I missed the memo as well Kevin...

[pittsburghmarc]

I'm with Kevin on the gratuity standard being raised from 15%. Yes, I've worked in food service as a bartender and server.

Here is what I would love to know. Can any current or past cast members out there give an estimate of a table service server's average daily sales? Also, what is Disney's tip share policy? Meaning, as a server, how much do you tip the hosts, bus boys, bartenders, food runners, etc.

We all know that Disney's table service meals are not cheap. I wouldn't be surprised if during peak seasons, with a good section and fast table turns, servers are making VERY good money.

I don't want to start an argument, believe me I know cast members in food service can work very hard and deserve what they take home. And yes, there is peak season and off season and they probably balance out. But I'm curious if a server's sales can reach $1,000 per shift.

 

[doconeill]

It was actually on the local news some years ago...now, I'm not sure who really decided that it should be 18%...other than restauranteurs who wanted to pay lower base wages yet still be though of as providing "competitive" wages.

If it was economic, then the servers would get more money even at 15% because the price of the meals themselves would have gone up...

 

[k5jm]

My rule of thumb for Standard Tips.

Double the Tax and round up to the next dollar

So if the Tax on the bill was $5.25, then I would double that amount to $10.50, then round to $11.00 for base tip. I start with the base and go up from there. My base works out to be roughly 18% on average.

 

[doconeill]

My rule of thumb for Standard Tips.

Double the Tax and round up to the next dollar

So if the Tax on the bill was $5.25, then I would double that amount to $10.50, then round to $11.00 for base tip. I start with the base and go up from there. My base works out to be roughly 18% on average.

But the tax rate is inconsistent, and is kind of low to just double and round. I'm more likely to just move the decimal point on the total, double it, and subtract a buck or two if I'm aiming at 18%...but in general I'm looking at 20% is the service was acceptable. At WDW with the TIW card, I'll usually toss a dollar or two in addition to the "mandatory" (I know it isn't) tip.

 

[pittsburghmarc]

It was actually on the local news some years ago...now, I'm not sure who really decided that it should be 18%...other than restauranteurs who wanted to pay lower base wages yet still be though of as providing "competitive" wages.

All states set the minimum wage for "tipped employees". It just was raised in Florida on June 1st along with minimum wage for non-tipped employees.

I'm just interested in seeing what they may be taking home nightly.

 

[k5jm]

But the tax rate is inconsistent, and is kind of low to just double and round. I'm more likely to just move the decimal point on the total, double it, and subtract a buck or two if I'm aiming at 18%...but in general I'm looking at 20% is the service was acceptable. At WDW with the TIW card, I'll usually toss a dollar or two in addition to the "mandatory" (I know it isn't) tip.

I find that in Texas, where most of the Tax rates are 8.25%, that the method is very consistent. I have a totally different tipping formula in WDW. That method does not work there since we have TiW and the tip is calculated in all ready. If service is great, we will add on accordingly. If not, we leave the base that is all ready calculated.

But I am not the accountant that brings their spreadsheet with them to calculate tips.

 

[Disney Dad Canada]

18% is nuts. Plus I also question tipping at a buffet as much at a true table service.

I wish things were like New Zealand. Give everyone a proper wage and no tipping is necessary. If you don't do your job, customers still have the right to complain.

 

[mainegal]

There was a time in New Jersey when the sales tax was 5%. Easy tip, triple the sales tax. In Maine, the meal tax is 7%, double and round up a bit. In New Brunswick, Canada, the meal tax was 15%, very easy to figure the tax!

As the price of meals goes up, the server gets more money even if I still tip standard 15%.

I am mixed about buffets. I have to get my own food, so I think the tip should be less. But if the server is really on the job, they are clearing lots of plates and refilling my beverage often.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Standard tips here are quickly heading past 20%.

 

[BriarRosie]

I find myself tipping 20% for good service, and slightly less if they don't do basics like refilling drinks on a timely basis. If I have to ask once, I let it slide. If I have to ask more than once, I reduce tip.

I used to think buffets shouldn't get tips as high, but then someone pointed out to me that if you're making multiple trips to the buffet, the server still has to clear away all the used plates, plus still refill drinks like any server that writes down your order. I often feel that the buffet servers work harder under those conditions and I feel the standard tip is a good compensation.

