Tipping at buffets vs. being waited on??

[just another guy]

I agree. I've done the counting thing too (mostly by memory though) and don't see that there's a big difference btw buffets and table service in terms of amount of work.

Take an entree only meal at Concourse Steakhouse vs the buffet at Boma:

Concourse
Welcome & drink order (1 stop)
Drop off drinks & take order (1 stop)
Refill drinks (2 stops)
Drop off entrees (1 stop)
Check on table (1-2 stops)
Clear dishes (1 stop)
Bring bill (1 stop)
Take bill (1 stop)


Boma
Welcome & drink order (1 stop)
Drop off drinks (1 stop)
Refill drinks (2 stops)
Check on table (1-2 stops)
Clear dishes (3-4 stops)
Bring bill (1 stop)
Take bill (1 stop)

Thank you!

 

[tiggersmyguy]

We tip 20% at buffets and regular TS places.

We do this as well. We had dinner at the Crystal Palace our last trip and our server was outstanding. We always had drinks refilled, dishes removed and he did not rush us in any way, told us to take our time and enjoy. He worked just as hard as at any other TS .

 

[PrincessTrisha]

"What can I get for you" is a lot shorter than explaining the setup of the buffet, where the meats are vs the salad or soup, etc.

That seems a little understated. Most servers spend a few minutes taking the order; confirming side dishes; making recommendations; noting special orders, etc. Even in your example below, "t-bone steak rare" - when a guest orders a steak generally the server is asking, "And how would you like your steak cooked?" not to mention sauces, sides, appetizers, desserts, special orders, substitutions, etc.

Any chain restaurant probably has 6-10 units throughout the restaurant. Its takes all of 15 seconds to enter in a password, select new table, enter the table number, hit the coke button, the t-bone steak rare button, and hit send. Your server at a disney buffet has to ring things in just the same.

Again, you are understating things.

Any decent disney buffet server should check back with the guests to see how things are tasting for them. Just because they simply don't ask "how is everything" doesn't mean they are not checking back. The server could be removing plates from another table, glance over at your table, see you laughing with the kids, have no dirty plates, not needing refills, and thus see no reason to bug you. another 10 seconds at a computer screen, so you're not gettin gcredit for that "step" either.

There is a difference in glancing over a table and checking in with a table. At a buffet you don't do this after every plate and a sit down restaurant you do. At a buffet, the server will come by, clear plates and ask "everything alright here?"

I consider service lacking at a sit down restaurant if the server does not return to my table a few minutes after my food is served to ensure that everything is to my liking. I expect my server to notice if something is not being eaten (such as my steak) and to ask me if something is wrong with it. I would expect at a sit down meal if I have not finished the food on my plate that the server would offer me a take out container / offer to pack up my leftovers.

A buffet server at disney would still have to get coffee.

Assuming they notice that you have moved on to desserts. A server at a sit down restaurant offers dessert and coffee.

Funny, looks like the count is back to dead even now.

Not even close

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I've never understood why people think it's okay to tip less at buffets either. IMHO, a server that's good & cleans the plates often seems to work harder at a buffet than those at TS restaurants.

 

[just another guy]

Not even close

Have you done both? No, didn't think so. Have I dated, and still know a handful of disney servers, both buffet and non buffet, YES!

I could easily pick apart the rest of your comments, but its pretty clear you haven't been around these situations, you don't understand, and your opinion is already made up.

 

[edk35]

WOW WOW WOW....I would have never ever ever ever posted this if I thought it would turn into a battle. I was just curious as what most people did for tipping. Obviously.....we will all tip whatever we feel is appropriate and I never intended this to turn into a war zone. GEEZ. LET'S ALL BE NICE NOW.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

WOW WOW WOW....I would have never ever ever ever posted this if I thought it would turn into a battle. I was just curious as what most people did for tipping. Obviously.....we will all tip whatever we feel is appropriate and I never intended this to turn into a war zone. GEEZ. LET'S ALL BE NICE NOW.

You think this is bad? Check out some of the threads on the Resorts Board about tipping the housekeepers..

 

[pumba]

we always tip the same for buffets as a table service meal........The buffet wait people take our drink order and they come back "How many times" to get rid of our empty plates ....they also fill our empty drinks......so I do believe that they come around as much and take care of us as much as a table service wait person....
SO we tip the same for the service

 

[edk35]

You think this is bad? Check out some of the threads on the Resorts Board about tipping the housekeepers..

