Do You Plan To Tip Above the DDE 18%?

[yearbook50]

They're just getting the 18% from me unless it is amazing service. But you can bet if I get crappy service, I will ask for a manager.

 

[jodifla]

Nope. 18 percent now.

I imagine lots of people tip even less in the day to day at Disney, so this will be a benefit to them.

 

[Merriwind]

That's not the way I understood it from reading the posts. I understood that Disney made the removal of the grat. from the DDP a non-negotiable part of the new contract and in return the union asked for and got the auto grat added to the DDE card. Even if that's not true - the servers on this board have made it clear that they were unhappy with the way DDE card holders tipped. If Disney was indeed the one to offer the auto grat for DDE members they did so because of the complaints of servers.

This was my understanding as well. We also used to simply add back in the 20% DDE discount. Although I'm very good at math, I don't plan to use those abilities to calculate any additional "tip." According to the servers who post here, those of us tipping back the 20% were a small minority and they will make out far better with 18% from all. If it works for Disney and the servers, it works for me.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I think one of the things thats surprises and amazes me the most is the servers that feel they are being stiffed IF they aren't tipped on the amount of the bill before the discount. (and at least 18% of course) I would think most experienced waitstaff understand that people have different standards for tipping. I always thought "stiffing" meant you didn't receive a tip.

I have also wondered if the DDE will become more unpopular since the addition of the service charge. Maybe Disney will eventually end up dropping the program.....then the only service charge will be on parties over 5 guests.

 

[just another guy]

prehaps you under estimated the amount of people who tip well because you were annoyed with those who didn't?

No, I know several disney servers, and even the nicest of the nicest ones(the ones who still think disney is the best company in the world to work for, spend their off times in the park, etc) still hate seeing people with a DDE card, because they know a bad tip is coming.

 

[kimsuenew]

We generally tip 20% across the board, so WDW will be no different. As we are only a group of three, no auto grat of 18% will be added. In the future, if an across the board auto grat were implemented for all guests, no matter of party size, and we were given a 18% "tip bill" in addition to our DDP receipt, than we more than likely would simply pay that, however until then we will do our usual (and easily caluculated) 20%!

 

[marivaid]

No, I know several disney servers, and even the nicest of the nicest ones(the ones who still think disney is the best company in the world to work for, spend their off times in the park, etc) still hate seeing people with a DDE card, because they know a bad tip is coming.

That's funny, because at least 4 servers gave me the thumbs up when I gave them my card. That includes our server at Cali Grill, who told me this was one of the best places to use it.

You don't know who's going to tip well and who isn't. If you hate seeing DDE card holders (who can only be either Annual Passholders, locals, or both), then don't work for Disney. But anyway, I'm sure you guys will do a lot better this upcoming year. Guests on DDP, who were used to 1/having the tip included and 2/getting more money for their buck, are sure to pay you a steady 20% for average service.

 

[goofy4tink]

The servers' unions are the ones who lobbyed for that change. They got what they wanted, and what they wanted was an 18% tip. So that's what I'll tip.

Yep, me too. I used to tip at 20% but I am not going to leave extra now. I will take it to a manager if I feel the service was bad enough to warrant no tip.

Why are so many of you saying I normally tip 20%, but I will just leave the automatice 18% as is? If the service has not changed from when you left 20%, why tip less now? Is the mathematics behind the extra 2% so mind boggling? No wonder ever year we hear how the students in the United States come in 37th place, just behind Uzbekistan in mathematics in school. (There was no offense intended for the fine young students in Uzbekistan in this statement.)

That is not the issue. I'm sure we can all figure out what 2% addtl. is. But, do we want to? No. It's more the principle here. I don't like having a tip being mandatory. Then, it's a service charge. The diner should get to decide how much to tip.

No, I know several disney servers, and even the nicest of the nicest ones(the ones who still think disney is the best company in the world to work for, spend their off times in the park, etc) still hate seeing people with a DDE card, because they know a bad tip is coming.

I resent that mentality more than a little bit. The least I have ever tipped was 10%...and that was richly deserved. The server was at a character buffet and showed up at our table once to bring our first drinks and then later to bring the check. I had to track someone down in order to get refills. And our dirty plates from the main course were still on the table when we got back with our desserts...and that was about 10 mins after finishing the main course. That server got about $10 for a party of 3! I usually tip at least 20%. I'm sorry that some in the world don't tip the way most American servers expect. But, I resent being made to make up for it with mandatory gratuities. Therefor, the servers are going to have to be happy with the 18% that is automatically added.

