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

[suzannews]

My husband said he just heard on the news that the contract passed.

 

[Disneyserver]

I know ya I used to work with you at the Hotel, It sucks The Grat will be removed on the DDP

 

[chasgoose]

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.

I feel like Disney will come up with some system to deal with this. They could just do an expanded version of the hotel room charge system where if you are buying something or eating at a hotel where you are also staying you can simply charge things up to your room. Since all DDP people are WDW resort guests they could just do something like that and when it comes time to check out, your DDP tips will be included.

Also, if anyone has an alcoholic beverage, the OOP paying would already be a problem anyways.

 

[Disneyserver]

Disney is Not including any type of Grat on DDP come Jan 1st 2008 The guest will be responsible to pay for it if they choose which we hope they will, and Disney cannot do anything like you suggested unless it was in the union contract, they laid out there plan to us on paper, a legal binding contract. which most of The servers on property Voted No for.

 

[chasgoose]

Disney is Not including any type of Grat on DDP come Jan 1st 2008 The guest will be responsible to pay for it if they choose which we hope they will, and Disney cannot do anything like you suggested unless it was in the union contract, they laid out there plan to us on paper, a legal binding contract. which most of The servers on property Voted No for.

I understand that tips aren't included. I was responding to the worry that there will be no way to pay for tips and that waiters will be stiffed because guests didn't bring cash/don't want to put the tip on a credit card. Just like at any resort, they could just charge it to their room bill. It wouldn't even have to be a KTTW thing. The guests could determine how much they wanted to tip after each meal like in normal restaurants and then instead of paying those tips OOP right then, they would just be added to their hotel bill and they could pay it when they check out. To the servers it would be no different than any other tip, they will get their money. It's just the diners who would pay Disney later.

As long as Disney makes it clear that the DDP doesn't include tip (and believe me there will be a big deal made about it) this should only be a problem for a temporary period. Yes it will be awkward for servers to remind guests that the DDP doesn't include tip anymore, but I am sure that Disney will stress that fact in other ways too so its not just the servers responsibility. As long as Disney makes it easy for the DDP people to pay the tips, eventually guests would come to accept the gratuity situation and accept it. This will not remain a permanent problem.

As far as printing the tip amounts on the receipt, I personally (and many people I know) appreciate that and it is becoming a more common practice in restaurants. Since it is assumed by Americans that you tip servers, I don't see it as rude or soliciting to include tip amounts, I appreciate not having to think about it.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I guess we'll have to wait and see how it all works out.
I think a fair # of guests are on the DDP to save $$$ and having the tip included did just that. Now that they "have" to tip (and still pay the same price for DDP), it won't be as much of a savings--unless thay "save" by tipping less than 18%.

 

[rubbergypsy]

you know that there will be notices all over stating that there is no gratuity when you use the dining plan and to tip accordingly.

 

[skater]

With the errors certain restaurants have made in charging dining plan meals to key cards, there is no way I want those charging priveleges added to my card.

Basically, Disney has spoiled me with the dining plan the way it is, and as much as I love Disney, this change will make me go elsewhere next year (unless its free again).

 

[Disneyserver]

With the errors certain restaurants have made in charging dining plan meals to key cards, there is no way I want those charging priveleges added to my card.

Basically, Disney has spoiled me with the dining plan the way it is, and as much as I love Disney, this change will make me go elsewhere next year (unless its free again).

OK THIS IS THE TOUGH CONVO, BUT HERE IT IS, BEFORE DISNEY STARTED DOING FREE DDP IN THE SLOW MONTHS OF THE YEAR IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER, THEY USED TO REDUCE THE PRICE OF THE HOTEL ROOMS DURING THAT TIME OF THE YEAR, BUT SOMEONE GOT SMART AND DECIDED TO INCLUDE THE DDP FOR FREE AND CHARGE THE FULL PRICE FOR THE RESORT ROOMS, SO DISNEY IS NOT LOSING ANYTHING, SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THE GUEST IS NOT REALLY WINNING A FREE MEAL IF THEY COME DURING THIS HOT MUGGY HUMID TIME OF YEAR. DISNEY IS A SMART COMPANY REMEBER ITS A BILLION DOLLAR CORPORATION THAT RUINES WALT DISNEY'S ORIGINAL DREAM

 

[nbodyhome]

OK THIS IS THE TOUGH CONVO, BUT HERE IT IS, BEFORE DISNEY STARTED DOING FREE DDP IN THE SLOW MONTHS OF THE YEAR IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER, THEY USED TO REDUCE THE PRICE OF THE HOTEL ROOMS DURING THAT TIME OF THE YEAR, BUT SOMEONE GOT SMART AND DECIDED TO INCLUDE THE DDP FOR FREE AND CHARGE THE FULL PRICE FOR THE RESORT ROOMS, SO DISNEY IS NOT LOSING ANYTHING, SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THE GUEST IS NOT REALLY WINNING A FREE MEAL IF THEY COME DURING THIS HOT MUGGY HUMID TIME OF YEAR. DISNEY IS A SMART COMPANY REMEBER ITS A BILLION DOLLAR CORPORATION THAT RUINES WALT DISNEY'S ORIGINAL DREAM

A LOT of the guests doing free dining have it with the value resorts. A family of 4 is at least $100.00 on the dine plan, the room is $82.00 for a standard value room at that time. I think Disney isn't quite gaining there.

