WDW Servers average $76,000 per year!!!

[jennykay]

Okay, just putting my two cents in....

One, you can make a decent living waiting tables (my hubby supported me and newborn ds waiting at a fine dining restaurant, but no insurance, 401k, vacation time, sick days, etc... )

two, thank goodness you can because I would feel AWFUL being served by someone who was barely able to live on what they were paid, wouldn't you?

and three, I have waited tables at various times in my life. I have not ever been able to get 40 hours at one restaurant. The shifts are 4-6 hours each. I don't know if it's different at WDW, but I hope not because that is an exhausting 4-6 hours! I would work some "doubles" each week, lunch and dinner in the same day, and I could barely move by the time I got done! And yes, you do have to tip out to hostess, bar staff, bussers, and you have to clean the restaurant at the end of your shift, both kitchen and dining room.

I don't think anyone on this thread is saying that the servers make too much or have it too easy. Like I said, just putting my two cents in.

 

[mom2my3kids]

Lets face it WDW as a whole is more expensive then anything I am used to. I don't make a third of what is reported here but hey I am from a small town in Indiana where the cost of living is so much less then Orlando.Let me see I worked today a 8 hour shift and brought home 85.00, can I start planning my Hawaiian vacation now..LMAO I guess serving at IHOP is just not cutting it anymore..

 

[phlufster]

Here are some real numbers that you can crunch:
I work 3-4 shifts a week at around 6 hrs a shift. The most I have ever made in a night is $214 and the least is $78. I average around $120 a night. It does average $20/hr, but I only get 18-24 hrs a week.

`I serve at a mid range WDW restaurant and the majority of the servers work the same amount and make the same.

That gives me a yearly salary of around $30,000 for a part time job, which is not $76,000, however it is a good wage. Keep in mind, I do not get any health benefits, 401K, anything like that. Also, I could have a bad month and only make $500 and the next month make $2000.

I do know that the servers that make the most money are the character buffet and sig. restaurants. I can only tell you for sure what I know, so I hope that helps!

 

[septbaby]

Here are some real numbers that you can crunch:
I work 3-4 shifts a week at around 6 hrs a shift. The most I have ever made in a night is $214 and the least is $78. I average around $120 a night. It does average $20/hr, but I only get 18-24 hrs a week.

`I serve at a mid range WDW restaurant and the majority of the servers work the same amount and make the same.

That gives me a yearly salary of around $30,000 for a part time job, which is not $76,000, however it is a good wage. Keep in mind, I do not get any health benefits, 401K, anything like that. Also, I could have a bad month and only make $500 and the next month make $2000.

I do know that the servers that make the most money are the character buffet and sig. restaurants. I can only tell you for sure what I know, so I hope that helps!

I wish you did make $76K, no need to feel bad about EARNING "a lot" of money. Us tipping you is payment for services rendered, not charity. Heavy tippers may feel more charitable, but tipping is part of the price of eating in a TS place at Disney.

 

[DiszyDean]

Here are some real numbers that you can crunch:
I work 3-4 shifts a week at around 6 hrs a shift. The most I have ever made in a night is $214 and the least is $78. I average around $120 a night. It does average $20/hr, but I only get 18-24 hrs a week.

`I serve at a mid range WDW restaurant and the majority of the servers work the same amount and make the same.

That gives me a yearly salary of around $30,000 for a part time job, which is not $76,000, however it is a good wage. Keep in mind, I do not get any health benefits, 401K, anything like that. Also, I could have a bad month and only make $500 and the next month make $2000.

I do know that the servers that make the most money are the character buffet and sig. restaurants. I can only tell you for sure what I know, so I hope that helps!

Finally, a dose of reality. Thanks for posting that.

I was pretty sure that Disney servers made a good wage but, like most of us, were not waterskiing behind their private yachts every weekend either...

 

[jennykay]

Here are some real numbers that you can crunch:
I work 3-4 shifts a week at around 6 hrs a shift. The most I have ever made in a night is $214 and the least is $78. I average around $120 a night. It does average $20/hr, but I only get 18-24 hrs a week.

`I serve at a mid range WDW restaurant and the majority of the servers work the same amount and make the same.

That gives me a yearly salary of around $30,000 for a part time job, which is not $76,000, however it is a good wage. Keep in mind, I do not get any health benefits, 401K, anything like that. Also, I could have a bad month and only make $500 and the next month make $2000.

I do know that the servers that make the most money are the character buffet and sig. restaurants. I can only tell you for sure what I know, so I hope that helps!

thanks for stepping in!

 

[OneTreeHillAddict]

Here are some real numbers that you can crunch:
I work 3-4 shifts a week at around 6 hrs a shift. The most I have ever made in a night is $214 and the least is $78. I average around $120 a night. It does average $20/hr, but I only get 18-24 hrs a week.

