Tip Expectations for a Buffet

[Herasmus B. Dragon]

* 1st Trip Disclaimer* WARNING: Dumb Questions May Follow *****

Okay, my husband and I were making final plans this weekend and realized that most of our ADR's are for the buffet style venues. Having never before eaten at a buffet, I'm not sure what to expect.

I've eaten at Luby's and we left small tips for the lady who refilled our tea, but nothing like we do at other locations where the server brings us our food.

So, my question is what do you tip at a Buffett? Who exactly are you tipping?

And my final question....do you tip the Characters?

 

[TDC Nala]

You don't tip the characters. That is not a tipped position.

Although there's some irony in slipping small bills to Mickey.

This is me, personally. I tip the buffet servers at WDW basically the same as the table service servers.

If you have 6 or more in your party, or you are using Disney Dining Experience (not the Disney Dining Plan), you'll be charged an automatic 18% gratuity at table service AND buffets.

 

[DVCJEN]

It is considered customary to tip 10% at buffets. However at WDW I think the servers do more than at other bufets I have been to so we generally go 15-20 depending on the server.

 

[MommyBuzz909]

I know at Goofy's Kitchen @ the DL Hotel here in CA, they put the tip right in there with the total cost....however, I don't know how they do the buffets at WDW!!

 

[Tricia1972]

I know at Goofy's Kitchen @ the DL Hotel here in CA, they put the tip right in there with the total cost....however, I don't know how they do the buffets at WDW!!

For the buffets at WDW tips are only automatically added as Nala mentioned above. CRT is an exception in that the tip is figured into the fixed menu cost, but it is not added (extra) to the bill.

 

[BriarRosie]

You don't tip the characters. That is not a tipped position.

Although there's some irony in slipping small bills to Mickey.

This is me, personally. I tip the buffet servers at WDW basically the same as the table service servers.

If you have 6 or more in your party, or you are using Disney Dining Experience (not the Disney Dining Plan), you'll be charged an automatic 18% gratuity at table service AND buffets.

Ok, ditto to what she said.

But I had to say that I had a great visual of some guy slipping some bucks to Mickey saying, "Here you go, pal. Go buy that girl of yours something snazzy." I expect some people would have a more sinister version of Mickey getting a kickback of some kind.

 

[Herasmus B. Dragon]

For the buffets at WDW tips are only automatically added as Nala mentioned above. CRT is an exception in that the tip is figured into the fixed menu cost, but it is not added (extra) to the bill.

So tips are automatically added at the Buffets?

 

[BabyPiglet]

For tips we start at 20 bucks and go up or down depending on service. For some reason we've never actually gotten into the whole percentage thing.

 

[Tricia1972]

So tips are automatically added at the Buffets?

No, just the opposite.

At WDW tips are only automatically added as Nala mentioned above.

If you have 6 or more in your party, or you are using Disney Dining Experience (not the Disney Dining Plan), you'll be charged an automatic 18% gratuity at table service AND buffets.

The difference to this, and it isn't a technical buffet, is CRT. The tip is figured as part of the cost of the meal. There is nothing additional added to your bill, and no need for you to tip anything at the end of the meal. The server receives their tips directly from Disney.

 

[collcass]

i think they are saying that unless you are at CRT, a party of SIX or more or you use the DDE , you add the tip yourself.

i know everytime I made an ADR the CM informed me that since we are 6, 18% will automatically be included and when we made CRT, they explained it was part of the fixed price

 

[Tricia1972]

If you are a party of SIX or mor they automatically include 18% (at least that;s what I was told each time I made adr's.

That's what I quoted from Nala about party of 6 or those using the DDE card.

They aren't included though, they are added to your total.

$100.00 - Food Bill
$18.00 - Tip
$6.50 - Tax
$124.50 - Total Bill you owe

 

[schoen]

15-20% to the server, who will likely participate in a tip share. They usually have to give 1% to 2.5% of their SALES (not their earnings) to the bus staff, bar staff, food runners, and occasionally host staff.



you need not (and probably are not allowed to) tip the characters.

 

[HaleyB]

15-20% to the server, who will likely participate in a tip share. They usually have to give 1% to 2.5% of their SALES (not their earnings) to the bus staff, bar staff, food runners, and occasionally host staff.



you need not (and probably are not allowed to) tip the characters.

All servers have to tip out to bus boys, hostesses, food runners, and bar staff. It is traditional to tip 10% for average service at a buffet, 15% for very good service.

18% is outrageous, especially because the service at disney buffets is sometimes awful. The manager can and will adjust that down if you ask them to, if you are a party of 6 or more.

 

[diskids2]

We tip like a table service restaurant.....18-20% of the bill excluding the taxes.