Reasons for no gratuity in 2008 DDP???

[JimMIA]

Typical managerial tactic, but disgusting nonetheless.

I wouldn't characterize it as "disgusting." It's just business. Disney execs are paid good money to improve profits, and they did so in this case. I don't blame them for doing this if they could, but I am offended by the spin some of their employees are trying to put on what was nothing more than a money grab.

OTOH, the union execs are paid very good money to look out for the interests of their members too. And, I would bet, if you asked them they would tell you that if you look at the overall contract, it was an improvement for their members over the previous contract.

Yes, the servers lost the guaranteed tips on DDP, and I'm sure other employee groups lost a few things too. But they also gained here and there, and I'm sure the union leaders will tell you a) this is better than what we had, and b) this was the best that could have been done this year. That's what labor negotiations are -- give and take.

But please...don't try to tell me the servers begged to have their tips eliminated! Anybody who believes that story is way too dumb to order off a menu!

 

[stschaefer]

I guess Disney got tired of paying 18% of a tip on the plan. Sometimes I felt like the server didn't try as hard for our table because it was guaranteed tip compared to others who were not on the plan. Some might pay more than 18%, some less depending on service. 18% for Chef Mickey or other buffets... The great thing about the plan was not having to worry about any payments on the meal (unless the service was really outstanding and extra tip). What a bummer

 

[the Fidge]

Anyone that has have waited tables know this sad fact, way too often people do NOT tip 15% and often 10% instead. To think that the servers wished to risk that gamble of the 10% rather than a guarntee of 18%.

I waited on a table in a very upscale dining establishment in NY a party of 20 people. The host was insulted when I politely suggested prior to his guests arriving to go with carafes of beverages. HE was insulted and outraged! He was loaded with money you know!

OK bottom line at 2am finally he and his party were ready to leave .......he did not have in fact enough money to cover the dinner and the bar tab only the dinner and a portion of the bar tab. SO after 6 hours of this table he sent the party to depart none of them aware of the fact that he did not in fact have enough money to cover his tab!

I got the big ZERO! I wished they had a manditory tip included on a part of 8 or more.

SO to the folks that thought the wait staff wanted that change think again, my little story is one of millions. Ask anyone who has waited tables if they ever got stiffed! Sadly there are way too many that have!

 

[maxiesmom]

I'm actually quite suprised that so many people are complaining about this. With as many posts as there are about how the waitstaff was ignoring people on the dining plan, or giving them sub-standard service, you would think this would make people happy. No more having to tip Joe Schmo who ignored you your whole meal because he knew you were on the plan. Now he has to work for his tip!

Granted, it would have been nice if they decreased the cost by more than one dollar, but Disney is a busniess. I just hope that somehow this extra revenue will end up benefiting the parks, and not just in the execs deep pockets.

 

[scottny]

I will still use it. I am traveling with 3 kids and having to only bring tip money is fine with me. I still find it a big convenience. I could really careless about the appetizer and if I go to a restaurant i normally have to pay for the tip so why not at Disney also.
Doing the math it still saves me over $200 cause I love character meals and table service meals.

 

[Flametamr]

Quick tip:

Move the decimal point one spot to the left (10%), add together (20%)....it's really not that difficult. I think people will tip less because they're cheap...not because it's inconvenient for them to figure gratuity.

Thanks for the tip. Noone including my late ex-waitress wife ever taught me that trick. My only question is what if the service is fair and warrants 15 or even 18percent ? Believe it or not numbers do not work in my head. I can barely add and subtract. I normally tip in the range you quoted but would ask someone for help figuring the tip. Unless the service was really horrible and I am sure it was the waiters fault. Then I would tip much lower.

 

[maxiesmom]

Thanks for the tip. Noone including my late ex-waitress wife ever taught me that trick. My only question is what if the service is fair and warrants 15 or even 18percent ? Believe it or not numbers do not work in my head. I can barely add and subtract. I normally tip in the range you quoted but would ask someone for help figuring the tip. Unless the service was really horrible and I am sure it was the waiters fault. Then I would tip much lower.

