2008 DDP discussion, questions, rants and vents

[apostolic4life]

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.

All I know is that most large operations will not risk having to spot their servers money to cover taxes and/or benefits (this covers FICA/MediCare/IRS/State/Health Ins. etc.) so they hold the credit card tips till payday. This ensures those costs will be covered. Do you believe the employer will continue to cover these costs week after week?? How much could it cost a large operation like WDW if they had to cover some portion of the taxes/benefits because the hourly wage/auto-gratuity did not fully cover the amount that gets paid to the afore mentioned agencies?? I have seen places where credit card tips are cashed out nightly, but they are smaller operations with fewer employees and less customer traffic and usually do not generate the tips a server at WDW will receive. If a server at WDW is able to cover their taxes/benefits with only their hourly + auto-gratuity then I would bet they are under reporting their cash tips and cheating the system.

I started reading that thread today since the one on the Theme Park boards was closed and the server you are referring to has only 16 posts total so I do not know how much stock I can invest in their words.......being so new I would be cautious as to their motivation. Pilferk on the other hand is an established DISer and her opinions and thoughts are well established here so I can believe her when she says 3 servers gave her the information. Hate to sound so skeptical, but lets see if they have an agenda before we blindly accept their word as gospel.

 

[Tricia1972]

All I know is that most large operations will not risk having to spot their servers money to cover taxes and/or benefits (this covers FICA/MediCare/IRS/State/Health Ins. etc.) so they hold the credit card tips till payday. This ensures those costs will be covered. Do you believe the employer will continue to cover these costs week after week?? How much could it cost a large operation like WDW if they had to cover some portion of the taxes/benefits because the hourly wage/auto-gratuity did not fully cover the amount that gets paid to the afore mentioned agencies?? I have seen places where credit card tips are cashed out nightly, but they are smaller operations with fewer employees and less customer traffic and usually do not generate the tips a server at WDW will receive. If a server at WDW is able to cover their taxes/benefits with only their hourly + auto-gratuity then I would bet they are under reporting their cash tips and cheating the system.

I started reading that thread today since the one on the Theme Park boards was closed and the server you are referring to has only 16 posts total so I do not know how much stock I can invest in their words.......being so new I would be cautious as to their motivation. Pilferk on the other hand is an established DISer and her opinions and thoughts are well established here so I can believe her when she says 3 servers gave her the information. Hate to sound so skeptical, but lets see if they have an agenda before we blindly accept their word as gospel.

I agree with you about trusting a newer poster as gospel, just found it odd that the other servers there aren't contradicting. It's not a big deal to the consumer either way, whether servers are paid out at the end of the night for credit card or if that comes on the next pay check. I just posted because you said that it's usually held and I had just read from a server that they aren't held.

 

[pilferk]

Pilferk on the other hand is an established DISer and her opinions and thoughts are well established here so I can believe her when she says 3 servers gave her the information. Hate to sound so skeptical, but lets see if they have an agenda before we blindly accept their word as gospel.

Just a quick clarification:

Pilferk is a he, not a she.



And again, I certainly allow that the servers I talked to were not telling me the whole truth, were simply incorrect, or that there are differences within Disney's own system.

At this point all we can concretely say is there are different stories coming from different folks on the matter.

 

[bicker]

All I know is that most large operations will not risk having to spot their servers money to cover taxes and/or benefits (this covers FICA/MediCare/IRS/State/Health Ins. etc.) so they hold the credit card tips till payday.

Interesting point, especially in light of the fact that carrying medical insurance is now required by law in Massachusetts.

 

[GreatLakes5]

Interesting point, especially in light of the fact that carrying medical insurance is now required by law in Massachusetts.

Correct me if I'm wrong (and I'm sure someone will), but isn't health insurance through the waitstaff's union? I'm sure the union is taking their monthly dues off the pay checks and the health coverage and any other benefits in that arena are covered. Different from servers not covered by a union.

As for the FICA and the like, it's based on the pay being received so mathematically it would not happen that WDW would front an expense. If the ending paycheck is $10 gross then the taxes are based on a percentage of that and would not exceed the gross.

I do wonder, does the server get the full credit card tip or a percentage since WDW is paying a fee to Visa/MC/AmEx, etc.?

 

[pilferk]

As for the FICA and the like, it's based on the pay being received so mathematically it would not happen that WDW would front an expense. If the ending paycheck is $10 gross then the taxes are based on a percentage of that and would not exceed the gross.

