DDE '08 confusion - tip not always included

[TangaroaTiki]

We knew about the changes to DDE before our long weekend at WDW. The 18% tip was automatically added - so we thought.

We dined at 4 TS restaurants in our three days there.

Yachtsman Steakhouse - 18% tip included
California Grill - 18% tip included
Restaurant Marrakesh - tip was not included (we tipped 20%)
Spoodles - tip was not included (we tipped 20%)

What gives? Any other DDE experiences like this?

 

[WDWRyan]

I thought tips were not included in the new version of the dining plan, except for large parties. Anyone know the specifics?

 

[photobob]

WDWRyan, you have the DDE and the DDP confused. The DDP is the Dining Plan and the DDE is the Disney Dining Experience card that is available to Florida resident and annual passholders that give a 20% discount at most table service restaurants..

 

[gardenia]

We were dining around the World with DDE the first week of January. We noticed the same inconsistency, and when I asked (at a place where the 18% did not show up), the waitress told me she has to push a button to add the 18% tip - it's not as "automatic" as it sounds - and she simply forgot to do it. The CMs have trouble keeping up with all the changes, too, and the computer doesn't automatically add it in. So if it doesn't show up, you can ask them to retabulate and push the 18% tip button.

 

[n2mm]

It's not unusual for them to forget. The DDE procedure is exactly how they do the CM discount for dinning. The thing to remember is to always check to make sure it is or isn't added so that your server is taken care of. This is new for the DDE card, so some CMs are just forgetting. With all of the new guidelines for the DDP, it's alot of new stuff to get use to.

 

[Brian Noble]

I wouldn't be surprised to see some of the better servers "forgetting" to push the button on a regular basis.

 

[trex220]

We are at WDW right now and, so far, we've had meals at 2 TS restaurants using the DDE. At both restaurants (Narcoossee and Garden Grill) the 18% gratuity was added on to the bill. At Narcoossee, the waiter explained the fact that the tip was now being included in your bill when using the DDE. At Garden Grill, the waiter said nothing about it.

We will be here until Sunday and have ADRs at Chef Mickey's, LTT, Le Cellier and Tusker House. I'll try to post again about our tipping experiences at those restaurants.

 

[puffkin]

We are also at WDW now and the DDE gratuity was NOT added to either of our bills (Spoodles and Beaches and Cream). It is written on the bill what the 18% and 20% amounts would be....but we have been able to choose any amount to put on the tip line. We have a few more ADR's this week so it will be interesting to see what happens......

 

[trex220]

We've dined at 4 restaurants in the last 2 days using the DDE card ( Garden Grill, Narcoosee's, Chef Mickey's and LTT) and the 18% tip has been included at all of them. When we were ready to pay in each restaurant, we were given a charge slip to sign and the itemized bill which showed our discount AND the 18% gratuity. The charge slip only shows the total and it does still include the line for adding a tip. I would imagine that is there in case you want to give more than the 18% tip. As I said in my earlier post, only the waiter at Narcoossee's mentioned the change in policy. Had he not made us aware of it and had we not looked at the itemized receipt, we very easily could have double tipped him (and all of the subsequent servers). My DH also pointed out that, at a couple of the restaurants, the discounted amount was circled but NOT the included gratuity. So, be careful and check your itemized bill before completing the charge slip.