Gratuity Question...

[robinb]

What I find interesting is that the OP did the same thing at Ohanas and went back the next night for a free meal there as well. I'm suspicious of someone who posts about being nickel and dimed on food and has bad meals but goes back for a comp the next night.

You know Anne, when you find a system that works you stick with it .

 

[ducklite]

Also, she had breakfast at Ohana's and loved it, but when she had dinner there it was dirty. Yet despite the dirt she went back for four free meals the next night.

Now me, if a place is dirty, I don't care what they are giving me for free, I'm not going back. Yuck!

I'm not sure how it went from great to dirty and disgusting...the only difference I'm seeing is the ability to get a free meal...

Anne

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I will generally tip in a 10% to 20% range depending on the quality of the service. Any time I tip outside of this range, whether below 10% or above 20% I will talk to the manager and explain my reasoning for considering either poor service or exceptionally good service.

If I am in a location where the gratuity is automatically added, and I feel the server has earned a much lower tip than the automatic I will speak with a manager before I make payment. This is a very rarte occurance, but in circumstances where I have complained the gratuity (or even meal price) has usually be adjusted. Of course, if I feel the server has earned more I will pay more.

 

[skiwee1]

I believe it is Disney policy to add in the tip, and their rate is 18%. Now, realize that all of that doesn't go to the waitress/waiter. They have others who bus the tables, and are behind the scenes. This covers so that everyone gets a fair price. I know that I have been to Disney the last five years and everytime, we had the gratuity right on the bill. I think it makes it a lot easier for me.

We eat at WDW over 30 days a year and have NEVER had gratuity added in. We've eated everywhere from Ohana to Kona's to all the character meals and every sit down in between. Never, as a party of 3-5 people have we ever had the tip added automatically. I have no idea why you seemed to have had that done to you as it is not Disney policy.

 

[TnKrBeLlA012]

Also, she had breakfast at Ohana's and loved it, but when she had dinner there it was dirty. Yet despite the dirt she went back for four free meals the next night.

Anne

WOW!! I think you need to re-do your homework! My previous post went from Ohanas to Crystal Palace being dirty. And if I am paying over $150.00 for diiner when the service is terrible you are darn right that I will be complaing and getting somthing from that. Also, about the Ohanas I love how you think you know what happened lets stick to the topic of my post instead of saying what you want to hear. My post was about Gratuity not free meals!

 

[shoney]

I think the 18% was added so that you tipped on the entire amount ($80 for example) instead of just the 2 meals ($40 for example) that you were paying for. The waitress served or assisted with 4 meals and therefore her tip should be based on 4 meals and not just the two you were paying for.

Secondly, a gratuity is not mandatory. You could have simply called the manager over and had it adjusted to whatever amount you wanted to leave.

Lastly, the food was free so just let it go!

 

[dsnyfrek]

We eat at WDW over 30 days a year and have NEVER had gratuity added in. We've eated everywhere from Ohana to Kona's to all the character meals and every sit down in between. Never, as a party of 3-5 people have we ever had the tip added automatically. I have no idea why you seemed to have had that done to you as it is not Disney policy.

Everytime I have gone, I have had the meal plan included in my package. The policy for the gratuity is included in that plan for sure. I know that. When we were first there they explained how the dining plan works and I KNOW that they told us it was included.

Now, I am sort of compulsive about things, so I just called Disney and this was the Cast Members response:

It is standard that when you have a dining plan included with your package reservations, that you will see the gratuity and taxes right on the bill along with the total of the meal. That is so that you don't have to worry about adding it later. This is for sit down meals and character meals.

If you go to counter service, there is no gratuity involved, so there will be nothing on the bill.

 

[skiwee1]

Everytime I have gone, I have had the meal plan included in my package. The policy for the gratuity is included in that plan for sure. I know that. When we were first there they explained how the dining plan works and I KNOW that they told us it was included.

Now, I am sort of compulsive about things, so I just called Disney and this was the Cast Members response:

It is standard that when you have a dining plan included with your package reservations, that you will see the gratuity and taxes right on the bill along with the total of the meal. That is so that you don't have to worry about adding it later. This is for sit down meals and character meals.

If you go to counter service, there is no gratuity involved, so there will be nothing on the bill.

I didn't think the OP was talking about the meal plan so I wasn't referring to that. I didn't think you were referring to the meal plan either as that is a totally different topic.

 

[Lewisc]

WOW!! I think you need to re-do your homework! My previous post went from Ohanas to Crystal Palace being dirty. And if I am paying over $150.00 for diiner when the service is terrible you are darn right that I will be complaing and getting somthing from that. Also, about the Ohanas I love how you think you know what happened lets stick to the topic of my post instead of saying what you want to hear. My post was about Gratuity not free meals!

If you thought the service wasn't good enough to warrant a standard tip you should have said something before you left the restaurant. You lost your chance to complain when you left the restaurant. I guess you could call to verify that the server is allowed to add an automatic gratuity if some of the meals were comped but I don't think the server would have done it if it's not permitted.

Were you the poster who said your two year old will stay two for several years?

Some people complain just to get stuff for free and have an excuse to leave a poor tip. If you're consistently getting service you find to be poor than your standards may be too high or you might want to re-think where you chose to spend your food dollars.

 

[TnKrBeLlA012]

I doubt it was 'what nerve she had' but rather something more like 'policy' to include gratuity. Talk about petty!

