WOW - What a week at WDW

[DW Aficionado]

Hi everyone -

We've been going to WDW yearly for the past 25 years and I don't look forward to telling you our experiences this last week:

1. We stayed at the POP Century, and in our room had very little water pressure, making it almost impossible to rinse my wife's hair. We reached out to maintenance, although they agreed, they could not fix.
2. At the MK, we had purchased LL for the evening, for Tianna's and Haunted Mansion. But they were both broken down for the night. No refunds, no nothing.
3. The Beauty and the Beast gift shop was closed. hours are between 12 noon and 6pm. Really, shouldn't everything be open when the park is open?
4. Gaston's closes at 7pm, so an evening snack was out of the question.
5. We were on the food plan, 5 adults, one 6-month old baby. He was counted as an adult when it came to table count, putting as at the 6 person mandatory 18% gratuity
   1. Get this, we were told by Ohana management that the 18% gratuity is not the tip, and that we should tip the waiter separately, since he/she does not get any of the gratuity.

It used to be that if a ride was down, Disney would compensate more than necessary. These days, Disney not only doesn't compensate, but they give you the one finger salute....... so sad for the young children to miss the magic that once was.

We keep going, because we want to pass the Disney we once knew to our grand children, but logically we should give Disney the one finger salute back.

 

[Chi84]

Hi everyone -

We've been going to WDW yearly for the past 25 years and I don't look forward to telling you our experiences this last week:

1. We stayed at the POP Century, and in our room had very little water pressure, making it almost impossible to rinse my wife's hair. We reached out to maintenance, although they agreed, they could not fix.
2. At the MK, we had purchased LL for the evening, for Tianna's and Haunted Mansion. But they were both broken down for the night. No refunds, no nothing.
3. The Beauty and the Beast gift shop was closed. hours are between 12 noon and 6pm. Really, shouldn't everything be open when the park is open?
4. Gaston's closes at 7pm, so an evening snack was out of the question.
5. We were on the food plan, 5 adults, one 6-month old baby. He was counted as an adult when it came to table count, putting as at the 6 person mandatory 18% tip
   1. Get this, we were told by Ohana management that the 18% gratuity is not the tip, and that we should tip the waiter separately, since he/she does not get any of the gratuity.

It used to be that if a ride was down, Disney would compensate more than necessary. These days, Disney not only doesn't compensate, but they give you the one finger salute....... so sad for the young children to miss the magic that once was.

18% is a bit low for a tip. I hope you added to it.

 

[DW Aficionado]

18% is a bit low for a tip. I hope you added to it.

I would have, but not when forced to.

And when since is a gratuity and tip two different things?

 

[Chi84]

I would have, but not when forced to.

When they add the tip, there’s always a line to add to it. It takes just a second to do so.

Heck of a lot easier than spending your time complaining to a manager about an amount you were going to leave anyway.

 

[DW Aficionado]

When they add the tip, there’s always a line to add to it. It takes just a second to do so.

Heck of a lot easier than spending your time complaining to a manager about an amount you were going to leave anyway.

I believe in giving a 25% tip always... but I don't like the cheap tactics of counting a 6 month old as an adult to force a gratuity/tip

 

[drizgirl]

I would have, but not when forced to.

And when since is a gratuity and tip two different things?

It isn’t.

 

[Chi84]

I believe in giving a 25% tip always... but I don't like the cheap tactics of counting a 6 month old as an adult to force a gratuity/tip

I can see why the manager may have been a bit confused then. If you wanted to leave 25%, you could have just added to the tip.

He was probably trying to explain that you that the 18% didn’t have to be the complete gratuity if you obviously wanted to add more.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

Yippee. A tipping thread.

 

[WorldExplorer]

Rides being down during your Lightning Lanes should give you compensation. It should detect it automatically and give you a special pass that can be used at other rides (without needing to book).

Did you ask anyone about it? The CMs at the front should have explained that.

 

[NelsonRD]

With the increase in minimum wage, is over 10% still expected? Increased minimum wage, increased in overall dining, and I am still expected to tip over 18%. I am sorry, not being scrooge, but shouldn’t tipping go down with the increase in wage?

