Change tip based on waiting too long after ADR time?

[Paging Tom Morrow]

Hey all,

Just wanted your opinion - had this discussion with a co-worker and we don't see eye to eye. I imagine that most people will be split on the issue, but wanted to check nonetheless....

If you arrived for your 6:00PM ADR at 5:45PM and weren't called for your table until 6:30PM or later, do you think it is appropriate to tip less than you normally would?

My feelings: The tip is give to the server for his/her service and the tip should reflect that portion of the experience. He/she has no control over when you were given your table. You have a right to complain to a manager about your wait time and tell them about how dissatisfied you are.

His feelings: The tip should reflect your total dining experience. Having a reservation at 6:00 means you should be sat at or very near to 6:00. The restaurant's management either took to many ressies or permitted others without ressies to sit when they shouldn't have, thus delaying your meal.

Thanks for the responses.

- Ken

 

[troy mcclure]

My feelings: The tip is give to the server for his/her service and the tip should reflect that portion of the experience. He/she has no control over when you were given your table. You have a right to complain to a manager about your wait time and tell them about how dissatisfied you are.

I agree with this view. I wouldn't ding the server for the lack of planning of the manager or reservation center.

 

[kj2mom]

I think you also need to keep in mind an ADR at Disney is not a set in stone reservation. If I am understanding correctly it means when you arrive you are put on the top of the list for the next available table. I have read many times that people say to book close to opening time if you want to be as close to your actual ADR time, I have the majority of my ADR's within 30 minutes of restaurant opening time. It is not like a reservation where everyone has a table set aside for just them when they arrive, KWIM? Noone can control how long people sit at a table especially at the character meals which is why I am sure Disney words their ADR's the way they do.

That being said, my wait time would have absolutely no effect on my tip to my server. That is completely unfair to me. I would say something to the manager if this happened in a restaurant outside of Disney and maybe they could provide some kind of compensation (I would still tip the server the appropriate amount as if the compensation was included because again it is not their fault) or at least let them know they should work a little harder to get people seated on time. Again, that is outside of Disney.

 

[MareQ]

My feelings: The tip is give to the server for his/her service and the tip should reflect that portion of the experience. He/she has no control over when you were given your table. You have a right to complain to a manager about your wait time and tell them about how dissatisfied you are.



- Ken

I agree with you. WOW - I honestly can't believe that somebody would cut down on a tip to a server over something they had nothing to do with!

 

[tink too]

I agree with kj2mom - ADR's are not a "set in stone" reservation just an assurance that you'll get the next available table after you check-in.

Again, the tip would be based on service received from my server only.

 

[KatelynnsAuntie]

I think you also need to keep in mind an ADR at Disney is not a set in stone reservation. If I am understanding correctly it means when you arrive you are put on the top of the list for the next available table. ...That being said, my wait time would have absolutely no effect on my tip to my server. That is completely unfair to me.

ITA

 

[WDWNicole]

I agree with all of the prevoius posters.

 

[CathrynRose]

Your co-worker sounds like a real jerk.... and I mean that in the kindest way possible.

I tip the server - not the entire restaurant.

 

[curiouser]

I wouldn't stiff the server for the fault of the hostess...

However, I know at some restaurants (non-Disney) the servers tips are pooled and a pre-set portion is given to the hosts/hostesses of that shift. Unfortunately, there's not much you can do to prevent that and shafting your sever won't help that situation much either, but if that's where your co-worker is coming from I can (maybe) perhaps understand?

 

[patsal]

I tip based on service from the staff serving me. Since an ADR is not a reservation I do not consider that part of my dining experience. I don't blame the server if my food is cooked incorrectly--that is the chef's job. Are my needs attended to in regards to drinks filled, order taken promptly, questions answered, etc? If so that is the only thing I hold the waitstaff responsible for.

 

[Skwinkles]

I have to agree with the consensus. I would not tip the server less based on your wait time. He/She has no control over when you are seated. But I also would not tip less for bad food either. They're not the one cooking it. Tipping to me is based completely on the service that the waitstaff has provided.

 

[molly2004]

In general, I know that many restaurants (not necessarily WDW, b/c I don't know how it works there), the servers' tips are shared with the host(ess) and folks who bus the tables. In other words, they get a cut of the servers' tips. If this is the case, docking your tip will, indeed, impact the host(ess) and others but also impacts the server as well. Perhaps your colleague was speaking in such context.

