Beginning in January - 18% Gratuity....

[Pumbaa_]

There were multiple posts regarding the DDE email regarding tipping. The posts are being combined into one post, so if some things seem repetitive or out of order, they might be!

 

[NMW]

I voted for don't care. We are a party of 5 and do packages through the WDW travel company, so we are not AP holders and don't have the DDE card. So, it doesn't effect us one way or another. I don't think it's outrageous to charge an automatic 18% gratuity. I really wouldn't care if Disney did it for everyone dining at their TS restaurants, no matter what their party size is.

 

[LindaBabe]

I want to choose what I tip based on the service I get. I'm a very generous tipper, but I don't reward poor service with a big tip. Period. And if I GET poor service, I *WILL* be speaking with a manager to have the gratuity reduced.

 

[Pumbaa_]

I just finished reading all the posts, wow, you guys have been busy all night!

When I received my email, I was sure too that it involved only the DDE using guests. After reading all the differing comments and posts quoting other sites and areas, I am not so sure any more.

Here is a quote from mod DisneyKevin
(post#7)

This new 18% gratuity will be across the board. It will be added to each and every check at all Disney restuarants regardless of party size or whether you are using a DDE card or not.

This will not include counter service restaurants or carts.

This information comes directly from the folks at the Disney Dining Experience and Guest Relations.

(post #11)

According to Disney, everyone that dines at a table service restuarant will be paying an 18% gratuity regardless of party size.

If this policy goes through (we have all seen Disney re-think some BAD ideas) then I feel this is also going to make for some DEMANDING customers.

I expect to tip good service and always do..…but if I am being forced to tip ALL service good or bad….then I am going to expect EXCELLENT service each and every time and will be very vocal when I receive less than the service level I am being forced to reward.

This is no longer a tip or a gratuity…it is now a service charge and should be called exactly what it is.

Should make for an interesting '08, that's for sure!

We do have the DDE, and also usually tip 20% or more. So it is not the amount they are adding on, it is hte fact that it is 'mandatory' that bothers me. We will finally be exploring offsite dining, something we have never done in the 30+ trips we have taken over the past 10 years.

I was willing to pay inflated prices, I was willing to call in 6 months before I left, but this one bothers me more than all the others.

 

[bicker]

I remember when 10% was considered standard. Then it became 15%. Now it is headed toward 20%.

When did it "become 15%"? Think of the first date you paid a 15% gratuity. For me, I remember doing so at least as far back as 1974 (and I had never paid 10%, so clearly, as child paying a gratuity, I surely would NOT have been cutting-edge, but rather would have been paying a gratuity out of my allowance, and therefore trying to keep the total amount low).

I'm not sure how much older you are than I am.... or perhaps you're not... My wife remembers paying 10% in the early 1970s -- in the hills of East Tennessee. I grew up in New York, where I believe the standard has been 15% for over 30 years. Orlando is a big city, on par with New York in terms of gratuities.

Also, I don't agree that the standard increased to 18% -- the standard is still 15% -- Disney is just deciding to charge 18%. However, even if the standard does increase to 15%, a 3% increase over 30 years projects out quite far before we hit some of the numbers mentioned earlier. Quite far.

I think there is another aspect to this: There is a trade-off between menu price and standard gratuity. People like seeing low prices, even if the total cost is higher, so that bit of human nature is prompting the industry to push the standard gratuity higher, so that they don't have to increase hourly wages for wait staff, and thereby reflect that in the menu prices.

 

[bicker]

I would prefer to not have the gratuity be automatic, but in many venues it has become apparent that too many customers can no longer be relied on to proivde fair and appropriate compensation for service. The poor conduct of the few yet again have adverse impact on the rest. Many cruise lines now do it, forcing passengers to argue the point with the pursar if they want to reduce the gratuity in response to perceived lack of service, and now we see a major vacation destination doing it. It's a natural progression.

 

[NMW]

I want to choose what I tip based on the service I get. I'm a very generous tipper, but I don't reward poor service with a big tip. Period. And if I GET poor service, I *WILL* be speaking with a manager to have the gratuity reduced.

I'm sure there is a way to get an automatic tip removed from your bill if you use the DDE card or are a party of 6, and get bad service. I wouldn't worry about that.

 

[Bete]

Disney is a leader in the industry of entertainment (which to me includes dining) and they could start a precendant here that would get other restaurant places not Disney to do the same thing across the country. I think this is even more serious then we all realize right now. With the economy going downward I could see this being critical to the restaurant business in general.

For now, I would start making choices to do more counter service at Disney, and if you have to go table service then try lunches which will make the tip cheaper. I think it's a great time to start thinking about eating outside of Disney or bringing groceries, etc. and cutting back even more that way. Of course, without a car this is harder. I would go as far as to take a Disney bus to Downtown Disney and try some of the non-Disney hotels on that strip where tip would not be automatic, right now. There are plenty of table service restaurants in those resorts. You can walk to those places; it's not too bad.

Also, I knew from day one Disney expects their guests to tip buffet servers the same; because, they don't get paid any better from the rest of the table servers.

