How much to tip at buffets?

[LuluLovesDisney]

At buffets at Disney, I tip 20% (give or take, so maybe 18-22? 25 for outstanding service)

Servers at buffets at Disney provide better service than several other well known buffets where you have to go up and get your food and drink and plates accumulate on the table until the end of the meal.

A server at a Disney buffet will likely visit your table at least 7 or 8 times (twice for drinks, once to check on you, once at the end to give you your bill, plus however many times you go up to the buffet to clear your plates (usually at least three for salad, meal and dessert) )

 

[WillCAD]

I tip 15% at a regular restaurant, 10% at a buffet, for normal and adequate service.

If the service is extra good or extra bad, I adjust the amount up or down accordingly.

I only complain to the manager if the service is really, really terrible. But I am an idiot because when I get service thats really, really exceptional, I tend to tip bigger but always forget to call the manager over to compliment the server.

 

[The Sweetness]

A server at a Disney buffet will likely visit your table at least 7 or 8 times (twice for drinks, once to check on you, once at the end to give you your bill, plus however many times you go up to the buffet to clear your plates (usually at least three for salad, meal and dessert) )

this was my reasoning as well, for a standdard 18-20%. I wonder what the reasoning is for those who think 10 is adequate. I see servers much more often at my table at a buffet

 

[frayedend]

this was my reasoning as well, for a standdard 18-20%. I wonder what the reasoning is for those who think 10 is adequate. I see servers much more often at my table at a buffet

My guess, and this is only a guess, is because at a buffet, they are not servers, they are bus boys or bus girls or whatever the PC term is now. I don't know what they make, or what the rule is but that is the reason I assume that people tip less at a buffet. A busboy doesn't need to know the specials, what wine to suggest, how to balance your dinner plate, stuff like that. They just need to fill your water and clear your dirty plates.

 

[Lewisc]

this was my reasoning as well, for a standdard 18-20%. I wonder what the reasoning is for those who think 10 is adequate. I see servers much more often at my table at a buffet

I tend to dine quicker in a buffet, the server gets more tables during the course of a night. The server isn't bringing me my food and generally doesn't make menu recommendation. Some buffet restaurants the customers get their own drinks and the servers don't do a good job keeping the table clear.

At a Disney buffet I normally tip around 15% vs 20% at a TS restaurant.

 

[PoohGal05]

Crystal Palace was our first character dining buffet expereince. Our server we had was wonderful! She explained the how the characters would come around to the table, she made sure we always had orange juice (I had so much I think I sweated orange juice the rest of the day! ). Neither my mom nor I knew if it was appropriate to tip, so we asked our server. She said it was fine to tip. I think we left a big tip, because the service was exceptional!

Rule of thumb is usually 10% at Buffets. Unless there is some extra/superior service given.

 

[kda]

All restaurants have someone clearing dishes/glasses, and I don't think we see a server at a buffet more often than in a sit down restaurant. (we probably visit the buffet line twice, plus once for desserts, and DH usually gets one drink refill). In most cases, we aren't receiving the same attention at a buffet.

We usually tip 15% at a buffet, unless the server has spent some time answering questions, chatting with us, or helping with something in particular.

 

[mimif1]

We tip 20% at all restaurants. We actually give more at TS restaurants if we get great service. I tend to drink a lot of soda or water at restaurants and if they can keep my cup filled, they get a bigger tip.

 

[bahsdad]

anything less than 15% is stealing IMHO

 

[Albertan mom]

WHen you are on the Free Disney Dining Plan, tip is included correct?

Can you tip more? If so, does the server themselves get it, or will it be shared?

thanks

Anyone know???

 

[bahsdad]

Anyone know???

You can always tip more but I'm not sure if servers pool their tips

 

[WillCAD]

anything less than 15% is stealing IMHO

That's your opinion. Mine's different.

Until they change the law to require a tip, or better yet change the laws to prevent employers from paying waitstaff abusively low wages, I will tip what my conscience dictates, not what anyone elses conscience dictates.

 

[MickeyNicki]

we tip 20% too

 

[Lewisc]

anything less than 15% is stealing IMHO

Actually most tipping guides say 10% is the right tip for a buffet.


http://www.tipping.org/tips/TipsPageBuffet.html

You do a google search if you want to find other sources of information.

I normally tip around 15% but a 10% tip in a buffet is the same as a 15% tip in a TS restaurant. It's on the low side of a range.

 

[DebbieB]

WHen you are on the Free Disney Dining Plan, tip is included correct?

Can you tip more? If so, does the server themselves get it, or will it be shared?

thanks

The tip is included in the Disney Dining Plan. When my niece and I were there there last month, I didn't tip extra. We did all buffets, they usually got around $10 for the 2 of us, so that seemed like plenty.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

I am of the opinion that servers at Disney buffets work harder than servers at other buffets that I have been to, so I tip accordingly(about 20%) but I wouldn't say 10% is stealing. That's a little much.

 

[LoveWDW]

I don't tip 20% since the server doesn't take my order, except for beverages, doesn't have to pace the meal, or carry and serve my food. I tip at least !0%, and at WDW where our server was delightful I tipped above the 18% already included in the DP.

 

[bahsdad]

Actually most tipping guides say 10% is the right tip for a buffet.


http://www.tipping.org/tips/TipsPageBuffet.html

You do a google search if you want to find other sources of information.

I normally tip around 15% but a 10% tip in a buffet is the same as a 15% tip in a TS restaurant. It's on the low side of a range.

if you need a guide to tip or one of those little tip cards then I'm quite sure the service you get will reflect the fact that you have no idea how hard servers/bussers work.

 

[bahsdad]

I am of the opinion that servers at Disney buffets work harder than servers at other buffets that I have been to, so I tip accordingly(about 20%) but I wouldn't say 10% is stealing. That's a little much.

O.K so stealing is the wrong word but the servers make peanuts and the bussers make even less, so maybe I should of said inappropriate.

 

[NMW]

I never heard that people tip less at buffets than regular TS restaurants until I read it on this board. To me, if someone is waiting on me, their waiting on me. It doesn't matter if they don't have to put my order into the kitchen.

Honestly, I have never eaten at a buffet place except in Disney World. The Cm's seem to work just as hard at buffets and have taken the time to explain the entire buffet and all the items on it. They bring drinks, clear plates. At Cape May Cafe I ordered the crab legs and our waiter served them to me.


Lewisc, I've never seen a buffet where you have to get your own drink. What if you want a mixed drink or a beer? How do you get that yourself? Are you talking about Disney or elsewhere?