My Tipping Experience

[Tigger1]

I am going to Disney on the Dinning plan also. After considering are guest check totals last year and the service we recieved, I do not feel that 18% to 20% is justifiable for the service.

I have been given better sevice at restuarants here at home which the guest check was $25 verses Disney which the guest check was over $100.

So why should one deserve 4 times the tip than the other, based on % ?

I will somewhat ignore % and base on service, and length of dinner.

If I were to base on tips on %, I might do 18 % based on what I actually am paying on the Disney Dinning plan.
Deluxe plan is $70/ 3 meals or $4.20 tip per meal.

Regular Dining $38 - $12 (for snack and Counter service) = $26 times 18% = $4.68 per person.

Maybe just figure $4.50 per meal.

If the waiter takes care of 3 tables of 2 guest per hour that is $27.00 per hour. Thats more than teachers make in my area and the cost of living about the same.

 

[honeymo78]

Seriously - for americans why is tipping such a big deal. Its part of the dining out experience. If you don't want to tip, make the food yourself. If you can't afford/don't want to pay extra for a tip - don't dine there. This applies for Disney, at home, discount plan or full price. No one is forcing you to tip 20% for crappy service, however some form of gratuity is appropriate for good service, from the small towns of the US to big cities like NY to vacation destinations like WDW.

 

[Tigger1]

I worked as a waitress for over 10 years. I never liked only getting $2 something an hour. I did like making more at the end of the night. Waiters also make more than most employees at the restuarant once you compute tips in. I once took the position as assistant manager. I made more as a waitress.

The $2 or $3 something an hour should not even be an issue. If the server does not make minimum wage on a weekly average, the restuarant has to make up the difference.

The law could change that all employees get at least minimum wage. This would result to menu prices going up. Would you then lower the % you tipped? Likely some would not tip at all then. That would be sad. I think as tips as the commission one makes. The better you are the more you make.

 

[PrincessMama605]

Sorry, but first off, in California (and several other states) everyone must be paid the minimum wage, not matter if they get tips or not, here I think minimum wage is up to $8+ per hour or will be soon, regardless, minimum wage is not enough to make ends meet.

That being said though, how is it my responsibility to make sure that the servers earn a living wage? Tips are something that are given for the service that we are given and are optional, at the customer's discretion. No one should ever feel guilty about not leaving a tip. Those servers that work in tourist areas should negotiate for better wages. The restaurants make enough that they could easily cover tips (in some case a small price increase may be needed, but not many) and give 15-18% to the servers, thus eliminating the need for tipping. My point on this is tips are not mandatory, nor should it be my concern how much the server is making per hour before or after tips, I should be comfortable in tipping on the level of service that I receive.

Now if I get good service, I definitely leave a tip, if I don't get good service, I leave a lower tip amount and note on the receipt why the tip was low, i.e. had to get my own refills, etc.

If I get great service, the server gets a great tip, also places that we frequent do tend to give us better service than some others at the same establishment will, because they know they will get a tip accordingly with us.

As a bartender here in FL I can assure you that we DO NOT receive minimum wage, most servers are making less than $3.50 an hour before tips. Minimum wage is currently $6.79 an hour, not $8.

That being said, about tipping, yes you should always leave something for your server. A 15-20% is standard for good service. I always tip well, because I know what it is like to survive on tips. But, if I feel that the service was poor, I will tip less.

 

[cmwade77]

As a bartender here in FL I can assure you that we DO NOT receive minimum wage, most servers are making less than $3.50 an hour before tips. Minimum wage is currently $6.79 an hour, not $8.

That being said, about tipping, yes you should always leave something for your server. A 15-20% is standard for good service. I always tip well, because I know what it is like to survive on tips. But, if I feel that the service was poor, I will tip less.

In California our state minimum wage is up to about $8 per hour, federal minimum wage is up to $7.25 per hour (or will be as of the first of the year), so yours won't be able to be less than that.

Servers can make less, but certain states have put a top to that.

 

[BelleLovesTheBeast]

Waitstaff in the US get a VERY low wage. I get $2.38/hour (I think NH pays about the lowest hourly rate if not THE lowest hourly rate in the US). Whe I worked overseas (this was 25 years ago), I got the going minimum wage rate for the country, and extra for sales above average. But that was paid by my employer. If I got tipped, it was like an extra little bonus from the customer, but I still made a living wage if I didn't get a tip.

