Are $60 buffets Disney's incentive to purchase the DDP

[dlavender]

This poses a really interesting question. How much are the servers ACTUALLY making. I've worked in restaurants before, and the servers hourly pay was much lower than minimum wage (maybe $5 an hour) because they made their money in tips.

There's gotta be something somewhere that states that the server is not entitled to the whole amount of tips they get, right? That seems like an insane amount of money.

There's going to be a lot of assuming going on here, and a lot of low-balling, but...

> Let's assume a person is paying out of pocket and speds $35 a person on dinner.
> Let's also assume every single table that this server gets seated is a party of 2.
> $70 bill for every table all night long.
> Let's say each table leaves between 10% and 20% tip.
> $7 - $14 in tip for each table.
> Assume a server has 5 tables in their section.
> One whole section's worth of tips would be $35 - $70.
> Assume that server slips their section 3 times a night.
> That's $105 - $210 in tips for that one night.
> Assume a server works 5 nights a week. That's $525 - $1050 in tips, before tax obviously.

But still, this is assuming that each table is a party of 2 in which each person is only spending $35 dollars, with a varied tip. We all know that's far from the case. Getting parties of 3, 4, 5, 6 would raise that total tip drastically.

Maybe I'm tackling this the wrong way, but again, that seems like a server could be making a crazy amount of money if they are entitled to all of their tips.

Word on the street is that there are bar tenders making six figures.

 

[21stamps]

This poses a really interesting question. How much are the servers ACTUALLY making. I've worked in restaurants before, and the servers hourly pay was much lower than minimum wage (maybe $5 an hour) because they made their money in tips.

There's gotta be something somewhere that states that the server is not entitled to the whole amount of tips they get, right? That seems like an insane amount of money.

There's going to be a lot of assuming going on here, and a lot of low-balling, but...

> Let's assume a person is paying out of pocket and speds $35 a person on dinner.
> Let's also assume every single table that this server gets seated is a party of 2.
> $70 bill for every table all night long.
> Let's say each table leaves between 10% and 20% tip.
> $7 - $14 in tip for each table.
> Assume a server has 5 tables in their section.
> One whole section's worth of tips would be $35 - $70.
> Assume that server slips their section 3 times a night.
> That's $105 - $210 in tips for that one night.
> Assume a server works 5 nights a week. That's $525 - $1050 in tips, before tax obviously.

But still, this is assuming that each table is a party of 2 in which each person is only spending $35 dollars, with a varied tip. We all know that's far from the case. Getting parties of 3, 4, 5, 6 would raise that total tip drastically.

Maybe I'm tackling this the wrong way, but again, that seems like a server could be making a crazy amount of money if they are entitled to all of their tips.

I think a lot of servers become servers because they have the ability to make a decent living. Especially while young.

I'm perfectly ok with that!!! They're on their feet all night, clearing my plates, refilling my drinks...

I do think they have to tip out other people though. Bussers/bartenders

 

[StirlingSilver83]

Ugg...does anyone now if any of the sites that currently have all the buffet prices listed will update their sites so we can get a clear picture of whether or not the DP will be worth it? Our trip isn't until 2017, we usually do deluxe dining plan but we are on the fence about it this year. I will more than likely still book the dining plan, but after the new prices/credits take effect in October I might drop the dining plan or keep it depending on out my cost analysis goes.

 

[21stamps]

Ugg...does anyone now if any of the sites that currently have all the buffet prices listed will update their sites so we can get a clear picture of whether or not the DP will be worth it? Our trip isn't until 2017, we usually do deluxe dining plan but we are on the fence about it this year. I will more than likely still book the dining plan, but after the new prices/credits take effect in October I might drop the dining plan or keep it depending on out my cost analysis goes.

Later this month the 2017 prices come out. I just read that today, I'm not an "in the know" person lol. I'm sure at that time you will know if the dining plans and credits have been changed for next year

 

[mikepizzo]

Word on the street is that there are bar tenders making six figures.

Sorry, I can't tell if this is sarcasm or not.

I think a lot of servers become servers because they have the ability to make a decent living. Especially while young.

