Automagic DDP tip

[wilde_oscar]

I have had an ongoing debate about the automagic tip on DDP for going on a year now. I say by and large you are removing the incentive to provide exceptional service, as the tip is the reward for good service.

I can see the point of view that the 18% sets a level of expectation to the server that they will get a good tip and and will provide good service.

Last year, we had two table service dinners where the service was lousy, just lousy. One of which... 20 min to get drinks, disappeared for 45 min with Keys to the Kingdom to prepare the bill at a buffet... where the service is pretty much fill drinks and prepare the bill. I was tired and did not wanna make a fuss (I was told not to make a fuss) but anywhere else she would have got a $1 tip cause the service was lousy.

Has anyone had the auto magic tip removed from their DDP bill?

 

[Dodie]

I'm sorry? What is an auto magic tip? Maybe that's why you haven't gotten a response yet?

Edited: OH. OKAY. Sorry. I wasn't trying to be a smart aleck. I just read Barbers2005's response and now know that you are talking about the AUTOMATIC tip added with the DDP.

I don't think it makes that much difference across the board, personally. But if you receive poor service, I do think you should let someone know.

 

[Barbers2005]

When we went last May on DDP we recieved exceptional service at every restaurant except Hollywood and Vine- but that was a non DDP related rude waitress problem. I was pleased to have the tip taken automatically, since I didn't have to worry about it.

 

[indigoxtreme]

The last 3 times we have used the ddp free and not free, we have always had excellent service and I have left even more than the 18% that is being paid by the DDP. I believe you can get a bad waiter anywhere at anytime regardless if the tip is added in or not. I have not found it to be true that the waiter will not care. If they give lousy service people will stop doing the dining plan and not return to the restaurants.

 

[wilde_oscar]

when using DDP, 18% tip is added to the bill automaticly as if by magic.

Out of our 18 table service meals (breakfast and dinner every day) we usually had exceptional service. That is what makes the bad service stand out all the more vividly.

The nature of the question is if anyone has ever had the tip removed because of bad service? I suspect that this year we will get excellent service each and every moment of each and every meal, but if we don't... I would rather not reward poor service with an 18% tip.

*** yes I did report the server to managment, but that takes more time and effort that not leaving a tip sends as a clear message, I suspect that if it happens on this trip, I will ask the manager to remove the tip.

 

[Barbers2005]

Personally, I wouldn't bother with trying to have the tip removed- for me it would be like added hassle on top of a an already bad situation. It's more important to me to get back into the magic of my WDW trip than to make a point to a server about poor service. In my previous post I said there was one instance of poor service at WDW our last trip, and it was flat-out rudeness on the part of the waitress. I could have spoken to the manager, made a fuss, or tried to have the tip removed from the bill, but it didn't seem worth it to me when I could instead spend that time having fun on my vacation.

 

[OhMari]

What surprised me was the added 18% added on your alcoholic beverage that you paid out of pocket for. Did the bartender get that tip, or the waitress that served you the drink.

 

[scrapperjill]

I can see your point and where your comming from...but I really don't think the lack of good service you recieved has anything to do with the tip allready being added. We found we recieved excelent service at the TS places we visited....matter of fact I think quite offten the servers/cm's go out of their way to try and get you more to max out the DDP and up their tip. It's a for sure tip...and the higher they can get your bill the bigger their tip will be....which isn't necessarly the case if your tip wasn't allready added...ie if it was up to the customer to pay for the tip themselves...I'm guessing over all if the tips were not included they'd be paid less in the long run (you know you always have some people not tipping, others tipping poorly,those who tip only the recomended amount and then those who tip above and beyond)...Anyways over all I think they'd end up getting tiped less when all was said and done if it were left up to the customers. With that....I think the CM's keep this in mind and do try and give you the best service possible...not only to keep things how they are but also to try and get everyone to tip some on their own as well (which I'm sure happens quite offten).

 

[kaytieeldr]

when using DDP, 18% tip is added to the bill automaticly as if by magic.

Out of our 18 table service meals (breakfast and dinner every day) we usually had exceptional service. That is what makes the bad service stand out all the more vividly.

The nature of the question is if anyone has ever had the tip removed because of bad service?

Okay, but see, you had SIXTEEN meals where you had exceptional service. I'm not saying focus on them, but think about it. Those sixteen servers provided you excellent service. Therefore, the two locations where you did not get impressive service are the extreme minority. There could be any number of reasons for said service - the KttW card delay could have been a computer problem, or it could have been a neglectful or distracted server.

Anyway, no, there's no way to "remove" the tip when paying with Disney Dining Plan credits. If there's a problem with the service, point it out to management at the time.

