Tipping

[wayneg]

I have worked with a lot of americans in the past and they have always been surprised by how much we have tipped during our trips to Florida. While we are always being led to believe that we as Brits are lousy tippers I think the opposite is true and that we generally tip a lot better than than americans themselves do.
Dont stress about it, enjoy your trip and tip what you feel is a reasonable amount for the service your have received.

While majority of us on forums know the reasons for tipping there are many UK travellers who don't so I guess its those who give us the bad reputation. For example my Uncle totally refuses to tip anywhere, his attitude is if they don't like the wage find another job, just can't get him to understand meals in US are cheaper as they don't include service, you pay it at the end of the meal based on how good the service was.

 

[Pegasus928]

Our first 2 trips we did without ever having read a forum and were very aware of the need for tipping. It was just something we accepted as an expense to be added to the trip.
Even in the states there are people who refuse to tip regardless of whether the service was good, bad or indifferent.
Speaking personally while I accept that that tipping is the norm while over there it doesn't mean I agree with it being forced on us. Adding it to a bill without giving me the chance to decide how much I should pay annoys me, as does being reminded by the server that tipping is expected.

 

[2Tiggies]

Adding it to a bill without giving me the chance to decide how much I should pay annoys me, as does being reminded by the server that tipping is expected.

It can come across as rather insulting to be reminded, and is somewhat unnecessary at all Disney restaurants, where there are clear suggested tips printed on the bill. I wonder if more effort is made to 'inform' foreign visitors than they ordinarily would. I must admit I don't recall ever being reminded to tip at Disney restaurants, but then again it could be because we are just a small party.

Adding gratuity onto bills for larger groups is not uncommon, but I do question Disney's policy where if you have a group of say 2 adults, a young child, 2 toddlers and a baby - you are a party of 6 and gratuity is automatically added. I can perhaps understand toddlers yes, as they occupy a seat at the table, but how a baby would factor into the equation is completely beyond me.

 

[Pegasus928]

The time that annoyed me was when we did the Dine with Shamu experience at Seaworld.
The waitress mentioned it as she sat us down, told us how the buffet worked then reminded us again as she left. The meal had been paid for in advance before we even left the UK so she was obviously concerned that we would walk out once we had finished.
Her wording - I remember because it grated me so much - was 'I need to point out that the 20% gratuity was not included in the price that you have already paid'
Subtle!

 

[wayneg]

When a reminder has been written on the bill I have been known to write on there myself " You would have received 20% instead of 10% if you had not asked for it"

I rarely tipped before reading forums but I think it also has something to do with your local area in the UK, if we go out for a meal around here we might round up the bill, eg if £98.50 then leave £100. In the past few years I have certainly increased how much I tip in the UK but no-one else we go out with do it. On the other hand my Brother who has moved down south says most places now expect a tip.

Just hope the service is good in August when we get 18% added automatically or I will be having words.

 

[joolz1910]

I tip in this country too. Like Wayne, I often round up the amount on the bill and usually give 10% if the service is really good/friendly. The only other time I have been to the U.S. was in 1997 - I tipped then too but wasn't sure how much was acceptable. I don't mind leaving a tip if the service is good but I wouldn't like to be 'reminded' to tip - I would find that offensive.

 

[TheDonald]

While Disney suggests 18-20% for their buffets, anywhere else most Americans tip about 10% at buffets.

Most folks I know, including myself, don't differentiate buffet or traditional service when considering the tip. We tip 18-20% for good service. I tip 10% anywhere, buffet or not, for poor service.

 

[Red-Snapper]

I do remeber many years ago on our first ever trip we were in TGIF's and there was an amount on the bottom of the bill that I thought was a tip - we paid and left........


..only to be persued into the car park by the waitress - asking if we had not liked her service.

We explained and stood there in the open paying her the tip.

We laugh about it now when we see that place (never went in again) but at the time it was awful.

