Disney Called Today Tips will not be cut out of DDP!~looks like they lied:(

[surfergrl31]

I don't know if this is really a good thing or not, but I was very excited when I got a phone call this morning. I thought to myself when the phone rang, here we go with the telemarketers, but caller id said Disney-MGM Studios. I was very excited thinking that maybe I won something, but no they were responding about the email that I sent to them concerning removing tips from the DDP.

The lady was very nice and wanted to know where I got the information from and to assure me that they were not going to take tips out of the dinning plan. She tell me that the confusion could be over something similar that they were removing from a plan the castmembers have. I guess I did write a very convincing email because it was forwarded to VP of gues relations who sent me an email assuring me that this wouldn't happen. I was given the chance to offer a quick suggestion that there should be a way to allow guests to determine the percentage of the tip, even if it means that money is never seen again. I wouldn't really care to loose $20 if that meant that a very bad server wouldn't be rewarded for sub level service.

Anyway I thought that I would pass this along to everyone who was wondering about this issue, it could be smoke they were giving me so we will just have to see how this plays out.

 

[bicker]

Thanks for sharing the information.

 

[auntsister]

I'm glad to hear this. It would still be a good deal but not as convenient. I love the idea of having the meals paid before I even get there. Just have to have plenty of spending money! ( That reminds me, need to find an ATM as I am leaving for WDW in 26 hours!)
I have listened to all the great advice on these boards and plan on putting charge privileges on only one room key to prevent confusion when paying for DDP.

 

[trixie1822]

GOOD NEWS !

 

[Katiebell]

We just got back last night, and spoke with servers at several restaurants, including Mama Melrose's and Raglan Road, and those servers are all under the impression that the included gratuities are being eliminated. So either Guest Relations was not being truthful with you, or the servers themselves are not aware of this.

And I confirmed with the server at Raglan Road that they do not get tipped on the full menu price of the items ordered, only on the amount that Disney reimburses the restaurant (I think this is true for some, but not all, non-Disney owned restaurants). For example, he said he had just waited on a large party, and the bill would have come to about $480 -- but after the Dining Plan, the amount reimbursed to the restaurant only came to about $250, and that was the amount he received a tip on. He didn't volunteer this info, I asked him about it specifically, and he seemed surprised and pleased that a guest would wonder about that, or even care. Our bill for the two of us wasn't anywhere close to that amount, but we made sure to tip extra anyway to try to close the gap between what Disney pays and what would have been a fair tip on what we actually ordered.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Two servers I talked with were also under the impression that gratuities were going to be eliminated--
Guess the final word has yet to be heard.

 

[JimMIA]

I find it impossible to believe that Disney Guest Relations would go to the trouble of both emailing and telephoning a guest to lie to them. I would bet OP's information is the correct scoop, and the servers only know what they're being told by their union reps.

I've been saying all along that the idea of eliminating tips doesn't make any sense, and is probably a negotiating ploy by one side or the other in contract negotiations. That kind of posturing is what negotiations are all about, and it doesnt' surprise me to hear that one side or the other (possibly both) are saying that to get folks riled up. But I don't think it will actually happen.

 

[bicker]

Rather, I think everyone's information is correct. Guest Relations can only relay to guests official information. Once the changes are official, THEN Guest Relations can talk about it, providing confirmation or otherwise.

 

[JimMIA]

Rather, I think everyone's information is correct. Guest Relations can only relay to guests official information. Once the changes are official, THEN Guest Relations can talk about it, providing confirmation or otherwise.

If this were a case where OP called guest relations and some random CM told her that, I'd agree with you. But that's not the case here.

In this case, they took two affirmative steps to contact OP and assure her that no such thing was going to happen. They didn't say it hadn't happened. They said it will not happen. I don't think a VP would write OP an email and say "It ain't happening" unless they were 100% sure it wasn't happening.

I've been wrong before, but I'll be pretty amazed if the gratuity gets taken out of DDP. If it does, that VP is beyond clueless.

 

[Laren]

Rather, I think everyone's information is correct. Guest Relations can only relay to guests official information. Once the changes are official, THEN Guest Relations can talk about it, providing confirmation or otherwise.

I would definitely have to agree with this. I haven't emailed Guest Relations on this issue, but I have written them snail mail on other issues in the past- one letter even got a response from high up at the Corporate level- they phoned me to ask about a couple things I'd mentioned in my letter.

At the time, (a few years ago) the lady told me there was no truth to the rumor that they were going to knock down the north wing of the CR to build a DVC there.

So. . . *lol* I take everything I get from Guest Relations with a grain of salt, you just have to wait and see what happens when it happens.

Laren

 

[JimMIA]

At the time, (a few years ago) the lady told me there was no truth to the rumor that they were going to knock down the north wing of the CR to build a DVC there.

But there IS no truth to that rumor. They're not going to knock down the north wing of the Contemp -- they've already done so! Talk about worst-kept secrets!

