Disney Called Today Tips will not be cut out of DDP!~looks like they lied:(

[bicker]

The object is still to have the price reflect the value, not for the plan to result in Disney getting less revenue than if they didn't have the plan. The 40% is the difference between what the offering costs and how much money it would cost if you maxed out totally and paid OOP. We all know that that's not what most people will do.

 

[SassyLassy]

Great info! Thanks for the update!!

 

[kimberh]

We just came home from Disney, We noticed some of the food being decreased in some of the restaurants. All the complaining of to much food, is being noticed. I sure hope the DDP is not increased with to much. I will be one that will go back to the old way. We always ate some of our meals in the room or off site.

 

[Katiebell]

The object is still to have the price reflect the value, not for the plan to result in Disney getting less revenue than if they didn't have the plan. The 40% is the difference between what the offering costs and how much money it would cost if you maxed out totally and paid OOP. We all know that that's not what most people will do.

Then maybe Disney should stop marketing it as a way to save up to 40% on dining, because they are advertising it as a way for people to save money on their vacations. Perhaps they should just market it as a way to prepay for your meals, and the value you get is equal to the price you pay.

I just looked up Disneyland's "dining plan", which is basically prepaid meals. There are several different options, but as an example, for $86.95 (2005 prices), an adult gets:
1 - Character Breakfast
1 - Breakfast in the Park
3 - $5.00 Vouchers
2 - $10.00 Vouchers
1 - $15.00 Voucher

The vouchers aren't good at DTD, and you can't get change back on the vouchers. Goofy's Kitchen is the most expensive character meal, and if you eat any other character breakfast, you actually end up losing money on the plan. Not a very good deal, and needless to say it isn't popular. I don't know anyone who's actually bought it. But, Disney could certainly say that the value does not exceed the price.

 

[just another guy]

If the included gratuities are dropped, then the cash value of the plan for the customer is lower (OOP cost will be higher), and they will also have to carry cash and calculate tips, reducing the convenience factor (another significant value of the plan).

Not really. The current proposal(that was voted down, so who knows what it may change to) has an area on the check which would say something like, "Your check is $100, a 15% tip would be $15, a 18% tip would be $18, or a 20% tip would be $20." Thats disney's way of making it easy for the stupid.

 

[Katiebell]

Not really. The current proposal(that was voted down, so who knows what it may change to) has an area on the check which would say something like, "Your check is $100, a 15% tip would be $15, a 18% tip would be $18, or a 20% tip would be $20." Thats disney's way of making it easy for the stupid.

I am sure you didn't mean this quite as...harsh...as it sounds.

Your check is 87.52. Quick, what's 15%? What's 18%?

Your check is 42.95. Quick, what's 15%? What's 18%?

Your check is 136.27. Quick, what's 15%? What's 18%?

Don't feel bad. If you had to think for a moment, I won't consider you to be stupid -- and I promise not to proofread your post for spelling and grammatical errors I just estimate anyway -- 10% + half again for a 15% tip, 20% if the service was exceptional, rounding up if appropriate. But it's still a bit more hassle than having the tip included -- and a great deal more expensive. For those three meals mentioned above, that's $48 extra OOP for 18% tips. Hey, I could buy a Dole Whip and a bottle of water for that kind of money...

If the current proposal which would eliminate the included gratuity was to also include a note on the check telling the guest exactly what a 15% or an 18% tip would be, then that certainly would have been helpful. But it still doesn't change the fact that it would be a hassle to carry cash to tip OOP and it would make dining considerably more costly for the guest.

 

[bicker]

Then maybe Disney should stop marketing it as a way to save up to 40% on dining

I don't see why. There is a way to accomplish what they're suggesting, and suggesting it does foster sales. It is extremely common -- pretty much standard practice -- for advertising to focus on the positive aspects of the offering.

 

[surfergrl31]

If you are going on prices alone at TS resturants, then the dp does save you money. Most people like myself, realized at places like Coral Reef, that the quality of the food isn't matching the price. You do save money when you consider you are ordering an app, meal, and dessert. Certain places like that you would probably have to order that to have a decent meal anyway. If I was paying OOP, I certainly wouldn't order all that food every single time.