I'm so excited to have decided to go on a last minute December trip with the old dining plan. I feel like I got a bonus before I even leave the house. It will be at least three years before I even think about returning there. If it gets out of hand with all these new pricing policies (firework cruises, resort and now restaurant) I'll simply do other vacations.

You can only do one thing and that's not give in. You need to quit table service in 2008. Disney will change their minds if their table service restaurants are empty. Money talks; we all know that aspect of life.

 

[nbodyhome]

If the tip added on IS across-the-board (I still can't imagine it is, but we'll see), I would eat less TS at Disney. Not that I do a lot of TS anyway, but the only way I'd find a forced gratuity appropriate is if it was on a discounted meal or the groups. There are good reasons for a tip being on DDE, and for larger parties.

I wish Disney had just raised the price of the DDP to include tips and the appetizer. That way, the servers would have been taken care of and it would have not been a surprise to guests to get a bill for the tip.

 

[CanadianGuy]

I want to preface this message with the fact that I am NOT a moderator on the restaurants board... and this information comes MY sources at Food & Beverage inside WDW....
-------
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS NOT FROM DIS ADMIN NOR IS IT FROM THE PARENT SITE ... WDWINFO.COM. THIS INFO COMES FROM MY OWN PERSONAL CONTACTS IN WDW FOOD & BEVERAGE.

The information I'm getting from my Food & Beverage contacts has stressed this is FOR DDE CUSTOMERS AND PARTIES OF 6 OR MORE ONLY

According to my sources -- which may or may not be 100% correct, but I'm betting they are, cuz in 18 months they've never been wrong & they usually know this stuff --

This is for DDE customers and parties of six of more... ONLY

And does not affect DDP or credit/cash customers with no discount.

More news as events warrant. Film at 11.

Knox

 

[bicker]

Disney is a leader in the industry of entertainment (which to me includes dining) and they could start a precendent here that would get other restaurant places not Disney to do the same thing across the country.

While I agree that many vacation destinations would follow, specifically, Disney's lead, I don't think we can say that Disney is setting the precedent. They're following the lead of others in the hospitality and tourism industry.

You can only do one thing and that's not give in. You need to quit table service in 2008. Disney will change their minds if their table service restaurants are empty. Money talks; we all know that aspect of life.

While it is true that money talks, I doubt you'll get many takers for your crusade. For most people, this represents no more than a marginal change. We would almost surely have tipped anyway, and almost surely would have tipped somewhere close to 18%. It just isn't a big enough change to get upset about IMHO.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I guess I just don't like the DDE card holders being singled out. DDP is also a discount

Once again - the mandatory service charge - because, honestly, if it's mandatory it's NOT a tip - was part of the contract negotiations between Disney and the union, reportedly (there's that word again ) because many (not most, but enough) DDE members base the tip on the discounted check. Informed restaurant patrons in the U.S. generally know that the tip should be calculated on the check before any discounts. Some don't know, some don't care.
On the other hand, in 2008, the DDP may or may not be a discount - given that the value has decreased. The actual food has been prepaid - vs. a discount card purchased - making changes to either or programs entirely discrete*. Disney has already published that DDP users are responsible for the tip - they can't then set a required percentage. And surprisingly, there are many Disney Guests who are neither on ANY dining plan package or DDE members - if this WERE a true across-the-board change, as opposed to a DDE across-the-board change, how would you propose Disney inform each of its approximately sixteen million visitors next year - especially the 'sudden', spur-of-the-moment, or single-day Guests?

but there are those that I think abuse both the DDP and DDE system which HAS been mentioned several time quoting people who have made "smart" comments in the past about "getting out of" tipping good for reasons of just being sure they get the cheapest deal out of it.

That MAY be true of SOME DDE members, but it would be IMPOSSIBLE for DDP (or any other recent or existing dining plan) because the tip was/is included in the purchase price of the Plan and the Guest had/has NO control over it; i.e. NO dining plan Guest can "get out of" tipping for ANY reason because no dining plan Guest is paying any tip. Disney is - and yes, I'm aware that changes in 2008.
*spelling and usage correct

I want to choose what I tip based on the service I get.

And you can - simply (a) do not use a DDE discount for your meals and/or (b) do not dine with more than four other people. Disney has now publicly released the information that these two groups will incur an automatic 18% "tip" added to the check.

I'm not sure how much older you are than I am.... or perhaps you're not... My wife remembers paying 10% in the early 1970s -- in the hills of East Tennessee. I grew up in New York, where I believe the standard has been 10% for over 30 years.

What? You didn't grow up here? Anyway, I've got a few years on bicker, and while we never ate out much when we were kids, my parents ALWAYS tipped 15%. We only went to places like IHOP, but I was younger than ten - this was as early as the mid __s (a lady never reveals her age); oh, and I think bicker meant to type "... standard has been 15% for..." ).
I do disagree with the technicality of 18% now being standard; I believe that was Disney's % choice - I think they averaged 15% and 20%, and then (of course) rounded up because that's what you do when the decimal is five or higher.

 

[bicker]

This is for DDE customers and parties of six of more... ONLY

So that would make it consistent with what we've known for months.

