I don't know what to do...

[MissMet]

Ok, so these new changes to the DDP has really screwed up my planned vacation in Jan.

Let me give you all the info before I talk about the issue. I'm traveling to WDW with my brother & our two best friends who are married. Our friends are great, but they're not originally from NY & they aren't used to the "hefty" tip (always 20%) that we NYers don't think twice about. In fact they're not anything like us when it comes to finances. Nothing wrong with the way they are, just complete opposite than us. They are very "aware" of where every penny is going & they won't pay a cent over what they feel they should. Basically they are on the cheaper side of the spectrum. We are going down & staying in a 2-bed villa, I'm a DVC member. They have never been to WDW & completely trust my judgement.

Now the issue. Do we do DDP or DDE? There are pros & cons to both that are making it impossible for me to decide what to do. I'll give all the pros & cons I can think of & please let me know if I'm over thinking this or missing a valid point?

DDP
pros - all the meals are prepaid & all snacks are prepaid

cons -tipping, how would we do it & how would we do it evenly? Would they be willing to happily (key word) give us three checks for a table of four & we all just tip on our own or would it be one check & then what? Also, I don't want a dessert at every meal. I love soup. I wouldn't be allowed to get soup instead of dessert.

DDE
pros - we can order whatever we want, not just the meal & dessert. 18% gratuity is automatically added so they would be forced to tip more appropriately

cons - we would have to read over every receipt to figure out what everyone ordered to be sure it's even, since they would not agree to just splitting it three ways. Also, since I am the the DDE holder I would have to pay for everyone & they would owe me.

Now, our friends have already paid me for the DDP, so it's not like I would be worried about getting the money owed to me, but at the same time if it ended up costing them more to eat because we didn't get the DDP, they won't be happy.


I'm really confused about what to do, so I could use some help from ANYONE.

What should I do? I'm hoping that an outside pair of eyes or a few pairs of eyes would help me figure which is best.

Thank you for reading this long post & thanks in advanced for anyone's input!!

 

[beroh2253]

Check the link I have pasted below shows menus and prices of all the restaurants. You can figure what restaurants to make your ADR's and what you may want to eat and see the prices and figure if you would spend more doing OOP . With the list of restaurants we have booked for June below it is less for us to have the DDP then pay OOP. But some restaurants are less expensive (ex: SI FI) and if you do the less expensive ones and lots of buffets it may be cheaper OOP.


LE Cellier
Coral Reef
Teppan Edo
Rose and Crown to see Illusions
Kona CAfe
Chefs De France
Crystal Palace Breakfast




http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menus.htm

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[Luv2Roam]

I would tell them the pros and cons and let them decide.
You are correct that servers are real sticklers with not providing separate bills for the DDE. And your friends would need a calculator to tally everything up.
Otherwise it sounds like DDE is your best option since everyone could order what they wished, and not what the plan includes.

 

[MissMet]

I think we are going to do the DDE card. Looking at the menus it will be about the same with the DDE card than the DDP, close, but the same.

I'll just keep the receipts & every night tally what their balance is left. When we get there I'll explain the change & how basically they have $38 (each) per day to eat, so order wisely. The DDE card only really takes off the tip at a sit down restaurants, but you save big at the counter services. I just have to make sure we eat at the counter services that give the 20% discount.

I think this option will work out best for everyone. No one has to eat dessert if they don't want it & it will be just easier than having to figure out tipping for three different parties with three different credit cards.

Thanks for the help guys. This is the plan I was leaning towards, but I couldn't commit to it without a little push.

 

[JimMIA]

Keep in mind that in order to get DDE one of you will have to be an AP holder or Florida resident. Being a DVC owner doesn't quallify us for the DDE card. You only need one AP & DDE card, because the card is good for up to 10 people at a meal.

Also, don't forget that the Marlins knocked the Mets out of the playoffs last year! Have a great off-season, and we'll see you at Dolphin Stadium on March 30! Let me know if you need tickets!

 

[JimMIA]

Also, don't forget that the DDE/DDP comparison is a little flawed because the DDE card is good for +/- 13 months. DDP is for that trip only, but the DDE card can be used for multiple trips.

We used our DDE card for three trips...but that was before we knocked the Mets out of the playoffs.

 

[MissMet]

Keep in mind that in order to get DDE one of you will have to be an AP holder or Florida resident. Being a DVC owner doesn't quallify us for the DDE card. You only need one AP & DDE card, because the card is good for up to 10 people at a meal.

Also, don't forget that the Marlins knocked the Mets out of the playoffs last year! Have a great off-season, and we'll see you at Dolphin Stadium on March 30! Let me know if you need tickets!

Also, don't forget that the DDE/DDP comparison is a little flawed because the DDE card is good for +/- 13 months. DDP is for that trip only, but the DDE card can be used for multiple trips.

We used our DDE card for three trips...but that was before we knocked the Mets out of the playoffs.

Yeah, I have the DDE card already from my Nov trip.

