information on tipping

[bluslag]

I read a lot of posts that don't like how the new tipping is addressed by the waiter and I was wondering if the check-in desk could inform you about the new tipping rules so that the waiter did not have to. Maybe even a notice on the menu would be easier than the waiter asking for his own tip. I seem to have read a lot of posts where the waiter seems to be rude because he or she wants to know where the tip is coming from before you even order. I think that is just wrong. You should have to get the service before you even think about the tip, None of us are trying to stiff anyone but we would like to judge the service. I also think that 6 people does not make a large table. I would like to be able to tip whatever we seem fit. We will be a table of 6 and I think we will probably be not much harder than a smaller table because we are not very demanding. You also get a much bigger tip on a table of 6 just because of the dollar amount. Just venting!!

 

[Tricia1972]

Wow, I missed any threads where the waiter is asking about the tip before dinner. I know that they mention it after the meal, because once the card is swiped that's it. If tip isn't included at that time it can't be added.

One good thing for us to know is that if the diner is going to tip cash, write CASH on the tip line. This helps the waiter know that you don't plan on charging your tip. (Leaving the server free to go swipe your card without worry that they'll come back and then the diner will complain that they can't add the tip at that time)

I believe the auto gratuity was changed from 8 to 6 to ensure that the servers didn't lose a ton by having the tip removed DDP. Losing the tip on the DDP, the servers gained the DDE Auto Gratuity (regardless of party size) and that parties of 6 or more are now assessed an auto gratuity.

All these changes are frustrating, I just hope that the kinks get worked out soon. It'll make it better for the customer and the server.

 

[Goofyz3girls]

From what I've been reading the DDP and DDE changes are causing a lot of problems for everyone.But what I don't understand is why people have to cry about tipping.Whether they did a good job or not they still deserve something.Whats that going to be 10%? I give 18% if is ok to good and 20% for excellent service.(the least...no matter what should be 15%)Now that you have to pay for the tip out of your pocket it's not going to be a good one unless you get top of the line service.I don't blame these waiters for asking up front.I've seen it alot with WDW guest they nickel and dime it when it comes to tipping. Example...before you used to be able to valet park at a resort for the price of just the tip.Now it cost $10 per day before you give a tip.Why did this happen.....because most of the guest in the past would only give 50 cents for a tip (friend of previous valet).The valets were making no money so Disney had to make a change. So because of that I spend more money (which I don't mind I'm on vacation) and I also know the cheap ones are parking their own cars! So whether its a party 8 or 6 the auto gradtuity is there so the server doesn't lose out like the valets did in the past. "Just venting"

 

[Ilovefozzie]

I'm one of those people planning on giving every single one of our waiters 18%. But if the service is lousy I will give less and if the service is fantastic and filled with pixie dust I will give more.

On our last trip to WDW, we ate at the now gone *thank goodness* Breakfastsaurus. The service was so unbelievably rude, horrible and down right criminal (the waitress found out we were on the DDP and she let us know how she felt about that) I was in shock. I actually went to the manager and told her the problem and suggested that they make sure the waitress didn't get the tip Disney tacked on. And then another night at the Sci-Fi the waiter was SO amazing we left him (in cash) above he 18%.

I don't believe that the lowest amount to give is 15%. I start there and move up or down. The other night the DH and I went to lunch and the waitress was so amazing we gave her 25% tip.

 

[bluslag]

I started this thread and by no means do I want you to think that we don't tip well. My husband does the tipping and he is very generous. I used to be a waiter and I always tried to make it enjoyable for the customer. Not because of the tip but because it was my job. We used the DDP for the first time last year and really enjoyed the ease of it. We only had one bad waiter and our whole trip was very enjoyable. We liked the tip included because we were used to it, it was paid for, and we were out of there fast when it was time to go. Now that the DDP has changed it sounds like it can go really well or it can have problems. It doesn't sound like waiters are very happy and that can have an effect on the dining experience. I just think Disney could have made the change a little easier for the customer and the waiter.

 

[Ilovefozzie]

I started this thread and by no means do I want you to think that we don't tip well.

It doesn't sound like waiters are very happy and that can have an effect on the dining experience. I just think Disney could have made the change a little easier for the customer and the waiter.

Bluslag,

I for one didn't intend for you to feel that I believed that. Sorry if I did. And I have to agree. There were a million other ways to make the change smoother. But, hindsight is always 20/20. I think the tipping issue could get more interesting before it gets better. We are 109 days away from finding out just HOW interesting.

 

[disneydreamgirl]

We're going to WDW in 19 days and are staying at POP!!!!
I purchased a Disney giftcard and put ample money for our six table service meal tips (DDP) and will now be prepared to say "I'll take care of your tip through a giftcard". If our first meal begins with a conversation about tips with the waiter/waitress, I will know to lead with that line at the next meal! I'll let you know how my experience goes and if the giftcard makes the process any easier. I like to pay for as much ahead of time as possible so I don't have to keep a running tally and this seemed like a good way to take care of it.

 

[NAN0112]

We're going to WDW in 19 days and are staying at POP!!!!
I purchased a Disney giftcard and put ample money for our six table service meal tips (DDP) and will now be prepared to say "I'll take care of your tip through a giftcard". If our first meal begins with a conversation about tips with the waiter/waitress, I will know to lead with that line at the next meal! I'll let you know how my experience goes and if the giftcard makes the process any easier. I like to pay for as much ahead of time as possible so I don't have to keep a running tally and this seemed like a good way to take care of it.

Please let us know,this sounds like a great idea. There is nothing worse than having to try to keep tabs when you are on vacation. Where did you get the gift card?

