18% Auto gratuity for Party of 6?

[MadameGaston]

Nobody is objecting to tipping the server for busting his or her butt. What we object to is being FORCED to tip the server if he or she doesn't bust his or her butt. Or even worse, that he or she specifically elects not to but his or her butt because he or she knows that the 18% is guaranteed.

I completely get your point in that regard. Disney is just protecting their CMs. I have never heard of anyone nor have ever myself had a bad experience at a Disney restaurant. If at any point anyone does have a bad experience and alerts a manager they will remove the 18% tip from the bill but again, I have never heard of anyone having an issue.

Overall it is just easier to add the tip onto a big bill under the impression that your experience will be worth it rather than servers be undertipped or risk being undertipped again and again on large parties. Opposite of what most people believe, knowing you have a big tip coming makes most of us servers work extra hard, but if we have no idea what we're getting on a $300 bill or know we're getting a crappy tip makes us not want to work hard because it isn't worth the effort.

 

[buseegal]

to the OP if you drop baby from ressie and plan to hold you risk not being seated as baby counts in people in building. then you could be charged the $10.00 per person no show charge. you might get manger to get tip changed but I would plan on that not happening. the tip is based on the amount of bill and baby is not charged. you do need the baby on the ressie

 

[WDW_Jon]

The objective isn't to make you pay more for a tip or to pay a great tip to a less than adequate server but to ensure the server gets a decent tip after busting their butt for about an hour and a half for a large party and that they never get stuck with the $5 some people think is enough no matter what the bill is.

If you don't feel the service is worth 18% you can speak up and something will be done about it on your check but even at a buffet-style restaurant at least 18% is the deserved tip for good service. Whether or not it automatically gets added to the bill shouldn't make much of a difference

I understand and agree with your point on bad tipping, I just feel it's excessive if the service doesn't warrant it. It's not normal practice in the UK but we often tip 20% minimum in the US as I feel the service standards are a LOT higher so fully deserved.

I will however be dissapointed to be given an auto charge if the service doesn't warrant it and I'm not sure if I'd be willing to have the issue out on my vacation with a manager even though that Charge would ruin the experience a little...

I'm all for great service being rewarded but feel that's my call to make. We once had an off site experience on honeymoon where a rowdy party of about 12 left this poor guy about $5 on a $400 dollar bill where there was obviously no minimum % so myself and my wife were so pleased with this guys service we left him pretty much 50% to soften the blow!

 

[LuvtheGoof]

I will however be dissapointed to be given an auto charge if the service doesn't warrant it and I'm not sure if I'd be willing to have the issue out on my vacation with a manager even though that Charge would ruin the experience a little...

Even though I have never had to do it at Disney, I am willing to bet that if you asked for the manager, they would not only remove the tip if requested, they might very well comp part of your meal for the inconvenience.

I'm all for great service being rewarded but feel that's my call to make. We once had an off site experience on honeymoon where a rowdy party of about 12 left this poor guy about $5 on a $400 dollar bill where there was obviously no minimum % so myself and my wife were so pleased with this guys service we left him pretty much 50% to soften the blow!

Good for you!!! We've actually done the same thing in the past as well. We have seen servers get stiffed, so we leave extra for them.

 

[BuddyThomas]

The worst is when they wont allow you not to tip the auto on a few 200 bottle of wine.... Wedding at Four seasons they will not split it out.... I OBJECT TO THAT AS WELLL

Here is a very long and detailed article from the Times on tipping on expensive bottles of wine:

http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/01/the-answer-man-tipping-on-wine/

 

[HouCuseChickie]

1. We have been a party of 6 at WDW multiple times where #6 was a child under 3. We have been charged the auto 18% gratuity every single time.
2. It may seem crazy when an infant who is not on table food be included in this policy, but some kids start cereal at 3-4 mos and it can be very messy. Plus, it would be such a mess to try and determine which infants/under 3 kids should or shouldn't qualify for inclusion in the auto gratuity matter that I'm sure it was made policy for all 2 and under kids to eliminate any judgement issues.
3. We have only had one instance of poor service when an auto-gratuity was involved. We are normally 20% or more tippers, so we just left it at 18%. We've had some servers who have gone above and beyond at buffets while at WDW, so I normally don't mind the amount even though DH disagrees. Sure, we could have asked to speak to a mgr and they likely could have reduced it to 15% if they felt it was justified, but I wasn't so bothered to have to have a gripe fest about tipping.

