Automagic DDP tip

[Katiebell]

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.

I don't believe anyone is suggesting that Disney is losing money on the Dining Plan. It's obviously profitable for them because they are continuing to offer it, even for free in the slow season. It keeps guests on the property, spending all of their vacation dollars at Disney. And while it's a great bargain looking at just the OOP cost for food, guests do pay for it in other ways, like giving up room discounts that might otherwise be available to them.

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.

The cost of the DDP is less than the OOP cost for the food, before tax and tip are even considered. For many people, that is enough incentive to buy the plan. The fact that gratuity is included is an extra perk for the customer, because it's one more thing we don't have to pay OOP. We are not charged more for that -- the cost of the plan would likely be the same even if the tip was not included. The gratuity portion of the plan is not refundable if someone is unhappy with the service -- that money would stay in Disney's corporate pocket. So if you have had poor service in the past, or you anticipate poor service on your next trip to Disney, and it really bothers you a lot to know that the server will get a good tip whether or not they provide good service -- then as kaytie said, the Disney Dining Plan probably would not work well for you.