If you used the free Dining Plan before...Tip Poll

[miss missy]

FAQ's

Is the tip really included? What percent do they give the server? Can I tip more?

Yes, the tip and tax are included. As of 2006 the servers receive 18% tip on the total of the bill, so they are willing to show you how to best use the plan because it increases their tip. And yes, you can tip your server additional $$$ and may be a great thing to do for wonderful service.

I am curious, how much $ should I set aside for tips so here is a poll?

 

[miss missy]

OK so it's looking like I should budget in some tips for these TS meals...

What is the gping tip rate for a place like WDW anyway?

 

[texasthree]

I said yes but its yes and no.
I only left an extra tip IF the service was excellent. At coral reef we had wonderful service, everything was perfect, and our waiter was very nice. I gave him $10 extra. Thats it, $10 for a $264 bill. (4 adults, 1 child)
At the sci-fi dine inn we had bad service. Our waiter was never around. We waited for drinks. Our appetizers came out and within a minute or two our food came out. Etc, etc, etc. We left no additional tip.
At Chef Mickeys we had excellent service I left $5 extra. (2 adults, 1 child) Our waiter was excellent and even helped my son get donald to sign his book when we missed him during a dessert line visit.

I think you can leave what you feel it appropriate. I am sure some may say I should of left more and some dont leave extra.

 

[kath1210]

When we used the DDP last year, the included tip was only 15%. We usually tip 20%, so I added some to make up the difference. We will probably do the same this year, unless we get poor service.

 

[miss missy]

Now the poll is almost at 50/50

 

[miss missy]

bump for more

 

[WAHMto5]

Only if the sevice was extra special. They are still receiving a tip on your meal, so if they do little extras (even specially nice, ect.) we do!

 

[Threeriversdisneyfan]

I voted no because 18% is very generous tip for any server. Also nearly every server reacted with some negitive way when we said we were on the DDP. Not my problem but, don't treat me like a second class customer. This year I might even ask for a server not to get the tip (yes you can do this on the DDP, just contact the the CMs supervisor) this might stop this attitude towards people on DDP.

 

[kath1210]

I voted no because 18% is very generous tip for any server. Also nearly every server reacted with some negitive way when we said we were on the DDP. Not my problem but, don't treat me like a second class customer. This year I might even ask for a server not to get the tip (yes you can do this on the DDP, just contact the the CMs supervisor) this might stop this attitude towards people on DDP.

We never got a negative reaction from any servers last year when we used the free DDP, but I have seen many people report this.

I just cannot understand why a server would react negatively. Even if someone usually tips 20%, how many people actually come in and order an appetizer, entree, drinks and dessert for each and every member of their party? Without the DDP, we never would do that.

So, the servers are getting a *much* bigger tip than they would if the party was not on the DDP. I just don't get the negative attitude.

 

[Threeriversdisneyfan]

We never got a negative reaction from any servers last year when we used the free DDP, but I have seen many people report this.

I just cannot understand why a server would react negatively. Even if someone usually tips 20%, how many people actually come in and order an appetizer, entree, drinks and dessert for each and every member of their party? Without the DDP, we never would do that.

So, the servers are getting a *much* bigger tip than they would if the party was not on the DDP. I just don't get the negative attitude.

From what I was told the tip from a DDP plan is added on the servers bi-weekly pay check. They don't get it at the end of the shift like credit card tips. So hence the negative feeling towrds the DDP.

 

[Lulu's Mom]

We did leave more to make the tip 20% when the service was very good, like at Le Cellier. We always looked at the tip amount before leaving to ensure that it was enough. If we felt that it was not then we would leave more. All of our servers were very nice to us and I did not feel as if we got treated any differently because of the plan.

 

[BeckWhy]

I have no used the DDP yet, but I can tell you when I go in a month, we will tip extra if we have good service. We agreed on $5.

 

[ReneeA]

When we used the DDP last year, the included tip was only 15%. We usually tip 20%, so I added some to make up the difference. We will probably do the same this year, unless we get poor service.

Exactly what we did. I only tip 15% for subpar service...why would I allow a good server to only get 15%?

This year, they have increased the tip to 18%, but we still plan on adding a few dollars to bring it up to 20% if we have good service.

 

[nurseypoo5]

I probably will not tip extra. Flame me if you wish, but if eating at home at a red lobster, the price for a huge meal for 4 would be around 100.00. Service being good i would tip 20-22% meaning around 20.00. If i eat at Coral Reef, and i doubt the meal would be much better really, for a family of 4, my meal could easily cost nearly 200.00. At 18% thats roughly a 38.00 tip, for what would be no more work then the guy at red lobster. Disney basically rapes you at the restaurants. I could never afford to eat there if not for dining plan. I think waiting on 4 customers for a bit over an hour at those prices is plenty at 18%.

Dont make excuses for those having to share tips with bus boys, bartenders etc, most all restaurants require tip sharing also.

Also, dont flame and tell me i've never been a waitress. I have, and plenty of waitressing i did too. Most people in this world do not even tip the 15% that you would think is minimum. Not in the real world unfortunatly.

Having said that, I will tip my 20% to bartenders or any place i pay OOP, including my meals i plan to pay OOP for my 10 yr old son. But if dining plan in involved..no.

