I heard the most ridiculous reason for leaving a server an almost nonexistent tip. I was having a conversation with a young lady in her early twenties and she mentioned that her parents told her that the proper way to calculate the tip at a restaurant was to double the tax. I almost had a heart attack! As most of my acquaintances are server/bartenders on and off Disney property I started to inquire as to their observances of their tips. The most common responses were "I usually get $5 or $10 on a $100". Should we do the math on that or do you see why that might not pay their bills.
Let's start at the beginning.
Federal law
The United States of America federal government requires a wage of at least $2.13 per hour be paid to employees that receive at least $30 per month in tips. If wages and tips do not equal the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour during any week, the employer is required to increase cash wages to compensate. (Tipping wage-Wikipedia)
So according to federal law your server makes $2.13 an hour to get and refill the libations that you so desperately need after standing in line for Pandora, or gotten your cranky toddler quiet for 5 minutes with crackers. In the moment you are so greatful for that manicured polite figure you can barely see through the whirlwind events of the day that are still fogging up your brain but gratitude does not seem to translate into gratuity.
Gratuity on Disney property is not a concern at a Quick Service restaurant. For amazing, above and beyond Quick Service on or off property where your providers are not allowed to accept tips it is customary to write an email to the company with their location, name and explanation of the service received. They might just get rewarded and acknowledgement is always appreciated. However, at a Table Service restaurant it is safe to say that the person waiting on you is not making minimum wage.
Some pre-fix menu restaurant like Cinderella Royal Table and parties of 6 or more have an added gratuity of 18% on Disney property. Off Disney property, some restaurants do not have an automatic gratuity added. Your server, off property, MAY have felt that they have built a relationship with you and your family. Resulting in them asking their manager to not put an added gratuity on your check, with the understanding that you are aware that they are dependent upon your generosity and know that according to federal law they ONLY make $2.13 an hour.
Disney Dinning Plans do not automatically include gratuity. Preferred method of gratuity is always cash.
The current AVERAGE percent of tip begins at 20% of the original total bill. If you have a coupon or if something was taken off of your bill at no fault of your most wonderful, hardworking, well dressed, well mannered, competent server then the tip should be based on the total amount before the deductions. NOW, if you had a horrible server who you feel was rude or incompetent then we begin to lower that percentage STILL based on the total amount of your bill before deductions.
Let's see where your generous 20% tip goes.
Before your server arrived to the restaurant they have made sure that their clothes are clean and tidy because after last night's 10 hours they were covered from head to toe. You don't want to be served by someone who smells of stale food, dirty and unkempt. Before you get to the restaurant your server has arrived to work at least an hour early to prepare for the day because "Early is on time, On time is late, and late is never accepted.". They are sweeping their sections, wiping tables and chairs, and preparing for your arrival.
Most of the servers I know have the same philosophy, "We are the 1st thing our guests see in the morning or the last thing they see at night. We can make or break their day or we can make them forget about anything they went through at the parks." Your server cares about you. After you arrive, you are waited on hand and foot. Anything, within reason, is at your disposal. Your waiter takes your order, serves your food, yells at cooks for you, refills drinks, and makes sure your family doesn't feel neglected because most likely they have 3 -5 other tables of demanding tired families.
After you leave they are still at work on the piece of real estate that you have spend the last hour dishearteningly making sticky and crumbly. They clean and scrub just to make sure that the next family doesn't begin their experience in a huff because the family before them spilt fruit juice on the seat.
It doesn't end there!
At the end of the night the busser, host, and bartenders have their hand out for their cut of the tip you left for your server. Between 5-10% out of the 20%(recomended) automatically leaves your server to make up the pay for services you didn't even notice.
The Breakdown
Your bill - $100
20% tip - $20
Host/busses/bartender - 8% of your total bill
That 20 dollars you thought was above and beyond the average tip just became $12. Your 20% server just became a 12% server.
The next time you go out to eat remember that the person standing in front of you has 4-8 tables, up to 20-30 guests at 1 time keeping drinks, food orders, and demands of everyone - including their boss and the chefs- top priority but 5 minutes ago you just called your child 12 names including the goldfishes name before you landed on the right one and you have been around them their entire life, your server has under an hour.
Remember!
They are your SERVER not your SERVANT! If you under tip or don't tip at all THEY are paying their co-workers for you to sit and eat on their real estate that they require to feed their own families.
Just be mindful of the service that you get and don't be afraid to ask what the tip out percentage is. I know that the servers/bartenders I know would be every helpful in educating and getting the word out with the hopes that living wage becomes a common conversation.