What is the hourly wage for waiters in the UK? I'm guessing it's not 1.21GBP!

Tennessee pays their servers $2.13/hour. Tip share is usually 3-5% of their total sales.

Sorry, but first off, in California (and several other states) everyone must be paid the minimum wage, not matter if they get tips or not, here I think minimum wage is up to $8+ per hour or will be soon, regardless, minimum wage is not enough to make ends meet.

The minimum wage in Tennessee is $5.85 with the exception of servers who get $2.13/hr. California is different than most states when it comes to getting paid. They have a very progressive stand on labor and wages. I worked for a company based out of CA and I have to tell you it was nice to get paid time and half for the same job that I only got salaried at other companies.

 

[Bell30012]

Employees that make tipped wage are still supposed to be paid the full minimum wage. In the event that tips do not reach the minimum wage, the company is required to make up the difference. That is the law. Now in truth? If a waiter/waitress does not declare enough tips to make up that difference, he/she won't be around long. Do you really believe that a waiter/waitress doesn't make at least $5 per hour in tips (the difference between regular minimum wage and tipped minimum wage)?

 

[Pumbaa_]

This is hte DDP board, not the debate board. Feel free to chat about the DDP but debating the tipping system in the US is It is what it is folks. If you don't like it, feel free to dine at CS, no tip required there

Thank you for staying on topic folks!

 

[planitdad]

I really wrestle with this issue too as we try to stay within a budget on our trips. Some questions I have to ask myself are how is it fair that a server in WDW (albeit hardworking) deserves so much more than someone in attractions who endures the heat and rain, for instance.

I ask myself - does disney pay based on what they charge?

Do I tip mousekeeping more if staying at Grand Floridian vs. a value?

I'm not cheap and would not even consider not tipping, but have a hard time rationalizing tipping based on a percentage of theme park prices.

Still undecided after much thought on this.

 

[robinb]

Seriously - for americans why is tipping such a big deal. Its part of the dining out experience. If you don't want to tip, make the food yourself. If you can't afford/don't want to pay extra for a tip - don't dine there. This applies for Disney, at home, discount plan or full price. No one is forcing you to tip 20% for crappy service, however some form of gratuity is appropriate for good service, from the small towns of the US to big cities like NY to vacation destinations like WDW.

AMEN!

I also don't see what the big deal is. I'm sorry if the prices at the WDW restaurants are more expensive than the ones in your home town. Deal with it and tip appropriately. You want a shock? Try tipping on a table of 4 at V&A's with wine pairing . If you're "on a budget" and can't afford to tip while on the DDP, then maybe you should ditch the DDP and pay OOP at more CS places where you don't tip. I liked the DDP much better when tips were included, but some people felt that the service was lacking. You can't make all the people happy all the time.

 

[mom2my3kids]

AMEN!

I also don't see what the big deal is. I'm sorry if the prices at the WDW restaurants are more expensive than the ones in your home town. Deal with it and tip appropriately. You want a shock? Try tipping on a table of 4 at V&A's with wine pairing . If you're "on a budget" and can't afford to tip while on the DDP, then maybe you should ditch the DDP and pay OOP at more CS places where you don't tip. I liked the DDP much better when tips were included, but some people felt that the service was lacking. You can't make all the people happy all the time.

Thank You!! In reality a big percent of people tip 15-20 percent of the bill. There are a big percent that tip way less, and some who tip nothing. There are a few excellent tippers, just like the other day I had a man and his young son sit in my section. They were very nice, I kept them checked on and made sure he needed nothing. He paid with a 100.00 bill and handed me a 20.00 bill as my tip. I was floored his bill was only 17.00 for breakfast item, while this happens once in a blue moon it felt so good for my grocery's this week..

 

[boldlyreal]

For the United States, the standard tip for good service is between 15% and 20% of the pre-tax food and beverage bill. Anything in that range is acceptable.

wow I have been over tipping forever... I thought it was on the final bill. I always add 15-20% and then round up, makes the math so much easier...yanno us English majors

T~

 

[Brygida]

When did a 15% tip become insulting? I asked this on another thread and no one answered so I will ask again on this one where people seem to be more open. Specifically for a buffet, let's say our tab comes to $278 (pretty typical for 8+1 child at Disney), is it that horrible to leave $42 instead of $50 or more? Most in our party leave 18-20%, but it seems to me that now everyone is jumping on the bandwagon that if you don't then you shouldn't be going out to eat. I'm not talking about stellar service, I'm talking about a server that comes and takes plates occasionally and refills drinks at his/her leisure. What do you all think?

