2008 DDP discussion, questions, rants and vents

[bicker]

To be precise, only some of the World Showcase restaurants are not Disney-owned. If my memory serves me:

- Le Cellier - Disney-owned
- Rose & Crown - Disney-owned
- Marrakesh - Not Disney-owned (this is the one I'm never sure about)
- Chefs de France - Not Disney-owned
- Bistro de Paris - Not Disney-owned
- The restaurants in Japan (whatever they're called now) - Not Disney-owned
- Biergarten - Disney-owned
- Tutto Italia - Not Disney-owned
- Nine Dragons - Not Disney-owned
- Akershus - Disney-owned
- San Angel Inn - Not Disney-owned

 

[drag n' fly]

I just read on here that Teppan Edo will not be part of the 08 dining plan is this correct? They never told me that when I booked my ADR for April? Also Will the Yak and Yetti be part of the DDP for 08?TIA

 

[bicker]

We don't know for sure yet. Try back in a week or so.

 

[RACHELSMOM1]

To be precise, only some of the World Showcase restaurants are not Disney-owned. If my memory serves me:

- Le Cellier - Disney-owned
- Rose & Crown - Disney-owned
- Marrakesh - Not Disney-owned (this is the one I'm never sure about)
- Chefs de France - Not Disney-owned
- Bistro de Paris - Not Disney-owned
- The restaurants in Japan (whatever they're called now) - Not Disney-owned
- Biergarten - Disney-owned
- Tutto Italia - Not Disney-owned
- Nine Dragons - Not Disney-owned
- Akershus - Disney-owned
- San Angel Inn - Not Disney-owned

Thanks for the clarification. Sorry if I misled anyone, not my intention...

 

[korzmom]

bicker- how do you know this stuff? i never can find info like that... and i hope its not true about tepan edo- i really enjoyed that from our last trip..

 

[bicker]

You basically need to read every single restaurant-related message posted on three or four Disney-related forums, for about five years or so, and you'll get that sort of information down cold.

 

[TDC Nala]

There is a rumor that Teppan Edo and maybe Tokyo Dining have chosen not to participate. Until the final list is released nobody can be sure. They already do not accept the DDE card - but they do accept the AP lunch discount.

From posts on the main board it looks like Yak & Yeti WILL participate.

 

[TDC Nala]

Im so confused
Im also too lazy to read.
hey, as long as they continue the DDP for 2008.
I was confused when I saw the DDP card you could purchase???
Im going in Sept 08-Oct.08

They are continuing the dining plan in 2008. For the basic plan table service meals will not include an appetizer. For all plans, the diner must pay the gratuity.

There is no DDP card. DDP = Disney Dining Plan, DDE = Disney Dining Experience. The DDE has the card. This is a discount program available only to Florida residents and AP holders, who must pay a fee to join. They get 20%off their total bill in most WDW table service restaurants, some counter service restaurants, and resort bars and lounges. It can't apply to most counter service restaurants or Pleasure Island clubs. There are a few blackout dates, usually major holidays.

 

[kutchyone]

I was told that most including Teppan Edo and Tokyo Dining will be on the 2008 plan. Peppers Market and the dining locations at DTD will also be on the plan. I was told that they have been entered into the dining system and the brochure will be changed very soon.

 

[Pumbaa_]

I just read on here that Teppan Edo will not be part of the 08 dining plan is this correct? They never told me that when I booked my ADR for April? Also Will the Yak and Yetti be part of the DDP for 08?TIA

Yak & Yeti is a yes. Here is a link to the DIS info on Yak & Yeti

Reservations being taken starting Dec. 3rd for ADR's after Jan 4th, walkup until then

 

[Colleen27]

I was told that most including Teppan Edo and Tokyo Dining will be on the 2008 plan. Peppers Market and the dining locations at DTD will also be on the plan. I was told that they have been entered into the dining system and the brochure will be changed very soon.

As with most things, the information coming from Disney dining isn't consistant and I doubt we'll really know anything for sure until the official brochure update. For what little it is worth, I was told that Tokyo Dining, Teppan Edo, and Tutto Italia will all be on the plan for '08, but I have read posts where other posters have been told just the opposite about the same locations.

 

[yrdlyprincess]

I only read a little bit of this thread but I kow that they are offering free DDP for next year because I was offered it for "bounce back", yes I would rather them keep the gratity some -not many of the wait staff didn't deserve the normal 20% that I give so thank goodness I didn't "have" to give it. I'm not sure if we will keep our res for next year...I think that we will go in 2009 for MVMCP instead but we will still go for the dining plan only if it's basicly the same as this year at no EXTRA cost.

 

[summersalt]

Does anyone know yet how they will handle the tips? Will we have a separate bill? Can we pay the tip with a credit card or better yet charge it to our rooms? I don't want to carry around a lot of cash?

