Stupid Guest Tricks

Welcome to SGT, goofyjJoe!!!

from :wallaby: and !

What surprised me was the fact that some people on another board were claiming that tipping makes their meal less affordable, that it's wrong that they should have to pay more on top of what they pay for their food, etc. For them, the issue was the money rather than the service.

This is probably a controversial statement, but it seems that if one cannot afford to tip (even 15 percent), then one probably should not go for Table Service. I hope this doesn't come across as classist. It's just that the economics of the restaurant industry dictate that servers make a large chunk of their income from tips. Until that changes, then tipping will be expected.

I can see why they're implementing the change, but I do agree with Wallaby that it's important to have a choice as to the percentage. Now, I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but methinks it may be possible that Disney may take a portion of the 18 percent on top of one's bill for whatever purpose.

On a slightly less related note, my dad and I play about four rounds of golf every time we visit (twice a year). The cab vouchers include the gratuity, but we usually put in a couple on top of that. In all likelihood cab drivers do not see all of the money that comes from those vouchers, so this offsets that. (Having extended family members who are cabdrivers influences this, too.)

I suppose that the solution in this instance will be to add on to the top if the service was excellent. If it wasn't, then complaining to management might be the way to go. (We've never had a bad meal at WDW, so we hope that doesn't happen.)

Thanks, Wombat! :-)

DW and I try and dine out at least two or three times a month. We always tip the service staff!!

When we go to WDW or DL , again, we always tip!! it would not matter if we were given a "free" meal, you should still tip!! I don't know why people bitch about it. ESPECIALLY if they are getting the free dining! I agree with the previous post, if you are going to complain about a tip, maybe you should go to a McD's or bugger king!!

DW and I went to a resteraunt in San Diego, The kitchen staff messed up our order twice, not a biggy, they substituted a like meal, and the manager "comped" it without our asking. I found out what the bill would have been, and gave the standard (for me) 20 percent (plus a little extra) as it was not the servers fault!

They need to remember: NEVER upset your waiter/waitress you may get an "extra" suprise in your meal!!

GRUMPY PIRATE wrote:That is sooo terrible and shocking, I am going to print it out with you name and post it over my computer....As an example of the sad state of public decency(bwahahahahahaha) :hottub:

(was it cold when you posed for the picture?)

That is Disneymom, didn't you see her post earlier! HAHAHAHA!!!!!!
Sorry, not me :( , maybe could have been 20 yrs ago...
sooze

I do not think it is classist at all to think that one should tip if eating in a sit down restaurant where someone waits on you. Here in Denver, when we first moved here, I was stunned to learn that the wage for wait staff was 2.13 per hour. Tips are not just an acknowledgment of good service, they ARE part of the wait staff's wage and if they give great service the tip should be great. If not so good, then the tip should reflect that too. We always tip, according to service AND we always go to the manager and tell them what great service we got from our wait staff if it was great! That goes a long way as well. I know the hourly wage just went up here, but not by much. It is pathetic what they pay wait staff for all the guff they have to take sometimes. That is one job I have NEVER done and have no intention of ever doing. I will go back to McDonalds and clean toilets before I would become a waitress. I just could NOT handle it. I have worked in kitchens as a chef, prep worker and janitorial. I have also been a dishwasher, but never worked the front of the house as a server in a restaurant. You could not get me to do it. I have been as cashier and food runner as well. NO WAY could you get me to wait tables.
susi

Big Wallaby wrote:Plus, on the RTS, the way to fix the Transmission light is to power down the bus and restart.

Or just stop the bus (don't shut it off) and push "reverse, neutral, drive" that usually fixes any transmission problem that isn't mechanical. Gotta love the good ole RTS buses.

Not sure if anyone has read why this came about. This was a demand by the union to keep the cheaper segments of the guests at WDW from stiffing the servers.

http://servicetradescouncil.org/2007...Time%20CBA.doc

Go to document (Word) document page 65 (contract page 58):