So looking at just prices yes you do save money, but looking at the reality of it you really aren't. The prices are over inflated which makes you think you are getting a deal, when in reality a little bit of planning you could fare much better. It is still a matter of convience and besides most guests aren't going to complain about the food or lack there of since they think they are going to get such a great deal.

New slogan idea for ddp:

**Save up to 40% on dinning for food that is marked up 100%**

Seems a lot less appealing doesn't it? There will always be people like me who will prefer to have it paid ahead of time for ease of the plan. Disney knows that, so until it becomes a major issue of concern they will keep advertising it as a value since the major factor is being met. It is keeping guests in the parks to spend more money instead of being off site.

 

[Katiebell]

New slogan idea for ddp:

**Save up to 40% on dinning for food that is marked up 100%**

Ah...Truth in Advertising!

 

[averysmom]

I think that the poor servers are going to LOSE out on tips.

When we did free dining last year, usually left an extra 5-8 every time we ate (with a 18 month old and a 4 year old any server who attempts to entertain them or clean up after them automatically deserves some extra )

but I think that I - and other dissers who do the same - are in the minority.

I think that if the DDP becomes gratuity excluded that 5-8 dollars is all the servers will get at ALL.

When I was a server - no matter how many times you put on the bill - please tip before coupon - very rarely does anyone do so because they don't want to tip on free food.

Ppl see the DDP as free food - because it's already paid for. Sorry - but I think that the servers will be LUCKY to get 10% out of the majority of ppl - especially from out of the country guests - Europeans already don't understand the whole "tip thing" because it's included over there and Canadians tip 12-15% as GOOD tips because our servers get paid minimum wage (8.00/hour).

It'll be interesting to see what comes of it!

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

As far as the union vote goes...what is the real issue? I still feel the gratuity on DDP is just a bargaining tool. I would feel better about the whole thing if I knew that they (the servers) agreed to the change because they are getting better benefits of some kind. Does anyone really know and can you say?

 

[hansel1]

Not really. The current proposal(that was voted down, so who knows what it may change to) has an area on the check which would say something like, "Your check is $100, a 15% tip would be $15, a 18% tip would be $18, or a 20% tip would be $20." Thats disney's way of making it easy for the stupid.

If stupid = drunk, then yes disney did that for me because after a few beers and a long day in one of the parks, i can't count to ten much less figure percentages.

THANK YOU DISNEY FOR THINKING OF THE SLOW and for thinking of the DRUNK.

 

[JimMIA]

When I was a server - no matter how many times you put on the bill - please tip before coupon - very rarely does anyone do so because they don't want to tip on free food.

I agree, and there are some who feel if a meal is discounted, they should NOT be expected to tip on the "sticker price" of the meal. That's not me, but some feel that way.

Ppl see the DDP as free food - because it's already paid for. Sorry - but I think that the servers will be LUCKY to get 10% out of the majority of ppl

I am afraid you are right on this. There's no nice way to say it, but DDP does attract people to restaurants who would not normally order meals which cost $75-100 for two people. Nor would they normally tip 18-20%. They will realize the food is considerably overpriced, and they're going to tip 10-15% of what they think the meal should cost at home.

In addition, the servers will get hurt in another way.

If the gratuity is taken out, many people will find that DDP simply no longer makes sense for them. Unlike the group above, these people know what good dining costs and don't begrudge a server a decent tip. They are also too savvy to be tricked by marketing claims of 40% savings, so they'll have a much clearer idea of the value of the DDP to them. They won't eat in Disney restaurants nearly as much as they do now...if at all.

You never make very good tips on people who eat in someone else's restaurant!

 

[Lewisc]

Guests who take advantage of a coupon, such as Entertainment Books BOGO program, are encouraged to base their tip on the cost of the meal prior to the discount being applied. Same thing with coupons for a free dessert or appetizer.

Some guests take advantage of an early bird dinner special. Others take advantage of a price fixed dinner special. Those guests aren't normally expected to calculate the a la carte equivalent price but rather base their tip on the menu price of the dinner special.

