Beginning in January - 18% Gratuity....

[OrlandoMike]

From allears.net:

"This is reportedly for ALL table service locations regardless of whether you are using a Disney Dining Experience card or not."

Even Deb gets it wrong from time to time.

 

[Sammie]

Sorry to say that Allears is wrong this time. It is only DDE and parties of 6 or more.

you will see they say "reportedly," Believe me I would not say otherwise if not true.

 

[WDW1979]

I don't think it's necessary to express your glee about people finding it hard to afford Disney restaurant prices.

 

[RACHELSMOM1]

2008 DDP "Table Service Meals, Advance reservations are strongly recommended. Gratuities are not included".

Well, duh! I know that already, but that does not prove they are going to automatically add the tip to DDP, as some have stated. I knew from the start that gratuity was not included, but some have interpreted the DDE email to be directed at DDP users, and that was the point of my post. Someone was trying to prove with this reading of page 2 that gratuities of 18% would automatically be added to DDP meals, and that still is not proof. My email was from the DDE TEAM, not the DDP TEAM.

 

[cguill]

WDW1979 -- no offense, but if you can't afford it, then don't go ....

 

[Mickey Fliers]

2008 DDP "Table Service Meals, Advance reservations are strongly recommended. Gratuities are not included".

I guess you could also read that as: the price of the DDP does not include gratuity.

This quote from the DDP brochure doesn't necessarily mean that an 18% gratuity will not be charged at every TS meal.

Just another way to look at it.

 

[ninaeve]

I don't know if it is for DDE only or not, but the letter from Disney clearly states that the tip will be added REGARDLESS of party size, so it does not matter if u are 1 or 6 or 20...same %.

 

[BarleyJack]

If you are concerned about your DDP...........call them

1-407-939-3463 or 1-407-WDW-DINE.

Why would anyone trust anyone on a discussion board ???

 

[disneynutz]

Agreed, many won't talk to the manager. I will if it's bad enough, so it works for me.

Also, I still maintain that the automatic 18% gratuity on the DDE will not adversely affect service. Servers do not know that they are receiving the automatic gratuity until the meal is over and you present your DDE card.

Because of this, the servers will work for your tip, just like they're working for the DDP and OOP tips this year.

I hate to pop your bubble, but they will start asking when you make your ADR and when you sit down. They won't waste time bringing you your bill not knowing how to compute the tip. I made a ADR yesterday and the first thing I was asked was, "are you on any dining plan".

 

[Tricia1972]

I don't think it's necessary to express your glee about people finding it hard to afford Disney restaurant prices.

I am sorry you think people are finding glee at not being able to afford Disney restaurant prices.

I think the comments have more to do with the fact that people will say they're eating off site and then don't eat off site.

I also don't really see how an 18% tip would make people eat off site. Most people would be tipping a minimum of 15-18% anyway at all Table Service locations.

I am sorry you feel hurt though.

 

[sjaakie]

Lets suppose its for everyone. How will they cash the money ? That would mean you must not give them your CC number ore what???

 

[SplashMountainMama]

Can they really force people to pay a certain amount for a tip? I know it's generally done for large parties of people which for some reason at Disney is 6 people or more (smaller than most other restaurants), but I've never heard of tips being automatic. Doesn't this lead us straight back to the problem so many complained about on DDP that since the servers were guaranteed 18% they didn't need to worry about giving good service? I'm not saying that's what happened, but rather that's how others felt. It doesn't make sense to me at all.

 

[WDW1979]

WDW1979 -- no offense, but if you can't afford it, then don't go ....

Gee, I didn't think of that. And a nice day to you, too!

 

[Tricia1972]

I hate to pop your bubble, but they will start asking when you make your ADR and when you sit down. They won't waste time bringing you your bill not knowing how to compute the tip. I made a ADR yesterday and the first thing I was asked was, "are you on any dining plan".

Which to me is asking are you on the DDP or the DDDP. To this question I would answer no when making reservations. I only use the DDE.

We used the DDE with the DDP in October (for two weeks), and always presented the DDP when sitting down, and usually were asked if we were or weren't. We always presented our DDE with the Bill (we usually had a drink or two on there that was extra)

Nobody ever blinked. They adjusted the total and charged the balance to our room.

Don't worry - you didn't pop my bubble.

 

[Tricia1972]

Lets suppose its for everyone. How will they cash the money ? That would mean you must not give them your CC number ore what???

If it were to be for everyone, I'd think your bill would look something like this.

