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

[mmouse1239]

Given the recent rumors, I made some alternate plans. We were lucky and nabbed free dining for our trip. That being said, the character buffets aren't that great that we would use up 2 credits for them. However, I do have 2 small grandsons on their first trip, so we will keep one for them if the credits are "upped". To be safe, I made alternate reservations on the same day as Chef Mickeys, and may do the same for Tusker House, since those were mentioned as two that will be increased to two credits. We had some other places in mind, so we will make alternate plans for those just in case the two credit thing comes to pass for this trip. There are plenty of places to eat around Disney, and we always have a car. Doubt we will do dining again if this comes to pass.

 

[mmouse1239]

unless its free.

 

[KYMickey]

I tip 15% for normal places and 15-20% for nicer places (in WDW for TS I would lean towards the 20%)

I keep seeing people saying things like you are that they pay a lesser tip at normal places and a higher tip at nicer places. To me that doesn't make much sense. The servers work just as hard at either of the restaurants and the food costs more at the nicer restaurants. Based on that it seems like you would want to tip the servers at the normal restaurant a higher percentage than the ones that the nicer restaurants. That way you would be paying the servers about the same and not really taking the cost of the food into consideration. Just because the food is higher-priced doesn't mean that server deserves a bigger tip!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I keep seeing people saying things like you are that they pay a lesser tip at normal places and a higher tip at nicer places. To me that doesn't make much sense. The servers work just as hard at either of the restaurants and the food costs more at the nicer restaurants. Based on that it seems like you would want to tip the servers at the normal restaurant a higher percentage than the ones that the nicer restaurants. That way you would be paying the servers about the same and not really taking the cost of the food into consideration. Just because the food is higher-priced doesn't mean that server deserves a bigger tip!

I totally get what you're saying but for the most part it is customary to tip higher at nicer places though as I mentioned I still do start at the 15% mark (I'm sure a multitude of things go into the customary part..like expectation of service, quality of food, etc).

To be honest no one really know exactly how much a server is being paid anyways at every single place you eat at. That server at the nice restaurant may be paid less base amount but get more money overall because of tips or that server at the normal place may be paid more base amount but gets less on tips.

Before Sonic switched to electronic card readers and everyone still tipped I had friends in high school making a regular $150-$250 per night in tips alone..I doubt they were paid all that much money..actually I wonder if they fell under the minimum wage amount for waiters/waitresses or not..IDK on that part.

Also the minimum amount a server makes per hour depends on the state. The Federal minimum tipped wage is $2.13/hr. In KS (which is just one of the states that formulate their wages this way) tipped wages do start at $2.13/hr but if including tips their amount doesn't equal $7.25/hr then their employer must pay them at least $7.25/hr. In FL the minimum amount for tipped wage is $5.03/hr and if their combined tips and wages don't equal $8.05/hr then they are paid a minimum wage of $8.05/hr.

 

[ParrotBill]

In another thread on this topic I suggested this theory. If this all comes to pass, it is because Disney is exploring every way they can to raise revenues and extract more money from their affluent visitors. This would be an attempt to value price the character meals that are the most popular. They can fill them up at any price, and don't need the people who feel they cost too much or aren't worth 2 TS credits. They WANT you and I to go elsewhere so they can charge more from those willing to pay. Simple as that. Will it work? remains to be seen. The after hours thing did not work, but I bet this will work, because there are plenty of top tier restaurants and they fill up at 2 TS credits or $100 per person all the time.

I also see signs they are working to fill in all price ranges. At Boardwalk, they replaced Spoodles and whatever that Kat Cora thing was with a broad appeal Italian restaurant with a moderately priced menu. Finally something in between pub food and Flying Fish that anyone will eat. They've also been strengthening the counter service at all the Premium resorts.

 

[LAX]

In another thread on this topic I suggested this theory. If this all comes to pass, it is because Disney is exploring every way they can to raise revenues and extract more money from their affluent visitors. This would be an attempt to value price the character meals that are the most popular. They can fill them up at any price, and don't need the people who feel they cost too much or aren't worth 2 TS credits. They WANT you and I to go elsewhere so they can charge more from those willing to pay. Simple as that. Will it work? remains to be seen. The after hours thing did not work, but I bet this will work, because there are plenty of top tier restaurants and they fill up at 2 TS credits or $100 per person all the time.