One could disagree as to which category DDP belongs. A server insists I order an dessert or appetizer since "it's included". I would probably reduce my TIP in that circumstance, probably not lower then 15% of the entire cost of my meal.

I think servers would get hurt if the DDP is no longer included with the plan.

I agree, and there are some who feel if a meal is discounted, they should NOT be expected to tip on the "sticker price" of the meal. That's not me, but some feel that way.I am afraid you are right on this. There's no nice way to say it, but DDP does attract people to restaurants who would not normally order meals which cost $75-100 for two people. Nor would they normally tip 18-20%. They will realize the food is considerably overpriced, and they're going to tip 10-15% of what they think the meal should cost at home.

In addition, the servers will get hurt in another way.

If the gratuity is taken out, many people will find that DDP simply no longer makes sense for them. Unlike the group above, these people know what good dining costs and don't begrudge a server a decent tip. They are also too savvy to be tricked by marketing claims of 40% savings, so they'll have a much clearer idea of the value of the DDP to them. They won't eat in Disney restaurants nearly as much as they do now...if at all.

You never make very good tips on people who eat in someone else's restaurant!

 

[just another guy]

Your check is 87.52. Quick, what's 15%? What's 18%?

Your check is 42.95. Quick, what's 15%? What's 18%?

Your check is 136.27. Quick, what's 15%? What's 18%?

I just estimate anyway -- 10% + half again for a 15% tip, 20% if the service was exceptional, rounding up if appropriate.

You are correct, I can't tell you exact figures, but I can easily 10% and go from there like you said. I can also tell you servers don't care about getting an exact percentage. Having been a server in the past, I know very well there are a LOT of stupid people out there. I worked with people who if the bill was 73.64, and you gave them $100, they couldn't figure out the amount of change owed without a calculator.

But it still doesn't change the fact that it would be a hassle to carry cash to tip OOP

Nothing is set in stone, but only .0001 percent of people pay for their entire stay in cash. The other 99.9999% use a credit card of some sort. If disney does drop the grat, I'm pretty sure they will require you to have a credit card attached to the account, thus you just write in the tips.

 

[LandBoatRide]

Just as an update, there is a second vote on the new Disney/union contract today. The first vote last month rejected the proposed contract. Of course, this vote covers everyone (characters, bus drivers, etc. etc.)- its relevance here is the food servers contract and future of gratuity in DDP.

Despite the title of this thread, the gratuity WILL disappear from the dining plan beginning January 1st if this contract vote passes today. The name of the dining plan may change, but it will be the same deal for the same price, only gratuity would no longer be included at table service meals.

If this passes, here is the new reality: servers will be forced to solicit tips (i.e. "I know in past years my tip was included, but now it isnt.") how awkward for both server and guest! Dining plan guests will now either have to carry cash for tips (so long convenience!), run a charge card to charge a tip (so long server efficiency - they will be too bogged down running resort id cards and charge cards and spend less time serving their guests - not their fault) or stiff the server. Parties of 6 or more will now be charged the auto 18% gratuity.

Some will say "good! I want to determine what % those lousy servers get anyway". The flip side is that if servers routinely get stiffed from 4-course ddp guests because they forgot to bring cash, the overall level of service to ddp guests may suffer.


Stay tuned for updates this week on the vote outcome.

 

[just another guy]

I said it a while ago that the grat would be gone, but a lot of people wanted to aruge otherwise.

If this passes, here is the new reality: servers will be forced to solicit tips (i.e. "I know in past years my tip was included, but now it isnt.") how awkward for both server and guest! Dining plan guests will now either have to carry cash for tips (so long convenience!), run a charge card to charge a tip (so long server efficiency - they will be too bogged down running resort id cards and charge cards and spend less time serving their guests - not their fault) or stiff the server. Parties of 6 or more will now be charged the auto 18% gratuity.

Some will say "good! I want to determine what % those lousy servers get anyway". The flip side is that if servers routinely get stiffed from 4-course ddp guests because they forgot to bring cash, the overall level of service to ddp guests may suffer.