I also have Tables in Wonderland. I'm actually tipping less than I used to because I always added back the discount as tip. So they'd be getting 20%. Now that the automatic gratuity is 18%, I don't add anything more unless I thought the service was very good.

Tipping discussions are banned on the Restaurants board because threads often become heated. They have a nice sticky thread at the top of the page to answer FAQs about tipping at WDW.

 

[WaltD4Me]

18% is nuts. Plus I also question tipping at a buffet as much at a true table service.

I wish things were like New Zealand. Give everyone a proper wage and no tipping is necessary. If you don't do your job, customers still have the right to complain.

I worked as a server for many years, 3 of those years at at upscale restaurant that had a Sunday Brunch, believe me I worked alot harder on those Sundays than I did at other times. I know you are getting your own food, but servers are constantly clearing plates and bringing drinks, plus people tend to sit longer at buffets so your table turnover is less and you are serving the tables longer.

 

[doconeill]

All states set the minimum wage for "tipped employees". It just was raised in Florida on June 1st along with minimum wage for non-tipped employees.

Right, but when they start talking about raising the minimum, I'm sure the restaurants start talking about how much the servers make in tips, etc.

Like I said, who decided the standard tip should be 18%?

 

[rotlex]

It's nuts what is becoming the standard. My standards?

15% for normal service
20% for great service
0-5-10 for a buffet, depending on what the server actually does.

 

[PeterPan09]

I start at 20% and go either up or down from there. I don't care what the "standard" is, really. Servers make their living on tips, because Lord knows they aren't making any money hourly.

From what I hear, servers at Disney's better table service restaurants make pretty good money. BUT-they have put in a LOT of years of making crap money to get there. You don't just come in off the street and get a server job at Narcoosee's.

 

[mel&me]

I start at 20% and go either up or down from there.

That's exactly what I do.

 

[baby1disney]

As someone who as been a server most of her life...tipping is our pay check!!! It amazes me at some people when they get a bill and leave ten percent no matter how good they tell you you were!! I'll never forget a party that came in and it was ten of them. They ordered drinks..apps..dinner and more drinks!! I was on them from the get go. Their bill came to over $300!! I got 35 in a tip. Now if I would've worked my other tables.. I would've made over 100-150 in tips that night. So..I do believe in if the service was great..tip accordingly. But..even if you had to ask for a refill twice or somethin...please take in to consideration that you are not our only table!! You'd be surprise at the people who think that we should just stand by their table and just wait in case they need anything!!!! Lmao

If you have a bill that came to $50 and the service was excellent..give the server $60 and say you're all set!!! Out mind frame is this: if you can go out and spend over 300-400 for an evening..which some people do and you can't tip 20-25% through out the evening wherever you went..you should've stayed home. If I don't have the money to tip when I go out..I don't go out.

 

[DisneyKevin]

Out mind frame is this: if you can go out and spend over 300-400 for an evening..which some people do and you can't tip 20-25% through out the evening wherever you went..you should've stayed home.

This attitude makes me cringe.

My mind set is that nothing requires me to leave anything. There are no laws requiring a tip. I realize that it's societal convention...but that's all it is.

My comments on the podcast were not in regards to whether or not you should tip, but when the "norm" changed from 15% to 18%....and now you feel that unless I can leave 20 - 25% percent, I should stay home.

Imagine if everyone believed the same thing and decided they couldnt afford 20 - 25% and stayed home.

My only point was when did this change and who decided it was time to give servers a raise?

PS.....I'm a good tipper...until I run into the attitude in the quote above.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

As someone who as been a server most of her life...tipping is our pay check!!! It amazes me at some people when they get a bill and leave ten percent no matter how good they tell you you were!! I'll never forget a party that came in and it was ten of them. They ordered drinks..apps..dinner and more drinks!! I was on them from the get go. Their bill came to over $300!! I got 35 in a tip. Now if I would've worked my other tables.. I would've made over 100-150 in tips that night. So..I do believe in if the service was great..tip accordingly. But..even if you had to ask for a refill twice or somethin...please take in to consideration that you are not our only table!! You'd be surprise at the people who think that we should just stand by their table and just wait in case they need anything!!!! Lmao

If you have a bill that came to $50 and the service was excellent..give the server $60 and say you're all set!!! Out mind frame is this: if you can go out and spend over 300-400 for an evening..which some people do and you can't tip 20-25% through out the evening wherever you went..you should've stayed home. If I don't have the money to tip when I go out..I don't go out.