Now..if I get a server who is outstanding, then I will be leaving extra, in cash.

 

[Sandy321]

We always tipped more but we also will probably just go with the automatic 18% to save the hassle.

I'm with others, I wont give more - I resent the automatic "tax" (I cant call it a "tip" if its automatic, tax isnt the right word I know, but I have to pay tax so its what works right now!)

I understand that its not "really" that much... but there's something wrong when Disney is making us pay 18% - -

when we were on Free Dining we always left more (sometimes $5 sometimes $10) for great service - not anymore - that's done.

I dont want to pay 18% on a bottle of wine, or 18% on a buffet - like a previous poster, most of our buffet service has been like that!!

But, I'm also on a wait and see, we're leaving in 7 days, so I reserve the right to change my mind!!

 

[MickeyNicki]

I always tipped 20% because it made it easy for me. Just tip back what they took away. Now I'll just tip what is automatically charged to me.

That goes for me too

 

[just another guy]

I resent that mentality more than a little bit.

Sorry, its true!

To add to the debate, cash and credit card tips go home that night with the server. Grat gets added to their pay check, so they don't see it for a week, and then its taxed. So even if the average DDE card holder was tipping 15% of the prediscounted amount, that would be better then 18% grat going to the pay check, and getting taxed....but they were now!

Another aspect to toss out is some people thought of 10% tip max for a buffet. A $200 bill saves $40, making the bill $160, and then they leave $16. Don't even TRY to say that never happens, because it does all the time.

 

[patsal]

Sorry, its true!

To add to the debate, cash and credit card tips go home that night with the server. Grat gets added to their pay check, so they don't see it for a week, and then its taxed. So even if the average DDE card holder was tipping 15% of the prediscounted amount, that would be better then 18% grat going to the pay check, and getting taxed....but they were now!

Another aspect to toss out is some people thought of 10% tip max for a buffet. A $200 bill saves $40, making the bill $160, and then they leave $16. Don't even TRY to say that never happens, because it does all the time.

It may happen frequently that someone tips 10% on the total of the price they paid rather than on the full price--but the server is out $4.00 based on that, not $24 as the numbers you present imply. Since industry standards everywhere except Disney is 10% for buffets that would be an understandable error (tipping 10% rather than 15 or 18 or 20) and a faux pax for tipping on the discounted total rather than the prediscount total--afterall that is spelled out in the DDE literature as well as other etiquette/rules areas. Keep in mind also that the Disney buffet is priced substantially higher than the Golden Corral so the tip is still higher to those who chose to tip 10% than what they leave elsewhere.

I won't even touch the notion of having to wait for a check or OMG actually having to pay taxes on earnings!

 

[Tricia1972]

We all pay taxes on all of our earnings. (and those that don't are supposed to) Unfortunately it's a price you pay for living in the good old USA.

The thought that the servers are making less now because they have to claim their 18% versus the 15% that they made previously is a pretty weak argument. What? Those servers who were cheating the government are now being penalized for doing what they should have done all along?

Sorry, its true!

To add to the debate, cash and credit card tips go home that night with the server. Grat gets added to their pay check, so they don't see it for a week, and then its taxed. So even if the average DDE card holder was tipping 15% of the prediscounted amount, that would be better then 18% grat going to the pay check, and getting taxed....but they were now!

Another aspect to toss out is some people thought of 10% tip max for a buffet. A $200 bill saves $40, making the bill $160, and then they leave $16. Don't even TRY to say that never happens, because it does all the time.

Also, a seasonal server posted last week that they make in a 6 hour evening and it's almost the same figure that a PP on this thread came up with. The PP looked at things mathematically taking an average tables bill, number of tables a server would serve a night and hypothesizing. I find it hard to feel very sorry for the 'poor server' who is making that much an hour pretax. (And that's with just tipping a measly 15%).

I am not saying serving is not hard work, I am not saying that we shouldn't tip and tip fairly. I am also not saying that customers can be (and are occasionally) rude, but I am sick of servers implying that they don't make a decent living. Further, if servers aren't making a good living or aren't happy at their jobs then they can do something else. When you take a job serving you know approximately what you can expect to earn based on average tips.

Before I get attacked for being cheap, we generally tip 20% of the taxed total and round down, which is roughly 20% of the pretax bill. ($200 dinner is $213 with tax, we'd tip about $42) We will tip more or less depending on circumstance and the server.

