Tipping at buffets vs. being waited on??

[byoung]

I'd say about 15% for a buffet (I sometimes tip 18% to 20% for really good service at non-buffet restaurants). I think 15% is fair if the server brings drinks (and refills) when needed, clears plates promptly, answers questions, etc. I might tip a little less if service isn't as good. I probably wouldn't tip more than 15%, since the servers don't take orders and bring the food.

A little off topic, but I sure wish our country didn't have a tipping practice in place - it sure doesn't seem fair to have your earnings be so unpredictable. Some people are generous tippers and some aren't (and it often isn't really dependent of the quality of the service received -- just on the habits of the tipper). Wait people work very hard for a living, and most really hustle. Let's reward them accordingly!

I agree.

 

[familyS]

At buffets I encourage my children to take small portions, drink a glass of water between plates, and go up more frequently. It helps avoid overeating .
So our wait person usually has many plates to clear from the table. Just like at a sit down restaurant, we start at about 15% and if he or she does a great job, the tip is higher. To get less than 15% from us, the server would have to have been abosolutely terrible or rude. I don't think that has ever happened to us, anywhere .

 

[dqpowell]

A little off topic, but I sure wish our country didn't have a tipping practice in place - it sure doesn't seem fair to have your earnings be so unpredictable. Some people are generous tippers and some aren't (and it often isn't really dependent of the quality of the service received -- just on the habits of the tipper). Wait people work very hard for a living, and most really hustle. Let's reward them accordingly!

Servers would never agree to this. They thrive on the fact that most people think they make next to nothing. Even the so-called "poor" tippers who leave only 10-15% end up leaving a lot more money overall than non-tipped servers would make.

Because the vast majority of restaurants, left to pay their servers a "fair" wage assuming no tips, would start beginning wait staff at minimum wage. They'd be lucky to be pulling in $10 an hour after ten years.

Complain all they like about inconsistent tipping from table to table -- there's no way a Disney server would pull in even half of what they make now if the U.S. went to a no-tip system.

David

 

[mom2my3kids]

I have to tell you what happened yesterday at work. A customer came out of the ladies room and told the server that was rolling silverware that they were out of paper towels in the ladies room. Then she took her hands and wiped them on the servers apron. I was shocked, I would of told her good but the girl was new and just stood there with her mouth open..

 

[southernbohemian]

Don't take this as an instigation, but maybe you should start following your friends around at work because you are incredibly off about timing and what is involved (unless they are incredibly bad servers.) Granted, I have never been a server at Disney, but I was one for many a year. I usually tip generously, but feel that 10% at a buffet restaurant is plenty unless the server went really above and beyond.

"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.

At most buffets I have been to, the waiter asks what we would like to drink (if the seater did not do so), then asks if you would like the buffet, then generally says, "Go ahead." I have never had a buffet server individually point out the different sections of a buffet. A regular restaurant server not only has to do the greeting, but has to explain any specials, encourage alcohol beverages and appetizers, then take down orders. Its not MacDonalds, which is what it sounds like you are thinking of. Many people ask for recommendations, ask for substitiutions, have special dietary needs (no nuts, etc.) Even if the server is crappy and doesn't make any suggestions or explain any specials, it still takes time to take the order unless everyone at the table orders the same thing (uh, like a buffet?).

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.

That's a huge overstatement. Most restaurants have about one POS system per section, so it does depend on how big the restaurant is. Most I have worked at have had about 4 for the servers and one at the bar. One place I worked at had a ridiculous 3 and we had to wait in line to use it. It takes more than a couple of seconds to put in an order - You chose the table, put in the guests, then go individually by guests to say what they would like, generally having to go through different screens. It doesn't take forever, but about 45 seconds to a minute, not 15 seconds. The time adds up when you take into account that a regular server makes several trips to the POS so that the meal is properly timed. Once for apps and drinks, once for the entree, once for the dessert.

