Originally Posted By nbodyhome There are many changes I don't like. The appetizer being gone (even though it's too much food, they barely reduced the price). And the tip to the server gone too. Again, the price only went down by $1.00, while the value decreased by a lot. I feel bad for the servers, because they are going to see their tips drastically reduced. I don't like the DDE mandatory tip either. So - no wins here, except for Disney I guess! And the May 25th - July 5th extra buffet charge isn't too cool either.
Originally Posted By Jhawk I hear that people are irate about the changes! I hope that Disney listens and makes some changes. I would rather pay more and know that I didn't have to worry about the tip.
Originally Posted By nbodyhome Honestly, I don't get irate too often (not about dining at Disney). I do feel bad for the servers. But I am local, I have a car, I can always drive off property (or go to Hess for a pizza). I think Disney should have just raised the plan price, and kept the tip.
Originally Posted By nbodyhome Oh - the one thing that the DDP now does is put most servers on a level playing field. Not all servers made the same amount of tips. Servers at Disney-owned restaurants received 18% of the food bill. Servers at operating participants (like Tutto Italia and Mexico) received a percentage of what the dining plan cost, which was a flat rate of around $4.00 per adult. Probably very little for kids.
Originally Posted By cmash95 the dining plan was way underpriced for what you got and even taking off the appetiser and tip, it's a great value. We were at the sci fi restaurant for lunch yesterday and our server was very happy we weren't on any plan. Something to note, when the bill comes now, at the bottom is the "suggested" tip for 18% or 20%. I tend to round things up to the next dollar and then figure roughly 20% if we have excellent service and 15% if its what I would consider normal. I have never had to deal with bad service yet at any restaurant I frequent because I won't go back or reccommend a place if I do get bad service.
Originally Posted By Jhawk I agree that it is still a good deal, but it was really nice to have it all paid for ahead. Unfortunately, the servers are the ones that will get the short end of the stick on this one, since many people will "forget" to tip. I do wish that we had a choice of dessert or an appetizer.
Originally Posted By demderedoseguys I've never used DDP, but what was the tip based on, the cost of the food or the total bill? Also, I have DDE and the mandatory gratuity was only for parties of 8 or more.
Originally Posted By nbodyhome I think that the DDP previously was a good value. I don't think it was underpriced, but definitely a decent enough deal to help keep guests from leaving Disney property. It was also the first time I personally could ever recommend a package component that included dining (I thought the Silver/Gold plan, etc. was too expensive). I couldn't really recommend the current plan, in too many cases the credits go unused or underused. If you go to a character breakfast for $16.99 (with tip closer to $18), you have to make up a lot of ground to get to the full value of the meal plan. Some restaurants are starting to really overprice meals as well (not that many weren't already, of course). Friends and I had lunch yesterday at Yak and Yeti. I had a perfect size meal - still too expensive, but I spent $20.00 with tax and tip. Since I'm not DDP, I didn't feel I had to get dessert to make a plan pay for itself. (they are really expensive too, a friend spent $8.00 plus tax and tip on one). The DDP was WAY too much food for me before (it still would be), I'm very fortunate because I live close and packed up a lot of food to go on my last free DDP morning. But I've seen a lot of friends scramble at the last minute to use credits up. I couldn't pay for it, I'm not sure I'd even do it free again (since there is then no resort discount, and I'd have to pay for the tips).
Originally Posted By nbodyhome >>I've never used DDP, but what was the tip based on, the cost of the food or the total bill? Also, I have DDE and the mandatory gratuity was only for parties of 8 or more<< In most restaurants, the tip was based on the total food bill (whatever was part of your DDP meal). In participating restaurants - ones not owned by Disney, it was a tip on a portion of the DDP price. The servers received a flat rate on each diner. I think the $40 for a bottle of wine seems overpriced to (on the wine plan). I'm not sure I've ever had a bottle of wine that pricey!
Originally Posted By nbodyhome Oh - DDE is mandatory gratuity for everyone, and regular cash guests (non DDE), it's now 6 or more.
Originally Posted By Disneybrad If you go to a character breakfast for $16.99 (with tip closer to $18.00) Wow!! You only tip 6 percent, thats very generous!
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Aren't most of the character brekfasts done as buffets? I don't know what the typical tipping for a buffet is, but that seems more than reasonable, sicne you're getting the food yourself.
Originally Posted By nbodyhome Disneybrad - sorry, I meant with TAX. Tip isn't included in the figure, because it is no longer included in the plan. (I was only basing it on the value of the DDP). I tip between 15 &20 %, more for my favorite waiters. DDE - Disney Dining experience.
Originally Posted By demderedoseguys >> DDE is mandatory gratuity for everyone<< I think you may be incorrect here. I have DDE and to my knowledge (and as of November), tips were automatically included only on parties of 10 or more. Otherwise, you had to add in the tip yourself.Perhaps something has changed. >>What is DDE?<< It's Disney Dining Experience, which gives 20% discount on the entire bill at virtually every sit down restaurant in the parks and resorts. Unlike the Dining Plan, it's good for a year, where the Dining Plan is only for your length of stay; and with DDE you also order just as you normally would at any restaurant and get the discount. I think it's better than the Dining Plan because it has no restrictions on where you can eat, i.e. - you can eat as many sit down meals as you want as opposed to being forced to use counter service for one of your meals every day in order to budget your meal availability.
Originally Posted By demderedoseguys nbodyhome- Well I stand corrected. I just checked about DDE and A/O 1/1 2008 tips are automatically included regardless of party size. Geez, I leave WDW for two months and the place goes crazy)
Originally Posted By demderedoseguys >DDE is only available to APers, right?< And Vacation Club Owners.
Originally Posted By demderedoseguys ^^ If the vacation owner has an AP. Sorry, I'm doing 3 things at once here.
