A tip on "Tipping"

[Dillon]

Just back from a wonderful visit to the world. As always, DW and I are still feeling the after effects of that Disney Magic we have come to appreciate. But I feel a need to speak up on the bill presentations at a number of Disney Resort restaurants.

The tipping amount is always a topic of conversation, but we always tip our servers a minimum of 15% to 18% without thought or concern. And I have no difficulty with the suggested tip levels that Disney recommends. They even help by showing these amounts on the customer copy bill. But I do not like the additude we ran into on this trip in some of the resort restaurants.

Twice at the arrival of the dinner bill, the folder was opened to reveal the customer copies on the left side, tucked under a small card placed on top titled "Walt Disney World Resort". And it reads, "We are often asked about gratuities. No gratuity has been added to your bill. Quality service is customarily acknowledged by a gratuity of 18% to 20%. Thank you." The merchant copy was on the right, as usual. The copy that is required to be signed has a meal total at the top, a blank line for a tip to be added, and a space to fill in the total to be charged to your room or charge card. No meal details are shown on this copy. With three pieces of paper in the customer pile, and two in the merchant pile, it is indeed a lot to finger through. In each case, even though we had only four in our party, an 18% tip was added to the meal total at the top of the bill to be signed. It is so deceiving to be presented in that manner! In one of these cases, there was no itemized bill to be checked. We had to ask the server for an itemized bill; and sure enough, there it was, an 18% tip added. We appologized for asking for the itemized bill, and the server made the comment that her boss made her omit the itemized billing initially. She appologized with grace.

A few years ago during a visit to the World my DW and I got caught in this confusion. We added a tip on the blank line on the merchant's copy. After submitting the bill, we inquiried at the front desk of the restaurant about our bill and was informed that all was OK and we filled it out properly. We later found out the reality of what had happened. I still remember the manager's smile and wink.

I'm sure we all are aware that there are those that leave without tipping the server, but this method of bill presentation tarnishes the Disney Magic for me.

We certainly still look forward to the wonderful opportunities of dining in the World, but now look VERY closely at the bill.

 

[gmboy95]

I have a headache just thinking about that....Thanks for the heads up...we will be there at christmas

 

[Pig Pen]

Blame the dining plan! During it's first year, the dining plan included the tip, then Disney eliminated it during the second year. I think servers were worried (rightfully so) that diners would overlook the tip.

However, it find it odd that the tip was automatically added for a party of four! Which restaurants?

 

[alicat07]

So the tip was actually already added onto the bill but they made it seem like it wasn't thus leaving a blank spot on the check out? Am I following correctly? And the only way to know this was to get an itemized bill from them?

 

[jekjones1558]

Thanks for the heads up on this issue. During our Oct. trip my husband and I (party of 2) also had the 18% added. I am not yet accustomed to checking for this on the bill and I automatically always add 20% tip unless service has been poor. I caught myself a few times and found that 18% had already been added. In a couple of cases we gave a few extra bucks beyond the 18%. In a couple of other cases I forgot and the server got a double tip. ¥our post is a good reminder to check every bill during my upcoming trip to see whether or not tip has already been added. I am sorry that a few gauche guests have created this nuisance for the rest of us.

 

[beacher]

In each case, even though we had only four in our party, an 18% tip was added to the meal total at the top of the bill to be signed.

This I'm very curious about - were you using the DDE card?

 

[vicki_c]

This I'm very curious about - were you using the DDE card?

That's what I was going to ask as well - because if you use the DDE card, the tip is automatically added. However, I almost got caught up in the same thing. When I used my DDE card for the first time, I forgot that and filled in a tip amount on the blank line on the receipt. It was only in looking at it one more time before we left that I caught my mistake and corrected it.

I don't recall all the receipt chaos you described though -- and we did have an itemized bill presented to us with the bill folder.

 

[Dillon]

I'll try to answer all questions in this reply.
We stayed a total of 10 days. The initial 6 days were with no dining plan but we did use the DDE. The last 4 days we moved to larger accommodations with additional persons - a total of 4 adults. We were on the basic plan and used the DDE for any additional expenses.
The automatic gratuity was added when using DDE only. I don't have a problem with the auto gratuity, but I do take issue when there is a pre-printed card included with my folder stating that no gratuity has been added when indeed it had. I was so taken aback that I brought the card home with me. It is printed in 5 languages in addition to English.
It was when we used both DDE and Dining Plan that multiple slips were included in the folder: those charges on DDE (with auto gratuity) and those charges using the Dining Plan. In both cases the 'tip' line was blank for you to fill in the amount.
My observations for others is just look carefully at your itemized bill before adding any additional tip. And if you don't get an itemized bill - ask for one.

 

[Tara]

I'll try to answer all questions in this reply.
We stayed a total of 10 days. The initial 6 days were with no dining plan but we did use the DDE. The last 4 days we moved to larger accommodations with additional persons - a total of 4 adults. We were on the basic plan and used the DDE for any additional expenses.
The automatic gratuity was added when using DDE only. I don't have a problem with the auto gratuity, but I do take issue when there is a pre-printed card included with my folder stating that no gratuity has been added when indeed it had. I was so taken aback that I brought the card home with me. It is printed in 5 languages in addition to English.
It was when we used both DDE and Dining Plan that multiple slips were included in the folder: those charges on DDE (with auto gratuity) and those charges using the Dining Plan. In both cases the 'tip' line was blank for you to fill in the amount.
My observations for others is just look carefully at your itemized bill before adding any additional tip. And if you don't get an itemized bill - ask for one.

