Tipping - Orlando Travel Guide - VirtualTourist.com

I am an American. Not only an American, but an American waitress. American cultural standards dictate that you tip 15-20 percent for your service when you make the conscious decision to sit down and enjoy lunch/dinner at a restaurant and have another human being take care of your every whim. Should you not receive the level of service that you expect, than yes, less than 15 percent is sometimes warranted, and I speak as I waitress who is understanding if I get too busy to make sure that everyone I'm waiting on has everything they need when they need it. Please understand, however, that not only are you, as Europeans, entering this country with a very favorable exchange rate, but the people who are taking care of you (and much better as I understand it, than the service staff in your native countries) are doing so because our entire income is dependent upon our tips. Two or three dollars an hour doesn't pay bills here, and as the consumer reaping the benefits of cheaper menu prices, as well as the benefits of service that exceeds your expectations only in the hopes of opening your wallets, you need to be more rewarding when you receive good service. Your alternative is to go to the quick service "restaurants" available at all theme parks, or eat fast food. No tipping necessary, and the service will reflect that.

In addition to this, you should know that whatever tip you leave your server has to be shared with a foodrunner, a busser, and a bartender. I tip out 4% of my sales, regardless of how well I'm tipped all day, so if I wait on nothing but British people whose parties aren't large enough to warrant me adding an automatic gratuity, it is in fact possible for me to leave work with less money than when I arrived.

Don't get me wrong...I understand that my current job is not the most practical source of income based upon the fact that the main source is dependent on the whims of individuals. I know this. I also have two Bachelor's degrees that I hope will get me somewhere, once I can find a job, but in the meantime, my source of employment is waitressing at $3 an hour, but at least at my theme park, I briefly have health insurance.

Bottom line: if you don't want to tip an appropriate amount, don't go to a sit down restaurant.

And don't forget that the main reason you encounter such great service here is because we are attempting to live off of your tips (or lack thereof).

Tipping, Orlando

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Tipping, Orlando

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