New gratuity policy

[Kycha]

Which Disney buffets charge $45 per person, for which meals? That's the only place anyone would have a forty dollar gratuity automatically added to the bill for five people.

Personally, I think $40 is an overly generous tip, for a buffet. You are basically serving yourself. I don't mind tipping for someone to refill my soda or clear my dishes, but not 18%.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

No problem - some of us are willing to come over here to you where it's being discussed rationally.

Amen! They're getting ready to storm the castle with torches and pitchforks before they're even sure exactly who is affected by the changes.

With our DDE card we usually add the savings back to the bill (rounded to the nearest dollar) as the tip. Frankly we've eaten at Disney dozens of times and have never had anything less than above-average service. It's usually excellent and well deserving of a 20% tip. Automatically including an 18% gratuity could actually save us money but we usually get service that would prompt us to add a bit extra anyways.

I can see Disney adding it to deal with the issue of international guests who come from countries where tipping isn't customary. The only criticism I would have is that if Disney was so concerned about their servers receiving proper monetary compensation perhaps they should raise wages rather than force the customers to make up the difference and leave gratuities as a bonus for excellent service.

Just my .02

Lee

 

[OrlandoMike]

http://www.netcot.com/thesite/2007/...t-walt-disney-world-will-include-18-gratuity/


See kids, Dad was right! Trust your dear old Dad!

 

[Kathy C]

I, too, think 18% for a buffet is a bit much. We have the DDE card and basically always said the 20% savings paid the gratuity so it's really not a big deal unless service is bad. In the many, many times we've been, there's only been one time when the service was awful and we left a $3 tip - that was a dinner at the castle. On average we probably leave 20%.

Just returned from a cruise (not Disney) and had a sit down dinner every night. Our waiter was from India and was wonderful. They literally wait on you hand and foot. He said he wouldn't work on a cruise ship in Europe because the Europeans are known for not tipping.

 

[mickeyfan1]

OM goodness, I appologize for someone thinking I meanth them in particulair. The You I refer to is the general "you". Soory if somebody thought I meant them.

I did get anotner DDE letter saying the 18% would be on DDE parties, to bring it in line with owther dining plans. But didn't they drop the tip incuded in the DDP for next year, in which case are they going to add it at the end and make people pay it?

Sheesh this is cornfusing.

 

[OrlandoMike]

This is how the whole thing breaks down.....



DDP = No gratuity unless your party is 6 or more. The guest is responsible for the tip on parties of 5 or less.

DDE = Gratuity

Quick Service = No Gratuity

Regular Dining (Table Service) with no plans = No Gratuity unless you are a party of 6 or more.

It's gonna be an interesting year to say the least!

 

[mickeyfan1]

Thanks Mike.

I let my DDE expire as well as my AP, but I still get the emails. I don't get there as much as I should.

 

[M4travels]

http://www.netcot.com/thesite/2007/...t-walt-disney-world-will-include-18-gratuity/


See kids, Dad was right! Trust your dear old Dad!

Thanks, Dad! I ALWAYS believed you!

Michael

 

[jharrowell]

Originally this didn't bother me but I've been thinking about it and have a couple of conserns:

1) It's going to be a pain in the butt to show displeasure with a bad service now. Before I'd just leave a smaller tip. Now it's call the manager time. Hassle for them, hassle for me.

2) What incentive have the servers got to go "above and beyond" now? They got that 18% in their back pocket regardless.

3) Servers who give great service are probably going to get a great tip less often now. Who's going to leave cash on the table if they know they've already paid 18%?

I saw someone mention that it might be a measure to curb tourists "stiffing" on the tip as they'll never see their server again. Well I can understand that except for one thing. We have DDE cards because we go to WDW regularly and like to eat good food.

Surely they're are targeting the wrong crowd here, it's the one off visitors who are on a magic your way package and either paying cash or on the DDP that are the issue.

Us DDEers are more savvy than that.

 

[kaytieeldr]

2) What incentive have the servers got to go "above and beyond" now? They got that 18% in their back pocket regardless.

The incentive that they have NO idea that the diner is using any discount until it's time for the check.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

The diner is usually asked at the outset of the meal if there is a plan that they will be using. When I've replied, "Yes, the DDE," I've had the server say, "GOOD! At least it's not the DDP!" LOL.

At any rate, just wanted to throw this comment into the fray.

I think the servers at buffets work harder than those at full service. They are by the table endless times, clearing dishes, refilling drinks... just because they don't bring me my plate of food does not mean they aren't "serving" my table. Just a though.

