Gratuities and Tipping !

[Brian Noble]

In my opinion, one who cannot afford the customary tip for good service cannot afford to eat in that particular restaurant. While tips are voluntary, and are expected to scale with the quality of service, the social contract demands that one reward good service as is customary. I am in 100% agreement with bicker on this point---shocking, but true.

If you are going to a restaurant knowing you can't/won't tip, I would expect you would inform your sever of this, so that they can spend their efforts on guests who will appreciate them, and take care of you only as their time permits.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I would just like to point this particular post out as one that is written with respect, without being pretentious, and promotes conversation. It is one of the very few that can be said about.

Please attempt to keep this topic on subject... which means...
there is no dictation needed, I never asked for anyone to tell me or anyone else what to do.

Here is the topic



There is a very big difference between giving an oppion and passing out judgements or telling people what they should do... even if it is with so called "respect"

Thank you

Tiggerdad3:
Unfortunately, responses to questions aren't always in the exact manner in which you'd like them to be.
You preambled the actual "topic" with remarks about your own philosophy and that of your non-tipping family. You shouldn't be at all suprised that folks respond to that.

Threads go off topic a lot, and I'm not at all suprised by the responses people are giving.

If you are going to a restaurant knowing you can't/won't tip, I would expect you would inform your sever of this, so that they can spend their efforts on guests who will appreciate them, and take care of you only as their time permits.

I agree.

 

[Disney8704]

Sorry bit off topic...
MakiraMarlena - I love your picture in your signature. What was going on in that pic?

Personally I don't see the logic in taking out frustration regarding the price of Disney meals on the server by reducing the customary tip or eliminating it altogether (for good service), especially if I were paying a fixed price on the dining plan and then using the dining plan to order food with a much heftier price tag than the daily amount paid for the plan.

If I were interested in taking it out on anyone, it'd be on the company charging those prices. But that'd mean I wouldn't be able to get the dining plan, because I'd be eating somewhere other than Disney World.

Nobody HAS to tip 20%. You might have to tip 18% if you have a party of 6 or more. But other than that, the amount is your own business. No way am I going to discuss the amounts I tip. But not tipping at all would never cross my mind, except for terrible service.

 

[disneygal2007]

We tip based on the service as a former server I know that the tips pay the bills so I tip more then normal for a great server and I also tip low if the service is low even when the DDP included a tip we also tipped more if the service was wonderful so it is all up 2 u. Welcome to the DIS

 

[Dorisk3]

My question is simply this Is there anyone out there who does not believe in tipping?

I am not asking because I don't tip, but I was raised in a family who did not tip at all....ever.

I will say this.. I tip less when I am at Disney because I feel that I have already paid for the experience and when they put a premium price on the food in the parks, then I am not tipping based on percentages.

For example if my family of 4 eats somewhere like Chefs De France, and our bill is 160.00 on the deluxe dining plan... that is at $32.00 at 20%... NO WAY, I just can't afford that... now if I stay 14 nights on the DxDP and the total amount of food consumed by our family of 4 totals up to $5,000.. which it will at least be... at 18% that is $900.00, that is just insane.


I'm afraid you might not find too much sympathy here on the boards for your opinion- or even for what you call fair discussion. What you are saying basically boils down to: you have the money to pay for the delux dining plan- but not enough to tip what is considered a standard amount in the U.S. If you can afford delux- then you can afford to tip- you just don't WANT to tip. Look, if you don't want to tip, whatever, fine, but please don't act all self righteous when some posters on the board disagree with you. If you are looking for validation of your poor tipping practices you might have to search elsewhere.

 

[TDC Nala]

Please watch your posts, folks. If we can't discuss without sniping at each other, the thread can be on its way to the great tipping thread in the sky.

 

[JimMIA]

With respect, I've never read or heard an explanation for a lack of "belief" in tipping that wasn't a wholly self-serving rationalization for anti-social behavior.

Or a troll with a new user ID just trying to stir the pot.

Perhaps it's time to limit conversations about tipping to one thread, like we do with occupancy issues (and other hot topics) on the DVC boards. When hot topics are managed that way, they are easy for new members to find, and it reduces the silliness without restricting anyone's ability to express their opinion.

