Tables in Wonderland- Beware

[janabananas]

I am glad that I read this thread in it's entirety, because I just recently got my TIW card and have only used it a few times. I didn't realize that a manager had to be involved in the transaction. I thought I was being held "restaurant hostage". I figured the waiter was slacking off once he knew he was getting a tip.

That being said, I love TIW because I don't have to think about adding and tipping because it is already there, and I am saving $$$$. I am a vigilant receipt reader because I love seeing how much I saved. Also as far as I can remember each waiter/waitress informed me that the tip was already included. Every meal except for one, I have added more because I received great service.

 

[mom2of2]

KC...are you a server at WDW? yeah, didn't think so. FYI the checks ARE folded for the reason stated in my PP. If its accordion style then that would mean its a long check.

We're not all "grifters" or whatever you're calling WDW servers....we're actually following company standards .

 

[Mom of 2 Wife of 1]

We purchased tables in wonderland this trip. It has already paid for itself on this one trip, but one thing that really bothered us was the fact that the tip was included and that was not advertised. Only ONE server pointed out that the tip was included to us. Our server at Tony's even folded the payment slip in such a way to hide the included tip section! If we hadn't unfolded it, we wouldn't have noticed the included tip charge. That is just wrong. We are people that check receipts to make sure they are correct, but I suspect most people would just put in a tip and sign (especially after having a few drinks). We felt that most of the servers were milking us for an extra tip. We love the program, but make sure you read your receipt!

I don't understand. Because you didn't read all the aspects of the TIW, the fine print (and yes, the fact that the tip is included is printed and advertised), this lead you to believe you were being ripped off just because the server folded the receipt in a way you couldn't comprehend? No. Caveat emptor. They hid nothing from you. You should have known the details going in.

 

[ols386]

The scenario above has happened to us a time or two, and we have also received a folded receipt similar to what the OP mentions, so I do not believe that every server is innocent. However, nor do I believe the majority of WDW servers are sneaky. I DO believe that the OP's advice to check the receipts is valid.

I agree, and good advice to always check.

The problem is this statement from your original post:

That is a pretty rude statement to make regarding most of the wait staff at WDW. Your post was not a friendly warning to read receipts. You acccused "most of the servers" of trying to milk you for an extra tip. Something I NEVER experienced in 11 days in September. That is the problem people have with your post.

So what, just because YOU didn't experience it doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

To be honest, I didn't have a problem with the op at all. I didn't think she was accusing most of the WDW servers, but maybe she did experience that with the servers she had. You weren't there, you don't know.

Why such anger over this?

Maybe instead of Beware, it would have been more accurate to say

Be Aware.

There ya go. And I think that's all the op was trying to say, but as usual on the DIS, we (not you Sammie, spoken in general terms) have to go after the op when we disagree.

 

[suemom2kay]

So what, just because YOU didn't experience it doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

To be honest, I didn't have a problem with the op at all. I didn't think she was accusing most of the WDW servers, but maybe she did experience that with the servers she had. You weren't there, you don't know.

Why such anger over this?

First of all, I'm not angry. I thought (and still do think) it was rude for OP to say that most of the servers were trying to milk her. That is what she said. Re-read her original post.

Have you ever waitressed? Would you like it if someone said most of you tried to milk them? It is rude. That's all. Didn't go after her/him. Just thought that complaining about a gratuity that you know is charged and accusing most of the servers of attempting to milk them is farfetched and not useful information. I used the example of it not happening to me in 11 days to illustrate that it is unlikely that most of the servers are trying to get an extra tip or be deceptive. Which is what OP said. Was one waiter/waitress deceptive? It is possible but I wasn't there and didn't see the "origami."

What I do know is that WDW restaurant receipts are very clear and put the total before discount, after discount, and after the gratuity is added in.

 

[suemom2kay]

Sure. That happens all the time. Every restaurant I go to, they accordian pleat the receipt so it doesn't project out of the receipt holder. Except that it never happens. Because what purpose would that serve? None. It would just be a time waster in a busy restaurant.

But it IS a convenient excuse for the grift, in case the mark notices . . .

But you go ahead, assume that everything is sunshine and roses.

KC

Except that at most restaurants, the receipts don't exceed the length of the receipt holder. WDW restaurant receipts seemed to average 2 feet long. They remind me of the old Circuit City receipts. They would go on forever.

The receipts are so long cause of all the info they put on their receipts.

 

[KCMiller]

KC...are you a server at WDW? yeah, didn't think so. FYI the checks ARE folded for the reason stated in my PP. If its accordion style then that would mean its a long check.

We're not all "grifters" or whatever you're calling WDW servers....we're actually following company standards .

