Disney Dining Experience Changes

[mkt]

I'm starting to feel that Disney thinks they can fleece me as much as they want and I'll just take it.

I've said this for years They're a business and are free to do as they see, and I am a consumer and free to choose another business.

I don't think so.

Actions speak stronger than words. I actually got a phone call from DDE about this after I called Amex to refuse to charge.

 

[WDW-LUVR]

AMEN. I was getting ready to type a long post explaining exactly that, but you've managed to shorten it to one sentence. If Disney thinks they can tack on an 18% surcharge and keep their business, they're sadly mistaken. I have 3 PS reservations for my January trip, and if they think I'll keep them with this JOKE of a rule they're wrong. I'm sure I'm not the only one.

A tip is a tip. It's very definition suggests it should be based SOLELY on the level of service provided. If your server paid no attention to you, left you alone for the entire meal, was rude, etc...they deserve nothing.........that's right.....nothing. They made no attempt to do their job, and for that they should be rewarded with a $0.00 where the tip is usually written. Too many servers think they DESERVE a tip as part of their regular wage, and they do..........if they earn it with good service.

WELL SAID:sohappy:

 

[napnet]

Glad to see the Disney PR person who contacted me was right... I'd hate if this was across the board for everyone

 

[PhotoDave219]

I'm reading the contract right now, so far I see parties over 6 and discounted dining... but not everyone.

Please point it out Dave

Someone else did earlier -> http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showpost.php?p=2583786&postcount=211


If you can't afford to tip a meal at Disney, you really cant afford to actually go, now can you?

 

[mkt]

Someone else did earlier -> http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showpost.php?p=2583786&postcount=211

nowhere does it say "All meals will have 18% added"

If you can't afford to tip a meal at Disney, you really cant afford to actually go, now can you?

I can afford to tip, and I can afford to go. This is completely about principle and choice. I choose what I tip, usually no less than 20%- however, if I get poor service, I tip accordingly. With this, the CM gets the same amount of tip, regardless of service provided. That doesn't cut it for me.

 

[Rob562]

I can afford to tip, and I can afford to go. This is completely about principle and choice. I choose what I tip, usually no less than 20%- however, if I get poor service, I tip accordingly. With this, the CM gets the same amount of tip, regardless of service provided. That doesn't cut it for me.

The way I see it, the 18% will be added to the bill. But if you receive poor service, talking to the manager can get it removed/changed. (And it's generally a good idea in general to speak to a manager if the service is so poor that it requires little-to-no tip).

-Rob

 

[mkt]

The way I see it, the 18% will be added to the bill. But if you receive poor service, talking to the manager can get it removed/changed. (And it's generally a good idea in general to speak to a manager if the service is so poor that it requires little-to-no tip).

-Rob

You have made a completely reasonable post

Generally, I would agree with it. Personally though, I don't. I don't like dealing with Disney management... at all. There are good managers at Disney, but I have the bad luck of usually getting stuck with the ones that are... err.. not good. I get stuck with the ones that are A- only interested in appearances and not correcting the issue, B- have an open disdain for guests, and C- at one time in their careers were the CM's I would have complained about themselves.

So I would still prefer the choice to full in my tip. Or for the new terms and conditions of DDE to have changed over upon your renewal date, giving you the choice to opt out of this.

 

[kimmychad]

Thanks for confirming. Any info if it's just table service?

so its not ok for disney to pay the automatic 18%, but its fine for me? oh well there goes the dining plan next year.

 

[duck_daddy]

If it's interrupting me, it's their fault. If they chose to bring a non-quiet aged child to a quiet event (movie, restaurant...) it's THEIR fault. I would really prefer that they just keep them at home until they are of a more appropriate age or are more well mannered, but the fact that they would subject everyone else to a crying child indicates that they are not that considerate and/or intelligent to begin with. Personally, I'd like to see a new replacement for the old smokin/non smoking sections, children/non-children. The children's section would be encased in sound proof glass so as not to disturb anyone else.

Boy you are really trying to step on some toes aren't you? My child has every right at a young age to attend a movie or to try to eat at a big person's restaurant. If my child begins misbehaving, they will be escorted from the restaurant promptly. To question someones intelligence because they would take their child to such a place irks me. You talk real big. You would think someone who a couple of posts ago told everyone to stop whining might practice what he/she preaches. I hope I have the privilege of sitting near you in an eatery one day, and I hope my child tears into one of his best tantrums. I dare you to say something about it. I have respect for others and I am very considerate of others in a public setting, maybe you should practice the same. Get a life!

MEET

 

[biggy H]

Has anyone asked the DDE team/Disney Guest relations what would happen if the the guest refuses to pay the 18%?

 

[duck_daddy]

Has anyone asked the DDE team/Disney Guest relations what would happen if the the guest refuses to pay the 18%?