`I serve at a mid range WDW restaurant and the majority of the servers work the same amount and make the same.

That gives me a yearly salary of around $30,000 for a part time job, which is not $76,000, however it is a good wage. Keep in mind, I do not get any health benefits, 401K, anything like that. Also, I could have a bad month and only make $500 and the next month make $2000.

I do know that the servers that make the most money are the character buffet and sig. restaurants. I can only tell you for sure what I know, so I hope that helps!

Cute little baby ya got there! Thanks for a servers input! Judging from what you've said here a full time (40 hours per week) server does make the estimated amount mentioned at the start of the thread. (Probably more in character and signature dining). I think that's awesome. Great money and the best place ever one could work! If only the benefits were better...

 

[kaytieeldr]

You would have a difficult time finding a full-time server at Walt Disney World (so, while the amount in the title of this thread is possible, it's highly unlikely). A server who does work 40 hours probably has three or four different server jobs, i.e. hired by more than one restaurant - so, still not benefit-eligible. So, not that it's my business how much a server earns or what they do with that money: One who wants health insurance probably pays for it in full (and for their dependents, if applicable), where most jobs the employer pays a decent portion of it; if a server needs a sick day - oh well. No work, no pay. Most jobs (including teaching and nursing) pay their employees for sick time. Ditto for any long-term illness - and there are many more comparisons where the server comes out behind, but my brain isn't in full gear.

So, while a server has the potential to earn a lot of money, that money is NOT guaranteed, and it has to cover more expenses and potential expenses than most jobs.

 

[OneTreeHillAddict]

You would have a difficult time finding a full-time server at Walt Disney World (so, while the amount in the title of this thread is possible, it's highly unlikely). A server who does work 40 hours probably has three or four different server jobs, i.e. hired by more than one restaurant - so, still not benefit-eligible. So, not that it's my business how much a server earns or what they do with that money: One who wants health insurance probably pays for it in full (and for their dependents, if applicable), where most jobs the employer pays a decent portion of it; if a server needs a sick day - oh well. No work, no pay. Most jobs (including teaching and nursing) pay their employees for sick time. Ditto for any long-term illness - and there are many more comparisons where the server comes out behind, but my brain isn't in full gear.

So, while a server has the potential to earn a lot of money, that money is NOT guaranteed, and it has to cover more expenses and potential expenses than most jobs.

I'm not going to argue with anyone about this but the $76,000 is very accurate, more than likely LOW. Theme Parks in general have rules other companies don't have to live by.

My sister is a "part time" manager at Hard Rock Park and currently works up to 60 hours per week. They do not have to pay overtime (special rules for a park...go figure). The benefits are horrible! Insurance is offered but it's not worth having. They don't even get the "full time" benefits like free meals or free passes for their family. My sister is not considered full time because the park closes for 2 months out of the year and during THOSE months she will work less than 40 hours. This is just to let you know, part time doesn't mean you don't get 40 hours + in a theme park.

I have never worked at WDW or any other theme park, however, I did wait tables in a tourist filled seasonal restaurant in the early 90's. The years I worked at HRC I claimed right at $50,000 on my taxes! This was after all tip outs, etc. I rarely ever worked a double and only had the one job. (The morning shift no less). Disney is a LOT busier than HRC ever was. Not to mention pricing...the menu prices at WDW are a good 40-50% more than menus I served with. Keep in mind, this was 10 years ago and the $76,000 is for 2008.

There's no way they'd make less than I did then! It's impossible. Their benefits may be horrible, I don't know? Has nothing to do with their annual salary though. You still make X amount of money whether you have benefits or not. At HRC we had the best insurance I've ever seen. (I paid $10 for my first son to be born!) We had 401K. We could take family out to eat for 50% off. We could travel from one store to another and work for a week. It was a fun job with great benefits! I'm sure Disney offers some nice perks too, we just haven't heard about them on this thread.


It really doesn't matter if they make $76,000 or more! If you eat at a TS rest you still need to tip. The post doesn't read...hey you guys, Disney servers make a ton of money so you don't need to tip them anymore! I think some people take it that way and they shouldn't! Pilots make good money but I'm not saying never fly! Ya know?

Several boards were going on and on about how servers work so hard for minimum wage and in some places servers make more money than professionals do! WDW being one of those places! HRC was one of those places. A good server does work hard whether they come home with $50 or $1000 a night! Most people work hard at their jobs no matter what they do!

Point is I reseached this online a couple of hours before I posted anything. I also talked to a few servers that work at WDW. I did not speak to anyone that works in signature dining. Surprisingly enough, the CM that said he made the most $ worked at WCC! It's also an average amount. Meaning some will make less and others more.

That covers it all folks. Take it or leave it. Tip your servers when you get good service, no matter where you go!

*Hard Rock Cafe and Hard Rock Park are owned by different people and benfits are not the same. Just wanted to make that clear.

