Are the servers allowed to accept tips??

[momof2stars]

I ask for this reason.....

Our 1st day in Disney we went to a character meal with Pooh at MK. The bill came & the tip had been automatically included. We loved our server & left a tip anyway. Which she saw & refused. She said the tip was already included & we were not to tip her. So we thanked her & did not push the issue figuring they were not allowed to accept additional tips.

Fast forward a few days to the Cinderella B-fast at MK. There was a huge mix up with our bill & honestly we were not all that impresed with our server especially since she initally blamed the mix up on us & then had to apologize when she realized it was her error. So after all the confusuon I forgot to sign the slip & she followed us to the main floor where we were taking some last pics of our dd. She proceeded to ask for the slip & to tell me we left her nothing.... Sorry but she just got an 18% tip of a $100 meal. I was embarrased though & did not want to make an issue on dd's special day. I said to her we were told by another server not to leave a tip it was included so we thought they could not take additional tips. She informed me this was incorrect so I told dh to give her one. He only had a $10 so he gave her that. Now I am thinking she got a $28 tip & this was after she insulted me & asked for a tip.

Dh thinks that she only did this since she was not in the main dininig room and no one would know. Can anyone confirm are they allowed additional tips?? Do you think this was appropriate? What would you have done??

On a side note... if you get the chance to go, the food was terrific & the pics of my dd with the princess are AWESOME!! Well worth the price of the meal (2 dinig meals) or event eh price if not on the dining plan. We will do this again for sure!

 

[MomofCKJ]

I have not gone myself with DDP yet (102 days and counting) but the countless reviews/reports I have read have said that a lot of people do leave an extra tip (on top of the 18% they get) if service is exceptional. I don't remember reading anything about them not being able to accept them.

As for the server telling you that you did not leave a tip? That is EXTREMELY rude and unprofessional I think. I would have talked to someone about her.

Allyson

 

[Letsbgoofy]

Yes, they are allowed to take additional tips. Your first waitress was being nive, she knows that you can tip her and much as you want extra.

As for the second waitress, I also would have spoken to someone about her. She got 18% of your check, and even if she didn't, it's not her place to ask for a tip.

I did read that the restaurants not owned by Disney get 18% of what Disney actually pays the restaurant. At The Maya Grill, our bill was about $95. I snooped around in the receipts they gave me to sign, and the restaurant was only getting 40 some dollars for our meal; including a $6 and change tip. We tipped extra everywhere for gret service, but that night we left more. It doesn't seem fair that those servers work as hard and get such small tips.

 

[kaytieeldr]

As far as I know, servers are allowed extra tips. I wasn't aware they were permitted to DEMAND them, though.
In both cases, I'd have talked to a manager - either at the time, if you had time, or some time during your trip, making sure you had each server's name. The first server, the one who refused the tip, should be commended not for that but for the wonderful service you apparently got.
In the case of the CRT server, her managers need to know what she's doing.

If you have the names (may be on your reciepts, although this trip I am definitely taking a small notebook ) you can still contact Guest Relations about each incident. Both the e-mail and snail-mail addresses are available at allearsnet.com - I tried to find them here on wdwinfo.com, but I don't know where to look

 

[Inga]

Absolutely inappropriate for the server to follow you and ask for a tip! You are a saint to give her the extra $10...that is so unprofessional and I would let Disney management know about that!!!

Inga

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

OMG how rude. No way would have I let my DH give her even one cent more. I would report this. Not appropriate at all!!!

 

[bicker]

Dh thinks that she only did this since she was not in the main dininig room and no one would know. Can anyone confirm are they allowed additional tips?? Do you think this was appropriate? What would you have done??

Easy solution to that: "You aren't getting anything? How outrageous. Your service wasn't that poor. Let's go upstairs and talk to your manager about that right now. I'll make sure you get a fair amount from the Dining Plan for your work. Let's go..." For me, I'd be utterly sincere, truly, though in the back of my mind I know that the server was lying. However, if she called me on it, I would do it, and follow-through on what I promised her, though I suspect that in doing so it would probably expose such outrageous deception on her part that her manager would have no choice but to fire her.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

This is what I would do as this is bothering me terribly and since I have met the woman that now is the Manager for the CRT and who would be shocked to know that, I would call there and ask to speak to the manager....Do you have the name of the server that followed you out and asked for an extra tip? As I would make sure that I included that in my tirade, just plain wrong especially if they are getting an 18% tip already included with the plan..

Please do something about this because if he/she has done this to you, he/she has done it to others and would leave a very bad taste in the mouth of people going to that restaurant for a memorable meal with their children.....it would be the last thing you remember being chased out of the restaurant by the waitstaff saying you did not tip them... Sorry, just plain wrong...

