The State of the Park: Busch Gardens Williamsburg

[Jonesta6]

I can't remember where the restaurant I read about was, but I believe it was a single family-owned kinda place... I want to say somewhere in the New England area but can't be sure.

Chains may have an easier time with it, depending on their internal controls and setup with franchisees if any exist.

Still though, a true bartender mixing drinks in the park I could see as a tipped position, especially with good service and a little flair. However, for the price of even being able to order, let alone the profit on the drinks themselves, I'd also expect that position to be paid well enough that tips are just the sprinkles on top of the cake, not the second layer and pastry cream as well.

...mmm cake

 

[MIKEYT67]

Lets do some math lets pay a waiter\waitress $20\hr
8hr shift =$160
Same person on waitstaff pay and does 10 tables \night at an average of $100 \ table
20% tip per table =$20
10 x 20 =200
8x20 =160
this person loses $40 per night and this is being conservative

 

[Icer]

That is also not accounting for the large amount taken out for taxes with a salary, when it is pretty standard in the industry to not necessarily report tips accurately for taxing. Not saying I agree with it, but it is easy to get away with pocketing the $20 bill someone slapped down on top of the check and not report it. Staff backlash is a big part of tip culture remaining too, hence why it would have to be an industry-wide Thanos snap to prevent staff from jumping ship to a place where they can pocket cash.

 

[panopticon31]

Well I dont think we will likely be seeing any tip jars or options on payment screens coming to SEAS anytime soon.

Then again with as cheap as they are when it comes to spending money on anything asides from new attractions we can always see them stoop even lower.

 

[Mushroom]

The problem I see with putting tip jars (or even automated tip prompts at checkout) at BGW is that it only benefits a very small portion of their seasonal workers: frontline restaurant staff, and maybe kitchen staff. It’s not like a standalone restaurant where the tips can be somewhat fairly distributed to everyone in the business. Ride ops, security, area hosts, etc. all work just as hard as their F&B counterparts but wouldn’t benefit from tips, unless the park starts putting tip jars at ride exits too.

Not that I’m against any way to increase compensation for BGW’s underpaid employees, but tipping isn’t an equitable, systematic solution to the park’s larger problem — that they pay too little.

 

[WDWRLD]

Exactly……add a tipped flair bartender that actually does a good job and works hard and makes good
money but then how long before tips
inch their way to the person doing the least work possible
to put icecream in a cone and it devalues the bartenders money made.

 

[halfabee]

Lets do some math lets pay a waiter\waitress $20\hr
8hr shift =$160
Same person on waitstaff pay and does 10 tables \night at an average of $100 \ table
20% tip per table =$20
10 x 20 =200
8x20 =160
this person loses $40 per night and this is being conservative

...Thereby illustrating that the server in this case, if salaried, is clearly worth more than the $20/hr that is being arbitrarily assumed.

Maybe that wasn't the intent of the experiment, but either way: well done.

 

[EdK]

Personally I don't like the concept of tipping at BGW. The beer cost enough that I shouldn't have to tip on top of that, not to mention that pouring a beer and handing it to me doesn't strike me as something I should tip someone for. I know KD has tipping and they really shouldn't with maybe the exception of the mixed drink bar. Seriously, paying over $12 at KD or $14 at BGW for a single beer should be enough to pay their workers a decent salary. If they paid the workers $3 for every beer sold they'd still have plenty of profit left over. Talk about greedy A$$Holes.

 

[Mwe BGW]

Wilkomenhaus ice cream shop is reopening soon. New France Dippin dots was open.

 

[Coasternerd]

Alpengeist ski mart update:

 

[Merboy]

Alpengeist ski mart update:

I might have never noticed before but did they just add the design on the side of the fountain?

 

[Zachary]

I might have never noticed before but did they just add the design on the side of the fountain?

Nah, it has always been there. Google StreetView (2009):

 

[Icer]

It just has a nice "pop" of detail now since it hasn't been powerwashed since AB owned the park

 

[Thomas]

Surprised it wasn’t painted orange.

 

[mikes]

At least they are realizing people want ice cream on hot days.....

 

[panopticon31]

At least they are realizing people want ice cream on hot days.....

i for one am shocked

 

[I64 Trekker]

Saw this sign in Tampa today, which seems to acknowledge the challenges front line staff are facing...

 

[horsesboy]

Saw this sign in Tampa today, which seems to acknowledge the challenges front line staff are facing...

View attachment 27185

Last year I was in Pigeon Forge and one of the restaurants had a big sign in front that said "There are currently staffing issues in the food industry. If you can't be understanding, and patien with our staff who are here doing their best then TAKE YOUR BUSINESS ELSEWHERE!" Whether you agree with the park's situation and actions the employees there are not to blame please understand that and treat them respectfully.

 

[GoHokies87]

Saw this sign in Tampa today, which seems to acknowledge the challenges front line staff are facing...

View attachment 27185

"Please stop berating us for our shitty policies. Our staff will quit and we're not gonna change them anyway"

-No loose articles in line in the 100 degree heat, including reusable drink cups.

-surcharges for no reason

-45 minute wait just for security due to the entrance construction.(the line has been getting so long they can't use the trams cause it goes back to the tram stop)

-long food lines due to low pay(I've seen as low as ~10/hour)

Yeah, I think this is kinda on Busch. I will absolutely give employees some lip for these garbage policies, with the caveat that I try to slip something in that I know they aren't making those choices. Can't say that'll happen for the other thousands of customers.

 

[MIKEYT67]

"Please stop berating us for our shitty policies. Our staff will quit and we're not gonna change them anyway"

-No loose articles in line in the 100 degree heat, including reusable drink cups.

-surcharges for no reason

-45 minute wait just for security due to the entrance construction.(the line has been getting so long they can't use the trams cause it goes back to the tram stop)

-long food lines due to low pay(I've seen as low as ~10/hour)

Yeah, I think this is kinda on Busch. I will absolutely give employees some lip for these garbage policies, with the caveat that I try to slip something in that I know they aren't making those choices. Can't say that'll happen for the other thousands of customers.

Where did you see $10\hr Both Florida and Virginia Minimum wage is $11