I don't believe this was a petty question!!!!!! If you like having extra charges on your bill good for you! You must have a money tree outside. Keep picking! Some of us don't. And the poster here was my daughter And I did call Cape May and said it was wrong that the tip was added on. They apologized. So that was the end of that. So the answer to the poster's question is???????? You are correct! It was wrong. Keep watching out for your money. You work hard for it!!!!! Remember money dosen't grow on trees!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[robinb]

The poster just asked a question. The poster being my daughter.

Why doesn't your daughter have her own account?

I as her mother did call and Cape May said it was wrong that the tip was added on. They apologized. So that was the end of that. So the answer to the poster's question is???????? You are correct! It was wrong.

I'm glad you finally checked for yourself and came back with an update, complete with multiple !!!!!!!!

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I was unaware Disney automatically charged gratuity to parties less than 8. I've never had that happen.

Well we have. We were on the dining plan but we ate some meals with paying for our youngest because she wouldn't eat hardly ANYTHING and we could use the TS credit so we could double up (like for Mickey's Backyard BBQ). Every single time they added the gratuity (although sometimes it was 15%, usually it was 18%) to her seperate ticket as well. I would have added the tip on my own (although I would have done so grudgingly at Boma's- we DID have to wait for drinks even though we don't drink fast and we did have plates piling up on the table not to be picked up until she brought the check with gratuity already included) but it bothered me to have it already on there. I tell you- it will cost them in the end by doing that. I might have tipped more if I felt it was really worth it- but when they add the 18% gratuity and only have a line for you to sign... I just signed. So they missed out- I usually tip 20% or more if they deserved more. I felt like fine... if you want an automatic gratuity when it's supposed to be based on service (and in some cases it was OBVIOUS since they knew they were getting the automatic gratuity they gave poor service)- then great... that's all you're getting.

We just returned from our trip- so maybe they are incorporating this automatic gratuity more often- or maybe they are just doing it if part of your party is on the dining plan so any other receipts for people at that table are also automatic gratuity- I don't know. But it is very commonplace now. I can only think of ONE place that allowed for you to add the gratuity on the receipt and that was at whispering canyon cafe. At Chef Mickey's they added on the gratuity AND had an extra line for you to add gratuity. LOL We were there 10 days with atleast one, sometimes two TS meals per day- so we ate at a lot of restaurants and they all did it.

 

[scrump]

Many countries don't have a gratuity custom. Perhaps WDW is automatically adding on gratuity as a way to catch the international travelers?

 

[TnKrBeLlA012]

Why doesn't your daughter have her own account?



I'm glad you finally checked for yourself and came back with an update, complete with multiple !!!!!!!!

This board I believe was designed to ask questions, give updates,suggestions,or problems people have run into. What I have noticed is very negative comments and sarcastic remarks! For a Disney site I'm amazed at how rotten people really are. They twist your words and instead of giving positve answers to questions they are fully loaded for battle. If you have had a bad experience I would suggest not to include it on this board unless you are prepared for an attack. Shame on those of you!!!! Complete with multiple!!!!!!

 

[#1hockeymom]

Just bumping this on up as it gives great insite as to why one might be claiming a two year old forever.....

Still don't agree with her, but I don't think I ever will.

If you can't afford the restaurants, don't eat at them! Pick some place you can afford! It is a simple concept!

 

[minnie61650]

Just bumping this on up as it gives great insite as to why one might be claiming a two year old forever.....

Still don't agree with her, but I don't think I ever will.

If you can't afford the restaurants, don't eat at them! Pick some place you can afford! It is a simple concept!

ITA

 

[adrock1976]

Just bumping this on up as it gives great insite as to why one might be claiming a two year old forever.....

Still don't agree with her, but I don't think I ever will.

If you can't afford the restaurants, don't eat at them! Pick some place you can afford! It is a simple concept!

That makes 3 of us...obvously this is a chronic problem. Negative attention is better than no attention for some.

 

[Badgerfan]

Umm, could someone set me straight on what the last three comments are all about? It is my understanding that the OP was basically asking for a thumbs up or down as to whether she had a legit gripe about her tip being included in the bill vs. left up to the consumer. Where in this thread did anyone talk about having a two yr old forever, or not being able to afford certain meals? If someone made this comment on a different thread, then perhaps that's the thread where the comments need to be. As for the tipping, I believe it should be based off the service you recieved, good service = good tip, poor service = poor tip, if they are just going to add a straight 18% to your bill, then whats the point of a tip, and what incentive does that give to the servers?

Anyways, I hope everyone can put their "smilie faces" back on and break out of the negative vibe this thread seems to have. I know I'm smiling.......... I'll be in WDW in three days!!

 

[notnothin]

Umm, could someone set me straight on what the last three comments are all about? It is my understanding that the OP was basically asking for a thumbs up or down as to whether she had a legit gripe about her tip being included in the bill vs. left up to the consumer. Where in this thread did anyone talk about having a two yr old forever, or not being able to afford certain meals? If someone made this comment on a different thread, then perhaps that's the thread where the comments need to be. As for the tipping, I believe it should be based off the service you recieved, good service = good tip, poor service = poor tip, if they are just going to add a straight 18% to your bill, then whats the point of a tip, and what incentive does that give to the servers?

Anyways, I hope everyone can put their "smilie faces" back on and break out of the negative vibe this thread seems to have. I know I'm smiling.......... I'll be in WDW in three days!!

The comments are in reference to a thread which is now closed. As such, I am unable to post the URL of said thread as it is against DIS guidelines.