Sharing and Tipping

[JimMIA]

I really could not care less whether someone shares or they don't. Some consider it "maximizing their dining experiences," others consider it "cheap and tacky." That's not a debate I care to participate in, because it's very easy to tell the difference. All you have to do is look at the tip.

Whatever your opinion may be about sharing, I think we can all agree that sharing definitely shortchanges the waitstaff unless the diner does something to correct for the natural consequence of sharing. If two adults share one meal, the server is getting exactly half the tip they should get for serving two people. If three share two TSs, the server is getting shortchanged 1/3.

I've seen some posts saying they left "an extra tip because the server was so nice about sharing." That's not an "extra tip" -- that's just what you owe.

Computing how much "extra tip" you should leave in cash is very simple. Just look at the first receipt you receive. It will show the tip calculation for the TSs you are using. Divide by the number of TSs, and that's the tip you owe per person.

Just leave the tip for the sharers in cash, and you have maximized your dining experience. Fail to do that and you have been cheap and tacky.

 

[melomouse]

Good to hear from you, Jim. ITA!!

 

[punkin]

I really could not care less whether someone shares or they don't. Some consider it "maximizing their dining experiences," others consider it "cheap and tacky." That's not a debate I care to participate in, because it's very easy to tell the difference. All you have to do is look at the tip.

Whatever your opinion may be about sharing, I think we can all agree that sharing definitely shortchanges the waitstaff unless the diner does something to correct for the natural consequence of sharing. If two adults share one meal, the server is getting exactly half the tip they should get for serving two people. If three share two TSs, the server is getting shortchanged 1/3.

I've seen some posts saying they left "an extra tip because the server was so nice about sharing." That's not an "extra tip" -- that's just what you owe.

Computing how much "extra tip" you should leave in cash is very simple. Just look at the first receipt you receive. It will show the tip calculation for the TSs you are using. Divide by the number of TSs, and that's the tip you owe per person.

Just leave the tip for the sharers in cash, and you have maximized your dining experience. Fail to do that and you have been cheap and tacky.

Actually, based on your reasoning, it is not a tip but a bribe for the waiter to disregard "Disney Policy" and allow you to share.

Of course, if "Disney Policy" permits sharing, then why do you have to leave an extra tip for the waiter?

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

Of course, if "Disney Policy" permits sharing, then why do you have to leave an extra tip for the waiter?

I wouldn't leave an extra tip as a bribe. I would consider it to be recognition be a job done above and beyond expectations. A server who waits on a table of 4, with 2 or more of those people sharing plates is still waiting on 4 people. There will be just as many trips to the kitchen, just as many plates to clear and just as many glasses to refill (even if it is just water). In fact, if the server goes so far as to make sure that the shared plate has been divided in the kitchen instead of having the diners do it at the table, then he has done more work than he would have by serving 4 orders.

I'm not against sharing and I have no moral POV on the subject. We may actually share some meals while in WDW next month, if permitted. I have every intention of making sure that my server is properly compensated (IMO) for his efforts, which means an additional gratuity for extra service.

 

[FOV]

Actually, based on your reasoning, it is not a tip but a bribe for the waiter to disregard "Disney Policy" and allow you to share.

Of course, if "Disney Policy" permits sharing, then why do you have to leave an extra tip for the waiter?

Are you for real?

 

[mickeyfan2]

Are you for real?

Some people will do anything to justify keeping money for themselves.

OP - I agree with you. If there are 2 people and one mean there are still two water glasses not one, two place settings and on and on.

 

[JimMIA]

Actually, based on your reasoning, it is not a tip but a bribe for the waiter to disregard "Disney Policy" and allow you to share.

No, not to me. I don't think Disney has a no-sharing policy. The waiter is not violating anything as far as I can tell.

Of course, if "Disney Policy" permits sharing, then why do you have to leave an extra tip for the waiter?

Because I'm not cheap and tacky. I pay for the service I receive.

I do the same thing with the DDE card, incidentally. The DDE card deducts 20% from my whole bill. If I don't adjust for that bargain I'm getting, the server gets shortchanged. In our case, we typically tip 20%, so I just look for the DDE discount and that's my appropriate tip.

 

[TiffanyK]

Does this mean if we order only dessert with water to drink, we should tip as if we ordered a full meal with drinks? If I order an appetizer as my main meal, should I tip as if I ordered an appetizer and entree?

 

[BCV23]

Great post, Jim. I agree with you completely!

 

[Lisa_Belle]

I really could not care less whether someone shares or they don't. Some consider it "maximizing their dining experiences," others consider it "cheap and tacky." That's not a debate I care to participate in, because it's very easy to tell the difference. All you have to do is look at the tip.

Whatever your opinion may be about sharing, I think we can all agree that sharing definitely shortchanges the waitstaff unless the diner does something to correct for the natural consequence of sharing. If two adults share one meal, the server is getting exactly half the tip they should get for serving two people. If three share two TSs, the server is getting shortchanged 1/3.

I've seen some posts saying they left "an extra tip because the server was so nice about sharing." That's not an "extra tip" -- that's just what you owe.

Computing how much "extra tip" you should leave in cash is very simple. Just look at the first receipt you receive. It will show the tip calculation for the TSs you are using. Divide by the number of TSs, and that's the tip you owe per person.

Just leave the tip for the sharers in cash, and you have maximized your dining experience. Fail to do that and you have been cheap and tacky.

When DD and I share at restaurants, I like to figure the "calculated tip" and then double and round up. Because you're right - service is based on the number of people being served, not the amount of food they eat. And if we go to a restaurant for dessert and coffee, we do tip at least what a tip would be on a small meal. The service you're getting is the same whether you eat a small or a large meal. While I typicall follow the percentage rule, I base most of my tip on such factors as how pleasant our server is, whether (s)he fills empty glasses, if (s)he asks how we're enjoying our meal, if there is anything we need - that kind of thing. I may be a cheap eater, but I'm not a cheap tipper. That's just not right.

