Buffet tipping versus full service tipping?

[chris7]

Do you tip the same at a buffet as at full service? To me it would not make sense. The bill could be the same at both but at the buffet all they do is bring you drinks. But...I also don't want to be a jerk, so tell me what the accepted practice is.

 

[septbaby]

Generally, I think 10% is fair for a buffet and 15% would be my max.
We will visit Boma, Chef Mickey's and Hollywood and Vine on our trip. My guess is Boma might have a higher level of service if only to explain the buffet items, so a higher tip might make sense there. We'll be on DDP so its a moot point as they are getting 18% for tip.

 

[chris7]

I just did a search and read some past threads about buffet tipping. Opinions seem to vary widely. Servers or past servers say that waiting tables at a buffet is just as much work as other places and deserve the same tip. I guess what prompted the question is having read so many WDW buffet reviews that included "after they brought my drinks I never saw him/her again". My only thought in those cases was that I hope they didn't expect a 15% tip (unless people are on DDP in which case they get 18% regardless of how good or bad the service is). We will not be on DDP so I'll be tipping out of pocket and it will be based on how attentive the service is and how much they do for us.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Tip as you see fit. At the buffets the server will not be bringing you your food, but(if they are doing their job) they will clear your empty plates throughout your meal and refill your drinks. My thinking is that they work just as hard, at least for us, clearing all the plates away so the table doesn't get cluttered with the many trips to the food.

 

[MickeyNicki]

We tip the same, 20%...they bring the drinks, take the plates, bring extra silverware, napkins, ask us if we would like after dinner coffee, ask us if we have seen the characters yet, ask us how our meal is, etc...

 

[annieb727]

well...in my non-disney experience - I have always tipped about $1/person...
my disney experience (which is limited to Disneyland) - the tip was always included in the price.

 

[Ishy]

Lousy service at a buffet= 10% -- I didnt get drink refills, table was never cleared, no extra napkins or silverware offered, and you didnt check on me at all.

Good Service - 20% - we intereacted with you just enough to make me happy. I am not a slob or do I go up for multi servings

Boma was GREAT service -
Pepper Market not so great service -

and I was on the dining plan - I know the tip is included but I still like to throw a few dollars down - I feel most deserve it. Hard work.

 

[The Sweetness]

Do you tip the same at a buffet as at full service? To me it would not make sense. The bill could be the same at both but at the buffet all they do is bring you drinks. But...I also don't want to be a jerk, so tell me what the accepted practice is.

Do you have exp dining at buffets? If so, didnt you see the staff at your table much more often than at a traditional TS? I know thats the case at my local buffet I see the person assigned to my table at least every 5 mins, at my table, seeing if there are dishes to clear, checking if we are happy. Surely, thats worth 20% of the bill IMO

 

[mousefan96]

Tip $1 per person? DIS Regular BuffaloGal will tell you to stay home! Her kids will starve!

 

[just another guy]

I guess what prompted the question is having read so many WDW buffet reviews that included "after they brought my drinks I never saw him/her again".

I think a majority of people saying this are just not aware of their surroundings. They are all excited at disney, talking with the wife/husband/kids, enjoying the food, etc. My ex was a disney buffet server, and she ran her *** off everynight. I don't think a 5 minute period would go by that her tables couldn't see her. She was always either greeting a table, getting refills, taking dirty dishes to the kitchen, cleaning a table or printing a check. Now if a party of 12 wanted 5 separate checks, or she just got their drinks orders, she would be away for 3-4 minutes, but thats it. A lot of people are enjoying their family time, so she wouldn't bug them every 5 minutes asking if everything is OK, or if they needed something. She would simply walk past the table, and take a glance. If dishes were dirty, she would remove them. If a glass was empty, she would to get a fresh coke. If she walked by, and everyone is enjoying food, has drinks, is happy, there wasn't a need to interrupt them.

Now I know someone is going to jump down my back with a disney buffet horror story about how they NEVER saw their server, waited 14 minutes for a refill, etc, but that would be an extreme, rare event, if even true. People tend to stretch the truth when angry/hungry. I use to serve at apple bees while in college. Their computer system monitors the time period from when its rang in, until its ready to leave the kitchen. Many, MANY times I would hear, "Um, I've been waiting like 20-25 minutes for my dinner." I would go check, and see its been 14 since it was rang it.

To the original question, yes, 15-20% is standard

 

[sjms71]

Do you have exp dining at buffets? If so, didnt you see the staff at your table much more often than at a traditional TS? I know thats the case at my local buffet I see the person assigned to my table at least every 5 mins, at my table, seeing if there are dishes to clear, checking if we are happy. Surely, thats worth 20% of the bill IMO

I agree 100%, of course everyone's experience is dIfferent. I feel I get much better service at a buffet. Usually at a TS the waitstaff takes your order, someone else brings your food they check on you maybe once. Getting drink refills is like pulling teeth and someone else cleans your table when you are done. I've always felt at the buffet's we have gone to they are much more attentive so that is worth 20% to me.

