Ddp.......warning!!!!

[natolij02]

We just got back today from our 9 day trip and we had WYW and DDP for 6N/7D. I want to let everyone know of what I consider a real problem that is going on in the resturaunts. We traveled with a party of 10 and we had 3 seperate rooms so when we settled our bill it was with 3 seperate room cards. For the most part we had all good experiences but, at 2 places we had a significant problem. In Norway princess story book dinner (Akershus sp?) my MIL paid her tip in cash plus the waitress charged it to her room TWICE. So she got a $43 tip from my MIL alone!!! Then at Ohana's everyone in the party had their dinners charged to their room and not the DDP along with the tip which we paid in cash as well. We found out about the problem as my MIL had credit on her account from a refund and she went to charge some stuff to her room credit and they said the credit was not enough. So she went to the front desk and that is how we found out that some "funny" stuff is going on with the DDP. Apparently according to the CM this happens all the time. Now charging the meals to the room instead of the DDP on accident I could see could be a mistake and can be fixed but, the running tips through on room charges after getting cash is sneaky and stealing. The CM who fixed all the problems did say this happens a lot. So my warning to everyone is check your room accounts frequently especially if you have charging privelages. We did not have charging privelages so when Ohana's charged our meal to our room, we recieved a phone call the next morning to come to the front desk to discuss my account. Most people who do room charging don't really think to look at their itemized bill and just sign. Also when we went to correct our dinner charge to our room, the CM manager wanted us to present a reciept to him and I did not have it as my daughter had played with it and it got wet but, he acted like he did not want to correct the problem since I did not have the reciept. I told him this is not my problem the waiter messed up, I have the DDP why would I charge my meal to my room when it's allready taken care of on the plan:brick:So our lesson learned on this trip was save reciepts and check you room account especially prior to having to check out.

 

[CMTinkerbell99]

wow

Wow, I have never had that problem nor have I heard of this issue. I have done the dining plan 3 times this year and never had any issues with the tip. We always charged the tip to the room since we don't always have cash. But I would imagine that there is a risk no matter where you dine if you charge your meal to a credit card and leave a tip with cash that a "dishonest" server with double dip with a tip. I would write to guest communications with the dates and times that you dined. If you remember your servers name I would note that too.

 

[WickedQueen22]

I wonder of the party size had something to do with it? Also with the tip not being included this year I can only imagine the double charging going on.

My next trip is with a party your size... thank you for the heads up!

 

[JimboJones123]

We found "funny" stuff on our room last trip. My wife needed a fridge for medical reasons. We called ahead. The fridge wasn't in the room when we got there. We called for one. We were then declined about 2/3 of the way through our trip when charging to the room. It was embarassing to say the least. We checked our bill when we got back to the hotel and had $70 worth of fridge charges that had to be taken off. Good thing we checked carefully whith what was going on.

 

[Dwarful]

We too found funny stuff on our card. I don't know which thread I talked about it so I willl briefly repeat here. We went July 26- August 9th. We were going to the waterparks so I put charging prvldgs. on mine and my husband's keys, not on the girls. Our first sit down meal was dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe. Long story short..bad service, alright food..I gave the server my husband's room key, wrote "Cash tip" on the bill. Server got huffy w/husband said we were "not allowed" to leave cash tip..had to charge either the 18% or 20% tip. When I checked our charges I discovered a $35 tip..much more than 18/20% on our meal! They corrected it because I still had the receipts to show what was written in for the tip. After that we always used our daughter's card for our meals (because they didn't have charging prvldgs) and wrote "Cash tip" on the receipt.
That was one of many reasons we no longer felt the love for the ddp. Probably won't use it again next trip.

 

[disneytopdog]

Thanks for the heads up. We will be there next Saturday doing the free dining. We have a group of 6 the credits will be on two different sets of room keys. My plan was to charge the tip to the room(Since we have a party of 6 the tip is automatically added to the bill) But since your post it appears the best way to protect ourselves is by paying the tip in cash.

 

[MattyFresh]

I am still associating DDP with the diamond cutter. I thought that was what the warning was pertaining to. :ROFLOL:

 

[bayoumoon]

Thanks for the warning. And great advice about writing "cash tip" on the receipt. I always tip in cash and have been burned by pizza delivery guys in the past, will follow that advice at home and on vacation.

 

[Phonedave]

I am a bit confused. Was Akershus on the DDP or paid for out of pocket ?

If it is out of pocket, then you should be checking your recept before you sign the slip. If they change it afterwards, then thats theft.

If ti was on the DDP, and you dropped a cash tip, what did they do, just tack on 20% and run it to the room? If thats what happend thats insane.


-dave

 

[tomdnh]

I am still associating DDP with the diamond cutter. I thought that was what the warning was pertaining to. :ROFLOL:

Nice!!!