 

[General Zondag]

I am firmly against being forced to do anything and that includes tipping!
If servers earn minimum wage, that's only because they accepted the job offer, for many this is just the first step (or the last) in their productive lives.
For me the issue is simple, if my meal was made 25% more enjoyable because of good service, then that's what I'll give, if it was only 5% better then 5% it is; and if it was less enjoyable, then I won't leave a penny.

I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion about the means. I think the best way of doing good to the poor is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. Ben Franklin

For the record, I do give to charity: Wounded Warrior Project, my way of saying thanks!

 

[Otterhead]

If servers earn minimum wage, that's only because they accepted the job offer, for many this is just the first step (or the last) in their productive lives.

Just to be clear, servers in the US don't make minimum wage. They are exempt from minimum wage law. Most servers make between $3 and $5 an hour; most of their income comes from tips. If you're giving them 5% or nothing, you are stealing. That is unethical.

 

[Otterhead]

I think the honest truth is that Disney is protecting its servers more so than restaurants in the "real world" have to, simply due to their clientele. Most of the world doesn't understand American tipping rules, and a great number of countries don't normally tip at all (because they pay their servers a living wage). Between those people and folks on vacation who simply say "dangit, I'm paying Disney prices for this food, I ain't tipping 18%, too!", they've probably found they HAVE to mandate tipping.

 

[Lucky]

Automatic tips for large parties has been common practice in US restaurants for a long time. The percentage, and what counts as "large," varies. Where I worked a long time ago large meant about 15 or more and it was 15%. I got a $1 tip once from a table of 10 or 12 people.

 

[jakeman]

Automatic tips for large parties has been common practice in US restaurants for a long time. The percentage, and what counts as "large," varies. Where I worked a long time ago large meant about 15 or more and it was 15%. I got a $1 tip once from a table of 10 or 12 people.

It only takes that happening once for you to auto-grat the crap out of people (I know in my brief, horrible, stent as a waiter it happened to me).

 

[Lord_Vader]

Nobody is objecting to tipping the server for busting his or her butt. What we object to is being FORCED to tip the server if he or she doesn't bust his or her butt. Or even worse, that he or she specifically elects not to bust his or her butt because he or she knows that the 18% is guaranteed.

The automatic tip is the result of too many large parties stiffing the wait staff, blame the patrons before us for not doing their part not the servers who bust their rear ends to provide service hopping the dining customers tip them.

I waited tables in college and you would be surprised at the tip variance among groups, large parties typically assume that since it is a large table they don't have to tip as much per-guest because many grew up with the notion that you tipped per-table and if you were there for two hours a $50 tip was more than sufficient on a $600 tab with a table of 30 that used two servers because a server shouldn't make more than $15/hr.

In more than 25 trips to WDW over the years we have only had two bad restaurant experiences, one in Morocco on my son's birthday and the other at Mickey's BBBQ which was primarily because of the drunk idiot we were sat next to. In general service in WDW restaurants is much better than typical full-service dining and head-over-heals better than any buffet I have been to but I do know WDW restaurant managers take their customers seriously.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

The automatic tip is the result of too many large parties stiffing the wait staff, blame the patrons before us for not doing their part not the servers who bust their rear ends to provide service hopping the dining customers tip them.

I waited tables in college and you would be surprised at the tip variance among groups, large parties typically assume that since it is a large table they don't have to tip as much per-guest because many grew up with the notion that you tipped per-table and if you were there for two hours a $50 tip was more than sufficient on a $600 tab with a table of 30 that used two servers because a server shouldn't make more than $15/hr.

In more than 25 trips to WDW over the years we have only had two bad restaurant experiences, one in Morocco on my son's birthday and the other at Mickey's BBBQ which was primarily because of the drunk idiot we were sat next to. In general service in WDW restaurants is much better than typical full-service dining and head-over-heals better than any buffet I have been to but I do know WDW restaurant managers take their customers seriously.

All very fair points. But I think it's a stretch to call a family of six (including one infant) a "large party." I also think that a foreign party of two unaccustomed to American tipping etiquette is much more likely to give their waiter the shaft than an American family of six.