Well unless disney is dumber than I thought, they should simply REQUIRE a credit card be linked to guests IDs, thus when they are swiped for the dining plan, it automatically records the quests credit card number, and is ready for a tip.

Service won't drop overall, servers may just start looking upon dining plan guests as second rate guests if the tips drop. Ex: A server at Ohana's gets two tables at the same time, while they are extremely busy. One table comes there yearly and loves it. That should be a safe bet for a decent tip if service is on par. The other table has never been there before and is on the dining plan. The server has already in past weeks determined that tips are declining per dining plan guests. As stated, the server is very busy, and doesn't have time to get perfect service to both guests. Its common sense to go for the table not on the dining plan.

 

[Good Ol Gal]

I said it a while ago that the grat would be gone, but a lot of people wanted to aruge otherwise.



Well unless disney is dumber than I thought, they should simply REQUIRE a credit card be linked to guests IDs, thus when they are swiped for the dining plan, it automatically records the quests credit card number, and is ready for a tip.

Service won't drop overall, servers may just start looking upon dining plan guests as second rate guests if the tips drop. Ex: A server at Ohana's gets two tables at the same time, while they are extremely busy. One table comes there yearly and loves it. That should be a safe bet for a decent tip if service is on par. The other table has never been there before and is on the dining plan. The server has already in past weeks determined that tips are declining per dining plan guests. As stated, the server is very busy, and doesn't have time to get perfect service to both guests. Its common sense to go for the table not on the dining plan.

We go every year and love it, and we do the dining plan! So, since my server sees that I'm on the plan it means they should assume that I won't be a good tipper.

Maybe they should put on your KTTK card how many times you've visited then they server wouldn't have to guess! Then they could just ignore the new guests and take care of the regulars.

I don't know if we'd do the plan if the gratuity isn't included, I just hope that if it does change Disney makes all guests aware of it so the servers won't get stiffed.

 

[just another guy]

We go every year and love it, and we do the dining plan! So, since my server sees that I'm on the plan it means they should assume that I won't be a good tipper.

Maybe they should put on your KTTK card how many times you've visited then they server wouldn't have to guess! Then they could just ignore the new guests and take care of the regulars.

I don't know if we'd do the plan if the gratuity isn't included, I just hope that if it does change Disney makes all guests aware of it so the servers won't get stiffed.

Maybe you should work on your reading skills. In my example, you missed one key aspect...

The server has already in past weeks determined that tips are declining per dining plan guests.

The servers are not there to make magic, there are there for the tips. When the grat gets dropped, IF the servers's overall tip average drops then yes, its fair to believe that their servers for other dining plan guests could drop as well.

 

[LandBoatRide]

We go every year and love it, and we do the dining plan! So, since my server sees that I'm on the plan it means they should assume that I won't be a good tipper.

Maybe they should put on your KTTK card how many times you've visited then they server wouldn't have to guess! Then they could just ignore the new guests and take care of the regulars.

I don't know if we'd do the plan if the gratuity isn't included, I just hope that if it does change Disney makes all guests aware of it so the servers won't get stiffed.

I agree, lets hope Disney makes things easy in this proposed transition.

I think the point of the post is that IF, I say IF, DDP guests start stiffing servers (not that they currently do now or are the sort of people that would - this is just a hypothetical IF)...IF that happens, then servers' service to DDP is likely to spiral downward.

I personally don't think DDP guests will stiff servers if Disney makes it easy and well-known for tips to be added. The fear is that Disney will not easily link the credit card to the DDP resort card (some guests now have no charging ability - will it become mandatory??) Then, if a guest forgot to bring cash, how would they tip???

So, IF that happend and IF servers started being stiffed by DDP guests (even if the guests didnt know they were stiffing or didnt want to), THEN ddp guests may get a bad reputation (whether fair or not). If I were a server and I routinely got stiffed by ddp guests after taking them out all that food of a 3 or 4 course meal, then yeh, I would probably hold a grudge and use common sense to provide best service to those who are paying in a manner that allows a tip to be added.

Union voting of course is today and results will be known tomorrow. Stay tuned.