a question about tips at restaurants

[Mschissl]

Okay, forgive me if this has been asked a million times. I tried to do a search and came up with nothing.

Do all the restaurants at Disney add on gratuity? For every size party? Tips are not included in the Dining plans at all though right?

What do you do for buffets? I mean if a meal costs $100 do you tip $18-$20 to someone who brought you juice???

I guess I am a little confused about that. Is there a place I can find info on this?

Thank you!!!!

 

[daisy112878]

Gratuity is not added on to your bill unless you have a party over 6 people or you use a Disney DIning Experience (DDE) card.

The dining plans do not include tip this year.

Tipping at buffets or a regular table service is up to each individual. It's a personal thing and you should do what you feel comfortable tipping. For us, we tip 20% no matter where we are at.

 

[Mschissl]

Gratuity is not added on to your bill unless you have a party over 6 people or you use a Disney DIning Experience (DDE) card.

The dining plans do not include tip this year.

Tipping at buffets or a regular table service is up to each individual. It's a personal thing and you should do what you feel comfortable tipping. For us, we tip 20% no matter where we are at.

Okay, Thank you. I thought maybe it was added automatically. We also usually just tip 20% if everything is fine, but I was confused on the buffet thing. If they are bringing me food etc and really waiting on me, that is one thing, but to just bring me a glass of water I am not sure I could tip $20 for that. I used to be a waitress when I was in school and I would even feel weird accepting that for just water, although I am sure I could get over it.

I could use some more opinions though. I am just curious what tends to be the norm.

 

[thomas998]

Okay, Thank you. I thought maybe it was added automatically. We also usually just tip 20% if everything is fine, but I was confused on the buffet thing. If they are bringing me food etc and really waiting on me, that is one thing, but to just bring me a glass of water I am not sure I could tip $20 for that. I used to be a waitress when I was in school and I would even feel weird accepting that for just water, although I am sure I could get over it.

I could use some more opinions though. I am just curious what tends to be the norm.

Don't bother tipping 20% for a buffet... most buffets are character meals. The bulk of your ticket isn't for food its for the characters. Tip what you think the person deserved... but don't feel obligated to tips based on the price of the meal... I'm pretty sure those waiter don't slip the princesses 50% of thier take.

 

[srwarden1928]

I usually tip 15% for table service and 10% for buffets in WDW, just like I do at home. Now granted the prices tend to be higher at WDW, so my tips are higher also.

 

[skw444]

Standard buffet tips are usually 10%. I would say to tip what you feel is right.

 

[mikehn]

Bartenders expect a tip for popping the top off your beer, and thats even less work than bringing a glass of water. Nowadays I tip well, not necessarily because it's deserved, but because I can afford to. Whatever you decide is fine by me.

 

[kimsuenew]

We tip 20%+ no matter where we go ( be it a buffet or "sit, order, and be served" type place)! I added the + because if we have exceptional service and personality, we often tip more than 20%. Rarely ever under that, and ONLY for really, really, really bad service... we had this happen a couple of times at a local (pricey) Mexican place... we still do 10% tip. We have budgeted 20% tipping into our WDW vacation that is upcoming. We do not drink alcohol and will not order appy's... the food with the TS DDP's is enough. I looked at the menus for each TS/Buffet, rounded off our per family projected meal cost, and did an overall 20% additional, to help budget that. It is by no means 100% correct, but did give me a ballpark (an amazingly pricey one for 13 days on the DDP)! You have to do/tip what you feel is right/fair and everyone is different! There is a standard/automatic 18% added for parties of 6 or more, and I have heard even babies count towards the party count, but don't know if that is really true.

 

[Mschissl]

Okay, Cool. I have no real problem tipping 20% at buffets, if that is the norm. I was just confused as we do not eat at buffets and when we did we were always on vacation and it was already paid for, including tip. So I didnt have to do anything.

If that is what most people do, fine by me. Affordability is not an issue, We always just tip 20%, unless the waiter was really bad, then we tip 15%. I could never stiff someone either, not after waiting tables for 6 years. Also, when I waited tables in Florida the minimun wage for waiters was like $2.30 an hour, so we depended on tips, especially as a poor college student. I have no idea what it is now though. Probably $2.31

Thanks to everyone who responded, I appreciate the help!
Don't want to appear clueless.

 

[thomas998]

Why should you feel anything about what you tip... it isn't like everyone around you is watching to see how much you leave...and since its a buffet even if the waiter gets in a huff and you return the next day, they can't spit in your food.

 

[Mschissl]

Sorry, if I appeared worried, I am not "worried" but, if most people tip 20% at buffets or 15% or whatever, I feel like I should too. Maybe it is wrong, but I would just feel better. Maybe it is because I waited tables in college. Who knows!