Tipping.

[DjdBrit]

I wasn't thrilled this April with paying the automatic 18% at WDW for tips. Our party of 6 was 3 adults and 3 kids one being under 3, since we were on the plan the 2 year old didn't have any entiltments, we did have meals where I didn't order anything for him but its party size thats charged. Fair enough we just took it in our stride, I did somewhat want to object to a $50 tip for the Beirgarten since our waitress brought us drinks and little else...
At least you knwo before you go and won't be shocked when you get there

Good luck and enjoy your trip.

 

[DjdBrit]

I think $50 might have been a little high but I remember our bill being HUGE and it was between $40 and $50. Our know our check was over $250 thanks to my Dad ordering a $50 bottle of wime and us all enjoying some nice German drinks

 

[willibobs]

We went in Tuskers (Animal Kingdom) and had their buffet there this year. Party of 15!. I did know about full service rule of 6 and over being 18% but this is NOT full service as you get your own food. Anyway when they brought the bill the 18% was added and I asked kindly for the waitress to remove it so I could tip what I felt was right. She point blank said NO! so I then asked for the manager and when she came I explained that this was not a full service and that $55 tip was a little steep for a round of drinks. Long story short, I was going to leave a tip but because of the hassle I left nothing.

I do tip and tip well if the service is good and worth it. Sonny's BBQ pit got early 50% tip when we went for my wife birthday (yes I know how to treat a girl) as they could not do enough for us and made the meal a fantastic memory.

 

[Pegasus928]

We went in Tuskers (Animal Kingdom) and had their buffet there this year. Party of 15!. I did know about full service rule of 6 and over being 18% but this is NOT full service as you get your own food. Anyway when they brought the bill the 18% was added and I asked kindly for the waitress to remove it so I could tip what I felt was right. She point blank said NO! so I then asked for the manager and when she came I explained that this was not a full service and that $55 tip was a little steep for a round of drinks. Long story short, I was going to leave a tip but because of the hassle I left nothing.

I do tip and tip well if the service is good and worth it. Sonny's BBQ pit got early 50% tip when we went for my wife birthday (yes I know how to treat a girl) as they could not do enough for us and made the meal a fantastic memory.

I totally agree that to be expected to pay $55 for someone to bring a round of drinks is way and above what could be called a reasonable sevice charge. I don't know of anyone that would argue against tipping a full service waitress who has spent the evening running around after us, making sure we got everything we wanted and had a night to remember, but it seems we are being made to pay for the restaraunt to be staffed up while we go and get our own dinner.
Does anyone know if the 'stories' surrounding waitresses are true - in that they are not included in the countries minimum wage laws as it is expected that they will get a large portion of their pay in tips anyway??
I can't remember where I heard this (probably while watching Resevoir Dogs )

Kenny

 

[disneyholic family]

We went in Tuskers (Animal Kingdom) and had their buffet there this year. Party of 15!. I did know about full service rule of 6 and over being 18% but this is NOT full service as you get your own food. Anyway when they brought the bill the 18% was added and I asked kindly for the waitress to remove it so I could tip what I felt was right. She point blank said NO! so I then asked for the manager and when she came I explained that this was not a full service and that $55 tip was a little steep for a round of drinks. Long story short, I was going to leave a tip but because of the hassle I left nothing.

I do tip and tip well if the service is good and worth it. Sonny's BBQ pit got early 50% tip when we went for my wife birthday (yes I know how to treat a girl) as they could not do enough for us and made the meal a fantastic memory.

being charged an automatic 18% tip on a buffet meal is outrageous!!!
that is the tip on a full table service meal, not on a buffet meal with drink service.

Truly outrageous!!

while i often tip that much on drink service buffet meals, that should NOT be automatic. That is for super good service. I would think the automatic charge on a drink service buffet meal should be 10% - although i'm not thrilled with the automatic tip as a general principle.

 

[Lizzybear]

Does anyone know if the 'stories' surrounding waitresses are true - in that they are not included in the countries minimum wage laws as it is expected that they will get a large portion of their pay in tips anyway??

