Tipping on new dining plan

[septbaby]

Did they bring the price down or is it still the same cost? Price is $1 less. There are some meals where tips are included (room service and some shows).

I would also be curious to see what happens with large parties. We may go with my sister's family at the end of the year, so there would be 10 of us at the table, but 2 separate families with 2 separate plans. Will they put the higher gratuity on both checks automatically because we are together though paying separately? If that is how they do it, will it be based on each checks total or the whole thing? Since they are 6 and we are 4, I don't want to be charged a huge tip for being at one table. No matter what you read on these boards or are told on site, I'd verify or make my request at each restaurant where this applies. I wouldn't leave it up to the system and then try to unravel it once the checks have been run. !

bye

 

[just another guy]

Does the bill for ADR of 6 or more people automatically add 18%, thereby preventing the patron from paying the tip portion in cash?

Nope, not really. Anytime grat is added to a bill, the grat goes to the servers paycheck. So yes you could pay for dinner with plastic, and the grat in cash, but the server still has to give disney the cash and wait until payday.

If a guest REALLY wanted to be nice, they could tell the server they have no problem paying the 18%, but would rather have it off the records. The server would probably have to get a quick OK from management, but then would get to take it home that night.

 

[yitbos96bb]

To answer OP, every check prints out now with your bill total, a place to leave tip, and a final total. If you are on DDP and leave this blank, we as servers now HAVE to ask (before we swipe your DDP credits) to please total the check. When we swipe the ddp card, it asks us to enter a tip amount. That remains as a balance, to which we can then either swipe the resort card or a credit card. So, when we ask for you to total the amount, we should also ask (assuming you leave some tip) if we can just charge the resort card or another credit card.

Servers across property, myself included, feel horribly awkward and tacky about this. A guest now has to face the server face to face with their tip amount whether they want to or not. (As a guest, I would find this awkward if I got bad service and left a deservingly bad tip). A rule of thumb for serving at any restaurant worldwide is to NOT solicit tips. But now we have to if the guest does not understand that we must have that tip amount prior to swiping the ddp card. We cannot enter an amount later.

Of course, if a ddp guest intends to tip with cash, a server will enter $0 as tip amount and pocket the cash (easiest way).

So, for ddp guests only, either enter the tip amount before they swipe the ddp card, or write "cash" so the server knows not to ask.

For all other guests, the reciept will print out with a place to enter tip, but you don't have to fill this out til after your credit card is swiped (as has always been).

Thanks so much...

I wish they just raised the price and include the tips... so much easier... or make it a fixed 18% with an option to add more.

 

[123SA]

What about buffets? I generally tip 20% and am happy to do so---except at buffets. That is, I tip the 20% but am not happy about it. I can't justify giving the wait staff at a buffet the same tip as a full service waiter/waitress. However, I have never worked either job, so I can be convinced that that the job they perform is equally deserving of the 20% tip.

 

[just another guy]

What about buffets? I generally tip 20% and am happy to do so---except at buffets. That is, I tip the 20% but am not happy about it. I can't justify giving the wait staff at a buffet the same tip as a full service waiter/waitress. However, I have never worked either job, so I can be convinced that that the job they perform is equally deserving of the 20% tip.

Disney says all restaurant servers deserve the same tip percentage.

Read the last couple pages of this thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1675055

Knowing server disney servers, both buffet, and menu, I can tell you from my point of view they both work just as hard. In fact, I know a fine dining server or two who openly admit that buffet servers work harder. Read that thread, and BuffalGal(a disney server) pretty much backs me up.

 

[123SA]

okay I have read part of the other thread and this is so not a debate I want to enter into!!! 18% is customary at Disney...that's fine.

Thanks for your help

 

[TLSnell1981]

Disney waitstaff, on this board, will tell you they ALL deserve at LEAST 18%. I personally will wait until after I dine to determine how much my server has earned....not what they feel they are entitled to.

 

[just another guy]

nevermind.

 

[123SA]

Thanks!

 

[just another guy]

One step ahead of ya.

 

[LexPlayer]

Nope, not really. Anytime grat is added to a bill, the grat goes to the servers paycheck. So yes you could pay for dinner with plastic, and the grat in cash, but the server still has to give disney the cash and wait until payday.

If a guest REALLY wanted to be nice, they could tell the server they have no problem paying the 18%, but would rather have it off the records. The server would probably have to get a quick OK from management, but then would get to take it home that night.

Couldn't this lead to potential problems? If an ADR has 6 or more and the individual writes -cash- on the gratuity line, does the server actually have to receive it prior to the server running the meal through the DDP? If the server does not receive the 18% first, in cash, what is the enforcement if the patrons decide to leaving nothing or (*gasp*) 15%? Will the difference between 18% and whatever percent in cash that was left at the table get charged to the room account (which was not authorized)? I can see a situation where someone wants to leave less than 18% and is confronted by a server/manager for the remaining "balance" of 3%.

Also, if there's an auto-grat, I don't see how it can be "off the records" as it has to be accounted for.

 

[just another guy]

Couldn't this lead to potential problems? If an ADR has 6 or more and the individual writes -cash- on the gratuity line, does the server actually have to receive it prior to the server running the meal through the DDP? If the server does not receive the 18% first, in cash, what is the enforcement if the patrons decide to leaving nothing or (*gasp*) 15%? Will the difference between 18% and whatever percent in cash that was left at the table get charged to the room account (which was not authorized)? I can see a situation where someone wants to leave less than 18% and is confronted by a server/manager for the remaining "balance" of 3%.

