Beginning in January - 18% Gratuity....

[bicker]

I get to be penalized because guests from foreign countries do not tip much if at all, that makes me crazy...

Gosh, if that makes you crazy, how do you deal with the rest of the reality? There are dozens of policies Disney applies to all of us because a small number of people would not do the right thing otherwise. That's why when people exploit loopholes and such some folks get upset -- they know that exploitation by a few guests often translates into future inconvenience and added cost for the rest of us.

With this explanation, at least, it isn't deliberate exploitation at fault, but ignorance. I actually feel better about that.

 

[goofy4tink]

I have not read through every post and page on here, but I hope the controversy has been cleared up.

As a disney server, I can say that 18% grat will ONLY be included for DDE card users, cast members, and parties of 6 or more (as of January 1, 2008). It will NOT be applied to all checks.

As part of union negotiations, the Disney higher-ups refused to budge on the removal of 18% grat. on DDP checks. The servers' union reps were outraged but this point was deemed non-negotiable to Disney management, all the way to the top. Financially, Disney wanted DDP guests to pay all that gratuity to servers and maximize food and beverage profits.

As a compromise, it was negotiated that parties of 6 or more (down from 8 or more) would be auto-gratted 18%, as would DDE guests.

DDE guests recieve a 20% discount, the same that cast members recieve. Cast members are charged the auto 18% grat. Now, DDE guests will be too.

I personally have never had an issue with DDE guests, I find them loyal consumers and diners and they generally tip very well.

As for the controversy, I can say 100% that my managers, as well as our area manager and his manager, have assured me that 18% gratuity WILL NOT be applied to all checks, only to those I've mentioned above.

Disney is a company with a strong union presence. Any changes like those misinterpreted would have to be negotiated and written into contract. That simply has not happend.

Sure do wish all servers had your attitude. I will say that, for the most part, I have had very good service while at WDW. But, there have been a few times I have wondered exactly why our server went into that particular line of work...they sure didn't seem to enjoy what they were doing and my service sure did suffer. Those few times are when I tipped much lower than my usual 20-25%.
So, my question to you, as a server, is this....what do you suggest we, the guest, do if we get really substandard service? I really don't like being forced to pay any amount for a tip, but certainly do not want to reward a bad server with 18%!!! Do we ask to speak to the manager to have the tip reduced?

"The reason many resorts (not WDW ) auto-grat all customers is because, like in South Florida, many or even most guests are from foreign countries (Europe, for example) where servers are not tipped much if at all. It is a protection for servers and the only way to keep restaurants in these areas staffed."


This sends me over the edge, I am laughing though as I know it is futile to even get upset over this... I get to be penalized because guests from foreign countries do not tip much if at all, that makes me crazy...

No wonder they loved us in England and Italy, France, I tipped 20% when the service was good, 15% if it was not. I tipped when my dollar is not sound against the pound or the Euro and I still tipped accordingly. If you mean to tell me with their money doing so well against the dollar and coming for vacations here, they do not tip, that horrifies me. And now according to the above quote, we get a forced gratuity on DDE partly to protect the servers from people who come from other countries and do not tip although I did notice that the poster said many resorts (not WDW). I have to say here now it is WDW as well as the other resorts with this added gratuity.

Sorry, that is not right. I just bought my AP, next step was renewing my DDE, no way. I will be rethinking my dining choices in December, probably no table service, I will go off property to eat and make more choices at Swan and Dolphin....I am sure others will think like this too. This is my vacation, I have enough Disney rules to follow and I do, but do not force gratuities on me.....I guess on my way in to my DVC property, I will stop and do some food shopping and eat more meals in my room, after all I have kitchen facilities..

It it is the principle of this matter that bothers me.. I do not care about the money.. I do not care about it is only 18% and I always tip at least 20%, it is that they have taken my choice away......