 

[bicker]

Always, always, always take names. It's very important to get what you're supposed to, and to help the system make sure we all get what we're supposed to.

 

[spaceacewannabe]

Yes, they are allowed to take additional tips. Your first waitress was being nive, she knows that you can tip her and much as you want extra.

HAHA! When I first read this I thought you were trying to say she was "naive" rather than "nice" and I was about to reply that calling her naive wasn't really fair, she was just being nice! I thought that was an odd thing for you to say (and an odd thing to misspell) based on your previous posts This makes much more sense.

I think Crystal Palace (the Pooh buffet at MK) may tell their servers to first refuse the extra tip---we also had EXCELLENT service the three times we ate there ths past trip. The first time, our server, Jack (AWESOME!), came back and told us that they were already tipped since we were on the DP and that we didn't need to tip him again. We told him we knew he was already tipped, but that he had been super so we wanted to give him a little more. He said (in a very humorous but appreciative voice), "Well thank you for noticing!" and then accepted the extra tip. I think they're kind of supposed to refuse the first time (kind of like the bellhops---the best ones always decline at first, and we always insist). So they are, but some want to make sure you know it's not necessary. Our second trip to CP, we had Christina (AMAZING!), and since we were leaving it on the table, we wrote her a little note that she was great and we wanted to leave her extra beyond the DDP (so if any of her bosses asked, she could show them). The third time we paid OOP, but Karen, our server at CP breakfast, was really wonderful, too.

That's awful about the server at CRT! Sadly, not unbelievable these days. I also hope you got her name. Not quite sure where to contact at this point---we've also had a horrible service experience that we want to report, but once you're gone, who do you call? Guest Relations was great when we were there (reporting one of the only three rude CMs for the whole trip while at MGM...the other two were at a resort restaurant), but after you leave ??? I'm also curious how to proceed!

 

[momof2stars]

Ok so I guess tomorrow I will have to make a call. I did not get her name BUT I know they can track it because after I still had to see my concerge (sp) to get my meal plan fixed as they still charged me wrong even after they supposedly fixed it. It was a great emal but just ticked me off to be asked for a tip. Especailly after telling me " you have to tell us these things or we don't know" when I inquired to be sure they did not charge me for my son. When she then realized that I did tell them when I checked in & my ticket said infant. He is a very large 2 year old over 3 feet & he talks really well. Funny thing is that we tried to pay for him when we got the plan cause we thought it would be a big hassel they told us nope he is free & there won't be a hassel. LOL

 

[Tinker*Shell*Bell]

Only once in my life had I had a waitress demand a tip. I did not leave her one at all because she was terrible. And i mean TERRIBLE. She followed us out and demanded a tip. Needless to say she did not get one. I went home and immediately called the restaurant manager. He said it was the second complaint she had gotten for the same behavior and he fired her. My first thought was to feel bad that she lost her job but really she had no business in that job if she couldn't wait tables without acting like cruella de'ville.

 

[nurseypoo5]

Easy solution to that: "You aren't getting anything? How outrageous. Your service wasn't that poor. Let's go upstairs and talk to your manager about that right now. I'll make sure you get a fair amount from the Dining Plan for your work. Let's go..." For me, I'd be utterly sincere, truly, though in the back of my mind I know that the server was lying. However, if she called me on it, I would do it, and follow-through on what I promised her, though I suspect that in doing so it would probably expose such outrageous deception on her part that her manager would have no choice but to fire her.

As SOON as i read this, i thought the exact then Bicker. I sooo would have said to her.. "Really? Wow I didnt know that I was expected to tip on top of 18%, and I had no idea that it was CRT procedure to follow customers out of the restaurant to embarrass them in front of God and family by demanding an additional tip. However, I feel that we should clear this up with your manager before giving you another tip on demand" I'm sure she would have hesitated, gaffawed and ho hawed, but with or without her, i would NOT have signed that reciept, and would have taken it to management.


But...you see i LIVE for that sort of thing. Don't mess with me Lady!

Pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeee do us all a favor and contact management about this now, let them know that at the time you were embarrassed by her confrontational attitude and the fact she confronted you infront of strangers/family and on your little girls special day. Let them know how awful she was and how totally unprofessional too. She gives CM'S such a HORRIBLE name. Shame on her!

 

[Lorix2]

We tipped an addt'l $5.00 to each of our servers at Kona, CP and Boatwrights, all three graciously accepted them and told us how much they appreciated that.

 

[splashmtnman]

Yes, they are allowed to take additional tips. Your first waitress was being nive, she knows that you can tip her and much as you want extra.

As for the second waitress, I also would have spoken to someone about her. She got 18% of your check, and even if she didn't, it's not her place to ask for a tip.

