Tables in Wonderland

Thank you.



I always hate having a gratuity AUTOMATICALLY added. Gratuity is based on the level/quality of "Service". According to http://www.businessinsider.com/this-is-how-much-you-should-tip-for-every-service-2012-8
  • 15% for adequate service
  • 20% for exceptional service.
  • For poor service, leave 10% or less.
  • It’s okay to leave nothing for exceptionally poor service, but only if you’re sure it’s the waiter’s fault.
So adding 18% is always assuming you are going to have great service. Okay, I know the argument that if you are not getting that level of service you should be speaking with a manager, but still.... That's my concern. I have also had some service at WDW that fall in the "Poor Service" category. In a regular restaurant, I make allowances for a crowded restaurant, because it's always a variable for them. At WDW, It's always crowded, so they typically KNOW and should staff it appropriately, so there is less of an excuse.

Now that being said, I usually do get good service at Disney and the food is usually descent. But let's face it, $60.00 for a "Buffet" (Not a character dining either) is a LOT of money when I can get the same level of service and quality at the Ponderosa for HALF (or less) the price, so just becuase it's over priced, paying $12.00 (per person) to have a waiter/waitress fill my drink (and some are even self service there too) and take away my plates is a HUGE price.

I believe in Tipping and tipping well, but just because the food is overpriced doesn't mean the tip should match (unless the service is truly exceptional). Conversely, if the service is NOT up to par, I believe in leaving a tip just as appropriate. I am not one to leave a ZERO tip (or like some leave a penny or nickel) even for poor service. (unless it's sooooo bad that I just don't even stay).

I'm not going to argue over tipping, or the cost of Disney's food. If you don't routinely tip 18% OF THE BILL (not what you think the food would be worth in your hometown) then maybe TIW isn't for you. For our family of 5 it's a huge money saver.

FWIW, over Christmas I had awful service at Cape May Cafe. We were a party of 6 and used TIW, so tip was automatically included. I spoke with the manager and he adjusted my bill (took off 2 adult meals, which was more than my "mandatory" tip). So, if the service is bad then you don't HAVE to tip that amount-- but, as you know, you should be speaking with the manager in that case.
 
I'm not going to argue over tipping, or the cost of Disney's food. If you don't routinely tip 18% OF THE BILL (not what you think the food would be worth in your hometown) then maybe TIW isn't for you. For our family of 5 it's a huge money saver.

FWIW, over Christmas I had awful service at Cape May Cafe. We were a party of 6 and used TIW, so tip was automatically included. I spoke with the manager and he adjusted my bill (took off 2 adult meals, which was more than my "mandatory" tip). So, if the service is bad then you don't HAVE to tip that amount-- but, as you know, you should be speaking with the manager in that case.

For the record, I do routinely tip 18% (or more). I just don't like the MANDATORY gratuity. My trip in August will be a trip of 3 of us, but we are coming again in November with 5 of us so I think it will probably be beneficial to get the TIW. I was just trying to see by how much.

You are correct in that my analysis of a "Net 2%" savings is flawed because the TIP is the TIP regardless whether I add it after the fact or if it's automatically added. I suppose what I was really trying to get at is to determine a value of what I would be presented with as an actual charge on the slip to calculate my savings. Without TIW, the gratuity is totally discretionary but with TIW it is not, so my analysis was really not an apples to apples analysis. Thank you for opening my eyes to this.

I am not a horrible patron and I really do like to tip according to the service I receive (regardless if its WDW or my Local greasy spoon). I know often times the service industry is underpaid and rely on tips to make a living. I still have a bit of heart burn about spending more on a tip at WDW then the actual cost of the food at a comparable restaurant outside of WDW. That is not to say that I don't tip appropriately, but my definition of "Excellent" changes when I am paying for a $60 steak versus a $20.00 one. Accordingly my tip (as should others) should reflect that as well and I don't feel this is unfair.
 
TIW has added black out dates. Example the whole week of Thanksgiving. As AP holders we have not renewed for the past two years since this change. There have also been more restaurants that don't accept TIW. The price has risen $25 each year for the past couple of years. So now you have to spend more to make up the annual fee. This is just our decision.
 
TIW has added black out dates. Example the whole week of Thanksgiving. As AP holders we have not renewed for the past two years since this change. There have also been more restaurants that don't accept TIW. The price has risen $25 each year for the past couple of years. So now you have to spend more to make up the annual fee. This is just our decision.
We are actually going to be there for Thanksgiving this year too. (Check-in that day) but we are staying the rest of that week and all of the next week. The additional blackout dates are not for ALL the locations, but only select ones. Most of them don't interest us so it's not an issue.

I guess the fact that they are removing restaurants from the list could be an issue, but as I looked at the current list (having no knowledge of previous lists) I find the list acceptable and many of the restaurants that we would use are on it, so that's a plus for us.
 

This is my first trip with TIW. Since it covers food AND Alcohol, which AP discount does not. Of course it adds the 18% gratuity but when you are a party of 6, you pay that ANYWAY. Up to this point it has saved me just about 250 in tips I would have had to pay above the original price, in the 4 days I we have been here. We have 10 days to go and more savings today at Epcot and Tomorrow at California Grill.
 
I'm curious about the expiration date for TiW. I noticed in checking the updated listing of restaurants on the website last night that it says "valid for one year from date of purchase." However, we bought the card on April 24th, 2015. The back of the physical card itself says "expires 5/31/2016."

So which is it?

It's important as our next trip in April is timed such that our APs will expire before we leave. We're offsite at a timeshare but would continue to use the card for dinners at Disney Springs and some resorts if we can, but if not, we might choose elsewhere. Would be great to squeeze a few extra meals out of the card to maximize our return.

Anyone have insight?
 












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