Originally Posted By KCCHIEF When we go to DW or DL, I always book our restaurants....but last December, while at DW..everywhere we went, people all around us were using the Disney Dining plan....we did not...our average bill each night was 110 dollars for 4 and whether the server served us or only gave us drinks and kept taking the dirty dishes away...I tipped (I thought) very well....always around 30 dollars.....each time....my daughter says that was way to much....my husband was okay with it...just wondering what you guys do..
Originally Posted By vbdad55 $30 on $110 is mighty nice....I thought I was strong at 20% ( unless service is really bad then I cut that back) - I believe 18% is about average these days. Using the DDE card at WDW makes it easy for me - I just replace the discount....lazy man's way of tipping
Originally Posted By 8 ilovemickey 8 This got me thinking. I don't even know what I usually tip. Haha. I just do whatever I am in the mood for I guess and how I thought the service was. I really have no problem dipping my tip % down if I don't feel like I received decent service. I would say somewhere between 15%-18% is average as vbdad said. And I also agree that $30 is a very generous tip. I think I would tip that much for very good service.
Originally Posted By doombuggy I don't mind tipping IF it was deserved. Like at Goofy's Kitchen they add the tip to the bill when you pay. Which I always make them take it off cause the tip is up to me if they deserve it or not. And many times when we eat there we were lucky to get one refill of coffee or soda. If you work at a restaurant and you know your going to get a tip weather or not you do a good job makes some workers lazy.
Originally Posted By KCCHIEF I did not realize that Goofy's adds the tip...have they always done that? do other places do that? Maybe I am so excited about being there that I don't even notice.
Originally Posted By dlkozy I agree about Goofy's. It seems to me that the wait staff will work a little harder for their tips when they know it has not been paid for up front.
Originally Posted By friendofdd When I was much younger, a tip was 10%. That would usually be less than a dollar. I puzzle as to why the percentage has risen along with the prices, but go along with it as I want th servers to be properly compensated. For wretched service, I leave 25 cents so they will know I didn't forget to tip and I usually speak with the manager when leaving. For poor service, I give 10%. For average service, I leave 15%. For good Service, 20% and for outstanding service, 25%.
Originally Posted By Disneyma doombuggy- I had no idea you could have the tip removed! I hate the idea of pre-paying for service, and I agree last time the service was not up to par. Yet we have had wonderful service and I felt that the waitstaff did not receive a nice enough tip. At that time I leave something extra with the server. So, did you just ask to have the tip removed?
Originally Posted By avromark <<For wretched service, I leave 25 cents so they will know I didn't forget to tip and I usually speak with the manager when leaving>> In all honesty that is what my grandma tips no matter what. Every time you eat out with her you have to let her leave the table before you leave the tip or else she will take the tip you leave and pocket it. She's very adamant it's 25c. I tip on average 10%, frankly I think tips on average are getting to big, and that wait staff simply expect it. I think they need to earn it.
Originally Posted By threeundertwo I generally look at the tax and double it. That's about 15%. Then I increase that if the service was very good. It never occurred to me to ask them to remove the built-in tip at Goofy's.
Originally Posted By DLTheo That's what I was just going to say. I think the sales tax in Anaheim is around 7.7%, so doubling makes it just over 15%, then I usually round up so that the bill + tax is a whole dollar amount. I neve give more than 20% unless i receive personal service - i.e. the waiters know my name and remember my usual order, etc.
Originally Posted By doombuggy I think all the restaurants at the resort add the tip. So before you sit down ask if it's added right off the bat and if they say yes ask them to remove it. I found out about 5 years ago they were adding it on. I really dislike them adding it at a buffet cause your getting your own food. All the server does is get your drinks. If they keep up on the refills then I leave a tip.
Originally Posted By Elderp "I really dislike them adding it at a buffet cause your getting your own food. All the server does is get your drinks. If they keep up on the refills then I leave a tip." Ditto, I really don't see the point of 15% at a buffet.
Originally Posted By ilvdland Here is why the percentage has gone up: Servers have to claim 8% of their SALES to the IRS. It never used to be like that, many moons ago before the Reagan era. So if you have a big party, and royally stiff your server (I've seen it happen, mostly not because the service is bad either) it sometimes ends up costing your server to wait on you. I do agree the set tip at Goofy's is ridiculous. I won't even allow my staff to add 15% on large parties because I know they get lazy.
Originally Posted By seanyoda For wretched service, I leave a single penny. For substandard service, I'll leave less than 15% (the amount depends on the how bad the service was) plus a single penny. The single penny lets the server know that the low tip was not because I'm cheap, but because I was not happy with the service.
Originally Posted By dsny1mom Unless the service is below average, I always tip 20% as the minimum. When it comes to buffets, as long as the server is getting my refills, clearing away my dirty dishes, etc, I have no problem with a tip being included. Many people don't tip at buffets because they feel since the server isn't actually bringing their food they don't deserve a tip. It's amazing how many people don't tip at all. Someoen that I know, who has the ability to make Club 33 reservations, makes sure a 20% gratuity is added, as they have found people will not even tip the standard for superior service. dsny1mom
Originally Posted By danyoung >I think all the restaurants at the resort add the tip.< If you're referring to the restaurants at WDW, I think you're incorrect. There are very few that add the tip. I don't have a list, and someone please correct me if I'm wrong. I know the food court in Coronado Springs adds 10% for their scatter service, which is quite a lot for someone who brings you a drink and then is nowhere to be found.
Originally Posted By LuLu I wish we would go to the European way of tipping, where the servers are paid a living wage, and you only tip if you get exceptional service. It isn't required or "expected." I dislike the "suggestions" about tipping that seem to be becoming rampant these days, ie "Maria made up your room today" cards in your hotel room, or the following example: At WDW we ate at Boma's (a buffet)... the buffet line was mobbed, so we only used 2 plates apiece. Our server only brought us tea, which he couldn't even advise us on a selection. I rounded up the bill to an amount including a tip of about 12%, which I thought generous for a buffet, particularly under the circumstances. Then I saw a card had been enclosed with the tab, "suggesting" I tip 15-20%. Feeling somewhat embarassed/cheap, I did raise my tip. Later I felt the higher tip was uncalled for and was upset about feeling somewhat manipulated. Sure, buffet wait staff takes dirty dishes and may bring drinks, but this seems a lower level of expertise than taking your order, bringing your food, and making sure it's to your liking. Gee, I'm starting to think even 10% is a lot! More thoughts on buffet tipping?
Originally Posted By Elderp I think 10% for buffets are more than enough. What gets me is how the % has changed. When I was little 10% was the norm now it is 15% but increasingly I see places suggesting 18-20%. I wish we did the European thing as well (I also like how other countries include the tax in the price). Either that or reduce the meal price then I wont care, but I don't see that happening.