10% tip is "supposed" to be standard at buffets.

I remember last year. I ate at Boma (considered table-service) and at Wolfgang Puck Express (considered counter-service).

At Boma, the waiter:

• Brought my drink and a refill.
• Took empty plates off our table.
• Brought my bill, took my credit card, and left the receipt.

At Wolfgang Puck, a server:

• Asked if I wanted my ice tea refilled and refilled it.
• Took empty plates off our table.
• Brought over our meal when it was ready.

At Boma, we got our own food. At Wolfgang Puck, the cashier took our order and my credit card. The waiter at Boma, never said a word to us. At least the Wolfgang Puck server smiled and spoke to us. If you did not know any "tipping" rules, who would you have tipped?

 

[eyor44]

Our Disney Table Service experience has generally had average service. The waiter/waitress didn't go out of their way but generally didn't fail to serve us either. Thus they received an average tip.

With a couple of exceptions. When my daughter got a peanut butter & jelly Uncrustable at Liberty Tree Tavern they didn't have any grape. They weren't busy and the waiter told me to give him a minute and he'd see what he could come up with. A moment later I see him darting down the sidewalk outside of the window. My daughter got her grape Uncrustable and the waiter got a $20 tip even though we were on the DDP (and tips were included then).

When my daughter was three we were dining at Ohana's we were watching the fireworks display from our table. A very large man distracted by the fireworks dumped a stinky, foreign beer right down my daughters back. She was crying, her hair was wet, her dress was wet and being a newly single daddy, I wasn't handling it too well.

The magic could have been taken right out of that night but a waitress spoke with the manager. They got us a room key so that my daughter could have a bath, gave her a really big t-shirt and someone laundered her dress while she watched tv. The waitress that had helped us was not our waitress. Since we had not been charged for the meal or the room. And the waitress had went far above and beyond expectations she got $50 or $60 I can't remember which. But she saved the magic of that night. That waitress even braided my daughter's hair (something I have not quite ever mastered).

I still think that Disney should not serve beer at its resorts or parks but that goes to another topic.

This must have been one awesome waitress to care like this. Wonder if she is still there?

 

[robinb]

10% tip is "supposed" to be standard at buffets.

I remember last year. I ate at Boma (considered table-service) and at Wolfgang Puck Express (considered counter-service).

At Boma, the waiter:

• Brought my drink and a refill.
• Took empty plates off our table.
• Brought my bill, took my credit card, and left the receipt.

At Wolfgang Puck, a server:

• Asked if I wanted my ice tea refilled and refilled it.
• Took empty plates off our table.
• Brought over our meal when it was ready.

At Boma, we got our own food. At Wolfgang Puck, the cashier took our order and my credit card. The waiter at Boma, never said a word to us. At least the Wolfgang Puck server smiled and spoke to us. If you did not know any "tipping" rules, who would you have tipped?

I don't know why you seem to discount what a server does at a buffet. The only thing extra a regular TS server does is take your order and deliver it (maybe ... sometimes other people like bus boys do the delivery and clean-up). A buffet server has to keep a close eye on your table and clear plates which can be a challenge if you have people eating at different times. I remember when my DD was younger one of us would stay at the table with her and the other would go to the buffet. By the time the second adult was returning with their first plate, the first one was ready for a second pass and had an empty plate to be cleared. Also, if you're anything like me you use many more plates at a buffet than at a regular TS restaurant so that buffet server clears more plates than a regular TS server.

I think it's an equal amount of wok (or even more so) to keep up with a buffet table clearing dishes and refilling drinks.

As for your Wolfgang Express story ... I seem to remember tipping a few $$ there when we left because we too had good service.

 

[Kanga1]

Back to DDP tipping...

Explain to me how it works. Say I want to tip the normal 20% (which I gather is already calculated for me on the ticket?) At the end of the meal, do I just indicate I'm tipping 20%, give them my KTTW card and sign the receipt? Is that how it works? I thought I read (when the 2008 changes started) that there were 2 or 3 slips of paper to sign and several trips made back and forth from the server to get these receipts. That would seem to take up a lot of time. How is it now?

