Poll :Removing tips from the Dining Plan

[JACKNAG]

I've called Disney and they said multiple times that the people wanted tips taken out of the Dining plan due to poor service, We have never experienced bad service on the Dining PLAN. I'll go as far as saying I've gotten bad service paying out of pocket many of times, not nessasarily in Disney. Whether you pay out of pocket or Disney pays its really the quality of the server you receive that night. I find if you establish communications with your server in the begining of your meal, as far as whats important to you for a pleasant dining experience(for ex. refills, special needs etc.) You establish a relationship with your server and get a much better experience. This has never failed for my wife and I. Many people will sit there and not speak up to thier server, and then complain to the masses.


Please Vote I see a lot of people viewing but only 25% voting. I'll be happy to forward the results to Disney if we get a decent response
Thanks

Out of 594 viewS we only have 118 votes Thats only a 20% voter turnout I cant go to Disney with 120 opinions but I could go with 600
Once again PLEASE VOTE, THANKS

 

[Laurafoster]

I think for me the issue is more that they have taken out the tip, and the appetizer and yet the reduction in the cost of the DDP doesnt reflect this.
So you end up paying a lot more for what you were receiving before the changes.

 

[hmhs]

I really loved not having to worry about carrying around cash with me at WDW- just my room key to pay for everything. I wish they didn't change it!!

 

[MomofCKJ]

We just got back and preferrred the dining plan when we used it last in 2006. We did put all the tips on our room key this time which was easy and fine actually but it was not so fine having a balance at check out. I liked it last time when everything was already pre-paid.

Allyson

 

[padisneylover]

I didn't select the package this time because the magic for me with the old plan was having my trip paid in full before I left.

 

[christa112]

I really loved not having to worry about carrying around cash with me at WDW- just my room key to pay for everything. I wish they didn't change it!!

I agree!! I am not looking forward to carrying around cash for tips. I just liked that everything was taken care of and you didn't have to worry.

I wouldn't be surprised if for 2009 it goes back to the old way, I am sure they are getting so many complaints it is ridiculous. I wouldn't want to be working in their customer service department this year LOL

 

[Tricia1972]

I think that Disney did receive a lot of complaints about service because tips were included in the DDP. I know I read a lot of complaints on this board about it, and heard the cry of "Call Disney and Complain"

HOWEVER, I do not think that Disney removed the tips because of those complaints. I do believe that complaints made gave Disney a great Politically Correct reason to tell us that this is why they made a change.

Plain and simple, this is a HUGE cost saver for them. Disney was paying 18% of the food cost of the total items ordered to the server. However much we are spending this year, Disney paid in the past. Start multiplying that times the number of guests on the DDP and I am sure it's millions of dollars a year. That money used to come out of Disney's pocket, and now it's coming out of ours. (Now that they've removed appetizers, they are turning tables faster and fitting even more of us into restaurants - even more money for them)

Disney is a business, I don't begrudge them making more money. I love Disney and want them to make money, so I can keep on going to visit, but please don't insult my intelligence and tell us that it's simply because of our complaints. If it was solely on complaints, they'd have greatly decreased the price of the plan - not decreased it $1.

 

[patsal]

I like an all inclusive plan, once the plan loses its convienience I'm out. I'd have rather seen an increase in price rather than a silly decrease that doesn't come close to the value that was lost (appy and tip).

 

[mom2my3kids]

You know before you heard people gripping because they thought they got bad service because tip was included. Now they take the tip out because so many complaints and now people are complaining because they have to pay the tip etc and some even gripping they don't think the servers deserve 18% of the bill because they are actually paying it now. Now in saying this, yes I liked it the old way, its more money now but its not the servers fault..I would be okay with them taking the desert away from the CS leaving the TS plan the way it is add on a few more dollars per day and have the tip included.

 

[chief19spixi]

I know if I was a server at a disney TS I would be ticked off this year cause now I am taking a chance of not getting a tip at all or a low tip because vacationers are ticked with disney over this tipping thing!
I personally will not take it out on the servers because it is not their fault that disney chose how their cookie will crumble at the end of the day, by leaving the tipping to us. I cannot gaurentee that I will be willing to pay 18% when I arrive in the near furture but it will be close to that! So I voted that they go back to to old way and Disney pays all the tips!!

