Universal Table Service (& Tipping Question)

melidy · Apr 19, 2015

We've only ever done QS at Universal *except Hard Rock years ago, and I really don't recall the details*so I was wondering about tipping, with us being a party of 6 will there be an automatic tip like at Disney? If not do they put the recommended amount at the bottom of the receipt?

Also we are thinking of trying Bubba Gumps and possibly Mythos if we can fit it in. From what I've seen up to now they both seem like pretty good choices. Anywhere you'd recommend over those for a group of 6 adults?

Thank you!

schumigirl · Apr 19, 2015

Bottom of bubba bumps menu say a suggested tip of 18% will be added.

Sure most places are the same now.

Have a look at the menus in the sticky at the top and see what kind of food you and your friends would like......lots of places to choose from.

Have a look at the hotel restaurants too, some lovely places with very good food and all just a boat ride away from Citywalk.

melidy · Apr 19, 2015

schumigirl said:
Bottom of bubba bumps menu say a suggested tip of 18% will be added.

Right, so you mean the suggested tip is automatically added to the bill total and then you can tip more if wanted? We are not from the US and therefore are not overly accustomed to your way of tipping.

We've eaten plenty of TS with-in Disney (as a duo, this is our first time going with extended family) , so know how it works there with a suggested amount at the bottom of the bill and then we enter the amount we want to tip on the dotted line.... Is it that the same in Universal?

I just basically want to know if I'm going to have to work out the tips or if they do the leg work for me

macraven · Apr 19, 2015

you can always tip what you want.
if you want to tip over the suggested 18%, you can.

the suggested tips are listed as some from other countries are not aware of the tipping customs in the States.

macraven · Apr 19, 2015

how large is your group?

at some places the tips are automatically added into the bill if your group at the table is a specific number.
some places do the automatic tip if you have 6, some places at 8 in your party.

if you have less, you choose the amount of tip you want to leave.

CyndiLooWho · Apr 19, 2015

Here in the US, it's fairly easy to calculate a tip. 20% is a quick calculation: drop the last penny, move the decimal 1 place to the left, double. So, a 20% tip for 18.36 is 1.83 x 2 = 3.66 ish.

For buffets and lower cost casual dining where tipping is expected, we generally leave $1.50 - $2.00 per person, regardless of cost.

And regardless of what the Daily Mail says, someplace like Chipotle is not generally a tipping establishment. It has to be someplace where a server is taking your order at the table, or, in the case of a buffet, keeping your drink refilled and taking away your plates.

Not tipping was one of the hardest things to get used to when we lived in Europe.

schumigirl · Apr 19, 2015

CyndiLooWho said:
Not tipping was one of the hardest things to get used to when we lived in Europe.

You didn't tip in Europe??

It's not the same as the States but we tip wherever we go in the UK or over on the continent too. Usually expected in most places. Even small cafes.

Melidy.......In the states we always tip at least 20%.......for outstanding service its more. But I assume you are British......some Brits get a bad rap for not tipping. Only once did we not leave a tip and we told the manager why.....it was Bongos in DTD.......even when we told them why they didn't care......would never go back there.

But yes usually there's a suggested amount on the bill..........a lot of places have various suggested amounts too like how much 15,18 and 20% is. You won't need to worry too much

melidy · Apr 19, 2015

schumigirl said:
You didn't tip in Europe??

It's not the same as the States but we tip wherever we go in the UK or over on the continent too. Usually expected in most places. Even small cafes.

Melidy.......In the states we always tip at least 20%.......for outstanding service its more. But I assume you are British......some Brits get a bad rap for not tipping. Only once did we not leave a tip and we told the manager why.....it was Bongos in DTD.......even when we told them why they didn't care......would never go back there.

But yes usually there's a suggested amount on the bill..........a lot of places have various suggested amounts too like how much 15,18 and 20% is. You won't need to worry too much

Thanks we always tip the suggested amount or more... so not one of those 'bad rep Brits'

Just wanted to be sure, would hate to think I tipped too little... Plus we'll be receiving discounts etc. and after a couple of cocktails my maths isn't as reliable as normal

So we were just hoping the suggested tip would be on the bill somewhere - just to be on the safe side!

As a side note I was considering Bongos for our DTD day... You may have me re-thinking haha!

schumigirl · Apr 19, 2015

melidy said:
Thanks we always tip the suggested amount or more... so not one of those 'bad rep Brits'

Just wanted to be sure, would hate to think I tipped too little... Plus we'll be receiving discounts etc. and after a couple of cocktails my maths isn't as reliable as normal So we were just hoping the suggested tip would be on the bill somewhere - just to be on the safe side!

As a side note I was considering Bongos for our DTD day... You may have me re-thinking haha!

Oh it was ages ago with Bongos......don't let me put you off.......I hold a grudge you know.......lol........

But honestly, don't worry......it's clear as crystal..........I'm sure you are a good tipper.......we've had a few waiters try and educate us on tipping......they don't know we know the system.......but I have read some Brits comments and it makes me shudder they don't understand how it works in The States or just refuse because they're cheap.

If you look at restaurant menus.....there's loads on the sticky and even off site ones too have it usually right at the bottom of the menu about groups of six and more and gratuity practices.

melidy · Apr 19, 2015

schumigirl said:
Oh it was ages ago with Bongos......don't let me put you off.......I hold a grudge you know.......lol........

But honestly, don't worry......it's clear as crystal..........I'm sure you are a good tipper.......we've had a few waiters try and educate us on tipping......they don't know we know the system.......but I have read some Brits comments and it makes me shudder they don't understand how it works in The States or just refuse because they're cheap.

If you look at restaurant menus.....there's loads on the sticky and even off site ones too have it usually right at the bottom of the menu about groups of six and more and gratuity practices.

