Gratuity

[B Shull]

I have looked at several postings and I an sure this question has been asked and answered somewhere but here it goes.
I visited Disney world in 1986 and was there 6 nights with the Gold Key package which included 3 meals a day and use of all recreational facilities available at the time. We stayed in what was called The Villias at that time and had an included golf cart that we drove to Downtown Disney and to a restruant that was near by. There was only the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and River Country. This was my first trip and mhave stopped counting but it is over 10 times. I still have the key card and was going to post a pic of it.

Any how enough of history on to my question.

I have had the DDP 2 other times before back in 2007 and 2008 and they both included gratuity. I seen on the DDP pamphlet a photo of a receipt that showed a charge for overages of your meal but nothing about the gratuity. I have read elsewhere something about a suggested tip listed somewhere on the ticket of 18% and 20% for you to choose or something like that. I am confused. Do I need to bring money to tip or is there a suggested tip listed on the ticket and you choose it and have it add to your overages and back billed to my room. I am traveling only my wife on my package and will be dining with a daughter and boyfriend on another package so all my reservations will be for 4 people so the auto gratuity does not apply. So we will have 2 checks and both on the standard DDP. Is the customary tip shown on the ticket or do you calculate your own tip and will it be charged back to the room or do I need cash.
I think it was simpler when it was all included but this can't be too complicated. Just looking forward to a happy trip.
24 days to Disney

 

[Master Yoda]

It is customary to tip somewhere between 15%-20%, but you can tip any amount you wish. You can pay the tip by charging to your room, with cash or by putting it on a credit card different that the one you have attached to your room.

 

[psukardi]

Shame Disney can't just adjust the price of their menus and pay their people a living wage instead of having the burden on the consumer to subsidize the income of someone that simply brings food to my table.

 

[xdan0920]

Shame Disney can't just adjust the price of their menus and pay their people a living wage instead of having the burden on the consumer to subsidize the income of someone that simply brings food to my table.

How could there be so much wrong, with such a short post.

Your problem is not with Disney. It is with the food service business in general in the US. Also, a good waiter/waitress does far more then "just bring food to your table".

Also, you want Disney to adjust the prices on their menu, to pay higher wages. To avoid the consumer having the burden? Who exactly would be paying the higher prices?

 

[wiigirl]

How could there be so much wrong, with such a short post.

Your problem is not with Disney. It is with the food service business in general in the US. Also, a good waiter/waitress does far more then "just bring food to your table".

Also, you want Disney to adjust the prices on their menu, to pay higher wages. To avoid the consumer having the burden? Who exactly would be paying the higher prices?

Agreed....I was waitress in college, tough tough job. Tipping is just the way its done, and I always tip and plan for it.

 

[psukardi]

OK. Someone explain to me why I should have to tip more if I ordered a bottle of wine vs a glass of water? IF I ordered the steak or ordered the house salad?

If they don't feel they make enough, they can get a different job. It's not that hard to ask someone what they want to order and bring the food.

Anyway, you don't tip the person at McDonalds do you? You give them the order for the food.

 

[Weather_Lady]

I'd much prefer to have control over the tip, than to have my server on a fixed salary, knowing that the quality of service they give me won't affect their compensation!

That being said, waiting on tables is a hard job and many of my family members have done it. As a result, I was always taught to be a generous tipper. At least knowing the percentage range ahead of time helps us to budget for it.

 

[PhilharMagician]

With the DDP you are now responsible for the tip. You are correct that back in 06' and 07' the tip was then included along with an appetizer.

As far as overages, they would only be when you order something outside what is covered like alchoholic beverages or appetizers. Please refer to the list in the DDP brochure. It tells you how many meals per day and what is included in each meal.

You can charge any tips or extras to your room charge (if you set up the room charge when you check-in at your WDW resort), pay cash or use a credit card.

 

[Weather_Lady]

Anyway, you don't tip the person at McDonalds do you? You give them the order for the food.

This is true -- because at a counter-service establishment like McDonald's, you're doing the legwork. There is no server handing out menus, bringing bread service, opening your wine, refilling your water, delivering your meal, checking on you, relaying communiques to the kitchen, and doing the same for a couple dozen other tables, etc. By the same token, there's no gratuity at Disney World counter service restaurants.

 

[PhilharMagician]

I'd much prefer to have control over the tip, than to have my server on a fixed salary, knowing that the quality of service they give me won't affect their compensation!

That being said, waiting on tables is a hard job and many of my family members have done it. As a result, I was always taught to be a generous tipper. At least knowing the percentage range ahead of time helps us to budget for it.

Then don't use a Tables in Wonderland card. When using the card, the bill automatically includes a 18% tip and of course a line to add more tip if you would like. If you have terrible service it does not matter since you have no control over that 18% charge. This really tweeks me when I go to a buffet and you see a waiter/waitress at your table twice for the entire meal and they end up with $20.

 

[PhilharMagician]

This is true -- because at a counter-service establishment like McDonald's, you're doing the legwork. There is no server handing out menus, bringing bread service, opening your wine, refilling your water, delivering your meal, checking on you, relaying communiques to the kitchen, and doing the same for a couple dozen other tables, etc. By the same token, there's no gratuity at Disney World counter service restaurants.

Then again, @ a buffet service they expect the same tip and do less than 1/2 the work at each table and get the same tip in many cases.

 

[Weather_Lady]

OK. Someone explain to me why I should have to tip more if I ordered a bottle of wine vs a glass of water? IF I ordered the steak or ordered the house salad?

If they don't feel they make enough, they can get a different job. It's not that hard to ask someone what they want to order and bring the food.