Have a good day! Peace, Love, & Walt Disney World!

 

[wiskband]

Theres no way a waiter ANYWHERE makes $76K a year unless theyre waiting on the king of spain.

So not true! I am a server (seasonal on the water) I make anywhere from 200 -500 a night! Unfourtunately, it is only seasonal (for me) and my feet can't take it much longer. There is a reason why so many of us can't get regualr 9 to 5 jobs. The money is hard to give up!
renee

 

[bicker]

Here are some real numbers that you can crunch: I work 3-4 shifts a week at around 6 hrs a shift. The most I have ever made in a night is $214 and the least is $78. I average around $120 a night. It does average $20/hr, but I only get 18-24 hrs a week.
...

I'm not going to argue with anyone about this but the $76,000 is very accurate, more than likely LOW.

I'm sorry, but, with respect, but I see no reason to doubt real information provided by a real CM willing to provide real numbers regarding their own compensation. You may have good information about the high-end of the range, but there is really good information here about the low or middle part of the range, and the average is therefore somewhere in between.

 

[jezebella]

Just my input -- Disney almost NEVER hires full time servers, because then they would have to give them benefits. I know...they hired me as a server and told me it was nearly impossible to get a full time position (ie NEVER). If I wanted a full time position with benefits, perhaps I should go into bus driving. Not for me...but my dad did it...and was a manager at the Studios.

In addition, if they did make that kind of money...it had nothing to do with the Cola here. In case you have been in a box for the last year, Orlando had been hit...HARD...by the sub-prime and housing boom. Thousands of foreclosed houses can be purchased for next to nothing. How do I know this? I am a title agent, work for a builder, and actually worked at one of the auctions in Orlando a month ago! You can buy a 3/2.5 brand new townhouse in Winter Garden (really Windermere), 3 whole minutes from the cast member entrance to MK for $180K! If you can't afford that, they have 2/2 for $156. While comparing this to rural mid-west it might seem high, but lets factor in that 2 years ago these houses were selling for over $300K. You can live VERY well in Orlando now on much less.

But in the end......they aren't making 76K a year. Plus the bartenders make WAY less. My brother bartended in a restaurant in Epcot and literally had to spend more in gas than what he made. Nobody makes great money at Disney until you get up into senior executive level. But it's a great part time job if your bills don't depend on it.

 

[jezebella]

Oh...and P.S....Disney has GREAT benefits. The problem is getting the full time job.

 

[OneTreeHillAddict]

I'm sorry, but, with respect, but I see no reason to doubt real information provided by a real CM willing to provide real numbers regarding their own compensation. You may have good information about the high-end of the range, but there is really good information here about the low or middle part of the range, and the average is therefore somewhere in between.

$76,000 is for a WDW server that works 40 or more hours a week on average. The nice lady that gave us her own personal info plainly states she averages 18 hours a week and works only a couple of days! Do the math, she's right in line with what I said!

 

[OneTreeHillAddict]

Just my input -- Disney almost NEVER hires full time servers, because then they would have to give them benefits. I know...they hired me as a server and told me it was nearly impossible to get a full time position (ie NEVER). If I wanted a full time position with benefits, perhaps I should go into bus driving. Not for me...but my dad did it...and was a manager at the Studios.

In addition, if they did make that kind of money...it had nothing to do with the Cola here. In case you have been in a box for the last year, Orlando had been hit...HARD...by the sub-prime and housing boom. Thousands of foreclosed houses can be purchased for next to nothing. How do I know this? I am a title agent, work for a builder, and actually worked at one of the auctions in Orlando a month ago! You can buy a 3/2.5 brand new townhouse in Winter Garden (really Windermere), 3 whole minutes from the cast member entrance to MK for $180K! If you can't afford that, they have 2/2 for $156. While comparing this to rural mid-west it might seem high, but lets factor in that 2 years ago these houses were selling for over $300K. You can live VERY well in Orlando now on much less.

But in the end......they aren't making 76K a year. Plus the bartenders make WAY less. My brother bartended in a restaurant in Epcot and literally had to spend more in gas than what he made. Nobody makes great money at Disney until you get up into senior executive level. But it's a great part time job if your bills don't depend on it.

I don't hand out checks at Disney, all I did was research it online and I talked with actual workers that work every day in the WDW restaurants. Judging from the facts those CM's gave the $76,000 was on the low end. And having been a server in my 20's in a tourist seasonal area I know what I made then with much lower menu pricing. So when you look at it that way...it all adds up. The numbers make sense to me.

Honestly, if anyone is serving in a WDW restaurant, and they work at least 40hours a week they should be very close to that figure. If not, something is wrong! That only comes to $1461.54 a week! You can't get a ressie at a Disney rest w/o making it months ahead of time, they stay slammed packed! You have a LOT of big parties, automatically 18% there as well as on the DDE! And even when I added grats to tables I usually got extra because my big parties were treated well! Most people tip right, moreso than not. It averages out. Otherwise nobody would be a server! And keep in mind, Disney menu pricing is really high!