 

[Chi84]

With the increase in minimum wage, is over 10% still expected? Increased minimum wage, increased in overall dining, and I am still expected to tip over 18%. I am sorry, not being scrooge, but shouldn’t tipping go down with the increase in wage?

Most restaurant servers are exempt from minimum wage laws because they make money from tips. I believe that’s so at WDW but I’m sure someone else will know for certain.

I can say that yes, a much higher percentage than 10% is expected.

 

[NelsonRD]

In NY tipped wage has also gone up to $15 an hour, and a teachers assistant is $16 an hour.
Explain to me why I should be tipping more than 10% again, at least in NY?

 

[Chi84]

In NY tipped wage has also gone up to $15 an hour, and a teachers assistant is $16 an hour.
Explain to me why I should be tipping more than 10% again, at least in NY?

It’s customary in this country. Many servers do not work steady hours or are “cut” when restaurants are not busy. They aren’t to blame for the system.

 

[donaldtoo]

I believe in giving a 25% tip always... but I don't like the cheap tactics of counting a 6 month old as an adult to force a gratuity/tip

So, no “With Six You Get Eggroll” , but bend over ‘cause here comes an automatic 18% gratuity, plus extra if you want to make sure your server gets a tip…?!?!?!
Where’s the 18% gratuity, before your servers tip, going…the food expediter, the bar back, the person bussing tables, etc. I get it, but
I remember when a 15% tip was considered generous, if the service was good, period. You didn’t need to feel guilty about tipping nothing if the service was crap.
All that being said, these days I almost always tip 20-25% minimum…if the service is good.
The “Well, if you don’t add to the mandatory 18%, your server won’t get anything.” crap…well, they can stuff that.

The whole gratuity/tipping thing has gotten outta’ hand these days anyway.
Last night, I ordered a pizza to be picked up for our son, who was gonna’ be at home while my wife and I attended her office Christmas party.
And, there was the friggin’ gratuity/tip screen…15%, 20%, 25% and other…WTH, anymore…?!?!?!
They didn’t deliver it to me, serve it to me, etc.
I’m not tipping for just throwing a small $13.99 pizza together, shoving it in an oven and plopping it in a cardboard box. That price was already too high. Shoulda’ just gone to Little Cesar’s…!!!!!
People can think of me what they will, as I’m too darn old to give a hoot.

 

[marni1971]

Hi everyone -

We've been going to WDW yearly for the past 25 years and I don't look forward to telling you our experiences this last week:

1. We stayed at the POP Century, and in our room had very little water pressure, making it almost impossible to rinse my wife's hair. We reached out to maintenance, although they agreed, they could not fix.
2. At the MK, we had purchased LL for the evening, for Tianna's and Haunted Mansion. But they were both broken down for the night. No refunds, no nothing.
3. The Beauty and the Beast gift shop was closed. hours are between 12 noon and 6pm. Really, shouldn't everything be open when the park is open?
4. Gaston's closes at 7pm, so an evening snack was out of the question.
5. We were on the food plan, 5 adults, one 6-month old baby. He was counted as an adult when it came to table count, putting as at the 6 person mandatory 18% gratuity
   1. Get this, we were told by Ohana management that the 18% gratuity is not the tip, and that we should tip the waiter separately, since he/she does not get any of the gratuity.

It used to be that if a ride was down, Disney would compensate more than necessary. These days, Disney not only doesn't compensate, but they give you the one finger salute....... so sad for the young children to miss the magic that once was.

We keep going, because we want to pass the Disney we once knew to our grand children, but logically we should give Disney the one finger salute back.

Welcome to the new World. The Disney we once knew is gone. Give your grand children something worthwhile.

 

[ohioguy]

Most restaurant servers are exempt from minimum wage laws because they make money from tips. I believe that’s so at WDW but I’m sure someone else will know for certain.

I can say that yes, a much higher percentage than 10% is expected.

In Florida, employers can reduce a tipped employee's wages by $3.02 per hour. While the current state minimum is $8.98, the wages for waiters is $5.96 minimum.