Thanks for the little chart, OrlandoMike. It's nice to know that someone at Disney understands!

 

[OrlandoMike]

Do not feel obligated to let them know you are using the DDE until after the meal. It is not a package plan, only a discount card. I never let the server know that I am entitled to a discount with added gratuity until after the meal.

Are you nuts?

That's like telling them, "Look the tip is already included, so go ahead and ignore me!" Not saying every server has that attitude, but hey, I'm not going to take any chances!

They do want to know if your on DDP, only so they can make sure you don't order anything your not entitled to.

 

[agnes!]

The incentive that they have NO idea that the diner is using any discount until it's time for the check.

And I sure won't tell them I have the DDE *until* the check arrives .

agnes!

 

[RickinNYC]

Mike, FYI, I wasn't on the DDP this past week, but I was charged the 18% gratuity automatically. A friend had to point it out. I still threw in a few extra bucks anyway because I thought the service we received was great and the wait staff were nothing but friendly, cheerful and helpful.

Weird, though, eh? I was eating with a small group who were on the plan but I was paying cash for myself and they still added the tip. No big deal for me unless the service was lacking but it wasn't.

 

[OrlandoMike]

Mike, FYI, I wasn't on the DDP this past week, but I was charged the 18% gratuity automatically. A friend had to point it out. I still threw in a few extra bucks anyway because I thought the service we received was great and the wait staff were nothing but friendly, cheerful and helpful.

Weird, though, eh? I was eating with a small group who were on the plan but I was paying cash for myself and they still added the tip. No big deal for me unless the service was lacking but it wasn't.

Technically that shouldn't happened, and that may be one of those grey areas. They may have added the grat before splitting your part of the check off. Glad the service was good though!

 

[RickinNYC]

Technically that shouldn't happened, and that may be one of those grey areas. They may have added the grat before splitting your part of the check off. Glad the service was good though!

Yeah, I thought as much.

Still no big deal to me. Service really has to suck before I won't tip. And if/when it's bad, I would make no bones about pointing it out and requesting that the 18% is removed.

I know a lot of the the Disney servers are on CP so they make NOTHING after Disney takes it's cut for rent, etc... And even if they weren't CP, I know they have to deal with a lot of incredibly demanding, rude people. I could never do their job in a million years. I'd be fired on my first day, and maybe even tossed in the slammer!

For what it's worth, I did bartend for one year MANY years ago, plus I have friends who have had to wait tables or bartend to make ends meet. The stories they told were incredible. Joe and I used to see them at work just so we could leave them a good tip.

 

[hematite153]

Do not feel obligated to let them know you are using the DDE until after the meal. It is not a package plan, only a discount card. I never let the server know that I am entitled to a discount with added gratuity until after the meal.

Are you nuts?

That's like telling them, "Look the tip is already included, so go ahead and ignore me!" Not saying every server has that attitude, but hey, I'm not going to take any chances!

They do want to know if your on DDP, only so they can make sure you don't order anything your not entitled to.

I agree and that's why I've had a hard time with the DDP question.

So, what I don't understand about this part of the conversation, is:

Why do we not expect the opening salvo to now include, "are you using DDE?" I mean, I have already been asked the question about 40% of the time I've made ADRs, so, why wouldn't servers (and hostesses) ask it of everyone starting Jan 1st?

If they ask, the only way to avoid telling them is to lie and I'm not comfortable with that.

Suggestions?

 

[agnes!]

I agree and that's why I've had a hard time with the DDP question.

So, what I don't understand about this part of the conversation, is:

Why do we not expect the opening salvo to now include, "are you using DDE?" I mean, I have already been asked the question about 40% of the time I've made ADRs, so, why wouldn't servers (and hostesses) ask it of everyone starting Jan 1st?

If they ask, the only way to avoid telling them is to lie and I'm not comfortable with that.

Suggestions?

I might ask "Why do you need to know?"

agnes

 

[Mackey Mouse]

Rick.. I think that would have made me upset, I am such a principle person. You should not have been automatically charged the 18%, you were paying out of pocket and were not on the DDP....

You are a better person than I am, I would have had to say something. What's right is right.

Too much time spend on the Restaurant Board for me, I need to broaden my horizon.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Yep, same here. I'm asked by the server at the start of the evening if I am using the DDE or DDP. Can't exactly say no, and then produce the card, can I?

I know when DDE first started it was such a mess I ended up not buying it for the second year. I'm back to using it now, but surely do NOT want to get into heated discussions like those of the first year.