How much do you tip at buffets?

[Dancind]

Assuming the servers don't do much more than refill your drinks (sometimes not even that)? We always debate over this, as I used to think 10% for buffets was adequate, but it seems cheap to leave that much. Do you leave a 20% tip at Character meals, places like Boma? I think we usually go for more like 15%.

 

[ducklite]

They bring and refill your drinks, they clear used plates off the table, they will help bring the characters to you if they miss your table, they generally make your visit more pleasant.

Unless service is horrible I leave 20% for buffet servers. I think they work as hard if not harder than servers at other restuarants who ahve busboys and kitchen runners helping them out.

Anne

 

[G00fyDad]

I say tip the same here as you woould at a place that brought the food to you. You dont tip for them bringing food, you tip for their service during your meal.

 

[shellybaxter]

I tip the same of I do at any other resturant. Buffet waitstaff bring and refill drinks, clear plates (probably more then if you just ordered off the menu), and often tell you about the "menu items" available at the buffet and where to find them. Good waitstaff do this on your schedule (clear plates as you finish, refill drinks ect) not on a schedule set by when each course will be ready to be served. I personally think buffet waitstaff work pretty hard.

Shelly

 

[Taratink]

It surprizes me that people tip 20% for buffet servers. I am a generous tipper and I always give 10%. I looked up on an a ettique website on tipping and it said 5-10% depending on the level of service. I was scared for a minute there. I would hate to be thought of as cheap or that I was stiffing the waitstaff. I have 2 young kids so if they make a big mess I always leave a higher tip.
Tara

 

[DebbieB]

Assuming the servers don't do much more than refill your drinks (sometimes not even that)? We always debate over this, as I used to think 10% for buffets was adequate, but it seems cheap to leave that much. Do you leave a 20% tip at Character meals, places like Boma? I think we usually go for more like 15%.

FYI - Boma is not a character meal. I saw a mother practically take a tantrum when she found out it wasn't one morning when I was there.

I usually go 15% at buffets, more if they went out of their way. Drink refills are a pet peeve of mine. I hate it when my drink goes dry and they are nowhere around. They also clear plates. They can also take pictures of your family with the characters.

 

[eeyore0062]

I know that I am in the minority, but most of the time we don't differentiate and leave 20%, same as the servers. We at least leave 15%. If we have a discount where the tip is added, then it is whatever the tip is, plus, if less than 20%, and it is usually 18% now. These servers don't get any more an hour than the ones who are doing full service, and many times the checks are less, as well. Also, I think they work harder, keeping not only the tables cleared, the drinks filled, the buffet looking nice and at the character meals, the characters aware if they happen to miss your table, as well as playing photographer.

FYI, if you do have a party of 8 or more at WDW restaurants the tip added has now gone from 15% to 18%, which is the new norm.

 

[my3kids]

There is a little card in the bill booklet they bring you that says gratuities are not included and 18-20% is customary. The card was the same at buffets as well as seated restaurants.

 

[ducklite]

It surprizes me that people tip 20% for buffet servers. I am a generous tipper and I always give 10%. I looked up on an a ettique website on tipping and it said 5-10% depending on the level of service. I was scared for a minute there. I would hate to be thought of as cheap or that I was stiffing the waitstaff. I have 2 young kids so if they make a big mess I always leave a higher tip.
Tara

Seeing as how the servers are taxed as if they had received at minimum 8% of the total check, tipping less than 10% is shameful.

Personally it doesn't sound to me like you're that big of a tipper if you are only tippipng 10%. I don't think I'm that big of a tipper, and I leave 20%, more if the service warrants it.

Anne

 

[sherry8253]

We always leave a 20% tip (or more if warranted), including buffets and we base our tip on what the bill would have been before any discounts such as DDE are taken off. We were talking to a waitress at a buffet during out last trip. She has been a waitress at Disney since they opened and she makes a whopping $3.50 an hour. These hard working CM's rely on our tips just as much as waiters & waitresses at other sit down restaurants.

 

[LarryM]

Just curious when we eat at Coranodo Springs in the peppermill market.(I realize it is not a traditional buffet) We tipped 10% as there was already a 10% charge for the service that gave a total of 20%. I don't know if the other buffet's charge an automatic tip.

 

[scrump]

We usually tip 20% for sit down meals, including buffets. The average rate now has moved towards 18%. I also think 10% is rather low.

