Things not going well with the DDP changes

[PrinceAndPrincessQ]

I do not believe that we are entitled jerks. I was on the free DDP in Sept ’06 and decided to include it when I added two days in WDW this month to our Disney cruise in March. I was completely in the wrong because I added the plan thinking it would be the same plan that I had in ’06, but do not feel I am entitled. However, had I known that the tip and appetizer was not included I would have completed an analysis prior to making the purchase. Would I ever make a scene about the tip being included? Of course not, but had I not read the boards here I would not have been aware of it prior to my arrival and this would have led to an uncomfortable situation when the bill did arrive. That said, I love Disney and am looking forward to our time there.

I agree.

We went to Disney in October 2006 and loved the ddp. So of course when I called last week and made our reservations the CM asked about the ddp and I said 'yes'. She never mentioned that a change had been made since our last visit, which she knew of.
I dont like the changes, and will base my tip on the service we receive. They will get exactly what I think they should, I will feel no pressure on this.
Am I sorry I said that I wanted it?.......'Nooooooo. Not at all! I do however think the CM should have tipped us off that changes had occured in the ddp and we should check online for more information.

I know that changes can and do occur without warning, that is their right....but this is a 'biggie'. It should have been mentioned.



BTW, am I an entitled jerk for feeling this way?..... (Kiddinggggggggggg, original poster that said that!!!! i saw your thoughts from where you were treated badly by the public.......sorry that happened to you. never is it fair to treat someone with disrespect.)

 

[mickeyluv'r]

When we checked in lat fall at Pop, we were not given a brochure for the ddp (my only time using it). Halfway through our trip, I talked with an excited lady on the resort bus who let me know that she had just found out that she could use her parking pass to park at BOTH the resort and the parks. She was so excited she just had to tell me about it!

We didn't have a car that trip, but I'm certain I've been told at check-in before that I could use my parking pass all over property (but with limits at other resorts). At the end of our trip, we asked the front desk about the bounceback offer we had been given in our room (apparently this is booked through someone else, they had no idea) and while we were waiting, another couple checked-in next to us and I noticed they were not informed about the parking permit they were given.

I began to wonder if it had something to do with the value status of our resort...

but the real reason I'm posting is that I should think if they made changes to the dining plan, the nwhat they SHOULD have done is changed the name of the program to make it obvious there were changes. That's what Disney usually does. Since they kept the same name, I don't think it's unreasonable to assume it's the same plan.

 

[frisky kitty]

We did the dining plan our last trip when the appetizer and gratuity were included. I really enjoyed eating at some of the nicer TS restaurants and trying the desserts! By the end of the week we had alot of brownies and cookies stacked up in our room because it was just to much to eat with our CS. We always used our snack credit for bottled water. We were never hungry, and our family can eat! I decided to actually see if the new DP would be a good value for us. I know this is so OCD but I actually listed everywhere we are eating, just as if we were on the DP and went through all the menues, wrote down our orders, with desserts, 15% gratuity. I also included "snack" credits of bottled water. Get this, with all this my oop expenses are still $50.00 less then if I was buying the DP! We plan on eating at Le Cellier, Ohana, W.C.C., Rose and Crown, ect... and I was not skimping on what I was pricing, if I wanted a steak, that's what I got. I included desserts and drinks with all of our CS also. I was quite amazed and although it is nice to have the convenience of the DP, for us it is actually cheaper to pay oop. If you have the time and inclination price it all out and see if it is actually cheaper to not do the DP, it will be for us! Honestly last time I felt like a glutton, and even though I priced dessert with all of CS I probably would not get it all the time this time around--we would just have brownies stacked up again!

 

[sandym718]

but the real reason I'm posting is that I should think if they made changes to the dining plan, the nwhat they SHOULD have done is changed the name of the program to make it obvious there were changes. That's what Disney usually does. Since they kept the same name, I don't think it's unreasonable to assume it's the same plan.

I think that's a good point!

 

[TLSnell1981]

but the real reason I'm posting is that I should think if they made changes to the dining plan, the nwhat they SHOULD have done is changed the name of the program to make it obvious there were changes. That's what Disney usually does. Since they kept the same name, I don't think it's unreasonable to assume it's the same plan.

It sure would have saved a lot of grief............. and space on the Disboards!

