Automatic gratuity

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I agree with the posters that suggested to get a manager if there is a service issue. It may be awkward but, IMHO, you are overpaying at WDW in relation to the quality of the food in most places so the service should at least be acceptable.
 
There are few service issues that would justify tipping under 18%. If someone is worried about an automatic gratuity before even getting to WDW, it's not about expected service issues.

I believe that is in the matter of everyone's opinion and believe that no one should be shamed if they feel that they don't want to tip 18 percent. If your on the dining plan and you have that automatic 18 percent added to your bill which is 18 percent of the total items ordered including those high priced beverages your 18 percent tip amount can be well over $50 per meal and can be a surprise if you don't account for it.
 
I believe that is in the matter of everyone's opinion and believe that no one should be shamed if they feel that they don't want to tip 18 percent. If your on the dining plan and you have that automatic 18 percent added to your bill which is 18 percent of the total items ordered including those high priced beverages your 18 percent tip amount can be well over $50 per meal and can be a surprise if you don't account for it.
Even if tip isn't added automatically, when you figure your tip percentage it's of the total bill.

I don't think I understand the bolded statement.
 


Even if tip isn't added automatically, when you figure your tip percentage it's of the total bill.

I don't think I understand the bolded statement.

Because some people don't realize it sometimes. I just wanted to point it out.
 
I never said I didn’t want to tip!

Table service we always leave 20-25 percent depending on how our service is. Our college age dad is a part time server in an upscale resort restaurant so I know how hard servers work!

That being said I’m not as crazy about leaving 18 percent automatically at buffets. That was the only reason I asked if it would be automatic as we will be doing several character buffets for dgs.
 
The servers at Disney buffets have spent just as much time at our table (if not more) as servers at table service restaurants - explaining the food offerings, answering questions, clearing plates multiple times, refilling drinks, etc. If 20-25% is okay for table service restaurants, why would 18% be too much for servers who work at buffets?
 


I'm just surprised this thread has lasted this long :p

I don't like any automatic tipping. If they are going to do that, we ought to just be like other countries and do away with tipping, change the way we pay servers, and raise the price of the food on the menu accordingly.
 
The servers at Disney buffets have spent just as much time at our table (if not more) as servers at table service restaurants - explaining the food offerings, answering questions, clearing plates multiple times, refilling drinks, etc. If 20-25% is okay for table service restaurants, why would 18% be too much for servers who work at buffets?
We’ve been going to Disney since 2003- over 20 trips and we have never had a server spend much time at our table for a buffet. Mostly just taking drink orders and explaining the character rotation. Table service servers are taking orders, bringing appetizers, main courses and dessert. Just my personal experience but I felt the ts servers had a lot more work to do.

No worries- I just wanted to check if it was automatic. Didn’t want to get into a whole tipping debate
 
The other thing about large parties that warrants 18% tip, it is harder to serve a larger party. More skill is involved making sure the timing of everything goes smoothly. If the server made it look easy to serve your party of 8, that means they did a great job!

If my party of 6 or more had good service, I totally don't mind they already added 18%. As it should, the added 18% doesn't include tax. Why bother taking offense if you were going to tip anyway? I actually feel better when the tip is added because then I know if I give the server a good tip, it's not being used to make up for the crappy tippers. The server can enjoy my whole tip in addition to what else they've worked for.
 
The servers at Disney buffets have spent just as much time at our table (if not more) as servers at table service restaurants - explaining the food offerings, answering questions, clearing plates multiple times, refilling drinks, etc. If 20-25% is okay for table service restaurants, why would 18% be too much for servers who work at buffets?
And usually the responsibilities are different between buffet and table servers. Buffet servers do alot of other work the customers don't see. Cleaning, setting up, breaking down and guess what, they often are preparing some of the food too. Maybe there are some places that buffet servers just bring drinks and play with their phone for the rest of time, but more likely than not they are doing hours of work before and after the customer is even there.
 
There are few service issues that would justify tipping under 18%. If someone is worried about an automatic gratuity before even getting to WDW, it's not about expected service issues.