I did read that the restaurants not owned by Disney get 18% of what Disney actually pays the restaurant. At The Maya Grill, our bill was about $95. I snooped around in the receipts they gave me to sign, and the restaurant was only getting 40 some dollars for our meal; including a $6 and change tip. We tipped extra everywhere for gret service, but that night we left more. It doesn't seem fair that those servers work as hard and get such small tips.

We left extra at each TS meal. I was told they get around 10% tip not the 18% that is listed on the bill. If you do the math on this it's $38 per adult and $11 for kids per day on the DDP. My family of four DW DD8 DS5 ate at Spoodles one night. Our bill for food came to around $140 not including drinks of course.( I don't want to say how much that was) If they use say $25(adults) and $6(kids) of the DDP money that would come to $62 to the restaurant. If they were tipped 18% on the $140 it would come to around $25. That would leave about $37 dollars for the restaurant for the $140 meal. Now that I have confused everyone including me So I guess what I am trying to say is I don't think they could possibly get 18% considering that. Our waiter quietly explained that they don't get the standard tip and she was a fantastic waitperson. My kids loved her. So we made sure from that point on that we left quite a bit extra for the tip when the service warranted it. Only had one bad experience and it was nothing like what happened to the OP. When you put a pencil to this I don't know if they even get 10%. So if you get good service by all means if possible leave extra.

 

[bicker]

Servers have a powerfully strong vested interest in having guests believe certain things certain ways. I wouldn't believe for a minute that we can get the full story about gratuities by asking a server how much they're making. For example, at a non-Dining Plan restaurant, try asking a server if they get the entire tip you leave on your credit card (or even in cash). They'll reveal, typically, that, gosh no, they have to share it with other members of their team (food runners, bussers, etc.) There's never a straight answer to be had. What we do know is that the offer is very explicit: The Dining Plan includes gratuities.

 

[kaytieeldr]

We left extra at each TS meal. I was told they get around 10% tip not the 18% that is listed on the bill. If

You know, I've seen that figure before and, well, how can Disney legally do that? If 18% is listed on the bill that's what Disney has to report to the IRS that they paid the server.

Our bill for food came to around $140 not including drinks of course.( I don't want to say how much that was) If they use say $25(adults) and $6(kids) of the DDP money that would come to $62 to the restaurant. If they were tipped 18% on the $140 it would come to around $25. That would leave about $37 dollars for the restaurant for the $140 meal.

Nope. No matter how the restaurant imbursement/reimbursement is determined/calculated, that is ENTIRELY separate from the servers' tip. Accounting gets the checks from the restaurant. Accounting pays the restaurant either a flat rate or the amount of the check. Accounting pays the server directly, both the person's pay AND the tip - it doesn't come out of the restaurants share of anything. If the restaurant is reimbursed $62, that full amount is for the restaurant - NONE of it is paid to the server as her/his tip.

For example, at a non-Dining Plan restaurant, try asking a server if they get the entire tip you leave on your credit card (or even in cash). They'll reveal, typically, that, gosh no, they have to share it with other members of their team (food runners, bussers, etc.)

 

[bicker]

You know, I've seen that figure before and, well, how can Disney legally do that? If 18% is listed on the bill that's what Disney has to report to the IRS that they paid the server.

Correct. I suspect what that number represents is the gratuity to the server after the server tips the food runners and bussers, as I alluded to in my previous message. That's standard practice at many restaurants around the country, even if you pay in cash.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

I do hope the OP called CRT and spoke with the manager who use to wait tables at Spoodles when I knew her. So what I am saying is that she has been on both sides of the table so to speak and I think she would be surprised at how her castmember handled herself. Also, I do know that restaurant employees read these boards so hopefully, she will see this and address it at a morning meeting or someone else will let her know as it is unacceptable.

Years ago when waitstaff worked, it was like cash under the table....now they have to declare a portion of it, I believe....but it is a cash business so do they declare all of it or not, not my call. I will say that if it says 18% on the check that will be declared after her expenses of tipping out those who assisted her during the meal. I think she was trying to get extra cash out of the OP that she would not have to declare....back to the old days of hiding the cash...

 

[intricatejewel]

I was reading this and just couldn't NOT respond! I have served in fine dining restaurants for the better part of five years now and what that waitress did to you was outrageous! All servers know to NEVER ask about gratuity. Also, to clarify for fine dining restaurants, yes we do have to tip out food runners, banquet coordinators, bartenders, bussers, INCLUDING a percentage of our sales to the "house". Well, at least for the two different restaurants that I've worked at. Cash tips are always my personal favorite and I'm grateful for them, because in the long run, I actually get to keep more of that money because I'm only required to claim 15%. As a server, I'm just blown away by what that waitress at CRT did you to you!!! Please, please call management and adivse them of her behavior. Hope you had a magical stay in spite of it all!!!