Tipping at WDW on a budget -

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Simple solution, just add the tip into your budget and reduce the amount of extra's somewhere else. If you already have 15-18% budgeted across the board, you will be prepared for it.

I have never had service so bad at WDW that I would not have at least left 10%. I usually tip in the 20% range, so that is 1/2 of what is normal for me. But like I said before, if you budget it in to your cost, a tip should not be a problem or something you need to worry about while you are on vacation. And as far as service goes, everyone has a bad day. I would rather give the server the benefit of the doubt and leave the tip. Maybe that is what they needed to turn their day around.

 

[disney1990]

And as far as service goes, everyone has a bad day. I would rather give the server the benefit of the doubt and leave the tip. Maybe that is what they needed to turn their day around.

I agree.

 

[maddmike]

She said she thinks the minimum for bad service is 15% and that's what she tips . It doesn't matter what she usually tips at home because a tip of 18% will automatically be added to her bill at WDW since they are a family of 6.

If you have a party of six or more at WDW and don't feel the service deserved a 18% tip then you can talk to the manager. We did a couple years ago and left a tip that reflected the quality of service from the server.

I can understand WDW adding the tip to larger parties but I have never seen a server at a buffet ever earn an 18% tip. They bring your drink, your bill and maybe clear a plate if you are lucky.

 

[Nancyg56]

I just get so frusterated that it is expected that a server should get a tip simply because they are a server. You should expect a tip for good service. If you choose not to give good service, I should be able to choose not to tip you.

This said, I will tip ( and quite often tip well) and would budget for tips.

Regarding buffets, this one always stumps me. I really do not feel like I should fork over 20% when I get up and get my own food. Yes, you refill my drinks and clear plates, but......I do not feel that is "worth" the same amount of tip I would give someone who sat me, discussed specials, took my order, brought me drinks, bread, salad, food, took my dessert order and cleared my plates. So I tip less at buffets....go ahead flame away, but it is what I personally choose to do.

I also supported my family waiting tables and have very strong opinions about tipping for poor or mediocre service. I never feel that I need to tip well for service that is neglectful. I also may discuss it with the manager. Buffets are a lot of work. I always preferred to wait sit down table service meals rather than buffets.

I agree...we are stumped too.
We usually do not tip as much at a buffet where we are getting up to get all of our food. Now, a "family style" buffet which, by the way we have only ever experienced at WDW, we tip the same as full service, since we are served everything at our table.

We also do not travel very often but we tend to tip everywhere like we tip at home, except a tad bit more when we're on vacation, not sure why??? Just want to spread our happy mood!

At many of the restaurants you go to in Disney they servers are not just using the tip for themselves, it si divided up among the many support people who you may not notice. When you tip your servers like you would at home you ensure that you will have properly trained servers on your next visit. If the servers are not earning a living they will move on and you will get those who may not be as well trained or as well motivated. We also like to spread our happy mood and seem to be treated very well for it

I agree completely. Tipping USED to be considered "extra reward for good service". Somewhere along the line it became mandatory. I very rarely ever get good service anymore. Why should anyone work harder if they know they're going to get a tip anyway? And 20% minimum? Really? It used to be 10%. Then 15%. Now 20%. The next thing you know it will be 50%. Or 100%.

Servers must make really good money. 3 or 4 tables, overpriced food....I bet some servers rake in $50+ an hour. To me that's sheer madness. Yes servers work hard....but so do many other employees in non-tipped positions. I worked at Target in college and I worked HARD on my feet all day scanning and bagging groceries. Did I get tipped? No. Why should my Starbucks barista get a tip? I already payed $5 for my drink. Shouldn't the cost of making the drink be included

I don't know that there is any other country in the world where tips are expected like they are here in the US. My family and I rarely go out to "sit down" restaurants and the high cost of tipping has a lot to do with it. Restaurants should pay their staff a fair wage and tipping can back to being the "extra reward for good service" that it used to be.

I realize that not everyone agrees that tipping is the correct way to compensate servers but for now it is how it is done. That debate is an ongoing one.

As for the amount a server makes per hour....how on Earth did you calculate that? It is impossible to determine that based on the amount you think people are consuming. Then you need to calculate the amount the servers tip out the rest of the support staff. And figure out how much is removed for their meals. And then know the dollar per hour they make before taxes. And they are going to eb taxed on teh amount of food they sell for the most part. Many employers will insist that this is the amount that their employees claim and will often include it on their w-2's. So if you decide that you don;t want your server to make $50 per hour and stiff him...he takes a loss on you. Yup...it cost him money to wait on you.

