How much do you tend to tip

Vixster

DIS Veteran
Joined
Nov 15, 2011
Messages
581
We are a family of 5 how much do you tip at buffets and sit down meals on dining plan?
 
Tips of 15-18% are expected. They even "helpfully" show both the 15% and 18% amounts at the bottom of the bill.
 
At a buffet, I would tip 15-20% depending on how good the service was, e.g how many times empty plates removed/drinks refilled without asking, whether the buffet was 'explained' to us, special requests honoured.

At a TS restaurant, we nearly always tip 20% at least unless the service is sub-par. We have only done the dining plan once, when it was free and included appetiser and tip and we always tipped over and above the included tip, at every restaurant. The service we have received at Disney has nearly always been excellent.
 
Mostly between 15-20% - usually round up to the next dollar after 18%. But we have tipped upto 25-30% when we have had outstanding service :thumbsup2

Remember the tip is calculated on the pre-tax amount :goodvibes
 

18-20% at a TS but I only ever tip 15% at a buffet unless the server is amazing!
I've never had that great service at a buffet except Tusker house! Crystal palace was awful we was ignored for most of it as was Chef mickeys were we left 10% and they was lucky to have that!
 
when I'm not on the free DDP, usually I'll tip between the suggested 18 and 20% tip on the bill and round to the next dollar
(for example, if suggested tip is $17.35 - $18.68 (random numbers) I'll tip $18 (easier to calculate)

when I'm on the free DDP, since I didn't pay for food, I will invariably round to the next dollar over the 20% suggested tip.

unless, of course, service has not been good, which has yet to happen in my own experience.

I don't make differences between regular sit downs and buffets.
 
Any advice on how much to tip Bell Services. Speaking of which what can I potentially use them for
 
It's usually $1 per bag
I normally leave that plus a couple of $$, as there are only 2 of us so I always feel a bit mean at the thought of leaving $2-3
 
Any advice on how much to tip Bell Services. Speaking of which what can I potentially use them for

$1 per case they take to your room is about right!

I also add 10% for taxis... Worried now I'm being a skinflint... Lol!
 
Any advice on how much to tip Bell Services. Speaking of which what can I potentially use them for

I usually tip a $ per item and round to the nearest $5.

If we are just picking them up after they stored them to load in the car at the end of the stay then I just tip a couple of bucks.

Which reminds we when we collected them from BLT on the way home last time - for the first time ever the guy rejected the tip :o
 
If you watch and see what the locals leave as tips .... you are way over

tipping price.

Most will leave $ 1 per person at end of meal .

Not Kidding ..... look around you the next time.
 
If you watch and see what the locals leave as tips .... you are way over

tipping price.

Most will leave $ 1 per person at end of meal .

Not Kidding ..... look around you the next time.

In WDW TS meals, tips are expected, and in some cases automatically added to your KTTW (if you paid with it).

A server also once chased us out of the Pepper Market for more tip when we only left 10% (buffet service and we ended up asking for drinks and cutlery because she was too busy to bring us anything!)
 
If you watch and see what the locals leave as tips .... you are way over tipping price. Most will leave $ 1 per person at end of meal . Not Kidding ..... look around you the next time.

I don't where you eat but I have never seen that. We go out to dinner with friends who are local and believe me they tip!
 
According to Emily Post, the following is 'correct etiquette':

General Tipping Guidelines
When and Where and How Much
RESTAURANTS:

Wait service (sit down)
15-20%, pre-tax

Wait service (buffet)
10%, pre-tax

Host or Maitre d'
No obligation for greeting you and showing you to your table.
$10-$20 for going above and beyond to find you a table on a busy night or on occasion, if you are a regular patron

Take Out
No obligation
10% for extra service (curb delivery) or a large, complicated order

Home Delivery 10-15% of the bill, $2-5 for pizza delivery depending on the size of the order and difficulty of delivery

Bartender
$1-2 per drink or 15-20% of the tab

Valet
$2-$5
Tip when the car is returned to you.

TRAVEL:

Skycap
$2 first bag, $1 per additional bag

Doorman
A smile and a "thanks" when he opens the door
$1-$4 for carrying luggage
$1-$2 for hailing cab (add an extra $1 if it's raining)
$1-$4 beyond the call of duty

Bellhop
$2 first bag, $1 per additional bag
$2-3 for each additional service, such as room delivery

Housekeeper
$2-$5 per day, left daily with a note marked "Housekeeping - Thank you"

Concierge
No obligation for answering questions
$5-10 for tickets or restaurant reservations
$15 for hard-to-get tickets or reservations, or 10-20% of the ticket price

Taxi driver
15-20% of the fare, but minimally $1
$2 for the first bag, $1 for the second

SALON/SPA:

Hair Salon
15-20%, ask to be split among those who served you

Manicurist
15-20%

Facial, waxing, massage
15-20%
 
If you watch and see what the locals leave as tips .... you are way over

tipping price.

Most will leave $ 1 per person at end of meal .

Not Kidding ..... look around you the next time.

Depends where you eat, we often go to Sweet Tomatoe for lunch with American friends. Servers there are totally different to the ones in Disney buffets, in Disney they shoud work approx 6 tables at a reasonable pace, ST they work a whole section and turn over very fast, could be 20+ tables. A Disney buffet will be in excess of $20pp, ST $8pp.
So in SW our friends will leave $1 (for 2 of them) if the service has been minimal, $2 if attentive but they would leave far more at a more expensive restaurant.
 
When we went last year, I tipped 15% at the Buffets & 18-20% at the TS restaurants dependant on the server. Good service - 18%, excellent 20% kind of thing.

We didn't ever tip under that as we always received good service :)
 
If you watch and see what the locals leave as tips .... you are way over

tipping price.

Most will leave $ 1 per person at end of meal .

Not Kidding ..... look around you the next time.

I've never seen anybody do that? I personally would never do that for a TS meal, I think that's very mean indeed:confused3
 
Never really had bad service in Orlando. We always leave the next full dollar value above 18%. 15% At buffets and will always tip over and above for very good service!
 












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