Please explain the tipping to me!

[SmileysPeople]

We will be staying in disney but also eating out sometimes (don't know if disney is different?)

How much should you tip?

What if you didn't think the service was good? Should you explain that? Should you only tip what you thought it was worth, or is that not done?

[buddicle]

There's an article on the dibb here (http://www.thedibb.co.uk/tipping-in-orlando-usa.php) with regards to tipping.

[babyjools]

Thanks this is very useful information to know! :d:

[awwdmaate]

Its normally 10 - 15% of the total bill. :confused2

[Villainlover]

Its normally 10 - 15% of the total bill. :confused2

think this is a tad outdated. they say its 15%-20% now (total bill befor tax)

Quick Guide

Bell Hop / Porter $1-2 per bag
Maid Service / Housekeeping $1 per person, per day
Full-service Dining 15-20% of total bill
Buffet-service Dining 15% of total bill
Room Delivery Dining 10% of total bill
Bar Staff 10% of total bill
Taxi 15% of total fare
Towncar Service 10-15% Arrival & Departure
Valet Parking $2 - $5 Arrival & Departure

[Stuart_D]

Yeah 15%-20% I reckon.

I wouldn't change your habits too much though - if service was rubbish there's no need to explain and there's no reason to tip them. On my last trip we had a dreadful time at the DTD Rainforest Cafe. The food was fine but everything else went wrong from start to finish. There was never going to be a tip and I'm sure the server realised this.

[babyjools]

Yeah 15%-20% I reckon.

I wouldn't change your habits too much though - if service was rubbish there's no need to explain and there's no reason to tip them. On my last trip we had a dreadful time at the DTD Rainforest Cafe. The food was fine but everything else went wrong from start to finish. There was never going to be a tip and I'm sure the server realised this.

Thanks I will bear that in mind. :thumbs-up

[force ten]

When you dine at a Disney restaurant they will bring you the bill in a nice little folder and inside the folder will be a card explaining exactly what percentage of the bill you are expected to leave as a tip
Think it is

Buffet Eatery 10-15% of bill
Full-Service Restaurant 15-20% of bill

If you get bad service and are not happy to leave a tip then don’t just stiff the server leave them a dollar or even a penny this will let them know you are aware of tipping etiquette but are not a happy bunny

[Saratoska]

When you dine at a Disney restaurant they will bring you the bill in a nice little folder and inside the folder will be a card explaining exactly what percentage of the bill you are expected to leave as a tip
Think it is

Buffet Eatery 10-15% of bill
Full-Service Restaurant 15-20% of bill

If you get bad service and are not happy to leave a tip then don’t just stiff the server leave them a dollar or even a penny this will let them know you are aware of tipping etiquette but are not a happy bunny


we have american friends and thats what they do if they arn't happy they leave a 1cent :omg:

[Jakey rowling]

Do try and consider that a reason, not the only one, that it is cheap to eat out in the US is how the staff are paid.

About 20% is standard for us for good service and given the price of the meal is fair enough by me.

[Heather1957]

Generally I have no problem with tipping but the 2 things I always get confused over is leaving/storing luggage and also valet parking.

If a bell hop takes my luggage for storing I don't tip until I collect my luggage, but never feel comfortable about just leaving it initially.

I was also once told that you only tip a valet when they bring the car back, but the above indicates something different.

[apollo163]

food servers are taxed AT AROUND 15% wether they receive them or not

[Bozza]

food servers are taxed AT AROUND 15% wether they receive them or not

One would think tax would be specific not some vague 'around' type number.

[apollo163]

One would think tax would be specific not some vague 'around' type number.

sorry i couldnt remember the exact figure but i have found it on one of my old pay slips

[tomnj]

Remember food servers in Florida are paid $3.77 an hour. Tipping 15-20% for good service is greatly appreciated.

If service is so horrific that you are tempted to leave 2 pennies please speak to the MOD and explain why. Three reasons for this. First, the MOD needs to know the poor service you received so
the server can be retrained/counseled and therefore no tip was left. Two, gives the MOD an opportunity to apologize and possibly comp you the meal or portion thereof. Three, it gives you the opportunity to give him a few dollars to give to the support staff such as food runners, busboys, bartenders, and hostesses. Why should their pay suffer because of the waiter(ress)? Now this is for absolute HORRIFIC service only. You will probably never receive service this bad.
For general service/attitude that is below par give 10%.