You still need to take into account that regular servers spend a lot of their time serving the other customers in the restaurant - running food, helping clean up, getting bar drinks, etc. Restaurants do this so that food doesn't wait for a particular server to bring it to the table, so that it gets to you hot, not so that your server can do less work and get a bigger tip. They probably ran someone else's food. Buffet servers have to do a lot less of this. They might refill other tables tea, but generally they only have to look out for their own tables.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not knocking buffet servers. Anyone who serves food (from the cafateria lady to the head waiter) works very hard for every dime that they get. My personal beef is that Disney expects my family of 6 to automatically get charged 18% at a buffet that is already overpriced. A buffet server has little difference between a 4 top and a 6 top (two more drinks, to more plates to clear - which can be stacked on top of the others), while a 6 top at a regular restaurant generally does require substantially more work than a 4 top.

 

[edk35]

I know that when we ate at the Character breakfast this past Jan. at 1900 Park Fare...I thought our server did a "not so great job". We had to flag her down, ask for drinks and she was just not on top of the dirty plates either. We were not impressed with her service...so therefore we tipped accordingly. I think that at WDW buffets that "some servers" don't go above and beyond the call of duty so to speak because they ASSUME they will get the 18- 20% tip on a 100 buck character meal. We have probably eaten at just about every character meal and a few non character buffets at WDW. I have not come across too many servers at buffets at WDW that do an exceptional job...and I honestly think it stems from most people always tipping 18% to 20% even for buffets and so they don't feel like they need to do anything special. I think most table servers tend to do a better job and I think they probably work harder...MY OPINION.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Tipping threads tend to become hot topics around here

Different points of view are allowed and encouraged. And I have to say I am quite pleased that no one has yeet to say we can't afford to eat out AND tip, so we don't tip Thank you! I hate when that happens

Disney handles service differently than the real world. I would not consider tipping a ponderosa server what I tip a disney CP server. Worlds apart, IMHO.

My bill tends to be less at a buffet than a sit down full service. We tend to tip out at 20% depending on the service. Great service, pro'lly more. Bad service, oh yes, it will be less.

Good discussion folks but please keep it civil if you can't do friendly, k?

 

[edk35]

Tipping threads tend to become hot topics around here

Different points of view are allowed and encouraged. And I have to say I am quite pleased that no one has yeet to say we can't afford to eat out AND tip, so we don't tip Thank you! I hate when that happens

Disney handles service differently than the real world. I would not consider tipping a ponderosa server what I tip a disney CP server. Worlds apart, IMHO.

My bill tends to be less at a buffet than a sit down full service. We tend to tip out at 20% depending on the service. Great service, pro'lly more. Bad service, oh yes, it will be less.

Good discussion folks but please keep it civil if you can't do friendly, k?

I had no idea how HOT!!!!! W H E W!!!!

 

[dqpowell]

You know what, I am tired of hearing ohh the Disney servers make this so stop complaining.

If you can point out who on this thread said that, I'd appreciate it. I don't recall seing anybody say this.

I don't work at Disney but I will tell you what they deserve every penny they make. If that is a average of 20.00 a hour then so be it, I know on the weekends at IHOP I come home feeling like someone beat me with a stick and my legs are going to fall off.

Disney servers make a lot more money than the servers at IHOP. The meals cost a lot more. Just FYI.

So in the end I deserve every cent I make I work VERY hard for my money and nobody is going to tell me to shut up and stop complaining because you make good money.

Nobody said you didn't deserve the money you made in your job, and nobody told you to shut up.

David

 

[just another guy]

Disney handles service differently than the real world. I would not consider tipping a ponderosa server what I tip a disney CP server. Worlds apart, IMHO.

Thats one of the big things I think people are forgetting here. A disney buffet IS NOT pnderosa/golden corral/etc.

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.

Just to make sure we'll still talking disney buffet, and not golden corral.