 

[Li-sa]

What a fab thread...thanks everyone! You've dared to answer the question that is taboo on the main food boards!
I'm happy to leave a decent tip for good service but will leave a much smaller one for poor service...glad that is accepted practice by UK disers!

 

[2Tiggies]

What a fab thread...thanks everyone! You've dared to answer the question that is taboo on the main food boards!
I'm happy to leave a decent tip for good service but will leave a much smaller one for poor service...glad that is accepted practice by UK disers!

We are an easy going bunch aren't we?! It isn't actually taboo on the main boards; they have just confined discussion to the dedicated sticky for it to keep it contained, but you are right, you can't discuss actual amounts or percentages on there.

 

[Li-sa]

We are an easy going bunch aren't we?! It isn't actually taboo on the main boards; they have just confined discussion to the dedicated sticky for it to keep it contained, but you are right, you can't discuss actual amounts or percentages on there.

What I wanted to know (and now do) was the amount/who/good service vs bad service issues!
This is the most expensive holiday we will ever have, and it's taken us years to save up. The idea of 'having' to tip for everything in resort was slightly scary!

 

[joolz1910]

What I wanted to know (and now do) was the amount/who/good service vs bad service issues!
This is the most expensive holiday we will ever have, and it's taken us years to save up. The idea of 'having' to tip for everything in resort was slightly scary!

Me too! It has taken us a looong time to be in a position to book and this is the best place to ask those embarrassing questions before we get there.

 

[kevin harrison]

Just remember you are basing the tip on the meal's cost before tax. Do not pay 18% on the total bill.

Many do not realise this.

 

[Li-sa]

Just remember you are basing the tip on the meal's cost before tax. Do not pay 18% on the total bill.

Many do not realise this.

I didn't know that...so do they put the suggested tip on the bill calculated before tax, or do we need to work that out? If so, how much tax do we need to deduct first?

 

[wayneg]

I didn't know that...so do they put the suggested tip on the bill calculated before tax, or do we need to work that out? If so, how much tax do we need to deduct first?

Certainly before tax, you don't want to be paying tip on the tax part.

eg Beaches & Cream receipt I have here
subtotal $56.52
tax $3.68
Amount Due $60.20

suggested tip
18% = $10.17 (18% of $56.52)
20% = $11.30 (20% of $56.52)

 

[Li-sa]

Thanks...that saves us a few $ from the budget!

 

[mf1973]

Found this illustration:

http://www.mint.com/blog/goals/tipping-abroad-03022011/?display=wide

Maybe this helps as tipping in America seems to be confusing to some.

<p><a href="http://www.mint.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/110302-MINT-TIPSa.png"><img src="http://www.mint.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/110302-MINT-TIPSa.png" alt="" width="1300" height="1926" /></a></p><a href="http://www.mint.com/personal-finance/ ">Mint.com Personal Finances</a>

 

[jharrowell]

I have to admit that during my early trips to WDW I probably overtipped as I was worried about screwing up and leaving too little. This was based on hearing a story similar to a PP who was chased by a server asking if they didn't like the service.

I'm a lot more relaxed about it now and have got tipping down to an art.

One thing I have noticed is that I tend to tip in the UK now as well, it just feels right.

And that means that in places where we are regulars, the servers almost fight with each other to get us to sit in their section and the service is very good.

There's definately things to be said for being known as a good tipper.

 

[Pinkgirl]

We were once shocked to have a server race out a family who had just left Ponderosa behind us asking why they had not tipped

 

[higgy66]

Oh dear - after reading the tipping around the world article I have to admit I had no idea you had to tip the hotel concierge when they book you tickets etc

We purchased our MNSSHP party tickets at the POFQ reservations desk last trip and had no idea you had to tip!


We also asked them to book a table for lunch at the restaurant in Epcots Mexico. Mind you they booked it for 1am and not 1pm so don't feel too bad about that one!