 

[Katiebell]

I'm kind of puzzled by this concept. The DDP is prepaid, and includes the tip. Guests aren't charged extra for the tip, the plan is a flat fee per day. If the tip was reduced or removed...it wouldn't be refunded to the guest, so what would be the benefit? Basically, Disney would keep the money and the server, who is taxed on their tips, wouldn't get it...

We go out to dinner a lot, usually 2x a week, and all the time on vacations, of course. We almost always get reasonable service (almost NEVER do we get bad service anywhere), and at DL the service is often excellent. I'm really surprised at the posts saying people got bad service at WDW restaurants. Is it really that different from DL? The majority of people who have posted on here say that the DDP was not a detriment to the service they received, and very often they received excellent service. A server at one of the restaurants said the DDP has helped server's wages a lot, and most of them love it -- people order more food, more expensive food, and they are guaranteed a good tip -- no reason for servers to dislike it!

For the people who are concerned that servers will do a poor job or be lazy if their tip is guaranteed...the tip is the majority of servers' salaries (minimum wage for servers in FL is 3.65/hour, and usually the rest of their income is tips). They rely on that money to pay their bills. Virtually all of us who hold a job are guaranteed our paycheck if we show up to work and look like we are working. Knowing that I will have my full paycheck on payday does not make me lazy and make me do a poor job, because then why should I put forth an effort if I know I'm getting paid anyway? I try to do a good job because I want to -- I take pride in my work, and I want my employers to see that I'm a valuable employee and should keep my job. I would expect servers feel the same way.

 

[bicker]

I'm kind of puzzled by this concept. The DDP is prepaid, and includes the tip. Guests aren't charged extra for the tip, the plan is a flat fee per day. If the tip was reduced or removed...it wouldn't be refunded to the guest, so what would be the benefit?

I think the poster's point is that service, as a whole, would benefit, because servers would be more attentive to ensure that their tip is not retracted. There really is a sincere difference of opinion between experts in the T&L industry with regard to the value of gratuities as a means to incentivize superior service. The President of Carnival Cruise Lines, for example, swears by tipping, and says that he sees no viable way of providing the level of attentive service he expects his staff to provide his guests without the guest having control over 90% of the staff's compensation. OTOH, there are many successful businesses, especially outside the United States, built on the model where the guest has little or no control over the staff's compensation.

I'm really surprised at the posts saying people got bad service at WDW restaurants. Is it really that different from DL?

I've generally have had better service at WDW than I have had at DL (or DLP for that matter, though that was only one visit).

I think different guests have different perceptions of what is bad service, but more importantly, I think different guests, by their different temperaments, different conduct, and different manners, drive the same servers to provide them each different levels of service. I'm positive that I can go into the same restaurant, say two weeks apart, so I'm not readily recognizable, and act one way one time and get great service, and act another way the next time and get poor service, from the same server, with all other factors held constant. I think a lot of guests simply don't recognize how much their own behavior affects the service they get.

 

[PoohHappens]

I really don't think that withholding tip from a server that is bad in the first place would really teach them a lesson and have them suddenly think--oh I should be nicer and do a better job, that individual just expressed to me that I was not providing good service. I would sooner think that it would just tick the server off if they are already of the personality that they are providing poor service. I also try to remember that service has to do with many components and not just the server. How busy it is , the kitchen staff, the computers working and the list goes on.

 

[The Sweetness]

That is one thing that bothers me about the DDP. If I don't receive good service, I dont want the server to have the 18%. If they don't earn it, they shouldn't have it. It has nothing to do with the fact that the 18% is already covered

 

[kaytieeldr]

If you feel that way, then possibly the Disney Dining Plan is not the right choice for you. Keep in mind, though - YOU (or I, or bicker, or Katiebell, etc) are NOT paying the tip. You are paying for your food - and generally getting more value that what is paid. Disney is paying the tip, and the tax. It's comparable to Magical Express. That service is at entirely no cost to the Guest; yet the Bell/Luggage person who delivers the luggage to your room is tipped by Disney.

 

[goofyforlife]

Only one time did we have a problem with service...

At AP, our waitress was pulled from her tables (us) to help with a busy large group and serving their b-day cake and such....

In the large group, people kept wandering in and out of the restaurant and such.

I finally got ticked off and went to the front desk so that we could just get some drinks and the rest of our meal (dessert).

Not sure who got the tip but the next girl really tried hard to get us what we needed.

 

[Katiebell]

I really don't think that withholding tip from a server that is bad in the first place would really teach them a lesson and have them suddenly think--oh I should be nicer and do a better job, that individual just expressed to me that I was not providing good service. I would sooner think that it would just tick the server off if they are already of the personality that they are providing poor service. I also try to remember that service has to do with many components and not just the server. How busy it is , the kitchen staff, the computers working and the list goes on.

