DDE email

[SkittleKicks]

From the Disney Dining Experience Email: "We would also like to inform you that the Walt Disney World Resort will be implementing an across property policy change regarding gratuity at all food and beverage locations. Effective January 1, 2008, 18% gratuity will be added to all transactions, regardless of party size. Thank you for your continued support."

Does this apply to even counter service? I'd hope not!

[ultramm]

Upgraded Disney Dining Experience Process & New Tip Policy at WDW

I just received the email below. It sounds like everyone will be forced to tip 18% on all meals regardless of DDP, DDE, or cash. Is that what everyone else reads? I guess thet are doing this because they pulled tips out of DDP???
I think this will lead to poor service since the servers know what they are getting.

Greetings from the Disney Dining Experience Team!

As 2008 quickly approaches, you will begin to see some exciting new developments for the Disney Dining Experience Membership Program. You asked and we listened! Effective November 11, 2007, you will no longer have to wait 3 6 weeks to receive your permanent membership card(s).

Guest Relations locations at Epcot., MAGIC KINGDOM. Park, DISNEYS ANIMAL KINGDOM. Theme Park, Disney-MGM Studios, DOWNTOWN DISNEY. West Side, and DOWNTOWN DISNEY. Marketplace will now be able to print permanent Disney Dining Experience membership cards for immediate use. This service is designed for existing and new members. Cards produced at the Guest Relations locations will be printed on paper stock similar to the annual pass tickets.

The Disney Dining Experience office will still be available to take applications for current and new members, via the phone, fax or mail for those who do not want to take advantage of the in-park service. Membership cards ordered through the Disney Dining Experience office will be received within 2 - 3 weeks of purchase.

All Guests who have ordered their Disney Dining Experience membership cards prior to November 11, 2007 date will have to pickup their temporary cards at the main entrance Epcot. Guest Relations. Your permanent card will be sent through the mail and arrive in 3-4 weeks from the date of purchase.
We would also like to inform you that the Walt Disney World. Resort will be implementing an across property policy change regarding gratuity at all food and beverage locations. Effective January 1, 2008, 18% gratuity will be added to all transactions, regardless of party size. Thank you for your continued support.

Cheers!

The Disney Dining Experience Team

[nbodyhome]

Re: Upgraded Disney Dining Experience Process & New Tip Policy at WDW

From everything I understand, the 18% applied gratuity is DDE only. And the mail you received looks like it's only talking about DDE as well.

[Dustysage]

Re: Upgraded Disney Dining Experience Process & New Tip Policy at WDW

Walt Disney World. Resort will be implementing an across property policy change regarding gratuity at all food and beverage locations. Effective January 1, 2008, 18% gratuity will be added to all transactions, regardless of party size.

Fine with me. I always leave 20% or more. So they are saving me money But the tip is a way of letting the staff know if they did a good job or not. So if you don't get good service and they force you to leave an 18% tip, time to ask for a manager and register a complaint. Hopefully people WILL speak to a manager when they have issues. Hearing from the customer is one of the best ways for a restaurant to know if they have a problem.

Disney may have done this because many foreign visitors don't know how to tip. They may also have done this so they wouldn't need to give a raise to their servers Either way, its easier for me.

[sir clinksalot]

Re: Upgraded Disney Dining Experience Process & New Tip Policy at WDW

It says across property, but it may also just be the DDE.

I think that's fine for the DDE as we will generally will tip whatever we saved (20%) and then some. But I'm sure there are people on the DDE who don't tip well.

The question though is, is the 18% based on the before discount price or once the discount is applied?

[nbodyhome]

Re: Upgraded Disney Dining Experience Process & New Tip Policy at WDW

It says across property, but it may also just be the DDE.

I think that's fine for the DDE as we will generally will tip whatever we saved (20%) and then some. But I'm sure there are people on the DDE who don't tip well.

The question though is, is the 18% based on the before discount price or once the discount is applied?

I am sure the 18% will be pre-discount. And as Dusty says, I probably will end up tipping less because I often tip more than 18%! (on the pre-discount price). But, I am sure many people tip on the discounted amount.

I do believe it's only DDE, though I think the group applied gratuity is going from 8 to 6 now (on cash, DDP, etc. - everyone). So 6 people would be a group.

I also would let a manager know if I had bad service (to take the gratuity off). Fortunately, I've had only a few instances over the years of really terrible service. Actually, only one REALLY bad. I ended up getting a certificate for 2 free meals at Artist Point (about 10 years ago) due to that one.

[Phonedave]

Re: DDE email

From the Disney Dining Experience Email: "We would also like to inform you that the Walt Disney World Resort will be implementing an across property policy change regarding gratuity at all food and beverage locations. Effective January 1, 2008, 18% gratuity will be added to all transactions, regardless of party size. Thank you for your continued support."

Does this apply to even counter service? I'd hope not!

Since when did a added tip , WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO REFLECT SERVICE LEVEL, become mandatory. In other words it reads, because we underpay food service workers, we have decided to make it mandatory that the guests subsidize their salary".

Well, in my case the joke is on them, because I am normally a pretty generous tipper (based on good service of course) and most of the time its upwards of 20%. Now it will be a flat 18%


And yes, I know why they are doing this, because of the change to the DDP. Just an other example of how the DDP is totaly screwing up dining at WDW resort.

-dave

[nbodyhome]

Re: DDE email

From the Disney Dining Experience Email: "We would also like to inform you that the Walt Disney World Resort will be implementing an across property policy change regarding gratuity at all food and beverage locations. Effective January 1, 2008, 18% gratuity will be added to all transactions, regardless of party size. Thank you for your continued support."

Does this apply to even counter service? I'd hope not!

