Originally Posted By MPierce This is the e-mail I received from WDW. >> We appreciate your interest in the policy change regarding gratuity at our food and beverage locations. We apologize if the information created some confusion. The 18% gratuity will be included when Guests are parties of six or more enjoy dining experiences at our Table Service locations or if Guests are members of the exclusive Disney Dining Experience, a dining discount program for eligible Florida Residents and Annual Passholders 21 years of age and older. <<
Originally Posted By danyoung So by that, MPierce, ALL groups of 6 or more get the automatic 18% (whether they're in any program or not), as well as ALL members of DDE (no matter what the size of the DDE group). Correct?
Originally Posted By MPierce That's how I'm reading it. That just regular guest with a party of 5 or less are not effected by the automatic gratuity. I think I might still be upset if I had the DDE card. It really is just a matter of principal because most people tip 18% or more anyway.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> when Guests are parties of six or more << This is kind of like double speak, and it does seem difficult to get a clear cut answer out of the Mouse sometimes. By using Guest are, rather than guest or makes a big difference, but you really have to think about it. Even though I do not think regular Guest are effected by this doesn't cover next year or the year after. Now I'm not a business genius, but I tend to believe this could lead into eventually a service charge on all meals. I don't normally praise Europe on a lot of things, but when it comes to tipping I believe a lot of those countries have the right idea. The Japanese are even better about this matter. I also think it's to late for Americans to have their minds changed on this matter. Call me paranoid or say I'm blinded by my hatred of the DDP, and how it has ruined my experices while dining at WDW. I just don't think once this is implemented it will stop there. I have this feeling this is just the first foot in the door. Just call me Paranoid in Texas!
Originally Posted By magnet Tips are not an entitlement. They are earned. I should not be required to pay them as part of the membership in the dining club. My membership in the dining club is not a burden on the server in the way that a large party is. Yes, you should pay for good service. The servers aren't doing their jobs just for the fun of it. I'm sure it's very hard and underappreciated work. To tip on the discounted amount or not at all is ignorant when the service has been good or at least passable.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << Tips are not an entitlement. They are earned. >> I guess that's a way to look at it. However, you might also look at it from the point of view where these servers are being compensated in a matter that assumes they are getting that 18% tip. Additionally, it's not uncommon for a server to have to "tip out" to the bartender and other non front-line staff as part of the normal routine. There was a time when I think a tip could be considered some sort of enticement for good service, but considering how wages are structured in these sorts of facilities in this day and age, I'm not sure that's necessarily the case any more.
Originally Posted By MPierce Good point Goofy. I now in a lot of establishments servers rarely get to keep all that you tip. I never have been comfortable with the idea of subsidizing emploees of a dining establishment. I always felt that they should be compensated by their employer. Unfortunately that's not how we were brought up to think here in America.
Originally Posted By magnet Sport -- you make a valid point. I still don't agree with the change. Your point makes sense in the context of requiring 18% from everyone (which may be on the horizon), but it doesn't explain why the DDE is being singled out. If we do end up tacking on a required gratuity for everyone, then that cost should just be included in the price of a meal. The servers should then get paid something more than $2.50 per hour (a lot more!), and tipping should go away altogether. Somehow, I still think that the servers would end up getting messed over in the end.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << but it doesn't explain why the DDE is being singled out. >> If the truth were actually known, there probably isn't any particularly logical explanation. They may be experimenting with different pricing strategies for similar programs to see if there is a guest response (positive or negative) to either strategy. Maybe all of the dining programs will shift to a standard pricing policy once they gather data to determine which works out best in terms of guest response and the overall bottom line.
Originally Posted By sun-n-fun I don't like the idea of being told what to tip. We may just cancell our DDE and tip what we want. Probably would just end up with only one sit down per trip that way.