(Stupid as it may be we gave a server $5 on our $10 bill last weekend - we only ordered an appetizer and two beverages and didn't want to penalize the waiter. He was fantastic, very attentive so we figured the average bill there is about $30 for us. We gave him just over 18% of what his tip would have been if we'd ordered regularly. Once or twice I've also left no tip, or just a few cents if service is bad - that is inattentive and rude.)

 

[just another guy]

It may happen frequently that someone tips 10% on the total of the price they paid rather than on the full price--but the server is out $4.00 based on that, not $24 as the numbers you present imply.

There is no error in my math, only in your reading.

$200 bill, and a 18% tip for quality service would be $36.

A $200 bill with the DDE card becomes $160. A 10% tip of that is $16, thus screwing the server out of $20.

We all pay taxes on all of our earnings. (and those that don't are supposed to) Unfortunately it's a price you pay for living in the good old USA.

Yeah, sure is nice of the govt to make no law saying people have to tip, but a law saying server have to pay a tax on a tip they might not get. Makes perfect sense.

The ONCE good USA is more like it. This upcoming election will be an important one. If the people of this country pick the wrong person again, our constitution, liberty, and freedoms will only continue to get trampled on.

 

[dizfanz]

That is not the issue. I'm sure we can all figure out what 2% addtl. is. But, do we want to? No. It's more the principle here. I don't like having a tip being mandatory. Then, it's a service charge. The diner should get to decide how much to tip.


QUOTE]

The service charge line sounds like pure semantics to me. If you tipped 20% before, you should tip 20% now. Who cares if it will be added to the check automatically. If you tipped 15% before and now are forced to tip 18%, I can see your gripe. But those that tipped 20% gladly and now say they are upset that 18% is automatically added, I think your crazy for getting upset over this. Tip 18% and go home with your 2% and your principles knowing that the only one that got the short end of this deal was your server. I have been working in the restaurant business for many years and I can say that no server slacks because an automatic 18% was coming their way. It is not worth it compared to dealing with a ticked off manager who just got his/her &$# chewed by an upset guest. If a server is not doing a great job for a table that will be providing an automatic gratuity, they may just be a bad server or have something going on that has nothing to do with the fact that the grat is auto. You know, maybe they are helping run food to a table, or wrapping up all the food that was given to someone on DDP, or their dog just died, or they are just hungover from all they drank the night before. Why did they drink so much you ask? Because if someone is this absurd over having to tip 2% less money, can you imagine how absurd they act when the server takes 3 or 4 minutes to bring the 7th refill of their diet coke to go with their oversized fried platter of food. With extra lemons, of course

My Dennis Miller-like rant is over. Thanks for the vent.

 

[SwhJess]

We will only being paying the 18% Service Charge since our freedom to speak with our money has been curtailed.

 

[marivaid]

Yeah, sure is nice of the govt to make no law saying people have to tip, but a law saying server have to pay a tax on a tip they might not get. Makes perfect sense.

May I suggest applying at Home Depot ?

 

[dizfanz]

We will only being paying the 18% Service Charge since our freedom to speak with our money has been curtailed.

Again, the server is the one that loses here if you tipped above 18% before the change. If you want to speak with your money, do not buy and use the DDE card.

 

[patsal]

There is no error in my math, only in your reading.

$200 bill, and a 18% tip for quality service would be $36.

A $200 bill with the DDE card becomes $160. A 10% tip of that is $16, thus screwing the server out of $20.



Yeah, sure is nice of the govt to make no law saying people have to tip, but a law saying server have to pay a tax on a tip they might not get. Makes perfect sense.

The ONCE good USA is more like it. This upcoming election will be an important one. If the people of this country pick the wrong person again, our constitution, liberty, and freedoms will only continue to get trampled on.

BUT you said buffet--buffet not full service you are going to get people who look at the buffet as only warranting a 10% tip per customary guidelines. Therefore my math is correct. Those same people most likely would have left a 15% tip on the total after the discount at a full service restaurant--still incorrect tipping practice since it is on the after dis count total but still not yielding the huge "stiffing" you suggest.

 

[marivaid]

There is no error in my math, only in your reading.

$200 bill, and a 18% tip for quality service would be $36.

A $200 bill with the DDE card becomes $160. A 10% tip of that is $16, thus screwing the server out of $20.

People do not HAVE to tip you 18%. Actually, they don't have to tip you anything at all. That's the reality of the job you chose.

But anyway, it doesn't matter anymore. Your DDE customers will now have to leave you an 18% tip, whether you deserve it or not, and you can leave the "screwing" to the regular and DDP customers. That'll give you a whole new group of people to be mad at.