 

[tardin1964]

So because of that I spend more money (which I don't mind I'm on vacation) and I also know the cheap ones are parking their own cars! "Just venting"

What does that mean??? If a person dosen't want to spend $10 a day just to have their car sit in a parking spot for a week or two they are cheap????

 

[Esmerelda]

Disneydreamgirl....PLEASE let us know how the giftcard works out. I think that's a great idea. Its better than carrying cash everywhere for a tip.

keep us posted and have a great trip!

 

[kaytieeldr]

I also think that 6 people does not make a large table. I would like to be able to tip whatever we seem fit. We will be a table of 6 and I think we will probably be not much harder than a smaller table because we are not very demanding

You may not think so, but it's a relatively standard cut-off point across the entire restaurant industry.

So because of that I spend more money (which I don't mind I'm on vacation) and I also know the cheap ones are parking their own cars! "Just venting"

What does that mean??? If a person dosen't want to spend $10 a day just to have their car sit in a parking spot for a week or two they are cheap????

Not even close! It means, because people were too cheap to pay for parking at the theme parks and would instead use Valet Parking at the resorts AND, upon retrieving their vehicles tip the valet an 'amazing' fifty cents, Disney now charges the same for Valet Parking as they do for theme park parking.
I do have to disagree, however, with the statement that Disney made the change because the valets were making no money. Disney made the change because it was determined that they COULD, that Guests would pay $X to have somebody else park their car and bring it right up to the door when they wanted it. NONE of that money goes to the Valets (okay, very indirectly maybe, in that the revenue may be applied to payroll)... which is why it's still customary to tip the valet.

 

[MagicAllison]

We are using this plan in a couple of week...what does the automatic tip charge mean? If we don't say anything the server will automatically charge our room an 18% tip?

 

[angelmav]

You may not think so, but it's a relatively standard cut-off point across the entire restaurant industry.

Have to disagree with you, as a family of 7 that eats out frequently, six is not standard. Its normally 8 or higher (gee like Disney last year). On only rare occasions have we encountered an auto grat at a table size as small as 6.

 

[mickeymedic]

We just got back from WDW. At no time did our server say anything about the tip before or during our meal. When they brought the bill at the end of the meal and we handed them our room card (we were on the DDP) the server would ask, "would you like the alcohol and tip charged to your room?" Nothing was done automatically. DH still had to write in the tip on the slip before they ran the card.

I will caution that it was a little bit confusing at first. At regular restaurants (outside of "The World") you are presented with the bill, the waiter/waitress runs your card, then you add the tip after the fact. At WDW, you are presented with the bill and asked to add the tip (if you are paying with credit card or room charge) before they run your card. When they bring you the slip to sign, there is still that extra line to write in a tip. My husband wrote on that line "already included" or something to that extent. But it was a little confusing the first time.

 

[Tricia1972]

We are using this plan in a couple of week...what does the automatic tip charge mean? If we don't say anything the server will automatically charge our room an 18% tip?

No, you will have to add the tip amount in before they run the credits for your DDP. (Unless you're a party of 6 or more, then it'll be added to your bill automatically and will appear on your bill when you receive it -before the credits are run)

 

[sorul82?]

We're going to WDW in 19 days and are staying at POP!!!!
I purchased a Disney giftcard and put ample money for our six table service meal tips (DDP) and will now be prepared to say "I'll take care of your tip through a giftcard". If our first meal begins with a conversation about tips with the waiter/waitress, I will know to lead with that line at the next meal! I'll let you know how my experience goes and if the giftcard makes the process any easier. I like to pay for as much ahead of time as possible so I don't have to keep a running tally and this seemed like a good way to take care of it.

I like this idea. Will you give them the gift card at the beginning of the meal along with the room key and just tell them how much to charge the gift card?

 

[disneydreamgirl]

After the couple of comments that I've received from a couple of different posts, I think I will just tell the waiter or waitress that I have the gift card for their tip at the beginnning of the meal. Why make them wonder?! You can get these gift cards at any Disney Store; I bought mine at the one in the Walden Galleria in Buffalo and according to their staff we should be able to use them just about anywhere at Disney.

We are so excited for this trip. It will be the first trip for just my husband, my son and myself. We've been away with other multiples of people, including my parents and my sister and her family last January to Disney World for one week. We decided to stay on site this time and went with the dining plan as well because I felt it was important for everyone to take a forced break each day. Last year we went every day for the entire week solid and were exhausted by the end of our stay. We thoroughly enjoyed our trip, but we needed a holiday from the holiday when we got back home!

Needless to say, I've already promised to check in with a report after our trip; 17 days to go until we leave!!!!

 

[TLSnell1981]

Have to disagree with you, as a family of 7 that eats out frequently, six is not standard. Its normally 8 or higher (gee like Disney last year). On only rare occasions have we encountered an auto grat at a table size as small as 6.

Same here.....it used tb be 10....now it's eight at a lot of places. Disney is the only place that 6 is considered large.

 

[bluslag]

I guess we shouldn't be surprised because where else in this world is a 10 year an adult!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Most people, by the age of ten, are tall enough to enjoy ALL the rides, attractions, and shows at Walt Disney World (most theme parks, really).

Disney (and other theme parks) have thus determined this to be a good point at which to charge full price for park admission.

Back when Disney considered age twelve to be the 'right' cut-off point for restaurant pricing, it would seem there were enough complaints about the discrepancy ("My eleven year old is a child according to your menu pricing, but an adult when it comes time to buy her park ticket?") that they chose to standardize this age cut.

Most likely, most people who complained were hoping Disney would raise the park ticket age cut to twelve; instead, they dropped the restaurant age to ten.