Paying with dining plan credit - how do I know total for tip purposes?

[Mikie]

I was just on a trip in October with a big group and on the dining plan. Since 18% gratuity was automatic for our group, we never saw a receipt with meal total on it - they just brought us the one with tip amount charged to sign. Come to think of it, do you even sign? Anyway, we did get receipts but they only showed what we paid for tip, not the previous total, zeroed out for dining credits.

My parents are going again this year as only the two of them - still dining plan, but no group, so no automatic 18% They're wondering how they'll know the amount to base their tip on.

 

[siskaren]

The prices will be in the menu - I guess they'll just need to bring a notepad and pen to write down the prices before the server takes the menu after taking their order.

 

[aaarcher86]

The total cost will be on the receipt, just like a bill you'd get anywhere. The total due will just be $0 - but they can either calculate tip with that or there will be ore calculated tip amounts on the bottom.

They should bring you a bill, and yes you have to sign. Now you put in a pin, but you'd still get a bill in a folder to give them your CC or pay with credits.

 

[mom2of2]

The prices will be in the menu - I guess they'll just need to bring a notepad and pen to write down the prices before the server takes the menu after taking their order.

no, you don't have to do this!!

you still get a bill on the dining plan. It is itemized with the total amount due and a suggested tip amount (18% and 20%) you write the amount you want to tip on the tip line and give it back to the server. The server then subtracts the dining credits and charges the tip back to your room, credit card, gc or rewards card. You are then presented the bill back where you sign on the X. If you don't see a signature line with an X then you don't have the final bill.

 

[siskaren]

no, you don't have to do this!!

See, I didn't know this because I've never used the dining plan and the OP said he never saw a receipt with a total on it on his last trip.

 

[Mikie]

no, you don't have to do this!!

you still get a bill on the dining plan. It is itemized with the total amount due and a suggested tip amount (18% and 20%) you write the amount you want to tip on the tip line and give it back to the server. The server then subtracts the dining credits and charges the tip back to your room, credit card, gc or rewards card. You are then presented the bill back where you sign on the X. If you don't see a signature line with an X then you don't have the final bill.

Strangely, even though I was just there, I couldn't remember signing. BUT I did distinctly remember that our group never got the itemized with $0 total - we just got the 18% final total to be charged to our room. I thought that in the past when we weren't a group, we did get an itemized total, just wasn't sure if it had changed. I'd have liked to get them this trip so I could crunch numbers on the value we got using the dining plan.

 

[supersnoop]

Strangely, even though I was just there, I couldn't remember signing. BUT I did distinctly remember that our group never got the itemized with $0 total - we just got the 18% final total to be charged to our room. I thought that in the past when we weren't a group, we did get an itemized total, just wasn't sure if it had changed. I'd have liked to get them this trip so I could crunch numbers on the value we got using the dining plan.

For what purpose would they give you the itemized bill, other than to calculate the tip. I'm guessing it just isn't necessary when the gratuity is automatic.

 

[aaarcher86]

For what purpose would they give you the itemized bill, other than to calculate the tip. I'm guessing it just isn't necessary when the gratuity is automatic.

We use TIW and still get an itemized bill. I assume it'd be to make sure there aren't any discrepancies.

 

[JoeFromSeoul]

We used the DxDDP in December and got an itemized bill after each meal. First they brought me the itemized bill with recommended tip calculations at 18% and 20%. I added the amount I wanted to tip and wrote a total. They then brought me another bill showing $0 for food and drink but $xx for the tip. That was the one they had me "sign" by scanning the MB and entering my pin.

 

[Saimaeve]

We used the DxDDP in December and got an itemized bill after each meal. First they brought me the itemized bill with recommended tip calculations at 18% and 20%. I added the amount I wanted to tip and wrote a total. They then brought me another bill showing $0 for food and drink but $xx for the tip. That was the one they had me "sign" by scanning the MB and entering my pin.

This is what I experienced in September.

 

[MillauFr]

Why don't they just mark up the cost of the dining plan by 18% and make the tips included? Isn't that one of the biggest reasons people buy the dining plan to make it all inclusive???

