Do you tip 20% at the buffets?

[bwr827]

You do realize they don’t get to keep all of that tip, right? They have a tip share structure. They only keep a percentage of it. How much they have to tip share to other positions is automatic based on the total of the bill. They have to pay that out, no matter what. They only get to keep what’s left over, sometimes, there isn’t any left over when people tip very low. In situations where someone leaves $10 on a $200 bill at Crystal Palace, they have to pay all of those other tip shares based on that $200 bill, and they literally end up having to pay out of their portion of tips, to cover those automatic amounts, meaning, they literally paid to serve that party.

If true, that is messed up.

 

[Douglas Dubh]

No. 18% max. Especially for character buffets.

 

[gottalovepluto]

You do realize they don’t get to keep all of that tip, right? They have a tip share structure. They only keep a percentage of it. How much they have to tip share to other positions is automatic based on the total of the bill. They have to pay that out, no matter what. They only get to keep what’s left over, sometimes, there isn’t any left over when people tip very low. In situations where someone leaves $10 on a $200 bill at Crystal Palace, they have to pay all of those other tip shares based on that $200 bill, and they literally end up having to pay out of their portion of tips, to cover those automatic amounts, meaning, they literally paid to serve that party.

I don’t believe for a second Disney CMs are operating under a system that results in docked earnings when they don’t get big enough tips. There would be no reason for them to try so hard for those roles if they were losing money by being employed. Especially because bad tippers are going to be more common at WDW than elsewhere due to the international appeal.

ETA- person claims to have recently worked Disney dining here. The total they tipped out to other positions can be up to 5%. So, they could end up losing up to 5% on a $0 tipped check but hourly wages will keep them in the green even then and everything over 5% on tipped checks is the gravy. Others in the thread said at Disney the server gets and has complete discretion with how to tip out the runners and bartenders- so I suspect 5% was that servers personal practice to keep it simple.

 

[J-Dog]

20% tip expectation is bananas. Quick service for me!

Restaurant prices have shot up, so tips have shot up too since they are a percentage.

I don’t know the actual stats, but it would not surprise me to learn that wait staff incomes have risen more than any other profession in the past few years.

I totally agree. I don't have an issue at all with tipping, but the average expected tip has gone from 15%, to 18%, to 20+% in less than a decade. And that's in addition to major price increases at restaurants in recent years.

Why?

And what will be the expected tip in, say, 2040? 50%?

 

[reddog21]

You do realize they don’t get to keep all of that tip, right? They have a tip share structure. They only keep a percentage of it. How much they have to tip share to other positions is automatic based on the total of the bill. They have to pay that out, no matter what. They only get to keep what’s left over, sometimes, there isn’t any left over when people tip very low. In situations where someone leaves $10 on a $200 bill at Crystal Palace, they have to pay all of those other tip shares based on that $200 bill, and they literally end up having to pay out of their portion of tips, to cover those automatic amounts, meaning, they literally paid to serve that party.

It’s not my job as a consumer to understand or care to understand how every restaurant handles tips. It has zero relevance in my decision on how much to tip. When you signed up to be paid tips you take the risk it’s no different than any other commission job.

 

[whiteness]

You do realize they don’t get to keep all of that tip, right? They have a tip share structure. They only keep a percentage of it. How much they have to tip share to other positions is automatic based on the total of the bill. They have to pay that out, no matter what. They only get to keep what’s left over, sometimes, there isn’t any left over when people tip very low. In situations where someone leaves $10 on a $200 bill at Crystal Palace, they have to pay all of those other tip shares based on that $200 bill, and they literally end up having to pay out of their portion of tips, to cover those automatic amounts, meaning, they literally paid to serve that party.

If that's true, that's very sad. Disney needs to lead by example, pay their Cast Members a decent base wage and make tips truly optional for exceptional service only.

In fact, Disney should make it easy for Guests to call out exceptional service by Cast Members and request that Disney give them bonuses. So, if you think your server, bartender, chef, person loading you in a ride, directing traffic or whatever did a great job, say so in the app, and that person should get rewarded for it by Disney. Let Disney sort out the details how to reward exceptional people: maybe promotions, more time off, extra pay, a gold watch, whatever.

Why only reward table service staff, and tie the amount of the reward to the cost of your meal, when technology allows far more creativity and flexibility? Every Cast Member has the potential to be exceptional in their own way, and Disney should reward outstanding service anytime and anywhere it occurs.

 

[J-Dog]

You do realize they don’t get to keep all of that tip, right? They have a tip share structure. They only keep a percentage of it. How much they have to tip share to other positions is automatic based on the total of the bill. They have to pay that out, no matter what. They only get to keep what’s left over, sometimes, there isn’t any left over when people tip very low. In situations where someone leaves $10 on a $200 bill at Crystal Palace, they have to pay all of those other tip shares based on that $200 bill, and they literally end up having to pay out of their portion of tips, to cover those automatic amounts, meaning, they literally paid to serve that party.

While I'm not sure that I believe this is true, it's no different than many car salesmen who work on commission - if they don't meet a certain monthly quota, then they lose their monthly stipend, and are sometimes even in the negative. So, in other words, the better you are at your job, the more money you make. Same with being a wait staff employee - do a good job and your chances of high tips goes up.

Every wait staff person ever hired is aware of this upon hire.

 

[Genie+]

Surely buffet servers have other responsibilities beyond drink orders and plate clearing. It’s really not fair to use that as an excuse to tip poorly without knowing exactly what responsibilities these servers have.

