Disney dining plan will NOT include grat in 2008

[Disneyhappy]

You should be claiming all of your income regardless of whether it was a cash tip or in your paycheck.

Sure, in theory!

 

[allyphoe]

the grat went to our paychecks that made all of us into a new tax bracket

No, it didn't. It might have changed the amount you had *withheld* for taxes, but your total tax liability for the year (line 63 on your tax return) is the same. Having too much withheld? Change your W-4.

 

[tinkerbelle77]

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

That is a lie~!!! I have the dining plan on my DVC ressies, and its the 2007 price, MS told me all would reamin the same as 2007, as long as I cehck in before 2008!

 

[keeping quiet]

Regarding this mini-debate of rude guests/servers, etc. What people do not realize is that unlike working in any restaurant that is not in a tourism capital of the world (doesn't matter if it is your hometown IHOP, Waffle House, fine dining French cafe or a chain steakhouse) we are serving guests from all cultures, backgrounds, walks of life, etc. What is customary and acceptable behavior for one guest isn't for another. We have no even flow to our tables and day. We have to juggle our approach and care several times throughout the day to accomodate the particular needs/wants/culture of the current guest.

I have had guests of every temperment, custom, etc. In one single shift, I had a guest who told my chef to go "f***ing open this can for her right now" and proceed to throw it at him (they were asked to leave), a group of teens at the table in the next station TORTURING my co-worker (they spit in her face even - at that point she refused service and got the manager) just because they could and the service at all her other tables suffered. She was unable to provide the service everyone else deserved because of how demanding and challenging this table was. Thankfully for her, her guests saw this (yelled at these kids even) and worked with her through the situation until they were removed. Later in that same day, I had a 10 yr old relative join one of my tables because we were having so much fun. This child then proceeded to get offensive and argumentative with me to the point that I looked her in the eye and said, "I am sorry but we were having fun until you arrived. Because you are so disrespectful and rude to me, I will no longer have fun with you but simply serve your food (I have never said such a thing to a table or been made to feel that it was necessary before)." Much to my relief when I returned to the table, they had sent her back to her parents (she had already eaten with them but wanted to hang out to mess with me).

Most people do not understand the unique challenge that is involved in serving at Disney. I have worked as a server in many states in the country and in restaurants from Perkins to an exclusive, service rigid, fine dining club. While the challenges are greater working for Disney, so are the rewards, financial and otherwise. I have guests who come back regularly and include me in the celebrations of their families. I have fellow cast members who are truly family. I actually like the constant flux of the different cultures. I can often guess from what region of the US a table is from before even approaching them (and I am rarely wrong). I can usually also surmise within the first conversation with a table how much service they expect, their mood, if I can change it and an estimation of how long they want to spend in the restaurant.

All that was a lenthy way of saying that we see it all here at Disney.

 

[Disneyserver]

Disneyserver...

Correct me if I'm wrong regarding tipping but even back before the DDP came into being there were cards in each 'check folder' that gave basic guidelines for tipping... I hear ya though regarding lack of tipping from International guests...

As for the DDP itself, I am a DVC member and an Annual PAssholder and used to frequent WDW dining more because I could do a 'spur of the moment' dinner... Sadly now, even though I'm OOP I don't get to eat at my favorites as often...

back before 2004 there were cards in the check presenters, but last contract we voted on in the Union , Disney offered us 18% instead of 15% on meal plans and parties of 8 or more, In agreement we had to have the cards removed, and we all had to sign a paper saying we wouldnt solicite tips from the guests, That contract expired this year in April, so the new contract just voted on will remove grat on the DDP , and will be added on parties of 6 now or larger, and on the DDE card, and the tip cards will return to the books, and we get a wopping 15 cent raise ..


