off site restaurants and disney dining

[JenC025]

Well we had some wonderful meals during our recent disney trip, but thought I would let people know about Planet Hollywood. The food was AMAZING! The music is too loud for us though, but ANYWAY, We found out the DDP only gives a tip of $2.00 per person! Our server was amazing and we were a party of 8 with a bill of over $320.00, this man was only going to get $14.00 tip!!! (considering only 7 of us were on the plan) He said Disney owned restaurants get a little more, but off site gets only $2.00 per person. This is crazy! They shouldn't say gratutity is included when its that little.

 

[honeymo78]

There has been a lot of talk about what exactly each server gets as a gratuity at disney owned and non disney restaurants. There have been varied reports as to how much servers get, and if it's per person, at non disney locations. The truth may be hard to find since there is no way to know if what diners have been told is true or been embellished in order to get more of a tip (not saying yours did this) and clearly we are getting conflicting stories so some servers aren't really telling the truth. From what I understand, and a disney server has confirmed here, is that at disney owned restaurants the waitstaff (server, busser, etc) get that full 18% divided up as any other tip would be.

Its so hard to get in contact with someone at disney who is management level that could answer the non disney tipping question. If the staff isn't getting 18% I'd think there would be some truth in advertising issues or something along those lines since what the customer is purchasing is different from what is actually happening (I know there is the subject to change language but they would need to inform you of the change somewhere). I have heard that the contract with these restaurants has disney pay them a set amount per person for the meal and the servers get tipped 18% on that amount and the servers are aware of this. If true, and guests found out, maybe there would be fewer patrons at those locations since in those cases your dining costs aren't truly covered like at other locations and maybe servers make out better having a full restaurant even getting a lesser, but guaranteed tip than a half full restaurant with "regular" patrons and no guaranteed amount.

I just wish we could get a straight answer and put this issue to bed.

 

[bicker]

I think we're going to have live with the fact that we won't get a straight answer other than this: Our purchase of the Dining Plan includes all gratuities. The Dining Plan brochure doesn't mention anything about "18%". That's inside information and as such we'll have to live with it as a rumor, nothing more or less.

If I remember correctly, the number 18% came from an explanation of why the Dining Plan increased in price between 2005 and 2006. However, this is no in any way part of what guests are promised.

Also, we've learned from servers from around the country that it is standard practice for gratuities to be split among your entire service staff, not just the one waiter you give the money to. A waiter is assisted by food runners and folks who clean the tables, as well as the bartender, and the waiter is obligated to tip them all out -- share the gratuity with all of them. Again, that's a nationwide practice in many restaurants, and Disney is no different, so if any server actually kept the 18% all to him/herself, it would be wrong.

We do know that the non-Disney restaurant get an allocation, and we have heard rumors that at least some of them figure the gratuity on that allocation from Disney. That's up to those restaurants, of course, but it might be a firm basis to avoid the non-Disney restaurants, since there are such indications that they're not as generous with their staff as Disney is.

 

[jjohnson]

I've been reading bits of this on the boards too. I still have my receipt from Ragland Road and just did a total of what we ordered. Food alone was $124.
My receipt total is $80. I didn't notice the discrepancy at the time.

We also received a seperate bill for beverages that RR automatically added 18% tip + we added $15 extra due to the fantastic service we received.

So there is a discrepancy not only on tips but also on the food at the non-disney establishments.

 

[bicker]

I believe it is only the discrepancy in the food cost total that causes the discrepancy in the gratuity at non-Disney restaurants. The gratuity is always 18% -- all that varies between Disney and non-Disney is 18% of WHAT.

 

[balletomane]

I believe it is only the discrepancy in the food cost total that causes the discrepancy in the gratuity at non-Disney restaurants. The gratuity is always 18% -- all that varies between Disney and non-Disney is 18% of WHAT.

Is there a list anywhere of non-Disney restaurants?

 

[bicker]

There is, but I cannot find the thread right now. I'll take a shot at it from memory.

Non-Disney Table Service Restaurants that participate in the Dining Plan:

Maya Grill
Earl of Sandwich
Raglan Road
Wolfgang Puck Café
San Angel Inn
Chefs de France
L’Originale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante
Mitsukoshi Teppanyaki Dining Room
Tempura Kiku (not sure about this one)

 

[jjohnson]

I believe it is only the discrepancy in the food cost total that causes the discrepancy in the gratuity at non-Disney restaurants. The gratuity is always 18% -- all that varies between Disney and non-Disney is 18% of WHAT.

Yes, that's what I'm trying to say. The $80 total included their tip.

 

[balletomane]

Thank you for the list bicker. I appreciate your help.