationality and more to do with the fact that being on the DDP her tip was automatic.

I think it is good that that is changing.

[debs2028]

I agree we had some very poor service on the ddp, particulaly Garden Grill and California Grill and I lost count of the amount of times I was given the check long before our meal was finished. I have no experiance of not being on ddp so maybe this would have been the case anyway, but it will be interesting to see what happens when the tip is not included. I for one will not be tipping for bad service. :)

[David63]

I've never encountered any real racism in the US. I do think there is an anti-British sentiment. Americans won't admit it though.

Your problem was almost definitely to do with the tip.

[charliesangel]

we never had a problem with the ddp, i would think that most servers would be relieved that a brit is on the ddp- at least they know they are going to get a decent tip- some brits (not all) don't leave anything near decent.

[rhondaridge]

So releived they knew they didnt need to bother with you and could concentrate on making sure they got a tip from those not on DDP.

Not wanting to spark of the tipping debate but as a generous tipper I have noticed with american servers that there is little appreciation and gratitude for getting a tip just shirtiness if they don't. They see it as their right not something they need to be grateful for.

[truesdpr]

We have often been given the check before the end of the meal too - seems to be quite common - esp at Disney. We have never been on the dining plan. We just ignore it until we are all ready to go and sign it then. Sometimes if paying by CC I will put the card in when it arrives along with my DDE card as they then have to go back and adjust for the discount. Have never had an issue and have generally been warmly thanked for the tip - if we see the server as we leave. Some are more chatty than others but in general we have found them to be OK. Mind you I'm afraid I'd have had to say something - particularly about the DDP not being on the receipt - think I would have asked for details of the buffet as well - just to annoy her. ;)

Pam.
:wavey:

[lesley]

we wern't on the DDP and found the service a bit shoddy at Boma in aug. plates piled up on the table we actually had to ask another server to get us drinks refills as our server was doing a good job ignoring us:(she also cleared our table. our server was much more interested in the large party of 12 on the table next to us was constantly asking what he could do for them. we also got our cheque half way through the meal but it stayed on the table untill we were finished and ready to leave. we gave our tip to the server who actually served us !!!!!!

[derynifan]

We had rubbish service at Boma and we weren't on the DDP. We too had plates stacked up etc. and I have to say the name Alison rings bells. It was our first meal at Disney and I was all geared up to do the recommend a cast member thing, so I noticed her name at the time, and I'm pretty sure it was Alison!!

[Sue]

Sorry to hear about your experience - we only had good to excellent service on the DDP last Christmas and had to chase the bill several times to be able to leave (we usually had extras to pay for as well).
Only at one place - Le Cellier on our last night, were we given the bill with our desserts (the service had been excellent but rushed). Just to be awkward as we had been rushed, we asked for an Irish coffee - which we had to pay for - so the bill had to be taken away and amended lol

[mouli1]

I have found the service to be varied in lots of eateries ,but when I am with my American relatives it is in my experience better than when we are not with them

[Watchinherskip]

I've never encountered any real racism in the US. I do think there is an anti-British sentiment. Americans won't admit it though.

Your problem was almost definitely to do with the tip.

Don't know about that David as we do not get too many Brits visiting here in Virginia. I know I always chat with the British families visiting my planetarium. I am very interested in chatting with them. Guess I am one yank who doesn't have any problem with UKers. :d:

I will let you know my experience with Boma as a Yank using DDP next Wednesday (ADR) I will go undercover!

[LizzyBear]

I'm sorry to hear this. We did Boma on the DDP and it was the best meal of our trip, we left an extra tip for the server even as he was fab. We didn't experience any 'bad' service per se but it was very average in some places, no niceties just took the order and brought the food. I think sometimes it can be the luck of the draw in terms of servers which is a shame and not how it should be at all.

[batleyboy26]

We have breakfast at Boma this year and last year. Last year, the service was absolutely fine, but this year, we too had our plates stacked on the table and the bill put there half way through. We always have the jungle juice whilst eating but like to finish off with a coffee and we more or less had to go round chasing our server for a coffee.

[sueandco]

We have an ADR here for December (not DDP) so I will be interested to see what sort of service we get.

[nbodyhome]

I am American, and I can't imagine why there would be anti-British sentiment of any sort?

I do think it has to do more with the fact that you were on the DDP, I am guessing anyway. I don't think the servers should be allowed to ask ahead of time if it's an issue. Of course, as a DDE holder, I will be paying my gratuities next year automatically.

I've had some mediocre service recently (I did 11 nights on free dine). The service ranged from fantastic (Canada) to very middling (another Canada server, Boma). So I don't think it's you, just the server.

[jules_c]

Many thanks for your very interesting replies. We had 5 ADR's on the DDP plan and the only one who we felt upset about was Boma. I love Americans and on the whole we have been treated fantastically so really sad to have been let down just because we were on the DDP. Generally we tip around 20% when not using it if the service is exceptional.

Cheers

[BenH]

Shocking, I would have complained to the manager if that had happened to me.

[Hal]

The issue really is that no-one should have to put up with bad service, regardless of whether the tip is included or not. In similar circumstances anyone experiencing such service should raise it with the manager there and then. I think the only difference between Brit guests and US guests is that in similar circumstances Americans would (rightly) complain about it, whereas the servers might think they can get away with indifferent service to foreigners who tend to be more reserved.

Finally, I just wanted to add how nice it was to find American's posting on the Dibb - welcome Watchinherskip and nbodyhome :wavey: . Its always great to have input from American members :thumbs-up .

[Bobbins]

We paid full price for DDP for our trip earlier this year and didn't have any probs apart from the general comment that the meals were often rushed. Our best serving experience was probably at AKL's Jiko where the pace was perfect. We didn't eat at Boma.

My impression was that the vast majority of Americans (at least the ones eating in Disney restaurants) were on the DDP though - as they usually only go for a few days it makes the trip easy for them.

Obviously, DDP is a no-brainer if you get it free, but I wouldn't pay for it again, especially with the changes that have been made. Taking the tip out must be a disaster for the servers - as others have commented, most Brits are terrible tippers. I would probably baulk at leaving 18% on top of a $200 meal.