 

[G00fyDad]

Keep in mind folks that if you use the Disney dining plan feature with the MYW package, the tip is included. You can still tip more for exceptional service.

 

[eeyore0062]

Just curious when we eat at Coranodo Springs in the peppermill market.(I realize it is not a traditional buffet) We tipped 10% as there was already a 10% charge for the service that gave a total of 20%. I don't know if the other buffet's charge an automatic tip.

No, Pepper Mill isn't run by Disney even thought it is in a Disney Resort, and is the only buffet or food court in a Disney owned property that adds a gratuity unless you are on a dining plan, have certain discounts, or have a party of 8 or more.

 

[DMRick]

FYI, if you do have a party of 8 or more at WDW restaurants the tip added has now gone from 15% to 18%, which is the new norm.
**
We will be a party of 9 in Feb, and I just got back from Disney so I asked about the tipping when I made my ressies for Feb (since we are treating for a lot of the meals). I was told it will still be 15%, (but added to the bill), but if we use the the new vouchers it will be 18% automatically added. We usually tip 18-20% (buffet or regular), so it's no biggy, but I'd like to know where to find that info. I also notice that in most places, the tip is added after the sales tax.

 

[Slapster]

It surprizes me that people tip 20% for buffet servers. I am a generous tipper and I always give 10%. I looked up on an a ettique website on tipping and it said 5-10% depending on the level of service. I was scared for a minute there. I would hate to be thought of as cheap or that I was stiffing the waitstaff. I have 2 young kids so if they make a big mess I always leave a higher tip.
Tara

Tipping 10% will leave your servers thinking they have done something wrong. Tipping small (which 10% certainly is) is worse than not leaving a tip at all, since the servers just assume you forgot if you leave nothing.

I tip 20%-25% across the board, including buffets. I'm not wealthy or anything, but I see waiting tables a grueling work, both physically and mentally. I'm consistent in my tip amount unless I receive truly bad service that I am sure is the wait staff’s fault. Something I do not fault the wait staff for is late food (usually the kitchen's fault). If a server is rude that will reduce the tip, but I've never left less than 10%.

Servers at buffets on average make 3 -4 more trips to the table to clear your empty plates, which means the actually work harder than if they were working a regular served meal.

If tipping were universally ended tomorrow, the cost of dining out would increase 15%-20% everywhere as the restaurants would have to compensate the wait staff. I see tipping as part the cost of dining out.

 

[java]

Wow I am surprised. I was a waitress and would never have expected to be tipped the same for a buffet as a full service meal. In full service I took the order, made the drinks, made the salads, served all courses of meals, got more rolls, took desert orders, made the desert, cleared all the dishes along the way myself. Now I am not saying the buffet people don't work hard- but the same tipping as regular table service- I am surprised. Unless you all tip 25% and up at regular restaurants? I noticed at Disney buffets they don't even clear the tables- someone else does. Now if we get special service, like a comedian waiter we will tip around 15-20 for a buffet. But on a normal buffet I give 10-15% and don't feel cheap at all.

 

[ducklite]

Actually at a great many WDW buffets the servers DO bus the tables.

Anne

 

[shellybaxter]

FYI, if you do have a party of 8 or more at WDW restaurants the tip added has now gone from 15% to 18%, which is the new norm.
**
We will be a party of 9 in Feb, and I just got back from Disney so I asked about the tipping when I made my ressies for Feb (since we are treating for a lot of the meals). I was told it will still be 15%, (but added to the bill), but if we use the the new vouchers it will be 18% automatically added. We usually tip 18-20% (buffet or regular), so it's no biggy, but I'd like to know where to find that info. I also notice that in most places, the tip is added after the sales tax.

FYI

I just returned as well, with a party of 11 and 18% was added to each bill. Even mine and DH went we asked for our 2 meals to be split out to a separate bill.


Shelly

 

[n2mm]

We just returned last night and noticed that most of the menus have been reprinted and it says at the bottom of all we saw that an 18% gratuity will be added to parties of 8 or more.

PLEASE to all DDE users, keep in mind that when you tip you are suppose to tip on the FULL price of the bill, not the discounted price of the bill--just in case you didn't know. This is why you will usually receive two printouts (one with and one without discount so you can tip accordingly).

We tip 20% or better. Since hubby is a CM we have an 18% tip added to our pre-discounted bill. We usually add more to make 20% or better. I actually like having the tip added, it's less taxing on my vacation brain.

I agree about Pepper market, not disney owned.