BTW we miss the DVC and annual pass guests, you are great tippers, and we got to serve you more often, but with the popularity of the DDP we don't get to see you all that often

 

[Mickeyluver37]

I do decare all My tips, and dont be so Harsh, all the servers on this site are trying to get the word out so come Jan 08 were not getting stiffed on a Tip from vetran DDP users that are used to the Grat be included

Well that's good to know, then. Why the comment about tips being in your paycheck pushing you in a higher tax bracket?

I have been a server in the past, and always tip very well. However, I have other server/former server friends that go as far as to only pay in cash so the server doesn't have to claim it all, and this seems to be more the norm in the industry. They seem to think they are "getting screwed" when the tip is paid via credit card and they have to claim more than the 8% that is reported.

 

[tfc3rid]

Disneyserver...

You certainly don't because we can't get in there!!! Me and the gf are HUGE fans of higher end fare and are big time 'foodies'... Sadly, we are not long term planners and don't get into our fasvorites anymore!!

Also, I didn't see those cards as 'solicitations' for tips... It was merely a guideline for guests...

 

[Disneyserver]

Regarding this mini-debate of rude guests/servers, etc. What people do not realize is that unlike working in any restaurant that is not in a tourism capital of the world (doesn't matter if it is your hometown IHOP, Waffle House, fine dining French cafe or a chain steakhouse) we are serving guests from all cultures, backgrounds, walks of life, etc. What is customary and acceptable behavior for one guest isn't for another. We have no even flow to our tables and day. We have to juggle our approach and care several times throughout the day to accomodate the particular needs/wants/culture of the current guest.

I have had guests of every temperment, custom, etc. In one single shift, I had a guest who told my chef to go "f***ing open this can for her right now" and proceed to throw it at him (they were asked to leave), a group of teens at the table in the next station TORTURING my co-worker (they spit in her face even - at that point she refused service and got the manager) just because they could and the service at all her other tables suffered. She was unable to provide the service everyone else deserved because of how demanding and challenging this table was. Thankfully for her, her guests saw this (yelled at these kids even) and worked with her through the situation until they were removed. Later in that same day, I had a 10 yr old relative join one of my tables because we were having so much fun. This child then proceeded to get offensive and argumentative with me to the point that I looked her in the eye and said, "I am sorry but we were having fun until you arrived. Because you are so disrespectful and rude to me, I will no longer have fun with you but simply serve your food (I have never said such a thing to a table or been made to feel that it was necessary before)." Much to my relief when I returned to the table, they had sent her back to her parents (she had already eaten with them but wanted to hang out to mess with me).

Most people do not understand the unique challenge that is involved in serving at Disney. I have worked as a server in many states in the country and in restaurants from Perkins to an exclusive, service rigid, fine dining club. While the challenges are greater working for Disney, so are the rewards, financial and otherwise. I have guests who come back regularly and include me in the celebrations of their families. I have fellow cast members who are truly family. I actually like the constant flux of the different cultures. I can often guess from what region of the US a table is from before even approaching them (and I am rarely wrong). I can usually also surmise within the first conversation with a table how much service they expect, their mood, if I can change it and an estimation of how long they want to spend in the restaurant.

All that was a lenthy way of saying that we see it all here at Disney.

AMEN, I have encountered it all also, even being called a stupid American, and seeing the Hostess, get slapped by a guest who she told we were full for the evening

 

[GreatLakes5]

BTW we miss the DVC and annual pass guests, you are great tippers, and we got to serve you more often, but with the popularity of the DDP we don't get to see you all that often

OUCH

 

[tfc3rid]

That sort of behavior on behalf of customers is completely over the line... They should be kicked out and arrested for assault...

 

[Disneyserver]

That is a lie~!!! I have the dining plan on my DVC ressies, and its the 2007 price, MS told me all would reamin the same as 2007, as long as I cehck in before 2008!

