Dining Plan question ... 6 people, one aged 7mos, = 18% gratuity???

[ntz4disney]

Not sure if this is the right spot but here goes ... A friend of ours just returned from a weeks stay at Disney and used the dining plan. Here are the family dynamics, they were a party of 6, 3 adults, child aged 14 and child aged 3 along with an infant 7mos old who was obviously NOT on the dining plan! Every time they sat down for table service restaurants they were automatically counted as a party of 6 regardless of the 7mo infant and the server added the 18% gratuity for a large party! He was angry because there were only 5 people eatting and on the dining plan but because they had 6 people at a table they are automatically considered a party of 6 therefore the 18% gratuity went into effect???

Has anyone else ever experienced this? He is really upset that he was charged that gratuity automatically. He was told that 6 people = 18% gratuity by the server. He has all of his receipts and he was planning to send a letter to someone at Disney regarding this. So I mentioned the DIS boards and said I would see if other people have encountered this same situation and what they did about it.

Anyone in the same boat as this friend of ours??? They have used the dining plan before but it was not an issue since this trip is the first one with the baby .

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

He was sitting at a table for 6 right? I understand that the baby didn't pay anything to be there but they were still at a table for 6, so for the sake of ease my guess is the server just puts the tip on all six tops.
He wasn't charged for the infant right? The 18% tip was based on what was ordered, not adding a charge for the baby. What sort of tip was he going to leave? If he recieved poor service I can see the complaint, but if the service was good and deserved an average(for Disney anyway)tip then I really don't see a problem.

 

[Cass]

Why didn't your friend complain about it there? Did he say anything, talk to a manager for an explanation?

 

[ElizabethB]

I think the automatic gratuity should only apply where 6 people are eating. Had he spoken with a manager, it would likely have been adjusted. No doubt, CM's are looking for any excuse to ensure their 18% now that tips are not included in DDP.

Having said all that, 18% is a standard tip in the restaurant industry these days, except perhaps at buffets, so unless the service was substandard, what really is the problem?

 

[ntz4disney]

He said he normally tips 20% at restaurants if the service was worth it. He was not complaining about the service at all but he questioned why they just automatically charged him the 18% ? He inquired at 2 different places and was told that because he was a seated party of 6, even though the baby was not eatting, they charge the 18% for the large party. She was seated in a high chair at the table, and obviously was not ordering off the menu. He was just wondering if it was because of the party size even though not all were eatting. He said he would have given atleast that much as a tip, but was questioning the policy about what constitutes a "large party"

 

[DisneyCatMom]

18% is automatically added if a table for 6 people is needed. If he wished to pay less, he could have taken it up with a manager and not had any problems.

 

[faindrops27]

Party of 6. = Automatic 18%. No matter if there is a 7 month old, or a 10 year old. That is how Disney counts it. Is it fair, not in my view. But, those are the rules.

 

[mom2my3kids]

Yep those are the rules, but hey they probably would of tipped that anyway for the good service.We are going to be a party of 6 in October, being a server myself I won't complain unless I have the most horrible service possible.

 

[Tinker*Shell*Bell]

I was told when I made my ADR's that we would get the automatic gratuity added even though my daughter is under 3 and does not count on the DDP. She is eating (under 3 free style), and I guess I understand the need to add tips, I just wish that it was not automatically added...especially for the buffets.
That is a different issue though. Your friend should have been told about it not being about how many are eating but about the number of people at the table.
Sorry they were surprised by it.
Sheli

 

[ntz4disney]

I appreciate all the feedback. Like he has said, he would have tipped that much if not more anyway, but he was caught off guard when they counted his 7mo making them a table for 6. Anywhere else, it would have been 5 and a highchair and not counted. He's not bitter at all, he is already planning his return trip in the fall and plans on doing the dining plan again, next time he will know what to expect

 

[disnut8]

I guess I'm not sure of the problem. He was charged 18% gratuity on the food that was eaten. So that would have been for five people. If the baby sat there and didn't order anything, then the price of the meal didn't go up at all. So five people order $20 dinners. That's $100. Gratuity would be $18. If the baby is not ordering anything, the bill would still be $100 and the gratuity would still be $18. But, the server would have had to acknowledge the baby and someone would have had to clean up after the party left. Babies aren't exactly the cleanest people in a restaurant unless they are sitting there and doing nothing.

