Anyone still buying the DDE card?

[eeyoreiscool]

We only had one server not give us the detailed bill back. I got to where I would look at the total before I gave them the card and the total after I got it back. It should be a little bit lower and if it was then I would assume that the tip was already added in

 

[goofy4tink]

Your a plant right? Pulling my leg perhaps? Tounge in cheek maybe.....

There are some buffet servers who are incredibly good and warrant the full 18-20%. They are at the table all the time, checking on your beverages, clearing away used plates, etc. They deserve the full tip. But, there can also be those servers who bring you a soda and then you can't find them again.
We have always had great servers at Crystal Palace. Not so this last time (two weeks ago). Our server got to our table about 5 mins after we were seated, asked what we would like to drink, then off he went. He came back about 5 mins later with our sodas. But, about 20 mins later, when we would really have enjoyed refills, he was nowhere to be found. After waiting another 5 or so minutes, my dd went off in search of another server, who promptly brough out refills. Another 15 mins go by, we have finished our meals, are sitting there, patiently waiting for our bill. Nope, server seems to have 'left the building'!! We finally, again, asked another server if he could find our server in order to get our bill paid. It took our server about 15 mins to come out and hand over the bill. All in all...it just was way too slow. That would have been a case of our not wanting to pay an 18% tip, but less. When we were leaving we were asked how everything was. Our response? We said that the food was good, the characters were terrific but our server has been on break evidently.
Nope, some buffet servers really do deserve the full tip.

 

[Tricia1972]

There are some buffet servers who are incredibly good and warrant the full 18-20%. They are at the table all the time, checking on your beverages, clearing away used plates, etc. They deserve the full tip. But, there can also be those servers who bring you a soda and then you can't find them again.
We have always had great servers at Crystal Palace. Not so this last time (two weeks ago). Our server got to our table about 5 mins after we were seated, asked what we would like to drink, then off he went. He came back about 5 mins later with our sodas. But, about 20 mins later, when we would really have enjoyed refills, he was nowhere to be found. After waiting another 5 or so minutes, my dd went off in search of another server, who promptly brough out refills. Another 15 mins go by, we have finished our meals, are sitting there, patiently waiting for our bill. Nope, server seems to have 'left the building'!! We finally, again, asked another server if he could find our server in order to get our bill paid. It took our server about 15 mins to come out and hand over the bill. All in all...it just was way too slow. That would have been a case of our not wanting to pay an 18% tip, but less. When we were leaving we were asked how everything was. Our response? We said that the food was good, the characters were terrific but our server has been on break evidently.
Nope, some buffet servers really do deserve the full tip.

Sounds like you had the same guy that we did at Crystal Palace back in October. Both of our servers at Chef Mickey's were not much better. We had three buffet experiences at Disney in October and those experiences left me with a bad taste in my mouth about having to pay 18% when we go again in March. (Partly why we're only doing one buffet next time)

LTT was great on the other hand. Our server was attentive and funny - she really deserved the full tip.

 

[Tiffany]

I was planning to purchase the DDE card to use for my trip this year, but after the new change with an automatic 18% gratuity being added on I had second thoughts. Did anyone else change their mind about getting the DDE card because of this?

I am not sure why this is casuing you to have second thoughts. We normally wrote in the discount amount as the tip in years past so we are actually "saving" more then in the past as the 18% tip is less then the 20% discount. In fact I am writing this from our room at the Swan and we have used the card with no issues everywhere we could during this trip. Last night at Spoodles.

 

[DisneyWalkerGirl]

The auto gratuity began on January 1, 2008 so you wouldn't have seen it yet in December.

Regarding the reported 'hiding' of the auto gratuity, the servers who may be inclined to do this or who have been reported as doing this wouldn't have had any motivation for doing this until Jan 1.

Thanks for the clarification Tricia - that was driving me nuts. That said, I will continue to buy the DDE card as it is still a savings for us.

 

[jrmasm]

Normally I'd agree that 18-20% is excessive for buffets but at Disney, I consider the extra tip money to be hazard pay. Can you imagine working in one of those places?

 

[slug]

Not at all. If anything, I'm saving 2%, as I would add back the 20% discount as the gratuity. If there's a problem with service, the gratuity can be adjusted if you speak to a manager.

Exactly. I tip 20% so this would be a savings for me. But I'll still pass along the difference to the waiter/waitress.

 

[kimberh]

I was planning to purchase the DDE card to use for my trip this year, but after the new change with an automatic 18% gratuity being added on I had second thoughts. Did anyone else change their mind about getting the DDE card because of this?

I have the card, I will use it on my trip in May and then decide. I am not purchasing the DDP next trip.

 

[Luv2Roam]

At this time we do not plan on re-joining. But our decision had nothing to do with the automatic 18%. We do not mind that at all.

 

[rumrunnergirl]

I must be missing something - I am reading posts where it is stated "I give the 20% savings back to the waitstaff as a tip." But - and I must be slow here - why? They are getting 18% already, why would you add that much more to it? I see this as:

dinner $100
savings on DDE - $20
18% tip on $80 tab - $14.40
give DDE savings back to waitress - add $20 top to $14.40 tip so then they make $34.40 on a $100 tab

Also, if you "pass your savings back to your waitstaff" - how does the DDE then save you money? Thanks!