Disney will tell you anything you wanna hear, they called that lady 2 weeks ago and flat out lied and told her the Tips were not leaving the DDP... We are also hearing That DDP guests will be presented a check for the tax on The meals they eat on the DDP, Other servers have wrote and told me thats what there managers are telling them, so everything is up in the air until they make an official announcement, but we are telling you the truth and what was on the Union contract that was voted on on wednesday by only 380 votes

 

[keeping quiet]

Disney will tell you anything you wanna hear, they called that lady 2 weeks ago and flat out lied and told her the Tips were not leaving the DDP... We are also hearing That DDP guests will be presented a check for the tax on The meals they eat on the DDP, Other servers have wrote and told me thats what there managers are telling them, so everything is up in the air until they make an official announcement, but we are telling you the truth and what was on the Union contract that was voted on on wednesday by only 380 votes

Disneyserver,

As with the 15% grat to 18% grat changeover in 2005 and the specific child coupon change over in 2006.... what you check in at, is what you pay (i.e., check in during December and stay through Jan). Personally, I think our union is a joke and doesn't know much at all so anything outside of what is in the contract, I ignore. Remember, the union does want to inflame to a certain extent.

 

[Mickeyluver37]

Disneyserver,

As with the 15% grat to 18% grat changeover in 2005 and the specific child coupon change over in 2006.... what you check in at, is what you pay (i.e., check in during December and stay through Jan). Personally, I think our union is a joke and doesn't know much at all so anything outside of what is in the contract, I ignore. Remember, the union does want to inflame to a certain extent.

Do you guys have to pay union dues?

 

[Disneyserver]

Disneyserver,

As with the 15% grat to 18% grat changeover in 2005 and the specific child coupon change over in 2006.... what you check in at, is what you pay (i.e., check in during December and stay through Jan). Personally, I think our union is a joke and doesn't know much at all so anything outside of what is in the contract, I ignore. Remember, the union does want to inflame to a certain extent.

Exactly the union leaders are over paid all being very close to 6 digit pay , They tell us to vote yes for this contract , they get it voted, and now there all on vacation In St pete florida at the ocean and cannot be reached for questions from the cast members

 

[Disneyserver]

Do you guys have to pay union dues?

yes $7.50 a week so as a server its like 2 hours of our pay a week

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

Disneyserver, it doesn't make sense that tips wouldn't be included in the plans for packages that begin in Dec and extend to Jan. It isn't like that for anything else Disney does (ie. you pay the rate based on the day you check in for the entire stay, even if you go from value to peak season).


As for the tipping not being included, it doesn't make me happy, but I think that the DDP will still be a good value for us.

 

[eeyoresnr]

yes $7.50 a week so as a server its like 2 hours of our pay a week

$7.50 a week? what a joke... my husband is a Firefighter and makes half of what you do in a year and pay $75.00 a month for union dues. and you want us to feel sorry for you because you may go down to $60,000. a year? sorry, not gonna happen here.

 

[Disneyserver]

$7.50 a week? what a joke... my husband is a Firefighter and makes half of what you do in a year and pay $75.00 a month for union dues. and you want us to feel sorry for you because you may go down to $60,000. a year? sorry, not gonna happen here.

LOL I wish i made 60,000 dollars I am around 30,000 , The only servers that make that much are in the dinner shows, or character locations that grat is automatic for all guests

 

[eeyoresnr]

LOL I wish i made 60,000 dollars I am around 30,000 , The only servers that make that much are in the dinner shows, or character locations that grat is automatic for all guests

well if that's the case you really do ne a new "profession" becayse I am a server in a cafe in a town of about 12,000 and I make close to $30,000. a year and we have a total of 14 tables with 3 servers; and I don't work weekends. and other disney servers on this thread have stated that servers make close to $70,000. a year.

 

[Tam1067]

I am disappointed Disney is removing the tip because the servers will suffer. I've always (and I mean that) had good service at Disney DDP or not. Removing the tip will hurt the servers the most which is too bad. Instead of spreading the wealth, Disney is taking the typical corporate posture and sticking it to the employees. That's particularly disturbing when Disney keeps reporting great profits. You guys work hard. I'm sorry your union let you down.