$100 Food Bill
$18 Gratuity
$6.50 Tax

$124.50 - Total Due

(Assuming you're paying Cash OOP - of course it'd be different if you were on the DDP)

 

[DVCGirl49]

2008 DDP "Table Service Meals, Advance reservations are strongly recommended. Gratuities are not included".

I may be reading this wrong, but the way I'm reading that brochure it says that when your purchase the DDP, the price of the gratuity is not included in the purchase price..........it doesn't say that you won't be presented with some type of statement/reciept at the end of the meal upon which you may leave a tip. It also doesn't say that whatever statement/reciept they give you can't say 'this is what the 18% gratuity is'.

This will not affect our decisions regarding eating at Disney, as we already tip 15-20% on the non-discounted bill. I do have some concerns that the automatic addition of the gratuity will contribute to server apathy. And we will, as others have stated, take the few minutes to notify the manager of any poor service recieved/request a gratuity adjustment if we feel that it is warranted.

 

[paulh]

what I posted on page 7

When a disney CM phoned me acouple of months ago regarding the 18% gratuity for next year i was told:-
1.if on the DDP/DDDP everyone from 1 person up will have to pay a 18% gratuity on the full value of the meal
2.if on the DDP and want an appitizer you will have to pay cash for it plus the added 18% gratuity
3.partys of 6 or more paying cash will have to pay an added 18% on the full price of meal
4.If using the DDE card an 18% gratuity will be added to the full bill before any discount aplyied
5.partys of 1 to 5 paying cash for a meal can tip what they want
This was in responce to an email i sent them regarding the removal off appitizer and tip from ddp next year
Looks to me they have changed number 5 to inline with rest
Guess we will be eating more ofsite rather than poor service TS onsite
Have yet to here if they are adding 18% to CS meals but thats a bit rich if they do
Paulh

The above was agread in contract renewals this august
Seams thay have canged number 5 to an auto 18% gratuity and on TS meals only and not CS meals.
So anyone eating at disney on any meal plan or paying cash will have to pay an 18% gratuity at TS meals if not already included
Paulh

 

[Tricia1972]

I may be reading this wrong, but the way I'm reading that brochure it says that when your purchase the DDP, the price of the gratuity is not included in the purchase price..........it doesn't say that you won't be presented with some type of statement/reciept at the end of the meal upon which you may leave a tip. It also doesn't say that whatever statement/reciept they give you can't say 'this is what the 18% gratuity is'.

This will not affect our decisions regarding eating at Disney, as we already tip 15-20% on the non-discounted bill. I do have some concerns that the automatic addition of the gratuity will contribute to server apathy. And we will, as others have stated, take the few minutes to notify the manager of any poor service recieved/request a gratuity adjustment if we feel that it is warranted.

I believe you're reading page 2 right. If you look at page 1 it states...

Gratuities are not included unless otherwise indicated. An 18% gratuity will be added automatically for parties of 6 or more. A gratuity may also be added automatically for ordered items that are not included in the Disney Dining Plan (e.g. alcoholic beverages).

I tend to believe the brochure more than the word of mouth of one CM, and something being "reportedly" so on Allearsnet.com

 

[aripantaloon]

Lets suppose its for everyone. How will they cash the money ? That would mean you must not give them your CC number ore what???

You beat me to the punch. I was just going to post this.

If (big IF) this does apply to everyone, if you are on the DDP and don't buy a single thing OOP (so your whole "bill" is covered by your credits), can you just not give them your credit card to bill it if you feel that poor service warranted a lower tip or you were at a buffet and believe that the staff doesn't deserve 18%?

I'm not trying to start a debate on the amount of tip that *should* be left in any situation; I'm just trying to understand how this tip bill will work out since it's not like you are not paying for what you ate.

 

[Nom]

I am among the many who usually leave 20%, so this will not effect me at all... except I do not hesitate to leave less when I have very poor service. Like last month at Ohana... it was the worst service I have ever ever had, and I left a very small tip as a result.

We are going to be on DDDP in April, so if I am presented with a check for 18% and had terrible service, I will just ask for the manager and ask to have is adjusted down to whatever I see as appropriate. I have a feeling if there are service issues, and you take that approach, you will not be forced to pay the 18%.

I find it annoying that we are all being forced to pay 18%, but in my experience most servers are pretty good. This blanket 18% will make up for those people who tip good servers terribly, be it due to ignorance or mean-spiritedness... and there are plenty of poor tippers out there. As for poor servers, I will just refuse to pay 18% and ask for the manager. I am sure that if you have a legitimate service issue, they will not force you to pay it.