A tip on "Tipping"

[Dean]

Disney should be called out on this...I am looking at my receipts from last week and disgusted that 18% added after using my Tables of Wonderland discount....

I may be better off with no discount and tipping accordingly..
Like I said before a buffet tip is not worth 18.00 when the meal is 100.00 for 3 people.
TRUST ME I AM A BIG TIPPER BUT IT IS ON MY TERMS

18% is a bit much for a buffet meal tip, IMO. 10% is the standard for buffet restaurants adjusted up or down as appropriate.

 

[Eventer98]

18% is a bit much for a buffet meal tip, IMO. 10% is the standard for buffet restaurants adjusted up or down as appropriate.

I agree Dean. Unfortunately, for a majority of our meals in August, we were a table of 6 due to my infant son. So it was automatically included.

 

[sharpes84]

Everyone should realize that the tip is a suggestion! If you feel it was worth it you can leave as is you may also have it removed, lowered or raised. .

Just so you know they add it after you use the TABLES OF WONDERLAND.
I asked why and they said it is billed in the system that way according to the way the system is set up.
I asked the manager and they said yes that is billed in the DINING COMPUTERS to automatically add when the 20% T.O.W discounts are used.

so now on my vacation I am obligated to wait and said can you remove a tip that I know is billed in and you have no power to remove since its in the sytem that way....
come on this is PISS POOR ~

 

[sharpes84]

REMEMBER ALSO the tip is billed in from parties 1-7 at 18%.
Tables of 8 or more is 20%......
lets not confuse this and THEY PUT A CARD IN WITH THE BILL STATING THAT NO TIP IS ADDED UNLESS A PARTY OF 8 OR MORE.

i pay 18% at a buffet where I DO ALL THE WORK OR 18% WHERE i AM SERVED..
w
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE~!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Just so you know they add it after you use the TABLES OF WONDERLAND.
I asked why and they said it is billed in the system that way according to the way the system is set up.
I asked the manager and they said yes that is billed in the DINING COMPUTERS to automatically add when the 20% T.O.W discounts are used.

so now on my vacation I am obligated to wait and said can you remove a tip that I know is billed in and you have no power to remove since its in the sytem that way....
come on this is PISS POOR ~

Ok, back up one second. I don't have a DDE/TIW card. If someone uses this card towards a meal, the 18% that is automatically added to the bill CAN NOT be removed?

 

[sharpes84]

Forgot manager said they CANNOT REMOVE IT IS IN THE SYSTEM I can add gratuity to what was taken ,cant deduct~
so any theory you have is out the window~

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Just think of the automatic 18% gratuity when using "Tables in Wonderland" as a mandatory service charge on the pre-discount amount, not a starting point for a voluntary tip.

Considering that "Tables in Wonderland" provides a 20% discounted off the prices that other diners pay for food and even for alcohol, the 18% service charge isn't that bad.

If I can't adjust down, I won't adjust up either (although I don't recall ever tipping less than 20% at Disney restaurants, including buffets).

My guess is that too many guests were tipping too little under the old system, even while some of us were tipping 20% or more on the pre-discount amount. The servers are getting more money now. And I'm saving money because I'm only paying an 18% service charge.

 

[sharpes84]

And I'm saving money because I'm only paying an 18% service charge.

So you feel this is fair when the buffet tip is the same a sit down service?

You pay for the T.O.W discount so its not free and you choose a tip when you are a party of up to 7 .To add a firm tip is very unfriendly.8 or more I can see then adding .[not buffet style though]
Not everyone is on the same budget that is why people save and by the discount to ease the price on vacation...
I do believe in tipping as said before just not how they have it handled.
And yes I have been in the food business and understand to EARN A TIP you need to work hard and perform good customer service not just walk by a table and get 18% guaranteed .Buffet or no buffet

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

So you feel this is fair when the buffet tip is the same a sit down service?

What I'm really saying is that there is now an 18% service charge when using "Tables in Wonderland." Yes, it applies to buffets as well as to traditional table service.

That is the reality.