 

[deerhart]

also realize that tipping %'s really do vary based on your location. Tipping 20% here in the midwest (even in the big city I'm in) is very high (even 15% is high) and 10% is still really the norm.

On a side note, my boss eats out lunch most days with a group of his friends and at the end of each year, they pick one waitstaff at one of the restaurants they eat ate who gave them great service over the year and leave them a $150-$250 tip for the holidays.

 

[taximomfor4]

also realize that tipping %'s really do vary based on your location. Tipping 20% here in the midwest (even in the big city I'm in) is very high (even 15% is high) and 10% is still really the norm.

On a side note, my boss eats out lunch most days with a group of his friends and at the end of each year, they pick one waitstaff at one of the restaurants they eat ate who gave them great service over the year and leave them a $150-$250 tip for the holidays.

I live in the midwest (unless you aren't considering Ohio), in the suburbs. I waitressed at several establishments 20-25 yrs ago (cheap eats quality, and higher quality that included full bar menu). Back then, for average service it was 15%, good service was 20% (of which I kept all at the eatery, and tipped out 8% at the nicer place). Now, I still live in the midwest (another suburb nearby). The food prices have gone up, of course, but tipping is still customarily 15% for average service, 20% for good.

And to a pp who said that Ohio's servers don't live on their tips, that they make $7.35/hour -- Ohio's minimum wage is 7.35 but tipped employees have a different minimum wage altogether, $3.65 as of last summer. My ex, who is a server, gets MANY $0 paychecks. The paychecks often cover only his insurance premium plus his taxes. Several times, he had to mail in a child support payment because they can't take it out of a $0 paycheck.

 

[robinb]

If you have a party of six or more at WDW and don't feel the service deserved a 18% tip then you can talk to the manager. We did a couple years ago and left a tip that reflected the quality of service from the server.

There are always special circumstances. I had an automatic tip reduced once at WDW because of very poor service so I know it can be done. However, the poster I was responding to usually tips less than 18% and I was just saying that she will have to tip more while at WDW. Unless she goes around objecting to each and every meal service just to shave off $3-$5 .

I can understand WDW adding the tip to larger parties but I have never seen a server at a buffet ever earn an 18% tip. They bring your drink, your bill and maybe clear a plate if you are lucky.

I used to feel that same way but then I paid attention to how much work an adequate server does. S/he takes your drink order (just like a "regular" waitress), checks to make sure your drinks stay filled (just like a "regular" waitress), clears your plates (but unlike a "regular waitress" she has to clear them again and again and again), checks to make sure everything is OK (just like a "regular" waitress), brings you your check (just like a "regular" waitress) and returns with your receipt (just like a "regular" waitress). The only thing she doesn't do is take your food order and deliver it to you. I actually find buffet waitresses to be far more attentive than regular waitresses. YMMV .

 

[WDWRookie2009]

My mothers long time friend has been a server for most of her life and has spent the last 10 years plus working for Disney. Over the years she has had many many stories about tips and such. There were days where more than one family would leave a couple of pennies on the table of a $100+ bill.. and some days where she would receive a $25 dollar tip on a $50 bill. I personally would never leave nothing for a tip and leaving pennies I think is worse than nothing! BUT I do tip according to how service was..

As far as the debate on living on tips.. I once asked my moms friend and her response.. " Honey if lived on tips I would not be in this industry.. that is until I started working for Disney" In recent years she has cleared more in a month than my mother.. who is a nurse! She truly loves her job and takes the penny tips with the big ones all the same... and bless her heart for that! She is a true character of magic!

 

[chobie]

I used to feel that same way but then I paid attention to how much work an adequate server does. S/he takMes your drink order (just like a "regular" waitress), checks to make sure your drinks stay filled (just like a "regular" waitress), clears your plates (but unlike a "regular waitress" she has to clear them again and again and again), checks to make sure everything is OK (just like a "regular" waitress), brings you your check (just like a "regular" waitress) and returns with your receipt (just like a "regular" waitress). The only thing she doesn't do is take your food order and deliver it to you. I actually find buffet waitresses to be far more attentive than regular waitresses. YMMV .

Me too. The only buffet we ever go to is boma and the server, in addition to all the things you listed, also will talk to us about the diifferent foods, offer wine suggestions and generally makes as many trips to our table as a server at a non buffet will do.