Thanks for all your advice!

CyndiLooWho · Apr 19, 2015

Where we lived in the Netherlands, you did not tip. You left the change (kleinegelt) from your bill. So if your bill was E3.25, you paid E4.00 or E3.50. That was what my local friends told us was the norm, to leave the change and nothing else expected. To me, that isn't tipping, that's leaving your change.

bumbershoot · Apr 19, 2015

CyndiLooWho said:
20% is a quick calculation: drop the last penny, move the decimal 1 place to the left, double. So, a 20% tip for 18.36 is 1.83 x 2 = 3.66 ish.

My brain just exploded. (and what you do to get that is pretty much singapore math or even sort of how common core does it, which makes quick calculations super-easy, and is something that people like me- who want to put 18.36 in our minds then multiply it the long way by .20 and then etc etc- don't even have a clue about. just asked DH if that is what he does, and yep, it is...I thought he was magic this whole time, being able to multiply like that in his head...sigh, the things I don't know...)

CyndiLooWho said:
And regardless of what the Daily Mail says, someplace like Chipotle is not generally a tipping establishment.

Ah, a fellow gossip reader.

But whenever we go to a foreign country we try to read up (on many tourist sites and travel sites) for their customs, and tipping in the UK and Europe has never sounded like you make it sound, where tipping is expected. I've gotten into conversations with people in those countries and they tell me the same thing (as whatever I'd read about that country). So I'm confused.

CyndiLooWho · Apr 19, 2015

bumbershoot said:
But whenever we go to a foreign country we try to read up (on many tourist sites and travel sites) for their customs, and tipping in the UK and Europe has never sounded like you make it sound, where tipping is expected. I've gotten into conversations with people in those countries and they tell me the same thing (as whatever I'd read about that country). So I'm confused.

That was the great thing about living in a Dutch community and dh working with almost exclusively European nationals instead of fellow ex-pats. I'm certain we ticked off servers in touristy places, where they see Americans and think "lots of extra cash!", b/c we did the kleinegelt thing pretty much all over, based on talking to friends (and Rick Steves' has similar advice). Of course, if the bill was E43.00, you left E45.00 - E47.00, but still, it was leaving the change. Servers make a living wage all across Europe, something we haven't figured out how to make work on our side of the pond.

CyndiLooWho · Apr 19, 2015

bumbershoot said:
My brain just exploded. (and what you do to get that is pretty much singapore math or even sort of how common core does it, which makes quick calculations super-easy, and is something that people like me- who want to put 18.36 in our minds then multiply it the long way by .20 and then etc etc- don't even have a clue about. just asked DH if that is what he does, and yep, it is...I thought he was magic this whole time, being able to multiply like that in his head...sigh, the things I don't know...)

Ah, a fellow gossip reader.

You can't live in Europe and get used to that reporting and then come back to the US and not have it.

And your dh *is* magic, you just know his secret now.

schumigirl · Apr 20, 2015

CyndiLooWho said:
Where we lived in the Netherlands, you did not tip. You left the change (kleinegelt) from your bill. So if your bill was E3.25, you paid E4.00 or E3.50. That was what my local friends told us was the norm, to leave the change and nothing else expected. To me, that isn't tipping, that's leaving your change.

You do what's right for you.

Some Americans have told us we tip too much in America. They personally don't leave as much as we do. Again, personal choice.

In any country in Europe, we tip. Don't just leave change, we tip. No wonder we got such good service.

Yes waiters and such get a living wage, but it's still not great and for me personally I didn't like leaving just loose change. That's just us.

Don't read the Daily Mail so I don't know what they say about tipping

macraven · Apr 20, 2015

cyndiloowho, how long has it been since you lived in the netherlands?

has it been very long ago?

knowing some people that have been there and other european countries recently, they mentioned to me that tipping was appreciated when dining there.

i have no plans to go over seas but always curious on customs in other countries.

melidy · Apr 20, 2015

Servers in Europe will always appreciate tips but they are by no means expected in the vast majority restaurants. Leaving a pound or two (or equivalent) is typical for great service but since our servers get paid a living wage tipping 18-20% isn't necessary. If everyone tipped that much, servers would be making more than many "skilled" professions, that people have gotten into debt in University to aquire... and our infrastructure would be topsy turvy.

schumigirl · Apr 20, 2015

Yes it is different.

But in a restaurant where we spend say at least £100 on dinner we would leave 15% at least. Certainly wouldn't leave a couple of pounds there. In a coffee shop it's different. But still always leave a tip.

Last time we were in Paris we noticed more and more some places have mandatory gratuity which is not what we are used to here.

I guess it depends on what type of place and level of service. We have visited over Europe many times and always tip as do others I know. We have a friend who is a chef in a country house hotel and he's said many times about getting his share of tips and appreciates it.

But as always.......people do what they feel comfortable with. Places we choose to eat in, a gratuity is usually expected and I'm happy to do so. Never really had bad service.....apart from above mentioned Bongos visit, but if we did we would speak to someone about it.

CyndiLooWho · Apr 20, 2015

Wow, I didn't know my European tipping habits from our 2 yr stay 10 yrs ago would be such a hot topic. Sorry OP.

keishashadow · Apr 20, 2015

OP - In some places a larger dining party of 8 or 10 people will have the tip automatically added to the bill. Review the receipt to make sure you aren't double-tipping, unless it is desired.

Tip is usually calculated on the sub-total before any applicable discounts, especially when using a 2 for 1 type coupon.

IMO 20% is the norm for good service. In smaller diner type places, most people I know will tip more (at least a $5 tip) even if well above 20% range.

Universal Table Service (& Tipping Question)

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