I don't know how tips are divided up at Disney's buffets or what percentage of the tip your server keeps.

However, when tipping is at your discretion (such as when not using "Tables in Wonderland"), I don't think it's fair to tip only half as much at Disney buffets, even though that's what some people do. If the service is not up to par, then reduce the tip, but that's very seldom the case at Disney restaurants.

As I wrote in post #28, "Servers work just as hard at [Disney] buffets. The servers greet you, take drink orders and reorders, handle special needs, clear dirty dishes for what are usually multi-course meals, make sure you're happy, and handle payments. The big difference is that they don't bring your food out from the kitchen (and at many table-service restaurants, someone from the kitchen does that, not the server). Also, tips are shared at conventional table service restaurants and at buffets. The buffet servers are not getting rich from their tips."

The buffets at Disney are not like low-end buffet chains where you pay at a register, get a tray, fill your own drinks, and have very little interaction with any servers at your table.

 

[TDC Nala]

I always paid the same for buffets at WDW (which is really the only place I ever eat at buffets) as I did for regular sit down restaurants, so yes, I think it's fair. If your custom was to pay less for buffets, then you won't think it's fair.

And the mandatory 18% is charged at WDW to any party of six or more, not eight. A LOT of restaurants, not just at WDW, charge a mandatory tip for larger groups. Some places make it six, others make it eight.

 

[sharpes84]

It is party of 8 according to the card in each bill they bring to table ,have right here and also in many languages so its clear to all

 

[TDC Nala]

It is party of 8 according to the card in each bill they bring to table ,have right here and also in many languages so its clear to all

Then the card is incorrect. According to all WDW literature, the minimum party number for auto tip as of January 1, 2008 is six. Prior to 2008, it was indeed eight, but it changed this year.

And the managers can adjust the tip downward - but they will most likely do it only for instances of bad service. They won't do it because a guest thinks 18% is too high a tip for a buffet server.

 

[Dean]

What I'm really saying is that there is now an 18% service charge when using "Tables in Wonderland." Yes, it applies to buffets as well as to traditional table service.

That is the reality.

I don't know how tips are divided up at Disney's buffets or what percentage of the tip your server keeps.

However, when tipping is at your discretion (such as when not using "Tables in Wonderland"), I don't think it's fair to tip only half as much at Disney buffets, even though that's what some people do. If the service is not up to par, then reduce the tip, but that's very seldom the case at Disney restaurants.

As I wrote in post #28, "Servers work just as hard at [Disney] buffets. The servers greet you, take drink orders and reorders, handle special needs, clear dirty dishes for what are usually multi-course meals, make sure you're happy, and handle payments. The big difference is that they don't bring your food out from the kitchen (and at many table-service restaurants, someone from the kitchen does that, not the server). Also, tips are shared at conventional table service restaurants and at buffets. The buffet servers are not getting rich from their tips."

The buffets at Disney are not like low-end buffet chains where you pay at a register, get a tray, fill your own drinks, and have very little interaction with any servers at your table.

Still the industry standard is 10% for buffets. And while the Disney buffets MIGHT (some would disagree) give you more service than say Ryan's, it's certainly not anywhere near the same as a full service restaurant. Servers have more tables because they have less total responsibilities overall. IMO, charging 18% automatically is inappropriate in such situations.

 

[sharpes84]

I am learning alot as I write this experience from last week.
Like I said prior,the 18% CANNOT be removed.It is built in Disneys system when we use the 20% T.O.W discount.
I asked a manger at Crystal Palace and that was was told to us.
I was not convinced that he was right and asked the same at Liberty Tree TAvern and same answer.Built in,cannot be removed only added to it on the tip line after the 20% Discount from T.O.W. card is used....computerized from corporate.

a sit down dinner at 18% for 3 people is fair...
My issue is that we travel with ME,WIFE,infant and 5 year old.
NO WAY IS A BUFFET worth it....

 

[sharpes84]

just answer 1 thing......
why is the buffet and sit down the same 18%..........

totally different concept and buffet pricing for the meal is higher than sit down so why aren't these the same price if the tipping % is the same????