Yep it's true, they're taxed as if they're getting tips aswell so it's not surprising why they can be so aggressive if they're not! We tip 15% but usually round it up so it ends up a little higher, a few times we tip higher like in California we tipped 20% in Buca Di Beppo. Partly because I knocked a glass of water over and they were really nice about it, but also because we really enjoyed the meal and discussion of the presidential candidate debate! I've never had bad enough service to leave nothing but if the situation warranted it I think i'd get hold of the manager first. Also, If it was to do with food quality I wouldn't penalise the server for it.

 

[CarolynU]

I always leave 20% for service that is competent, and luckily I have rarely received anything other than good service..... oh except for Le Cellier, where I left 15% but had a quiet chat with management afterwards. The young guy just needed a bit of re-training I think.
In hotel rooms I leave $3 per room per day. Not sure if that's enough or not.

 

[doverfox]

leave what you are comfortable with.
i run a computer shop and sometimes get silly little jobs such as showing someone how to turn on their wireless on the laptop and often just say put na couple of quid in the lifeboat for the rnli. some do some give us a fivert and say get a drink.
when you put the cost of meals in the states into context even with 15% tip in real terms its cheaper than eating out in the equilent restuarnt here.
dave

 

[#1MMFan]

I just purchased a Disney Dining Experience card (now called Tables in Wonderland apparently). With my annual pass it cost the family $60 and it gives 20% off a whole load of table service locations in Disney but even better (and we didn't realise this when we purchased) it automatically pays 18% tips to the server so no need to add the tip. We found this out after handing over $20 to our server in Kona Cafe and she very honestly said that she would get a tip from our disney dining experience card. She still got the $20 because she was so honest and pleasant. Just a FYI.

 

[DebIreland]

but even better (and we didn't realise this when we purchased) it automatically pays 18% tips to the server so no need to add the tip.

Wow! I thought with the DDE you were automatically *charged* 18% for a tip. Having it included would be a big money saver. I wonder did the server get confused.

 

[wayneg]

Wow! I thought with the DDE you were automatically *charged* 18% for a tip. Having it included would be a big money saver. I wonder did the server get confused.

This is correct, 18% is automatically added whatever party size.

Members receive a 20% discount on all food and beverage (including alcohol) for up to 10 people at participating table-service Disney restaurants. Effective January 1, 2008 a charge of 18% gratuity will be added to all Tables in Wonderland transactions, regardless of party size.

 

[buzz for boys]

Can you buy the tables in wonderland if you dont stay at disney hotels??

 

[#1MMFan]

Well, i think it does, but it's once the discount is taken off, and since we normally tip about 20% (which sometimes does seem a bit much for the [lack of] service) we think that's pretty good.

 

[#1MMFan]

Can you buy the tables in wonderland if you dont stay at disney hotels??

Yeah, I was told about it by Sally over at Epcot's ticket booths. Such a lovely lady and so enthusiastic. We were just purchasing our annual passes.

 

[Cyrano]

I just purchased a Disney Dining Experience card (now called Tables in Wonderland apparently). With my annual pass it cost the family $60 and it gives 20% off a whole load of table service locations in Disney but even better (and we didn't realise this when we purchased) it automatically pays 18% tips to the server so no need to add the tip. We found this out after handing over $20 to our server in Kona Cafe and she very honestly said that she would get a tip from our disney dining experience card. She still got the $20 because she was so honest and pleasant. Just a FYI.

I had understood that the Tables in Wonderland card meant that you were charged an automatic 18% gratuity. If the card pays 18% then you would only need a couple of meals to recover the $60 card fee. Is this what you meant

 

[#1MMFan]

$300 in meals will pay for the $60 card. And I usually tip 20% so 18% is a saving for me too. But yes, the 18% is added, but it does mean that you don't have to have change out if you are like me and my friends who panic trying to add the credit card charge up to an appropriate amount on the Total box!! haha