 

[yedliW]

Just to be clear, servers in the US don't make minimum wage. They are exempt from minimum wage law. Most servers make between $3 and $5 an hour; most of their income comes from tips. If you're giving them 5% or nothing, you are stealing. That is unethical.

not tipping is not stealing. that is apples and oranges.

I think the honest truth is that Disney is protecting its servers more so than restaurants in the "real world" have to, simply due to their clientele. Most of the world doesn't understand American tipping rules, and a great number of countries don't normally tip at all (because they pay their servers a living wage). Between those people and folks on vacation who simply say "dangit, I'm paying Disney prices for this food, I ain't tipping 18%, too!", they've probably found they HAVE to mandate tipping.

this argument is counter to your previous one.. for an establishment to mandate tipping, is to pass off the cost of doing business onto the customer, that is as much stealing as your first argument. If you want to make sure your employees are fairly compensated, than pay them better.. don't force that onto your customers. I am usually opposed to mandated minimum wages in any form, but I think if we have it, than it should apply across the board and tips should go back to being what they were initially intended to be.. incentive to work harder.

For the record, I typically over-tip..

 

[Otterhead]

this argument is counter to your previous one.. .

Not in the slightest. American servers sadly have to work under minimum wage and are forced to work for tips. Disney employees are prone to being under-tipped or not tipped at all, more so than in, say, Chicago, because of the clientele. That's why I can understand them being especially protective of them and mandating tipping. If people (like the fellow above) choose to ignore that and refuse to pay a mandatory tip, that is stealing.

 

[Lord_Vader]

All very fair points. But I think it's a stretch to call a family of six (including one infant) a "large party." I also think that a foreign party of two unaccustomed to American tipping etiquette is much more likely to give their waiter the shaft than an American family of six.

If they take more than one table space they are a "large party" because servers only have two or three tables in WDW restaurants generally. If a party of six takes two of them, regardless of size/age, it is still 2/3 of their area and should count as such.

 

[Otterhead]

It may seem crazy when an infant who is not on table food be included in this policy, but some kids start cereal at 3-4 mos and it can be very messy.

This is a really good point, too. I regularly see infants throwing food all over the floor at WDW restaurants, and big messes for the waitstaff to mop up afterwards. In a way, I'd say that a lot of infants are more hassle for them than adults.

 

[WDW_Jon]

Automatic tips for large parties has been common practice in US restaurants for a long time. The percentage, and what counts as "large," varies. Where I worked a long time ago large meant about 15 or more and it was 15%. I got a $1 tip once from a table of 10 or 12 people.

5 + baby a large party? Not really

 

[Lucky]

5 + baby a large party? Not really

I agree but 6 is widespread in the US - it's not specific to WDW.

 

[Mouse_Trap]

Just tell the person who brings your cheque that you are not paying the discretionary service charge; and that you will tip an amount you feel is appropriate.

It is more about helping someone earn a living. God forbid we help each other out. It is sad to see someone with such a shameful attitude.

Employers should pay their staff period. No one here has mentioned not tipping what they think the service merited, just that they object to automatic tips. Why should there be an presumption to add 18%? Geeze good job we can't all add 15%-20% onto people's cheque just for providing them with the minimal necessary service.

Just to be clear, servers in the US don't make minimum wage. They are exempt from minimum wage law. Most servers make between $3 and $5 an hour; most of their income comes from tips. If you're giving them 5% or nothing, you are stealing. That is unethical.

Not true. An employer has to ensure that each member of staff earns at least the minimum wage defined by each state.
So if their tips don't cover their minimum wage x no of hours worked, then the employer must top it up to meet the minimum wage. If tips exceed the minimum wage then they don't.

Giving a server 0% or 5% is not stealing. Not at all.
Leaving without paying your cheque is stealing, there is a massive difference.
Unfortunately, it has come to the point where employers can not pay their employees and expect their customers to pay sufficient tips. Completely wrong in my view.
Tips should be on-top of a persons wages, to reward exceptional service.

Sorry, but there is no way on earth a buffet restaurant server should be getting 15-20% for what, bringing a couple of drinks and clearing some dirty plates.....that to my view, is the beginnings of the most basic service you expect in any restaurant.