Mandatory Gratuities?!

[PatriciaH]

So I would be paying $65.00 to save 2% and possibly have horrid service because a tip is required. I think not! I do not believe in mandatory tipping. So I will be skipping the over priced, poor service meals. I had enough of those during my stay a few months ago.

You would be saving 22%.

 

[livndisney]

You would be saving 22%.

I believe our math differs. My point was it is not worth it to me to pay the 65.00 to save a minimal amount and have to suffer possible poor service. If Disney does make this change I won't be planning many (if any) TS meals.

Just to clarify, I have no problem tipping for good service. My concern comes when servers do as little as possible because they KNOW they will get 18%.

 

[disney1990]

You would be saving 22%.

I Agree.
$100 check, plus 18% tip equals $118
$100 check (less 20%) equals $80, plus 18% tip, equals $98.
Savings $20 on 1 meal
Just over 3 meals and you have made back your $65.00.
You might not think it's a good deal, but when I bring my DH, my DD, my DSIL and my 2 granddaughters to Disney, it sure does help -- A LOT!!

 

[livndisney]

I just read on another Disboard that the mandatory tip is ONLY for parties of 6 or more (which is where my math differs from others). It should not affect our small family

 

[TDC Nala]

I believe our math differs. My point was it is not worth it to me to pay the 65.00 to save a minimal amount and have to suffer possible poor service. If Disney does make this change I won't be planning many (if any) TS meals.

Just to clarify, I have no problem tipping for good service. My concern comes when servers do as little as possible because they KNOW they will get 18%.

Not sure how they'd know they were getting 18% (unless you're a party of 6 or more) since you don't have to hand over the card until after the meal (there's been no indication that you will now have to hand it over before the meal).

 

[disney1990]

I just read on another Disboard that the mandatory tip is ONLY for parties of 6 or more (which is where my math differs from others). It should not affect our small family

The email that I got from Disney said all DDE diners at table service. Here it is:

Many of you have expressed concern about the 18% gratuity that will be added to all Disney Dining Experience transactions. When using your Disney Dining Experience membership card the assessed gratuity will be added to all table service restaurant locations and lounges for all transactions regardless of party size. Gratuity will not be added to any counter service, food cart or quick service locations. In the past, gratuity was only implemented for larger parties of 8 or more for guests utilizing their Disney Dining Experience membership.

This adjustment to the program has been implemented in order to align the Disney Dining Experience Program with other dining experiences where gratuities are included. Effective January 1, 2008, when utilizing your Disney Dining Experience discount 18% gratuity will be added.


If you have any further questions or concerns we would ask that you send an e-mail to our Executive Offices at wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com.

Thank you,

The Disney Dining Experience Team

 

[TDC Nala]

to reiterate:

Automatic gratuity in 2008 = All DDE members, cast members w/discount, all parties of 6 or more no matter how they pay.

 

[OKW Mom]

All three of our children have worked in hospitality through college. The entire tip process is chasing dollars.

When it is mandatory it is a service charge-not a tip.

I'll bet they charge the tip to the room even if you say you are a cash customer. (unless you decline charging priviledges on your card).

This is the very same reason I will not go on a cruise ship that requires daily amounts of tips/service charges.

Employers: Please pay your employees and set your prices accordingly!

 

[madisonsmom]

Employers: Please pay your employees and set your prices accordingly![/FONT]

Being a restaurant Manager I wish it could be this easy, but it is not. The government has set the minimum wage on servers to be 2.13 p/hr, in NC it is 2.43. You would have to change the whole standard country wide for this system to work, b/c then everyone that dines out would question whether or not they needed to leave a tip. On top of that, you would never be able to find a GOOD reasonable meal, b/c of the overhead it would cost to put into paying someone to serve it. So either way the consumer is paying for their servers wage, whether you call it a $10.00 hambuger or an $8.00 hambuger with a $2.00 tip. Then, the same issues arises if a server doesn't have to "work" for a tip, then who is to say that you will get good service? That is what T.I.P.S stands for...to insure proper service... so at least the consumer has some control left in their $$ if they get crappy service. Just my 2 cents...

Being raised in Orlando and being in the hospitality industry, along with my sister who has worked all over LBV, at one point as a manager at Planet Hollywood, there are SO many foreigners that come through this area and do not tip, and last time I checked my math it is not possible to live in America on solely $2.13 p/hr. Certainly Disney had to know that they would get a lot of flack for implementing this and thought out the pros and cons of it all.

 

[TDC Nala]

Not sure what it has to do with foreign visitors. Very few international visitors are going to be DDE members. Unless they eat in groups of 6 or more the automatic gratuity won't apply to them.

And from what I understand, the auto grat was put on DDE as a concession to the union that covered restaurant workers (among others) because Disney insisted on removing the included gratuity from the Disney Dining Plan, which the union opposed.

 

[stitchlovestink]

You know we'll never see the real or accurate answers, but I would love to see the impact this mandatory 18% tip and the change to the DDP of removing the 18% tip make on the restaurant profits for WDW next year. Personally, I would think overall, less people will buy either option and people may not do nearly as many TS meals.
I'm sure that there are others out there who would disagree (and that's their right) but one of the things I like about staying at POP is their food court. I don't have to have a huge sit down meal for every dinner. They have had some quite pleasant dinner selections at the food court. I also don't incur an add'l charge for my beverage (I buy the refillable mug ) or the cost of a tip. Don't get my wrong, I've done the DDP more than once and was very pleased with it, but I think the cost effectiveness is no longer there, unless you're getting it for free. Then basically your food is costing you the amount of the tip.
I guess time will tell if WDW made the right decisions.....

 

[Green Tea]

Who knows?

I abhor mandatory tipping. I think it reduces the level of service waiters provide.

We went to the Greenbrier last week. Everything has an 18.5% gratuity included. It didn't cut down on their service at all!

 

[madisonsmom]

Not sure what it has to do with foreign visitors. Very few international visitors are going to be DDE members. Unless they eat in groups of 6 or more the automatic gratuity won't apply to them.

I am not familiar with the DDE meal plan..living in Orlando and being at Disney countless times we just eat where we land I feel pretty lucky as we used to go to WDW whenever we wanted since I always had friends that were employed there(and still are). So needless to say I did not know that foreigners couldn't participate in this option. Thanks for filling me in!