18% being added to ALL dining checks

[G8RFAN]

I see this as a positive. If a CM/server is bad and you leave a small tip, there is a chance if they don't have to share their tips with busboys, bartenders or barbacks and that the message ends there. If a manager is constantly removing the gratuity off the bill, the message will be clear that this is a CM that either needs corrective training or be removed from that role. The negative is the extrax effort as mentioned by the customer and that there will be people that may not realize that gratuity is included and still tip. I've actually seen waitstaff in Europe confuse tourists with table fees and service fees and getting double the tips.

 

[mitros]

I am not a server anymore, im a bartender...which generally means that my guests leave drunk and happy and tip me well so this 18% thing really doesnt apply here to me BUT i did used to be a server and it is quite possibly the worst job ever.

I've figureed out the reason why you dont understand the auto gratuity...since you already tip well you dont understand why someone needs to tell you how much to tip. The problem is not folks like you who will tip well if the service is good and adjust accordingly if it is not. The problem is that some people come in, demand only the best service, will run you around for an hour while they ask you for one thing at a time, tell you that you are the most awesome server ever, then leave you $5.00 on a $60.00 check and think that they really took care of you. and that is sooooo frustrating!!

Oh yea, people like that, you would just like to break a bottle of cheap wine over their head.........I know I would.

 

[PrincessBride010103]

Oh yea, people like that, you would just like to break a bottle of cheap wine over their head.........I know I would.

that doesnt sound like a bad idea.....

 

[manning]

someone stated waitstaff isn't happy with the mandatory 18%.

I wonder why?

Well could it be that now there is an audit trail? The establishment now has to break out the tip and document where it went to the IRS.

The waitstaff now has a peice of paper that has to be attached to that 1040 meaning they now have to report it.

Under the old system the waitstaff is able to under report their tips. Cash is king here, no paper trail. They report all that is left on a credit card and some left as cash.

 

[PrincessBride010103]

someone stated waitstaff isn't happy with the mandatory 18%.

I wonder why?

Well could it be that now there is an audit trail? The establishment now has to break out the tip and document where it went to the IRS.

The waitstaff now has a peice of paper that has to be attached to that 1040 meaning they now have to report it.

Under the old system the waitstaff is able to under report their tips. Cash is king here, no paper trail. They report all that is left on a credit card and some left as cash.

im surprised i didnt think of this myself....yeah..that sucks

 

[CanadianGuy]

someone stated waitstaff isn't happy with the mandatory 18%.

I wonder why?

Well could it be that now there is an audit trail? The establishment now has to break out the tip and document where it went to the IRS.

The waitstaff now has a peice of paper that has to be attached to that 1040 meaning they now have to report it.

Under the old system the waitstaff is able to under report their tips. Cash is king here, no paper trail. They report all that is left on a credit card and some left as cash.

Again this is only for limited numbers of DDE diners and parties of 6 or more..

I'm told that the IRS has nothing to with server's unhappiness since the vast majority of customers at Disney are not cash diners or cash tippers, the tips are ALREADY recorded in the system for those using Credit Cards or room-chargeback. These comprise a surprisingly high percentage of the total number of dining transactions at Disney; and an even higher percentage of DDE transactions.

In other words, the paper trail is already there for the vast majority of transactions.

The reason they are not happy (as I'm told) is
- DDE diners are generally Florida Residents and AP holders (and good tippers I'm told)
- Those two categories are generally residents of the USA and understand North American tipping customs
- The servers believe they would have received more than 18 % from those customers in most circumstances but, now many DDE diners will leave well enough alone and just tip the 18 % now with no additional.

Frankly, the DDE numbers are such a small fraction of the whole ... it's really not going to amount to a hill of beans at the end of the day.

There is far more drama on these message boards about this than there ever will be in real life.

Knox

 

[bord1niowa]

As far as people only doing as little as necessary.... In the manufacturing sector, a non union shop, (if not on a automatic system which requires a certain speed at which to work) generally has an efficiency of about 85%. We allow extra for breaks, taking it easier etc. A union shop, which has no fear of losing their job, hence has an efficiency of about 60% in the same situation. So yes, people do try to do as little as is necessary in their jobs if they have no fear of losing their job or pay. My guess is the service will drop too in the sevice area. Keep in mind these are only averages and yes I agree there are some that will take pride in their work.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Back to the thread.