I'm perfectly ok with that!!! They're on their feet all night, clearing my plates, refilling my drinks...

I do think they have to tip out other people though. Bussers/bartenders

Oh I'm not saying this is necessarily a bad thing. I worked as a busser for 5 years. It was nice money, cash, under the table.

I'm just saying this seems like A LOT of money.

I've never really had a "bad" server at Disney, but I mean, thinking about servers at buffets, their responsibilities are more of that of a busser. They bring you your drinks, then they take your plates while you are there, then they clean up your table when you leave.

Again, I'm not trying to say a server doesn't "deserve" this type of money, I just find it really interesting. When you think about what some crowd control people have to deal with, and what they are compensated for...then you think about how much more a server is making.

Don't get me wrong, I know servers are dealing with the same people that the crowd control people are dealing with, but I think one of the big things is that, for the most part, servers aren't outside in the hot sun.

I dont' know, maybe I'm just rambling now, but it seems like being a server at Disney could be very lucrative.

 

[Mac30188]

I book so many character meals to avoid waiting in line or wasting a FP on a meet and greet.

I have the DDP for December but was planning on cancelling it (will have other meals OOP so at this point it doesn't make sense), BUT if the price is raised for most meals to $60, I will be keeping the dining plan for sure.

I ran some numbers last night and found it is a lot more complicated than I originally anticipated. While the can bait, switch and then gouge me on a restaurant. They cannot raise price on a DDP I already have purchased. Therefore, for restaurants with big price hikes but do not get credit increases, the value actually improves (relatively). Since the value I was getting was largely driven by multiple character meals, it is almost certain that the overall value vs. OOP is going to decrease. Whether it is enough to push it to negative vs. OOP is yet to be seen. What seems certain is my overall meal budget is getting rocked by a few hundred dollars unless I start moving to either more CS or off grounds.

This even further solidifies my belief in most of this problem is horrible communication. Whether intentional or incompetent in nature, it makes Disney out as a slick used car salesman. They need to publicly release details now so people can react.

 

[21stamps]

Sorry, I can't tell if this is sarcasm or not.



Oh I'm not saying this is necessarily a bad thing. I worked as a busser for 5 years. It was nice money, cash, under the table.

I'm just saying this seems like A LOT of money.

I've never really had a "bad" server at Disney, but I mean, thinking about servers at buffets, their responsibilities are more of that of a busser. They bring you your drinks, then they take your plates while you are there, then they clean up your table when you leave.

Again, I'm not trying to say a server doesn't "deserve" this type of money, I just find it really interesting. When you think about what some crowd control people have to deal with, and what they are compensated for...then you think about how much more a server is making.

Don't get me wrong, I know servers are dealing with the same people that the crowd control people are dealing with, but I think one of the big things is that, for the most part, servers aren't outside in the hot sun.

I dont' know, maybe I'm just rambling now, but it seems like being a server at Disney could be very lucrative.

Lol it may be a lucrative profession comparitively. But probably a short term one. I'm in a career that has a risk factor, meaning I don't have a set salary, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Ok, that's a lie - pay me $500k per year and I'll take a salary job!!!lol Not saying I make close to that, just saying that I don't like a capped income.

Servers have a risk also, they could run their bums off, be the friendliest person ever, and be left a $2 tip. So I think when you're willing to take a risk like that, then the money should be higher than someone who is not. (I.e crowd control people).

After graduating from UM I got a pretty decent job, and for my age was making relatively good money. But my roommate? She bounced from UM to the Art Institute, didn't finish either one, and was a cocktail waitress at a very popular restaurant near our condo. The girl would work 6 hour shifts and come home with anywhere from 500-700 dollars some nights. It was crazy! And even better- her job ended when she left her workplace. Unlike mine where it could interrupt my personal time and there was plenty of times where I was bringing work home. Every once in awhile I was jealous, not in a mean spirited way- more like "wth" way. . But by the time we turned 25 she was over it, and then moved on.

There are some long term career servers, but I think for the most part it has a limited shelf life.

 

[dlavender]

Sorry, I can't tell if this is sarcasm or not.