For some reason Europeans (including Brits) have such a bad reputation in regards to tipping that it's approaching ugly. It's nice to hear so many tip generously. :)

[Bullpeppar]

To be honest, the levelof tipping I give depends on the standard of service, and food, I have received. I always tip but sometimes I give more and sometimes I give less.

[FLGirl-UKNow]

For valet a tip is only expected when you pick up your vehicle. I generally give $2.

Wait staff do make a lower hourly wage but it isn't set at the $3.77 as mentioned. That will vary from place to place but they are still reliant on the gratuity to make the money.

As for leaving pennies on the table that is truly an insult and something I would never suggest or never do. If the meal is poor the management does need to be told for several reasons which hopefully are obvious to all. The other reason I wouldn't do something like that is that for someone who is clearly struggling in their job and they receive an insult like that (regardless of how their behaviour is....they can't always control what is happening in the kitchen) it will only make the next people seated for a meal have a likelyhood of having an even worse experience and that just isn't fair or right. My opinion of course.

Take a look at the Orlando Visitor Information (http://www.orlandoinfo.com/articles/a-guide-to-tipping.cfm) website for their published guide. It is a great website for local information as well.

[markelle]

The thing is - even if there is a problem in the kitchen or some other problem that the waiting staff have no control over - it is surely part of the waiting staff's role to be polite and to come over and explain and apologise for whatever the problem is - as a reasonable human being I am not going to blame the waiting staff for something that isn't their fault - I would tip the staff according to their level of customer care/service and take any other probs up with the management - however I will not tip if the staff are sullen, rude or have a bad/couldn't care less attitude - these are things that are very much in their own control and if they don't get a tip they should think about why not!! It makes me so angry when people think it is their right to get a tip even when they have been rude or whatever! :mad2:

[force ten]

On one occasion I was with my family in a buffet style restaurant on the 192 and the server was appalling at his job

We waited and age for him to bring our juice and coffee and he never brought any plates for the buffet in the end I went and got my own plates from the servers station and he was no where to be seen

When he did appear back I asked for a refill of my coffee and he said I will be back now and he didn’t come back in the end I got up and went to another server and asked her to fill my coffee mug which she did, she said she would get our server to come to our table to see if we were all right
When he did arrive he apologised saying he was very busy and we got more coffee but never got the toast we asked for and my daughter never got her juice refilled

So did this server deserve a tip? I would say no he dosent because we are tipping for good service and this was not good service,

As I left the restaurant I spoke to the server about not leaving a tip and again he apologized for being busy and not being able to get back to us but I wasn’t going to give him a tip for saying sorry I was going to give him a tip for good service which we never got
It was a very nice restaurant that we had used many times, but this was the last occasion that we ever went there

[FLGirl-UKNow]

The thing is - even if there is a problem in the kitchen or some other problem that the waiting staff have no control over - it is surely part of the waiting staff's role to be polite and to come over and explain and apologise for whatever the problem is - as a reasonable human being I am not going to blame the waiting staff for something that isn't their fault - I would tip the staff according to their level of customer care/service and take any other probs up with the management - however I will not tip if the staff are sullen, rude or have a bad/couldn't care less attitude - these are things that are very much in their own control and if they don't get a tip they should think about why not!! It makes me so angry when people think it is their right to get a tip even when they have been rude or whatever! :mad2:

Certainly agree. I wouldn't tip either and not very many people would bother even saying anything before leaving so kudos to you for doing that. The thing I wouldn't do is put the pennies on the table since sadly it would only affect the next family seated (more than likely).

[FLGirl-UKNow]

Oops! I sort of got the last two posts jumbled together but at any rate neither server deserved the tip and that would be completely acceptable. I would speak to the manager and most of the time the meal would be comped or they'd offer a free dessert in an attempt at an apology. Sadly, buffets are pay up front so it would just be registering a complaint.

My DH pays the bill and then complains so they will take the complaint seriously and not have it look like he is fishing for a free dessert....as some people do.