If you have a cell-phone, it might have a tip calculator on it. Mine does, and I don't hesitate to use it.

 

[sjaakie]

As a European I read all these post and my ears are just keep on flapping.

Its a disgrace that servers ore anybody else must depend on a tip for there regular income.

Come on were living in 2007 and NOBODY should be depending on charity from costumers to get a normal income.
This system is totally unknown in Europe and at the most a tip will be 10 dollar.
And that’s just saying thanks not more ore less.

 

[Princess_Michelle]

I think it sucks too, and I understand why people are upset, but it seems to me that Disney has every right to do whatever they want. It's their business, just b/c they have given out handouts before, doesn't mean that they have to keep doing it.... It's kind of like getting mad at Disney for not giving away free dining one year, to me anyways. Personally, I definitely could tell last year that service was lacking b/c of a guaranteed 18%. We always tip about 20%, sometimes more, if the service is good. However, there were several times where I would have only tipped 10%.....I don't think there was one time that I would have tipped less though. And I would NEVER leave nothing!
It will be weird this year though b/c we are going with family (6 people) who will all be on the dining plan, and we are paying OOP. So, I guess if there is an instance where service is horrible, I'll have to take into account that they'll already be getting 18%, so maybe I will leave less than normal.....but, I just can't imagine service being that horrible at Disney.

 

[girli565]

If you have a cell-phone, it might have a tip calculator on it. Mine does, and I don't hesitate to use it.

Also, in FL the Tax is 7%, usually if you double the tax amount and add a $1.00 or so it hits 15% right on the nose most of the time.

I use the decimal move a lot because when the service is great I don't mind tipping 20%.

 

[Lewisc]

Disney certainly has the right to remove the included tip from the dining plan. It wasn't a "handout". The included tip was included in the price of the plan. Free dining isn't a "handout". It's given as an alternative to other promotions that are generally given during that time period.

Disney certainly has the right to remove the included tip but CMs don't have the right to blame "greedy servers" who didn't think 18% was enough.

I think it sucks too, and I understand why people are upset, but it seems to me that Disney has every right to do whatever they want. It's their business, just b/c they have given out handouts before, doesn't mean that they have to keep doing it....

 

[luckytobeme88]

I think WDW has been reading a lot of guests comments regarding the lack of good services because the servers are ensured with the automatically included gratuities. Most of you want the servers to earn their tips base on good services, right ?!! Stop and think about it for a second. I believe the people who want better services WON. Next year, we will still pay for the DDP, but the servers need to be very wary about their attitudes toward the diners.

 

[StrollPatrolMom]

I agree. I may leave more than 18% for great service at TS restaurants, but I wont be leaving 18% for a buffet. I think the buffet servers will be the ones who lose out on this deal.

I completely agree. We will be paying for 4 breakfast buffets OOP this trip, and I really just do not forsee myself tipping 18% for bringing me a drink and asking me how my food is. I used to be a waitress, and always tip AT LEAST 20%, more like 25% if we have our kids and they make a mess...

I will be booking the bounceback offer, and the fact gratuity is no longer included may be the nail in the coffin of my NOT upgrading to the deluxe plan. If we had the deluxe plan, we'd be more likely to do signature dining, which would *easily* be another 20-40 per day in gratuity just in that one meal alone (with 3 adults and one of age child)

It makes more sense for us to pay OOP for a few character breakfasts. But for the fact the dining plan is FREE, I think I'd come to the same conclusion about paying OOP for the plan in 08. If its even close cost-wise I'd rather opt for more flexilbility...

 

[JimMIA]

Also, in FL the Tax is 7%, usually if you double the tax amount and add a $1.00 or so it hits 15% right on the nose most of the time.

I use the decimal move a lot because when the service is great I don't mind tipping 20%.

Actually, the tax in Florida is 6% statewide.