Took the words right out of my mouth!!! I usually tip much higher than 18%, so this is a savings for me. But, that isn't the point. A tip should not be 'expected', it should be left up to me to decide how much I'm leaving. I sure do wish I knew this when I renewed my card in late Sept. This Dec is the last time I'll be using the DDP, so was relying on my DDE card for the other trips in '08. Sure does seem that as soon as the guests get used to using something, Disney comes along and changes it, to make it more profitable for them, less for us. But, for the time being, my servers will be getting 2%, at least, less of a tip. Sorry servers, but I'm not sitting there, figuring out how much more to add to my bill. I used to just leave the 'old' total...the 20% discount was the 20% tip...even at a buffet.

 

[kdzgon]

....I know that all servers (Disney or other) are mostly over worked and under paid...

Not in my experience - I waited tables and tended bar for over 14 years - on the average, servers make quite a decent living, especially in light of minimal qualification requirements. I averaged $20 an hour of more (and at least double that tending bar), and that was 25-30 years ago! Yes, it can be hard work, but it is often quite satisfying, both financially and otherwise.

 

[Tricia1972]

Plus, there is the added issue of the wait staff deciding to take a holiday when the DDE folks come in (same issue DDP folks used to have) cause they know they are getting that 18% no matter what. I doubt 1 in a 100 will do that but a few will. For those very few, I will be talking to a manager. I am a crabby old cow when the need arises and will do it. Just ask Mr. Fatcat.

The cool thing about DDE is that the server does not know you are a DDE customer until it comes time to pay the check. So at that time you'll have already received your service.

In instances where a DDE customer is so regular that the server recognizes you personally, you'll also know that server and will already know what service they generally provide. I doubt a server who recognizes a customer that tips well will give sub-par service. They'll work especially hard because they know you.

 

[Tricia1972]

at what point will this be added to the bill - will we be taxed on the tip portion?

$100 bill plus $18 tip - what are we going to be taxed on $100 or $118?

I see a new addition to kevin yee's declining by degrees column coming!!

You will pay $18.00 Gratuity and $6.50 tax on a $100 Bill. $20 will be taken off for your DDE Discount.

$100
+$18
+$6.50
-$20.00
Total Bill $104.50

 

[jennifer6800]

I want to preface this by saying I have been working in restaruants for 10 years in every area, though mostly as a server and a manager. I very rarely recieved a tip less than 20%, therefore I almost never tip less than 20%. We spend several weeks a year vacationing in a DVC room with annual passes and the DDE card.

Having said that I absolutely disagree with this policy, not because of the amount of the tip, but the automatic addition. Most restaurants add a tip to large parties, which in my experience servers dislike because we lose out on the additional 2-5%. At Disney I have had a few exceptional servers, some very good servers, mostly adequate servers, and more than my fair share of horrible servers. By horrible I do mean unacceptably rude, and slow. It is only those awful ones that recieve a very low or no tip at all.

I will unfortunately be taking time out of my vacation to have the automatic gratuity taken off the check when I think the service is below acceptable standards, but I will also be carrying small bills to increase the tips of very good staff. I also try to make little notes for the servers on the check thanking them for great service or letting them know why the tip is less than stellar. I do believe that a tip is a thank you from the guest for making their experience special.

 

[smfnj]

This is a disheartening post to me. I am sorry if you have had bad service, but you haven't from me.

Here are some answers to your question. Why DO I give great outstanding service to guests even when gratuity is included? 1) It is my job. 2) I work for a company where we try to exceed guest expectations and make dreams come true. 3) I am held to a certain high standard by my employer and managers. 4) When I go out to eat, I expect courteous, attentive service with drink refills, a pleasant attitude, and an overall enjoyable experience. 5) Even minimum wage Disney employees ineligible to recieve "T.I.P.S." generally give outstanding guest service. Why would well-payed servers be bitter and give bad service? 6) I was raised better than to be a slacker on the job. 7) I enjoy interactions with guests and helping make their vacation a memorable experience. 8) I think I have the best job in the world and have never been happier. 9) It ticks me off when I am a guest in the parks with my family and encounter rude or indifferent cast members. 10) I am proud of my job, my restaurant, and the level of service i try to give to each and every guest.