I also see signs they are working to fill in all price ranges. At Boardwalk, they replaced Spoodles and whatever that Kat Cora thing was with a broad appeal Italian restaurant with a moderately priced menu. Finally something in between pub food and Flying Fish that anyone will eat. They've also been strengthening the counter service at all the Premium resorts.

Are these buffets packed to the gills at current prices?? If so, I can see why Disney would want to test a price increase to see how it might affect turn-out. One can argue that's what Disney has done with seasonal admission ticket pricing.

LAX

 

[Nancyg56]

Are these buffets packed to the gills at current prices?? If so, I can see why Disney would want to test a price increase to see how it might affect turn-out. One can argue that's what Disney has done with seasonal admission ticket pricing.

LAX

I think so. I know that Chef Mockey is next to impossible to get if you wait too long to book. I do nto go to Akeshus or TH for lunch or dinner, but I do see posts that paent the lack of ADR's for both of those meals. I cannto say what others will do, but $60 is out of my comfort zone for dinner, so if they used me as a test, they woudl get an F.

 

[Eoghann]

I keep seeing people saying things like you are that they pay a lesser tip at normal places and a higher tip at nicer places. To me that doesn't make much sense. The servers work just as hard at either of the restaurants and the food costs more at the nicer restaurants. Based on that it seems like you would want to tip the servers at the normal restaurant a higher percentage than the ones that the nicer restaurants. That way you would be paying the servers about the same and not really taking the cost of the food into consideration. Just because the food is higher-priced doesn't mean that server deserves a bigger tip!

The notion is that at a nicer restaurant you are getting better service and the tip is for service, not someone just "doing their job". And indeed in a really good restaurant you will get a waiter who can tell you exactly where your fish is from and make recommendations about the food and how you might like it cooked or what wine you should have with it. This would be actual fine dining.

Unfortunately tipping now has morphed into subsidizing the wait staff because their employer doesn't pay them properly so they can make prices look lower than they really are.

 

[Josh Hendy]

In another thread on this topic I suggested this theory. If this all comes to pass, it is because Disney is exploring every way they can to raise revenues and extract more money from their affluent visitors.

The phrase that occurs to me is strip mining. We can't possibly make enough money by making and selling more of our product, or by making our product even more attractive to gain more customers. So instead, let's get out the bulldozers and scrape the same land over and over again, with the blade lower so we can gouge deeper. Without regard to whether we're spoiling our property and creating ill will. Just keep gouging until there's nothing left.

Disney isn't the only major corporation that has gone over to strip mining mode. So I conclude that there is something badly broken in the economy as a whole. Strip mining is I gather the normal way of.mining land which is judged to have practically zero value in its intact state. Or else for land on which the strip mine operators have zero future financial interest because they'll be long gone ... and restoring and reclaiming the land is someone else's problem.

 

[Mac30188]

The phrase that occurs to me is strip mining. We can't possibly make enough money by making and selling more of our product, or by making our product even more attractive to gain more customers. So instead, let's get out the bulldozers and scrape the same land over and over again, with the blade lower so we can gouge deeper. Without regard to whether we're spoiling our property and creating ill will. Just keep gouging until there's nothing left.

Disney isn't the only major corporation that has gone over to strip mining mode. So I conclude that there is something badly broken in the economy as a whole. Strip mining is I gather the normal way of.mining land which is judged to have practically zero value in its intact state. Or else for land on which the strip mine operators have zero future financial interest because they'll be long gone ... and restoring and reclaiming the land is someone else's problem.

Interesting analogy. I have had similar thoughts although the image I have is harvest time. It is time for Disney to gather up every bit of useful revenue they can possibly get without worrying if the plants die. Kind of like an upper management team looking for one more big payout before they leave town forever. The Eagle's Hell Freezes Over tour if you will.