 

[wdwfan16]

also realize that tipping %'s really do vary based on your location. Tipping 20% here in the midwest (even in the big city I'm in) is very high (even 15% is high) and 10% is still really the norm.

On a side note, my boss eats out lunch most days with a group of his friends and at the end of each year, they pick one waitstaff at one of the restaurants they eat ate who gave them great service over the year and leave them a $150-$250 tip for the holidays.

WOW

When I as a teen it was 15%+. We regularly tip 20% for good service and 25% for great service. That is part of the cost of the meal. We don't go to places where the bill is $500 but diners. So that extra 5% is not going to break us.

 

[ReneeA]

also realize that tipping %'s really do vary based on your location. Tipping 20% here in the midwest (even in the big city I'm in) is very high (even 15% is high) and 10% is still really the norm.

On a side note, my boss eats out lunch most days with a group of his friends and at the end of each year, they pick one waitstaff at one of the restaurants they eat ate who gave them great service over the year and leave them a $150-$250 tip for the holidays.

I live in the midwest, and we tip 20-25% minimum. I wouldn't leave only a 10% tip unless the service was horrific (and then I'd also let the manager know). If I can't afford the tip, I don't eat out...simple as that.

 

[mommymeg]

Yes, the table service does require a tip..
What we did to lessen the blow was I budgeted ahead of time and came up with an average of $20 per table service meal. I placed that cash in a seperate envelope and paid for all tips in cash out of that envelope. I planned for it ahead of time, so I wasn't shellshock when I got the bill. The dining plan is still really worth it in my opinion. We did leave a lesser tip from one TS (I won't even mention the name of the restraunt, since one bad day for one particular person shouldn't ruin the whole establishment)... but we used that extra money on a TS tip that we thought deserved 25%. Putting the cash aside well ahead of time helped out with our very budgeted trip.

Good luck and have a great time!

 

[DisneyNut4Life]

This was us as well, this is still really good food...but you are just going to have to do like we did, because we are very budget minded people, just start putting back money for the tips and put it in envelopes and don't look back, this worked the best for us and as a rule it was around 25.00, so just put that back and if you need to add to it, it shouldn't be but a few more dollars, done and done! It's vacation and it will make you feel good to have everything done correctly.

I also tipped the bus drivers because my dd is in a wheelchair, it really became part of our fun, made me feel really good to do these things.

What do you tip the bus drivers? We will also be traveling with someone in an ECV and not sure what is acceptable?

 

[LovableGluttons]

I live in the midwest, and we tip 20-25% minimum. I wouldn't leave only a 10% tip unless the service was horrific (and then I'd also let the manager know). If I can't afford the tip, I don't eat out...simple as that.

Ditto!


It's like buying a car. Sure, maybe you can afford to buy the car outright, but insurance, taxes, title, license, even maintenance and gas are all part of the cost.

If you cannot afford to tip, can you really afford to eat at these restaurants?

I cannot afford to take a year off work and travel around the world in high style, but I still want to do it! LOL

 

[PixieAngel]

No problem. When you get seated, just tell the server you do not plan on tipping (before you order your food). Get the server's opinion.

Seriously, unless the server is downright rude, I would leave the minimum always. Even at the buffets.

Wow! There are a great many differing opinions on tipping, so I thought I'd add mine... those percentages at the bottom of your bill are guidelines or suggestions. I have waited tables myself and the only rule of tipping I have ever followed is if you earned it, you will receive a good tip. What constitutes a good tip isn't based on what the table beside me gave or the amount I payed for a bottle of wine. If the meal we had totalled $70 and I received excellent service I may very well leave $20 as a tip. However, if I ordered a bottle of wine that night and my bill totalled $150 because I ordered a bottle of wine, I still would tip the same. Why? This is in part to fact that the $100 bottle of wine I ordered was served to me no differently
than the $40 bottle I ordered yesterday. I liked one of the previous quotes that mentioned telling the waitress ahead of time and I might have to try that..."Well you've started out around $20, what you end up with is entirely up to you." You may actually get better service this way. As for buffets...$5-10 maximum. Service has declined due to all of the suggested/mandatory tipping...if you provide us with horrid service,expect the tip or lack there of to reflect it. So budget for your usual tip rate and if they don't earn it...don't leave it. It is after all your vacation!

 

[bumbershoot]

The tip is included at Cinderella's Royal Table and at the dinner shows (each takes 2 TS credits). You will not need to leave a tip at these places.

