Disney dining plan will NOT include grat in 2008

[wolverine2010]

So this would mean that Disney is pocketing the 18% grat then that is allready built into the current price???

 

[surfergrl31]

I hope that this is rumor, but I doubt that this many people would go to the trouble to inform us of something that isn't true. I will still take my trip this year and enjoy the ddp for the last time. We were planning our next trip for next year and was ready to book as soon as the prices came out. Looking at this possible option , I think our best bet is to rent a vacation home. Most are within 4 miles of the entrance and a four bedroom house is cheaper than staying at the poly plus we have our own private pool. I think in disney's effort to pursue the almighty dollar that might be shooting themselves in the foot.

I hope that this rumor doesn't hold true, but as with other hyped rumors they usually do. I will still take my vacation to disney, but will spend less money on property than I would have before.

 

[Donnainnj]

I wonder what changes will be made to the plan. With the rise in price I wonder if it will include more meals, or more flexibility. They may also change the name to limit confusion. We are going in 11 days for our first time on the dining plan, and it will likely be our last if these figures/information are accurate.
Donna

 

[patsal]

Who/where specifically should/could we write to voice our concerns?

 

[Colleen27]

OP- What is the logic behind adding 18% grat to DDE guests? Are they less likely to tip than other OOP full price guests? We just tipped the discount when we used it (20% of the *original* bill).

It probably doesn't have anything to do with guest behaviour or tipping habits, and everything to do with "throwing a bone" to the union to make the removal of tips from the wildly popular dining plan easier to swallow.

 

[Colleen27]

I wonder what changes will be made to the plan. With the rise in price I wonder if it will include more meals, or more flexibility.

That would be nice to see. As someone said on another thread, maybe they'll move to a MYW type plan for dining, that will allow more flexibility in making the plan work for your touring style. I know that for my family, if there was something in between the standard DDP and the Premium plan that offered more TS & Signature dining options but without all the other recreation options that we don't care about, we'd be all over it.

 

[dannyh23]

Who/where specifically should/could we write to voice our concerns?

Not directed to you personally as a slam, but what exactly would anyone here even write? "I heard a rumor that the 2008 Dining Plan will not include tips and I don't like that"???

If you personally don't like the DDP plan as it will be offered in 2008, you don't have to buy it. We still have not seen anything official yet about princing or benefits. For all we know, a potential price increase could include additional benefits!

All we know is that we have someone in this thread who either is (or is pretending to be) a Disney server who is encouraging guests to write Disney and tell them that they want their 18% automatic back, even though the union agreed to take that out!

 

[mom0299]

WE ASKED THAT QUESTION TO THE UNION REPS, AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE NOT SOLD PACKAGES FOR THE HOLIDAYS YET, AND THE GRAT WILL BE NOT INCLUDED IF IT OVERLAPS INTO 2008

I have to disagree with them. They HAVE sold packages for the holidays. I know for a fact that they have sold a package to my family of four, my parents, and my brother's family of six and all of our packages start in Dec. 2007 and overlap into 2008. And I am quite certain we are not the only ones.

 

[Lewisc]

Generally the terms of the package will stay the same during your stay. Remeber value season starts 1/1. My guess is a lot of guests will either be leaving 1/1 -1/2 or will be doing a "split stay" in order to take advantage of the lower hotel rates. I doubt you're going to see guests checking in on 12/31 and staying for 14 nights on the original reservation.

I have to disagree with them. They HAVE sold packages for the holidays. I know for a fact that they have sold a package to my family of four, my parents, and my brother's family of six and all of our packages start in Dec. 2007 and overlap into 2008. And I am quite certain we are not the only ones.

 

[tfc3rid]

I said this on another thread and I think it bears repeating... The DDP in its current state has not been this way for the majority of WDW's existence... Things survived before it and things will survive after it...

As far as tipping goes, I live in NYC, and we have an excessive cost of living for everything... I don't mind going to a restaurant and having a dinner for 2 cost $130 bucks... However, for crappy service I'm not going to give 15%... For excellent service I'll easily give 25%... This has been my philosphy while dining at WDW as well... Disney is a company that has to negotiate union deals... They have to get their pint of blood in the course of negotiations... Sadly, it's the nature of unions...

Of course, tipping is a free market choice... It SHOULD be up to the consumer to determine it... For servers, the real issue you should have is not with your tips, but with the hourly wages...

 

[Disneyhappy]

Why would they know you live off your tips? From my understanding the US is the only country that tips so high a percentage.

My in-laws would be pissed to find out you think they are cheap because they always tip more than 5%, more like 20%. I think that was a slam at Canadians. they are a huge guest base.

I have also seen supposed servers on the Dis saying they don't the 18% anyway, It can't be both ways.