 

[SCFIREMAN]

the central problem is, IMO, a lack of communication directly from WDW to their guests about the products they have purchased.

We have purchased the dining plan previously. However, we were never given (mailed or presented upon check-in) any written information about this program or how to properly utilize it. We were asked AT THE RESTAURANT if we were on the dining plan... answer "yes"... server's response: okay, are you familiar with how it works? .... THIS is the key moment... see... we've BEEN on the DP before, so sure we *think* we know... but alas, is has been changed.

A simple, one-page program summary either mailed to the guest and/or presented upon check-in seems almost mandatory.

After-all... aren't we generally given instruction manuals when we purchase products with limits, restrictions, or other special rules?

It's unfair to *ASSUME* that ALL GUESTS have access to the Internet or these very helpful message boards. That's not true 100% of the time, and therefore, Disney should be VERY proactively explaining it's policies, procedures and programs for the products you purchase from them... PRIOR TO YOUR USE of those items.

The problem is not only with the policy change itself, but the unnecessary lack of communication of the change from Disney to their Guests.

I have used DDP on several trips and have always received a rather large book with a listing of all the restaurants that accept DDP as well as how to use it. It has plenty of information. It's in the welcome package that we received at check-in along with the pamphlet with the park hours, resort maps, etc. Have any of the people who are complaining about not being informed of the changes asked if there were any changes when they booked their DDP?

 

[PrinceAndPrincessQ]

I have used DDP on several trips and have always received a rather large book with a listing of all the restaurants that accept DDP as well as how to use it. It has plenty of information. It's in the welcome package that we received at check-in along with the pamphlet with the park hours, resort maps, etc. Have any of the people who are complaining about not being informed of the changes asked if there were any changes when they booked their DDP?

Nope i sure didnt.....good point. Oh noooo, I also forgot to ask it the castle was still there...heheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee I better go, I have to call them right away.

 

[chimo2u]

DH is in the military - lets just say it's laughable to try and calculate their "hourly wage" when they are working almost nonstop during 12-15 month Iraq employments.. Maybe we need wars in countries where tipping is customary and then he can get a tip for each life he saves.. Umm...

Oh well - the tipping debate will never go away - I tip if I feel its earned - its not a right that the server has to get a tip - but I eat out very often even at home and if I couldn't afford the customary 15%-18% I shouldn't be there since 99% of the servers do earn it (in my opinion)

EXCELLENT POINT!!

 

[Superspectral]

I have used DDP on several trips and have always received a rather large book with a listing of all the restaurants that accept DDP as well as how to use it. It has plenty of information. It's in the welcome package that we received at check-in along with the pamphlet with the park hours, resort maps, etc. Have any of the people who are complaining about not being informed of the changes asked if there were any changes when they booked their DDP?

I've booked a trip in late Feb. I booked, paid for, and all my documents say the deluxe dining plan. The only booklet Disney has sent me is the standard dining plan book. I've downloaded the deluxe dining plan guide, so I know what to expect. However, they aren't perfect about getting the right info out.

 

[jszczur5]

No offense intended towards anyone, but I love this thread! It is good that there are so many different opinions and that we can all express them. Good natured debate is always stimulating

This is my first post on the DISboards. I have to say that I have not found this thread to be an example of "good natured debate". I think I will continue to do most of my research and posting (under the same name - I'm no troll) at intercot, where such vicious name calling and personal attacks would never be tolerated.

 

[TLSnell1981]

This is my first post on the DISboards. I have to say that I have not found this thread to be an example of "good natured debate". I think I will continue to do most of my research and posting (under the same name - I'm no troll) at intercot, where such vicious name calling and personal attacks would never be tolerated.

 

[sjaakie]

This is my first post on the DISboards. I have to say that I have not found this thread to be an example of "good natured debate". I think I will continue to do most of my research and posting (under the same name - I'm no troll) at intercot, where such vicious name calling and personal attacks would never be tolerated.

 

[byoung]

This is my first post on the DISboards. I have to say that I have not found this thread to be an example of "good natured debate". I think I will continue to do most of my research and posting (under the same name - I'm no troll) at intercot, where such vicious name calling and personal attacks would never be tolerated.

Welcome to the DIS!!!

 

[byoung]

This is my first post on the DISboards. I have to say that I have not found this thread to be an example of "good natured debate". I think I will continue to do most of my research and posting (under the same name - I'm no troll) at intercot, where such vicious name calling and personal attacks would never be tolerated.