KYMickey -- I live near WDW, and have for four years. Prior to that we would vacation here every chance we got since early 2001 (I think). So compared to some guests we are WDW newcomers. But we are no newbies either.
We eat at a variety of restaurants, Disney and non.
By far I feel comfortable with getting the best service at WDW than most local and chain restaurants. We have had some pretty lousy service at chains you would not think of having crappy service and food.
I just always figure if a server is bad anywhere, chances are they won't be there for long.
There has only been a few WDW restaurants I could name off where the service was sub par from personal experience, and we have not returned. And most of those times were even with the person at the podium, and not the server.
Counter service I think is real toss up. But that can be said about any fast food walk up service.
So when comparing a few times sub par sit down dining experiences over numerous enjoyable ones, I say the odds are in the guest's favor at WDW.
I cannot say these last 6 years I have noticed a change. Those who have been going for years might. But is it really missing touches such as Mickey butter, or servers?

And I want to give a thanks to servers everywhere.

 

[LovinOKW]

So, talked to a server on Saturday the 24th. We were paying our bill at Olivia's when we handed over the DDE card and the server said "Oh, the best discount card on property" and I said, "Yes, until January anyways, hehehe" This led to a bit of a discussion. He stated that the 18% mandatory add on was pushed for by the waitstaffs at Hoop-De-Doo, Luau, Backyard BBQ. I didn't really understand this because gratuity is already included in these. He said he personally was not in favor of it. I said no kidding because now that it's automatic, it's also automatic on your W-2 or 1099 whatever they receive. I think they kind of shot themselves in the foot with this one. What I still don't understand though is why only DDE? This should just be done property wide -period - or not at all. Why single out one group? (I know cast member card is included, too) I cannot believe that the majority of people who eat TS are DDE card holders. When I called DDE, I got the standard run around, but the CM did state that it was DDE to bring it in line with other discount programs that are offered and when I questioned what other programs she was referring to, she told me to e-mail exec offices because this is where it came from. So, if it has something to do with the discount programs, does this mean we can expect to see an auto gratuity added when using the AP or DVC dining discounts?

 

[manning]

I sent an e-mail to Disney with no response over a week ago.

I guess my course of action will be when we sit down for dinner is to tell the server to not present a bill with the gratuity on it and I will tip according to service. Also will advise that if a gratuity does appear the tip,if any, will be substantially reduced.

Why??

I don't like to be told what tip I must leave, if any.

Also, some will think I'm mean and so be it, I may make the outstanding tip 15% on the discounted amount. We usually tipped 20% on the full amount.

Again, I don't like to be told what to tip !!!!!!!

 

[crazy4wdw]

I sent an e-mail to Disney with no response over a week ago.

Don't hold you breath on this one! I also e-mailed WDW about this change and somone from the executive offices left a voice message at my house saying that they appreciated my concerns and they would be shared with appropriate staff - that was it!

 

[agnes!]

Again this is only for limited numbers of DDE diners and parties of 6 or more..

[The reason they are not happy (as I'm told) is
- DDE diners are generally Florida Residents and AP holders (and good tippers I'm told)
- Those two categories are generally residents of the USA and understand North American tipping customs
- The servers believe they would have received more than 18 % from those customers in most circumstances but, now many DDE diners will leave well enough alone and just tip the 18 % now with no additional.

Frankly, the DDE numbers are such a small fraction of the whole ... it's really not going to amount to a hill of beans at the end of the day.

There is far more drama on these message boards about this than there ever will be in real life.

Knox

Ok. Everyone who will have five or less people in your dining parties in 2008? Stand up and cheer. Everyone who will have 6 or more people in your dining party...you'll be in the same boat as the DDE. Welcome aboard .

I think there might be a LOT of drama in 2008 when families & parties of 6 or more will be charged the mandatory Service Charge, when they didn't know it in advance. Not everyone who goes to WDW frequents message boards like this. People WON'T know and they'll probably be unpleasantly surprised.

Oh, and I'm sure the mandatory Holiday surcharges at the buffets and all-you-can-eat pre-plated WDW TS locations will have all the diners *thrilled* as well...sounds like funfunfun for the poor servers all around.

agnes!

