Official DDE/Gratuity Information

[Cheshire Figment]

The following is taken from the WDW Intranet (Cast Board):

Effective January 1, 2008:

For Guests who are utilizing a Disney Dining Experience membership card, an assessed gratuity of 18% will be added to all Walt Disney World table service restaurant and lounge experiences for all transactions regardless of party size. This will not apply to any counter service, food cart or quick service locations.

This is not an opinion or rumor; it is from an official announcement.

 

[enyaj40]

we've been discussing this on an email list

lots of people are not happy about this

tfs the information

 

[manning]

I'm at Disney now and am using the MDDE plan.

 

[tspann]

They automatically add in tip? I thought a tip was to reward the service staff for doing a good job. What if you get lousy service? I assume that you can request they take it off.

 

[remain seated please]

They automatically add in tip? I thought a tip was to reward the service staff for doing a good job. What if you get lousy service? I assume that you can request they take it off.

But you can't get lousy service at Disney because they are perfect. Right?

I have no problem with a tip being added for this card use. Especially if people are getting any sort of a discount. You should always tip, even if the service is not great. Failing to tip does nothing to change the level of service. It's just being cheap.

I do not, nor have I ever worked for tips. But I respect those who do. If I get questionable service, is that automatically the server's fault. Sure there are circumstances where a tip should be lowered, but not given. If the kitchen is backed up or the wait staff is shorthanded, your server may not have any control. But you should still tip them. If the server is rude or has an attitude, then a reduced tip of $1 or $2 sends a much more effective message. That small tip should also be accompanied with a note to the server explaining why.

Restuarant servers and bartenders, cab drivers, skycaps and bell boys are the only people who I tip because they literally work for tips. I won't tip a hotel maid because they work for a higher wage than the others. If I request a service outside of the norm then I will determine whether or not a tip is appropriate for that situation.

Thoughts?

 

[Chuck S]

We've used the DDE for a few years. Since we generally tip back the approximate amount of the discounts, it makes no difference to us. If on the rare chance you get extremely poor service, I would discuss it with a manager. But in all the years we've gone to WDW we've only had what I would call "poor service" once, it is not the norm.

BTW, Cheshire Figment, hasn't the gratuity been added automatically to CM discounted meals for several years?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

BTW, Cheshire Figment, hasn't the gratuity been added automatically to CM discounted meals for several years?

Yes it has. I think it primarily has something to do with many young CMs, especially from lower income areas, who (a) were not really used to tipping, or (b) would tip on the discounted amount.

 

[Stitch 03]

I actually have no problem with this. It actually saves me money, though it is not that big of a deal. I normally tipped 15-18% of the pre-discounted amount of the bill. Now I am tipping 18% on the discounted amount.

I have wondered if they are doing this because the wait staff were being short changed on the tips. Patrons may have been tipping based on 15% on the discounted amount (which essentially amounts to ~12%).

 

[Deppster]

I do not agree with imposing the cost of gratuities onto guests at Disney World. Last itme we went we had the DDP and we tipped based on the service and friendliness of the staff serving, which is how it should be.

Some people have to save for a very long time to go to Disney World and it isn't fair to make us pay 18% tips automatically. Disney should provide the staff with better wages if the amount the staff get is in question. I come from Scotland. It's costing us a lot of money to come to Disney in September. We are hoping to have enough spending money to last us after paying for the holiday and flights. I am furious that Disney can decide how much I should tip someone! Surely that is my choice? I don't mind tipping AN AMOUNT I CHOOSE, based on quality of service and soemtimes even based on my budget! And WHY should I tip somone 18% when I attend a buffet, when I am getting the food myself? The information on all of this is cloudly too. I copied and pasted a reply to a question about DDP this year and according to that, i don't have to pay 18% as We are a party of 5? Does anyone know the real facts?

The Disney Dining Experience program will have an automatic 18% gratuity added to all meals, regardless of party size. This is NOT the same as the Disney Dining Plan! The Disney Dining Experience is a dining discount program. The 18% will be calculated on the pre-discounted, pre-tax total of the check, and the guest will pay it along with the rest of the bill.

The Disney Dining Plan is the package that you can reserve as part of the Magic Your Way vacation. It will be subject to an 18% gratuity only for parties of 6 or more. The 18% will be calculated based on the menu price of the food and drinks ordered, and guests will need to pay this out of pocket (cash is fine, or it can be charged to your room). For parties of 5 or fewer there is no automatic gratuity, so guests will need to calculate the tip on your own and tip accordingly.

Is the info below true?