I'm sure just table service. This isn't really news, it was announced after the union vote. And as I mentioned in the other DDE thread, I believe groups are now considered 6 instead of 8. That doesn't matter as far as DDE, but for anyone else - the tip will be applied in that case too.

[DVC Mike]

Re: DDE email

Well, in my case the joke is on them, because I am normally a pretty generous tipper (based on good service of course) and most of the time its upwards of 20%. Now it will be a flat 18%

Yep, me too. I guess it saves me 2%.

[nbodyhome]

Re: DDE email

Yep, me too. I guess it saves me 2%.

For me too! I usually give back the 20% in the tip, sometimes a little more.

So we are all getting a little extra in our pockets.

[SummerInFL]

Re: DDE email

Yep, count me in the tip more than 20% group. The discount I was always grateful for so I could give the tip in difference, I guess that doesn't matter anymore. LOL

I guess it won't be a big deal to add more of a tip, but I'll have to make sure to do the math now when I go to check out.

[danyoung]

Re: DDE email

This new move really pisses me off! It's taking what should be MY decision out of my hands. And now waiters have no incentive to provide great service, as their tip with the DDE is now included. Very bad move on Disney's part.

[KingEric]

Re: DDE email

Sadly this is per the new Union Contract. So this is really out of the hands of the normally descion makers.

[sir clinksalot]

Re: DDE email

This new move really pisses me off! It's taking what should be MY decision out of my hands. And now waiters have no incentive to provide great service, as their tip with the DDE is now included. Very bad move on Disney's part.

Sure they do. Just make sure if you get bad service you get a manager.

IMO, this could effect bad service more than just getting a bad tip.

[nbodyhome]

Re: DDE email

Sadly this is per the new Union Contract. So this is really out of the hands of the normally descion makers.

And as I recall, this was a concession for Disney taking away the guaranteed tips with the DDP. I do think that will hurt the servers a lot. I talked with a server over a year ago, and he said that he was doing VERY well with the DDP. Some people would give a full tip in addition. Can you imagine, a 36% tip on meals? He told me what he made, it was claiming like 80k last year for working at a character buffet.

I think a lot of people will feel they already paid enough with the DDP and won't tip, or not much.

[sir clinksalot]

Re: DDE email

He told me what he made, it was claiming like 80k last year for working at a character buffet.

I think a lot of people will feel they already paid enough with the DDP and won't tip, or not much.

80k just in tips!?!? And that's in Orlando at a buffet!!! I'm wondering what somebody would be pulling down at somewhere like Le Cellier or one of the Grand FL restaurants. Not too shabby.

Sadly Denise, I agree. I think if people are on the DDP they will probably assume the tip is included (if they have done it before). And short of the waiter letting them know the tip isn't included (risky) they are just going to have to deal with it.

[Cmash95]

Re: DDE email

i wonder if you get bad service if you can refuse to pay a tip. I don't care if it's contract or not, I as a guest shouldn't have to pay a tip unless service is up to it. now I understand the dining plan guests getting charged for tips but us regular customers should be able to decide how much we give. frankly I am like the others here, I tend to tip at least 20 percent. actually I tend to round things up to the nearest dollar and then add twice the dollar amount. so if the bill was 24.50, the tip would be roughly 5.50. definitely more than 20 percent.

[danyoung]

Re: DDE email

Just make sure if you get bad service you get a manager. IMO, this could effect bad service more than just getting a bad tip.

So now instead of quietly not tipping or tipping way low to make my point, I have to seek out a manager and make a scene. I'm just not that confrontational.

[nbodyhome]

Re: DDE email

80k just in tips!?!? And that's in Orlando. Not too shabby.

Sadly Denise, I agree. I think if people are on the DDP they will probably assume the tip is included (if they have done it before). And short of the waiter letting them know the tip isn't included (risky) they are just going to have to deal with it.

Most of that would be tips, anyway! I knew a 19 year old (well, I knew his mom) who was making like 50k or more at Pizzaria Uno! And that is much less expensive than a $30 buffet (well, nearly $30 in the evening). As I recall, that is what he claimed - I'm not sure if that is his full amount that he made. Even if it was, that is a LOT of money. (I have been a server, it is hard work - maybe I need to get back into it).

Even this year, with the DDP, some waiters didn't make as much money. If you went and ordered $80.00 worth of food at Tutto Italia, the waiter made like $4.20. Some restaurants are not Disney owned, so they would get a percentage of what the dining plan cost. Not on what the food cost. A waiter at Le Cellier would have earned about $15.00 on that $80.00. So this gives equal footing to servers, but I don't think that many guests will tip well on this. It will be like "I paid for my dining plan already". I hope that isn't the case, but this cannot be a win for servers.

I have heard that Disney held the tip money (that was from the DDP) and gave it to servers in a paycheck. Personally, I would prefer a guaranteed tip than none at all - no matter how or when it was dispersed. I think on the bill it will state something like "gratuity not included". But still - if you paid already for a dining plan, and your total bill came to $200.00 for a family of 4...are you going to shell out another $40? I don't know. I think many people don't spend that much normally on food, and will be shellshocked when they see how much extra it will add to their daily trip spending.

[danyoung]

Re: DDE email

But still - if you paid already for a dining plan, and your total bill came to $200.00 for a family of 4...are you going to shell out another $40?

And this is the prime reason why this new version of the DDP is going to cause HUGE problems. When your meal was basically paid for up front, including tip, it was just so nice to dine, get what you want, and not have to worry about any extra. I'm sure not going to enjoy paying money up front for a meal, and then have to bring along extra money for the tip (and I'm always a good tipper!). It makes the DDP a no-go for me. And I"m betting that the vast majority of folks who will use the DDP next year either won't tip or will tip a dollar or 2. It's just gonna blow up bigtime.