Such a thread really probably should go on the restaurants board, because tipping doesn't have anything to do with DDP and these discussions are really off-topic for this particular forum.

 

[TiggerDad3]

Such a thread really probably should go on the restaurants board, because tipping doesn't have anything to do with DDP and these discussions are really off-topic for this particular forum.

Tipping has everything to do with the DDP, it is the biggest change in the program this year!
And as far as interest, there is plenty of interest, which is clearly evident and needs no support from me.

 

[mefordis]

This is the hidden caveat to the dxddp. Once the sticker shock wears off, and you accept the cost of upgrading to the dxddp over the regular ddp, you think you are getting more for your money. Appetizers! yay! Three ts meals a day. Yay! When in reality all of that extra food, if eaten at a ts, has to be tipped on at least 15% (well, doesn't HAVE to be, but everyone here knows that it should be. I personally would feel very guilty and slink out of a restaurant with my head down if I left less than 15%).

So, this is what is making me think twice and three times about upgrading to the dxddp. Because you ARE paying extra for those apps and extra ts meals through tips. Especially if you are letting the food go to waste because you just don't really eat that much.

Example:
If I go to Chefs de France on just the DDP, 4 of us will split 2 appetizers oop, which would be about $20.00 = $3 for 15% gratuity. If on the Dxddp, we would order 4 apps (included). $40.00 per appetizer = $6 gratuity.

Times this by 6 ts meals:

$18 to pay for gratuity on apps
vs
$36 to pay for gratuity on apps

But it adds up in other ways because you want to do more ts to "get your money's worth", meaning more gratuity.

 

[bicker]

Or a troll with a new user ID just trying to stir the pot.

That's a good point. I didn't even consider that.

Perhaps it's time to limit conversations about tipping to one thread, like we do with occupancy issues (and other hot topics) on the DVC boards.

That's a great idea.

Such a thread really probably should go on the restaurants board

I agree. Good thinking Jim.

 

[TDC Nala]

After reading through the original post, it looked like the OP wanted a discussion of tipping in general and mentioned the dining plan only in passing, so I am going to move it to the restaurant board.

If we had a dedicated tipping thread, we'd probably have to close it every 2 days or so. Further sniping will still get this one closed.

 

[2infinityandbeyond]

If you can't afford a 15%-20% tip, then yo can;t afford the meal, DDP or not.

Stick to conter service then.

 

[Kaler131]

We always tip because servers usually make MUCH LESS than min. wage (or at least I did when I was server). If the service is great we tend to tip more. If the service is not so great, or tip also refelcts that. My idea of good service is if the server is friendly and attentive to our needs (as much as possible taking into consideration how busy they are, etc.)
We also make sure we tip Mousekeeping because anyone who takes on the major task of cleaning up after my family deserves a tip!!!! LOL!

 

[mefordis]

I would just like to point this particular post out as one that is written with respect, without being pretentious, and promotes conversation. It is one of the very few that can be said about.

Please attempt to keep this topic on subject... which means...
there is no dictation needed, I never asked for anyone to tell me or anyone else what to do.

Here is the topic



There is a very big difference between giving an oppion and passing out judgements or telling people what they should do... even if it is with so called "respect"

Thank you

To answer your question: my opinion is: I think 20% as a suggested tip, which it seems they are doing on the guest checks, is pretty high. Whenever I've tipped 20% in the past I've always thought I was being very generous, now it seems like it's expected.

I think 15% is more reasonable, and due to the high cost of food that is what I will tip unless a server totally makes my day somehow. Then it's 20%.

 

[KathyTX]

The simple fact is that a 15-20% gratuity is expected and customary for service in a restaurant in the U.S. This gratuity should be factored in by those planning to eat in a full-service restaurant as part of the cost of the meal.

Anyone who objects to paying the gratuity to the server has other options, including counter service or lower price point eateries where the gratuity will be less of a hardship.

But to eat in a restaurant (whether in a theme park or elsewhere) with no intention of offering the customary gratuity for service is wrong, rude and (IMHO) dishonest.

If one cannot afford the gratuity, one cannot afford that meal. The Deluxe Dining Plan is a pretty extravagant plan, and the extravagant gratuity is part of the deal you're agreeing to when you use this plan. The regular Dining Plan or dining out of pocket might fit the style of one who is opposed to tipping better than the Deluxe Dining Plan will.