1. You should always check your itemized bill to ensure you've been properly charged - a good reminder.
2. I think it's a tad bit unrealistic to expect servers to remove and re-insert the standard tipping card that seems to always been in the bill folders depending on the diners and their plan. I think the diner has a responsibility to know what they've bought (in the case of DDP OR DDE) and if anything, the card should have been a 'hey, something might be wrong here, I'd better check out my bill' warning.
3. Having been on the dining plan when the tip WAS included, the blank tip line didn't confuse me in the slightest. It's there in case the diner wants to add additional gratuity. It is purely optional.

 

[ljcrochet]

I actually noticed the opposite when I was in MK. A waiter came running out of LTT and he said the a man, I noticed that you tipped me but I don't think you meant to since the tip was already including. The man was just stunned that first he double tipped, then that the waiter followed him out to let him know and take off the extra tip.

 

[petbren]

We were there Nov/07, before the DDP changes,and March/08 after.
We had DDP both trips.
I also noticed the extreme paper waste---5 pieces every sit down meal.
We too were presented with both itemized and non-itemized bills, tip included and non-tip included bills.
At Boma, we questioned not getting an itemized bill, and the look we got was . We even asked to speak to the manager, but we're also treated like we fell off the turnip truck.
It just left a bad taste in our mouths. Like Disney doesn't make enough to pay the servers well, we should double tip to make up for it.

 

[SamSam]

I actually noticed the opposite when I was in MK. A waiter came running out of LTT and he said the a man, I noticed that you tipped me but I don't think you meant to since the tip was already including. The man was just stunned that first he double tipped, then that the waiter followed him out to let him know and take off the extra tip.

Now that's a person of great integrity! We had the opposite happen. When DDE started adding an automatic 18% gratuity, but then presented copies of the receipts with a place for the tip to be added we always tried to check but at least once failed to check. On that occassion we added a 20% tip to a bill that already had an 18% gratuity added. Our fault....Yes, but I'm sure the server knew it was an error on our part and didn't say a word. You can bet, I'm very careful now.

 

[patsal]

We are a family of four who use the DDE as well. In July we found the same thing. We had all servers still fold the bill up with the total line facing out and the card for additional gratuity. I knew it was included and didnt' add anything extra just crossed out the line and totalled it to the original total and signed. We had two CM's who pointed out that we just needed to sign and go, that tip was included--guess who got extra? I am very careful now, back in 2005 when we combined the DDE and DDP I paid double tip on drinks--now known as the two most expensive drinks in the world! I believe it crosses the line to deceptive when they put the card in there saying gratuity is not covered when it is and when a CM takes time to circle in red where the tip goes and x where you are supposed to sign, when the gratuity is included already.

 

[WaltEeyoreWorld]

Maybe we just got better servers but we use the DDE card all the time and for the most part, were told not to tip as 18% was already included. In SSR the bartender there actually saw me putting down a tip and told me it was already included but we were trying to leave him a little extra. However, I'm sure I would forget from time to time and double tip if it was not for my DW reminding me during each check.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I am going to use the DDP for the first time since the changes were made. I plan on tipping in cash....any problem with that? So it really shouldn't make any difference what the reciepts say. Since we will be a party of 3, there should be no mandatory 18% gratuity.

 

[bonrea]

I always look for the tip to be buried in the text of the receipts when using the dining plan or not. However I'm not familiar with the Disney Dining Experience or DDE card. Can someone point me to some info on this?

 

[shellybaxter]

2. I think it's a tad bit unrealistic to expect servers to remove and re-insert the standard tipping card that seems to always been in the bill folders depending on the diners and their plan. I think the diner has a responsibility to know what they've bought (in the case of DDP OR DDE) and if anything, the card should have been a 'hey, something might be wrong here, I'd better check out my bill' warning.

I couldn't disagree more. I think its completely dishonest for Disney to include a card that says a tip has not been added when it clearly has. That's lying. I would imagine that they would not leave a card in a bill that said a tip had been included when one had not. If this happens to me I will be asking for a manager and letting them know that I feel they are being dishonest.

 

[Tara]

I couldn't disagree more. I think its completely dishonest for Disney to include a card that says a tip has not been added when it clearly has. That's lying. I would imagine that they would not leave a card in a bill that said a tip had been included when one had not. If this happens to me I will be asking for a manager and letting them know that I feel they are being dishonest.

I think it's only dishonest if it's intentionally left in. And I think the folders vary, but ISTR some folders that the tipping guidelines card was built into the folder in a little laminated window.

 

[vicki_c]

I always look for the tip to be buried in the text of the receipts when using the dining plan or not. However I'm not familiar with the Disney Dining Experience or DDE card. Can someone point me to some info on this?

The card formerly known as the Disney Dining Experience (DDE) card, newly renamed the Tables in Wonderland card.

Anyway, available to Florida residents and Annual Passholders only. It costs $60, is good for a year, and offers 20% off dining in most (or a lot) of the WDW table service locations, and a few resort food court areas. Our card paid for itself on a 4 day trip this summer, and we're getting to use it for 2 more trips this year, so it's been well worth it to us.

 

[bonrea]

Thanks so much Vicki_c for the response. Can the TIWc be used with the dining plan too?