While I may not have expressed it the same way as the OP, I have to agree with his logic. Why do you think Europeans love American tourists? Because many Americans are unaware that tipping is not customary in Europe or even if they do know, they still tip because it feels uncomfortable not to. So it seems logical to me that American servers prefer guests familiar and comfortable with American customs of tipping, especailly when American servers are paid below minimum wage because of the assumption that the difference will be made up in tips.

OP - I truly feel for you and all the servers, especailly after enjoying the automatice tipping on the plan for these few years. Personally, I hope this is the first step in the decline and eventual elimination of the DDP as it currently exists. I am truly happy that so many people were able to enjoy WDW dining that would not have been able to do it otherwise. However, on a selfish level (and I know I am in the minority) our personal experience had definitely changed for the worse since the implementation of the DDP ie. hard to get ADRs/lack of spontaneity, quality of food change and standardization/cheapening of menu items (just my opinion). I had already accepted the changed experiences as WDW was not going to do anything to a plan that was profitable and popular with the masses.

 

[Disneyhappy]

Duplicate post- Sorry!

 

[aubriee]

yes the guests from other countries are horrible tippers if they tip at all, the english are the worst, and the irish, and canadians if they tip at all its 5% and they all know we live off tips, its there excuse not to tip well because of the rep they have had for many years, and they dont read tip cards even if u put it right on top of there bill

Excuse me, but the more you post comments like this, the less sympathy you are getting. First free dinners are rude, bullies who have never eaten out in public and free loaders who shouldn't complain about the service they get, because they're getting their meals for free. Now your criticizing foreigners. It sounds like you really don't like the people you serve very much. I hope all servers don't think the way you do about their customers.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The 18% went on our paychecks after we tipped out the bartenders, and the food runners, so No we dont get 100% of the tip if it was a cash or credit card tip

So – the servers don’t get 100% of the tip if the tip is paid via cash or credit card; how about if the tip is paid through the DDP? I mean, credit card tips are paid to the server via her/his paycheck, and DDP tips are paid to the server via her/his paycheck… how do the bartenders and food runners get their share of the tip? And if the tip is in cash, how does anybody prove how much it is and who gets what share, and how do they get that share?

we have been told that we can tell the guests on the ddp that the gratuity is no longer included

Is that exactly what you were told? Because that statement seems to allow abuse in that it appears to permit servers now to tell Guests on the DDP now that the gratuity IS no longer included (vs. “will not be included effective 1/1/08”).

yes the guests from other countries are horrible tippers if they tip at all, the english are the worst, and the irish, and canadians if they tip at all its 5% and they all know we live off tips,

Now, how does anyone know for certain what any native of another country “knows”?

yes the contract passed by 380 votes,

Out of 27,000 employees? The contract only won by 380 votes?

 

[kribit]

so I'm not even certain if this is related to the OP's post, but it appears there was some sort of vote yesterday.


http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-disneyvote0707jun07,0,1123158.story?coll=orl-home-headlines

I tried to read through their contracts, and I got through the first paragraph and lost interest. Perhaps there is something in there...?

http://www.uniteherelocal362.org/

 

[tiffanym5375]

I assume final word will not come untill pacakage rates for 2008 are realeased. Anyone else thinking this?

Tiffany

 

[dannyh23]

I assume final word will not come untill pacakage rates for 2008 are realeased. Anyone else thinking this?

Tiffany

Bingo, we have a winner!

Just like someone can come on here and say "tips won't be included in 2008", there is nothing that stops anyone from creating a Disboards name called RealDisneyVP that says "Here's a secret! 2008 Dining Plan includes all the food you want anywhere and it's only going to be $30!!! Tips included!!!"

Neither post is true until it's official!

 

[Sammie]

I thought the servers hated the DDP and would be excited to see it go.

 

[Sammie]

Not directed to you personally as a slam, but what exactly would anyone here even write? "I heard a rumor that the 2008 Dining Plan will not include tips and I don't like that"???

If you personally don't like the DDP plan as it will be offered in 2008, you don't have to buy it. We still have not seen anything official yet about princing or benefits. For all we know, a potential price increase could include additional benefits!

All we know is that we have someone in this thread who either is (or is pretending to be) a Disney server who is encouraging guests to write Disney and tell them that they want their 18% automatic back, even though the union agreed to take that out!

Danny is correct, until there is official release of the 2008 plan there is nothing to complain about and anything sent prior to that will simply be a response to a rumor. Nothing Disney will take seriously.

Wait and see then if you don't like what is offered you can complain then.

 

[wolverine2010]

Would this mean that Disney would see a 18% profit in the DDP even w/ no price increase in 08???