Tipping Info Thread for Disney Dining

[Tricia1972]

She will count as a 6th both towards party size (because so many Disney restaurants operate at capacity, every single body in the restaurant needs to be counted) and she'll also count towards party size for the automatic gratuity threshold.

 

[smidgy]

infants do take up room, whether they eat or not, so they need to be counted in the party size in order to fit the party,

as far as the tip is concerned, I wouldn't worry about it. they don't charge extra for the infant, even if you did feed him a little mashed potatos or whatever. and most people are going to tip anyway, so it wouldn't make any difference.
(the tip isn't based on the number of people, but the amount of the bill)

 

[smidgy]

i work at a restaurant, and the problem with not counting infants as part of the party comes with setting up tables.

coming up: we have a Christmas buffet. usually big parties. groups of 6, 8 12, or even 20 or 22.!
so when we set up the tables we set it up for that many spaces. so, we set up a table for, say 18, then the party comes in and says, "well there are 18 of us, AND we need 2 high chairs. (even if you turn the high chair upside down, to set the infant seat IN it) and they think we can just "pull up" 2 high chairs. where ? in the aisle?
so NOW, we find out, you REALLY needed a table for 20 (even if the 2 little ones aren't eating anything at all but breast milk, which is fine, they still need the physical space). and the table is all set up for 18, but there is NO room to bring in 2 high chairs, and the nearest 2 top is already seated.
this is why "understating" the number in your party by not including little ones who won't be ordering a meal(to avoid the automatic tip) doesn't work. .
most people do not HOLD the baby THROUGHOUT the meal. (nor should they have to! I know I wouldn't enjoy my meal if I had to hold the baby the whole time) most high chairs are made to turn upside down, to set the infant chair in it, so when baby falls asleep (or is content), mom, too.!(or dad, but we all know it's usually mom!) can enjoy the dinner....
but that takes up space. you can't just place it "in the aisle". ( I need to walk through the aisle!) this is why Disney (or any restaurant) needs to know the total number of people, including infants, in your party.
as to whether this puts you at the "6 person or more" for the auto gratuity...
if it really bothers you, look at it this way... you are still taking up that amount of space in the server's station. it's just that your baby is taking up the space that a "paying customer" would have. 2 babies in one party, who are not eating, take up another 2-top, that the server could have in their station.
so: 2 couples , each with 2 little ones,, will take up 8spots. but, their bill will be less than the bill for 2 tables of 4. so, to protect the server, since her places in her station are taken, they add the 18% gratuity.(because a big portion of her station is taken up).
IF there is a problem with the server.. ie, bad service, rude server, etc,. where you felt 18% is not deserved,you are always free to bring that to the attention of the restaurant manager.
(all of my years as in the restaurant business, if someone felt the service was unworthy of 18% tip, I REALLY want to know that, and want to know the reason WHY, so it can be corrected).

 

[julirina]

most people do not HOLD the baby THROUGHOUT the meal. (nor should they have to! I know I wouldn't enjoy my meal if I had to hold the baby the whole time) most high chairs are made to turn upside down, to set the infant chair in it, so when baby falls asleep (or is content), mom, too.!(or dad, but we all know it's usually mom!) can enjoy the dinner....

I understand and appreciate what you're saying. But we *will* be holding this baby all through our meals. S/he will be too little to sit upright in a highchair, and we're not dragging a baby seat all around WDW with us -- s/he will probably spend time in a stroller in the parks, but at mealtimes s/he will be strapped to Mommy or Daddy in a sling or a wrap. It's just easier that way.

So while I would more than likely tip at least 18% anyway, it surprised me that a child who is not seated and is not eating is considered a guest at the table. I'm glad for the clarification so I know to expect the automatic gratuity...just surprised.

