DDP trickery and the 18% gratuity...

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MrInfinity

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Aug 23, 2012
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I was thinking more about the DDP and the pros and cons as we prepare for our trip in May. My calculations indicate we're about a break even so there's no point in buying it. (right? heh)

Then I got to thinking last night about all those free drinks and desserts you get, and the 18% gratuity.

So there you are at the restaurant, with your $25 entrée, your $4 drink, and you get the dessert menu and you're just stuffed... but, you've got a free dessert coming so what the heck we'll have the random expensive looking dessert for $10 that you'd never buy otherwise cuz it's $10 for a dessert but since it's included why not.

Now you get your bill.
$25 entrée
$4 soda
$10 dessert
$39 total

18% gratuity is $7.02.

Had you not ordered the dessert and soda, and got a $20 entrée instead (you were torn between two but you picked the other cuz it was more expensive), your total would be $20.

Your gratuity would be $3.60.

Just sayin. The free stuff you get on your plan adds in to your dollar total on the tip calc. So even tho you didn't want the $10 dessert, you took it anyways. This is something you would not otherwise have bought because you were stuffed yet Disney got you to pay for 2 months in advance, and then $1.80 more at the table. Nothing on the menu is free (prepaid), it is at a minimum, 18% of the listed price.

So if each person accumulates about $3.50 per meal in excessive tips due to your free bill being padded by things you might not buy if you were otherwise paying cash... times 4 ppl times 6 nights... that's $84 in additional tips for stuff you supposedly got free.

On a dining plan for that family that might have cost $1200, that's about 7% additional cost.

The DDP really is sneaky in how it draws hidden pennies out of your wallet while making you feel like you got the better deal. Disney marketing ppl are geniuses -- Have ppl pay up front, then give them whatever entrée they want, but then charge them 18% of the price again at the end.

Now you may travel in a party of 5 or less but we are 6. We call this the baby-tax, because for us to take our baby to the table costs us 18% of the meal.

And even in a party of 5 or less the calculation still applies, just on whatever % you happen to tip at. Probly still around 15-18% so it's not likely much different.

Even free is expensive on the DDP. Sadly, I'm still going to do more math and see if I can make it work for us. :)
 
I am closing this as it is discussion of WDW's gratuity policy as it relates to the dining plan.

On the main restaurant board, there is a sticky thread at:

http://www.www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2300858

All discussion of gratuities on the restaurant board is restricted to this thread. The first post explains why this has been done.
 
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