Personally, this is why I am not a big tipper at times whether it be at a restaurant or the nail salon. I understand that servers, waitresses, technicians, etc. don't get a high salary and rely on tips. However, I have experienced some who have an attitude that demands a tip and makes that fact known. This is not acceptable in my eyes.

If I am able to take my friends or family out and spend several hundred dollars, that is a lot of money. If I leave a decent tip, but it is not the highest percentage (let's say 20-25%) expected, I should not be looked down upon. I scrimped and saved to spend the money for the experience and providing that bonus tip was not my main goal. If I leave 15% that is more than satisfactory.

There have been times when I have not tipped or tipped on the low scale. This was because of this type of attitude. Most recently, a nail technician held out her hand for a tip once she was done. I said thank you and proceeded to allow my pedicure to dry. She made a face and stood there with her hand out. I said thank you, got up, and walked out. If one has a holier than thou attitude when it comes to expecting a tip, I'm sorry, he is not getting it no matter how hard he thinks he worked. Tipping is for exceptional service; it is not a requirement.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I'm a pretty good tipper, but even I don't leave 25% on a regular basis. Mostly l leave 20%, if you drop my food and I never see you again, it's 15%. I don't know when it changed from 15 to 18% or who decided that though.

All servers have had that table with the $300 check leave them 10% or less, but you also get the tables that leave more, it usually balances out. I had a table leave me $100 on $250 once, you gotta take the good with the bad. It's just part of the job. I never held out my hand for a tip, but I don't think I've ever had anyone hold out their hand to me for a tip either.

 

[Mmouse1026]

I'm generally a lurker around here but I needed to add my two cents on this subject as a server for over 20 years in New Jersey and specifically for the past three months as a server on Disney property. Here are a few facts, I make $4.35 an hour and that's before takes. You must claim everything you make at the end of each shift. I generally work 3 to 4 days a week 10 to 12 hour shifts on an average. I tip out 7.5% of my total sales each shift and that gets divided between the hosts, food runners and server assistants. That's on my sales not the money I've actually earned in any given shift and it's in the computer so it's automatically taken out. I average anywhere form $1000 to $1300 in total sales per shift. There are actually tables that cost me money to wait on. Perfect example was on my last shift. I had a party of 5 and their a check was $141.62 they left me $143.62 on the table. That's $2.00 for me and a "thank you you were absolutely wonderful". Gotta say that didn't feel wonderful. My last bi-weekly paycheck was $79.17 after taxes. Could you live on that alone?

I consider myself a very good server and treat every table the same regardless of what I think they may leave. I take pride in what I do and provide the best individual experience for each guest based on their needs. I absolutely believe it is up to the guest to decide what to leave as a gratuity. I choose not to add the automatic 18% gratuity to parties of 6 or more as Disney allows because again I do believe that's up to the individual guest to decided. And I let my guests know that when I deliver their check. That being said I have never in my professional life as a server been left 10% or even worse nothing until I started serving on Disney property. Personally I'm shocked. It's hard not to take it personally when you do the best job you can possibly do and you receive nothing. I suppose I'm in the business and always have been so I see it much differently than others do. Servers make a minimal amount of money per hour and survive for the most part on tips. It's just the facts. I make my money by providing the best possible experience I can for each guest and then praying they leave me something for that. It is what it is. What I've found in the past three months is guests on a average on Disney property leave 10%. That doesn't mean I don't get some wonderfully generous tips but on an average I do not regardless of the level of service I provide.

In my personal experience it doesn't matter if they recommend a 15% or an 18% gratuity guests will leave what they are going to leave as a gratuity regardless of those recommendations. You can argue the point of whether you find the percentage appropriate or not all day it doesn't change what a guest will leave you. It's only a recommendation it's not the law. You don't want to leave a gratuity that's entirely up to you. What percentage you want to leave is again entirely up to the individual guest. Just please keep in mind that many of these servers work harder than anyone I know and do pay their bills with tips not a weekly paycheck. Would we prefer to be paid a decent hourly wage and not rely on the kindness of guests to earn our money? Absolutely! Unfortunately that's not the case.

These are just my opinions and my own personal experiences as a server on Disney property. Take it for what it is...

And just a side note even with the recommendations changing from 15% to 18% I can assure you Kevin that I did not in any way receive a raise