Do the changes in the DDE make you want the DDP?

[DISNEY FIX]

Is anyone changing their mind? Does this make the DDP any more appealing?
What do you guys think?

 

[Chester's Mum]

I'm sorry, I missed something, have there been changes to the DDE?

 

[tjkraz]

The DDE card has become easier to acquire and 18% tip is being added to all meals--DDE, DDP or otherwise.

If anything, I think the DDE continues to provide a better value than the DDP. YMMV.

 

[TLCDisney]

DDE is a better deal for us when the whole family is there and when it's just the two of us we feel we'll do better with the DDP.

 

[Tinkerdreams]

The DDE card has become easier to acquire and 18% tip is being added to all meals--DDE, DDP or otherwise.

If anything, I think the DDE continues to provide a better value than the DDP. YMMV.

Are you saying the the 18% will automatically be added to the bill for both DDE and DDP?

If this is the case, they are in for a revolt. A tip should be given for good to exceptional service, not as a given. And if this is true, I wil eat CS for ALL meals.

 

[kapeman]

So doesn't the 18% gratuity severely diminish the benefit of the 20% discount?

At $65 per card, per year, wouldn't it take a LOT longer to save money from a 2% discount per meal?

I know there are other benefits, but the dining discount is the main one.

 

[tjkraz]

Are you saying the the 18% will automatically be added to the bill for both DDE and DDP?

If this is the case, they are in for a revolt. A tip should be given for good to exceptional service, not as a given. And if this is true, I wil eat CS for ALL meals.

Not just DDE and DDP but cash meals as well according to today's email from DDE indicated. See the quote here: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1633448

I'm trying not to sound like I'm irrationally defending The Mouse, but I don't have a real problem with this. Servers get stiffed all the time by people who are ignorant of the need to tip (other countries handle tipping differently), cheapskates or those who simply make a mistake ("didn't YOU leave the tip?")

Unless the service is terrible, we always start around 20%--even more for excellent service. So this doesn't really impact me at all.

If our service is notably poor, I'll ask for a manager and get the tip removed. It's that simple.

I can understand objecting on principle alone, but this really shouldn't hit anyone in the pocketbook since they should be aware of the expectation to tip going in. If it causes a downturn in service I'll address that with management and ultimately vote with my wallet by going elsewhere.

 

[tjkraz]

So doesn't the 18% gratuity severely diminish the benefit of the 20% discount?

At $65 per card, per year, wouldn't it take a LOT longer to save money from a 2% discount per meal?

Gratuities have ALWAYS been expected.

Whether you pay $100 for a full-price meal or $80 for a DDE-discounted meal, a server gratuity of $18-20 is customary for the service provided.

 

[TLCDisney]

We look at the DDE as saving us our tip money since we always tip 20% anyway, unless the service is horrendous. I will still add on a couple of extra dollars even if they charge me the 18%, but I know I'm a bigger tipper than some.

 

[kapeman]

Gratuities have ALWAYS been expected.

Whether you pay $100 for a full-price meal or $80 for a DDE-discounted meal, a server gratuity of $18-20 is customary for the service provided.

True, but now it is up front and it lends itself more readily to the question of just paying the 18% and not bothering with the DDE plan.

 

[Tinkerdreams]

One question. Is the tax for the meal applied BEFORE the 18% tip or AFTER? That's all we need is to be taxed on the 18% tip.

 

[ChelleinNC]

We've always used the 20% discount as our tip. So this doesn't really affect my wallet, but it does bother me that it's required.

 

[Granny]

We look at the DDE as saving us our tip money since we always tip 20% anyway, unless the service is horrendous. I will still add on a couple of extra dollars even if they charge me the 18%, but I know I'm a bigger tipper than some.

This is the case for us as well. This policy change will probably save us money in the long run as we tip 20+% now. Hopefully the waitstaff won't still have their hands out like the people in hotels who want a tip after it was already figured into the room service bill!

 

[Rozzie]

Not just DDE and DDP but cash meals as well according to today's email from DDE indicated. .