I didn't say ALL servers at WDW are trying to scam for tips. But I did wait table for 10 years, and I've seen a LOT of scams (and since I know you're wondering, no, I didn't work any - I was raised Catholic, so there was a lot of guilt . . .). And if you are a server at WDW, and you've never seen any of your coworkers do anything slightly shady to improve their bottom line, that's wonderful. But it does happen, and I can't imagine why you would assume it doesn't? Or take offense when someone reports that it happened to them?

And c'mon, it's honestly written WDW company policy to fold the receipts accordian style before placing them into the folders? That's amazing.

I'm headed to WDW next week for a few days, and I promise to keep an open mind, and to take pictures of any accordian pleated receipts I get - and I also promise to politely ask the server, if they DO pleat my receipt, why they are doing that. And if they tell me it's WDW company policy, I promise to come back here and fess up. I have no problem admitting I'm wrong, if I am. And I think I'm taking a safe bet, here . . .


KC

 

[kaytieeldr]

And c'mon, it's honestly written WDW company policy to fold the receipts accordian style before placing them into the folders? That's amazing.

I wouldn't begin to claim to know any policy of a given company simply because I worked in that industry, whether currently or in the past.

But how would YOU present a check that had to be contained entirely inside the folder? I'm guessing that appearance matters and WDW doesn't want paper sticking out at the top or bottom of the folder.

I know when a supermarket or CVS cashier hands me my receipt, it's generally looped in an "s" shape. The natural folds in those case would be a simple accordion .

 

[lovesdumbo]

we're actually following company standards .

I've used my TiW card at least 100 and only had 2 servers fold the receipt in a way that looked to me like there were trying to hide the included tip. I do know the "rules" of TiW so I was aware that it was already included. It seems ironic to me that it is only the 2 worse servers who didn't meet WDW standards in terms of the rest of their service were "following company standards" with the receipt. You can fold the receipt in a way that doesn't try to hide the tip.

I don't have an issue with the 18% at buffets. I think those servers work hard too keeping my drinks full and clearing the plates. The 2 servers mentioned above were at buffets and seemed annoyed at having to do anything. The service wasn't so bad that I felt it was worth my time to complain (and give up park time) but certainly not worth a tip in excess of 18%.

 

[gometros]

An 18% tip is always included when you use the TIW card, so no need to look and see if a tip was added when using it, it WILL be added.

Is the 18% based on price before or after tax is added? That is one of my pet peeves. I don't mind it being added, but it should be based on the value of the value of the meal only.

 

[suemom2kay]

Is the 18% based on price before or after tax is added? That is one of my pet peeves. I don't mind it being added, but it should be based on the value of the value of the meal only.

Before tax.

 

[nytimez]

Is the 18% based on price before or after tax is added? That is one of my pet peeves. I don't mind it being added, but it should be based on the value of the value of the meal only.

Pretax, which is how you're supposed to calculate a tip... something I went through much of my life not knowing. Ouch!

 

[gometros]

Before tax.

Pretax, which is how you're supposed to calculate a tip... something I went through much of my life not knowing. Ouch!

Thanks. Figured Disney would calculate it correctly.

 

[mom2of2]

Lumping most of the servers into the scammer catagory or grifters or whatever isn't any better then us putting you in the touron (Tourist Moron) category. Being told that we are being shady because we follow Basic Standards really ruffles my feathers. Are all servers on the total up and up? dunno, don't care. I am and my fellow servers are. We wouldn't have jobs anymore if we weren't. WDW tends to frown down on theives. So go ahead and interview servers about check presentation and take all the pictures you want to. I know how to do my job and what is expected of me by my employer.

I will continue to do my job to the best of my ability although I may be waiting on someone who sleeps 5 to a room, re uses a mug, has a 4 year old listed as 2 yrs old, has a 11 yr old listed as 9, makes 2 seperate reservations for their family of 6 and then asks to be seated close together so they don't have to pay the auto grat, uses someone elses TIW card etc etc etc....

And with that I wish you all a Magical Day

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Thinking back, I don't think any of my receipts have ever not been folded. and they always fit in the little black book. And Disney receipts do tend to be quite longer then other receipts, which I suspect is due to a variety of reasons, like the tip being figured out, DDP information, and any number of other things. I've never noticed my receipt being folded weirdly to cover up that the tip was already included, though I have seen a few receipts that the server crossed out the word optional out of "optional tip."

 

[Smiling Cheshire Cat]

We purchased tables in wonderland this trip. It has already paid for itself on this one trip, but one thing that really bothered us was the fact that the tip was included and that was not advertised. Only ONE server pointed out that the tip was included to us. Our server at Tony's even folded the payment slip in such a way to hide the included tip section! If we hadn't unfolded it, we wouldn't have noticed the included tip charge. That is just wrong. We are people that check receipts to make sure they are correct, but I suspect most people would just put in a tip and sign (especially after having a few drinks).
We felt that most of the servers were milking us for an extra tip. We love the program, but make sure you read your receipt!