Yes, but if the "cash" tips are a greater portion of your income than JUST your hourly wage, that doesn't quite work out so well, because you're taxed on your reported tips AND your hourly wage combine...and the tax is taken from your paycheck (which is only your hourly wage paymnt, assuming you "cash out" tips every night) to cover it.

Here's the example:

You make $5 per hour for 40 hours, giving you 200 dollars.

You make $25 per hour for 40 hours in tips (and we're assuming everything is cashed out at the end of the night) giving you 1800.

You're taxed on the total...$2000 NOT $200...and your hourly pay for the week (the $200) may not cover your taxes, health insurance, union dues, etc...but it's all Disney would have to deduct from. You have the $1800 in your pocket. You could end up with a "negative" check..something I assume Disney would go to any lengths to prevent.

 

[apostolic4life]

Yes, but if the "cash" tips are a greater portion of your income than JUST your hourly wage, that doesn't quite work out so well, because you're taxed on your reported tips AND your hourly wage combine...and the tax is taken from your paycheck (which is only your hourly wage paymnt, assuming you "cash out" tips every night) to cover it.

Here's the example:

You make $5 per hour for 40 hours, giving you 200 dollars.

You make $25 per hour for 40 hours in tips (and we're assuming everything is cashed out at the end of the night) giving you 1800.

You're taxed on the total...$2000 NOT $200...and your hourly pay for the week (the $200) may not cover your taxes, health insurance, union dues, etc...but it's all Disney would have to deduct from. You have the $1800 in your pocket. You could end up with a "negative" check..something I assume Disney would go to any lengths to prevent.

Exactly!!!

Yes Sir, you manly man, dude, Bro ........sorry, just assumed you were a she. My faux pas!

 

[huey578]

Has there been any new resturants added to DDP2008?

 

[hansel1]

Has there been any new resturants added to DDP2008?

I heard on a couple of the disney podcasts that no new restaurants have signed up yet. However, this is the case every year. The restaurants that have participated in the past will most likely re-sign with disney by the end of the year.

p.s. This happened for 2006 and 2007, so 2008 seems to be working like it did in the past.

 

[bicker]

The 2007 list was released a year ago tomorrow.

 

[huey578]

The 2007 list was released a year ago tomorrow.

Once new resturants are added,how long does it take before the 2008 DDP guide is updated??

 

[Colleen27]

Once new resturants are added,how long does it take before the 2008 DDP guide is updated??

I don't think anyone really knows. The last couple years, it was updated all at once when all the restaurants had been decided. Last year, that update was made available on Nov 15, but obviously it didn't come at the same time this year or we wouldn't all still be wondering. I do hope it comes soon, because if I have to make changes I'd like to do it sooner rather than later, and we're less than 60 days out now.

 

[bicker]

Theoretically, they've got another month or so before they need to have the brochure printed up.

 

[huey578]

New resturants have been added to the 2008 DDP brochure.
http://advc.disney.go.com/media/dvc...ng/disneydiningplan/2008_DisneyDiningPlan.pdf

 

[dacky041208]

Thank you Huey... Do you know if there will be any more revisions? or did you just notice there were new places listed?

 

[Colleen27]

New resturants have been added to the 2008 DDP brochure.
http://advc.disney.go.com/media/dvc...ng/disneydiningplan/2008_DisneyDiningPlan.pdf

That's interesting. The DVC DDP brochures are updated, but not the general public DDP brochures. And still no Tokyo Dining, Teppan Edo, or Tutto Italia.

 

[Colleen27]

Thank you Huey... Do you know if there will be any more revisions? or did you just notice there were new places listed?

I called just a couple minutes ago and was told by a Disney Dining supervisor that there are still several restaurants (including the 3 I'm most concerned about - both Japanese restaurants and Tutto Italia) that are listed as pending in the system because they're still in negotiations. I specifically asked if this means a decision hasn't been made, and was told yes, there are 3 classifications in the system - participating/confirmed, non-participating/confirmed, and pending. So there is still hope, I suppose...

 

[huey578]

I guess DVC members get to preview first? I just became a member a last month and stumble across the link.

That's interesting. The DVC DDP brochures are updated, but not the general public DDP brochures. And still no Tokyo Dining, Teppan Edo, or Tutto Italia.

 

[angelmav]

Hmmm they are restricting the CS bfast to one drink this year on the plan (before you could get juice and coffee or a bottle of water.)

 

[huey578]

The general public DDP brochure has been update as of this morning still no Tokyo Dining, Teppan Edo, or Tutto Italia.