I Couldn't Believe My Ears!

[bouncy54]

My husband forgot to wake me up so I could make our reservations at the Crystal Palace for Nov. 14th. I was in kind of a sleepy panic when I called to make our reservation an hour after they opened in Florida, so the following didn't sink in until I got off the phone.

Right at the end of making our reservation, the man said that because our party consisted of more than 6 people, (8) they tack on an 18% gratuity charge.

Is this correct? A $72.00 tip for a buffet meal? Wowzer! I'd love to have made those kind of tips, for that amount of work, when I was a young waitress at that ole' truck stop! And to think, I used to run my butt off all day long for a paltry 10%! We should have moved to Florida & worked at WDW! We'd have been rich! (oh..that's right, there was no WDW back then)

So.. I just called again and split our group up. One ressie is at 8:05, the other is at 8:10. We may not get to sit together, but that's ok. We may get lucky and at least be able to get tables "close" to each other.

 

[hockey mom]

Oh I know my sister and I paid a fortune in tips on our last "free dining" trip.

One waitress chased me into the lobby at WL saying that I did not leave the proper tip. Our tip was $90 and my sister left $45 at her end of the table and I did the same at my end. The server did not even bother to check the whole table before yelling and running after me. We got brutal service that day also.

 

[summerlvr]

I agree! I think an 18% tip at a buffet is ridiculous. I would be interested in hearing how much of a tip others leave at buffets because I usually only leave about 10%. Now, if I am at a sit-down restaurant I always leave 18-20%, depending on the service I receive.

 

[bouncy54]

Oh I know my sister and I paid a fortune in tips on our last "free dining" trip.

One waitress chased me into the lobby at WL saying that I did not leave the proper tip. Our tip was $90 and my sister left $45 at her end of the table and I did the same at my end. The server did not even bother to check the whole table before yelling and running after me. We got brutal service that day also.

Probably because I used to be a waitress, I always tip by the performance of the waiter or waitress. I don't tip a certain percentage just because it's customary.

Are you "forced" to pay a certain amount for tips at WDW? If some waitress had chased after me to get another $45 bucks after she had already received a $45 tip.... well, she wouldn't have known what hit her after I got through with her. A tip is a reward for her work, not an entitlement.

 

[AuroraMeansDawn]

The tipping thread on the Disney Restaurant board might be helpful to those of you interested in this issue.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2300858

 

[MinnieGirl33]

One waitress chased me into the lobby at WL saying that I did not leave the proper tip. Our tip was $90 and my sister left $45 at her end of the table and I did the same at my end. The server did not even bother to check the whole table before yelling and running after me.

Unacceptable on so many levels!

 

[delmar411]

we tip properly at WDW. 18-20% is the proper amount even at a buffet. We don't try to cheat the server out of their tip either.

 

[phyllis1966]

My husband forgot to wake me up so I could make our reservations at the Crystal Palace for Nov. 14th. I was in kind of a sleepy panic when I called to make our reservation an hour after they opened in Florida, so the following didn't sink in until I got off the phone.

Right at the end of making our reservation, the man said that because our party consisted of more than 6 people, (8) they tack on an 18% gratuity charge.

Is this correct? A $72.00 tip for a buffet meal? Wowzer! I'd love to have made those kind of tips, for that amount of work, when I was a young waitress at that ole' truck stop! And to think, I used to run my butt off all day long for a paltry 10%! We should have moved to Florida & worked at WDW! We'd have been rich! (oh..that's right, there was no WDW back then)

So.. I just called again and split our group up. One ressie is at 8:05, the other is at 8:10. We may not get to sit together, but that's ok. We may get lucky and at least be able to get tables "close" to each other.

I think your calculations are wrong, though. Even if all 8 of you are adults and you're having dinner, which is more expensive, an 18% tip is only $47.50...?

 

[maxiesmom]

we tip properly at WDW. 18-20% is the proper amount even at a buffet. We don't try to cheat the server out of their tip either.

Ditto. Splitting your family up to save money, I can't imagine saving a few bucks is worth loosing the time together.

