Spoke with some servers during our DDP meals about their tips...

[welovedis]

Just thought I'd come back with the comments that we heard. A couple of times we had a really great server or someone that we've encountered on previous trips and they remembered us (probably because of the multiple food allergies). We asked how they felt about the inclusion of the 18% tip on the DDP bills.

Each time we head the same examples. They said for the most part they liked the inclusion of the 18% since very few people tip at that 18%+ amount. They also gave some examples & said that many travelers from other countries tend to tip very low, and even when they tip at 10-15%, the servers are thankful because that is considered the very "high" end for those diners.

Whether or not that is really true is open to debate. Our family had some stellar experiences with servers, a couple not so good to downright bad ones, and we left a little extra for those who did a great job. We usually tip a minimum of 15-20% at home and have given as much as 25-30% for a great job here so we do the same down there.

Anyway, just wanted to report back on what we told, this was 5 different servers (Spoodles-we talked to 2, Cape May Buffet, Mama Melrose & Tony's Town Square).

 

[bicker]

Thanks for the info!

One thing to note is that all the servers you spoke to worked for Disney.

 

[StregaNona]

We used the dining plan on our last trip & really enjoyed it. A few times we tipped "extra" because the service was very good.

 

[kimkreis]

It is not part of the European cultre to tip. Waiters and waitresses are paid a salary and are not dependent on tips over there. When we first moved over there I was leaving US style tips and I actually had a server explain to me that that was not required and sometimes could be offensive as in you feel they NEED the money.

Over there just leaving the small coin change (less than 2 bucks Euro) on a normal lunch or dinner and maybe a little more for dinner fancy.

 

[minniemomof3]

Thanks for the information, we'll be using the dining plan for the first time this January.

 

[OKWMom]

I asked our server at Wolfgang Puck Cafe (Dec. 13th) about the tip since I had read on these boards that the non-Disney restaurants were not allocating the 18% to the servers and instead paying them a flat "per-head" tip. I specifically asked him if he received 18% on our bill because I had heard they did not and wanted to make sure he was taken care of. He told me that they DID receive 18% of the bill and that "Disney takes good care of them".

 

[MarieA]

We generally tip 20% for good service. My DD is a server and depends on her tips to live (most servers are paid somewhere in the $4 - $5 per hour range).

 

[desertbloom]

We generally tip 20% for good service. My DD is a server and depends on her tips to live (most servers are paid somewhere in the $4 - $5 per hour range).

I would have loooved to make $4-5 per hour as a server. I have always been paid $2.30 per hour at any waitstaff job. Here in Ma, I think that is the minimum wage.

 

[rolshuk]

In the uk servers have to be paid a minimum of £5 (or maybe a bit more) which is about $10 an hour.A tip is considered a bonus, not expected each time.If I paid about £60 for a meal I would leave about £5 max.I find it unbelivable I would be expected to leave 18 %+ and tax as well....we would never eat out !
I will be on the DDP and would tip a bit extra for good sevice oop but as someone said big tips are not our custom.
I have been a barmaid myself and always tried to provid good service with out expecting a tip even when pay was bad before the maximum wage was introduced.

 

[MarieA]

I would have loooved to make $4-5 per hour as a server. I have always been paid $2.30 per hour at any waitstaff job. Here in Ma, I think that is the minimum wage.

Wow and I thought my DD had it bad at 4.37 per hour. Servers in the US depend on their tips to live. I'm sure you find it the same as my daughter, some days she does well tip wise and others she comes home with very little. It depends on how busy the restaurant is.

 

[4Tink]

I am from a resort area and worked in the restaurant/bar business for many years. We always cringed when we got European guests. Although they were usually pleasant they did not tip well if they tipped at all. It felt like a waste of our time to provide good service to them when we had tipping customers we could be providing extra service to. We were aware that it was not their custom but we only made about $2.00 per hour and were taxed heavily on a percentage of each cutomer's bill. We had our own bills to pay and children to provide for. I think it is a blessing to the European guests and the WDW staff that the gratuity is now included. By the way, we also got our share of ignorant Americans who CHOSE not to tip properly. If the WDW staff is well taken care of EVERYONE will enjoy their dining experience more!

 

[earthyfamily]

My husband is a server and his wage is $2.13 an hour plus tips. It's really sad that most people don't realize that and just assume that his restaurant pays him to take care of them. It's a scary thing with three kids to have to take care of, to rely on the generosity of strangers on whether we make it or not. That being said, in the event that we can actually afford to eat out, I am a BIG tipper. If it's not so good service, I let them know with about a 10% tip...on the other hand should they show us good service I tend to tip between 50 and 100%...I've been known to tip over 100% at times. I know what my husband has to go through at work, I know what kind of wages they make.

 

[UGAFan0829]

I just wanted to clarify, since we will be on the dining plan on our next trip...Disney is now including an 18% tip as part of the plan, is that correct?
I just want to make sure so that if I need to plan extra tips in our budget, I can do so!
Thanks for posting this info for everyone to see!

 

[MomofKatie]

I just wanted to clarify, since we will be on the dining plan on our next trip...Disney is now including an 18% tip as part of the plan, is that correct?
I just want to make sure so that if I need to plan extra tips in our budget, I can do so!
Thanks for posting this info for everyone to see!

Yes, the Dining plan includes tax and an 18% gratuity for the TS meals, If you normally tip more than 18%, you should bring extra $$ for tips.

Oh, BTW, GO DAWGS!!! I am a UGA grad currently living in Charlotte- I love to come "home" to GA and see all the UGA bumper stickers, licence plates, etc. My brother went to the Chick Fil A Bowl and had an awesome time.

 

[GrumpyFan]

It's nice that the plan includes an 18% tip, and we will sometimes add an extra $2-5 for exceptional service. However, on our trip in September or 2006, we had a really bad waiter at Mama Melrose's, so bad that we wanted to take his tip away. After we paid, we asked to speak to the manager, and explained everything to him, which he said he would speak to the waiter.

 

[Luv'sTink]

There are some states that require servers to be paid minimum wage, WA. being one. Servers in WA state earn as of yesterday $7.93 and hour plus tips. I know this is where the confusion and disbelief of people being paid less than minimum (national even) came from for me.

Disbelief = I can't believe anyone can be paid so little!

 

[granmaz]

We are from the UK and usually tip 10% over here but read up about tipping in the US and have always tried to tip accordingly. Until we had the DP earlier this year and saw it had 'gone up' to 18%, we always left 15%. On the DP we left extra most places and of course on the non DP items. I did feel annoyed when the 18% was added on the non DP items, though can understand somewhat.

Offsite we have been places where the tip is added on, probably because of bad tipping Brits. What they wouldn't know of course was that we would probably have left more, but didn't because of this. I also feel service has been poorer to us because we are from the UK as was mentioned earlier, but we are tippers! Perhaps we need to wear a badge saying that!

 

[welovedis]

Thanks for the heads up about tipping overseas, I think paying any type of waitstaff a more reasonable wage is a terrific idea.

 

[mom2my3kids]

WOW over 7 bucks a hour for a server?? Here in Indiana we make 2.13 a hour plus tips. So basically my check I get says 00 on it because they tax our tips on our wage. So everything they pay me goes to taxes and my tips are what I keep. I don't do bad most of the time, but some days are better then others usually the good tippers make up for the bad tippers. I will say because I am a server I tip very well and I do find myself making excuses for servers when they are not up to par. Just like last week we went to a steakhouse our bill was 58.00 I left the girl 20.00 tip she was good and I know she appreciated the tip and I appreciated the great service.

 

[mama2ella]

thanks OP for the heads up