I do indeed understand that their are some bad servers out there. Your level of service is much more determined by the person than whether gratuity is included. It seems for every post on here saying they recieved bad service when gratuity was included, there are 3 or 4 posts saying their service was great.

As others have said, if you ever recieve bad service because the server is bad, speak to a manager.

Dizserver,

If all servers had your attitude and dedication to their jobs this really wouldn't be an issue, but we all know this unfortunately is not the case. Hope to see you on our upcoming trip.

Steve

 

[DVC Sadie]

I am probably in the minority but after receiving my e-mail I thought it was a great idea to automatically add the 18% gratuity.

 

[smfnj]

Sorry, that is not right. I just bought my AP, next step was renewing my DDE, no way. I will be rethinking my dining choices in December, probably no table service, I will go off property to eat and make more choices at Swan and Dolphin....

If you mean December '07 you're probably right, there are virtually no ADR's to be had for lunch / dinner. You will need to eat somewhere else.

Steve

 

[Rudy6]

I haven't read through the entire thread yet, here's where I sent my e-mail...

"If you have any further questions or concerns we would ask that you send an e-mail to our Executive Offices at wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com."

I also cc to DDEmembership@disneyonline.com <DDEmembership@disneyonline.com>

Steve

Thanks for the email address. I just wrote to WDW with my dissatisfaction for this new policy. As an example, if any of you have seen the holiday pricing on some of the character meals (which for most runs until 1/5/08), together with the gratuity for a family of four; you can almost get two seven day tickets to Universal. I, for one, am reconsidering some of my holiday plans.

With all the activity on this thread, I urge everyone to email to WDW.

 

[Mich Mouse]

I am sorry if this has been answered before, but I could not find it.

Is the 18% added to the bill before the DDE discount is taken?

I would assume that this would be the most appropriate way so the staff members do not get tipped on a discounted bill.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Yes Michelle, the gratuity will be added before the discount. You are correct

 

[Mackey Mouse]

"Gosh, if that makes you crazy, how do you deal with the rest of the reality? There are dozens of policies Disney applies to all of us because a small number of people would not do the right thing otherwise. That's why when people exploit loopholes and such some folks get upset -- they know that exploitation by a few guests often translates into future inconvenience and added cost for the rest of us. "

The term that makes me crazy is just that a term....I am certainly not crazy and I deal with more reality on a daily basis than most people.. Maybe you should go and read on the Coping and Compassion Board how much reality I do deal with everyday..

I also do not understand how people exploiting loopholes has anything to do with this.. Are you referring to the DDP people??? Because that is another story in itself and I do not avail myself of the DDP and never will. I am dealing with the fact that on my one perk after I buy my AP....travel to FL from MA, I now have to contend with Disney deciding what gratuity I leave to the servers if I avail myself of the DDE, which I always have done in the past, and if I have table service..

And to Steve: "If you mean December '07 you're probably right, there are virtually no ADR's to be had for lunch / dinner. You will need to eat somewhere else."

How do you know I do not already have ADR's lined up for this trip.. granted it does not go into effect until January if I have read it right...

Let's discuss this logically.. let's discuss being nice to each other, I am certainly entitled to my opinions as this does directly affect me..

 

[kaytieeldr]

Just out of curiosity, for those of you worried about service declining, at what point are you telling them you have a DDE card? I usually don't say anything until the end of the meal when I get ready to pay

EXCELLENT point!!! Given that the server has no idea how the Guest is paying for the meal - except they will likely still ask if one is using any dining PLAN (which the DDE is not) - she/he would not be aware of the use of any discount program by the Guest DURING the meal. Ergo, using an auto-grat payment method will NOT affect one's service.

