Do you factor in gratuity on a buffet?

[NS1983]

my family and I are discussing getting the dining plan this trip and trying to decide if it worth it for us. Most of us don’t think it is. I was figuring approximate costs of the places we want to go with/ without the dining plan. We were discussing Boma and I was factoring in tax and gratuity. My mom says she doesn’t think you factor in gratuity on a buffet because your serving yourself. So how does it work there? What do you all suggest?

 

[fla4fun]

Tipping is always voluntary, but generally it is common to factor in a gratuity for a WDW buffet, as there is a server who will bring beverages and clear plates during the meal. A typical buffet gratuity is usually less than a full TS gratuity by about 5% or so. So if you would normally tip 20% at a TS, factor in at least 15% for a buffet. I usually just factor in the same gratuity as TS when doing initial estimations to make the calculations simpler.

Buffets can be tricky as far as gratuities. I know there are some places outside of Disney where the entire meal from start to finish, including beverages, is self service, and in those cases a gratuity is not always warranted. But at Disney, it’s more of a hybrid setup where you do have a server interacting with you, just not as much as a TS experience.

 

[NS1983]

That’s what I was thinking. Thank you!