 

[CarolMN]

I must be missing something - I am reading posts where it is stated "I give the 20% savings back to the waitstaff as a tip." But - and I must be slow here - why? They are getting 18% already, why would you add that much more to it? I see this as:

dinner $100
savings on DDE - $20
18% tip on $80 tab - $14.40
give DDE savings back to waitress - add $20 top to $14.40 tip so then they make $34.40 on a $100 tab

Also, if you "pass your savings back to your waitstaff" - how does the DDE then save you money? Thanks!

The tip should be based on the cost of the meal before the discount. In your example, the tip would be 18% of $100 or $18.

Prior to the auto gratuity, many of us with the DDE would just pay $100 (cost of the bill) plus tax. That meant the server received $20 (or the 20% discount became the tip).

Sometimes (if the service is exceptional) we will leave more than the auto amount, but usually we just let the auto gratuity be the tip amount.

 

[kimpossible]

Couple of q's about the card.

We are thinking of cancelling the dinning plan and getting the DDE card. I saw Bellview lounge is on the list. Do we get charged the 18% gratuity for just ordering drinks there?

Also, one of our scheduled trips is the week leading up to T-giving. Are we excluded from just using the card T-giving day, or the entire week?

Thanks for your help.

 

[TDC Nala]

Couple of q's about the card.

We are thinking of cancelling the dinning plan and getting the DDE card. I saw Bellview lounge is on the list. Do we get charged the 18% gratuity for just ordering drinks there?

Also, one of our scheduled trips is the week leading up to T-giving. Are we excluded from just using the card T-giving day, or the entire week?

Thanks for your help.

You will be charged the 18% gratuity at the Bellevue Lounge - unless they forget to add it.

Thanksgiving Day is a blackout date - but only the day itself, not the entire week.

 

[rumrunnergirl]

The tip should be based on the cost of the meal before the discount. In your example, the tip would be 18% of $100 or $18.

Yes, you are correct, I always use coupons and always tip on the pre-discounted bill, I am just so confused about giving the entire discount back to the server. I was seeing the DDE as a PP stated - like a "free tip" since I normally tip 20% and the DDE will charge 18%. So I could see giving the server a few bucks to bring their tip back to 20%, but not giving them the 20% back on top of the 18% they already get.

I don't see any savings on the DDE if you give your savings away.

 

[kristennn]

Yes, you are correct, I always use coupons and always tip on the pre-discounted bill, I am just so confused about giving the entire discount back to the server. I was seeing the DDE as a PP stated - like a "free tip" since I normally tip 20% and the DDE will charge 18%. So I could see giving the server a few bucks to bring their tip back to 20%, but not giving them the 20% back on top of the 18% they already get.

I don't see any savings on the DDE if you give your savings away.

You're just missing the point here. People are talking about BEFORE the auto-gratuity was added. Back then if a bill was $100 pre-discount - they would just pay $100 and it included the tip because the 20% discount became the 20% tip.
The auto-gratuity has only been in place for the past month. I would presume most people are just leaving the 18% that is allready added.

 

[rumrunnergirl]

OK, gotcha. *That* makes sense, doing it that way pre-2008. I told ya I was a little slow on these statements, LOL.

 

[kimpossible]

You will be charged the 18% gratuity at the Bellevue Lounge - unless they forget to add it.

Thanksgiving Day is a blackout date - but only the day itself, not the entire week.

Thanks. I think this maybe the way for us to go. We will probably drop the DDP.

 

[agnes!]

Probably, it's still a pretty good deal. Not as great as it used to be maybe, but still...

FYI -
We were at WDW for a short visit this past month. When we ate at Chefs de Frnace & used our DDE card, the automatic service charge was added in AND there was an additional line on the receipt for "Gratuity". I wonder if folks are now leaving a 36% or so tip by mistake.

agnes!

 

[dzneelvr]

I'm really disappointed that Disney chose to mess with the original DDE format We purchase ours to get 2 trips sorth, so it's already paid for this June trip. I don't intend to give any extra tip though. I realize the discounts are getting fewer and far between, but I do think it's time to stop messing with all the discounts Some of us go frequently and we should have some perks IMO We put up with mediocre service and overpriced menu items year after year. Don't worry, we'll spend $$ at WDW--but not in the form of a tip this trip--we're not going to leave any 36% tip Will we buy it again...probably not

 

[ntsammy5]

Some of us go frequently and we should have some perks IMO We put up with mediocre service and overpriced menu items year after year.

They have messed with the discount rates at FW too. Used to be that people would stay 1-2 months at a time, but don't anymore because the sites are filling up without giving a discount to return visitors. I think Disney has made a conscious effort not to cater to return visitors. From their point of view, why should they offer discounts when the don't need to? First time visitors spend more money and will fill up the parks just as full. JMO.