Anyone still buying the DDE card?

[BaBeeCee14]

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?

 

[BriarRosie]

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?

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.

 

[Brian Noble]

I haven't given the service charge a second thought. Still planning to get DDE.

 

[ntsammy5]

Nope. We still save sine we too would just add the 20% back. I've never had bad service at WDW that was bad enough to not leave a tip.

 

[Tricia1972]

We are still using the DDE Card as it's still a savings for us.


Old way - assuming 15% tip
$100 - Food Bill
$15 - Tip
$6.50 - Tax
-$20.00 Discount
$101.50 - Total Bill


New Way - 18% Auto Gratuity
$100 - Food Bill
$18 - Tip
$6.50 - Tax
-$20.00 Discount
$104.50 - Total Bill

New Way - Without Card because of Auto Gratuity and tipping 15%
$100 - Food Bill
$15 - Tip
$6.50 - Tax
$121.50 - Total Bill

 

[schoen]

I see it now as 22% savings as opposed to 20%. We always leave AT LEAST 20% tip. I have always looked at the card as essentially a free tip. a pretty decent savings!

 

[n2mm]

I just got my new one. There is no price difference, unless you count the fact that the price for AP holders dropped for 2008 from $65 to $60. Whether I add the 18% tip or they apply the 18% tip, it's still the same value for me. Actually I use to just add the 20% discount back in as the tip, so obviously I'm ahead now.

 

[Bill From PA]

We'll use ours for Table Service next month, but we won't be renewing.

Bill From PA

 

[yxe dad]

It's still a great deal if your going to eat at TS during your visits. I probably saved $400+ on my last card and am buying a new one for my Feb/Mar trip.

Ya it sucks to know your going to have to fight to get the tip reduced if you get bad service, but if WE don't let them know the service was terrible they can't re-train or terminate the bad CM's.

I'm not calling it the DDE card anymore, it's now the FT(Free Tip) card for me!

Also it the tip calculated pre tax or after taxes?

 

[patsal]

The tip is calculated pre tax only.

 

[Luv4Disney]

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!

 

[yxe dad]

Sorry, what I meant was, Does the tip get taxed?

So if the bill is $100, is it
$100 + $18 tip x taxes = Total
or
$100 x taxes + $18 tip = Total

I know the difference isn't very much, but I hate paying more taxes than I have to!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The correct calculation, based on a $100 pre tax amount is:

$100.00 Amount of Bill, pre-tax and pre-tip
18.00 Tip (@18%)
5.20 Tax (6.5% of $80, the discounted amount)
- 20.00 Discount (20% of original)

$103.20 Final Amount Paid

Without using DDE

$100.00 Bill
15.00 to 20.00 Tip
6.50 Tax

$121.50 to $126.50 depending on the tip.

So the savings is at least $18.30 (if you normally tip 15%) to $23.30 (if you normally tip 20%).

And, if you use it once at Victoria and Albert's for two people you have saved almost the entire cost of the card.

 

[cdrn1]

I see it now as 22% savings as opposed to 20%. We always leave AT LEAST 20% tip. I have always looked at the card as essentially a free tip. a pretty decent savings!

Same here. Plus, we will use it for half off at PI this year.

 

[TDC Nala]

As long as it's still a savings over not using the card at all, yes, I'll buy one.

 

[Pakey]

Just got back a few days ago and used ours. Since we do lots of signatures with bottles of wine for dinner, we still saved a pile of money.

 

[Shmily1]

I just got mine two weeks ago and we loved it!!! We saved money and DH just sat there with his mouth open! (That's cause he knows I "don't pay full price for anything!!") I my DDE!!!

 

[Ember]

My card is good through May, so I will be using it my upcoming trip. However, I will not be renewing it. I am opposed strongly to the auto gratuity. This is not because I don't tip, but because a tip is optional and the amount tipped is up to the individual. This is nothing but an 18% added fee, just like the taxes.

It's true that you're now "saving the tip" or that you can have the tip adjusted if you feel the service didn't warrant it, but I just loath the concept of a mandatory tip.

Perhaps it's my concept of manners coming into play. I would never attend a wedding without a gift, but I hate when couples include mention of gifts in their invitations. The gift stops being a gesture of kindness and becomes nothing but a demanded fee for the privilege of attending their wedding. A little class, dignity and graciousness is all I ask. This rubs me exactly the same way.

 

[byoung]

We are.

 

[Disney_Daddy]

We will renew!

There are several CS restaurants that take the card, such as the Artist's Palette at SSR, most of the resort food courts and Pizzafari. With these places you get the 20% savings and no tip!