 

[Laren]

But there IS no truth to that rumor. They're not going to knock down the north wing of the Contemp -- they've already done so! Talk about worst-kept secrets!

LOL yeah, but when I wrote them it was September of 2003. So it was just a rumor then.

Laren

 

[bicker]

I don't think a VP would write OP an email and say "It ain't happening" unless they were 100% sure it wasn't happening.

I do. I think sometimes customers think companies have an obligation to either (a) ensure every employee -- or even just every VP -- knows everything about everything within the company, or (b) reveal proprietary information to customers just because they ask a probing question, when in reality there is no such obligation.

I've been wrong before, but I'll be pretty amazed if the gratuity gets taken out of DDP.

I don't think we know anything now that we didn't know last week, or three weeks ago, or five weeks ago, in that regard. I still think it's a 50/50 thing.

If it does, that VP is beyond clueless.

Or just not in the loop. Or just doing his/her job.

 

[bookmama]

yay!! I was about to question getting the dining plan for our return trip in a couple of years. I'm glad Disney wouldn't stiff their employees like that.

 

[JimMIA]

I don't think we know anything now that we didn't know last week, or three weeks ago, or five weeks ago, in that regard.

All we really know is that one or two people (who, of course, could be the same person) who say they are servers, have posted under assumed names, on an anonmyous discussion board, a claim that they were told by their union reps (who may be in negotiations with Disney) that the gratuity was going to be removed. That falls well short of the creditability standard for me.

At least Contemporary Villas always made sense!

 

[Katiebell]

All we really know is that one or two people (who, of course, could be the same person) who say they are servers, have posted under assumed names, on an anonmyous discussion board, a claim that they were told by their union reps (who may be in negotiations with Disney) that the gratuity was going to be removed. That falls well short of the creditability standard for me.

We just got back, and we ate at Boma, Akershus, Mama Melrose's, Grand Floridian Cafe, Raglan Road, 'Ohana, and Crystal Palace. I discussed the included gratuities with the servers at Boma, Mama Melrose's, Raglan Road, and at least one other restaurant, I think Akershus? All of those servers were under the assumption that the Disney was going to do away with the included gratuity. The server at Raglan Road - who confirmed that there the servers are only tipped on the amount Disney pays, not the full meal value -- said in some cases, they might get more if tipped OOP, but then again guests might not order as much, or would be more price-conscious and the cost of the meal would be lower. But, he also said that the included gratuity ensures that the server doesn't get stiffed, or seriously shorted by guests who come from a country where tipping isn't customary. He said he had no complaints about the DDP, except that their system is often down and it's a hassle to run the cards sometimes. When he did our ticket, the system was down and he couldn't find a manager, so the drink tab had no included tip (so we just tipped OOP), and the meal tab had the tip included but it was only a total of about $60 when the actual OOP cost would have been over $85, so we paid extra on the tip make up the difference. It still showed when we checked out that we had 2 TS credits left because the RR meal hadn't shown up in the system yet.

 

[Uncleromulus]

The two servers I talked to last week were "live" (and different restaurants from Katiebell) and both thought the DDP gratuity would be gone starting in 2008.
But--as has been said, it isn't "official" yet, so I agree it's probably still a 50-50 thing.

 

[JimMIA]

I have no doubt that servers have been told by their union reps that the gratuity is going away. But that doesn't mean it's true. As I said on another thread, either Disney or the union reps could use that scare tactic with the servers for their own purposes. It has certainly worked!

I still put more stock in the communications OP received than I do in negotiating scare tactics. I've seen those types of threats way too many times.

Elimination of the gratuity also defies logic. This iteration of the dining plan was designed to provide the guest with an "all-inclusive" onsite experience. As we often tell newbies, it is a package plan consisting of all of the component parts of a Disney vacation -- room, park tickets, and dining including tax and gratuity. Take away gratuity and you no longer have an all inclusive plan.

The other logical gap is that, if you wanted to reduce the cost of the DDP, there are much more beneficial and sensible ways to do that. It would make a lot more sense to eliminate the snack credits or reduce the ratio of CS credits to TS credits. You could eliminate either or both, saying as justification that history has shown that many guests don't use them all.

You'd still have an all-inclusive package for your main meals, and that would still meet the original purpose of the DDP. In fact, many guests might actually prefer that kind of plan.

As all of us have said at least once, we won't know for sure until the 2008 DDP is officially announced.

 

[Lewisc]

According to a radio report union members at Disney voted down contract proposals. The report didn't spell out which unions voted the contracts down.

There are too many reports from servers, both on DIS and in person, who indicated the proposed contract drops tips from the DDP for it to be just rumor. Does anyone think all those servers are lying about the terms of the contract that's being voted on?

That doesn't mean it will happen.

Removing the gratuity is a logical way for Disney to raise the price without being obvious.

 

[PaulaSB12]

They increased the ddp price this year for adults from $37.99 to $38.99 an increase of about 2.625% without people complaining and I am sure it will be increased by the same amount next year. Teach me to do anything while customers of the FDP (feline dining plan) are nagging.