A Show of Hands, Please..on tipping

[wezee]

Just wondering.... before the change was announced for the 2008 DDP, I recall seeing many threads from people who felt they did not receive the best service because they were on the DDP. Over and over, people said they wished the gratuity was not included...so they could have more control (hoping to receive better service).

I would be interested in hearing from these posters.....now that their wish became a reality.

 

[Allensfan]

My family went last year on the dining plan with tipping included. We liked all the places we dined at and never felt like we got any bad service.

I was not one of the people you mention that posted about tipping...but I will tell you that everytime I got up from my table I felt strange not leaving a tip. For good service, we usually left a little something extra even though we had the dining plan.

Now that the changes have been made, I am not upset in anyway. I wish they would have left on the appitz. because it was fun to try new things off the menu that i would not have normally tried...but we are going to upgrade to the deluxe plan this year so we get that included.

Honestly, I think the regular dining plan is such a bargin...even if you do have to tip. And since you have paid up front for your meals, having a credit card handy or some cash for tipping does not seem like a huge chore to me.

Disney is known for offering some of the best service in the country compared to other themed parks. I think their servers work hard and they deserve to be tipped well.

I also think that Disney as an organization is trying to offer consumers like us more creative options (like the dining plan) and it is a trial and error sort of process. Some things will work, while others won't. So I am not shocked and heartbroken that they have to tweak the plans and make changes. I think that is a normal way to do business. They are not perfect...even if we want them to be.

Disney is still a magical place and I still like the dining plan and find it very, very fair. The good news is, the choice is still ours...no one is saying if you stay at Disney you have to use the dining plan. So if it no longer fits your needs, I would simply do something different.

My only sticking point is that when seating the host may want to remind customers on the new dining plan that tipping is not included so that some hard working server does not get left with zero tip because the customer did not know the rules.

Hope someone found my opinion helpful.

have a great day

 

[byoung]

Thanks for your opion's.

 

[stitchlover]

It didn't really bother us to have the tipping removed. We would really like it if appetizer or dessert was a choice. Once the new plan came out we sat down, ran the numbers and decided that our family of 3 it is still a good value. We will be taking cash/disney dollars to cover the tips and off we go.

 

[wezee]

I agree, the tip removal didn't bother us either. Matter of fact, the first time we used the DDP several years ago, we did not realize the tip was included in the plan, so our servers prolly really loved us. Oh well, live and learn. We love the dining plan, which has allowed us to experience many, many fantastic cuisines and food that we may not have tried otherwise.
For DH and I the DDP is still a savings, and allows us to spend our vacation dining on specialty dishes that we have not been able to have back home in Ohio. We have upgraded to the Deluxe DDp with a bounceback for Sept. and can't wait. Just last night Dh was checking out some menus and said.." hope they never do away with the DDP, we might go broke" hehe.

 

[just another guy]

There are WAY to many variables to even start to draw a connection between these two random events. Maybe last year you had the restaurants best server, but they were busy trying to split a check for 15 people, everyone paying separate, people not remembering what they had, no one claim a couple of the bar drinks, etc. You never saw the server, never got refills, and left pissed, blaiming the DDP. This year you get the restaurant's worst server. Its a slow time of the year, early in the night, and since the server is bored, they start some small talk with you. You think he's the best server ever now.

 

[TLSnell1981]

There are WAY to many variables to even start to draw a connection between these two random events. Maybe last year you had the restaurants best server, but they were busy trying to split a check for 15 people, everyone paying separate, people not remembering what they had, no one claim a couple of the bar drinks, etc. You never saw the server, never got refills, and left pissed, blaiming the DDP. This year you get the restaurant's worst server. Its a slow time of the year, early in the night, and since the server is bored, they start some small talk with you. You think he's the best server ever now.

The second server is a smart one......attitude goes a long way.

 

[kaytieeldr]

No, the second server is the lucky one. Workload conditions enabled that lousy server to converse with the diner for a few minutes and, frankly, fool the diner into thinking he's good.

 

[TLSnell1981]

No, the second server is the lucky one. Workload conditions enabled that lousy server to converse with the diner for a few minutes and, frankly, fool the diner into thinking he's good.

.....and he's smart enough to know how to get by. There are many in this world that are the best at what they do, but not always the most successful.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I'm not sure I would consider this server being 'smart'

This year you get the restaurant's worst server. Its a slow time of the year, early in the night, and since the server is bored, they start some small talk with you.

but, rather, lucky.

 

[disgram]

Last August, we left a tip over and above the 18% on the DDP, if the service was good. It turned out to be a hit or miss thing. At a few places, as soon as the server was informed that we were on the DDP, the server disappeared until the check. Then there were other servers that went way above and beyond. Guess which ones got an extra tip??? This is how I was taught growing up, that you tip for good service.

I wish, though, that the powers that be, had left things as they were and just raised the price 5 or 6 dollars a person. I would still have gotten the DDP for our trip this August!

 

[mnasf]

Just wondering.... before the change was announced for the 2008 DDP, I recall seeing many threads from people who felt they did not receive the best service because they were on the DDP. Over and over, people said they wished the gratuity was not included...so they could have more control (hoping to receive better service).

I would be interested in hearing from these posters.....now that their wish became a reality.

I was happy all was included because it was simple. We knew what we'd pay. Generally at TS if the service was good, we left something additional to bring the tip higher than 18% - just like we would with no gratuity included. People that were friendly and helpful were rewarded with an additional tip from us. Losing the appetizer and tip means we will probably no longer do the DDP.