Tipping at table sit downs

[JohnLocke]

15% mostly, it will go up depending on service.

 

[pluto77]

I agree with the 10-15% for buffets and 15-20% for regular (if the service is really bad I may go lower than 15, if it's really good I go on the higher side). I also adjust my tip a little bit more if we get waters instead of regular drinks since the server is doing just as much work bringing me a free water as a coke that costs.

 

[Tomi-Rocket]

terrible at math.....

Okay, so I'm terrible at doing math in my head and that affects my ability to figure out a tip. I'm sure the way I used to do it is TweedleDum's way but I usually tip 20% and the way I used to figure it out was to see what 10% of the total was (easy peasy) and then double it. Now I cheat by using the tip calculator on my cell! :brick: Also, $25.00 for a buffet tip for two people is a very generous tip!

 

[DABIGCHEEZ]

I tip what I feel appropriate for the services rendered. I still go roughly by the 10-15% for buffet and 20% for a sit-down, but I often think about the whole idea of tipping a certain %.

Why should a server bringing me a $30 steak dinner and drink order get more money(based on the 20%) then if I ordered a $15 burger and drink order? What more did the server of the steak do? Just a question, thats all.:shrug:

I know the whole line of that's how they(servers) make their money and all so I really do not want to debate that here AGAIN. is based on their service and in the above examples they both did exactly the same thing. Why does one deserve $6 and the other only $3?

 

[CaptainJackNO]

Most cell phones now have a tip calculator on them. Use that

If not, take your total bill cost, use the regular calculator and multiply the bill total by .15 for 15%, .18 for 18%, and .20 for 20%.

I use this rule:
Bad service or just barely okay service, 15%

Average service, pretty good 18%

Great service 20%

And if you can only afford 15%, go with 15%. That is the minimum, after all. Most important thing in WDW is to have a great time. As long as you meet the minimum for tipping and limit your financial stress, you will have a great time. Have fun, and don't sweat the small stuff.

 

[snowpony]

Does one base the tip on pre-tax amounts or total amounts? I tip based on the total amount including taxes but have heard differently from others.

 

[UberPlannerMom]

Does one base the tip on pre-tax amounts or total amounts? I tip based on the total amount including taxes but have heard differently from others.

Tip on the pretax amount. Here in TN the tax rate is almost 10% so that can be a big difference.

I am not going to way in to much on how much to tip... but I will say that when I was a waitress we were told that if we didn't claim 10% of our bills then we were likely to get "looked over" by the IRS. I don't know if that was because the boss expected us to get 10 or because the IRS expected us to get 10, but either way, that seemed to be what was expected of ANY server, even the bad ones.

By the way, does anyone else remember when 15% was what was expected as a tip for good service? Now we give 15% if they roll their eyes, pop their gum and refuse to refill drinks! What is up with that? It can't be inflation- because the meals went up in price so going by a percentage, so did the tips!

 

[djdan]

Why should a server bringing me a $30 steak dinner and drink order get more money(based on the 20%) then if I ordered a $15 burger and drink order? What more did the server of the steak do? Just a question, thats all.:shrug:

I know the whole line of that's how they(servers) make their money and all so I really do not want to debate that here AGAIN. is based on their service and in the above examples they both did exactly the same thing. Why does one deserve $6 and the other only $3?

Good question. I used to be a waiter at a fairly high end restaurant, and there are two differences:

1. The expectations of customers when they're paying more for dinner
2. The knowledge a server needs to posses when making suggestions on the menu

Generally, places that serve high quality steak, serve many different cuts, along with different sauces, cooking variations, etc...when a customer ask a question about this, a server needs to know the answer on the spot. In addition the server will need to know about wine pairing.

 

[disneygirl1]

I think it all depends on the service!!! we are usually 18-20% tippers, but I swear the last few buffets we been to at Disney I feel like I literally had to chase down my server to get a drink refill or for them to bring me our check. In which case I think I am being more then generous in giving them a 15% tip! We had such a BAD experience with our server at Cape May Cafe last Sept. I seriously almost walked out!!!

 

[mom2boys]

We always tip between 18-20% unless the service is blatently bad due to the server (not kitchen mistakes, just the server being rude). Even then we do 15%. But in Disney people are usually very friendly anyway so I'd say 18-20%

 

[ThreeCircles]

I use this rule:
Bad service or just barely okay service, 15%

Wow. Really? Bad service at 15%? Certainly it's up to the individual doing the tipping but bad service earns no tip from me. Usually very uncommon, and I don't think I've ever experienced it at Disney, but I'm not one to pay for poor service.

Generally I start at 10% and go from there. 15% is my top out. Tipping has just become obnoxious in the United States. It's so refreshing to travel to international destinations where they pay their employees a decent wage and tipping is not expected.

 

[tizzo]

Wow. Really? Bad service at 15%? Certainly it's up to the individual doing the tipping but bad service earns no tip from me. Usually very uncommon, and I don't think I've ever experienced it at Disney, but I'm not one to pay for poor service.

This is correct. 15% is not a minimum, it requires standard quality service. If you find yourself disappointed by the service you're getting, then 15% is absolutely too much.