 

[ProudMommyof2]

well...in my non-disney experience - I have always tipped about $1/person...
my disney experience (which is limited to Disneyland) - the tip was always included in the price.

OUCH!!!!

 

[doctorhead]

Usually at a TS the waitstaff takes your order, someone else brings your food they check on you maybe once. Getting drink refills is like pulling teeth and someone else cleans your table when you are done.

The reason that someone else brings your food to your table is b/c when the food is ready to go, it has to be taken out right then. The manager will have whatever waiter is standing right there take it to you. You have to realize that your waiter is taking out food to other waiters' tables just like a different waiter is bringing you your food. And the people that take you to your seats and clean your tables when you're done, do you know who pays their salary? The waiters do. Most restaurants don't pay their waiters, bussers, and host/hostesses very much. Maybe around $2/hour. That's enough to cover the taxes that are taken out of their paychecks. The waiters pocket most of their tips, but they will also have to pay the hostesses, bussers, and maybe even the bartenders 3% of what you pay them. So just remember that when you're tipping someone 10%, that waiter is really only getting 7% of that.

 

[PrincessMinnie28]

I have never been a server in a buffet restaurant, but I have been a server in a regular table service restaurant and I have to agree just from observation that buffet servers do a lot of work (i.e., refilling drinks, keeping the table cleared, etc.). Obviously, tip what you believe should be tipped. It might help you to determine what to tip if you really make an effort to pay attention to the server and see how many times he/she comes to your table and/or assists you throughout the meal.

 

[shellybaxter]

In Florida I tip buffet servers and table service servers equalily. As much as I hate it the state of Florida and the Florida restaurant industry have decided that they should pay their servers (both table service and buffet) a sub-minimum wage - I believe it is now about $3.50 per hour. The law expects that patrons will tip the server accordingly and "bump" them up to at least minimum wage. Therefore, I don't think it is right of me to tip the buffet server less.

 

[cvallee]

Equal tipping should be the answer. They make their living off of the tips and work very hard. I always have had great service at all of the buffets in Disney and I tip accordingly (20%). Everybody should work in a restaurant at some point in their lives in order to appreciate all of the work and headaches that are associated with that. $1 per person???? Where's the math in that??

 

[dqpowell]

Equal tipping should be the answer. They make their living off of the tips and work very hard.

It is not my responsibility to tip somebody enough to live on.

I tip 10% at buffets almost every time. I am doing the work of gathering and transporting my food, as is everybody else in my party. If the used dishes aren't cleared or I have to wait an unreasonable amount of time for drinks or attention, I tip less... and I will withhold a tip entirely if the service is particularly bad. On rare occasions I have tipped up to 15% at a buffet, but that is rare and must be earned with above-and-beyond service.

At table service restaurants I typically tip 18-20% -- less if service is poor and more if service is exemplary. Oh, and I always tip on the pre-tax subtotal. It makes no sense to tip somebody more simply because the tax rate where they work is higher than at another restaurant (in another place where the tax rate is lower).

I have family members that have worked as waiters/waitresses. One of the big things that annoyed them was when people would bring in a coupon for "buy one entree, get one free" (sometimes more than one, if it was a large party) and then tip on the final, discounted amount rather than what the meal would have cost without the coupons. It's something a lot of people don't think about but I was always sympathetic (and always tipped based on what the full cost of the meal would have been).

David

 

[AnninIowa]

We tip one dollar per person at a buffet.

 

[amery]

At the end of the day (or meal), it really comes down to the quality of the service you got.

You may receive 'less' service at a buffet but the quality of that service might have ben out of this world. I have been to enough full service placs where if I had loose change in my pocket, that's what I would have left.

The one thing that you will wnat to check when you receive the bill or possibly find out before you even sit down is if a gratuity is already included. This will almost certainly be the case if your party is 6 or more. Should that happen, you would of course be at your leisure to leave a litle extra if the experience warrants it.

 

[sjms71]

The reason that someone else brings your food to your table is b/c when the food is ready to go, it has to be taken out right then. The manager will have whatever waiter is standing right there take it to you. You have to realize that your waiter is taking out food to other waiters' tables just like a different waiter is bringing you your food. And the people that take you to your seats and clean your tables when you're done, do you know who pays their salary? The waiters do. Most restaurants don't pay their waiters, bussers, and host/hostesses very much. Maybe around $2/hour. That's enough to cover the taxes that are taken out of their paychecks. The waiters pocket most of their tips, but they will also have to pay the hostesses, bussers, and maybe even the bartenders 3% of what you pay them. So just remember that when you're tipping someone 10%, that waiter is really only getting 7% of that.

I understand that, and I've never tipped anyone only 10%. We usually tip 20% no matter where we eat.