How much do you tip in Buffet Restaurants?

Disbabe

DIS Veteran
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Apr 9, 2001
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Just wondered what percentage of the bill people pay as a tip to the waiter/waitress when you dine at a Buffet Restaurant, bearing in mind they aren't serving you the food as you get it yourself?
 
Just wondered what percentage of the bill people pay as a tip to the waiter/waitress when you dine at a Buffet Restaurant, bearing in mind they aren't serving you the food as you get it yourself?

20% (and up, depending on the quality of service)... we tip buffets exactly the same as a standard "sit-down and be served meal"! :goodvibes
 
I tip 20% if the server is good and I have to say I have never had a bad server in DW or DL :thumbsup2
 
Our waiter at the Crystal Palace was really busting his butt! He definitely worked harder clearing empty plates ans bringing drink refills than any other waiter on our trip! Tip at least as much as you would for 1 who brings your food.
 

I agree with the others. We have found we keep servers at buffets pretty busy. My family of 5 can dirty a lot of plates at buffets and the servers have generally done a good job keeping those cleared. We also get a lot of drink refills, extra napkins-that type of thing.
 
We tip the standard, 10%-15% depending on quality of service.
 
We tip our standard 20% at buffets. Although, I have to add that buffets at WDW are the only buffets we have ever been to. :)
 
We always tip 20%. Although the staff is not serving food, they are bringing the drinks and are constantly clearing the table of empty plates, glasses, etc.
 
Honestly, I tip according to service in buffet restaurants. If my plates are not cleared and I don't get refills..etc... then they don't get the 20% I usually leave. If I see them rushing to get other tables their refills, and they neglect me, they don't get the 20%. If I get good service, it is usually 20-25%. I waited tables for a living for a long time. I respect them, and treat them right as long as they treat me right. :)
 
Anywhere from 12-20% depending on service.

Generally speaking our Disney buffet servers haven't been as attentive to us, or cleared our plates as quickly as servers at local buffets.

The exception to this was Gulliver's in 2004. The server here was FANTASTIC!! Fun, friendly, efficient, and everything Disney all wrapped into one person.

We've eaten at Chef Mickey three times and Crystal Palace four times. We generally wait with dirty plates stacked high for most of the meal, have to ask for refills and are just pointed at the buffet when we get there. Even attempts to chat or be friendly with the server are brushed off. We've never had the wonderful experience that others have with servers letting them know when characters are coming, etc.

That rant being over, we'll be tipping the mandatory 18% when we go in March, but if service is bad enough I'll speak to a manager to let them know that there is a problem with service.
 
20%! Most of the servers we have had have worked just as hard as the servers at the regular TS restaurants. If they keep the dirty plates off the table and keep my beverage filled they deserve at least the 20%.
 
Pretty much what I would tip in a regular restaurant, even if the server doesn't come by that much. I say "pretty much" because there have been times when I've had really appalling service, but even then I tip. It's a hard job, regardless.
 












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