 

[Laura]

We too found funny stuff on our card. I don't know which thread I talked about it so I willl briefly repeat here. We went July 26- August 9th. We were going to the waterparks so I put charging prvldgs. on mine and my husband's keys, not on the girls. Our first sit down meal was dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe. Long story short..bad service, alright food..I gave the server my husband's room key, wrote "Cash tip" on the bill. Server got huffy w/husband said we were "not allowed" to leave cash tip..had to charge either the 18% or 20% tip. When I checked our charges I discovered a $35 tip..much more than 18/20% on our meal! They corrected it because I still had the receipts to show what was written in for the tip. After that we always used our daughter's card for our meals (because they didn't have charging prvldgs) and wrote "Cash tip" on the receipt.
That was one of many reasons we no longer felt the love for the ddp. Probably won't use it again next trip.

This doesn't sound right at all. As far as I know, the only people who have a mandatory tip are those using the DDE discount card. You should be able to leave whatever you want in whatever form you want. The 18% and 20% amounts on the receipts are just suggested amounts. Did you talk to a manager about this?

And for the record, 2 of my worst ever dining experiences happened at Whispering Canyon. The service was absolutely deplorable and having given it 2 chances now with miserable results I have lost all desire to eat there again.

 

[natolij02]

I am a bit confused. Was Akershus on the DDP or paid for out of pocket ?

If it is out of pocket, then you should be checking your recept before you sign the slip. If they change it afterwards, then thats theft.

If ti was on the DDP, and you dropped a cash tip, what did they do, just tack on 20% and run it to the room? If thats what happend thats insane.


-dave

It was on the DDP but the tip was paid in cash. What they did to my MIL was they took her cash tip then ran the tip through at 18% twice. So my MIL paid the tip 3 times to the waitress. In total the girl got a $67 tip on our table versus the $45 tip (18%) she was supposed to get. I don't know the math on it but I would guess it to be around 30% tip she gave herself. Now mind you although we were a larger party we were by no means demanding, rude, messy (infact I cleaned most of the table and stacked the dishes for her), plus we had given her an extra $3 or $4 dollars on her tip as we just rounded up on it. If you have ever eaten at Akershus it's half buffet, half served meal so with 18% tip I think it's plenty considering she is not serving multiple courses.

On the up side of the place, the food was excellent, the kids got to meet sleeping beauty, cinderella, ariel, jasmine, and mulan. Plus they had a photo session when you first walked in with sleeping beauty and they gave us (2) 8x10 pictures and (8) 4x6 pictures for free......what a nice treat that was!!!!

 

[EmOhYouEssE]

This doesn't sound right at all. As far as I know, the only people who have a mandatory tip are those using the DDE discount card. You should be able to leave whatever you want in whatever form you want. The 18% and 20% amounts on the receipts are just suggested amounts. Did you talk to a manager about this?

Parties of 6 or more are also subject to the 18% automatic gratuity, regardless of whether they are paying with 3 separate room cards, some cash, some DDP, or any combination of payment. If the table is 6 or more people, the 18% gratuity is tacked on. This also includes infants in the total number of people. It's by number of people at the table or in the party even if they are under 3 years old.

The DDP information does state this, so what I am assuming happened is that the 18% was put on the bill before it was given to the party, they paid without checking the receipt, then left an additional tip without being aware of the 18% gratuity was already on the check.

Em

 

[natolij02]

Parties of 6 or more are also subject to the 18% automatic gratuity, regardless of whether they are paying with 3 separate room cards, some cash, some DDP, or any combination of payment. If the table is 6 or more people, the 18% gratuity is tacked on. This also includes infants in the total number of people. It's by number of people at the table or in the party even if they are under 3 years old.

The DDP information does state this, so what I am assuming happened is that the 18% was put on the bill before it was given to the party, they paid without checking the receipt, then left an additional tip without being aware of the 18% gratuity was already on the check.

Em

Yes the gratuity was initially on our checks but they then run your DDP through and they give you a second bill for any additional charges such as alcohol, or tip. You can then either leave cash for tip or keep the charge slip with the tip charge or return it with tip on table or cash tip written on it. We were all ready aware that the tip would be added since we were a large group. Even though I did not have room charging privelages, I was still given a charge slip with just the tip on it.

 

[NewfieFan]

Ok, I'm going to confuse myself even more now by asking questions!:veryconfu

My family and my parents (& my brother) are on seperate reservations. We are having three meals together which means we will be a party of six (or more) and the tip will be added, correct!?! So what happens when we go to redeem our TS credits. We'll have to give our KTTW for our TS credits and my parents will have to give their KTTW for their TS credits... so who gets to pay the tip? Will it be added to both of our receipts, will it be split accordingly??? Do I have to tell the server before hand that we're on seperate reservations? Sorry to ask so many questions but I've never had to deal with mandatory tip before and I've never eaten with a large party before - so I don't really know how it all works!

