Automatic Gratuity with the DDP

[JamieD]

We got back from the World a few weeks ago, and sorry if this has been discussed in a previous thread. Our party of 8 (two rooms) used the DDP. Before I state my displeasure with the auto-grat, know that I have delivered pizzas and waited tables, so I understand tipping. I do however think that it's my decision as a consumer. Tipping is a voluntary gift to show appreciation. When did we start letting businesses dictate how much? Why is the tip tied to how much you spent? When does the percentage of the check quit going up? Does the waiter at a fine dining restaurant (or Disney TS) work 5 or 10 times harder than the guy at Friday's?

On to my experience, our party, using two plans, ate at two character buffets. The breakfast buffet tip was just shy on $20, while the dinner buffet was nearly $40. A $40 tip at a buffet? I think that's crazy! I know someone is going to say not to eat there if you can't afford the tip. Both servers removed our dining credits and then stated that we owed the tip. When questioned, one server said the company mandated that we pay the 18% gratuity.

When we returned, I researched the rules/laws of tipping. Some states allows the auto-grat. Others say it's voluntary and must be removed if requested. A few even state that it's OK if it's called at "service charge" or posted in plain sight. I called Disney to comment about our trip...both goods and not-so-goods. I received a call from Guest Services, stating that the tipping system is in place to keep up with the norms in the Orlando area. Disney doesn't want their employees to feel like they got cheated. Understandable. She then said that while it's the standard practice, it's up to the guest to decide. Wow, that's not what I heard from the servers, who obviously would want the auto-grat. Just thought you should know that you're entitled to leave the tip that you feel is appropriate, no matter what the server says. Thank you for your time and feel free to call me cheap.

 

[rkelly42]

Hello, Check this out. In Sept. '08 we had 6 dining each night including 1 10 yo. Each night was a battle to leave the auto-grat, not only because it was disproportionate to the service we received( especially buffets), but because it forced upon me while i was already spending thousands of $$$ to vacation at WDW. The night we ate at Mama Melrose, the auto-grat was like $27, the service was not that great but i saw no reason to beat the waiter up and complain to the mgr, even though we were told we "owed" the grat amount to settle our bill. We paid the bill (free dining) and left $20. We walked to the shop across the street and our waiter, still in his apron, walked up to me, in the shop across the street and proceeded to tell me i did not pay my bill... i just about flipped. We walked back into the restaurant where i spoke with the manager, where i gave him the definition of a gratuity. Surprisingly, he did not think that the waiters action were out of line??? Huh??? Anyway, i had my say and left the $20 as a gratuitous act. I purposely did not leave charging privileges on my key to the world card so servers could not charge excess grats, guess what??? In 3 restaurants, the servers charged gratuities to my room without my permission and without charging privileges even on my key card. I was outraged that this could happen... but it did at WDW. The charges were removed with much apology, and the resort CM said it happens everyday!!! But most people don't check their bill before they leave, so most end up paying it. Stand up for yourself, don't be guilt-ed or forced into paying for something that you do not think is fair or reasonable, even if it is a "rule", it is not lawful. BTW, there were only 2 occasions where we gave 20% for service, at Planet Hollywood and Captains Grille, all other locations were not even close to 18%. MikeB

Just because it is free dining does not mean you do not leave a tip, if you go just about anywhere with a large party they add gratuity. I used to wait tables and had people do the samething you did and I let it go. The next time they came into the restaurant they were told they werent being served and asked to leave. Next time dont get the dining plan and eat at counter service places instead, problem solved.

 

[The Mom]

Just because it is free dining does not mean you do not leave a tip, if you go just about anywhere with a large party they add gratuity. I used to wait tables and had people do the samething you did and I let it go. The next time they came into the restaurant they were told they werent being served and asked to leave. Next time dont get the dining plan and eat at counter service places instead, problem solved.

He did leave a tip, he just reduced it from 18% to 15% because the service wasn't very good.

But the standard is 18% for a party of 6 or more, automatically added to the bill. I would talk to the manager if I wanted to reduce it due to poor service. Perhaps if more people did this, the service would improve.

 

[wdwmomof3]

I guess we should have spoke up once on our last trip. We had poor service just one time in nine days. All week we left more that the 18% except for this time. I didn't reduce it to less than the 18%, but that's all I left. I was just ready to get out of there. :ROFLOL:

 

[kdsjjb]

and he calculates tips on the pre-tax total because he refuses to "tip on tax"...and I quote..."I'm not paying tip on sales tax! that's ridiculous!"

