So, will you be tipping extra with the free dining table service meal?

[tigger536]

For average service, no, because the tip included in the DP is in my usual tipping range. But if a server goes above and beyond, absolutely, I will tip extra.

 

[ogreenlee]

I agree that free dining should have nothing to do with it, but most of the posters who said they will tip extra said it is because it is free dining - which I still don't understand what that has to do with anything. I suppose they have some guilt feelings, I don't know or care. But some of the ones posted here seem to think that free dining should equal extra tips. By the sound of some of these posts, yes what they are proposing as extra tips would come pretty close to doubling the tip amount. Call me dumb, but I don't get it!

I don't have guilt feelings at all. I think 18% is too small. I'm not sure how much these servers get paid hourly, but I can imagine it's not much at all. I would, at least, make their tip even out to 20%. I never tip below 20% with free meals or not, unless my service was absolutely horrendous.

I didn't recall seeing anyone say that they planned on doubling the tip amount, and I don't think there were that many posts, if even one, saying that free dining should mean more tips for the servers. I think most people are saying that they would normally tip more than 18% if they were paying for their meal.

And you know... why not share a little bit of magic with the castmembers? They work so hard to make your dreams come true.

I know that I will try to use my hard earned money that I'm saving from the free dining plan to make someone else's day a little brighter if I can.

 

[foxtrotter]

We always tip more than 18% (unless the service is appalling) so I will be leaving an extra $5-10 for each table service meal to make up the difference and get the percentage to 20% or a little over.

If the service is poor I won't leave any extra, but we've never had that problem at Disney so I'm budgeting for extra tips.

 

[smartestnumber5]

I usually tip 20% most of the time. Last time with the DDP I didn't add extra. I didn't think about it and didn't bring any cash with me--did everything by credit card.

I was thinking about it, though, and figured out that for a $60 dinner (there are only two of us, so I figured this is about right, the 2% which would bump the tip up to 20% from 18% would = $1.20. I feel just a little over a dollar extra on the table would be weird. Does anyone leave that little extra?

 

[Katiebell]

I don't have guilt feelings at all. I think 18% is too small. I'm not sure how much these servers get paid hourly, but I can imagine it's not much at all.

Don't know what Disney pays servers, but the minimum wage for servers in Florida is $3.65/hour.

And you know... why not share a little bit of magic with the castmembers? They work so hard to make your dreams come true.

I know that I will try to use my hard earned money that I'm saving from the free dining plan to make someone else's day a little brighter if I can.

I feel the same way. We aren't getting the dining plan free, we are paying full price -- as well as rack rate for our room, so there is no discount there either. Doesn't matter. The experience we've had at DL is that many of the servers do an excellent job, are very friendly and helpful, and go out of their way to make our dining experience enjoyable. If we are treated the same way at WDW, I certainly have no problem adding a little extra to the 18% tip that is included.

That said, no one should feel guilty or defensive if they choose not to leave any extra. The 18% included tip is a very fair one and there's nothing wrong with just leaving it at that. And I don't see in this thread that anyone is saying that anyone else should tip extra, just that they themselves sometimes do, and the reasons why they do.

 

[ogreenlee]

I usually tip 20% most of the time. Last time with the DDP I didn't add extra. I didn't think about it and didn't bring any cash with me--did everything by credit card.

I was thinking about it, though, and figured out that for a $60 dinner (there are only two of us, so I figured this is about right, the 2% which would bump the tip up to 20% from 18% would = $1.20. I feel just a little over a dollar extra on the table would be weird. Does anyone leave that little extra?

I'd probably leave a five. Even if I eat alone somewhere in my hometown, I will at least leave $5. I worked in food service for 10 years. It's hard for me not to leave more than is expected. I know how good it feels when someone is generous enough to leave that little extra. I like making nice people feel that way. If I get ignored or have bad service, then I tip accordingly. I would never expect anyone to leave me or anyone else a tip that wasn't deserved.