2008 DDP Changes-CHANGING EATING HABITS!

[Blueyed Girl]

Jim is right, Disney has left a loophole that they could charge you an 18% gratuity. From the Dining Plan Brochure, in the section regarding gratuities.

So, they just decide to charge 18% for 2 glasses of wine or whatever, rather than the 15%?? And the fact that it is "mandatory" is ridiculous! Are people who aren't on the dining plan having to pay a mandatory tip? We shouldn't have to either!!! This makes me very angry.

 

[Tricia1972]

So, they just decide to charge 18% for 2 glasses of wine or whatever, rather than the 15%?? And the fact that it is "mandatory" is ridiculous! Are people who aren't on the dining plan having to pay a mandatory tip? We shouldn't have to either!!! This makes me very angry.

Well the brochure stops short of saying that the tip is mandatory, but they certainly left it open so they could do it.

 

[Blueyed Girl]

Well the brochure stops short of saying that the tip is mandatory, but they certainly left it open so they could do it.

Exactly!

I've got some serious reconsidering to do. I don't know if I want to wait until I am sitting at the restaurant to find out what they mean by this.

 

[Tricia1972]

Exactly!

I've got some serious reconsidering to do. I don't know if I want to wait until I am sitting at the restaurant to find out what they mean by this.

One thing to consider would be leaving the package as is for now and removing it after 1/1/08, once we start hearing first hand counts of how they handle this.

 

[bicker]

Always read and ensure you understand and are satisfied with the terms and conditions for anything you purchase; otherwise do not make the purchase.

 

[Blueyed Girl]

Always read and ensure you understand and are satisfied with the terms and conditions for anything you purchase; otherwise do not make the purchase.

I did read it. I did understand it. Thank you for your concern. We were discussing a loophole that they have left open for themselves. I understand that it may or may not end up this way. It will just really make me angry if it does. Like I said, it will be the last straw. Our reason for booking was because of the "ease" of using the dining plan and having one less thing to budget during our trip. I booked it even though I didn't like most of the new things going on in the DP for 2008, because my reasons for wanting it outweighed the things I didn't like.

As for just being charged for something that they aren't making perfectly clear in the first place, yes this makes me angry. Because like I said before, they aren't charging those who are NOT on the DP the manditory tip. So, when I read it the first time I figured they were not doing it to us either. I figured, "why would they?". They left it open to translation, and that's the way I translated it at the time. I've NEVER been to any restaurant or on any vacation where they did such a thing.

 

[Blueyed Girl]

One thing to consider would be leaving the package as is for now and removing it after 1/1/08, once we start hearing first hand counts of how they handle this.

This is probably what I will do.

 

[Kitka]

If you are on DDP and you order something not covered by DDP -- appetizer, alcohol, etc -- that check will carry an automatic 18% service charge, and again that is a part of the bill...not an option.

I (think!) I'm pretty clear on the plan and the costs and benefits of it, but I'm confused by what you are saying here. I read the 2008 brochure on on tipping it says,

"Gratuities are not included unless otherwise indicated. An 18% gratuity will be added automatically for parties of 6 or more. A gratuity may also be added automatically for ordered items that are not included in the Disney Dining Plan (e.g. alcoholic beverages)."

To me that says the automatic 18% would be added to the ITEMS ordered not covered by the DDP - not the entire check. Not that what that would be like effectively isn't confusing and silly, but nevertheless, I think it's different than adding 18% to the entire check just because something outside the plan was ordered.

 

[Blueyed Girl]

I (think!) I'm pretty clear on the plan and the costs and benefits of it, but I'm confused by what you are saying here. I read the 2008 brochure on on tipping it says,

​

To me that says the automatic 18% would be added to the ITEMS ordered not covered by the DDP - not the entire check. Not that what that would be like effectively isn't confusing and silly, but nevertheless, I think it's different than adding 18% to the entire check just because something outside the plan was ordered.

Yes, that's correct. But I still think it is not right to have a "mandatory tip" added on to our extra items ticket just because we are on the DP. If we weren't, we wouldn't have a "mandatory tip" unless we have 6 or more in our party. (which we, personally, do not.)

 

[Kitka]

Yes, that's correct. But I still think it is not right to have a "mandatory tip" added on to our extra items ticket just because we are on the DP. If we weren't, we wouldn't have a "mandatory tip" unless we have 6 or more in our party. (which we, personally, do not.)

I agree - it just isn't logical.

The only thing that is redeeming about it only being on those *items* and not the whole ticket is that I can decide how much I want to tip, and then just subtract the amount they took automatically and leave the rest. At least it still leaves me with some control (though more work than I'd like to have to deal with on vacation!)

 

[bicker]

Always read and ensure you understand and are satisfied with the terms and conditions for anything you purchase; otherwise do not make the purchase.

I did read it. I did understand it. Thank you for your concern. We were discussing a loophole that they have left open for themselves. I understand that it may or may not end up this way. It will just really make me angry if it does.

Yes, that's what it sounded like. My message was a recommendation that folks, in general, as a rule, really, for everything (not just the Dining Plan, and not just things having to do with WDW), make sure you're satisfied with the terms and conditions -- all of them, including what could be loop-holes -- and if you could end up disappointed, my recommendation is to not make the purchase. The converse is also good advice, IMHO: If you see terms and conditions that would make you unhappy, then either pass up the offer, or change your perspective so that if the worst happens you'll still be satisfied.

