Using DDP - Do you tip additional?

tink2007

DIS Veteran
Joined
Jun 26, 2006
Messages
673
We used the DDP in June of 05 and LOVED it. My only mixed feeling with the DDP is the service you get from wait staff. Though we never really recieved bad service, I did notice several rolled eyes or irritated looks when ever we informed them we were using the DDP. Is it because the tip is included with the DDP? Do they feel they will get 18% no matter how they serve? I have no problem adding additional tip if earned. I am just wondering if anyone feels the same way.
 
We never had a problem with service on the plan as a matter of fact many servers seemed excited when we told them we were on the DDP and made suggestions on how we could use the plan to our advantage.In most cases I tipped an additional 20% at each meal.
 
Hi!

We've used the dining plan for our last several tips.
We always had nice, pleasant servers at the TS restaurants.

We always tip extra if we feel that the waiter made the dining experience extra special for us.
 
My family went last May and felt the same way...If we got exceptional service we tipped them extra and will probably do the same when we go in September especially since this time there will be eight of us. We do not extra tip everyone just the servers that gave us exceptional service!!
 

Hi!

We've used the dining plan for our last several tips.
We always had nice, pleasant servers at the TS restaurants.

We always tip extra if we feel that the waiter made the dining experience extra special for us.

We've taken the same approach as well. Our best and most fun experience was with Craig at Tony's Town Square in MK.
 
A logistics question...how do you tip extra, if not by cash...can you put the tip on your room key/charge?
 
We tipped extra everywhere with cash to bring the tip to at least 20%. We also tipped extra on the alcohol because only an 18% tip was added. We did not notice any difference between TS meals that we used the DDP and TS meals that we paid cash for. In fact, our very worst service was at Mama Melrose and we paid cash for that one! The CM knew it too, because she asked when we sat down. We had incredible service at places we used the DDP. :)
 
We tipped extra when we had good service to bring the tip up to 20-25% - which is what we are comfortable tipping when we eat out.

We carried extra 5 or 10 dollar bills on us, or added tip to the receipt if we charged alcohol to the room.
 
We've taken the same approach as well. Our best and most fun experience was with Craig at Tony's Town Square in MK.

I have to agree, Craig was our server too and he was great. We were celebrating our anniversary and he just made it so much fun! We also tipped extra that night.
 
We never tip extra on the DDP. The servers get an 18% tip off of a very large bill (appetizers, meals, desserts). At home we usually tip 15%.
 
We tipped extra everywhere and never got a server who seemed unhappy about us being on the dining plan. They always seemed genuinely surprised and thankful for the extra.
 
The servers get an 18% tip off of a very large bill (appetizers, meals, desserts).
Just keep in mind that that only applies to Disney-owned restaurants. The non-Disney-owned restaurants may have different policies regarding how they tip their servers with the Dining Plan is used.

A logistics question...how do you tip extra, if not by cash...can you put the tip on your room key/charge?
Typically, folks who do this also order something extra that you have to pay OOP for. I've never read of a case where the restaurant ran a $0 charge for a guest, so the guest could put charge an extra gratuity.
 
We got great service on the DDP - the servers were all happy to explain the plan and what we could get, made recommendations, etc.

We did get poor service at Coral Reef - but it was clear we just had a bad server who gave everybody poor service - it had nothing to do with the plan.
 
I don't tip extra on the DDP since I would normally tip about 15% for average service and 18% for good service when I'm not in the world.
 
We tipped when appropriate, for sure! Some of those CMs really made our stay! :thumbsup2

We did it with cash, though, after finding out that you don't have opportunity to tip if you didn't charge anything not covered under the plan.
 
We have never had bad service on the DDP, except the once, but I don't think that was due to the plan at all. And we don't tip more, except for the times when we have had them bill us for the kids seperately. Last month, we ate at CA Grill and paid for the girls out of pocket. We paid her close to $9 on a less than $20 bill.
 
we were on the ddp in May of 2006, and I did tip the servers 20% in cash. They were are wonderfully kind, happy and attentive to my, my ds, 15 and my dd 9. Especially, our very sweet server who went out of her way to get my dd a picture with Winnie-the-Pooh at the Crystal Palace, since my dd had gone off to explore the bathroom and totally missed her photo op. In fact, our server did this before she even realized I had tipped her so it was completely geniune and exceedingly kind of her. The only place I had any problem was at Planet Hollywood in DTD. Our server was annoyed that we were on the DDP and demanded to know how many meals we had left on the plan, since he said he was stiffed by other patrons who said they were on the plan but were out of sit down dining meals. So, I said perhaps you would like to check before we order, but he replied, "oh, nevermind", and remained miffed for the rest of the meal. Too bad for him, we were on vacation and happy so he didn't ruin it for us. That didn't surprise me too much since the last time we ate there in 2004, with a free meal voucher from our package, our little server girl was equally snotty. We only go for my ds who loves the videos and the music. Lol, it's as close to Pleasure Island as he can get at his age.
Have a great time,
donna
 















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