Florida Minimum Wage for Tipped Employees

[Dean]

Okay, I didn't read the whole "debate" thing going on

My question is, If anyone actually knows, Does the Server receive the entire 18% gratuity plus that they are "given" by us OR do they pool among others OR do they tip out any other staff members??

This would be interesting to find out- My DH & I were both in the Food Service Industry for years- I was a trainer for about 5 years for 2 different establishments (casual dining popular restaurant & a Country Club)

My DH has been a District Manager for over 12 years-
We recognize & respect good service and tip accordingly - ALWAYS!

I don't like to find that my hard working server had to share with a loafer...
I also don't like to find that my server had to split a percentage with a higher base payed employee-
I trust 18% w/ Disney servers is well over minimum wage (I know what our tips came to when we were there in April)

I used to be a server long long ago (I was young and made so much money) & I claimed all of my tips- (If you plan to get a loan and don't "show" that you actually make 30K+ a year, they will only go by your minimum) Word to the wise there- I am a loan officer now so that is a fact!

Mousekeeping may or may not get tipped from us as DVC owners- We don't ever see them or receive additional services- I do like to leave a little if we see them as they clean other open villas and make a point to see are we still taken care of- (This did happen, very nice, she offered more soaps etc and we appreciated the thought even though we didn't need anything)

IT's not uncommon that servers have to share with others including bartenders, hostesses, etc. I don't know how most Disney resorts do it but would suspect they vary since not all are owned by the same company. The tipping standards include this assumptions. If you don't want them to share, leave cash and you can rest assured they won't.

 

[Moeluv4u7]

As a family of 7 it is automatically added to our bill-
Only once in April did I feel the 18% was unjust of the service we received- An unnamed TS restaurant, and virtually NO service- straws never came, our food arrived and the server whisked away before we could ask for anything at all- at the end of our meal, as the drinks were 1/4 full due to the ice that had melted (watered down soda at that point), the server came to "refill" drinks by sitting full cups of various sodas on the table- I guess we were supposed to help ourselves?- Major issue with it and the fact that two of the soda we had were not even left but something else totally different...
Needless to say, he got the 18% and that was it!
Every other place other than one, we tipped generously over the standard for our party-
The one place we didn't that we tried to was Narcoossee's- Only because when I called our server back to express that I intended to add an extra tip before he ran our bill, he wouldn't take my card and was emphatic that it was not necessary - I insisted back and forth with him about 3 times before we graciously thanked him for his time with us and left- I think that was a sign that tips are pooled there. (And our 18% tip came to about $80-)
Other than that he was just a genuinely nice man who may have thought with 5 kids, we probably couldn't afford the tip that was already on the bill-
Either way, we will always remember him and ask for him when we go to Narcoossee's again.
I should make a point to remember to do any additional tips in cash- Then, at least I know, the person who served us well will receive a nice portion to themselves of what we intended for them-
Even as a trainer and my DH a district, I have never been a fan of pooled tips or tipping out other staff- Bartenders, bus boys, hostesses, etc make a nice flat as it is that the servers don't get- Now, I know at Disney the tips are not shabby so servers more than likely do very well, however the hostesses and others are paid differently for a reason- and bartenders get a higher pay AND tips! I used to bartend years ago, I know- Why should a hard working server have to tip out the bartender that made the drinks for the table customers? Those customers left the bar seats free so the bartender was able to make their own tips, and the server actually has to wait until all bar customers are served before a bartender even takes their order- many times resulting in a server having to explain why the cocktail is not being served with the sodas, leaving them to go run to the bar and check to see if the drink is made yet.
Sorry to rant, I have had to write up, counsel, and even fire, many who just didn't seem to get the role they are in- & if any of ours (other staff) ever started on about how the last place they worked, servers had to tip out and make our servers feel guilty because they didn't have to OR (and this happened until I caught it) bribed our servers that they would make their drink first or bus their table first if they were given "appreciation"- Utter disgust! That person was fired immediately!
I will end here, I appreciate your suggestion.

 

[d-r]

I wouldn't stay in a hotel and not leave a tip, I was brought up that way but I know some people were taught differently. I wouldn't get a hair cut and not leave a tip, etc.

DVC is a little different because we don't get service every day, but the rooms are bigger, we usually leave 20 for a one-bedroom fwiw, that seems about right.

I don't see a tip as a sense of entitlement. Whatever.

 

[Dee77]

Everyone clearly has their own idea of what they are comfortable with socially and finanically. Personally, I am in the camp that it is acceptable and kind to tip mousekeeping, bell services, wait staff etc and I write letters about any and all CM's (or workers anywhere really) that go above and beyond to make our stay there more comfortable or extra special. I also give gifts to my DD's daycare teachers, the secretary where I work etc. Isn't that be a variation of tipping? JMHO