 

[raidermatt]

I see this as a positive. If a CM/server is bad and you leave a small tip, there is a chance if they don't have to share their tips with busboys, bartenders or barbacks and that the message ends there. If a manager is constantly removing the gratuity off the bill, the message will be clear that this is a CM that either needs corrective training or be removed from that role. The negative is the extrax effort as mentioned by the customer and that there will be people that may not realize that gratuity is included and still tip. I've actually seen waitstaff in Europe confuse tourists with table fees and service fees and getting double the tips.

I think that's over-complicating the situation. Bottom line is that the tip is a way to reward, and more to the point, encourage good service. Removing the ability of the customer to reduce the tip below what is normally considered an average or above average tip undermines the entire purpose of the tip in the first place.

It is no longer a tip and is merely a service charge.

That said, I don't have a HUGE problem with this since I understand there are some who probably don't tip on the 20% discount. But I think that is more than made up for by those who tip more than 18%.

It does remove the incentive for good service if the waitstaff know you are using the DDE, but that is easily resolved by not presenting the DDE card until the end of the meal.

Whatever the reasoning, it is completely opposite of what will be done with the DDP next year (no tip included), so there clearly is no cohesive strategy in place at WDW when it comes to this topic.

Frankly, the DDE numbers are such a small fraction of the whole ... it's really not going to amount to a hill of beans at the end of the day.

I wonder about that though. Certainly DDE is a small percentage of diners, but they are also probably the most frequent diners as well. They are all Florida residents and/or AP holders. Also, the policy is includes ALL parties of 6 or more. Taken together, I'm sure that's a significant % of the total diners.

 

[KYMickey]

As far as people only doing as little as necessary.... In the manufacturing sector, a non union shop, (if not on a automatic system which requires a certain speed at which to work) generally has an efficiency of about 85%. We allow extra for breaks, taking it easier etc. A union shop, which has no fear of losing their job, hence has an efficiency of about 60% in the same situation. So yes, people do try to do as little as is necessary in their jobs if they have no fear of losing their job or pay. My guess is the service will drop too in the sevice area. Keep in mind these are only averages and yes I agree there are some that will take pride in their work.

Other than being a good example of why unions are not good for America, your example demonstrates my feelings exactly. If they are guaranteed an 18% gratuity (in this case I use the word gratuity lightly) a large portion of the wait staff will do the least they can get away with and the level of service will decline farther.

 

[CanadianGuy]

For the record, this policy was in place BEFORE this announcement for parties of 8 or more. Yes, a significant change that affects far more parties, but everyone acts like it wasn't in place before.

I personally think Disney is just trying to kill the DDE program. And this is a good step in the direction to accomplish that probably.

Knox

 

[crazy4wdw]

I personally think Disney is just trying to kill the DDE program. And this is a good step in the direction to accomplish that probably.

I agree. They started the same type of process with Magic Kingdom Club. Over several years, the number and type of discounts were cut, they changed the cancellation policy for resort refunds from 5 to 21 days (or was it 30?), and ticket discounts were only availalbe through by mail, not the parks. Eventually MKC was axed. There may be no need for DDE anymore with the most of restuarants booked solid becasue of the DDP.

 

[marc]

No doubt our service will suffer.

Official Brochure

Click here to open the 2008 Magic Your Way Dining Plan brochure.

 

[agnes!]

Is the 2008 DDE brochure available yet? Any other confirmed changes in the works that folks know about?

Yeah, I'm with the posters who think that Disney is going to kill DDE... either through neglect/incompetence or through actual planning, *just* like what happened to the Magic Kingdom Club.

Hey, does anybody else think that there is going to be a lot more ressies/dining parties for 5 or less? Folks will split up their tables to get under the mandatory Service Charge. Too much trouble for me, but you just *know* some dining customers will be doing that.

agnes!

 

[mitros]

I agree. They started the same type of process with Magic Kingdom Club. Over several years, the number and type of discounts were cut, they changed the cancellation policy for resort refunds from 5 to 21 days (or was it 30?), and ticket discounts were only availalbe through by mail, not the parks. Eventually MKC was axed. There may be no need for DDE anymore with the most of restuarants booked solid becasue of the DDP.

OMG, that's right! They did eliminate the MKC in that way. Sons of b..........!

 

[Chuck S]

I don't think service will necessarily suffer, at least for DDE. We rarely have a party of 6 or larger, and they have no way of knowing you are DDE until you present your card after the meal.

And since I added the 20% discount back in as the tip, I may save a buck or two.