Beginning in January - 18% Gratuity....

[Mickiethepooh]

IF that turns out to be the case they are going to have a serious uprising on their hands. Basically they are just saying we are going to raise our prices by 18 % whether you like it or not.
There are a LOT of people that will NOT stand for that period.

 

[lillygator]

are any mods on? There are about 4 other threads started on this.

 

[BarleyJack]

If you are on the DP...call 1-407-939-3463 for yourselves and find out what I just posted above. There are NO automatic gratuities for groups of less than 6 persons on the DP.

 

[lillygator]

we usually tip 20-25% anyway but I really don't like the fact of it being included. I think service has gone down anyway and I think this will make it worse. The servers already know what they are getting so why work and harder....

 

[BriarRose59]

I don't feel that a server at a buffet style restaurant should get the same tip as a server at a full service restaurant. We almost always tip at least 20% at a full service restaurant, but not at a buffet. The amount of work is just not the same.

 

[cguill]

I personally feel thats way to much for a buffet. To me, 10% is about tops on a buffet - we have been to many buffets at disney where we get one refill if we are lucky on our drinks and they want 18% when the bill is probably over $100 already, me no think so

 

[Tricia1972]

If it's just for DDE customers this shouldn't affect service.

You do not need to present your DDE card until the end of the meal, nor do you need to indicate that you're on the DDE when ordering your food. The servers will have no way of knowing whether they're guaranteed anything or not.

With the DDP, you generally had to tell your servers up front that you were on the plan and many times it was noted right on the reservation. In those cases I could see where it *might* have affected service.

 

[cguill]

18% on a buffet service place like chef mickey's, etc .... me no think so, the bill is probably over $100 for 5 as it is, and there are times when we were lucky to get one refill on our drinks, forget about it ...

 

[cjsmom5]

You are right. In 2008 the gratuities for the sit down (table service) restaurants are not included. But, now you do not have the option of deciding how much to tip. The restaurant will simply give you a "bill" for the 18% tip based on the total cost of what you ordered. Thus, the more expensive meal you order, the more the tip that will be automatically charged to you.

And in those instances when you do not use the Dining Plan portion and just decide to pay for the meal ... your check will come with the cost of the meal and the tip calculated right into the total amount that you owe. At WDW you will no longer have the option of deciding how much you want to tip. Of course you can always leave more than the 18% charged on your bill.

 

[seashell724]

Interesting. Very interesting.

However, there is still no final answer on what is happening. 2 people called and got different answers.

What's the deal?

 

[Kay1]

If we didn't have tipping in this country restaurants would have to pay servers a decent wage which would raise menu prices. Would that be forced tipping? Anyhow, I have no problem at all with 18% as we tip more. I just hope it doesn't hurt service.

 

[Tricia1972]

There is a thread with lots of opinions and discussions on this matter on the restaurant board.

You can see everything being said here http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1633420

 

[cguill]

Me no think so - that is absoluely ridiculous, especially on a buffet style place where you are at times lucky to get one refill on your drinks, they can forget about it ...

 

[disneynutz]

Is this another Disney way to add another price increase? They would not do it if it meant less money overall. Wasn't this one of the issues during their union contract negotiations earlier this year? Less pay for food service employees, guaranteed tips, and they don't have to work for them.

 

[BarleyJack]

Interesting. Very interesting.

However, there is still no final answer on what is happening. 2 people called and got different answers.

What's the deal?

I called the disney dining line specifically in regard to the dining plan. The other poster called DDE in regard to the DDE card. Theres a bit of a difference.

 

[Tricia1972]

If we didn't have tipping in this country restaurants would have to pay servers a decent wage which would raise menu prices. Would that be forced tipping? Anyhow, I have no problem at all with 18% as we tip more. I just hope it doesn't hurt service.

I really don't think it will hurt service.

Servers don't know if you have the DDE card or not until after the meal. Therefore they don't know they're 'guaranteed' anything until you've already eaten and received your service.

I think it'll all be fine.

 

[cguill]

For our family of 7 that would be something like a $45 tip at alot of table service places, forget about it, I guess we will just eat of property in the evenings....

 

[Nbtstatic]

All will not be fine for me. Forcing me to pay a certain percentage in all situations will not work for me whatsoever.

NB

 

[william4192]

Thanks to the changes in the DDP, I won't sit down and eat as much. On our Anniversary (annual vacation trip), we will do some. But when we down for our 2-3 day trips, counter service will suffice.

 

[Tricia1972]

For our family of 7 that would be something like a $45 tip at alot of table service places, forget about it, I guess we will just eat of property in the evenings....

A family of 7 was affected by the 18% gratuity regardless of the DDE. Disney changed the party size to that of 6 or more effective 1/1/08.