Oh I have seen those threads. I really never intended for this thread to get so crazy.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

Have you done both? No, didn't think so. Have I dated, and still know a handful of disney servers, both buffet and non buffet, YES!

I could easily pick apart the rest of your comments, but its pretty clear you haven't been around these situations, you don't understand, and your opinion is already made up.

It is generally considered polite to wait for an answer after asking a question.

I have written and deleted the rest of my post several times as I do not wish to add any inappropriateness of this thread.

What I will say is this:

The typical reason why buffet servers were (and to some degree still are) tipped less is because buffet servers tend to have a higher number of customers per shift - generally buffets have a higher guest turnover meaning buffets servers will serve more people in any given time period as compared to a server in a full service restaurant.

If in a buffet a table is turned over every hour and in a full service restaurant that same table is turned over every 1.5 - 2 hours, the server at the full service restaurant would potentially be making fewer tips than the buffet server since the buffet server is potentially serving twice as many customers.

This practice developed just the same as the practice of tipping a certain percentage (15% - now recommended as high as 18 - 22%) or indeed even a certain percentage on the total bill (minus tax of course) instead of a flat rate per customer.

Until tipping becomes a law however, there will be different opinions - none 100% right, none 100% wrong - simply opinions on what is "correct".

 

[dqpowell]

There's a big difference between a weekly trip to the golden corral, and a familes once evert 4-5 year trip to Disney.

Yes, and that difference is that Disney charges more than double for a buffet dinner -- thus the 10% tip at the Disney buffet is more than twice as much as the tip at the golden corral. Other than the price, I fail to understand what it is about a Disney buffet that makes you think the servers deserve not only double the tip at other buffets, but quadruple (if leaving 20%).

David

 

[Topo Bella]

This is sort of a minor pet peeve of mine. I waited tables for years ... earning my 15% to 20% by running around like a lunatic, taking orders, delivering 3 courses, refilling drinks, clearing dishes, etc.

So, when I go out for a meal and I have to do the same things I had to do when I was actually the waitress and all my "waiter" has to do is fill my drinks, I just can't bring myself to tip as though he or she were a full service waiter. They get 10% from me, despite being an otherwise very generous tipper. Buffet wait staff can also handle a much larger number of tables, so it probably evens out in the end anyway...

 

[just another guy]

earning my 15% to 20% by running around like a lunatic, taking orders, delivering 3 courses, refilling drinks, clearing dishes, etc.

So instead of bring out 3 different plates, you take back 6 different dirty plates.

Buffet wait staff can also handle a much larger number of tables, so it probably evens out in the end anyway...

Nope, not allowed at Disney. They have set standards to the max number of people allowed in your station at any given time. Disney sets that number the same for buffet and non buffet cause disney has the brains to see that the way their buffets are set up, its just as much work.

 

[ReneeA]

I remember the days of waiting tables to pay the bills, so...

I tip 15 - 20% at a buffet and 20-25% at a TS meal.

Our regular waitresses are always happy to see us.

 

[mamaprincess]

We tip 10% at buffets.

 

[grannyminnie]

We tip 20% but then again I am a server so I always tip well. I just feel guilty or something..

Totally off-topic here, but what happened to your Colts last night??

 

[girt25]

So instead of bring out 3 different plates, you take back 6 different dirty plates.



Nope, not allowed at Disney. They have set standards to the max number of people allowed in your station at any given time. Disney sets that number the same for buffet and non buffet cause disney has the brains to see that the way their buffets are set up, its just as much work.

Do they also have to tip out to runners and bussers? Would you prefer to carry 6 plates stacked or 3 plates spread out with food? Do they really have to carry back more plates? between soup bowls and appetizer plates and entrees and dessert plates.. how many trips do you make at a buffet? I guess I just don't understand how me getting up to get my own food doesn't save the server SOME work.

 

[caroline1851]

I typically tip about 10% at a buffet and 18-20% at a sit down restaurant.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

I guess I just don't understand how me getting up to get my own food doesn't save the server SOME work.

 

[mom2my3kids]

Totally off-topic here, but what happened to your Colts last night??

Yeah they were harassing me at work today I just hey its just preseason it don't count.. I have been down to the Colts Training Camp, those are a bunch of great guys..Kids had a blast..