 

[maddiemouse]

I probably will not tip extra. Flame me if you wish, but if eating at home at a red lobster, the price for a huge meal for 4 would be around 100.00. Service being good i would tip 20-22% meaning around 20.00. If i eat at Coral Reef, and i doubt the meal would be much better really, for a family of 4, my meal could easily cost nearly 200.00. At 18% thats roughly a 38.00 tip, for what would be no more work then the guy at red lobster.

Disney basically rapes you at the restaurants.

I could never afford to eat there if not for dining plan. I think waiting on 4 customers for a bit over an hour at those prices is plenty at 18%.

Dont make excuses for those having to share tips with bus boys, bartenders etc, most all restaurants require tip sharing also.

Also, dont flame and tell me i've never been a waitress. I have, and plenty of waitressing i did too. Most people in this world do not even tip the 15% that you would think is minimum. Not in the real world unfortunatly.

Having said that, I will tip my 20% to bartenders or any place i pay OOP, including my meals i plan to pay OOP for my 10 yr old son. But if dining plan in involved..no.

Aren't you on the free dining plan? I am, I dont see how that is exactly "rape"
I plan to tip extra for good service.

 

[miss missy]

Great oppinions here... thx!

 

[nurseypoo5]

Aren't you on the free dining plan? I am, I dont see how that is exactly "rape"
I plan to tip extra for good service.

No, not on free dining they do not, however, those who do pay for dining out of pocket well, yes it is a huge mark up from other meals in the "real" world.

Yes, i'm getting a "deal of the year" but if i was paying for it, then i'm not sure how i would feel (or even if i would ever be able to spend that much on a meal) paying 200.00 for fish and dessert and ice tea. It doesnt really matter whether i'm paying for dining or going during hurricane season and an off peak time to get the plan for free, they still get paid! Just because i'm getting it for free doesnt mean i'm some sort of second class citizen, I'm still paying 3,500.00 or so for my week at disney.

What i was trying to get at, is this....if your tipping 18% on a very very expensive, fairly good meal, the server is making out very well indeed. Its everyone's choice to pay extra if they feel the need, but a 35-40 dollar tip for 4 for dinner is pretty darn good money. Lets put it this way, I, as a pedi nurse working graveyard shift, make less per hour than that. Yet the server who is making that 35-40 dollars in my hour at dinner (even 2 hours) has more than 1 table also. Thats A LOT of money.

Like i said, i usually order a drink with dinner, so that will be tipped at 20%, and anything I pay OOP will be also tipped at 20% if the service is good. But taking cash around to make it a 20% tip, its my choice, and i chose no.

If you question most waitresses you will find that they would be thrilled to no end if all thier tables gave an 18% tip, its just unfortunate that most people do NOT tip even 15%!

 

[nurseypoo5]

We never got a negative reaction from any servers last year when we used the free DDP, but I have seen many people report this.

I just cannot understand why a server would react negatively. Even if someone usually tips 20%, how many people actually come in and order an appetizer, entree, drinks and dessert for each and every member of their party? Without the DDP, we never would do that.

So, the servers are getting a *much* bigger tip than they would if the party was not on the DDP. I just don't get the negative attitude.

You said this better than I did, but basically what i meant (without the poor choice of the word "rape" i used ) I agree, who would be able to pay 200.00+ for dinner for a family of 4 each night? I never could do that...ever. I would be eating at CS meals each night and not giving anyone a tip at all.

I'm sure the servers are very pleased with the dining plan. Heck if we had something like that here, i would quit nursing and go back to waitressing! (esp if it meant be a disney employee!!) I'm not sure where the negative attitudes come from either. Seems to me the poll is showing that most agree that 18% tip off of a huge appetizer/dinner/dessert meal is plenty also.

 

[jeast]

As a current bartender/server (will go back to teaching in a couple of yrs when the kids are both in school), I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank those of you who tip well. You'd be surprised how many people leave small tips, but it is such a pleasure when people leave nice tips. Always gives me a smile

When I'm rich, I want to leave everyone a $100 bill for a tip. How much fun would that be? Talk about spreading joy!

Thanks!

 

[DisneyFreq]

We only leave an extra tip when we feel the server has gone over and beyond...otherwise the 15-18% that the DDP pays out is sufficient. We had a wonderful waiter at Le Cellier and we added another 5 to the table and we had an absolutely awesome waitress at Ohana's that recieved and extra ten (we purchased alcoholic beverages that night + there was a mistake on the bill that she cleared up VERY fast)....as well as a very friendly, informative gentleman at Boma's that recieved another $5. We DIDN'T add to the tip at Chef Mickeys (very disappointing experience) or Teppenyaki (we were ushered thru and plates were just sort of slapped down in front of us...couldnt' find anyone for refills and the chef wasn't very outgoing).

I feel like this: if disney staff gives off the attitude "I'm making money whether I work hard for it or not" then the built in tip is all they really deserve, but when they come out acting like that tip is still something they "should" work for even tho its an automatic, then they'll be receiving extra from me.

I would build in about $5 per TS...if you use my guidelines, chances are you'll hit AT LEAST one TS that you won't leave extra for...leaving a bonus $5 (total $10) for that extra special cast member that knocks your socks off ( pixie dust that you find one!). I wouldn't go so far as to base it on the bill b/c TS have such a wide variety of price ranges (and really, does one waiter work harder to bring me a $30 steak than another waiter delivering a $20 family style meal??)...keep in mind the number of people...we had two adults and 2c. Our next trip we'll have 4a and 2c so I'll probably bring $10 per TS and leave $10 at good tables and $15 at great tables.