How much to tip at Buffets?

[haveitall]

We are doing quite a few buffet breakfast, lunch and dinners during our 14 day trip in Sept.

How much would you tip at the buffets?

Sylvia in MN

 

[inkkognito]

Depends on the level of service...10 to 15% as an average, but we've tipped 20% when it's been exceptional.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Depends on the level of service...10 to 15% as an average, but we've tipped 20% when it's been exceptional.

Very good advice. If you are a party of 6 or more then Disney will tack on a 18% tip. Tip based on service, how often are your drinks filled, how often are your plates cleared, are you offered coffee toward the end of the meal, are any extras you need brought out in a timely manner.

 

[inkkognito]

Yes, and it's rather ironic...every now and then we get better service at a buffet than at a regular table service restaurant! In that case, we compensate accordingly...once we even tipped more than 20% at the Ponderosa on 192, near WDW. Our waitress was amazing...she definitely needed to be in a better restaurant than just a buffet.

 

[ransom]

I agree with inkkognito.

For buffets, we normally start at 15% and work our way up or down based on service.

 

[haveitall]

Thanks for the information.

Sylvia in MN

 

[pumba]

they take our drink order,, bring us our drinks. pick up the dishes two or three times and refill our drinks .....brings us coffee to go with dessert, and cleans up the mess.....our waitress at Crystal Palace got 20 percent and she was so darn good...took our photos ....she asked.....to me she earned it....

 

[Minniemouse07]

they take our drink order,, bring us our drinks. pick up the dishes two or three times and refill our drinks .....brings us coffee to go with dessert, and cleans up the mess.....our waitress at Crystal Palace got 20 percent and she was so darn good...took our photos ....she asked.....to me she earned it....

Interesting.. we had the worst service of our trip at CP.

We were on the DDP while there last year though so she received a full 18%.

 

[ImaFunMom]

Depends on the server, but I tip around 15% at buffets (more for really good server, less for bad).

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) The industry standard is 10% tip for buffets.
2) You can tip more, but why?
. . . either the table is kept clean or it isn't
. . . either you get drinks on time or you don't
3) There really is no middle ground.
4) It is pretty black and white.

 

[Lockandbayb]

we just got back on the 29th, and Disney has a minimum of 15% for there tips...they have 2 category's 15% and 20%....we tipped the really good servers the 20% and a few deserved 0% but we tipped 15.

 

[disnut8]

we just got back on the 29th, and Disney has a minimum of 15% for there tips...they have 2 category's 15% and 20%....we tipped the really good servers the 20% and a few deserved 0% but we tipped 15.

Are you talking about the card that is tucked inside with your bill? That is there only for easier calculations and to suggest a tip amount. Tips anywhere are not required but only expected in the crazy world of United States restaurants.

The suggested starting tip for any restaurant in the United States is 15% of the bill. Depending on your service, you can adjust higher. If the service was so bad that you want to do down, you should probably be speaking to a manager about the poor quality.

Also remember that since a tip is calculated on a percentage of the bill, the servers in the more expensive places will receive a higher tip than someone who works at say, Waffle House. For probably the same level of service.

 

[Brian Noble]

Unlike many other etiquette experts, Miss Manners recommends using the same tipping standard regardless of service type. As Miss Manners is my favorite etiquette authority, that's what I do.

Others will recommend a slightly lower tip for a buffet, but the precise number can vary.

 

[Disney8704]

DH and I tip 10% for buffets and 15-20% at TS

10% is the standard for buffets

Speaking of buffets, I really wish Disney buffets were like the ones here at home. Where all they do is clear your table. You get your own food (of course like at all buffets) but also get your own drinks. I much rather get my own drink at a buffet so I dont have to wait to get a refill. Thats just me though.

 

[Sabor]

I generally go by Buffet Standard is 7% -10% and Table Service is 15% - 18%

On an exceptional Service I will go to about 25% on TS and 15% at a Buffet.

But I have very rarely come across a Buffet that I have felt compelled to leave more than 10%. However in TS I leave 25% all the time. (This is in general not Just WDW)

 

[shellybaxter]

I tip the same at buffets as at regular table service - around 20% - when at WDW. I feel the servers at Disney buffets work just as hard as the table service servers so I tip the same

 

[TDC Nala]

The only time you are required to tip a specific amount at WDW is if you have 6 or more people in your party or if you are using a DDE membership (this is a different program from DDP, the Disney Dining Plan). Any other parties may get suggested tip amounts written on the receipt.

 

[pta-mom]

It's been my experience that when in a buffet anywhere, the servers have a much larger group of tables that they are serving versus a plated restaurant where the waiter may have only a few tables they serve. The difference is, the buffet waiter does a walk through, picking up plates than a walk through, filling water glasses. The plated restaurant server must spend much more time & detail per table bringing different courses, suggesting different pairings, etc. Also, clients at buffets typically do not occupy the table as long as clients at plated meals so the server does not usually spend the same amount of time with them.

I am not saying that one works harder than the other but if the buffet server has a larger group, it is because that person's work is less detail orientated.

Buffet servers we tip around 10%. Other waiters, we tip between 15-25% depending on the quality of the service.

I think at the end of the night, both servers would probably make about the same when multiplying it by the amount of tables they would have served.

 

[Munchkin'sMommy]

Ok,this may sound like a stupid question, but if you are the DDP, do you tip 15-18% of what your bill would have been had you paid for it OOP?

I have been wondering about the tipping as well since we will on DDP and tips are no longer included in plan.

So is it standard to tip less at buffets and more at TS meals? Or just to tip based on the level of service you received?

Just trying to figure out how much money to budget.

 

[TDC Nala]

Ok,this may sound like a stupid question, but if you are the DDP, do you tip 15-18% of what your bill would have been had you paid for it OOP?

I have been wondering about the tipping as well since we will on DDP and tips are no longer included in plan.

So is it standard to tip less at buffets and more at TS meals? Or just to tip based on the level of service you received?

Just trying to figure out how much money to budget.

You may if you want. That appears to be WDW's customary tip amount for good service. And you tip on the menu cost of the food you ordered, not on the cost of the dining plan.

If you have 6 or more in your party you will be paying 18% regardless.

If you have 5 or less, you may get the suggested tip amounts (15% and 18%) printed on your bill, but you determine how much you tip.