DDE Automatic 18% tip!

[jnadelman]

I just read on a different web site that Disney has officially announced (yesterday) the for ALL table service, no matter how many people are in your party, they will add an automatic 18% tip starting Jan 1, 2008.
That is not fair. We are already booked and already paid for the dinning plan. Sure we have to leave our own tip since it is no longer covered in the dinning plan, but we thought that was a plus. We were told that service was not so great for people before on the dining plan because the tip was automatic, the wait staff didn't put in much effort. So we liked the idea of no automatic tip, thinking we would get better service. No we find out that not only does the dinning plan not cover the tip, it will still be automatic at 18%. This is so unfair.
Has anyone else heard of this new automatic tip for everyone at every table service meal?
I might not fully understand the plan. I don't know if it applies to everyone, or just for people in the Disney Dinning Experience membership. It was in their newsletter, but was not clear if the tip was for everyone or just for them (since they get a discount)

 

[disphoto]

I hope not. But if it is true, people will get less money from me. I tip at least 20% for good service. I do not add anything to an automatic tip, unless something special is done for the table.

Where did you read this?

 

[ajleone]

The automatic 18% is for the DDE(Disney Dining Experience) which is different from the DDP(Disney Dining Plan). The DDP is doing an auto 18% on groups of 6 or more.

 

[jnadelman]

The automatic 18% is for the DDE(Disney Dining Experience) which is different from the DDP(Disney Dining Plan). The DDP is doing an auto 18% on groups of 6 or more.

I hope you are right. We will only be 4 people on the DDP, so then they won't add it. I never like automatic tips. A tip is something you give when you want to for good service. It should not be automatic.

 

[rosiep]

Beginning in January - 18% Gratuity....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I just received an email from the DDE team and at the bottom it states this:
We would also like to inform you that the Walt Disney World® Resort will be implementing an across property policy change regarding gratuity at all food and beverage locations. Effective January 1, 2008, 18% gratuity will be added to all transactions, regardless of party size. Thank you for your continued support.

Cheers!


The Disney Dining Experience Team


I am not clear if it's if you are using your DDE card or not.
__________________

 

[Teacher510]

Maybe I'm not thinking this through but if they're adding it in and you're on the DDP would it then be covered by a TS credit? It seems odd that they would add it in and then ask for the cash. Again, maybe I'm missing something.

 

[disphoto]

will be implementing an across property policy change regarding gratuity at all food and beverage locations. Effective January 1, 2008, 18% gratuity will be added to all transactions, regardless of party size.

This implies counter service will have an 18% 'tip'. I am waiting for a more thorough explanation from Disney, but I hope this isn't true.

 

[disnut8]

This actually makes some sense for the Dining Experience Card. Since you get a discount using the card, some people could forget about the discount when they receive the bill and then tip on the lower amount. To tone down the flames, I am not saying everyone using the Dining Experience Card does this or whether or not 18% is fair or whatever. This is just a post pointing out a reason why this could be going into effect.

 

[Got Quattro?]

I hope not. But if it is true, people will get less money from me. I tip at least 20% for good service. I do not add anything to an automatic tip, unless something special is done for the table.

Where did you read this?

That's just insane.

They start at 10% with me when i walk in the door. The server then works their way up, or down, depending on the level of service they give.

TIPS = to insure propper service.

If a server knows they will get 18% right of the bat, why should the go above and byond.

And people who give 20-25% because they use to be in food service and feal bad for the servers just make the problem worse.

 

[flipflop]

I really hope this doesn't apply to counter service.

 

[jberry5]

Well, I guess this will be a cost savings to our group if we do end up doing the DDP in '08. We'll be a group of 6-8. DW and I almost always tip between 20-25% or so. But, when I have a tip added automatically, I absolutely do not tip any extra. I feel if they are going to force me into that %, regardless of service, that's what they're going to get regardless of the quality of service. If I were a waiter, I'd want my tips to be based on my service, not a pre-determind amount.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

FYI: People who call the DDE phone number are being told that the 18% gratuity will apply to ALL guests, even if they don't use DDE. And it will apply only to TS restaurants. The gratuity will not be added at CS restaurants.

Edit: One other note--The 18% gratuity will be calculated from the pre-discount total.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

A question for clarity, if I may... This policy does not include anythind DDE and possibly DDP, right? If I make a single out-of-the-blue ADR I won't have an automatic 18% added for my family of four, correct?

I typically tip more than 18%, but I am very much not a fan of the automoatic tip in any situation!

 

[jordancej]

Ok, so is this what i'm getting.... they are going to also put the automatic on the DDP, and for the 2008 DDP, gratutity is not included in the plan anymore, so that means we have to have cash on hand to pay for the auto 18%. Is that correct???

 

[dopeyfanatic]

The way this is worded, and the way I've heard for months they were going to do it, is that ALL TS places will have an automatic tip added on. It won't matter how you pay, or how many in your party. It could change to only parties over 6, but as of right now all TS meals have tip added on automatically. If you are on DDP, you will have to pay that OOP since the DDP no longer includes tip (starting January I believe). So if you make a random ADR for your family at a TS, then you'll still have to pay this tip. I don't agree with it at all. I have been to far too many places where the person did not deserve that large of a tip, yet I've been to places where they deserved more. If I'm being forced to pay an amount, I won't go over it. I also don't agree with it being 18%, I think that's high. But that's me.

 

[ntsammy5]

FYI: People who call the DDE phone number are being told that the 18% gratuity will apply to ALL guests, even if they don't use DDE. And it will apply only to TS restaurants. The gratuity will not be added at CS restaurants.

This makes sense.

 

[jess20k]

Well, if this is true, then our Jan trip will be the last time that we purchase the DDP, and in future trips we will only eat CS at Disney, and eat at nice places off site. I do not agree with tips being added on automatically on smaller parties....if that is the case then the server could be just as lousy as they want. It just does not make sense. But, anything for a $$$$..They take the gratuity and appetizers off the DDP, only lower it by one buck and then they now want to automatically add the 18% gratuity???? Well, the DDP will be a thing of the past for us then.

If a server is terrific, then fine...but that will not be the case all of the time as we all know, and when it isn't I think 18% is too high!

 

[AmyBWV99]

Would this include drinks at a bar, I wonder? Like the R&C? I generally tip 20% for good service, but I don't if alcohol is a significant portion of the bill. For example, last trip we went to Artist Point and were 'talked into' an $80 bottle of wine. No way am I tipping $16 to have a bottle corked and set at my table. As we were on DDP, it was easy to tip less for the alcohol.

 

[GalDisney]

So, if i go by myself to The Mk and decide to have lunch at The plaza restaurant, there will be an automatic 18 percent gratuitiy added to my bill? What purpose does adding a gratuity onto the bill serve? Adding agratuity sounds to like Disney cares if their servers receive a tip or not, why would they care? (just playing devils advocate)

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

I was reading at another site that it looks like ALL TS meals will have the 18%gratuity added. I usually tip more than that (25% is not unheard of), but I would never even consider going over the 18%. What a rip-off!

Now good, competent CMs will be getting less in tips, and all of us will likely experience a drop-off in quality of service. Great. Just what WDW needs... worse service