What exactly do you see as the problem with this practice? We always tip on the PRE-tax total. In fact, when you look at the reciepts from any Disney restaurant, the suggested 18 or 20% is taken from the pre-tax total.

Even if it amounts to only a few dollars, why would anyone want to pay a tip on sales tax? That does seem ridiculous :shrug:

 

[fractal]

When we went in 2007, the tip was included in the DDP ( I think it was 15%). I liked this for two reasons.

1) it was much easier to budget
2) I will typically leave 15% as a minimum so this still left me with the option to leave more on the table for exceptional service.

What I did notice, however, was the servers really pushing appetizers (when they were included) and desserts - even if you didn't want them or wanted to split them. If my wife and I wanted to split a dessert we were always sold into getting our own different dessert and sharing since it was included anyway. Obviously, this tactic was to maximize the cost of the meal and their tip. My guess is that this is why the tip is no longer part of the plan.

 

[Monty]

Hello, Not to sound rude, but you're crazy. I guess you are one of those people on this board who just takes the opposite view of every other persons view. Anyway, next time i'll just complain to the manager about the lack of service and have them remove the gratuity all together. I guess you must have money to throw around, i do not. I work hard for my money and when i go to WDW for 12 days and take 6 people and spend nearly $10k on vacations every year at WDW, the least i'd expect is someone to refill my drink or bring an extra napkin or even been seen after the order was taken, the servers don't even bring the meals anymore. I'll gladly reward for outstanding service and often do when i get it which is not often. If you're stuck on rules of an establishment, i understand your point, technically. If we would have received what was promised, ie. good service worthy of 18%, then i would have paid/ given the total amount requested. You do realize the is the gratuity we're talking about here, the bill for the food is paid and i did leave 13.5% gratuity. The servers need to earn it and not expect it, if not, find another job. You have to admit that good table service has greatly declined in the past 4 years because these servers don't have to do anything and still get a huge tip. Thanks for your input, it certainly is an interesting point of view. MikeB

Whether I'm crazy or not I think you missed the point.

By leaving without paying the bill you received you were skipping on your bill and Disney could take whatever actions they wished against you [including possibly escorting you from the parks]. Had you asked for a Manager and dealt with the poor service issue in that manner, the bill you received would have been adjusted or cancelled and you wouldn't have been breaking the law.

The real point is there are right ways and wrong ways to deal with situations you disagree with. IMO you chose a wrong way.

 

[Laura]

What I did notice, however, was the servers really pushing appetizers (when they were included) and desserts - even if you didn't want them or wanted to split them. If my wife and I wanted to split a dessert we were always sold into getting our own different dessert and sharing since it was included anyway. Obviously, this tactic was to maximize the cost of the meal and their tip. My guess is that this is why the tip is no longer part of the plan.

I worked as a server at Red Lobster for a while and there were incentives for selling appetizers and deserts. I assume it's the same at most restaurants.

Whether I'm crazy or not I think you missed the point.

By leaving without paying the bill you received you were skipping on your bill and Disney could take whatever actions they wished against you [including possibly escorting you from the parks]. Had you asked for a Manager and dealt with the poor service issue in that manner, the bill you received would have been adjusted or cancelled and you wouldn't have been breaking the law.

The real point is there are right ways and wrong ways to deal with situations you disagree with. IMO you chose a wrong way.

Yeah, I have no problem with stiffing on a tip when a huge tip is undeserved, but you do need to take it up with the manager ahead of time! You need to go to the manager to get the price officially reduced in the system. Otherwise it's going to screw things up big time when they add up receipts and such at the end of the day.

 

[rkelly42]

This is exactly my point, you can not walk out on and unpaid bill. If he left $20 tip and it was added in at $25 you are walking out on your bill. Man up and take responsibility. I have gone to restaurants and have had bad service that was clearly not the kitchens fault and I did not give them the full tip but you cant walk out on a bill.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

This is exactly my point, you can not walk out on and unpaid bill. If he left $20 tip and it was added in at $25 you are walking out on your bill. Man up and take responsibility. I have gone to restaurants and have had bad service that was clearly not the kitchens fault and I did not give them the full tip but you cant walk out on a bill.

I suggest you look at the definition of tip /gratuity.

A tip (also called a gratuity) is a voluntary extra payment made to certain service sector workers in addition to the advertised price of the transaction. Such payments and their size are a matter of social custom. Tipping varies among cultures and by service industry. Though by definition a tip is never legally required,

:shrug:

whod have thunked it

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Think about it - those plates are heavy, especially at buffets where people think "I don't have to do the dishes!" so they get a clean plate for each trip up. Not to mention separate plates for salad, bread, etc.