As to your first observation, it is true that some higher-priced foods don't require any additional work by your server. I suppose the inherent assumption behind the tipping "percentage" custom, however socialist it might sound, is that tipping by percentage is the most fair, since for those who can afford very expensive food, a slight increase in gratuity isn't going to hurt them -- for that steak and bottle of wine, you're talking about $5 or so in added gratuity.

You also need to understand that food servers are paid minimum wage (and often less): the bulk of their income is in tips. Tips are not a subsidy to their income: it IS their income. It's not like the waiters and waitresses of America rose up and demanded that this tradition arise. They didn't ask for it to be this way, nor I'm sure is it their preference, but they have to work within the long-settled pay structure. To assume that their job is easy is ignorant, and to suggest that if they're "unhappy" with their low wages, they should waltz out and adopt a new profession instead, ignores the economic realities of the current job market. Moreover, most of the servers I've known are terrific at their jobs and have been quite happy with their earnings, apart from the occasional run-in with a ardly, non-tipping diner.

 

[xdan0920]

Then again, @ a buffet service they expect the same tip and do less than 1/2 the work at each table and get the same tip in many cases.

Except...

At many buffets, the wait staff are also the bus staff. Therefore increasing their workload.

 

[xdan0920]

OK. Someone explain to me why I should have to tip more if I ordered a bottle of wine vs a glass of water? IF I ordered the steak or ordered the house salad?

If they don't feel they make enough, they can get a different job. It's not that hard to ask someone what they want to order and bring the food.

Anyway, you don't tip the person at McDonalds do you? You give them the order for the food.

Like I said, your issue is with the system as a whole, in the United States. It has nothing to do with DIsney. If you do not like the system we use, eat at home. Or McDonalds.

 

[psukardi]

As to your first observation, it is true that some higher-priced foods don't require any additional work by your server. I suppose the inherent assumption behind the tipping "percentage" custom, however socialist it might sound, is that tipping by percentage is the most fair, since for those who can afford very expensive food, a slight increase in gratuity isn't going to hurt them -- for that steak and bottle of wine, you're talking about $5 or so in added gratuity.

You also need to understand that food servers are paid minimum wage (and often less): the bulk of their income is in tips. Tips are not a subsidy to their income: it IS their income. It's not like the waiters and waitress of America rose up and demanded that this tradition arise. They didn't ask for it to be this way, nor I'm sure is it their preference, but they have to work within the long-settled pay structure. To assume that their job is easy is ignorant, and to suggest that if they're "unhappy" with their low wages, they should waltz out and adopt a new profession instead, ignores the economic realities of the current job market. Moreover, most of the servers I've known have been quite happy with their earnings, apart from the occasional ardly, non-tipping diner.

If they are paid minimum wage it's because the market dictates that the value of their service is minimum wage. There is a reason a waitress makes minimum wage vs the accountant whom makes $35 an hour. Because it's not easy to be an accountant.

To assume their job is easy is based on cold hard facts. If they had a specialized skill set, the market force would change accordingly and they'd get paid more. But it doesn't because it's not a skill set.

And worst of all is the social norm where the tipping range keeps sliding. There was a time where a tip was for going above and beyond. Then it was "You have to tip 15%..." then it was "You have to tip 20%" Next thing you know you'll be tipping 25% for someone to refill your water, hand you a menu, and bring you your food. All of which are their job requirements.

You don't tip the person at McDonalds because that's their job requirements and they haven't gone above and beyond.

 

[psukardi]

Like I said, your issue is with the system as a whole, in the United States. It has nothing to do with DIsney. If you do not like the system we use, eat at home. Or McDonalds.

Or I'll continue to eat at fine establishments and tip what I feel is appropriate. The bill dictates that I pay for the goods/services rendered. I order the food, I pay for the food. It's quite simple.

 

[xdan0920]

Or I'll continue to eat at fine establishments and tip what I feel is appropriate. The bill dictates that I pay for the goods/services rendered. I order the food, I pay for the food. It's quite simple.

Alrighty....

 

[Weather_Lady]

Or I'll continue to eat at fine establishments and tip what I feel is appropriate. The bill dictates that I pay for the goods/services rendered. I order the food, I pay for the food. It's quite simple.

The best wish I can offer you is, "may your tipping philosophy in those restaurants be forever unknown and your food thus un-spat-upon."

 

[Spikerdink]

Or I'll continue to eat at fine establishments and tip what I feel is appropriate. The bill dictates that I pay for the goods/services rendered. I order the food, I pay for the food. It's quite simple.

I have to ask....let's say you and your significant other go to a restaurant. you order appetizers, entree, dessert and the waiter/waitress has been very attentive in refilling your drinks/water and getting you more bread and relaying any other information you need to the kitchen staff. The bill comes out to exactly $100. You were happy with every aspect of your dining experience. What do you tip?

 

[luv]

Tips are no longer included on the dining plan.

OK. Someone explain to me why I should have to tip more if I ordered a bottle of wine vs a glass of water? IF I ordered the steak or ordered the house salad?

If they don't feel they make enough, they can get a different job. It's not that hard to ask someone what they want to order and bring the food.

Anyway, you don't tip the person at McDonalds do you? You give them the order for the food.

You shouldn't. You shouldn't tip at all. You are excessively outspoken on the hardships these tips place on you and your contempt for the whole idea of it.

So, just stop tipping.

You wouldn't be the first. There are people out there who don't do it. You can be one of them. Nobody holds a gun to your head.

If you want to tip your server, do it. If you don't, don't. It really is that easy.