 

[Narnia]

I want to know if when you tip the waiters are expecting it like a wage or act like it's a gift? I know when I tip about 15-20% the waiters are thankfull( in canada we eat at places like pizza hut and chinese). do the waiters feel thier owed it? If it tip say 18% right on will they talk about me behind my back on how I'm cheap? lets just say I don't like to make enamies

 

[catne]

Back to DDP tipping...

Explain to me how it works. Say I want to tip the normal 20% (which I gather is already calculated for me on the ticket?) At the end of the meal, do I just indicate I'm tipping 20%, give them my KTTW card and sign the receipt? Is that how it works? I thought I read (when the 2008 changes started) that there were 2 or 3 slips of paper to sign and several trips made back and forth from the server to get these receipts. That would seem to take up a lot of time. How is it now?

the check they bring shows full cost of meal, and has a Tip line where you can fill in the amount of the tip you want to leave (or write "cash" if you plan to leave cash on the table.) If you're not using cash to pay tip, you either tell them to put the tip on your hotel room, or give them a credit card to cover the tip (and anything extra you ordered, like alcohol.)

Then they take the receipt with your room card and/or credit card, run them through cash register and bring back receipts...you will end up with a couple of them, one of which will show how many DDP credits you have left. Check it before you leave to make sure it's correct (you can get them fixed later if you discover errors, but it's much quicker to get it corrected immediately in the restaurant where the error happens.)

We did not find it any more time-consuming than using a credit card to pay for a meal in a regular restaurant.

And to PP, we found the wait staff always thanked us very nicely for tips...we tend to tip in the 20% range.

 

[bytheblood]

When did a 15% tip become insulting? I asked this on another thread and no one answered so I will ask again on this one where people seem to be more open. Specifically for a buffet, let's say our tab comes to $278 (pretty typical for 8+1 child at Disney), is it that horrible to leave $42 instead of $50 or more? Most in our party leave 18-20%, but it seems to me that now everyone is jumping on the bandwagon that if you don't then you shouldn't be going out to eat. I'm not talking about stellar service, I'm talking about a server that comes and takes plates occasionally and refills drinks at his/her leisure. What do you all think?

I strongly believe in tipping well for good service. Having said that, if you get a drink, an occassional refill and a plate or two removed, that does not warrant 20% - aka $50.

Tipping is at ones discretion and should not be assumed. You should tip what you feel was earned, not what others are telling you to tip.

 

[SmileRockon52]

I tip based on service, plain and simple. I don't care what the base wage is and I don't care what the going percent is. If the service I receive is excellent then the tip will reflect that, if the service is poor I am not leaving 18-20%. When you accept a job you should understand the pay scale and by this I mean they understand they will make a base rate of $3 per hour plus tips, which are based on service, of course there are some that will tip based on industry standard regardless of level of service.

My advice figure up 18% and budget for that. We have a family of 6 who traveled to Disney in April, so we have an automatic grat added to the bill, of 12 TS we only asked for the manager to adjust the tip at one dinner and that was Boma. We had to ask other servers for refills and ketchup. We saw her when we ordered our drinks and when we rec'd our check with a tip of like $28, no way. Now our server at Ohana and Narcossee's rec'd more than 18%, why, because they were excellent!

Tip what you feel is fair and stay within your budget and enjoy your first trip to Disney.

Zipping up flame suit now.

I agree.

We are leaving in July using the new DDP as compared to last year. I figured out what our DPR table meals would be and planning to bring my tip money in cash based on 20%. Add more if you are going to order drinks, etc. To avoid any rude post-meal server behavior when adding the tip (I've read some surprising experiences), I'm writing 'cash' on the receipt. Then after signing my DDP key card receipt (after checking my DDP credits), I can leave whatever tip I feel is appropriate. I tip 20% for good service. And it has to be good. More if the server is exceptional, and most people know that when they get it. I'll leave far less if my service was not good. Buffets?... certainly not 20%. Maybe 10% It will be only 2 adults and a child for our vacation. And we are not big eaters, so cleaning up dirty dishes will not be a multiple task. But if they take the time to explain the food, answer questions, make us feel welcomed, etc, then, hey, they've earned a bigger tip.

Bottom line: The tip should NOT be assumed to be 20%. The server must earn it. It's for the service you receive, not to make up the difference in bad wages. If you get a good server, by all means tell them and then thank them via your tip.

Enjoy your trip!