 

[EmOhYouEssE]

Ok, I'm going to confuse myself even more now by asking questions!:veryconfu

My family and my parents (& my brother) are on seperate reservations. We are having three meals together which means we will be a party of six (or more) and the tip will be added, correct!?! So what happens when we go to redeem our TS credits. We'll have to give our KTTW for our TS credits and my parents will have to give their KTTW for their TS credits... so who gets to pay the tip? Will it be added to both of our receipts, will it be split accordingly??? Do I have to tell the server before hand that we're on seperate reservations? Sorry to ask so many questions but I've never had to deal with mandatory tip before and I've never eaten with a large party before - so I don't really know how it all works!

No need to be sorry. It's a great question. It is my understanding that you will tell your server how you would like the check split (4 TS meals for your family, two for your parents) and the 18% will be added to what each split check orders accordingly.

For instance, if your family orders $100 worth of food on your TS credits, you will have $18 added to your check; if your parents order $50 worth of food, they will have $9 added to their check. The total gratuity would be $37 dollars, but it will be split according to what each party orders, not in half per check. Does that make sense?

Em

 

[Phonedave]

It was on the DDP but the tip was paid in cash. What they did to my MIL was they took her cash tip then ran the tip through at 18% twice. So my MIL paid the tip 3 times to the waitress. In total the girl got a $67 tip on our table versus the $45 tip (18%) she was supposed to get. I don't know the math on it but I would guess it to be around 30% tip she gave herself. Now mind you although we were a larger party we were by no means demanding, rude, messy (infact I cleaned most of the table and stacked the dishes for her), plus we had given her an extra $3 or $4 dollars on her tip as we just rounded up on it. If you have ever eaten at Akershus it's half buffet, half served meal so with 18% tip I think it's plenty considering she is not serving multiple courses.

On the up side of the place, the food was excellent, the kids got to meet sleeping beauty, cinderella, ariel, jasmine, and mulan. Plus they had a photo session when you first walked in with sleeping beauty and they gave us (2) 8x10 pictures and (8) 4x6 pictures for free......what a nice treat that was!!!!

OK, I got it now. Because you were a large party, the tip was added into the check along with any other "extra" charges (alcohol, etc). Your MIL then paid these charges on the room key, but left a cash tip. However the tip was run through as well (twice)

When you use the DDP, and just the DDP with no extras, do you have to sign anything? Or do they just take your KTW card and scan it?

Man, this just makes me glad I never use the DDP Long live the DDE

-dave

 

[NewfieFan]

No need to be sorry. It's a great question. It is my understanding that you will tell your server how you would like the check split (4 TS meals for your family, two for your parents) and the 18% will be added to what each split check orders accordingly.

For instance, if your family orders $100 worth of food on your TS credits, you will have $18 added to your check; if your parents order $50 worth of food, they will have $9 added to their check. The total gratuity would be $37 dollars, but it will be split according to what each party orders, not in half per check. Does that make sense?

Em

Yes, that makes complete sense - thank you so much!!!:kiss:

 

[EmOhYouEssE]

OK, I got it now. Because you were a large party, the tip was added into the check along with any other "extra" charges (alcohol, etc). Your MIL then paid these charges on the room key, but left a cash tip. However the tip was run through as well (twice)

When you use the DDP, and just the DDP with no extras, do you have to sign anything? Or do they just take your KTW card and scan it?

Man, this just makes me glad I never use the DDP Long live the DDE

-dave

Whew..thanks for the explanation, because I was having trouble sorting it out (long weekend, lol).

It does sound like what you just explained happened. I think it was just errors all around. I know when I waited tables (back when people still walked uphill in the snow, both ways to school, with no shoes), we didn't check each check after the person signed it or knew what they left on the table. We were far too busy to do that with each table. I'm thinking if the MIL didn't write "cash tip" in the tip spot, so the waitress had no way of knowing that was the specific check that left such and such dollars. Many waitresses don't cash out until the end of the evening and run on a "bank" wherein they are their own cashier. Most times in that case, the check is put in a folder for cashing out and settling at the end of the evening.

I don't think she purposely tried to cheat you, it was probably just an error on her part and she err'd in the way of caution. I know I would have; because if you don't claim your tip then, the waitress has no recourse to get it after the fact, wherein, the customer can dispute or correct the charge.

I'm sorry you had to go through the hassle of getting it all straightened out though Nat.

Em

 

[kimmychad]

Ok, I'm going to confuse myself even more now by asking questions!:veryconfu

My family and my parents (& my brother) are on seperate reservations. We are having three meals together which means we will be a party of six (or more) and the tip will be added, correct!?! So what happens when we go to redeem our TS credits. We'll have to give our KTTW for our TS credits and my parents will have to give their KTTW for their TS credits... so who gets to pay the tip? Will it be added to both of our receipts, will it be split accordingly??? Do I have to tell the server before hand that we're on seperate reservations? Sorry to ask so many questions but I've never had to deal with mandatory tip before and I've never eaten with a large party before - so I don't really know how it all works!

having read this thread i am now convinced that i don't want charging privileges on my kttw card. this way it will work in my opinion how it should, i'll tip what i feel is necessary without havng to fight with a server or manager.

and i won't have to worry about someone putting charges on my card that aren't correct. i always carry me wallet anyways, so the room charging privileges never benefited me anyways.