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

Raise the cost and keep the old system. It was way more convenient. Some people would pay anything for the convenience. Like me

 

[hannaconda]

Sorry but I disagree. I tip on service. Do not force me to pay a tip that the server did not earn. Now I can say that because I have waited tables. Server's earn their tips based on their ability not because they may think they deserve one. Your in the service industry not the hand out industry. Come to my table with a I don't care attitude, youl go hungry. I am the customer and I expect good service and my tip depends on your service.

 

[DiszyDean]

This is really a no-brainer. Of course I would rather have Disney pay the tip.

When people would blame the perception of bad service on an automatic tip last year and the year before, I would often try to argue that it was not the automatic tip that was exclusively causing their issues. Based on reviews since the automatic (Disney-paid) tip was removed, there does not seem to be a significant change in service, as I expected.

In fact, the only difference now is that we are footing the bill for the tip vs. Disney.

Make no mistakes, this was a cost-reduction for the plan on Disney's side. This had nothing to do with the "level of service". If they are trying to sell that, it is all spin. Obviously, the dining plan may not have been as profitable as they would have liked, so they found ways to make more money on it.

 

[disneymath]

My vote is for the old way ... much more convenient and a better value!

We've opted to get the DDP for our August trip this year because we have become accustomed to it and it is still a value (allbeit a lesser one). What burns me though is that our tips won't be based on service - we face an automatic 18% gratuity b/c we are a party of 6 (the 6th will be all of 14 months old and not ordering any meals). (Now, 18% is no problem if the service is good - as has always been our experience in the past - but not so great if we do experience bad service.)

 

[RACHELSMOM1]

Maybe it was not the only reason the tip was removed, but I do believe that Disney did know of all the complaints about included tips. And now, there are complaints all over these boards that the dining plan is too much food. I always say Be careful what you wish for, you might get it. I wish the tips were included, but they are not. I never complained about the tips included, but many did. I also don't complain about "too much food" because I love the dining plan, always have, always will. If you don't want it, don't buy it.

 

[donaldndaisy]

I voted keep it like the old plan. I liked the tip being included, plus I've never had a waiter/waitress, at wdw, that didn't deserve their tip. We would even tip extra, along with this. Also, some people don't tip or won't tip for the slightest of things (too many ice cubes, not enough teeth showing when they smile, didn't smile enough, smiled too much, etc.). If these crazies don't tip- and there are plenty of them...I know...I've seen them- then, there will be plenty of excellent wait staff out of a well deserved tip.

So..... Bring back the old plan

 

[qanita92]

Please forward this to Disney. I wonder what they would say.

 

[dclfun]

I'm with Patsal and would rather pay more for the plan and have tips included vs. paying less and having to pay OOP. They did this with the Candlelight Processional package which once upon a time included a nonalcoholic beverage and gratuity-now both are gone. I gave this as a gift to friends every year but since the change I'm not about to give a gift that will cost someone money once they get there or give them the tickets plus money for a drink and tip. How tacky is that? Again, I'd have paid more for the convenience. I'm not a fan at all of the 2008 plan after experiencing it. The service we received was MUCH worse at all restaurants we tried and I didn't care for the tip options of 18 anbd 20% on my receipt pointed out by the servers as "oh here's a suggested amount as gratuities are not included". It's a psychological thing not to want to look cheap by paying the lower amount or leaving a lesser tip. The snack options have also changed as we were rudely told by a CM when we went to get something we'd gotten for the past three years. I don't mind WDW making more vs. losing more money when they offer this plan but then give us the option to pay more for a gratuities included plan. We'd jump on that even if the costs averaged out to be a bit more out of our pocket just for the convenience and having everything prepaid. What a relief on any vacation to be able to totally relax and have things other than souvenirs prepaid.---Kathy

 

[SuzieN]

What a load of bologna! Who in their right mind would rather pay for a tip out of their own pocket rather than have Disney pay it for them! The beauty of the old DDP was that it made your vacation all-inclusive. We did use the new DDP last month and it was ok. We didn't really miss the appetizer but we DID end up paying a lot of extra $$ for tips!

 

[*disgal*]

I would be okay with them taking the desert away from the CS leaving the TS plan the way it is add on a few more dollars per day and have the tip included.

Now THAT would have been almost perfect for me! I certainly don't need a dessert with my CS meal. Especially if I know I'm getting a really good one later on in the day with my TS.

And I wouldn't mind paying more to have the tip included. It's like someone else said, it's more all inclusive that way.

Taking away a course for the TS (appetizer) didn't really bother me either. It was a lot of food. I just wish you could have your choice, app. or dessert, but that really isn't a deal breaker with me.