Who is stocking all sorts of things through the entire restaurant and scrubbing everything down daily (tables, booths, chairs, food stations, windows, refrigerators, kitchen areas, etc), and even involved in aspects of food prep. Does anyone here know a WDW buffet server to ask? If it was such an easy lucrative gig people would have a hard time leaving, yet most do leave. People can legally tip whatever they want. Still it is a social contract when people choose to dine under that type of system.

I’ve felt uneasy handing over $40 tip when we’re in and out under 40 minutes, but I’m also not going to leave half that either. So what, remove $5 or $10? That’s going to make a big difference in my 4 or 5 digit vacation budget If I’m feeling price gouged is it right laying it on the server because that’s the only place I can choose to pay less than expected? Unless I know a reason to leave less I’m not going to nitpick apart how much they ‘deserve’, especially if I don’t know for fact all they do.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

You do realize they don’t get to keep all of that tip, right? They have a tip share structure. They only keep a percentage of it. How much they have to tip share to other positions is automatic based on the total of the bill. They have to pay that out, no matter what. They only get to keep what’s left over, sometimes, there isn’t any left over when people tip very low. In situations where someone leaves $10 on a $200 bill at Crystal Palace, they have to pay all of those other tip shares based on that $200 bill, and they literally end up having to pay out of their portion of tips, to cover those automatic amounts, meaning, they literally paid to serve that party.

I know for a fact that serving positions are coveted and that Disney servers make MUCH more than average servers across the country. My DD has 3 friends working in Disney now and I speak to them regularly. And no one’s tipping $10 on a $200 bill and if they did the multiple $40 and above tips will more than make up for it, shared or not. And if they were “paying to serve people” which is ridiculous, people wouldn’t want the jobs so much and keep them so long.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I recently read a thread on here not too long ago talking about how coveted server roles are at Disney because they make very good money. It was also stated that you rarely if ever see server job openings posted as they are snatched up so quick.

Even if they wait on 5 buffet tables an hour and each table tips them $20 that’s still $100 an hour. Even with tipping out they are making money. Let’s be real. Most of these buffets are booked solid and you rarely see an empty table.

 

[gmi3804]

It’s not my job as a consumer to understand or care to understand how every restaurant handles tips. It has zero relevance in my decision on how much to tip. When you signed up to be paid tips you take the risk it’s no different than any other commission job.

Wow, you sound like a caring person. About what, I have no idea.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Who is stocking all sorts of things through the entire restaurant and scrubbing everything down daily (tables, booths, chairs, food stations, windows, refrigerators, kitchen areas, etc), and even involved in aspects of food prep. Does anyone here know a WDW buffet server to ask? If it was such an easy lucrative gig people would have a hard time leaving, yet most do leave. People can legally tip whatever they want. Still it is a social contract when people choose to dine under that type of system.

Well that’s really not my problem. Disney should be paying them to do this work. The tip is for them serving me. I’m not tipping 20% at a buffet where I get up to get my own food and all they bring me is a soda or two and take my dirty dishes. At buffets I sometimes see my waiter 5 minutes total (or less) during my one hour meal. That’s worth $50-60?

I tip 20% everywhere else and sometimes a bit more if service is great. So it’s not about being cheap.

 

[HopperFan]

Overall ~ no.

 

[bakerworld]

15 to 18 percent for buffets - depending on how vigilant the service. With Disney tipping was new to us. Honest to G, our first vacations back in the 90's we left a ton of change on the room table. I KNOW! We were THOSE people! In our defense we were fairly $ tight and probably shouldn't've been at Disney (I'm sure everyone has read my root canal story). So even though now we fairly consistent at 20 to 22 percent tippers, I just don't feel that buffets warrant an outstanding tip.

 

[bakerworld]

You do realize they don’t get to keep all of that tip, right? They have a tip share structure. They only keep a percentage of it. How much they have to tip share to other positions is automatic based on the total of the bill. They have to pay that out, no matter what. They only get to keep what’s left over, sometimes, there isn’t any left over when people tip very low. In situations where someone leaves $10 on a $200 bill at Crystal Palace, they have to pay all of those other tip shares based on that $200 bill, and they literally end up having to pay out of their portion of tips, to cover those automatic amounts, meaning, they literally paid to serve that party.

DH won't go to CP. Went once and not only can't I get him to return but he doesn't want to go to any other buffets either. It's not a big issue because we can't eat like that anymore but I had to laugh when you used CP as an example. Luckily for CP when we ate there we used that dining discount card which gave them an automatic 18% tip.

 

[Brian Noble]

The most I will leave at a buffet is $20.

I read the post. Then looked at the user name. Then I had an “Iago Reaction”

I think I’ll die of not surprise.

 

[reddog21]

Wow, you sound like a caring person. About what, I have no idea.

Not about how people get paid especially when you knew the terms before taking the job.

 

[gmi3804]

Not about how people get paid especially when you knew the terms before taking the job.

The "terms" are an expectation of 15-20% of the bill. The diners know that too. Or should.

 

[obsesseddisneyfan]

It really depends on what the tipped min wage is. In Florida it is $8.98/ hour and I always tip 20-25%. In California it is $16.00/ hour and so I tip 10%-15%. In Seattle where I am from Min wage is $19.97 (most likely $20.57 next year) and the prices have gotten so high I really just don't go out and when I do I keep to places that don't require tips or tip 10%.

 

[gmi3804]

It really depends on what the tipped min wage is. In Florida it is $8.98/ hour and I always tip 20-25%. In California it is $16.00/ hour and so I tip 10%-15%.

How busy you must be researching tipped minimum wages everywhere you go.