DDP, Do you still tip?

[honeymo78]

Thank you buffalogal - glad you hear you are getting 18% we all hoped you were getting

 

[bicker]

Yes, thanks buffalogal. Great to hear confirmation about these things from someone like you. I thought it was especially interesting to read that you're getting pretty much the same income each night regardless of how busy you are -- trading off fewer customers with more service for more customers with less service. Makes a lot of sense to me.

 

[castleri]

I hesitate to post, but I want to clarify some things here.

I am actually a server at a WDW owned signature restaurant. You all seem to have a lot of misconceptions about our jobs, so I want to clear things up.

As far as I know, at all WDW owned restaurants, servers do get thier 18% gratuity.
I think you should tip extra? It's up to you. I just want your decision to be an informed one.

Have a magical day!

Thanks for your comments - again I notice you say WDW owned restaurants. Do you have any information on the ones that are not Disney owned. We usually try to bring the tip up to at least 20% and if the servers at non Disney owned places are only getting flat amounts it would make a difference in how much is added.

Thanks again

 

[DebIreland]

I hesitate to post, but I want to clarify some things here.

Great post BuffaloGal. May I ask, when people on the dining plan ask if they can share meals, does that bother you? I'm trying to put myself in your shoes and I'm thinking that I'd have to do the same amount of work (practically) and yet, I would then only get (for, let's say 4 adults) 18% (total gross) tip x 3 instead of 4. Of course, many (and I hope *most*) customers would make up for this and tip out-of-pocket for the 4th person but I guess you have no way of knowing upfront if they wll do that or not. We'll be on the DP for part of our stay and I'm thinking we might like to share some meals (all adult credits) but I'm wondering if it's a total pain in the *%*% for the server and a worry for them too. Thanks!

Oh and just to add, we would definitely, tip as if 4 of us had the full 3 courses.

 

[Nancyg56]

technically any tip must be reported cash or otherwise (I know that isn't what always happens) and I'm pretty sure that there is an assumed amount of tips that is reported/tax must be paid on.

I have heard that instead of having the cash tip to spend right then, they have to wait for it - but wouldn't you have to wait if the tip was on a credit/debit card too?

You are correct, that all tips are supposed to be reported, but tips that are not documented are not always reported.

Tips on a CC would normally be given to the server, there would not be a wait time.

Just want to add, my DS is a waiter at a 5 star resort, and all gratuities are added into a check, even a soda has a tip added into the check. He has his tips added into his check, and is taxed on 100%. He feels that it is easier to work this way as he does not need to track tips nor does he need to worry about people who choose not to tip. He says it all evens out.

 

[kdzgon]

I tip extra at the non-Disney restaurants. The included tip is 18% of what Disney pays the restaurant, maybe 10% of the menu price of the food.

I don't agree with the premise of the poll Do you tip the wait stiff? An 18% tip is included, the question is how often do you see the need to tip EXTRA.

IS THIS REALLY TRUE?? Are you saying that although the 18% is calculated on the retail price, the server is only getting approx 10% as a tip??

 

[bicker]

That's rumblings we've heard from some servers at non-Disney restaurants (and only non-Disney restaurants). It is hard to validate what they're saying, because when you go to your local restaurant and tip the server 18%, the server doesn't typically get all that money either. They have to tip out the bartender, the food runners, the folks who clear and clean the tables, etc.

 

[saschab]

Very educational post, buffalogal.

It's great folks can learn abit from your perspective.

I learned something about alcohol service. We have friends who refuse to tip on their bottle of wine. My husband is uber generous and will tip the 18% and many times much over depending on service. I tend to think wine should be tipped, but disagree with 20% as he orders outrageously expensive bottles of wine.

Your explanation of the tip share percentages helps me find a good guideline on what we will be tipping in the future. (And I'm not talking just the 7% )As well as informing our cheapskate friends as to the realities of a server's tips.

 

[tluvstink]

We tip extra if the service was really good. And I guess we are easy to please because we tipped extra on several occasions

Terri

 

[Luv'sTink]

I don't think the problem lies with the tipping as much as states allowing servers to be paid less than minimum wage as a base wage not including tips.

In Washington it is not allowed, tips are on top of at least minimum wage. I was a waiter and made very good money with tips, I worked 20 hours a week made $250 a week in just tips plus the $150 regular wage (take home), so $400 a week, REALLY good for 20 hours a week, IMHO.

 

[zima-cheryl]

Regarding who gets the 18% tip - I waited tables for several years, and from my experience, it isn't uncommon at any restaurant for your server to be paying out part of the tip $$ to the host, bartender &/or bussers. Even when I had a large table where the gratuity was included in the bill, I still had to split the tip w/other folks.

And regarding wages -- I agree, servers s/be guaranteed minimum wage. According to state law here if tips over your shift don't add up to minimum wage the restaurant is supposed to bring you up to minimum. But go ahead and ask them to do that...see how long until you are out on the street looking for your next job!

Having waited tables I make sure when ever we eat out that the staff is treated well and tipped fairly (and usually on the generous side). Been there...done that...know what a miserable job it can be.

 

[kdzgon]

Sorry - I missed the post by BuffaloGal. I waitressed for 14 yrs - those payouts to bussers, bartenders, etc exist whether the tip is added automatically or if individual patrons tip directly, so my question really meant did the wait staff get the full 18% before those payments.

As to the legality, I believe the 18% might be listed as a service charge, not a gratuity. Either way, I believe the establishment has a right to do whatever with it as long as the employees are aware of the policy, at least they do here in NJ.

 

[bicker]

I haven't seen any reason to believe that Disney is doing anything other than providing the 18% to wait-staff. If you have concerns about this for non-Disney restaurants, I'd ask the specific restaurant's manager.

 

[eliza61]

I rarely even have any needs that warrant extraordinary service, so having need and delivery come together at the same time is extremely rare. 18% pretty-much covers the best service that I typically need, and the service I typically receive at WDW.

Ditto