Its going to depend 100% of the whole picture. As mentioned, the server had to turn in that 18% tip to disney. They do not get it that night. The guest says nothing, just leaves 12% and walks out, the server would probably tell management, and then do a room charge for the 6%. Now if the Peterson family was pissed because they never got refills, little sally didn't eat because the server never brought ketchup for her chicken nuggets, etc then the family needs to talk to a manager. The whole tip would probably be removed. But, if they just leave without saying anything after a horrible meal, the server will likely do a room charge as mentioned. Then the Peterson's get to fight it out with the front desk at checkout, if they even notice the couple dollar charge.

What I said about "off the record" happened to my ex a time or two. She has guests that just loved her, and who ever was paying simply said something like, "I'm easily leaving you more than 18%, but can we just leave it between me and you, and not on the check?" The grat can be removed it a manager over-rides it. Clearly that would only be done when its promised the guest wants to leave more than 18%.

 

[mom22princessesL&S]

Here's my question....We will be going to Disney with a party of 4 and a party of 2 therefore making us a party of 6. We are on 2 different reservations but have the same ADR's. Will my(party of 4) bill reflect a tip on what my family ordered or will the entire table be added together for a tip total. I would not want my mother & father-in-law to have to pay an enourmous tip because of what my family of 4 ordered.
Also, if I have paid for my trip in advance and do not want to attach a credit card number to my key to the world, what would stop me from leaving what I felt comfortable with as a tip based on the service I received not on the number of people in my party.
I have always been a very good tipper and I plan on continuing that practice at Disney, however; I will expect top notch service for an expected 18% gratuity. I will not hesitate to talk to a manager if I disagree with the tip expected of me.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Here's my question....We will be going to Disney with a party of 4 and a party of 2 therefore making us a party of 6. We are on 2 different reservations but have the same ADR's. Will my(party of 4) bill reflect a tip on what my family ordered or will the entire table be added together for a tip total. I would not want my mother & father-in-law to have to pay an enourmous tip because of what my family of 4 ordered.
Also, if I have paid for my trip in advance and do not want to attach a credit card number to my key to the world, what would stop me from leaving what I felt comfortable with as a tip based on the service I received not on the number of people in my party.
I have always been a very good tipper and I plan on continuing that practice at Disney, however; I will expect top notch service for an expected 18% gratuity. I will not hesitate to talk to a manager if I disagree with the tip expected of me.

Each party should have the 18% service charge added to each check, according to what was ordered. You will not have the option of determining the amount you want to leave (unless it is more than 18%). Talking to the management will get you nada. The 18% is non-negotiable.

 

[LexPlayer]

Its going to depend 100% of the whole picture. As mentioned, the server had to turn in that 18% tip to disney. They do not get it that night. The guest says nothing, just leaves 12% and walks out, the server would probably tell management, and then do a room charge for the 6%. Now if the Peterson family was pissed because they never got refills, little sally didn't eat because the server never brought ketchup for her chicken nuggets, etc then the family needs to talk to a manager. The whole tip would probably be removed. But, if they just leave without saying anything after a horrible meal, the server will likely do a room charge as mentioned. Then the Peterson's get to fight it out with the front desk at checkout, if they even notice the couple dollar charge.

What I said about "off the record" happened to my ex a time or two. She has guests that just loved her, and who ever was paying simply said something like, "I'm easily leaving you more than 18%, but can we just leave it between me and you, and not on the check?" The grat can be removed it a manager over-rides it. Clearly that would only be done when its promised the guest wants to leave more than 18%.

1. I didn't know the manager could over-ride the auto-grat.

2. I didn't know they could room charge without authorization- I would have to see the fine print about that.

3. It certainly is self-serving, but why do you feel the need to present facts that minimize the situation (e.g. "ketchup" and "couple dollar charge)? You would be more credible if you could just say a family was "unhappy" with their meal, rather than make a legitimate complaint sound trivial and petty.

 

[DeeCee735]

We always tip in cash when we dine out, in WDW or home. We always write "tip in cash" on the credit card receipt when we pay with a cc. I'll do the same when I'm in WDW this Spring.

 

[byoung]

A lot are walking out not paying tips, feel sorry for the sherver's.

 

[SplashMountainMama]

Couldn't this lead to potential problems? If an ADR has 6 or more and the individual writes -cash- on the gratuity line, does the server actually have to receive it prior to the server running the meal through the DDP? If the server does not receive the 18% first, in cash, what is the enforcement if the patrons decide to leaving nothing or (*gasp*) 15%? Will the difference between 18% and whatever percent in cash that was left at the table get charged to the room account (which was not authorized)?

This is so typical of the DDP...where there's a will, there's a loophole! I'd bet that there are people that have stayed up nights just trying to figure out a scenario to "burn" Disney for the changes to the DDP. I can just picture it... Mom and Dad yelling at little Johnny and his 3 siblings to put down their forks and run for it before the waiter comes back for his tip!!

 

[Belle1962]

I didn't have a cc attached to my room. My KTTW indicated not to be used for charging. I used cash for tips (except once when I used my cc and that was such a fiasco that I went to ATM for more cash). I don't see how they can charge your room if you "undertip" in cash---and there was not an auto tip on your bill.

 

[nalalion224]

18% automatically for our party of 6? Wow. As a former server I find that insulting. I am a 20/25% tipper when I get great service, but hate the idea of being forced to tip 18% for bad service, which I have had at WDW. What incentive do the servers have to give good service if they know their tip doesn't depend on it. That is just screwy!!