Just do the right thing.

 

[Dumbo76]

People get very touchy when it comes to money. I think that's why these threads about tipping get so heated. But I was a server for quite a few years and we got paid $2.65 an hour. That is servers min wage in MI. I don't know what it is in Orlando, but I bet its not that much more. Could you feed your family for $2.65 an hour minus taxes after that. That's like $90 after 40 hours of work and no one in the restaurant business gets that many hours. Servers rely SOLEY on their tips, they have families and bills to pay also. Even if I get horrible service I still tip just because I know bad days happen, guests yell at you for something that wasn't your fault, you get double or triple sat all at once, or the kitchen is just running slow. I've been there and boy can I empathize. It's fine when people get bad service that don't want to tip that much, but they should still throw a couple of bucks down. Just for that whole karma thing. You never know when you may meet up with that person again. But ok, good, great, and excellent service should be rewarded because the better you tip this time, the better service you will get next time. If everyone stopped stiffing their servers, the experience would be a lot more pleasant for everyone involved. Also sometimes, I think people expect a lot from their servers. They go way overboard and if you can't accommodate their outlandish requests, there goes your tip! I was once asked if I could go to the store to get a Pepsi by the guest because she didn't like Coke and yes she was serious! Who cares about my other tables, you want a Pepsi! Get real. So all you Disers out there be kind to your servers, for the most part they work really hard and put up with a lot of crap. If you do not believe in tipping then maybe when you are at work your boss could garnish your wages when he feels like it. Oh you coughed at the company picnic, there goes $20 out of your check. J/k, but seriously I do tip in the 20-25% range on most dining bills, just because how else do you figure out the tip otherwise. Just pull a number out of the sky? Even if you are only tipping 15%, thats still pretty good. So just tip or choose CS meals. Tipping is a part of the cost of going out to eat, bottom line.

 

[pigletto]

This is a subject as a former server that is obviously close to my heart. I have worked in several restaurants. The last one was a very bust tourist destination. This particular restaurant is a North American chain known for it's low prices.
EXCEPT in the one I worked at. There prices were grossly inflated. It did not stop people from eating there.. but it did stop them from tipping. 10 percent was the norm and at least twice a night tables left me nothing. As another poster mentioned I was making less than minimum wage as a server. I was also tipping out 15 % of my total sales to support staff, owners, and management. I can think of 3 separate occasions where I paid out of pocket for my tip out because I didn't make enough to cover it. This happened frequently to other servers as well.
People would leave me glowing comment cards.. and then indicate on the same card that they were furious at the prices and that is why they didn't leave a tip.
Now that Disney has done away with including the tip on the dining I can only assume that their servers are getting the same treatment.
The problem is that says nothing to the corporation that sets those prices. Nothing. What does get their attention is not eating in their restaurant.
Not tipping in a case where your service was not the problem just hurts the server.
If you aren't happy with the prices.. don't use the restaurant and let them know why. Taking it out on the server is unfair.

 

[mefordis]

I don't understand why gratuities aren't mandatory. Especially considering the server is taxed on a certain percentage of all of their food checks. I think 10%, but I'm not sure the exact amount. So if they get no tip from you, they still have get taxed on your food bill.

 

[pigletto]

I agree Mefordis. Except I don't think tipping should be mandatory. I think servers should just make a fair wage that doesn't require a tip.
I don't go to my grocery store and refuse to pay the cashier because the bananas are expensive. And if my cashier is horrible and rude then I can make a complaint that will hopefully have someone deal with the problem.

 

[fey_spirit]

Sometimes maturity means taking an unpopular stand and not doing something just because it's in accordance with the way things are.

I do so many things that go against the grain of what society "demands" from who I love to who I worship. Why would I choose to allow society to tell me how I should spend my money?

That said - I tip, just not like "normal" people.

Oh and btw - I have yet to see an argument for higher tipping standards that didn't come off as either emotional black mail or extortion so - always remember there are two ways to perceive every side, even your's.

With respect, I've never read or heard an explanation for a lack of "belief" in tipping that wasn't a wholly self-serving rationalization for anti-social behavior. Many people wish things were differently (about a lot of things, not just this), but maturity means still living and acting in accordance with how things are.