And people wonder how rumors get started!

 

[CanadianGuy]

So that would make it consistent with what we've known for months.

And people wonder how rumors get started!

Yup!

 

[bicker]

Once again - the mandatory service charge - because, honestly, if it's mandatory it's NOT a tip

They can call it whatever they want. The word "tip" is non-regulated.

What? You didn't grow up here? Anyway, I've got a few years on bicker, and while we never ate out much when we were kids, my parents ALWAYS tipped 15%. We only went to places like IHOP, but I was younger than ten - this was as early as the mid __s (a lady never reveals her age); oh, and I think bicker meant to type "... standard has been 15% for..." .

Yes you're correct... I fixed my message... Sorry for the confusion.

I do disagree with the technicality of 18% now being standard

Yes you're correct again. 18% is not standard. The standard is 15%. Disney is charging 18%, which is 3% more than standard.

 

[nbodyhome]

I want to preface this message with the fact that I am NOT a moderator on the restaurants board... and this information comes MY sources at Food & Beverage inside WDW....
-------
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS NOT FROM DIS ADMIN NOR IS IT FROM THE PARENT SITE ... WDWINFO.COM. THIS INFO COMES FROM MY OWN PERSONAL CONTACTS IN WDW FOOD & BEVERAGE.

The information I'm getting from my Food & Beverage contacts has stressed this is FOR DDE CUSTOMERS AND PARTIES OF 6 OR MORE ONLY

According to my sources -- which may or may not be 100% correct, but I'm betting they are, cuz in 18 months they've never been wrong & they usually know this stuff --

This is for DDE customers and parties of six of more... ONLY

And does not affect DDP or credit/cash customers with no discount.

More news as events warrant. Film at 11.

Knox

This is what I believed to be the case, we discussed this back in May around the time of the union vote.

(Thanks!)

I was told this by someone who asked guest services as well. It wouldn't have made sense for them to vote on groups (6 instead of 8) if Disney was going to implement this across the board. If it is only DDE and groups (I still believe it is), then DDE sending that message out definitely caused a lot of issues!

On the other hand, someone who I know who usually has VERY good info said it IS across-the-board. It just doesn't seem logical to me. I didn't vote in the poll because I don't know what the exact outcome is, I just believe it's DDE/groups of 6 only.

Denise

 

[Tricia1972]

It's nice to hear so many voices of reason.

I agree completely with the past posts regarding this change being for DDE only.

The 'standard' tip is 15% and Disney has adopted their own standard for Disney Only.

Even though it's a change for DDE only and even though they're being 'forced' to tip a certain percentage, the DDE retains its value. Tipping 18% and then receiving a 20% discount is still a 2% savings, and for me (personally) it equals the savings I anticipated. I always tipped 18% and when doing my DDE calculations (as to the value of the card) I added an 18% tip into all of my TS dinners.

For me this is no change, so the change doesn't bother me at all. If service is horrendous, which has only happened once for me at Disney, I will talk to a manager.

 

[CanadianGuy]

I was told this by someone who asked guest services as well. It wouldn't have made sense for them to vote on groups (6 instead of 8) if Disney was going to implement this across the board. If it is only DDE and groups (I still believe it is), then DDE sending that message out definitely caused a lot of issues!

On the other hand, someone who I know who usually has VERY good info said it IS across-the-board.

Hey Denise! We agree! I don't see the point of the 6 or more language either. AND If its everybody, why announce it in a DDE email? Worst place in the world to announce a universal change for all guests. Altho, I'm sure there are examples in the past that were handled just as poorly..

Very reliable sources have been hard to come by on this one and as I noted in my post, my sources might be wrong.. But they all agreed on this one... so if they're wrong - they're ALL wrong.

Knox

 

[disneynutz]

I would prefer to not have the gratuity be automatic, but in many venues it has become apparent that too many customers can no longer be relied on to proivde fair and appropriate compensation for service. The poor conduct of the few yet again have adverse impact on the rest. Many cruise lines now do it, forcing passengers to argue the point with the pursar if they want to reduce the gratuity in response to perceived lack of service, and now we see a major vacation destination doing it. It's a natural progression.

Since when did the tip become required? Looks like Disney, the Union, and the general public has decided that all servers get 18%-20% as fair and appropriate compensation for service. I'm sorry but automatically paying someone to take my order, bring me the food that I payed too much for, and taking back their dirty dishes is included in the cost of doing business.

I see things different than most. bicker posts, "The poor conduct of the few yet again have adverse impact on the rest".

I agree, but from a different prospective. Paying a food service person a automatic tip is poor conduct and the adverse impact is that everyone expects it.

 

[chrismb22]

I think a lot of major resort towns do this. I remember vacationing at a few places and seeing "service charge" automatically added (and this was a party of 2). I distinctly remember because we didn't notice it until 1/2 way through the vacation. I like it, it makes my life easier LOL (that's why I liked it when it was part of the dining plan). I guess, since we're doing the dining plan, they will just charge the tip to our room? I was going to carry cash just for tips but now I don't even have to do that WOO HOO!!!