I think that having to tip will make a difference whether guests get the dining plan. I think Disney should have just raised the price a little to compensate for tips, to ensure that the servers received their money. It's odd that they are planning to start adding tips on the DDE bills (if that is the case) and take it off of the dining plan.

 

[shellybaxter]

OK THIS IS THE TOUGH CONVO, BUT HERE IT IS, BEFORE DISNEY STARTED DOING FREE DDP IN THE SLOW MONTHS OF THE YEAR IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER, THEY USED TO REDUCE THE PRICE OF THE HOTEL ROOMS DURING THAT TIME OF THE YEAR, BUT SOMEONE GOT SMART AND DECIDED TO INCLUDE THE DDP FOR FREE AND CHARGE THE FULL PRICE FOR THE RESORT ROOMS, SO DISNEY IS NOT LOSING ANYTHING, SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THE GUEST IS NOT REALLY WINNING A FREE MEAL IF THEY COME DURING THIS HOT MUGGY HUMID TIME OF YEAR. DISNEY IS A SMART COMPANY REMEBER ITS A BILLION DOLLAR CORPORATION THAT RUINES WALT DISNEY'S ORIGINAL DREAM

Do you realize that when you type in all caps you are yelling at people?

 

[Lewisc]

Disney has always offered great promotions during the "hurricane season". Past promotions included room discounts of 40-45% and a pay for 4 play for 7promotion. Free dining got guests paying full price for the room but getting food. A family of 4A, w parents and 2 teenagers, got food worth more then $150. The value of the food exceed the room price at a value resort and was basically the same as the room price in a moderate resort. Many of us thought that was a very generous program.

Time will tell what promotion Disney uses next year.

OK THIS IS THE TOUGH CONVO, BUT HERE IT IS, BEFORE DISNEY STARTED DOING FREE DDP IN THE SLOW MONTHS OF THE YEAR IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER, THEY USED TO REDUCE THE PRICE OF THE HOTEL ROOMS DURING THAT TIME OF THE YEAR, BUT SOMEONE GOT SMART AND DECIDED TO INCLUDE THE DDP FOR FREE AND CHARGE THE FULL PRICE FOR THE RESORT ROOMS, SO DISNEY IS NOT LOSING ANYTHING, SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THE GUEST IS NOT REALLY WINNING A FREE MEAL IF THEY COME DURING THIS HOT MUGGY HUMID TIME OF YEAR. DISNEY IS A SMART COMPANY REMEBER ITS A BILLION DOLLAR CORPORATION THAT RUINES WALT DISNEY'S ORIGINAL DREAM

 

[nbodyhome]

I don't much think of it as hurricane as "back to school season". It's already hurricane season, but everyone seems to wait for "events" now. Flower and Garden Festival, Food and Wine, Christmas, Star Wars Weekends, etc. So much of the year is based on events, and September really isn't event driven at all (they used to have Disneyana, which brought in some extra crowds - but not tons there either).

 

[Praying Colonel]

I guess we'll have to wait and see how it all works out.
I think a fair # of guests are on the DDP to save $$$ and having the tip included did just that. Now that they "have" to tip (and still pay the same price for DDP), it won't be as much of a savings--unless thay "save" by tipping less than 18%.

Yep--if the rumored changes go into effect, it seems like the only parties taking a hit (a substantial one at that) are those who leave a tip and the servers who get stiffed on tips.

Those who stiff their servers won't feel a hit, and WDW won't feel a hit--unless a large % of people quit staying onsite (which is a distinct possibility for our family) in order to use the DDP. If their room occupancy drops significantly as a result of this change (again, assuming it happens), then I could see WDW possibly going back to the plan as currently constituted.

 

[tfc3rid]

It has not been a long time since Disney didn't have the DDP... Let's all remember that... For 30 years of WDW's existence there was no dining plan as comprehensive and as avaialble as the DDP... There was a way to make Dining work before and there will be a way to make it work moving forward...

Sadly, for the time being, wait staff will be dependent on tipping... I never have used the DDP nor will I ever but I always tip between 20 and 25 percent for excellent service...

Remeber it is all about service... If it sucks, you leave a smaller tip... For better service, you leave something very generous... Thus the nature of the job...

 

[Brian Noble]

I'm curious: do servers in the 2007 DDP get tipped based on the reimbursement value to the restaurant, or the menu value of the meal ordered?

 

[dannyh23]

Remeber it is all about service... If it sucks, you leave a smaller tip... For better service, you leave something very generous... Thus the nature of the job...

That's all I'm saying... and that is why I think the level of service will INCREASE. A good server will get greater tips, and bad servers now gets hit in the pocketbook because the 18% is no longer guaranteed.

 

[Lewisc]

I'm curious: do servers in the 2007 DDP get tipped based on the reimbursement value to the restaurant, or the menu value of the meal ordered?

Disney owned restaurants base the tip on the menu price of the food ordered. Some of the non-Disney owened restaurants base the tip on the amount of money Disney is paying the restaurant.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Disney is Not including any type of Grat on DDP come Jan 1st 2008 The guest will be responsible to pay for it if they choose which we hope they will, and Disney cannot do anything like you suggested unless it was in the union contract, they laid out there plan to us on paper, a legal binding contract. which most of The servers on property Voted No for.

I'm
Disney can't amend the methods/options for Guests to pay for food because of the union contract with its employees?

 

[Brian Noble]

Disney owned restaurants base the tip on the menu price of the food ordered

Interesting. That may explain why Disney was so hot to move it to the guests. That's got to be a non-trivial chunk of DDP revenue.