Welcome to the DIS!!!

 

[mstew99]

I too was dissapointed to see they removed the gratuity from the DP. However, it may work out better to the guests overall. I've used the DP in 06 and in 07 (actually the free DP was the big reason we returned in 07!). The majority of our servers were excellent, but I did encounter a few places where once the server saw we were on the DP, they slacked off. They know that no matter what kind of service they give, they'd be getting that 18% tip. At first we just figured they had too many tables and were really busy, but this seemed to happen at restaurants where half the tables were empty and our server dissapeared from the floor.

Now that the automatic gratuity is gone, the servers won't be able to take a good tip for granted. I do feel bad though, because of all the problems arising with it, and how i'm sure it's hurting their income. I've never been a fan though of basing a tip on a percentage of your bill. I always think about it using a couple restuarants here by my home. There's this little coney island we visit that has excellent food, and it's dirt cheap too. You can get a good meal there for $5, and their waitstaff is absolutely wonderful. So on my $5 bill, my excellent server deserves a 20%, or $1 tip. Then we go to a higher class restuarant and say have a $50 bill. The server was great there too, and their 20% would be $10. I've never thought it right that servers tips and prices of food should be linked. I always base the tip on my service, and not the prices of their food.

 

[disneymom06]

I think that the automatic gratuity will be back but with the customer on the DDP and all forms of payment footing the cash. It is just a matter of time. Now parties of 6 or more and the DDE card are automatically charged the 18% , I think that the next step will be that all parties will be charged the 18%. JMO.

 

[Mermaid_Ariel]

Nope i sure didnt.....good point. Oh noooo, I also forgot to ask it the castle was still there...heheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee I better go, I have to call them right away.

 

[creativeamanda]

I think that the automatic gratuity will be back but with the customer on the DDP and all forms of payment footing the cash. It is just a matter of time. Now parties of 6 or more and the DDE card are automatically charged the 18% , I think that the next step will be that all parties will be charged the 18%. JMO.

For a resort like Disney, forcing people to pay the 18% will do no more than make people stop using ddp. On a $100 bill (very easy in the ts restaraunts), you are talking about $18 per meal. As I said before, if the server has 3 tables and turns over the tables in an hour (also, typical), then that's $54/hour. Don't you think that's a little much?

 

[angelmav]

For a resort like Disney, forcing people to pay the 18% will do no more than make people stop using ddp. On a $100 bill (very easy in the ts restaraunts), you are talking about $18 per meal. As I said before, if the server has 3 tables and turns over the tables in an hour (also, typical), then that's $54/hour. Don't you think that's a little much?

You dont want to go too far with those numbers as it will bring about a huge debate! But I think the OP was saying is that a mandatory service charge for all diners will eventually be in place. DDP really has little to do with it. If your eating TS, the expectation is that youll tip 15-20% Since were talking large bills at those TS restaurants, people have tip sticker shock and leave much, much less. The servers in question are therefore making considerably less than when the DDP gauranteed them 18%. Right, wrong, indifferent, they are not going to be happy campers to take that kind of pay cut and the only remedy will be to impose an across the board service charge.

 

[tloft]

For a resort like Disney, forcing people to pay the 18% will do no more than make people stop using ddp. On a $100 bill (very easy in the ts restaraunts), you are talking about $18 per meal. As I said before, if the server has 3 tables and turns over the tables in an hour (also, typical), then that's $54/hour. Don't you think that's a little much?

I couldn't disagree more.

1) it is none of my business what someone earns and to try to deliberately undermine the living they earn

2) I think $100 is probably significantly higher than the average, non-ddp, check (most people don't order apps, entrees, and desserts for everyone at the table)

3) even if they make $54/hour while actually waiting tables - they do not earn $54/hour over the course of a 40 hour work week. At the Coral Reef, one of the more expensive restaurants, lunch is only 3 hours (noon to three) and dinner seating is only 4:30 to 8:00 PM on normal days - this info comes for the Dis menu section. Most of the servers are part time to my knowledge. If you work lunches 5 days a week and can actually pull $54/hr for the three hours they are seating customers you are probably looking about $150 a day or $750 a week. This translates to about $40,000 a year - god forbid they should make a living wage.