Not sarcasm.

easywdw had a post on it, I believe.

 

[AquaDame]

An extra $1500 is 4 months of grocery shopping, or 2 months of mortgage for me.

I...you...wha.. wait what? We pay more than that for one month... and we got in before house prices really started spiraling. We easily spend 1K on food in a month for two if we aren't being careful. What oh what is becoming of my city...

 

[Grym]

I...you...wha.. wait what? We pay more than that for one month... and we got in before house prices really started spiraling. We easily spend 1K on food in a month for two if we aren't being careful. What oh what is becoming of my city...

You spend comparatively A LOT on food

http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/sites/default/files/CostofFoodApr2016.pdf

 

[davper]

1500/2 = 750 per person

750/2 weeks = 375.00 per week per person -

when you break it down - we spend more than that going out on a mini weekend trip

DxDP comes out to $891.80 per week per person

 

[verleniahall]

DxDP comes out to $891.80 per week per person

This is the amount of upgrading from DDP to Deluxe for our family - i did the breakdown of the 1500

 

[Eoghann]

1500/2 = 750 per person

750/2 weeks = 375.00 per week per person -

when you break it down - we spend more than that going out on a mini weekend trip

If you can afford it that's lovely for you. I don't think I will ever use the word only before the $1,500 however. I can do a lot of things with $1,500.

 

[Tom P.]

This is Disney. They'll increase the number of credits you use and increase the cost of the plan.

You know, it's become cliched to invoke Walt, but reading what you said it struck me... How would Walt feel that his company has become well-known for gouging people for every last possible cent? I can't imagine he'd be thrilled with that reputation.

 

[Minnesota!]

I...you...wha.. wait what? We pay more than that for one month... and we got in before house prices really started spiraling. We easily spend 1K on food in a month for two if we aren't being careful. What oh what is becoming of my city...

Our mortgage is $806.07/month. Family of 4, we spend about $350- $375/month on groceries. Love me some Costco!

 

[Tom P.]

Our mortgage is $806.07/month. Family of 4, we spend about $350- $375/month on groceries. Love me some Costco!

Wow. I'd love to trade some grocery buying tips with you! Granted, we have a larger family -- 7 people -- but still. We're in different universes on grocery spending.

 

[robinb]

Or ... you can be like us and quit going to the buffets. I was priced out once my DD was a "Disney Adult".

 

[Minnesota!]

Wow. I'd love to trade some grocery buying tips with you! Granted, we have a larger family -- 7 people -- but still. We're in different universes on grocery spending.

Ha! I just use everything I buy. Everything becomes something else. I cook in bulk - massive amount of spaghetti sauce on Sunday is dinner that night, and usually at least 2 more nights. Buy meat in bulk, on sale. Make 100's of meatballs and freeze. Buy rotisserie chickens and use to death (ha!). $10 worth of chicken from Costco gets me at least 4 meals.

I refuse to waste money in this arena. We buy what we need, we eat what we buy. Anything left over is consumed in either it's original form or rolled into something else Some months I go over because I get lazy and tired and so we go out to eat a handful of times.

 

[21stamps]

Our mortgage is $806.07/month. Family of 4, we spend about $350- $375/month on groceries. Love me some Costco!

Wow. I'd love to trade some grocery buying tips with you! Granted, we have a larger family -- 7 people -- but still. We're in different universes on grocery spending.

I'm in a different universe on groceries as well and I have a family of 2- me and a 6 year old. I think I need grocery shopping lessons!

 

[21stamps]

Ha! I just use everything I buy. Everything becomes something else. I cook in bulk - massive amount of spaghetti sauce on Sunday is dinner that night, and usually at least 2 more nights. Buy meat in bulk, on sale. Make 100's of meatballs and freeze. Buy rotisserie chickens and use to death (ha!). $10 worth of chicken from Costco gets me at least 4 meals.

I refuse to waste money in this arena. We buy what we need, we eat what we buy. Anything left over is consumed in either it's original form or rolled into something else Some months I go over because I get lazy and tired and so we go out to eat a handful of times.

Seriously, kudos to you!!!!! I wish I could do that!