That's really good info, and since the OP used that restaurant as an example, they probably didn't know it! Good info!

I will put on my fireresistant suit, but I tip according to the service. I do not buy into the "rule" that I have to give at least 15%. If you take forever to get my order, I have to get up and get my own water refill, you do not check on my meal and I have to track you down to get my bill, you can darn well expect that I will not be tipping you. I also will be pointing things out to your management. I do not feel obligated in any way to tip anything for crummy service.

I do agree.

We have found that, sometimes, we get bad service from the very beginning; it's like they are expecting a bad tip (we're casual, though not slobby) so they create a situation where they might get one.

We generally try to keep all the positives in mind.

But during our last trip to Disneyland, we had rotten rotten service. The ONE special request was made quickly. Everything else, which was a very simple order, had horrible service. People seated after us, with HUGE orders (appetizers, salads, entrees, sodas for each person), were finishing while we were still waiting on parts of our dinner. It couldn't have been the kitchen, because he was serving us all in the area.

For instance, we shared a salad and a dish of ratatouille. Not to cut costs, but because we know that DLR meals are great for sharing, and despite our appearance, we just don't eat that much. DS was unhappy with the menu, and got pommes frites (french fries with parmesan, basically). We felt he thought we would be cheap with the tip b/c of the low amount we were spending. But in being slow, he caused that situation; we went into the restaurant actually having a conversation about how we needed to tip MORE to make up for the low cost.

He brought the bill without offering dessert. I was wearing my birthday button, it was actually ON my birthday, and last year that restaurant was giving the birthday person a special mickey beignet. He didn't do that. We wanted beignets so we called him back (he put the bill down and started walking) and ordered. DH left the table to, he said, go to the restroom. It took, oh, I'd say 20 minutes for the beignets to show up. I was livid by this time (lots of time to watch how fast he was helping other tables) and when he dropped off the beignets I asked for to-go boxes. And then DH came back, we started eating the beignets, and it took just long enough for us to finish those for the boxes to appear.

The server took a table that might have taken under 40 minutes to eat, and was so slow it was almost 2 hours at that table. He caused a bad situation all around.

When DH excused himself, he actually found the manager. She apologized and took our bill down by a good amount. Because of that (and because the server had brought more goat cheese and didn't charge for it), I asked DH to tip more than the zero he was going to tip, though I'm still not sure I was right. I do know he was right to find the manager, though!

Why should my Starbucks barista get a tip? I already payed $5 for my drink. Shouldn't the cost of making the drink be included

I would actually bet that the tip jars started because people *wanted* to tip. I remember someone wanting to give me a tip when I worked at Jack in the Box! So something started because people wanted to give money, and now it seems compulsory. However, I was just reading that many s'bux stores are raising the prices on their more complicated drinks, and lowering the cost of simple coffee. So yes, it is included in the cost of the drink.

FWIW, the minimum for bad service is 0%.

Agreed, if it's bad enough, and the management doesn't help at all (or it was so bad it didn't matter what management did).

...a tip of 18% will automatically be added to her bill at WDW since they are a family of 6.

Another good point that someone might not know!

On a side note, my boss eats out lunch most days with a group of his friends and at the end of each year, they pick one waitstaff at one of the restaurants they eat ate who gave them great service over the year and leave them a $150-$250 tip for the holidays.

Gosh. I would think it would be nicer for the whole place if they'd just give a divided tip to all the waitstaff who had helped them throughout the year.

What we did to lessen the blow was I budgeted ahead of time and came up with an average of $20 per table service meal. I placed that cash in a seperate envelope and paid for all tips in cash out of that envelope. I planned for it ahead of time, so I wasn't shellshock when I got the bill.

I like it! We used our coin jar to do the tips for various things on our last trip to DLR, and it was really lovely, having a special amount just for tips.

 

[delmar411]

Wow! There are a great many differing opinions on tipping, so I thought I'd add mine... those percentages at the bottom of your bill are guidelines or suggestions. I have waited tables myself and the only rule of tipping I have ever followed is if you earned it, you will receive a good tip. What constitutes a good tip isn't based on what the table beside me gave or the amount I payed for a bottle of wine. If the meal we had totalled $70 and I received excellent service I may very well leave $20 as a tip. However, if I ordered a bottle of wine that night and my bill totalled $150 because I ordered a bottle of wine, I still would tip the same. Why? This is in part to fact that the $100 bottle of wine I ordered was served to me no differently
than the $40 bottle I ordered yesterday. I liked one of the previous quotes that mentioned telling the waitress ahead of time and I might have to try that..."Well you've started out around $20, what you end up with is entirely up to you." You may actually get better service this way. As for buffets...$5-10 maximum. Service has declined due to all of the suggested/mandatory tipping...if you provide us with horrid service,expect the tip or lack there of to reflect it. So budget for your usual tip rate and if they don't earn it...don't leave it. It is after all your vacation!