Maybe the guy didn't want to tip 18%? He's just opposed to being charged that automatically? Would he have tipped less than what he was charged?

I dunno - it may be me but this seems like making a mountain out of a molehill.

 

[Island Mouse]

6 at the table sounds like a party of 6 to me. He should have spoken to a manager about it while there and gotten an explanation. I really don't see this as being an issue, though since he usually tips more than 18% anyways. If all he wanted was an explanation, he should have asked at the restaurant.

 

[lauraf]

We are in the same boat with a baby, but I like it, that way I don't have to figure out the tip myself.

 

[i3utterfli82]

I don't think it should be a big deal. I mean she is a person and took up a seat at a table (maybe in a carrier or stroller or whatever). 18% is pretty standard. If you normally tip 20% you may of saved a few dollars even. I wouldn't of make a big deal about it as you leave a tip anyway.

 

[Pumbaa_]

I can see why he was taken aback by the policy. Because we hang out here alot, this is well known.

Disney as a resort can count a party any way they like. They have this rule and has been that way for some time.

Glad your friend had a good time

 

[jasbellehontas]

I have a hard time swallowing that pill also. I am a very generous tipper but I like to have the freedom to decide how much as I see fit. I understand the rule of automatic tip with a large party of 6 but that is because 6 children and adults means lots of demands and required service. I do not think a 7 month old should count in the 6. I will be going to Disney in Sept with a 6 WEEK old. I was told by wdw dine that I need a table for 6 because of my 6 week old whether I wear him, keep him in the stroller or put him in an infant seat in a high chair. Once I heard that I knew that meant it was to ensure an 18% tip now that we are a party of 6. So my waiter can then slack off and know that he is getting 18% no matter what? Balony. If I have ANY problems with the wait staff in Sept, you can bet your bottom I will fight that 18% gratuity being added. If service is as expected or better, of course I will let it go and if needed, I would even add extra to the table. But I will not be forced to leave an 18% gratuity (just because my 6 week old makes us a party of 6) if the service is less than acceptable.

 

[sandisuze]

There have been a few times 8 or 10 have gone to eat and since we have the DDE we have an automatic 18% added on-so we are used to it if we have 3 or 10 at a table.
If service seems to be slacking we mention it to someone politely that we would like a bit better service. normally we have no issues at Disney
we gave up at tusker house last week and didn't like paying 18% but we did..
we just won't be back-

the reason they count EVERYONE at a table is because fire laws only allow so many people in a place at 1 time. so yeah even if you have 3 -7 month old babies at the table and 3 adults it's still a party of 6.

we have quite a few places in town that do the same thing party of 6 or more add 15- 18% olive garden, shells, red lobster, I think even applebees does it around here. all good if we have good service-

we have asked a mgr. to remove the 18% as one time we had a waiter never return after giving us our food we had to ask 3 other waiters for drink refills and napkins and even a fork after there weren't enough on a table. I refused to give a tip and the mgr. at Disney was really nice and comped us dessert about it and removed the tip.

 

[kaytieeldr]

. No doubt, CM's are looking for any excuse to ensure their 18% now that tips are not included in DDP.

This is NOT at the Cast Members' option. It is REQUIRED. All parties of six or more - eating or not - are assessed an automatic 18% service charge. Period.

He's not bitter at all

Are you sure? In your first post, he's "angry" and has saved all his receipts and plans to write to Disney...

 

[disnut8]

So my waiter can then slack off and know that he is getting 18% no matter what?

Wow. I could say a lot of things but I'll stick to "hope you have a better day."

 

[DisneyWisher]

I think they ae now automactically adding 18% to everyone. When we were there last Sept we ordered the YOMD martinis and they automatically charged 18% tip. Funny thing is they still have a tip stop. So Disney if you are listening if you are going to add the tip take away the blank line next to the tip. Its like they are double dipping. How many people don't realize the tip and tip again?

I've been a server and I know it sucks when you get stiffed I'm not saying they don't deserve it. I'm just saying if you are going to automatically charge me tip don't expect more. I'm typically a 20 - 25 % tipper.