 

[hmdavid]

I think your calculations are wrong, though. Even if all 8 of you are adults and you're having dinner, which is more expensive, an 18% tip is only $47.50...?

That is what I was about to post.

 

[maxiesmom]

I think your calculations are wrong, though. Even if all 8 of you are adults and you're having dinner, which is more expensive, an 18% tip is only $47.50...?

Good catch! Even if you under-tip leave only a 10% tip you will save a whopping $19 by dividing up your family.

 

[bouncy54]

The tipping thread on the Disney Restaurant board might be helpful to those of you interested in this issue.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2300858

And I thought I had researched everything! Wish I had seen that information before I made my reservations. I could have saved myself a little stress.

Thank goodness this is the only dining reservation we're making. My family members are all counter service feeders.

 

[ScarletFire]

The servers still run their butts off at a buffet; refilling drinks, removing plates, busing tables, cleaning kid messes. And if it's a character meal, they might "tip-out" the characters and handlers. I think they're worthy of an 18% tip. They do as much, if not more work as a server who brings your food from the kitchen.

 

[Clare Voince]

When I was a teenager, I worked at a restaurant that was half-way between buffet and full service. I didn't take orders, but I brought customers their food, I bussed their tables, and I brought them any drinks or anything else they needed. I work just as hard as a waitress who took orders, and many people did not feel they needed to tip us, or when they did, they left a quarter. I got paid less than minimum wage, and with tips I barely was above minimum wage. Buffet waitstaff work just as hard as full service waitstaff.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

Semi off topic, but if a waitress ran after me to tell me that I left the wrong amount for a tip, I would tell her she was right and take back what I left. I do believe in tipping properly, but that is totally wrong!

 

[TaraPA]

If some waitress had chased after me to get another $45 bucks after she had already received a $45 tip.... well, she wouldn't have known what hit her after I got through with her. A tip is a reward for her work, not an entitlement.

DITTO! OMG I would have marched HER right back in to the manager & told them what she did & then removed all the tips from the table & left her with nothing. What is wrong with people? If anything she could have asked the guest if they weren't satisifed with something (hence the small tip) so that she could try to make it right for them, or use it as constructive criticism for next time. If she right out asked for more tip that was plain rude.

Just my opinion! And I'm allowed to have it!

 

[phyllis1966]

Semi off topic, but if a waitress ran after me to tell me that I left the wrong amount for a tip, I would tell her she was right and take back what I left. I do believe in tipping properly, but that is totally wrong!

I was thinking the exact same thing - I would have taken back the $45 left on the other end of the table! Unbelievable!

 

[michelle06]

I agree that a $72 tip for a buffet is ridiculous. I find it amazing what our culture decides to tip or not. I mean really... A buffet gets 20% but a person who watches your kids all day get nothing. A hairdresser who is already getting $40 for a haircut gets 20% but the person who picks up your garbage each week gets nothing. Someone who drives your tour bus gets a tip but the person killing themselves at the fast food joint for $6/hour gets nothing.
I am just seriously surprised that certain tasks are required to tip, but to tip others is unheard of. Really weird to me. Can someone explain why the buffet servers should get as much as a waitress who busts her *** to give you a good experience? It's not like the buffet at WDW is cheap and you're not already paying for good service. Sorry, it's just hard for me to understand when I am already paying good money for a service, why I have to pay extra because it's the deemed cultural thing to do. Don't get me wrong, I understand that some circumstances warrant a tip, even a good one. But I do think it's a little overrated sometimes. And MOST times, deserved, but not a job that we tip for.

 

[phyllis1966]

I agree that a $72 tip for a buffet is ridiculous...

You missed where we realized the tip would be only $47.50 - it was a miscalculation on OP's part...

 

[Bunnyfeather]

How much are you planning to under-tip, that the "savings" are worth the hassle of splitting your party?

I don't like having my tip added automatically, but I understand that they do it because some people will do anything to get out of leaving a reasonable tip. I want every person working at Disney to work to make it magical for us, I don't expect that at a truck stop. And I am willing to pay a premium for magical service, and do it with a smile.