This sends me over the edge, I am laughing though as I know it is futile to even get upset over this... I get to be penalized because guests from foreign countries do not tip much if at all, that makes me crazy... and I also do not understand how people exploiting loopholes has anything to do with this

Well, first, I'm not sure I would consider the addition of a mandatory tip/gratuity/service fee a 'penalty', especially given that most people who've posted (a) tip more than that and (b) have RARELY had a dining experience not worthy of at least a standard tip. But, once again, the auto 'grat' on DDE-discounted meals is a concession Disney made during union negotiations. Despite one poster's explanation, the change was not made due to the (non)tipping practices of visitors from other countries/cultures.

"I am wondering here why the DDE patrons….why did you take the tip off the DDP, most people purchasing the DDP were happy to have their tip included

Of course we were happy - WE weren't paying it, DISNEY was. Three dollar snack plus twelve dollar counter service meal = $15; DDP total price $38.99; any table service meal where the food ordered came to $24 or more, and the DDP was a "deal". There's no way to compare the percentage increase in cost on the DDP because it used to be zero - it's a math thing, I know how it doesn't work, but I can't explain it

 

[fatcat04]

Just out of curiosity, for those of you worried about service declining, at what point are you telling them you have a DDE card? I usually don't say anything until the end of the meal when I get ready to pay (I typically just pay what the original bill was without the discount, which gave the server 20%, and I typically pay with cash, so they just have to bring my card back). With the DDP, the server needs to know in advance to know what you are entitled to eat on the plan, but the DDE is just a discount card. So if I continue to wait until the end of the meal to present my card, I should get the same quality of service (good or bad) during the meal that I would have gotten if I were just a cash customer.

I have had a few servers/greeters ask pre-meal this last trip "are you on any Disney Dining Plan or discount plan?" If he/she had left it at "are you on any Disney Dining Plan?" (which seemed the norm) I would have said nope because DDE is not a dining plan BUT it is a discount. We will see this next trip. I am going to keep track.

 

[kaytieeldr]

But unless you're staying into 2008, this change shouldn't affect your upcoming trip.

 

[mrincredible2008]

I am probably in the minority but after receiving my e-mail I thought it was a great idea to automatically add the 18% gratuity.

GUESS I AM IN THE MINORITY TOO. MUST BE A MISSISSIPPI THING. ANYWAY, I EXPECT SERVICE TO BE EXTRA SPECIAL AND NOT SUB PAR AS IT HAS BEEN ON OUR LAST COUPLE OF VISITS.

 

[fatcat04]

But unless you're staying into 2008, this change shouldn't affect your upcoming trip.

It doesn't go into effect until 1/1/2008.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

"I get to be penalized because guests from foreign countries do not tip much if at all, that makes me crazy..."

"Well, first, I'm not sure I would consider the addition of a mandatory tip/gratuity/service fee a 'penalty', especially given that most people who've posted (a) tip more than that and (b) have RARELY had a dining experience not worthy of at least a standard tip."

In the connotation that I used it... in reference to what that person posted that it was somehow connected to guests from foreign countries not tipping enough or not at all, hence we have this forced gratuity, I do think it is somewhat a "penalty." I do tip and tip well, but now that choice has been taken from me.

Union negotiations have nothing to do with me.. I am not protected by the Union, I am the consumer who has to live with the decisions made by the Union concerning my vacation.. I have several choices, I can not eat at table service with DDE and only do counter service, fine, I cannot purchase the DDE, which was one of the perks of having an AP, or I can vacation elsewhere.. These are choices I can make and ones that I have control over.

I am happy that DDP people were happy with Disney paying their tip...now they have to pay out of pocket and if I remember correctly some were not happy with that.

 

[nbodyhome]

I don't think of it as "Disney paying their tip", but "all-inclusive". I think that whatever the price, it should be all-inclusive. Then there are no big suprises as far as bills and such, and the servers get their tips as well. I do think that the servers won't do well with guests being left on their own with the DDP.