 

[ohioguy]

So, no “With Six You Get Eggroll” , but bend over ‘cause here comes an automatic 18% gratuity, plus extra if you want to make sure your server gets a tip…?!?!?!
Where’s the 18% gratuity, before your servers tip, going…the food expediter, the bar back, the person bussing tables, etc. I get it, but
I remember when a 15% tip was considered generous, if the service was good, period. You didn’t need to feel guilty about tipping nothing if the service was crap.
All that being said, these days I almost always tip 20-25% minimum…if the service is good.
The “Well, if you don’t add to the mandatory 18%, your server won’t get anything.” crap…well, they can stuff that.

The whole gratuity/tipping thing has gotten outta’ hand these days anyway.
Last night, I ordered a pizza to be picked up for our son, who was gonna’ be at home while my wife and I attended her office Christmas party.
And, there was the friggin’ gratuity/tip screen…15%, 20%, 25% and other…WTH, anymore…?!?!?!
They didn’t deliver it to me, serve it to me, etc.
I’m not tipping for just throwing a small $13.99 pizza together, shoving it in an oven and plopping it in a cardboard box. That price was already too high. Shoulda’ just gone to Little Cesar’s…!!!!!
People can think of me what they will, as I’m too darn old to give a

The tipping for fast food in various restaurant apps kills me. WTH

 

[bwr827]

1. At the MK, we had purchased LL for the evening, for Tianna's and Haunted Mansion. But they were both broken down for the night. No refunds, no nothing.
2. The Beauty and the Beast gift shop was closed. hours are between 12 noon and 6pm. Really, shouldn't everything be open when the park is open?
3. Gaston's closes at 7pm, so an evening snack was out of the question.
4. We were on the food plan, 5 adults, one 6-month old baby. He was counted as an adult when it came to table count, putting as at the 6 person mandatory 18% gratuity
   1. Get this, we were told by Ohana management that the 18% gratuity is not the tip, and that we should tip the waiter separately, since he/she does not get any of the gratuity.

We had a Lightning Lane for Big Thunder and the ride went down so we automatically got a multi-experience pass good for many other rides, in addition to being able to book another Lightning Lane.

So you should have gotten 4 Lightning Lanes out of that equation, which by the way you would have kept even if the rides did come back online. Did you check your app or ask a cast member about this?

We wanted to try Gaston’s creme brûlée croissant, so we checked the hours in advance of our trip and visited there in the morning.

The hotel water pressure and the Ohana gratuity… yikes.

 

[castlecake2.0]

Hi everyone -

We've been going to WDW yearly for the past 25 years and I don't look forward to telling you our experiences this last week:

1. We stayed at the POP Century, and in our room had very little water pressure, making it almost impossible to rinse my wife's hair. We reached out to maintenance, although they agreed, they could not fix.
2. At the MK, we had purchased LL for the evening, for Tianna's and Haunted Mansion. But they were both broken down for the night. No refunds, no nothing.
3. The Beauty and the Beast gift shop was closed. hours are between 12 noon and 6pm. Really, shouldn't everything be open when the park is open?
4. Gaston's closes at 7pm, so an evening snack was out of the question.
5. We were on the food plan, 5 adults, one 6-month old baby. He was counted as an adult when it came to table count, putting as at the 6 person mandatory 18% gratuity
   1. Get this, we were told by Ohana management that the 18% gratuity is not the tip, and that we should tip the waiter separately, since he/she does not get any of the gratuity.

It used to be that if a ride was down, Disney would compensate more than necessary. These days, Disney not only doesn't compensate, but they give you the one finger salute....... so sad for the young children to miss the magic that once was.

We keep going, because we want to pass the Disney we once knew to our grand children, but logically we should give Disney the one finger salute back.

If an attraction experiences downtime your LL becomes a multi experience pass to use at other attractions. It generates automatically or you can ask an attractions host for additional assistance.

As for gratuity it’s for parties of 6 or more no matter the age. Since there is no cost for infants to dine you are only paying the 18% for the rest of the party. So 5 adults + 1 infant would be the same amount of grat as just 5 adults. The gratuity is a service charge that 100% goes to the server’s pay check, where as a tip is payed out to the server the day of.

 

[NickMaio]

I would have, but not when forced to.

And when since is a gratuity and tip two different things?

Makes zero sense......total bs