 

[Mikie]

Why don't they just mark up the cost of the dining plan by 18% and make the tips included? Isn't that one of the biggest reasons people buy the dining plan to make it all inclusive???

I'd guess either because
1) even though the total comes out the same, there's a price point where people would finally just spontaneously combust when they get their Disney dining bill
2) the 18% is only automatic on groups 6+ right now and people want some control over their tips - I know I LOVE it when a waiter says "our policy is to charge 18%, but I'm leaving it off and I'll let you decide what I deserve". That server almost always gets more from me that way and I'm happy to do it because they hustle and give great service with that attitude.

 

[disneyholic family]

when free dining first came out, i believe it did include the tips. But i guess they realized the tips are a 'real' cost to them, so they switched it over to the guests.
As for the bill, yes you get an itemized bill with the total and with the suggested 18% and 20% amounts at the bottom.
We always add 0 for the tip and then tip in cash. I tend always to tip in cash as i don't trust restaurants to actually give the money to the waiters.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I have always been given an itemized bill, no matter what method of payment. Dining plan, TIW discount, group dining, whatever.

Suggested tip amounts will be included on the bill. They do this because there are lots of guests on the dining plan and lots of international guests and they want to emphasize that tipping is still expected.

No, the dining plan is not all inclusive. Tips are not included. Booze is not included. Certain items like novelty beverages are not included. Children are restricted to a certain menu. those who are thinking of it as an "all-inclusive" program should probably start thinking of it as a prepayment program for meals because that is really what it is.

 

[nkereina]

Tips DID used to be included years ago on the plan. I would suspect servers were unhappy about this as tips were likely pooled and then distributed to servers after the fact. When you're waiting tables and people need to tip you individually because it's not included, you have the chance of getting cash tips and the possibility of someone tipping more than 18% which is better for you too.

 

[grammimouse]

We always tip in cash. Less paperwork for the server and us too.

 

[mom2of2]

Tips DID used to be included years ago on the plan. I would suspect servers were unhappy about this as tips were likely pooled and then distributed to servers after the fact. When you're waiting tables and people need to tip you individually because it's not included, you have the chance of getting cash tips and the possibility of someone tipping more than 18% which is better for you too.

Actually the servers were happy with it being included because that meant they were getting their gratuities and most servers would like it reinstated. Anytime there is an auto grat from either TIW or party of 6, dinner show, CRT or with the DP way back when, it goes directly onto their paycheck even if it's paid in cash...the server pays it back to WDW

 

[nkereina]

Actually the servers were happy with it being included because that meant they were getting their gratuities and most servers would like it reinstated. Anytime there is an auto grat from either TIW or party of 6, dinner show, CRT or with the DP way back when, it goes directly onto their paycheck even if it's paid in cash...the server pays it back to WDW

Really? That's different than what I've heard. For instance, in the cruise industry, stewards aren't fond of prepaid gratuities because it gets pooled and distributed. Similarly, bar tenders on cruises hated when drink packages included tips because they never got what was truly their fair share. It's like when you tip on a credit card after dinner - those tips are pooled and at the end of the day, distributed among servers, bus boys, etc. Cash tips go straight to the server and they pay out the appropriate percentages to the staff. I get that tips being guaranteed is a good thing, but I'd think servers would rather roll the dice on the possibility of getting more.

 

[mom2of2]

It's not like that at WDW. Tips aren't pooled. Servers tip out based on sales. When the DP included grat, servers always got 18% guaranteed. Without it being included, they get whatever a guest feels like giving....more often then not it's less then 18%. Now that's not to say that some guests don't leave more...just not as often as people tend to think.

 

[wellesleyprincess]

when free dining first came out, i believe it did include the tips. But i guess they realized the tips are a 'real' cost to them, so they switched it over to the guests.
As for the bill, yes you get an itemized bill with the total and with the suggested 18% and 20% amounts at the bottom.
We always add 0 for the tip and then tip in cash. I tend always to tip in cash as i don't trust restaurants to actually give the money to the waiters.

I do this too usually but I write cash on the line rather 0 that way served/management know there was a tip