Sorry I haven't read the whole thread, but I wanted to post because I was afraid the title of your thread might confuse people out of purchasing the TiW.

Most people that would be purchasing TiW cards (frequent travelers to WDW because they are AP holders or FL residents) would know that the tip is included. It is described in the paperwork that is given to you when you sign up. Also a receipt that has been adjusted for the TiW discount shows the 18% gratuity in bold black letters. Also at the botton of the receipt it says in capital letters "GRATUITIES INCLUDED".

I don't think there is any conspiracy by servers to try and hide the gratuity. If someone misses it they are not looking at their receipt at all. There is a place to add extra tip if you would like to acknowledge exceptional service but it is not bolded.

 

[Dr.Girlfriend]

We just ate at Ohana on Friday, so I looked at our copy of the receipt. Maybe the server folded your receipt to fit it into the black bill holder - because if they folded it on the tip area, you could not have signed at the bottom without unfolding it.

It's possible you misinterpreted the folding as "scammy" instead of being helpful.

 

[Chuck S]

Gratuity has been added automatically for a few years. I always check, though, because there have been a few occasions where the tip was not added...especially when the system was first changed. A server told me at Liberty Tree Tavern that the tip had been added, and it had NOT, so I added it.

Also please know that tip is NOT automatically added at the few counter service places that accept the TiW. And a tip is NOT expected at counter service venues...I don't think there is even a line to add it.

 

[KCMiller]

I didn't say ALL servers at WDW are trying to scam for tips. But I did wait table for 10 years, and I've seen a LOT of scams (and since I know you're wondering, no, I didn't work any - I was raised Catholic, so there was a lot of guilt . . .). And if you are a server at WDW, and you've never seen any of your coworkers do anything slightly shady to improve their bottom line, that's wonderful. But it does happen, and I can't imagine why you would assume it doesn't? Or take offense when someone reports that it happened to them?

And c'mon, it's honestly written WDW company policy to fold the receipts accordian style before placing them into the folders? That's amazing.

I'm headed to WDW next week for a few days, and I promise to keep an open mind, and to take pictures of any accordian pleated receipts I get - and I also promise to politely ask the server, if they DO pleat my receipt, why they are doing that. And if they tell me it's WDW company policy, I promise to come back here and fess up. I have no problem admitting I'm wrong, if I am. And I think I'm taking a safe bet, here . . .


KC

OK, as promised, I am back, and with a report. We ate at three restaurants while at WDW, two table service and one buffet, and here's what happened at each (and we were NOT on the dining plan, and NOT using a TIW, but we WERE using my DD's cast discount, which meant that an automatic gratiuty was added to each check, and we announced this cast discount was going to be used BEFORE we ordered our meals):

1st restaurant - this was the buffet, and it was absolutely wonderful. The server was so nice, helpful and knowledgable, and made sure that we knew that because we were using the cast discount that the tip would be included. She reminded us of this when she presented the check at the end of the meal (but we tipped extra anyway because she was so nice - about 20% total). By the way, the paper check we received did NOT indicate that a gratuity was being automatically included - there was a line to add a tip, and suggested amounts. It was not pleated, and extended out the top and bottom of the check holder.

2nd restaurant - the server was nice and helpful, but when she presented the check at the end of the meal (which was pleated to fit into the holder, but across the middle), the line for gratuity was circled. When I asked, nicely, whether the gratuity was going to be added automatically or if we had to fill out the amount, the server became flustered, picked up the check, put it down, said 'oh, yes, it's included', then hurried away. She never came back - we had to give our payment to another server who was working that section. To be clear, if we had added anything to that line she circled, it would have been on top of the automatic gratuity.

3rd restaurant - The server was fine, and the check came out unpleated, extending out of the top and bottom of the check holder. She mentioned, as she put it down, that because we were using the cast member discount there was an automatic gratuity included of 18%, but we were welcome to add to it.

That's exactly my experience, for what it was worth. Draw whatever conclusions you want.


KC

 

[scion5220]

This happened to me as well at Jellyrolls. The waitress would not open a tab and made us pay for all drinks individually. I tip once, at the end so I left the tip lines blank. When I looked at the charges later they were all 3 and 4 dollars MORE than they were supposed to be! We had to call to get it corrected.

Please be vigilant. Very few WDW servers are going to scam you. Heck we've gone constantly for about 5 years (we're local) and it's only happened once. But just because you're in WDW that doesn't automatically make it safe.

This is why I NEVER leave a tip line blank. I will usually write "on table" if I left cash.