Never said I was worried about it - just asked since I wasn't sure if the baby would be counted in since the buffets are free for those 2 and under. If I was that worried about the amount being spent on the tip, I would be staying at the All Stars instead of YC. It wasn't about the money - it was just a question on whether the gratutity was automatic or not.
 
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I'm always confused when people are concerned about the auto grat for larger parties. Were you not planning to tip 18%? As someone above said, if you, by chance, do have a terrible experience, just ask for the manager and discuss the auto grat at that point.

I’m not the OP, but I could imagine asking this same question.

Not because I want to get out of tipping a fair amount, but so I don’t double tip! 18% doesn’t bother me, but realizing later that I had double tipped at 36+% would.
 
I’m not the OP, but I could imagine asking this same question.

Not because I want to get out of tipping a fair amount, but so I don’t double tip! 18% doesn’t bother me, but realizing later that I had double tipped at 36+% would.

Surely you look at your bill in a restaurant before paying it. The auto grat isn't a secret that is rung in later - it is clearly printed on the check that is presented to you.
 
Surely you look at your bill in a restaurant before paying it. The auto grat isn't a secret that is rung in later - it is clearly printed on the check that is presented to you.

Yep, I do. But with a large group including at least
one kid, surely its not weird that sometimes we’re looking quickly.

Not at disney, but I have absolutely been in the position where an auto gratuity was unclearly indicated, either because of the design of a receipt or my being distracted or both.
 
That being said I’m not as crazy about leaving 18 percent automatically at buffets.
Then, respectfully, don't dine with more than five persons in your party at buffets.
I don't like any automatic tipping.
.
Blame the many large parties that tipped poorly before the auto-grat was developed.
Bottom line is people should tip what they want. Whether it’s nothing up to whatever. It’s a personal choice.
As I responded above, and especially knowing of the existence of the automatic service charge, avoid it by dining with fewer persons than would incur the auto-grat. Whether it's right or six, each person is informed of its existence when making the reservations.

+++

For the record, my understanding is:
Parties of five or fewer, any number of tables from one to five, no automatic service charge.
Parties of six or more at one table, automatic service charge.
Parties of six or more, different tables, same server, automatic service charge.
Parties of six or more, different tables, different servers, no automatic service charge.
Two of more smaller parties with separate reservations whose request to sit together is accommodated and which then results in six+ persons, automatic service charge.
 
Wow - because I asked a question about an automatic gratutity being added and voiced my own personal feeling that table service servers should be tipped higher than buffets now I'm told not to bring my family to buffets. I only asked because the baby will be under 2 and I wasn't sure if he would count in the total. Years ago when my in-laws joined us at Disney we understood that a party of 6 would have the gratuity automatically included, wasn't sure this time.

There really is no call for rudeness when a question is merely asked and someone gives their personal feelings. If it's included, it's included. End of story.
 
I frankly don't care how much anybody tips.

Everybody has choices.

A two year old is still a person.

Please feel free to ignore my/a/any suggestion.any

Please don't misinterpret tone or demeanor.
 
Wow - because I asked a question about an automatic gratutity being added and voiced my own personal feeling that table service servers should be tipped higher than buffets now I'm told not to bring my family to buffets. I only asked because the baby will be under 2 and I wasn't sure if he would count in the total. Years ago when my in-laws joined us at Disney we understood that a party of 6 would have the gratuity automatically included, wasn't sure this time.

There really is no call for rudeness when a question is merely asked and someone gives their personal feelings. If it's included, it's included. End of story.
Well, to be fair, it wasn't so much that you said table servers should be tipped higher than buffets - it was the clear implication that buffet servers should be tipped less than 18% that set people off. Otherwise, as another poster pointed out, why ask the question at all. Since you normally tip 20-25% at table service restaurants, you will be saving money at the buffets. We've made over 50 trips to Disney and it's been our experience that buffet servers work just as hard as table servers, although their jobs may encompass different responsibilities. In fact, in many restaurants, table servers do not even bring the food to your table - it's done by food runners. Your experiences are different, which is fine, but I think the strong responses were due to the feeling that 18% really isn't so much of a tip that people should be looking to lower it.
 
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