Tipping

[ladybugg661]

I am wondering is it proper etiquette to tip the DL guides?
In a group tour? private tour? Plaids?
Is there a social "protocol" for tipping while at DL or DCA? What about wait staff? counter service?
Thanks in advance!

 

[Bud Ice]

Wait staff, bartenders..most definitely. 20% minimum.
Counter Service and Plaids. IIRC Plaids politely refuse, doesn't hurt to offer.
Counter Service especially if you see a tip jar. Be very nice and perks are possible.

 

[ParkHopper1]

VIP tour guides are now permitted to accept tips on first attempt. That does not apply to guided tours. Other than valet, wait staff, mousekeeping and other normally tipped positions the protocol is to deny acceptance of a tip...that is unless the guest is instant. The CM must refuse 3 times then can accept the tip.

The joke goes..."Here is a tip"..."No, No, No...I can't"...they they are good to accept!

 

[SMD]

Wait staff, bartenders..most definitely. 20% minimum.
Counter Service and Plaids. IIRC Plaids politely refuse, doesn't hurt to offer.
Counter Service especially if you see a tip jar. Be very nice and perks are possible.

When did 20% become the new minimum? For large parties Disney only adds an 18% gratuity. Absent impeccable service or a situation where the bill total is low, like sharing an entree, I start at 15% and will round up a few dollars to get it closer to 18%, but rarely would I exceed a 20%. Is it different in states where servers don't make at least minimum wage before tips?

 

[califlorican]

Yeahhhh I don't think 20% is the minimum..that's usually what I give if service is amazing or if a bill is really low (like $10 or something). I would start at 15% or so, and go up if service is good/great.

 

[MichelleWDWfan]

I have also heard when you have a "Plaid" for a private VIP tour, you can buy them a meal if you stop to eat during the tour.
For Mousekeeping if you are staying on property:
I always tip Mousekeeping $1 per per person in the room/per day.
You should leave a tip daily, because you may not have the same Mousekeeper every day.
Also you should write a note that the tip is for them or make a special envelope for them.
I print designed mousekeeper envelopes. Google search "Mousekeeper envelopes" and you will find sites that you can print them out.
Servers:
I always also tip servers at Table service restaurants and bartenders when I buy a drink. I base my tip % on how exceptional the service is.
If the service is top notch, I tip 20% or more.

 

[Bud Ice]

Knowing those who serve the public at Disneyland, people do notice
those who tip generously and those who don't. 5%-10% extra can
make a difference. Part of the reason things are better at a Carthay
Circle and Steakhouse 55 is the waitstaff expect folks to be generous
with the gratuity.

 

[Indiana Scott]

There is no "minimum".
Tip accordingly. I tip 25~30% or more for great service or just a server that I notice is working extremely hard. Normal service gets 15% and lousy service, like never refilling my drink or checking back with us gets a server zero.

 

[ladybugg661]

Thank you all! What about if some pixie dust was sprinkled and you won a VIP Tour would tipping be accepted?

 

[agamble]

When did 20% become the new minimum? For large parties Disney only adds an 18% gratuity. Absent impeccable service or a situation where the bill total is low, like sharing an entree, I start at 15% and will round up a few dollars to get it closer to 18%, but rarely would I exceed a 20%. Is it different in states where servers don't make at least minimum wage before tips?

Servers in CA do make minimum wage plus tips though, so saying there is a minimum is a bit out there. It's a hard job and as long as I feel that they were caring I tip 15%+, but we recently had an experience (not at Disney) where the food and service were horrible. I left a small tip because I know people are taxed on tips, but I was not happy with service.

 

[tarheelalum]

As someone who survived college bartending and waiting tables, 20% is the minimum I tip unless they are total jerks. Great service gets 25-30%.

 

[Avery's mom]

Thank you all! What about if some pixie dust was sprinkled and you won a VIP Tour would tipping be accepted?

I would pay that pixie dust forward. I don't know if the plaid would know you won it and even so - I don't really think it makes a difference. Some VIP tours are paid, some are gifted, some are included in Club 33 membership, etc....yet the plaid does the same great work, right? So, imho, they should be tipped regardless of how the tour came about.

 

[Malcon10t]

I rarely get poor service at DL. I generally tip our tour guides $10-15 per hour, plus buy their meals. Servers/bar staff, 20-30% (been known to do 50%.) Mousekeeping $5-10 a day.

If I encounter poor service, instead of not tipping, I usually ask to speak to a manager.

If a non-tipped position is offered a tip, they must refuse. After 3 refusals, they will accept, it is turned over to their lead and donated to the current charity (I think it is currently CHOC.)

 

[Mommy26]

Am I the only one here that hates tipping?

I wish it would just be included in the price.

My dad used to work for tips and always tried to work hard, but never knew how much he was going to make. Some of his coworkers would work less but make more than him because they wore short skirts and bent over a lot.

He believed in providing excellent customer service to everybody, even if they didn't have the money for an "excellent" tip.

I find it socially awkward, and sometimes unfair.

 

[5forMickey]

"I would pay that pixie dust forward."

We have always been good tippers even when our kids were small. I wanted to add that my Daughter works a second job as a waitress while going to college. Some people tip well, some not so good on the average it works okay. What I wanted to share is that there have been times when she has been quite down on her luck so to speak (and hates to call home for help), like once she literally ran out of gas driving to work and had to walk three blocks. For whatever reason, it always seems like some little angle steps into her life at moments like that and leaves a very large tip (that night someone left her $100.00 on a $25.00 bill). It makes me cry the times this has happened to her so I just want to tell you all that while I'm in the camp that hates tips, those that are trying to survive on them really appreciate people that spread "pixie dust" in their lives. She never receives enough to be in the rich camp, but it helps her get through unexpected shortfalls. Sometimes it's not even about the money but it can be a real pick me up to a bad day. So if you have ever made someone's day extra special Thank You!

 

[disneychrista]

When did 20% become the new minimum? For large parties Disney only adds an 18% gratuity. Absent impeccable service or a situation where the bill total is low, like sharing an entree, I start at 15% and will round up a few dollars to get it closer to 18%, but rarely would I exceed a 20%. Is it different in states where servers don't make at least minimum wage before tips?

It must be 30% in those states, because minimum wage in California is $9/hr and soon to be $10 (January 1st).

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I think we are an extremely generous lot, and people shouldn't feel guilty for tipping 15%. I tend to tip generously, but that's because I can. However, I hate the whole tipping expectations forced on the consumer.

 

[jammyjam25]

Tip whatever you feel comfortable with, but I agree with most here that the average is around 15%, then higher or lower according to service. My husband is in the restaurant industry and is intimately familiar with what wait staff and cooks go through each night so we always bring our patience and tip generously when we eat out.

Semi-related: I live in the Seattle area where servers make state ($9.47) or city of Seattle ($11) minimum wage and then tips, but some restaurants here are abandoning tips now that the minimum wage will eventually move up to $15/hour over the next few years. One restaurant chain has already bumped all their staff up to $15/hour early and has dropped tipping. It'll be interesting to see if other restaurants around here follow suit!