Question on tipping with free dining plan

[I_heart_Tigger]

I have a vacation booked for August which includes the free dining plan. I understand the type of plan they include for free does not include tips. Just wondering how the tips work.

Do you charge them to your room or should I have cash? (I'm from Canada, not the US so I would need to budget that when I get money exchanged)

Also, since I'm a foreigner, just wanted to see what the average tip is so I don't come off like a stingy old miser, I seem to recall that tipping in the US is usually higher than tipping in Canada due to the rates of pay

Finally...do they ever automatically add the tip onto the bill? I'm not a fan of that since I like to decide what to tip and don't like to be told exactly what I'm tipping. I don't mind following guidelines but lets just say, you'll get the minimum end of the guideline if you're not a good server but if you go out of your way to please me...you'll be rewarded generously (most Disney servers are in the latter, of course)

Thanks for your help

 

[Monty]

You can charge the tip to your room. Or cash...

I generally tip 18-25% in WDW. I've only ever left less when I had abysmal service at LTT one time [I left two pennies - and then felt guilty about it the rest of the evening, but it was really bad service!]

 

[kitten2299]

I have a question too about tipping what is the dollar amount you use to judge your tip? Is it the full price of the meal or the price with the 30% discount they say you save on food by using the plan? we used the DDP in 2007 when tip was included but never saw how they calulated it.

 

[brent2124]

Tip should be based on the pretax total. I dont think it should have anything to do with the amount of money WDW says you can save. The you can save concept is based on eating the most expensive items on the menu at the most expensive restaurants.

 

[disneyfamilyjd]

As a waitress for 8 years while atending school, I would say that 20-25% is the norm. It should be the final bill total that you tip on, after tax. What a lot of people don't realize is how little food servers get paid. In Massachusetts, we only make $2.63 an hour, so tipping is really the only money we take home. I completely agree however, that you should tip based on service, but seriously, 2 pennies???

 

[I_heart_Tigger]

In Massachusetts, we only make $2.63 an hour, so tipping is really the only money we take home.

That's why I wondered about the amount because at home I would normally tip 15% but our minimum wage for any postion including a tipped one is $8.60 per hour and upscale restaurants pay more, so there's a bit of a difference there.

Thanks for the advice

 

[ClemsonTigger]

Many of the bills issued at Disney restaurants have two tip percentages calculated on the receipt. I forget, it may be 18% and 20%.

 

[yankspy]

Many of the bills issued at Disney restaurants have two tip percentages calculated on the receipt. I forget, it may be 18% and 20%.

You are correct.

 

[Rob562]

One question not answered for the OP was instances where the tip is already included...

First, if you're a party of 6 or more, an automatic gratuity is required (I think it's 18%).

While 99% of the places at WDW don't include tip in the bill, there are a few locations where tip IS included when you're on the Dining Plan:
-Cinderella's Royal Table
-Hoop Dee Doo
-Spirit of Aloha
-Mickey's Backyard Barbecue
-Any Grand Gathering experience
-Any in-room dining/pizza delivery


-Rob

 

[Monty]

As a waitress for 8 years while atending school, I would say that 20-25% is the norm. It should be the final bill total that you tip on, after tax. What a lot of people don't realize is how little food servers get paid. In Massachusetts, we only make $2.63 an hour, so tipping is really the only money we take home. I completely agree however, that you should tip based on service, but seriously, 2 pennies???

It was an unusual circumstance of particularly horrible service. We were at Liberty Tree Tavern and the server only had to take our drink order and deliver the pre-determined food... He asked me to repeat "two white milk" not once but twice, then never delivered them. I had to flag down another server to get them. Then he ignored our table for the rest of our time there - he walked past regularly but never made eye contact, other servers delivered the different courses after they were cold - the meat platter was replaced by yet another server I flagged down and we never got refills on drinks. He showed up to drop off the bill without stopping...

I paid the bill with exact change inside the folder plus two pennies placed on top. Two pennies is a very clear statement that I didn't 'forget' to tip, rather I chose to leave exactly what I left. I stopped in the lobby and asked for a Manager. I gave his name and told the above story. The Manager offered to comp the meal and I said no, I had eaten and enjoyed what I had and the characters had come by and my son was happy [and completely oblivious to the bad service]. He gave us two LTT souvenir mugs.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

I usually tip about 20% no matter what the situation is. I will tip around 15% if the service is bad. While the norm is to tip the pre-tax amount, I often just give them the little bit extra with the tax included (I know food service is a tough industry).

You can charge the tips and any extras right to your room charge if you want. Cash is barely needed in WDW anymore.