This goes back to something we talk about occasionally here. The power we consumers have comes from when we look at offers and communicate our dissatisfaction with it by doing without. If consumers always just grumble about things but still make the purchase, we really have no power, and sellers can just walk all over us.

 

[Blueyed Girl]

Yes, that's what it sounded like. My message was a recommendation that folks, in general, as a rule, really, for everything (not just the Dining Plan, and not just things having to do with WDW), make sure you're satisfied with the terms and conditions -- all of them, including what could be loop-holes -- and if you could end up disappointed, my recommendation is to not make the purchase. The converse is also good advice, IMHO: If you see terms and conditions that would make you unhappy, then either pass up the offer, or change your perspective so that if the worst happens you'll still be satisfied.

This goes back to something we talk about occasionally here. The power we consumers have comes from when we look at offers and communicate our dissatisfaction with it by doing without. If consumers always just grumble about things but still make the purchase, we really have no power, and sellers can just walk all over us.

I see what you're saying. I purchased it, but figured I could also withdraw that part of my purchase if still unhappy before going. I like Kitka's idea about just subtracting the mandatory tip from the other non-mandatory bill (DP). This sort of puts the control back in my corner where I like it. Being as though I weighed all the other pro's and con's of the new DP more heavily and still decided to purchase, I'm thinking I will just stand by my purchase. Besides, if the service is really good then I won't be subtracting anything from either tip anyway. I just like to know the control is back in my hands. So, all in all after all of this discussion, UNLESS Disney changes something between now and then, I will just be happy with my purchase for this year. I will not say with certainty that I would purchase the DP again after this trip, though. Next time I will just spend more time budgeting (yuck!) rather than take the "easy" route. It mostly boils down to me being lazy and not wanting to keep up with extra reciepts during vacation. I do that enough at home.

 

[TheRatPack]

Well, we are a family of 7 so we automatically get the 18% anyway. I'm not too stirred up about the appetizer though. The only place we had one this year was the SciFi. The other places we like are either plated buffets or the breakfast buffets...so no appetizer offered. As far as the tips not being included, I sort of like that too. We had some bad service on the old plan and we're hoping this makes the service better.....if not we'll atleast have the option of speaking our peace to a manager or someone and having it removed or lowered.

Oh and on that same note, most places we sat down to this year were 150.00 to 180.00, so approximately 25.00-40.00 in tips. Still cheaper for us to leave the 40.00 in tips then to eat out at McDonalds (which usually runs us around 41.00....LOL) That was when the dining plan was free though....we'd really have to run some numbers to see how convenient it would be for us to pay for the dining plan and the tips, or just carry cash and keep up with all of that.

My husband had a good idea and said since we have pretty much the same eating ressies each year and know how much it runs, we could just pre-pay it all on a gift card or use our Disney Visa for all the meals and send in a payment upon returning with the money we'd have had to carry.

 

[twinmom108]

My husband had a good idea and said since we have pretty much the same eating ressies each year and know how much it runs, we could just pre-pay it all on a gift card or use our Disney Visa for all the meals and send in a payment upon returning with the money we'd have had to carry.

That is a very intriguing idea. We'll have to cunch the numbers to see if that might work for our family too.

 

[TDC Nala]

Are people who aren't on the dining plan having to pay a mandatory tip?

As of January 2008, if there are 6 or more in the party, or they're DDE members, then yes, they will be.

 

[Tink415]

I was charged 18% tip on alcoholic beverages this past April 2007 at Boma when using DDP so its not a new policy. I noticed it and was annoyed because I ordered a virgin strawberry daquari and the server brought an alcoholic one. I told him, but he acted like there was nothing he could do , there was a langauage barrier and life is too short - it wasn't worth the effort to resolve, so I just drank it But I was annoyed at having to pay the 18% tip when I didn't get what I ordered. Didn't stop me from getting the DDP on my next trips.

 

[JLS]

I was a bit surprised to hear someone say that they are going to quit going to WDW because of these changes!

Basically the changes can be summed up as less food for more money (since tip is not included now). Obviously a bad deal compared to the prior deal, but not necessarily a bad deal overall. The old DDP was a phenomenal deal if used correctly. With this new deal, I estimate you would end up tipping about $7 per day per person, as in the nice places you could have a check, pre-tax, of $30-$35 with entree and dessert (perhaps more in the 2 TS places). So its a net increase of about $6 per day, and you lose the appetizer. I figure you are still going to get the following value:

$3 per day for snack (average)
$10 per day for CS meal (average, based on food, drink and dessert)
$30 average for TS (entree, dessert and tax)

So the "value" on average is going to be = to what you pay for. Not a bad thing, if you like to be on a pre-paid plan and not worry about paying for stuff other than tip. But if you are paying more for a room than you otherwise would just to get DDP, I think you would be better off paying for everything OOP because you will come out ahead.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[septbaby]

If you rent a car the options are many. There are many, many, very good venues for dinner not far off Disney property. We do am-lunch at Disney, but dinner is a much better value off-site.

How are off site dinners a better value if you rent a car to get there?

 

[TDC Nala]

How are off site dinners a better value if you rent a car to get there?

If you were not previously inclined to rent a car, then they are not. Some visitors to WDW wouldn't think of going without a car.

On the other hand if you got enough of a discount on the car it might even out.

 

[robind]

Regarding the 18% gratuity on items not included in the dining plan.....

I've NEVER been to any restaurant or on any vacation where they did such a thing.

You've obviously never been on a cruise - RCL and Carnival both add 18% gratuity to EVERYTHING - all food/booze not included in the regular meals.