 

[smidgy]

as a server, and a mom, and a grandmom, I understand. you never know.
I just appreciate knowing the "possible" parameters, when dragging around tables and setting them up..
this is the whole reason for what disny calls "adrs: and other restaurants call "reservations,"
numerous times I have had people say "well, I didn't think had to include the 3 infants in the reservations.... I only included the 10 pAYING RESERVATIONS.

so, I set aside a table for for 10, physically moved tables aside for 10. set aside nearby for OTHER reservations, then had the original reservation say, "well,I didn't think l I needed to reserve space for the babies!" now I need space for 13!

 

[momof3poohlovers]

I have a different question. We were at Disney over Thanksgiving and were on the dining plan. The first night we were there, we ate at Cape May Cafe at the Beach Club. My 10 month old at the time was exhausted and cranky from being on an airplane all day so Dh and I left during dessert to walk him around a little and my mom decided to pay the bill. They charged us for 6 people instead of 7 and my mom for whatever reason didn't catch it. I noticed it the following night when I went to pay the bill and we were a credit shorter than we should have been. We went to the concierge desk at the Contemporary where we were staying and they credited us the one table service credit but they said there was nothing they could do about the tip. They charged us 18% gratuity for a party of 7 not 6 and so the server got approximately $8 extra than she was supposed to. I think this is wrong as first of all, she was horrible, the only server who was our entire trip, and second of all, it was a buffet, she brought us one drink the entire meal, no refills and we never saw her again until it was time to pay the bill and even then she did the bill wrong. After arguing with the concierge person about getting the extra $8 back, we gave up. We were told we would have to go back to the beach club and talk to the manager there and maybe we could get our money back. Has this happened to anyone else and if so, were you able to get the portion of your automatic tip back that they overcharged?

 

[jenseib]

I would think too, that the only thing to do was to go back to the restuarant and complain. You could possibly try to call now and see what they say, but my guess is that you are out the 8 dollars.

 

[minnie56]

My DD works in Le Cellier.
I know she has told me that people leave her gratuity...and later 'realize' they have left more than they planned on and she has to give it back so perhaps if you went to Cape May and explained the situation?

Myself, for $8 not sure I would take any time from enjoying my trip to do that but if it is bothering you that might be your best recourse?

 

[Tricia1972]

Leaving the servers 'worth' out of the discussion, I think that the only recourse would have been to ask about it directly at the restaurant at the time, or even stopping back the next day(s) when you were there. I am not sure that you'll be able to do much now about the $6.66 that you were overcharged.

I've never read about this happening before, but it's a good tip for everyone to check their bills when they have them with the totals to make sure that the auto gratuity is based on the correct 'base' bill.

 

[caroli]

I have a "stupid" question but I need to ask you this because customs and traditions are not always the same.

When do you exactly leave the tip?
Let's suppose they bring the bill and the total cost of the meal is $120. I pay with $200. They bring the change, and then I leave the tip?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Yes. They generally bring the check in some type of folder. Once you've paid the bill or signed the charge slip, you can leave the tip (of your choice) in that folder. If you're putting the tip on your credit card or room key, there's a line on the check where you can fill that in and add it to the total charge.

Both these options are, of course, assuming you are a party of one to five persons and choose to tip - since actual tipping can't be discussed here . If you're a party of six or more, as you can see from just reading page 18, an automatic 18% service charge will be added to your check.

 

[momof3poohlovers]

My DD works in Le Cellier.
I know she has told me that people leave her gratuity...and later 'realize' they have left more than they planned on and she has to give it back so perhaps if you went to Cape May and explained the situation?

Myself, for $8 not sure I would take any time from enjoying my trip to do that but if it is bothering you that might be your best recourse?

We are already home in California so going back to the Cape May is not an option. I didn't let it affect our trip at all, I only just thought about it when reading this thread so it really wasn't that big of a deal I just figured I was just curious if this had happened to anyone else and how it was resolved for them. Everyone is right, the bill should have been looked at carefully and I always do but this was the first time we have ever traveled with a baby and left someone else to check things over. I could have taken a bus back to the Beach Club but honestly for me it wasn't worth the couple of hours out of our trip it would have taken. To be honest, if she had been even a decent waitress, I probably wouldn't have even questioned the tip to begin with.