Some counties have gotten approval to add 1/2% or 1%. Here in Miami, it's 7% up to a $5,000 purchase, I believe, and then 6% above that. I'm not sure, but I think the tax rate in Orange County and WDW is 6.5%.

So, if you're at WDW and you double the tax, you may want to add more than a buck.

 

[JimMIA]

I think WDW has been reading a lot of guests comments regarding the lack of good services because the servers are ensured with the automatically included gratuities. Most of you want the servers to earn their tips base on good services, right ?!! Stop and think about it for a second. I believe the people who want better services WON. Next year, we will still pay for the DDP, but the servers need to be very wary about their attitudes toward the diners.

When I read posts along these lines, I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

Everyone -- for some indecipherable reason -- gravitates to the irrelevent question of whether the tip is automatic or optional and how that might/might not affect service. That's not the point, folks!

(For one thing, if your party has 6 or more people, the tip IS going to be added automatically anyway. For another thing, if you order anything not covered by DDP, 18% is going to be added to that check, too. But that's not the point either.)

The point is, formerly the tip was paid by DISNEY...not us! With the change, Disney pockets that cash and the responsibility (all of it) is now ours. The tip, which formerly we did NOT pay, WE NOW PAY starting 1/1/2008.

It has nothing to do with service. The 18% tip on an average TS meal (+/- $50) is $9.00. Prior to this change, we paid ZERO. With this change, every time someone's card gets swiped for one TS meal, we PAY the $9 and Disney's little cash register goes, "Ching, ching!"

At $9 for each and every adult TS meal eaten during a year, that is a TON of extra revenue with zero cost to Disney...because all of the cost has been shifted to the customer.

That is the entire point of this change, and it's mind-boggling that people don't see it.

 

[girli565]

Actually, the tax in Florida is 6% statewide.

Some counties have gotten approval to add 1/2% or 1%. Here in Miami, it's 7% up to a $5,000 purchase, I believe, and then 6% above that. I'm not sure, but I think the tax rate in Orange County and WDW is 6.5%.

So, if you're at WDW and you double the tax, you may want to add more than a buck.

You know, you're right! I realized it after I hit send that in WDW it's 6.5%.

Thanks for the correction.

Miami really wants to put the squeeze on us, huh?

 

[stschaefer]

Wait a minute. If the tip is not paid for by Disney - we will be automatically billed 18%? If that is the case people will start doing the math and paying for the DDP plan will not be worth it. No appetizer and automatically billed for tip will not be good. And we have gotten used to the DDP from 2005 and 2006.

 

[Tricia1972]

Wait a minute. If the tip is not paid for by Disney - we will be automatically billed 18%? If that is the case people will start doing the math and paying for the DDP plan will not be worth it. No appetizer and automatically billed for tip will not be good. And we have gotten used to the DDP from 2005 and 2006.

You are only automatically charged the 18% if your party is 6 or more. Otherwise you tip at your discretion based on service.

 

[JimMIA]

You know, you're right! I realized it after I hit send that in WDW it's 6.5%.

Thanks for the correction.

Miami really wants to put the squeeze on us, huh?

Yeah, but look at all the comic relief we get for a penny on the dollar!

Between the city and the county commissioners, we've got one of the best entertainment values in the U.S...and all for a penny!

 

[JimMIA]

You are only automatically charged the 18% if your party is 6 or more.

OR...if you order something not included in DDP, like an appetizer, specialty beverage, alcohol, etc. Anything you get a separate cash check for will carry the automatic 18% service charge.

Also the automatic gratuity for large parties has been there for years. You just didn't notice it because you weren't paying the tip. (A little fact that seems to have escaped a lot of us! ) The only change is that in 2008, they are lowering the threshhold from parties of 8 to parties of 6.

That party size, incidentally, has nothing to do with how you're paying the bill. It applies to ALL parties of 6 -- DDP, not DDP or split between DDP and non-DDP participants.