 

[Lucky]

It was an unusual circumstance of particularly horrible service. We were at Liberty Tree Tavern and the server only had to take our drink order and deliver the pre-determined food... He asked me to repeat "two white milk" not once but twice, then never delivered them. I had to flag down another server to get them. Then he ignored our table for the rest of our time there - he walked past regularly but never made eye contact, other servers delivered the different courses after they were cold - the meat platter was replaced by yet another server I flagged down and we never got refills on drinks. He showed up to drop off the bill without stopping...

I paid the bill with exact change inside the folder plus two pennies placed on top. Two pennies is a very clear statement that I didn't 'forget' to tip, rather I chose to leave exactly what I left. I stopped in the lobby and asked for a Manager. I gave his name and told the above story. The Manager offered to comp the meal and I said no, I had eaten and enjoyed what I had and the characters had come by and my son was happy [and completely oblivious to the bad service]. He gave us two LTT souvenir mugs.

I waited tables for years, and I think you handled this very well. If a server is bad enough or (especially) surly enough to ruin your experience, he/she does not deserve a tip, and leaving him/her one will just encourage similarly poor service in the future. It's also useful to take the time to inform the manager of the problem, as you did. Ignoring bad service just perpetuates it.

 

[MissM]

I waited tables for years, and I think you handled this very well.

Actually, I disagree. I've had exceptionally horrible servers (not at Disney, elsewhere) in the past and had to rely on another server who ultimately brought us food and drinks and such.

When it was time to pay the check, I spoke with a manager and explained the problem, complimented the helpful server and handed the tip personally to the manager with the explicit instructions it was for the server who helped us - not the one who was assigned our table.

While it was good you spoke with the manager, you still should have left a tip for those who DID help you. Especially since they went above and beyond.

Just my two cents.

 

[RealHawker]

I have worked at 2 jobs in the past where my pay was pretty much tips

Restaurant, Car Wash

I tip 15% for basic service. 20% or more for someone who I felt went out of his way to service my table.

I tip 10% if I feel the service is sub-par, and I would speak to a manager if I felt the service was poor enough to warrant less than 10%.

Overall, I do no like the notion that employees are paid less, and expected to make it up in tips. I never feel "guilt" that someone only makes $ through tips. Earn your salary.

 

[Gig 'Em Mickey]

Easy. Look at the amount of tax, and double it. That's your "standard" tip. For exceptional service leave more. For terrible service leave less. A tip is earned. For good service I'm pretty generous. But with Lousy service I'll leave less.

 

[DisneyJoe]

While it was good you spoke with the manager, you still should have left a tip for those who DID help you. Especially since they went above and beyond.

Aren't tips pooled in many cases?

 

[yankspy]

Actually, I disagree. I've had exceptionally horrible servers (not at Disney, elsewhere) in the past and had to rely on another server who ultimately brought us food and drinks and such.

When it was time to pay the check, I spoke with a manager and explained the problem, complimented the helpful server and handed the tip personally to the manager with the explicit instructions it was for the server who helped us - not the one who was assigned our table.

While it was good you spoke with the manager, you still should have left a tip for those who DID help you. Especially since they went above and beyond.

Just my two cents.

One thing that should be remembered is that servers often work as a collective unit. There are many times when one gets busy and he grabs his buddy and says hey can you watch table 20 for me. The goal is that the table gets taken care of, no matter who is doing it. I am not saying that this applied to Monty's case since it seem as if he was ignored.

Easy. Look at the amount of tax, and double it. That's your "standard" tip. For exceptional service leave more. For terrible service leave less. A tip is earned. For good service I'm pretty generous. But with Lousy service I'll leave less.

You want to be careful with that system since tax varies from state to state. Some states have a very low sales tax so you may be inadvertently stiffing someone.

 

[Rob562]

You want to be careful with that system since tax varies from state to state. Some states have a very low sales tax so you may be inadvertently stiffing someone.

Especially as the highest state sales tax in the U.S. is California at 7.25% (and there's a few others at 7%). Doubling that wouldn't even get you to the "suggested minimum" 15%... And doubling Florida's 6% only gets you 12%.
Here in Massachusetts, we have 5% sales tax (though in a few weeks, who knows...) and it's simple to triple or quadruple it to get 15-20%.

-Rob

 

[Computer Magic]

There are only two of us and are needs are small. We don't require a lot. Plus Disney food is over charged. We tip $10 for a TS and $15-$20 for a Signature Service. We are there less then an hour.

 

[daverube]

For your benefit, I'm adding a link to a printable tip table. I've seen these for sale at certain stores. They are about the size/durability of a credit card. It will help with the calculations on 15% and 20% tips. If you want to give 25%, just divide the 20% number by 4 and then add it to the 20% number.

Standard tipping in the US is 15 - 20%; however, large parties in restaurants usually get an automatic gratuity of 18%.

http://www.itipping.com/free-tip-table.htm

my 2 cents...

dave