 

[jonimce]

Why are we blaming the hostess? It cerntly isn't the wait person's falt either. I have worked in this business for over 30 years. The Hostesses aren't the ones taking the ADR's, so they are not responsable for over booking. Even in a regular rest. the hostess rarley takes the reservations. Maybe the kitchen got all the orders at once and couldn't get all the food out as fast so the earlier diners were delayed. Maybe a large family is relaxing over another cup of coffee. Who's falt is this?

You are right about this not being a regular reservation. They used to be called priority seatings. What it does mean is without one you may not get in at all.

I can't tell you all how many times in the past I have recieved below par tips because dinners took too long to come out of the kitchen, or they just didn't like the food. Why is this my falt, when my service was still excelent.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I definitely would still tip well. That really irritates me when people think their ADR time is the time they're sat. The restaurant can't control when people leave their tables and if they have an unexpected delay in parties sitting longer than expected, it backs everything up behind them. But everyone has different opinions. I just love every minute of vacation at WDW and not having kids or caring about riding every ride 5 times, it wouldn't bother me to wait 45 minutes for a table even with an ADR (in fact we did this at LTT for lunch last time we went). It would be nice just being able to relax and talk with my family while we waited.

 

[lillygator]

I wouldn't use it against the server...they have no control over how long people linger, which is one reason for running over...

 

[Dreamfinder2]

I've watched one of my coworkers - who is a "joy" to each lunch with - berate a server because of the portion size on his plate, or value received for price paid. Like the waitstaff sets prices or plates the food! It just seems poor form to me to stiff someone over an issue that is out of their control.

Some folks just like to gripe. I guess it makes 'em feel better, or something.

 

[mamacatnv]

I would never dock the server for something out of their control. Even if my steak is not done right, it is not there fault.

Now if I order salad with blue cheese and they bring me a salad with 1000' Island then they are not checking their order and something like that could influence their tip. Although I am usually very generous and it takes a lot for me to not tip at 20% or higher.

 

[ngtotd_dtrt]

I agree with the co-worker, within some guidelines (ADRs aren't reservations, per se...Tipping should still be a healthy amount...It is WDW with its crowds...Etc.).

I don't know and don't care about the internal workings of the restaurant... How they spread the tips, or who gets water vs. who cleans off the tables vs. who takes the order vs. who helps bring the food vs. who seats...

The good overall dining experience is why I would tip extra, with expectations of the server to take care of what he/she can. While the wait staff can't take care when we're seated, if the restaurant is sloppy in this manner, then it still affects my meal. If dining/meal is a poor experience (long wait past reservation, badly mixed drinks, poorly prepared meal), my tip with be 15% with good service. Getting drinks and meals re-made is an annoyance and time-consuming.

Of course, outstanding service in the face of a restaurant blunder(s) would deserved a hearty tip. If the waiter/waitress goes the extra mile and/or comps something like an appetizer, dessert, or drink, then that's over-and-above. It's making a true effort at righting a not so great experience. Blaming the overbookings/kitchen/hostess doesn't make the meal better. Having someone determined you'll leave there satisfied and wanting to come back is a team effort, but the point person is the waiter.

If it is good service with a well-run staff (seating, cook, well made drinks, etc), then my tipping runs a bit over 20%.

Letting the manager hear about awful waits for seating will do the most good toward correcting the problem. But I don't give extra reward/tipping to a badly run place, even if the waiter/waitress is efficient. Conversely, I won't stiff the waiter (leaving less than 15%) if the service is good, even if dining there wasn't great.

I over-worded my stipulations...but bottom line, I agree with the co-worker. Tipping good service 15% is part of the meal. Tipping over that requires a nice overall dining or exceptional waiter/waitress...otherwise it's poor use of charity.

 

[kcashner]

The ADR doesn't give you the "next table." It gives you the next available table for a party of your size...and it really just places you in the line behind any other parties of the same size with ADRs who checked in before you did. The fact that you waited doesn't mean that anyone messed up. They do their best to figure how long people will sit, but that can vary with weather, parades, etc.

It's not fair to stiff the sever for something he/she had no control over. Tip based on what the server did for you.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I wouldn't think the hosts at the podium make up the adr policy. So if a place is off it's historical figures for a night, it's not going to be their fault, nor the waiters' fault. Now if they just spaz out and miss someone well yeah.

Edit. In answer to the question, no, I wouldn't change the tip just for that.