Beginning in January - 18% Gratuity....

[avic77]

I tip and usually tip rather well. But like PP have stated I do not like being told i HAVE TO tip xxx amount. If this turns out to effect DDP as well. I will drop DDP and i will move off site. We will eat mainly off site. Disney will end up having alot of people who will do the same as I will. And in the end loose alot of business. Yes we will still go to Disney this year... cant tell the kids I changed my mind now but future trips will probably be up the road from Disney if Disney keeps this up.
If they wanted to increase menu prices and pay the wait staff more that would be more acceptable IMO. Dont call it a gratuity cuase it isnt...maybe a Privileged dining fee?

 

[thunderbird1]

A tip is something a server should EARN via good service - it should NEVER be automatic !!!

Except when it is. Like room service. Not just at WDW--hotels everywhere often add a 15%+ "service charge" when you order room service. Dh has asked many different room service servers whether the "service charge" is a tip that goes to them, and he has always been told yes.

Of course, there's still an extra line to add an additional gratuity, if you're feeling generous or had exceptional service or just don't bother to read your receipt before you sign it.

 

[OhMari]

I had excellent service at every TS resturant and I always tipped more.

I don't want to start a debate here, but I wish resturants would pay their staff proper wages and then we wouldn't have the whole debauchery called tipping. Tipping should be something that is a bonus. Our resturant industry gets off cheap not paying their wait staff and expecting them to make living with low pay and expect them to make up for the lack of pay with tips.

Where I live, waitresses get $3.00 an hour and are told, that tips will get them to at least minimum wage an hour. This is so wrong.

 

[ElizabethB]

I predict it will be across the board for everyone dining at any table service locations. It's hard for me to believe an e-mail goes out from Disney that isn't reviewed by at least five levels of management before it goes out. The e-mail I received said nothing about this being limited to DDE participants.

Everyone keeps citing the 2008 DDP brochure, which apparently says automatic gratuity will only apply to parties of 6 or more. But, companies ALWAYS reserve the right to change such provisions. I can't imagine WDW didn't reserve the right to change the DDP in any way they'd like at any time they'd like.

 

[VirginiaMom]

18% tip at a buffet sounds like a lot to me. I generally tip 20% at regular restaurants, but if I'm at a buffet and I'm getting my own plates and food, I don't tip as much.

Since all but 2 of my TS are buffets, I may end up rethinking the DDP. One of my non-buffets is Ohana... I had awful service last year but we were going again because I loved the dessert.

 

[Sammie]

According to Disney...this is not true

Depends on who you talk to, go higher than those answering the phones at DDE and Guest Relations.

But time will tell.

 

[mickeysgirl17]

I find this new policy to be outrageous. What is to keep a server from offering bad service if they are going to be tipped 18% tip regardless?

I was already upset when disney removed tips from the regular dining plan, now I am extremely upset that they are forcing us to pay 18% gratituity regardless of the service we are provided.

I recently booked a deluxe dining package for next year. We planned to visit over 20 dining locations over the course of our 10 night stay but I am now reconsidereing because I don't feel that I should pay a server a 18% tip for poor service.

I have no problem paying if I receive excellent top notch service, but I will have a problem paying the tip if I don't feel the server deserves it. Maybe I will just downgrade to a regular magic your way package instead.

 

[mickeysgirl17]

I think it is outrageous and I think Disney will see a decrease in guests at restaurant locations. I for one, have no intention of paying a 18% gratituity if I don't feel as though the server deserved a 18% gratituity.

 

[Sammie]

The e-mail I received said nothing about this being limited to DDE participants.

it did not have to, it was "only" sent to DDE particpants. If you only email an announcement to a certain group it only affects that group. Unless that group takes it upon themselves to share it those not affected, then the confusion begins.

This is beginning to be just like the discussion of child credits, I got blasted for saying it would change, and it did.

So I am not aruging the point anymore. Time will tell. Unless Disney upper management, I mean get up in the Vice President levels, changes thier mind yet again, then as of today the policy only affects DDE and those with 6 or more in their group.

I am sure it will take a while for the info to trickle down to the masses. It always does. And even when it does, some CM will still have it wrong.