 

[Lisa_Belle]

Of course, if "Disney Policy" permits sharing, then why do you have to leave an extra tip for the waiter?

Because even if you're eating 50 percent of a meal, the server is giving you 100 percent (hopefully) of his service.

 

[JimMIA]

Does this mean if we order only dessert with water to drink, we should tip as if we ordered a full meal with drinks? If I order an appetizer as my main meal, should I tip as if I ordered an appetizer and entree?

To me, sharing someone else's TS is a completely different animal from stopping by some restaurant for dessert. When you share a TS, you are taking advantage of the dining plan to feed two people for one payment. Understand -- I'm not saying you are taking unfair advantage of the plan. I have not seen anything definitive to indicate that Disney objects to sharing.

All I'm saying is don't make some poor server subsidize your vacation.

 

[Natalya]

When DD and I share at restaurants, I like to figure the "calculated tip" and then double and round up. Because you're right - service is based on the number of people being served, not the amount of food they eat. And if we go to a restaurant for dessert and coffee, we do tip at least what a tip would be on a small meal. The service you're getting is the same whether you eat a small or a large meal. While I typicall follow the percentage rule, I base most of my tip on such factors as how pleasant our server is, whether (s)he fills empty glasses, if (s)he asks how we're enjoying our meal, if there is anything we need - that kind of thing. I may be a cheap eater, but I'm not a cheap tipper. That's just not right.

I agree with Lisa's thinking. I'm sure I agree with you Jim but I lost you a little on the logic (I'm a little slow today).

Are you saying: A family of 3 eats at a restaurant. They share (between the 3 of them) 2 TS credits. So you look at the tip, divide by 2 and then add that much in on top of it for the 3rd person. Is that pretty much what you are saying? Sounds reasonable.

I usually tip 20% anyway (as long as service is good), and I believe the dining plan figures in 18%? So I would tend to throw in a little more but I do agree with your reasoning (If I am correct in the logic you are using).

 

[Natalya]

To me, sharing someone else's TS is a completely different animal from stopping by some restaurant for dessert. When you share a TS, you are taking advantage of the dining plan to feed two people for one payment. Understand -- I'm not saying you are taking unfair advantage of the plan. I have not seen anything definitive to indicate that Disney objects to sharing.

All I'm saying is don't make some poor server subsidize your vacation.

Plus, it takes up less table time to eat a dessert and water then it does to eat a complete meal that was split up for 2 people including appetizer, entree, and dessert. And it is less work.

The faster the turnover at the table, the more money the server can make. The turnover for someone eating dessert and water is significantly faster than one in which the family is eating an entire 3 course meal but sharing it.

 

[JimMIA]

Are you saying: A family of 3 eats at a restaurant. They share (between the 3 of them) 2 TS credits. So you look at the tip, divide by 2 and then add that much in on top of it for the 3rd person. Is that pretty much what you are saying? Sounds reasonable.

Yes, that's exactly what I was trying to say not very well.

 

[Tidus]

I don't see it as cheap and tacky or max. the plan, I see it as not ordering a huge amount of food and wasting it. (I know many will say, you don't have to order it all, but why wouldn't you want a little app., a little dessert etc.) I am also a waitress and while I see your point, the wait staff is getting so many more people thanks to the dining plan. They are also getting an 18% tip, which on many occasions people don't always give. I always tip 20-25%, except for bad service (not food, but service), but it just seems like people are jumping on people and thinking it is "tacky" to share and that it ridiculous. Disney knows that it is a lot of food, and they are probably hoping that people are either not ordering everything that they can or sharing and going into another restaurant and giving them business. Everyone should relax and do what they think is right. I am not going to order the most expensive things, I will order what I like, share if I am not that hungry and leave a nice tip like I always do.

 

[JimMIA]

but it just seems like people are jumping on people and thinking it is "tacky" to share and that it ridiculous.

That is certainly NOT my intent in this thread. This thread is about tipping.

I don't care if people share, or why they share. We don't share, but it's not a burning moral question for us. I just know if I tried to snag a morsel off DW's plate at Le Cellier, she'd pin my arm to the table with her steak knife!

 

[punkin]

This thread is about tipping.

Sure didn't seem that way to me. I don't mind tipping extra if the service is good, but that is not what you wrote in the OP.

You wrote: "I think we can all agree that sharing definitely shortchanges the waitstaff" well I do not agree with that.

And, lets see...so far on this board I have been called cheap, tacky, cheater (I'm sure I'm forgetting something) and all by people who profess to be morally superior to me.

 

[Natalya]

Sure didn't seem that way to me. I don't mind tipping extra if the service is good, but that is not what you wrote in the OP.

You wrote: "I think we can all agree that sharing definitely shortchanges the waitstaff" well I do not agree with that.

And, lets see...so far on this board I have been called cheap, tacky, cheater (I'm sure I'm forgetting something) and all by people who profess to be morally superior to me.

Your forgetting rule bender.

But seriously.... It IS a thread on tipping and I don't see how you can say otherwise

That line that you quoted was ALL about tipping. If you order 1 meal to share between 2 people the server will get less than if you order 2 meals for 2 people. I'm sure you can see that.

If you think it within your right to split a meal and the server should not expect anything above an 18% tip of that one meal that you split well then that is your opinion and you don't agree with the tipping suggestions the OP put forth. To each his/her own. But to say that this thread is not about tipping is just silly.

 

[mickeyfan2]

But seriously.... It IS a thread on tipping and I don't see how you can say otherwise

This is exactly how I read the OP too.