You must spend the day with bigtotoro hearing lectures about tipping properly, the appropriate age at which to bring your children to retaurants, and how they should be disciplined accordingly if they misbehave, by bigtotoro standards of course.

 

[speck76]

this board has some REALLY cheap members

 

[scorp111]

So, if the 18% tip if pre-discount and the discount is 20%, then I am only getting a 2% discount? :shrug:


Could this have been a measure since the DPP is dropping tips from the plan?

That logic only works if you weren't going to tip in the first place!

As many many have said, it is the automatic nature of the gratuity that bothers me. I usually tipped 20% or more, as long as the service was there. No they will get it regardless, unless the service is so bad that I am going to say something to the manager about it, which frankly is very unlikely.

 

[wannabeBelle]

Hi there again, I havent received anything back from anyone as of yet, but I Am going to go with what a few people have posted from Guest Communications ( Thanks all for posting your responses!!! That is really helpful!!) So let's go with the 18% is for the DDE members, OK good. As others have said this puts this right in line with the CM discount. OK also fine. I get bad service. I Am certainly going to have a problem and call a manager to resolve it. I guarantee you this will NOT be a happy time for the managers of the sit down restaurants. If an 18% gratuity is being imposed on me as a paying customer, the service had better be there to justify it. If not, I can assure you that I Am going to take steps to decrease or eliminate the tip ( Incidentally I am usually tipping at right around 20% of the pre-discounted bill so being cheap isnt the issue here at all!!!) The CM's may not fight something like this as they have to work in the parks and deal with these people. I dont. I can absolutely tell you I dont think I have ever had an instance where I have had to decrease a tip due to poor service at all.
As far as me personally, as some of the previous posters have said, this now saves me a little bit on each transaction as I usually would tip at 20% ( The DDE Discount on the total bill is what I leave) Now they will get the 18% and Ill be done with it. It might save me enough over a week or so for a free Dole Whip!!!! Belle

 

[kimmychad]

Next time I annoy you on the forums, feel free to give me money as my punishment! :lol:

that was too funny

 

[kimmychad]

this board has some REALLY cheap members

wow are you a disney exec in disguise? you have done nothing but uphold a company for forcing people to pay a surcharge with no regards to whether or not they actually deserve it. people dont like being forced to pay a fee if it isnt actually earned. its not about being cheap, its about working for what you get. some people have enough money or lack of sense and dont care what they pay for sometimes mediocre food and bad service. and then some people work 2 jobs and understand the meaning of a dollar.

 

[mkt]

this board has some REALLY cheap members

Brad, what are you doing here? I thought you left the site. Are you just enjoying the weekend judging people?

 

[Computer Magic]

this board has some REALLY cheap members

You haven't seen cheap until you met my boss :lookaroun

5 of us went out for breakfast yesterday, the bill came to $42. He throws down $5 as a tip :lookaroun....as he walks away I pick up the five and leave a $10, so that he doesn't notice.

The best part of this story? I chose to leave the tip I felt was fair....I wasn't told by big business what was best. Maybe Disney should pay a fair wage .:shrug:

 

[bugsbunny]

So they cut the 18% tip and other things from the dining plan and then pretend its still a great deal, even though they only lower the price by $1?

Then they add it the 18% back on since they can make it up by people paying out of pocket. Since they are saying the 18% effects everyone, I'm assuming that its 18% for any table service regardless if you pay money, pay by dining plan or expercience, etc.

The Union supposedly complained about the whole tip thing and that is why it was removed...and now its back. What happened to that whole reasoning? I find it hard to believe a labor union can get a super huge corporation to change how it handles money just like that and then just like that, its changed back.

If anyone is familiar with George Carlin's routine on "customer service", I can assure you Disney is giving us that "really big smile!" as the proceed to "service the account". :ROFLOL:

Disney knows that people will just keep coming and they will keep paying. Its obvious that they almost cant raise the prices high enough to actually put a dent in tourism and keep the people home.

And on a completely different subject, Computer Magic - I see you've been to Western Wyoming. I did it without Disney and I have to say to anyone that seeing Yellowstone stone before you die is something to put on your list. Seeing things like that and the actually what is left of the Oregon Trail is pretty moving and will leave you in awe. But there are no Fast Passes. In 10 days, I drove 2200 miles around Western Wyoming looking at ghost towns, Oregon Trail, the Tetons, Yellowstone, Cody, etc. Nothing like doing 100 mph for about an hour and seeing NOTHING but a few antelope and cattle fences. Gives you a whole new respect for how hard it must been traveling by wagon.

 

[peemagg]

On another board, they received word from Disney that this change only applies to those on the DDE and to parties of 6 or more (meaning age 3 and up).