 

[BoomNLeon]

It really doesn't matter for the most part. The only time I see it to be an issue is when the service is wretched, but that is strictly my opinion. We have been lucky to have good service at each dining experience. From what I have understood from the DDE line, this 18% is for DDE use only at TS locations.

 

[OrlandoMike]

So I am not aruging the point anymore. Time will tell. Unless Disney upper management, I mean get up in the Vice President levels, changes thier mind yet again, then as of today the policy only affects DDE and those with 6 or more in their group.

I am sure it will take a while for the info to trickle down to the masses. It always does. And even when it does, some CM will still have it wrong.

Even Disney upper management cant really do anything about this on their own. This was all hammered out with the new STUC (Union) contact back in July.

 

[Colleen27]

Thinking about this in light of our plans... Does anyone know what Disney's policy has been in the past re: automatic gratuity and wine by the bottle? Customarily, you don't extend the full 20% tip to include expensive wines, and I'm wondering how Disney has handled this in the past for the groups that are subject to an automatic gratuity. Will the server be getting a extra $20 tip just for bringing my $100+ bottle of wine to the table?

 

[Sammie]

Even Disney upper management cant really do anything about this on their own. This was all hammered out with the new STUC (Union) contact back in July.

Exactly, however Disney upper management at this point seems to be the only ones that knows exactly what was agreed upon in the contract.

 

[Sammie]

My concern is that it says ALL food and beverage transactions - do you think they are going to try and wap us with this at counter service establishments as well???

No only full service when using the DDE card or parties of 6 or more.

 

[raidermatt]

If the policy is only for DDE (which I use), I am fine with it. Too many people short their tip, either intentionally or not, when using a discount card.

If it's an across the board change, and I don't think it is, but if it is, then it's a bad change period.

 

[mikki.young]

I have heard what has been said about the service tip. If it is just DDE then I have to ask why add it to DDE when it was removed from DDP because of poor service. If it is all TS areas then they have lied to DDP users about why it was removed from being included.

If it is always automatically included then either service levels will fall or complaint levels will rise or both!

 

[nbodyhome]

Even Disney upper management cant really do anything about this on their own. This was all hammered out with the new STUC (Union) contact back in July.

Doesn't it seem odd that they would mention gratuities on groups of 6 or more, if they were going to turn around and charge everyone 18%? I don't believe it's going to be across-the-board. This was discussed earlier this year, and DDE was singled out as having an 18% gratuity, and the 6 or more was mentioned as well.

 

[Sammie]

I have heard what has been said about the service tip. If it is just DDE then I have to ask why add it to DDE when it was removed from DDP because of poor service. If it is all TS areas then they have lied to DDP users about why it was removed from being included.

If it is always automatically included then either service levels will fall or complaint levels will rise or both!

I don't think Disney Dining or Food and Beverage ever made an official statement the tip was removed from the DDP due to bad service. I never had bad service using the DDP. Where did you read this official announcement?

 

[Mickey Fliers]

The Big Deal ... A tip is earned by the server based on their level of service to the customer. The word GRATUITY reflects the customer's GRATITUDE to the server for the way they have treated those that they served. A tip should never be expected. This will lead to a decline in the level of service. "It doesn't matter because I'm getting a tip no matter what I do!!!!"

Yes I intend to tip. Those that deserve a little extra will certainly get it. Bad service, bad attitude, bad food = bad tip!

I understand that. My question is...what does that have to do with the DDP? People are posting that they will cancel the DDP if this automatic gratuity comes to fruition. I am just trying to figure out why it matters if you are on the DDP or not? If you intend on eating TS meals (DDP, DDE or cash), this gratuity change affects you the same?!?!?

 

[halld6479]

I remember the days visiting Disney I could not afford to eat at more then counter service meals, then the food programs came along and I guess we all started feeling me could afford to eat at nice set down places and now we see it almost impossible to just stop by and do a set down meal, it would seem to me Disney is taking a chance that people won't care if they have to budget an addition $100 or so for tips. Most the places we eat at are buffets and I find it very hard to accept being charged $18 or so $ for a tip of maybe leaving me a glass of tea if you even get that offered to you. I am thinking we are going to have to go back to counter service meals. I can't help but wonder if this will drive people off site to eat or maybe back to just counter service meals.