I thought this applied to DDE only? Doesn't the DDP 08 plan not include gratuity? Or have they changed that too? This whole thing is quite confusing, and it seems the CMs are just as confused, as everyone is getting different answers when they call. Why I personally think this is DDE only is that the email was only sent out to DDE participants. Lord knows I have gotten things backwards before!

I am looking at the glass is half full on it anyway. We save 2% as we always tipped the discount. I have been very surprised at the reaction some people are having from this. It's one thing not to want a automatic tip (auto tipping does not sit well with me either), but it's a whole other ballgame to complain cuz' now you got to tip appropriately . I can't believe some people were only tipping 5-10%!! It's one thing to tip poor on horrible service, but whole other to do it as a rule.

Yep Tim, I do agree with you on the whole tipping issue for sure. If we get poor service, we'll just ask for it to be removed.

Oh and answer to the OP, we stay far far away from the DDP, and will continue to do so.

 

[alldiz]

I'm much more upset at the DDP changes.....

I probably would leave slightly more than 18% so I'll probably be OK
with the DDE changes....

However taking AWAY the tip on DDP....yikes that hurt.
Kerri

 

[crisi]

True, but now it is up front and it lends itself more readily to the question of just paying the 18% and not bothering with the DDE plan.

I guess I don't get this logic.

Let's say hubby and I go to California Grill and spend $250 without the DDE. They add an 18% tip and we spend $295.

We spend $65 on the DDE and have the same meal - they add the tip off the $250, but subtract the 20% discount. We now spend $245 on our meal. We've still saved $50 on a single meal. Do that over the course of a vacation, and the DDE can more than pay for itself. Basically, the DDE now covers your mandatory tip.

The DDE has never been a good deal for many guests - it works best for larger parties (next year we are travelling with ten), people who already own APs (next year we will have one just for the DDE with ten people), people who do a lot of signature dining (where two DDP credits isn't a great deal, but a 20% discount adds up fast) and parties who order a glass of wine or a few drinks with dinner.

Now, I find mandatory tips abhorent - I'd have much preferred a 20% across the board increase in prices and a "no tipping" guideline. This is not longer a tip - its a service charge.

 

[kdzgon]

The DDE card has become easier to acquire and 18% tip is being added to all meals--DDE, DDP or otherwise.

If anything, I think the DDE continues to provide a better value than the DDP. YMMV.

Could you please elaborate here - how is it now easier to acquire?

Thanks!

 

[crisi]

I'm much more upset at the DDP changes.....

I probably would leave slightly more than 18% so I'll probably be OK
with the DDE changes....

However taking AWAY the tip on DDP....yikes that hurt.
Kerri

I think if this is true (18% added for DDP and for cash meals) a lot of people on the DDP are going to be in for a very rude surprise.

The DDP when tip was included was a great deal - we just used it for the first time.

The DDP when tip wasn't included wasn't a great deal to ethical people, but we all know that not every single person intending to use "free dining" is 100% ethical - not everyone was going to tip 18% - some people were going to stiff their servers - others were going to walk away from feeding four people at LeCellier and leave a $10 bill on the table.

Now they can't stiff their servers, so you have a $40 DDP, order $50 worth of food at dinner, and have a $9 tip that you need to pay for - right there up front.

I suspect Disney finally realized that many DDP users were not going to tip - there was going to be a lot of "oh, it was included last year, I didn't know" - some of it from people who truly did not know about a change and some of it from people not interested in letting any more money than necessary leave their pockets. There was going to be a lot of underestimating because who pays attention to prices when on the DDP?!

 

[Tinkerdreams]

Could you please elaborate here - how is it now easier to acquire?

Thanks!

I believe you can now go to any guest relations in any park, DTD, etc., the day you arrive and pick up a DDE card. You will no longer have to call 4 - 6 weeks ahead of time and wait to get the card.

 

[DISNEY FIX]

I guess that recieving the news in the email and having the last little paragraph with a very 'oh by the way' type tone for a relatively important thing is what took me back.
If people are stiffing the wait staff then I respect Disney for doing it if it all across the board and not just what I feel is targeted at the DDE customer.
Do we usually leave about 20% , yea so in reality it doesn't mean much.
What about a buffet meal????????? Sometimes the service is non existent, 18% will be a little high butt.........Any comments?