Nah, the Marlins didn't knock the mets out of the playoffs, the METS knocked the mets out of the playoffs. Biggest embarrassment ever & you know how ownership repaid the fans? Raised our ticket prices 20% & so far have done NOTHING in the off-season except loose a 200 inning pitcher!

At least i didn't end up wasting money on post season tickets to not make it through the first round like the Phillies & Yankee fans did.

 

[WETWHISTLE]

Personally I'd just do the DPP - especially since they already paid you for it. Then you can figure out the tip at the table, split it 3 ways, and tell them what they owe.

 

[GreatLakes5]

I voted DDP....I don't know if it's because I think it's the best choice but because you're not starting from scratch but have already collected the DDP money I think cheapskates....err....I mean wallet-challenged friends are better sticking with what they're planning on.

Being from a Midwest area known for its wallet-challenged people I know that they are also change-challenged.

Just a thought....

 

[itchin2go]

I would go DDP because I think it has less potential for fighting amongst friends. At least with DDP, you know the food is paid for (i.e. you're not going to get stuck with the cost of the food). Sure, the servers might get stiffed, but you won't. Don't get me wrong, I'm a pretty good tipper (18-20% almost universally), and I'm pretty appalled by people who don't pony up a decent tip, but I wouldn't ruin a friendship over someone leaving a low tip. Now, arguments over the divvy-ing up of the bill? I can see those escalating. Just my two cents.

Of course, as I think about it, the DDP could cause arguments too unless everyone sticks strictly to their own credits. If anyone goes over and is supposed to pay OOP....

Good luck, whatever you decide! Knowing your friends' personalities ahead of time certainly helps. Imagine if you just discovered the thrifty side of them in the middle of this vacation!

 

[pickles]

keep the ddp, they are already sold on it

as far as tips go, is it really your concern how much they choose to leave?
Tell them what their portion of the bill is and let them leave the tip that they want. You leave what you want. it isn't like the waitress is getting nothing
Some countries don't tip at all like US does, to each his own.

 

[auntie]

Although I'm not a fan of the new dining plan for '08, I think I'd go with it given the circumstances. Especially since they've already paid you for the dining plan. Also, you may not always eat every meal together. I'm sure you won't spend every single moment together. If one or two of them are off on their own and they want to get a bite, they will need to have the DDE card with them. From what I understand you are the one with that?...not sure. If everyone is on the DDP then it won't matter whether you are with your friends or not when they dine. Just seems to me that they already paid for it, so they know the cost. It's a matter of a tip..which even if they are not prone to tipping 20%. I am assuming that they don't live in a cave and they do tip at least the standard 15%...and if you feel the service meets your standards and you'd like to make it 20% you could certainly add the difference yourself.

 

[Luv2trav]

I would definately do the DDP too.. Especially if you are going to have to keep reminding them what they have "left" to spend for food. They may get confused and order dessert and buy snacks that end up being more than the 38.00pp before tips. We are going with friends in June and this is one of the reasons we choose to go with DDDP instead of just DDE card.

 

[hematite153]

I've only scanned, so if someone already mentioned this, I apologize, but, ...

If there will be 6 of you at each meal there will be an automatic 18% service charge no matter what you decide with regards to DDE/DDP.

Given what you've said about your friends habits, you should probably make sure they know this in advance.

I'd go with the DDP because they will be able to feel they are 'getting a good deal' whenever the food (+tax!) they order totals more than $38 in a given day.

Have a magical trip!

 

[beroh2253]

I've only scanned, so if someone already mentioned this, I apologize, but, ...

If there will be 6 of you at each meal there will be an automatic 18% service charge no matter what you decide with regards to DDE/DDP.

Given what you've said about your friends habits, you should probably make sure they know this in advance.

I'd go with the DDP because they will be able to feel they are 'getting a good deal' whenever the food (+tax!) they order totals more than $38 in a given day.

Have a magical trip!

$38 dollars is real easy to hit eash day just the TS alone.

 

[NMW]

I think we are going to do the DDE card. Looking at the menus it will be about the same with the DDE card than the DDP, close, but the same.

I'll just keep the receipts & every night tally what their balance is left. When we get there I'll explain the change & how basically they have $38 (each) per day to eat, so order wisely. The DDE card only really takes off the tip at a sit down restaurants, but you save big at the counter services. I just have to make sure we eat at the counter services that give the 20% discount.

I think this option will work out best for everyone. No one has to eat dessert if they don't want it & it will be just easier than having to figure out tipping for three different parties with three different credit cards.

Thanks for the help guys. This is the plan I was leaning towards, but I couldn't commit to it without a little push.

The only problem I see with that is that not too many CS places take the DDE card. At least that's how it was when we used in Oct 2006 and Dec 2005. In fact, hardly ANY CS places took it outside of the ones in AK. I was told by CM at Pecos Bill that the ones in AK take the DDE because there is not a TS restaurant in the park except Rainforest.

Are more CS places now accepting the DDE? If so, that would be great.