 

[Mcbruns]

I have been following this thread and wanted to share my 2 cents.
We have used the DDP (free and paid for) for our past 5 trips and have become quite attached to it. At first, I was bummed to hear of the changes for 2008. Now that it's set in, I think we'll still use the DDP for our next trip.

One thing I learned on our recent trip was the fact the servers do not get paid their gratuity each night (sorry if this was already covered). It gets tallied with their small salary and taxed. Ugghhh. After I found this out, I am glad gratuity will not be included. Hopefully they will be able to actually take home their hard earned money each night / day next year.

 

[apostolic4life]

I have been following this thread and wanted to share my 2 cents.
We have used the DDP (free and paid for) for our past 5 trips and have become quite attached to it. At first, I was bummed to hear of the changes for 2008. Now that it's set in, I think we'll still use the DDP for our next trip.

One thing I learned on our recent trip was the fact the servers do not get paid their gratuity each night (sorry if this was already covered). It gets tallied with their small salary and taxed. Ugghhh. After I found this out, I am glad gratuity will not be included. Hopefully they will be able to actually take home their hard earned money each night / day next year.

God forbid they actually get taxed on their full income like the rest of us!! As for the holding of the tips, that works just like credit card tips; they usually do not get them in cash each night but instead get them added to their check every two weeks. Some places still cash out, but with todays bookkeeping software and payroll accounting it is safer to hold those tips in case their hourly rate is not enough to cover taxes for the pay period. I do not want to have to cover their tax burden out of the company till.

 

[angelmav]

God forbid they actually get taxed on their full income like the rest of us!! As for the holding of the tips, that works just like credit card tips; they usually do not get them in cash each night but instead get them added to their check every two weeks. Some places still cash out, but with todays bookkeeping software and payroll accounting it is safer to hold those tips in case their hourly rate is not enough to cover taxes for the pay period. I do not want to have to cover their tax burden out of the company till.

Funny Chef Goofy, I was thinking the same thing!

 

[Tricia1972]

G... As for the holding of the tips, that works just like credit card tips; they usually do not get them in cash each night but instead get them added to their check every two weeks. Some places still cash out, but with todays bookkeeping software and payroll accounting it is safer to hold those tips in case their hourly rate is not enough to cover taxes for the pay period. I do not want to have to cover their tax burden out of the company till.

A Disney server said on the 18% gratuity thread (on the restaurant board), that they are paid out their credit card and their cash tips each night. The credit card and cash tips are both taxed, but those taxes come out of the next paycheck they receive from the restaurant. (Credit card is automatic in the computer and cash is entered by the server)

Only the Auto Gratuities are held and added to the next paycheck. The taxes that the servers pay to the government and any costs for benefits are taken out of the paycheck before it is given to the server.

The reason auto gratuities are held is to make sure that there is enough money on their paycheck to pay for the taxes, benefits, etc.

 

[pilferk]

One thing I learned on our recent trip was the fact the servers do not get paid their gratuity each night (sorry if this was already covered). It gets tallied with their small salary and taxed. Ugghhh. After I found this out, I am glad gratuity will not be included. Hopefully they will be able to actually take home their hard earned money each night / day next year.

Just FYI, from what I've been told, that's true of ANY gratuity paid via credit card, or via "room key" charge, too. Has been for quite some time.

The only "tips" the servers at WDW get to keep the night they get them are cash tips (which they are supposed to declare seperately, on their own). I was told it was to both ensure taxes are paid on that money AND to keep the restaurant from having to keep LARGE amounts of cash on hand to "cash out" servers at the end of their shifts.

Edit: The info Tricia gives above is VERY different than the info given to me by 3 different servers. One at Prime Time, one at Spoodles, and another at Boma's....I wonder what the difference is?

 

[Tricia1972]

I wonder too what the difference is. There are a few servers on that thread and nobody has discredited what the one server stated. Cash and Credit Card are paid that night and the auto gratuities are added to the paycheck.

She was very clear though that the credit card tips that were paid that night were taxed, and that came out of the next paycheck.

Strange that the policy would be so different within Disney.

 

[pilferk]

I wonder too what the difference is. There are a few servers on that thread and nobody has discredited what the one server stated. Cash and Credit Card are paid that night and the auto gratuities are added to the paycheck.

She was very clear though that the credit card tips that were paid that night were taxed, and that came out of the next paycheck.

Strange that the policy would be so different within Disney.

Maybe the servers I talked to were protecting "trade secrets"...or maybe they're told not to be honest about the procedure with customers.

I don't know, but it's odd. It's the ONLY time I've ever discussed "back of the house" stuff with a server, and all three basically told the same story. And to make it even more odd, it was 3 different trips spaced widely apart.