Restaurant Tip Envelope

[monic]

Hi, jUST a thought but has anyone made or decoated tip envelope for the sit down meals sort of the same as some of us do for mousekeeping? I was thinking of doing this for the Disney "spriit" but is this korny?

 

[kathie859]

Yeah, it's corny! But so what It's a cute idea

I think that would be a cute, different way to give a cash tip. Just slide the envelope into the bill folder. If I were a server, it would make me smile to get a tip in a decorated envelope.

 

[noahdove]

No, not corny..I have all my mousekeeping and my TS tip envelopes all filled and ready to be left for waiter or waitress..I made them for each restaurant we will be eating at with the design for that particular one I think they are cute, and I don't have to worry about having the cash on me at the end of the meal

 

[maj42169]

Did you just have a base amount for the tip that you are planning on leaving? How do you know how much you are tipping if you don't know what you are ordering? Are you on the dining plan?

I am curious about the tipping with the dining plan, as I have heard that they print a suggested tip on the bottom of the reciept. Is this true??

 

[noahdove]

I don't know about the suggested tip being printed at the bottom of the reciept, I just figured a certain amount and put it in my special envelope. We will be on the dining plan..

 

[kayla87]

I've never heard of doing this. Can someone offer a little more of an explanation, or point me to where I can read more (or ideas)? I'd love to do this. Thanks!

 

[Clotho]

Your restaurant tip amount should be based on what you order, from 15-20% of the total meal cost. You couldn't possibly have a set amount already determined, unless you know exactly what you plan to order at each meal.

Tips are also meant to be a reflection of service--that is, set according to the level of service or how good or bad your overall experience with your dinner was. So even if you knew what you were eating, what if you get horrible service? Or exceptional? You should leave it flexible to take into account your restaurant experience in its entirety.

The envelopes work with housekeeping because that tip is not based on anything but your generosity, and is usually a set amount per day you decide on per day. So they can be pre-stuffed with your intended tip. But the envelope for the restaurant will need to be filled at the table. Seems like a sweet idea, in any case.

 

[dbarker]

We haven't done this yet, but I like this idea.

As for the amount of the tip...yes, I pretty much know what we will order at each restaurant. (yes, we are very predictable) I will look up the prices before we leave and calculate accordingly. Also, DH always has money in his pockets, so the tip can be adjusted.

I think the main point of the tip envelopes for the wait staff is to have the majority of the tip already ready and easily accessible.

 

[Clotho]

dbarker, sounds perfect!

 

[aubriee]

We haven't done this yet, but I like this idea.

As for the amount of the tip...yes, I pretty much know what we will order at each restaurant. (yes, we are very predictable) I will look up the prices before we leave and calculate accordingly. Also, DH always has money in his pockets, so the tip can be adjusted.

I think the main point of the tip envelopes for the wait staff is to have the majority of the tip already ready and easily accessible.

Be sure to carry some extra bills though. In May I was solo on the DxDDP, looked on AllEars, figured what I would probably order, made my restaurant envelopes to carry to the parks each day, but then found that some of things I planned to order were no longer on the menu or else the price had gone up a little. It wasn't a problem because I hadn't sealed the envelopes completely and I was able to add a few bucks when I needed to. For our trip this September we are again on the DxDDP and I have again figured my tips and have them already in envelopes and labeled for each restaurant. I have figured 20% at each restaurant, so should fall within the 18%-20% guidelines. However, I will have another envelope with extra $1.00's and $5.00's just in case.

I also find that frequently someone besides our regular waiter is the one that brings our food or refills our glasses. If they are really good, we like to tip them a little extra, in addition to what they get out of the waiter's tip. This past May I had a horrible waiter at Tutto Italia. He took my order, but then never came back, until he handed me my bill and asked me how I was going to pay his tip. I gave him the minimum, but then when I walked out, I noticed him standing next to the waitress that did all his work. I purposely handed her a $20.00 bill and told her thank you for the great service. The same thing happened a couple of years ago at Spoodles. I had a horrible waiter, so gave him the minimum and gave a big tip to the other waitress that brought me my food and kept my glass filled.

 

[SnwflkCts]

OK - dopey question here. Do you use little envelopes or legal size. (I don't know why I agonize over the little things!). I would just be using them for mousekeeping.
I don't want to carry one more extra thing into the park -- even an envelope! (though I think that the tip envelope is a cute idea too!)

 

[noahdove]

Considering we will be doing 4 buffets then I do know what I need to put in the envelopes as we are predictable in that area as well. there is a great thread on the design board here. There are designs for almost every restaurant, if not, you can request one from that board as well. When I made my envelopes I ran the picture off and glued them on the smaller envelope. I tried to run the envelope, some turned out, majority didn't I only take the one with me that I will need for the day, the rest stay in the safe. I like this special added "magic" to our already magical day

 

[Mo-Yo]

Wow...I'm a big planner, but our tips for dining would be nearly impossible to estimate ahead of time. Especially since we enjoy a cocktail, beer or wine with dinner, and I enjoy perusing the menu for items that fit my whim at the time. I definitely don't want to make that decision in advance.

Also as someone who worked her way through college and beyond as a waitress and who really appreciates what servers do for so little money (my grandmom waitressed until she was 80), I want to make sure to tip appropriately (at least 18 percent) based on service.

I think the idea of cute envelopes will definitely brighten a server's day, but only if it is filled with a fair tip. Otherwise, I'd worry that my kind gesture would be ill-received.

 

[disnut8]

Everyone calm down on someone preplanning their tips for their meals. This isn't a thread for tipping bashing.

When I first saw the OP, I thought to myself - what a fantastic idea! Take the envelopes with you and then put the tip in there. Have cash with you and determine your tip amount and then put the money into the envelope.

Or, you leave the envelope at the very end after your credit card has been approved and you've added the tip. You have to leave a piece of paper anyway, why not put it into a nice envelope?

For making the envelopes, I use any envelope I have but I don't use the high tech stuff. I simply cut out Disney characters from magazines and paste them onto the envelopes.

 

[momandseandodisney]

Your restaurant tip amount should be based on what you order, from 15-20% of the total meal cost. You couldn't possibly have a set amount already determined, unless you know exactly what you plan to order at each meal.

QUOTE]

You could for buffet, family style meals etc.

 

[momandseandodisney]

there is a great thread on the design board here. There are designs for almost every restaurant, if not, you can request one from that board as well.

Where do I find this?

 

[kayla87]

Where do I find this?

http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=105

I think they must mean the "Creative DISign" board. It's all the way at the bottom of the main forum page.

 

[Pumbaa_]

There is a Tipping thread for any tipping discussion. Discussion outside of that thread is not allowed due to so many problems in the past.

Feel free to discuss the envelopes here, but actual tipping discussion needs to be directed to the tipping thread.

Thanks!