I agree. I guess it boils down to -- do you think servers -- or workers in general -- are more motivated to do a good job by negative reinforcement (fear of losing their tip, which is their living wage), or positive reinforcement (hope of a good tip, possibly even a great tip if they do extra well; pride in their job; the good feeling from making the customers happy; knowing that management sees them as an asset and they will stay employed and might even get a raise or get promoted). I know what motivates me personally, but I suppose there are people who are motivated by the threat of punishment than the hope of reward.

If service really is dreadful, so dreadful that you are upset about that included 18% that you can't withhold, then it's worth it to speak to the manager -- the employee might be consistently rude, and they've heard it before and will need to take action, or that server might just be having an off night (or something awful going on in their personal life). Their direct supervisor will know best how to handle it.

If you feel that way, then possibly the Disney Dining Plan is not the right choice for you. Keep in mind, though - YOU (or I, or bicker, or Katiebell, etc) are NOT paying the tip. You are paying for your food - and generally getting more value that what is paid. Disney is paying the tip, and the tax. It's comparable to Magical Express. That service is at entirely no cost to the Guest; yet the Bell/Luggage person who delivers the luggage to your room is tipped by Disney.

Exactly, and that's an excellent way of putting it. The DDP is $39/day. If you allow $4 for snack, $10 for CS meal, and $25 for TS meal, that probably won't even cover the cost of just the food alone, not including the tax and tip for the TS. One of the reasons the DDP is such a bargain.

 

[wilde_oscar]

If you feel that way, then possibly the Disney Dining Plan is not the right choice for you. Keep in mind, though - YOU (or I, or bicker, or Katiebell, etc) are NOT paying the tip. You are paying for your food - and generally getting more value that what is paid. Disney is paying the tip, and the tax. It's comparable to Magical Express. That service is at entirely no cost to the Guest; yet the Bell/Luggage person who delivers the luggage to your room is tipped by Disney.

NO, NO, NO Magical Express, DDP Tips, resort transportation, The lights in your room, cutting the grass... This is all part of what you are paying for with your dollar$. Do you think just because it is free DDP or that the tip is part of the package that you are not paying for it? Where is the money coming from to run WDW? This is not your tax dollars hard at work, these are all items that are part of the experience, part of the package. Disney has very smart people figuring out how to squeeze every dime out of the customer, let’s not kid ourselves and assume they are loosing money on DDP even when they give it away for free.

Using a valid discount should in no way diminish the level of service you are receiving. In the real world a tip is a reward for good service. I do not wish to reward bad service. Yes the servers make minimum wage, yes they thrive on tips for their source of income. If they are no good at it, and make no money at it… well the world needs ditch diggers too. I realize this is a harsh, non-fluffy outlook on things, but I work very, very hard for my money, and I do not wish to give it away to people that do not work hard for theirs.

 

[Mom of 3]

It would be nice to have a little box on the slip you sign stating the percent of tip you would like your server to get up to a maximum of 18%.

Out of 7 TS last year we only had bad service at the Marrakesh.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Then what happens to the rest of the 18% that Disney would have paid the server as her/his tip? Right - Disney keeps it. How much sense does that make? Instead, if a Guest has an issue with service, it should be directed to management while one is in/at the dining location.

I realize this is a harsh, non-fluffy outlook on things, but I work very, very hard for my money, and I do not wish to give it away to people that do not work hard for theirs.

Then you may be one of many Guests for whom the Disney Dining Plan is NOT the right choice. However, as Katiebell points out - the DDP costs $38.99 per adult per night. The average Counter Service meal is, with tax, $12.19. Let's say the average snack is $3.18 - again, with tax. If your Table Service meal costs more than $22.18 before tax, NONE of what you are paying for the Dining Plan pays the server's tip. The tip is paid from operating costs.
However, as a Guest who prefers complete control over her/his tipping, and who is well aware of how the DDP works, again - it would not be the right choice for you.

 

[bicker]

Keep in mind, though - YOU (or I, or bicker, or Katiebell, etc) are NOT paying the tip. You are paying for your food - and generally getting more value that what is paid. Disney is paying the tip, and the tax. It's comparable to Magical Express. That service is at entirely no cost to the Guest; yet the Bell/Luggage person who delivers the luggage to your room is tipped by Disney.

This is a great point.

We took an escorted tour of Egypt in 2001, and there is a lot of tipping in Egypt -- all handled by our guide. We had no say about how much was given.

Indeed, the "18%" that we hear about here online regarding the Disney Dining Plan is not discussed is the Dining Plan brochure; guests like I us asked and were provided inside information, but all guests in general are promised is that "gratuities are included".