Gratuities/Fees

1. Effective January 1, 2008 Gratuities will be paid on food and beverage totals only. Gratuities will not be paid on miscellaneous pricing, including but not limited to merchandise, entertainment, (excluding Spirit of Aloha, Hoop-Dee-Doo, and Character Dining restaurants, where entertainment is included in the price), house charges, imaging, etc. Merchandise will only be included in the total food and beverage price for the purpose of gratuity calculation if the Server is required by the Company to handle and deliver merchandise items to the guest as part of the Guest’s dining experience. Gratuities will not be paid on autograph books, pens and disposable cameras.
2. The eighteen percent (18%) automatic gratuity for all new and existing package plans, to include the Disney Dining Plan, will be eliminated effective January 1, 2008.
3. Should the Company decide to reinstate package plans with automatic gratuity included, the parties agree the terms of the addendum expiring on April, 28, 2007 will remain in effect.
4. An automatic gratuity of eighteen percent (18%) will be added for supplemental food and beverage purchased at prepaid venues (i.e., Spirit of Aloha, Hoop-Dee-Doo, Cinderella’s Royal Table, Princess Tea, Special Pre-paid events such as New Year’s Eve at California Grill).
5. A guaranteed three percent (3%) service charge will be added on the retail value of the meal for all Disney Dining Plan guests for parties of less than six (6), effective January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008
6. A guaranteed three percent (3%) service charge will be added on the retail value of the meal for all Disney Dining Plan guests for parties of less than six (6), effective January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009.
7. A guaranteed two percent (2%) service charge will be added on the retail value of the meal for all Disney Dining Plan guests for parties of less than six (6), effective January 1, 2010 through the end of the 2007 Collective Bargaining Agreement.
8. The Company agrees to negotiate with the Union, the application of the automatic gratuity for any future pre-paid venues, for the life of this agreement.
9. Where there are menu boards available, the verbiage “Gratuity Not Included’ will be added to the menu boards, by September 30, 2007, at outside bar locations in Disney’s MGM Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Wide World of Sports, the Margarita Bar at Downtown Disney, and pool bars.
10. A three dollar ($3.00) fee will be paid for delivery of Private Dining amenities.
11. An automatic eighteen percent (18%) will be added for food and beverage purchased from the Golf Carts, Pizza Delivery and Private Dining.
12. It is the Company's understanding that when a business requires their guests to pay a Pre-determined charge, which is given to employees of the business, the charges are considered a service charge. Furthermore, service charges are not considered a tip, but rather, are wages paid by the employer. Consequently, the tax code requires the Company to withhold taxes on all service charges.
13. The Company's position with regard to tips has not changed. It is the responsibility of all service persons to report one-hundred percent (100%) of their tips and gratuities for income tax purposes. The Company will continue to report eight percent (8%) of the location's gross sales to the government and will withhold tax on the tips and gratuities declared by the employee to the Company. The Company reserves the right to amend and/or alter this position to conform to state and federal laws.
14. Under Wage and Hour laws, the Company is required to report tips and service charges in overtime situations.
15. An eighteen percent (18%) service charge will be added for Company sponsored Cast discounts, e.g. Cast Serving Cast, Cast discounted meals, and Cast Celebration discounted meals. The service charge will be based on the total Food and Beverage charges before any discounts have been applied. This provision does not apply to Disney Dining Experience and Disney Vacation Club. Effective January 1, 2008, the eighteen percent (18%) service charge for all existing and new package plans, including Disney Dining Plan, supplemental Food and/or Beverage purchased and consumed by the guest covered by the package plan will be discontinued. Effective January 1, 2008, an automatic gratuity of eighteen percent (18%) will be added for all guests on the Disney Dining Experience discount program, based on the retail value of the Food and Beverage.

I'm having a hard time deciphering that contract. What exactly does this 18% apply to? Does it apply to DDE, DDP, and/or all table service?

Also, line 2 confuses me, I thought they got rid of the automatic gratuity on the DDP a while ago.

GRUMPY PIRATE wrote:DW and I try and dine out at least two or three times a month. We always tip the service staff!!

When we go to WDW or DL , again, we always tip!! it would not matter if we were given a "free" meal, you should still tip!! I don't know why people bitch about it. ESPECIALLY if they are getting the free dining! I agree with the previous post, if you are going to complain about a tip, maybe you should go to a McD's or bugger king!!

DW and I went to a resteraunt in San Diego, The kitchen staff messed up our order twice, not a biggy, they substituted a like meal, and the manager "comped" it without our asking. I found out what the bill would have been, and gave the standard (for me) 20 percent (plus a little extra) as it was not the servers fault!

They need to remember: NEVER upset your waiter/waitress you may get an "extra" suprise in your meal!!

hmm, bugger king?
sounds like it would be popular in san francisco.
a whole new meaning to hold my pickle.
err, if you drop the ketchup, don't bend over to get it.

drcorey wrote:hmm, bugger king?
sounds like it would be popular in san francisco.
a whole new meaning to hold my pickle.
err, if you drop the ketchup, don't bend over to get it.

Sorry, that what I call it, didn't want to actually name it, and a bunch of co-workers started using the slang version at work, and it caught on! (Not that theres anthing WRONG with that!)