And why exactly should your server PAY to serve you? I promise you aren't so entertaining that your server wants to pay out of their own pocket for the pleasure!

Seriously, what is so hard to understand about what happens on the back end for servers? Servers tip out based off SALES, not tips and tip outs are not optional. Servers also have to claim taxes based off SALES, not tips. If you don't like the system, then figure out a way to change it but you aren't going to change it by stiffing a bunch of servers who only want to pay their bills.

 

[toddlers_mom]

Not sure if its different in Fl but it is *NOT* $2 in MI(or IN or OH or IL) it is mininum wage which is 7.45...The waiters report the tips and if they are not making the 7.45 the company picks up the rest. At the restaurants I have managed if a server does not make it 3 times it typically was grounds for dismissal as if your tips were THAT low EVERY time you set foot on my floor...you were not made to be a waiter. At 1 and 2 there were write up/meeting. Also if for any reason if the shift was cut short it would be adjusted or if i had 5 of 8 servers not make it that night (could have been a kitchen issue etc) but if EVERYONE else made it without issue and a server failed 3 times....It is not customers being "cheap"

Also I will remind EVERYONE 15% is an accepted amount. It isnt a law(at least in my state) Tip what you feel the service was worth BUT if you tip under the "accepted" norm I highly suggest contacting the manager on floor. Also even if you can only afford the 15% but serice was FAR above this Contact the manager. You dont have to say "i could only leave" or anything like that BUT most major chains have guest "wow" promotions which actually are worth far more then the % typical for people to leave amazing service because sadly people are always more willing to complain then appreciate so companies know that if the service was so good that you feel the need to tell the manager the worker deserves a bonus

simply my 2c from spending way to many years in food service LOL

ETA ok saw someone mention that 2$ isnt what FL is...still surprised that they dont have to match up to the state min

and I have been out of "tippable" service for 4 years now so perhaps they have moved off from that....

Server wage is $2.13/hour in Indiana. Sure, the employer has to match the employee if their tips plus hourly wage don't equal $7.45/hour, but heck, they could have a $5.32 tip from one table while waiting on 5 tables at once. Which means that maybe 4 tables didn't tip leaving that person ONLY with minimum wage, not matched, AND taxed. Everyone SHOULD tip because servers are taking over your "job" or role at home by offering you a service.

 

[toddlers_mom]

also realize that tipping %'s really do vary based on your location. Tipping 20% here in the midwest (even in the big city I'm in) is very high (even 15% is high) and 10% is still really the norm.

On a side note, my boss eats out lunch most days with a group of his friends and at the end of each year, they pick one waitstaff at one of the restaurants they eat ate who gave them great service over the year and leave them a $150-$250 tip for the holidays.

I'm not sure where you live, but I live in Indianapolis. Midwest and the largest city in the state. 20% is definitely not considered too high here and neither is 15%. I'd feel terrible about myself if I left someone a 10% tip.


And to the person who commented on servers supposedly making $50/hour. Where do you eat?! I served at a bar, where servers typically make more money in one shift and per hour than one in a sit down restaurant. In one 8 hour shift I'd probably bring home around $200 for a night where I closed. About half of what you claim...

However, I'd like to know where that place is so I can submit my resume! It would be better off than nursing!

 

[ReneeA]

Server wage is $2.13/hour in Indiana. Sure, the employer has to match the employee if their tips plus hourly wage don't equal $7.45/hour, but heck, they could have a $5.32 tip from one table while waiting on 5 tables at once. Which means that maybe 4 tables didn't tip leaving that person ONLY with minimum wage, not matched, AND taxed. Everyone SHOULD tip because servers are taking over your "job" or role at home by offering you a service.

Server wage is only $2.65/hr in Michigan. See here:

http://blog.laborlawtalk.com/2008/03/13/michigan-tipped-minimum-wage/

So for everyone that doesn't tip because they don't like the custom, you are costing these people money. The government assumes that they are making a certain percentage and tax them on that...so that $2.65 an hour doesn't even pay the taxes for them.