My post has nothing to do with benefits, but I get what you're saying. If you aren't hired as full time it doesn't matter how many hours you're working. I made that point in an earlier post. It's too bad everyone can't be covered the same!

A lot of places have been hit hard! (Thanks president Bush). I think it's like that in most of the US right now. You mentioned some house pricing here so I figured you knew a lot about it. We've been considering Celebration for a few years now. LOVE the place! What are those homes selling for now? And what about land? Pref land about 15 miles outside of the hot spot. We wouldn't mind building either. If you can PM some info on those things I'd really appreciate it! Thanks so much.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

I know I'm coming in a little late with the area I want to address, but the question of "why does it matter what the servers make?" was brought up. As if we shouldn't even be discussing it.

Why it matters to me is becuase of all tipping threads where people say "well I tip at least 20% because of all the people that stiff them and they work so hard and they get paid so little and and and..." Basically implying that those of us who use a 20% tip as our upper limit for exceptional service are some kind of tightwads who are treating the servers "like pieces of crap" (yes that was posted in a recent thread) and have no right to eat in a civilized restaurant.

I know it's hard work - I've waited tables too. And I certainly don't begrudge anyone making a good living. But I think it matters for discussion on the DIS so that those out there who continually post as if WDW servers are living below the poverty level can learn that it just isn't so and to stop trying to guilt other people into what I personally consider over-tipping. If you want to tip 25% or more go for it. But don't lay a guilt trip on the rest of us over it.

 

[bicker]

Good point Pete. The standard is 15% for full service. No one should feel the least bit guilty if you tip based on that number (or any higher number) as a default for "good" service, with discretion to make the tip higher or lower than that in response to superior or inferior service.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I don't hand out checks at Disney, all I did was research it online and I talked with actual workers that work every day in the WDW restaurants. Judging from the facts those CM's gave the $76,000 was on the low end.

But when others tried that same site, specifying restaurants servers (vs. "servers), they got very different results - i.e. "no data" when I tried. Also, while it may be theoretically possible to earn as much as indicated in the title of this thread, Disney hires few, if any, full-time servers. Somebody wanting to work 40 hours a week in that position (and remember, not every hour is spent serving) would need to get two, three, four, or more jobs in different restaurants. Then you run into scheduling issues. Five hours for lunch at Crystal Palace overlaps with five hours for dinner at Le Cellier (examples only) and that server can't be in two places at once.

Why it matters to me is becuase of all tipping threads where people say "well I tip at least 20% because of

For the record, I tip 20% because I tip 20%; because I have family members who have worked as restaurant servers - NOT because I'm responsible for anybody else stiffing a server.

 

[SanFranciscan]

Tipping is always a touchy subject because the desire to get something for nothing is so strong that customers may both want a server to coddle them to earn the tip and then resent the server for doing so because that creates the obligation to give the tip.

Like the person who started this thread, I make my living as a photographer. I make a tiny fraction of the incomes that I am reading are the norm for servers, and San Francisco is not a cheap place to live. Yet I have difficulty thinking that I deserve what they make. I know from experience that I cannot handle their job. I have never worked for Disney; but I have waited tables in coffee shops, including a large chain. I really started to hate people in general.

For one thing I couldn't even be a customer in a restaurant without feeling like I should apologize to the staff for the fact that I was a woman because we are well-known for not tipping while being the pickiest customers. Yet the sexual come-ons from male customers, even though I worked in "family restaurants" and not bars, made me far from interested in dating any men at all. I also learned that 90% of complaining customers just wanted to get out of paying for their food, even after they had practicallly licked their plates clean. Anyone who can put up with all of that and keep a smile, or anything other than contempt, on their face has my complete admiration.

Would it be better if servers were paid a salary? I suspect that the customers would pay much more while the servers made less. How long before these servers would qualify for welfare as their employers jumped on the opportunity to privatize their profits and socialize their costs? I think Disney would have plenty of company doing that.

My photography job does take a certain amount of skill because I see the difference between my later pictures and my earlier ones, but I feel like it is an absolute cakewalk compared to the coordination and ablity to hold one's temper required of a table server.

 

[black562]

Sorry if this was covered, as I just noticed this before going to bed.

Prior to this year, the dining plan gave 18% gatuity. So that's $18 for every $100 bill...and we had almost every dinner bill at or near that much. So lets say they had five dining plans at a time (5 tables) and each only spent $100, that's $90 in tips at a time (figure each table sits for just over an hour)....I'm not going to do all the math, but now that the dining plan doesn't include gratuity, many won't leave the full 18% and I'm sure the wait staff were not pleased with this change.