 

[chartle]

I have a "stupid" question but I need to ask you this because customs and traditions are not always the same.

When do you exactly leave the tip?
Let's suppose they bring the bill and the total cost of the meal is $120. I pay with $200. They bring the change, and then I leave the tip?

There are two ways to leave a tip when paying with cash. The first is the way you describe, get change and then leave cash for the tip in the little folder. Some places may use a small tray though.

The other is if maybe your bill was $33 and you want to leave an $7 tip, you can just put $40 in the folder and then when the server picks it up, they will usually say "OK I'll be right back with your change" at this point you just say "no change" and its understood that the server "keeps the change". You could also say "keep the change" but I don't because it sounds a little cliché to me.

For some TS restaurants in the US, you do not pay the server but up front at a central station. This is mostly for "diner" type restaurants like a Denny's. I know of no TS places that do this at WDW.

For these, you leave the cash tip at the table and then pay before you leave. If you are not sure which type is is, I have heard if the check is presented in a folder or tray the server will handle the money, if you just get a check you pay up front. Also If the server is handling the money, when they leave the check they may say something like "I'll pick this up when you are ready".

You can also just ask the server when you get the check.

Hope this helps.

 

[caroli]

There are two ways to leave a tip when paying with cash. The first is the way you describe, get change and then leave cash for the tip in the little folder. Some places may use a small tray though.

The other is if maybe your bill was $33 and you want to leave an $7 tip, you can just put $40 in the folder and then when the server picks it up, they will usually say "OK I'll be right back with your change" at this point you just say "no change" and its understood that the server "keeps the change". You could also say "keep the change" but I don't because it sounds a little cliché to me.

For some TS restaurants in the US, you do not pay the server but up front at a central station. This is mostly for "diner" type restaurants like a Denny's. I know of no TS places that do this at WDW.

For these, you leave the cash tip at the table and then pay before you leave. If you are not sure which type is is, I have heard if the check is presented in a folder or tray the server will handle the money, if you just get a check you pay up front. Also If the server is handling the money, when they leave the check they may say something like "I'll pick this up when you are ready".

You can also just ask the server when you get the check.

Hope this helps.

Thank you so much.
In Argentina it's the same way, but whenever I try to avoid "keep the change" and say another thing instead, the servers do not understand and bring me the change anyway and then I have to say "no, that's for you" or sth

 

[Tricia1972]

Just a gentle reminder that commentary on tipping practices and discussion of personal tipping habits isn't for the restaurant board.

If you have any questions about the Tipping Thread Guidelines, please take a few moments to read the first post of the thread.

Thanks!

 

[tryinginaustin]

Okay, I have read 6 pages of the thread and I think I know the answer, but better be safe than sorry...

We are going on a GG in June. Three families, but will always eat together. So, we ask for 3 separate checks at the beginning, BUT each check will have their portion of the 18% gratuity?

Thanks and sorry if this has been asked 52,000 times and different ways!!

 

[smidgy]

no need to apologize!

you are correct. since you will be a party of 6 or more, 18% will be added. each check will have 18% of that check (and that check only) added on.

eat hearty!

 

[jking6]

Im sorry if this has been asked already but I am a little fuzzy on it. On our next disney trip we are going to the HDDR and will be a group of six so will the tip be 18%?

 

[jenseib]

Im sorry if this has been asked already but I am a little fuzzy on it. On our next disney trip we are going to the HDDR and will be a group of six so will the tip be 18%?

Tip is included in the price

 

[keatonsmommy03]

I don't know if this has been on here before and we are not a family that usually valet parks but last year had a really hard time finding a spot at a couple of the resorts for meals so maybe this time around we might. When you valet park do you tip the person that takes the car or the person that brings it back or both?

thanks