Why wouldn't you want people to use different plates each time they go to the buffet?

 

[unkadug]

Why wouldn't you want people to use different plates each time they go to the buffet?

Yeah, I believe that health department rules state that you MUST get a clean plate before going back for more.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Just thought Id share this for the consideration of the sites legal experts.

As for the legality of the practice, at one time, it was generally considered that a diner entered into a “contract” with the restaurant by virtue of ordering food, and was obligated to pay according to the terms of the contract, including any added gratuity (as long as the policy was stated in writing on the menu). However, in 2004, a New York restaurant owner sued a man for not paying the mandatory gratuity. In a surprising decision, the judge ultimately decided that “gratuity” by definition means “discretion,” and therefore payment could not be forced. As a result, don’t be surprised if that disclaimer printed on menus now says “service charge” instead of “gratuity.”

Whod have thunkd that too, now tipping a Pro thats a true service charge.

 

[tare]

there is absolutely no way that i am going to pay 18% for a buffet meal--thats simply outrageous

 

[unkadug]

there is absolutely no way that i am going to pay 18% for a buffet meal--thats simply outrageous

If you go with a group of six or more you will.

 

[Thoru4]

If you go with a group of six or more you will.

I worked as a server at Red Lobster for a while and there were incentives for selling appetizers and deserts. I assume it's the same at most restaurants.



Yeah, I have no problem with stiffing on a tip when a huge tip is undeserved, but you do need to take it up with the manager ahead of time! You need to go to the manager to get the price officially reduced in the system. Otherwise it's going to screw things up big time when they add up receipts and such at the end of the day.

Okay so I have no problem in general about leaving a tip but I do start to have a few hesitations when I am paying a server more per hour than I make an hour. I work long hard hours in fact it has taken me 2 years to save up the money for this trip. So though I will tip I don't feel I should be paying someone 1.5 times or more an hour than I make because beleive me I work my but off at my job just as they do.

 

[DisneyJoe]

Okay so I have no problem in general about leaving a tip but I do start to have a few hesitations when I am paying a server more per hour than I make an hour. I work long hard hours in fact it has taken me 2 years to save up the money for this trip. So though I will tip I don't feel I should be paying someone 1.5 times or more an hour than I make because beleive me I work my but off at my job just as they do.

You're not just paying that individual, you're paying many.

 

[Minnie Mum]

Okay so I have no problem in general about leaving a tip but I do start to have a few hesitations when I am paying a server more per hour than I make an hour. I work long hard hours in fact it has taken me 2 years to save up the money for this trip. So though I will tip I don't feel I should be paying someone 1.5 times or more an hour than I make because beleive me I work my but off at my job just as they do.

So you joined this site and reactivated a 10 year old zombie thread just to post this? Since when are tips calculated by the hour? They are based as a percentage of the cost of the meal. Your weak attempt at justifying stiffing your server holds no water. Tips don't just go to the server, but are shared by others (behind the scene) as welI. If you can't afford to tip properly, then choose a less expensive place to eat. Perhaps, since money is so tight, you should confine your meals to counter service. No tipping required.

 

[Weather_Lady]

Okay so I have no problem in general about leaving a tip but I do start to have a few hesitations when I am paying a server more per hour than I make an hour. I work long hard hours in fact it has taken me 2 years to save up the money for this trip. So though I will tip I don't feel I should be paying someone 1.5 times or more an hour than I make because beleive me I work my but off at my job just as they do.

Welcome! Just a tip (no pun intended): please don't bump old threads! This thread was last active ten years ago.

P.S. Don't stiff restaurant employees who are typically making less than minimum wage to begin with. If you can't afford to pay 115-120% of the cost of what you're ordering at a restaurant in order to ensure that the staff can make something approaching a living wage, then you can't afford to eat there. When I was growing up, my family couldn't afford to eat at any restaurants on Disney property at all, tip or no tip, so we didn't (and we still had just as much fun, eating apples and bologna sandwiches out of my Mom's purse or mixing up some Kraft dinner at our campsite)!

 

[Thoru4]

I at no point said I would not pay an appropriate tip. Though this an old post and I will not comment again, it had information I was looking for. As to all this crap it is not in any way my responsibility to give the employee a working wage it is the responsibility of their employer. A tip or a gratuity is a voluntary reward not a right given by bc a patron at their discretion. Like it or not it is a fact.