[force ten]

The problem is that to many severs in the tourist areas around orlando provide poor service but still expect a tip at the end of it, yes we all have bad days but don’t take it out on the customers its not there fault that you are off on one


If I am not happy with the service I receive then I will not just walk out and stiff the server I will make a point of speaking to the server or the manager to let them know why I am not happy

I think one of the problems is that a lot of the servers get stiffed by the Brits every day, so when you sit at their table and talk with an English accent you get treated with contempt and often receive less than perfect service because they assume that all brits are poor tippers

[kina]

I think one of the problems is that a lot of the servers get stiffed by the Brits every day, so when you sit at their table and talk with an English accent you get treated with contempt and often receive less than perfect service because they assume that all brits are poor tippers

I totally agree with this and it made me sick last year! We had terrible service at Ihop, Cracker Barrel and awful service at Ohanas. The service at Tonys and Crystal Palace left a lot to be desired, Chef Mickeys was ok but the best service was when we called in at Golden Corral :erm: We rarely tip less than 20% and couldn't understand why we were treated so badly in some places.

Bad service ranged from incorrect food being brought (so server wasn't listening to our order as the mucked up several items at Cracker Barrel), the check being brought during the main course (again at Cracker Barrel) when we would have liked dessert (obv couldn't wait to get rid of us!), servers not coming back to our table from giving us our first drink at Crystal Palace to the time of dropping off our check (then taking 10 mins to process a card payment), no refills offered on anything at Ohanas despite requests, surly unfriendly server at Ihop etc. Disney service was a total let down, our complaints made to the manager at Ohanas fell on deaf ears. We're doing Crystal Palace again just because DD loved seeing the characters but at least I know to expect shoddy server service now.

TBH I found eating out a real disappointment last year and certainly wont be making a big deal out of it this year, it'll be cheap eateries and take out from Applebees/TGIs.

The nicest server we had was at Sweet Tomatoes on our last day. We left about a 30% tip as she was really sweet and she gave us little bags of cookies to take with us, which I thought was a lovely gesture.

If you're leaving a $15 tip, as we did at some restaurants it would be nice even to get a thanks, which we didn't at a lot of places, including Chef Mickeys.

[meeliwheeli]

We had terrible service at the coral reef last sept. As soon as our server asked if we were on the dining plan he was plain awful. We got the wrong refills to the drinks when we eventually got them. He was really attentive to the family alongside, i asumed that they obviously werent on the dining plan. His name was Jon - and if we get him again this year - he can go whistle for his supper! :angry:
Jo x :wavey:

[tomnj]

I must admit we always recvd good service in Florida.

I wonder if you faked an American accent if service improves. To test the Brit theory.

I agree. Leaving a penny tip is in poor taste. And in 40 years only once felt the urge to do so.

[force ten]

I must admit we always recvd good service in Florida.

I wonder if you faked an American accent if service improves. To test the Brit theory.

I agree. Leaving a penny tip is in poor taste. And in 40 years only once felt the urge to do so.


I don’t know why that should make any difference because most of the Americans I meet think I am Australian

[Amyrlin]

I don't think the brit theory is the same as it was a decade ago, we usually get very good service, and tipp accordingly, I think over the last few years more Brits are tipping correctly and more Americans are getting harder.

[Villainlover]

I don't think the brit theory is the same as it was a decade ago, we usually get very good service, and tipp accordingly, I think over the last few years more Brits are tipping correctly and more Americans are getting harder.

a decade ago I was getting fantastic service.. the huge influx of brits has defo brought the service down imo .. I hope you are right and the turn has started but I have yet to see it ..

[meeliwheeli]

I don’t know why that should make any difference because most of the Americans I meet think I am Australian

We have been mistaken for australians too. and when we add South Wales to where we are from it just adds to the confusion (welsh accent) - we have quite strangely had 'goodaye shport' bantered at us too :confused2

Jo x

[force ten]

We have been mistaken for australians too. and when we add South Wales to where we are from it just adds to the confusion (welsh accent) - we have quite strangely had 'goodaye shport' bantered at us too :confused2

Jo x

Well this year I have got my Gud day mate sticker for the hire car window a bush hat with corks hanging from it and T shirts with Sydney Australia on the front

And for the duration of my holiday I am going to be an Australian to see if they get better service than the brits
:d: :d: