Dining Plan/Gratuity?

[*KeepMovingForward*]

We have been using the DDP for our last few Disney vacations. While we've gotten used to the way the credits work, one thing we can't seem to get used to is that the gratuity for table service restaurants is supposed to be included with the plan. Does anyone else still feel the need to leave their normal tip to the waiter/waitress anyway? I just can't help feeling like the wait staff gets cheated somehow if I don't. Am I alone in this thought?

 

[Ariel8676]

I don't think they get cheated.. i believe they add on 18% for their tip.
If we have VERY good service, we will give them a few extra dollars, but not the normal amount we would leave (20%)..literally a few dollars..lol.

 

[all4fun]

I don't think they are getting cheated unless you don't tip for things that aren't covered by DDP (ie alcoholic beverages)

 

[lynninpa]

In 2005 and in 2006, we were on the DP. I never felt that the servers were being "cheated" in any way. However, we always tipped "extra" at every TS due to the fact that we had excellent service (except for Cap' N' Jacks, but that's another post)

 

[juligrl]

So wait a minute, would it be bad of me to not leave an additional tip even though they're already getting 18% just cause I've gone through DDP?

 

[Ariel8676]

NO way..like i said we will leave an few extra dollars if we have exceptional service...like if the server did something extra special for our girls, or was REALLY good..otherwise 18% is a good tip...

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

I didn't know that Disney gave their servers 18% of the tab for a gratuity. I guess I just worry a bit too much. I know when I waitressed and you got large groups where the restaurant automatically added the gratuity, the wait staff often got less $ than they normally would have if the customer had the opportunity to tip on their own. That is kind of what I meant by feeling like the servers are getting cheated. I'm a chronic over tipper, so I'll probably still leave extra $, but just not as much. We always take into account any extras or alcohol that is added to the tab too...so that wasn't really a concern.

 

[lynninpa]

So wait a minute, would it be bad of me to not leave an additional tip even though they're already getting 18% just cause I've gone through DDP?

No. 18% is a decent tip. On our last trip, the server's 18% at Le Cellier was $72. For us, giving extra was just a personal thank you to the servers for what I noted above as excellent service. Just our humble opinion!

 

[drivencrazy]

We usually tip at least 20% or more.... so we have talked about when we go to Disney we will carry cash to tip more than the 18% if the service is good! I think I read somewhere on here that the wait staff have to wait to get the $$ from the DDP. They get a check once a week or something? So it might make their night to get a few $$ in hand!

a little OT here, but a couple weekends ago we went out and there was a total of 12 of us..... they added the tip at only 15% and we wanted to give more $$$ and have it put on our debit card...........the person taking the $ wouldn't let us! She said that the tip is in there already and she couldn't add more.......... so we had to dish out the cash (which was fine on our part, but we would have rather put it on the card (debit, not credit). Just thought that was a bit weird.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

a little OT here, but a couple weekends ago we went out and there was a total of 12 of us..... they added the tip at only 15% and we wanted to give more $$$ and have it put on our debit card...........the person taking the $ wouldn't let us! She said that the tip is in there already and she couldn't add more.......... so we had to dish out the cash (which was fine on our part, but we would have rather put it on the card (debit, not credit). Just thought that was a bit weird.

If you ever go to a restaurant (not just in Disney) and you use a credit card (or debit card) for the meal and then add the tip onto the card, the server won't see that tip for quite some time (a week would have been a miracle when I used to waitress-more like several weeks ). That is why if we ever use credit or debit cards for our meals out, we still tip in cash.

 

[GreatLakes5]

We were on the DDP and I believe tipped additional cash twice out of 10 TS meals - both because of exemplary service. And I'm not sure we really did math to figure out a %, just left some $.

Personally, we felt we were fine without additional tipping when service was as it should be - not outstanding, but just fine.

 

[nbodyhome]

The dining plan has been VERY good to servers. I was talking to a Crystal Palace server last year, and it seems a lot of guests may not realize that they do get that 18%. He makes a fair bit more than my computer tech husband does, and that is from what he told me he claimed.

The dining plan keeps restaurants full, it makes the tab higher (who might have ordered the chicken and instead ordered the steak - plus appetizers and desserts, etc.?) 18% is a great tip, and sometimes they get double that when a guest doesn't realize. (I remember when I was a server, MANY years ago, and guests had an Entertainment coupon - we received an automatic gratuity, and guests didn't always realize it. So that was very pleasant at times!)