Originally Posted By CMDad Just got this email - notice the change re: gratuities almost hidden at the bottom 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, DISNEY?S 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 New Dining Location Tutto Italia Ristorante, in the Italian Pavilion at Epcot® is now a participating Disney Dining Experience location. The casual-elegant restaurant features handmade mozzarella and pasta, Italian regional specialties and wonderful breads and pastries. Tutto Italia Ristorante location is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. Please note that L'Originale Alfredo di Roma Restaurant is no longer operating at the Italian Pavilion.
Originally Posted By demderedoseguys ^^I just got the same email. I usually tip back the 20% discount, but I don't like the ability not to leave a lousy tip for lousy service.
Originally Posted By CMDad I agree - the issue for me isn't the amount ... I generally do the same as you ... but now it is not my decision.
Originally Posted By CMDad And just for the record ... I have never encountered a situation at WDW where I woould leave a small tip.
Originally Posted By CMDad My thinking on this is that too many people were leaving their tip based on the discounted amount and not the non-discounted amount. After all, it is not the server's "fault" that you are getting a discount and they should not be penalized.
Originally Posted By demderedoseguys Agree on both #4 and #5. This past week I did complain about my soon to be daughter in laws dinner at Mama Melrose and the waitress took it right off the bill, no questions asked. She got a tip based on what the amount would have been had she not taken the meal off in addition to the 20%. I'm generous to CM's since I am also a CM Dad.
Originally Posted By demderedoseguys ^^ Of course, thanks to the Magic of Disney, I'll be 2% less generous.)
Originally Posted By danyoung I just got this email as well, and was just as shocked at the "oh, by the way..." nature of the tipping announcement. I DON'T LIKE IT!!! The entire purpose of a tip is to allow a guest to pay for the service that he's received, and incentive for a server to provide excellent service. With a tip automatically included, where's the incentive for great service? And where's my recourse if service is poor? This is a spectacularly bad trend that Disney is starting. I can understand the tip being built in to the DDP, at least until that changes next year. The DDP gives you a complete meal, including tip - no problem. But forcing the tip to be paid on DDE meals, whether I choose to tip or not, is simply wrong, and very bad form! If there's a problem with people tipping on the discounted amount, perhaps Disney could make it clearer that the proper tip is on the non-discounted amount. But taking the choice out of my hands if just so not cool.
Originally Posted By CMDad <<Of course, thanks to the Magic of Disney, I'll be 2% less generous.>> Well, before they cut way back on where/when CM's got their discount and I purchased the DDE, the tip was always included with the CM discount. I, many times, did in fact add an additional amount on top if service was exceptional - as it very often was. I imagine that many of us will continue to do that with the tip now included in the DDE.
Originally Posted By smeeeko ^I've had a couple really bad experiences with service at WDW but those occasions were when it was a bigger party and they were getting tipped anyway, so they had to be requested on several occasions for drink orders, or took FOREVER to process our check when we left. On one hand, I feel the Disney Dining Plan is ripping off the Cast Members from getting tipped what they might actually deserve, and things like automatic 18% or whatever when a CM gets a cast discount or in the case of the DDE, it rewards not necessarily good to sub-par service. I don't ask for much but if I have to ask several times for the same refill of diet soda or you can't bother to notice that our little table for 2 has filled up with dirty dishes, why should you get back my DDE discount assuming I had one?? I guess I'm behind the times, as most folks I know expect 20% tips these days and I think we still do 15% unless it's really good, then the 20% (but that's rarely the case).
Originally Posted By smeeeko ^In general, if we get lousy service, what we've done in the past is give like the regular 10-14% but leave a VERY shiny penny with the tip as well. Some folks in the service industry (not necessarily Disney) would know what that means. ;P We also usually don't come back to the place again for a long time. If you can't do the bare minimum -bring the food out hot -notice if my drink needs refilled (or most importantly SeanYoda's) -offer dessert suggestions even if it looks like we've eaten all we can, don't just bring the bill and set it down and say "how was it?" ugh.. that's so IHOP and kind of rude, IMHO. =P
Originally Posted By CMDad Actually ... until the bill comes and I present my DDE card, my server has no idea that I am getting a discount or that his/her tip is included. The way it has been working is that I get my regular bill and then I give the server my DDE card and my room card (assuming I am putting it on my room account). I then get the original bill along with a revised bill ... and the credit slip to sign. So I have both the original (full) price and the discounted price in front of me.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Got the same e-mail and my response is as many above -- there's 2% they don't get. And now since they've taken the choice out of my hands - if I am unhappy with something about my meal, the manager better be ready to make a trip to my table to correct. They do not say if the 18% will be of bottom line or pre discount. I am assuming pre discount which is what i always tip off of - but it would be nice to explain that also. If it is off the bottom line - then my servers will really be taking one for the mouse.
Originally Posted By cmash95 I have heard that this was done because of contract negotiations.many "fine" restaurants in tampa automatically add the gratuity to the bill but encourage you to tip more if you wish.
Originally Posted By sun-n-fun Is this for any size party (we only have 4)Can you request that it not be added?
Originally Posted By CMDad It is for any size party ... and I don't know that you could ask that it not be included since it is part of the rules of getting the discount.
Originally Posted By hopemax I wonder if this is a concession to servers with the elimination of the DDP gratuity. This move basically guarantees the servers and 18% tip on all their non-DDP tables. Actually, I wonder how this will affect DDP members...will the check be brought to the table showing the 18% tip that they need to pay?
Originally Posted By hopemax Oh, since I don't think it's been mentioned...in other places, including people who work in dining, it's being reported that the 18% will be on all checks, not just people using DDE.
Originally Posted By danyoung I actually wondered about that, hopemax. The way the letter was worded, it was assumed that they're talking about the DDE. But it didn't specifically state that in the paragraph. Wouldn't that be an interesting thing if they're going with 18% for EVERYONE? If so, what does this do to the DDP, where they just took the 18% OFF of the ticket? Interesting.
