As for the whole tipping issue, everyone is gonna have different opinions on tipping and I find it pointless to argue about it. Im not gonna change anyone's minds, everyone else cant change anyone's mind, and etc.
That is absolutely not true. In another thread, we're talking about gratuities for housekeepers. I grew up in New York, so as far as I knew, you were always supposed to tip housekeepers. I had no idea that that was only true for some of the hotel chains in the country, that the rest (and now more and more) pay their housekeepers based on an assumption that they won't be tipped. I was on the "Thou must tip the housekeepers" brigade here on the DIS. Then I read messages from folks saying, "What are you talking about? Tipping housekeepers?!?!? Are you crazy?" Collectively we did some research, and I personally put the question to the GM from the BoardWalk Resort. Guess what? I learned that I was wrong! That Disney's housekeepers are non-tipped positions, and they aren't even supposed accept tips offered. Those discussions prompted me to learn the truth, and my mind was changed. This is clearly a more difficult situation, because it isn't just a matter of how the job is classified, but still.
One of my friends NEVER tip. Because she feels that she shouldnt have to give money to a stranger. And that its not her responsbility to have to worry about how that person pays their bills, buy food, etc.
That much is true: She should tip because tipping restaurant servers is proper conduct in our society -- everywhere.
Stop worrying about what others are doing and just do your own thing. If you saw someone jump off a bridge, would you feel the need to have to follow them and jump off a bridge to?
You're looking at it backwards. This isn't about someone jumping off a bridge -- it is about them not caring about what they throw off the side of the bridge, onto whatever happens to be below.
For example, I care a lot when people throw trash from their cars on the highway. I should post a photo of what our driveway looks like -- where do folks think that trash eventually goes? It doesn't disappear. It ends up spreading from the highway to the homes that line the highway.
Folks not tipping damages the system that we all live within. Those of us who are doing what is proper are ostensibly thereby subsidizing those who aren't. How is that fair?
Rolling back a bit in your message...
To me the whole
DDP should just end. That way no one can complain why tipping isnt included anymore. Waiters dont have to worry about explaining how the DDP works and what they can get. Waiters dont have to worry about asking how they are gonna tip. Seems like the DDP is becoming more and more of a hassle then a good thing. It might have been a good deal in the past, but like the old saying - All good things must come to an end. And the DDP should just come to an end already. And who knows. Maybe then we can go back to NOT having to make ADRs 180 days in advance. We can actually just go to WDW with no ADRs and do a walk up.
It's an option, not a requirement. Nobody HAS to purchase the DDP. Guests who consider it a hassle or too much trouble or whatever can just pay cash for their food.
I don't disagree with anything Disney8704 has said here. (How's that for dodging the issue?
) What I do want to point out is the parallel between what I said about what Disney8704 said in the first quote in this message, and what Kaytie is saying here: The existence of the Dining Plan affects those who don't use it. It is again like dropping trash off the side of a bridge without regard to what's below or where the trash ends up going. The
only reason to keep the Dining Plan is because it does more good for Disney's bottom-line than not offering it. If it were ever to be more damaging than beneficial to the bottom-line, then Disney should absolutely get rid of it. And beyond that, people have every right to care about the fact that it exists. They shouldn't "expect" Disney to get rid of it because they don't like it, or because CMs don't like it (because, again, all that matters is that it generates enough profit), but their
disappointment with its existence is surely valid.