Working at apple bees, the average person get a soda, a meal, and thats it. Deserts were maybe 2-3 a night when I would see 60 people. Yes some get soup or salad before, but again, the average person doesn't. At a buffet, the average person goes up about 4 times, soup, salad, main items, and desert. Yes some go for one mega trip with two plates, and yes some foreigners will take 8 small trips, but we are talking averages. So yes, a disney buffet server does carry a lot more plates that a normal server. At Apple Bees, I could say to myself, Alright, they(lets say a family of 4) just got sodas, the food order is in, I have 5 minutes to kill before checking back on them, as the meals will take about 16 minutes. At a buffet, you have 4 different people eating at different paces. 3 minutes in, Jimmy needs more napkins. 2 minutes later suzy needs a refill. 4 minutes later dad would like A1 sauce. 3 minutes later jimmy needs ketchup. 6 minutes later dad wants a coffe now since he's working on desert. 4 minutes later mom hits desert and now wants a hot tea. Suzy shortly there after goes for some fries, and now needs ketchup herself. See, ya never know when who is going to need what. Oh and to mention, pretty much with every items bought to the tables, there is probably another dirty dish that needs to be taken back to the dish area. At apples bees, you could grab typically 2 plates from a 4 top at once, and come back in 5 minutes of so, and the other 2 would be done. Thats only two trips to dish vs 10 or how ever many at a buffet.

At most buffets I have been to, the waiter asks what we would like to drink (if the seater did not do so), then asks if you would like the buffet, then generally says, "Go ahead." I have never had a buffet server individually point out the different sections of a buffet.

Thank you for mentioning that. Why? Because thats exactly what happens at golden corral, pizza hut's lunch buffet, etc. As stated above, THOSE ARE NOT DISNEY!

A regular restaurant server not only has to do the greeting, but has to explain any specials, encourage alcohol beverages and appetizers, then take down orders. Its not MacDonalds, which is what it sounds like you are thinking of. Many people ask for recommendations, ask for substitiutions, have special dietary needs (no nuts, etc.) Even if the server is crappy and doesn't make any suggestions or explain any specials, it still takes time to take the order unless everyone at the table orders the same thing (uh, like a buffet?).

I've stated before, I'm not a disney server, but I dated one for a long period of time, and still am good friends with several. I could practically do my ex's job I know it so well. As she greets the table, she was suppose to do a guided tour or whatever term disney calls it. Basically a quickly summary of the buffet. I'm just gonna make up random stuff but...

"Its starts down on the right with the salad bar area. Right passed their your find more plates available for your main dishes. Everyone ALWAYS loves out mashed potatoes, so you might want to try those. Father down the line the chef is carving prime rib tonight. Don't forget to try the sauce on it, it adds a very unique taste. Towards the end you'll find deserts. You can't elave without trying the apple pie, so be sure to save room, ok?"

Yeah, thats a BIT more that "go ahead."

Plus at your typical Apples Bees, John Doe has been there many times before, knows what he want to eat and drink. At disney, a lot of people are only there once or twice(this board is clearly the exception) so they don't know where to find extra plates, the bathrooms, etc. Plus, a lot of disney's drink menus feature their own drinks, which take some explaining.

You still need to take into account that regular servers spend a lot of their time serving the other customers in the restaurant - running food, helping clean up, getting bar drinks, etc. Restaurants do this so that food doesn't wait for a particular server to bring it to the table, so that it gets to you hot, not so that your server can do less work and get a bigger tip. They probably ran someone else's food. Buffet servers have to do a lot less of this. They might refill other tables tea, but generally they only have to look out for their own tables.

Depends on the restaurant. I worked at a mexican restaurant where team work was limited to what was assigned to you based on your station, such as filling the ice bin. There were not bussers, no food runners. The cooks called out your name when the food was up. My ex's place at disney had extreme teamwork going. Servers would be grabbing others tables dishes, and then telling that server, "Hey the lady at table 45 is about ready for more tea" etc.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not knocking buffet servers. Anyone who serves food (from the cafateria lady to the head waiter) works very hard for every dime that they get. My personal beef is that Disney expects my family of 6 to automatically get charged 18% at a buffet that is already overpriced. A buffet server has little difference between a 4 top and a 6 top (two more drinks, to more plates to clear - which can be stacked on top of the others), while a 6 top at a regular restaurant generally does require substantially more work than a 4 top.

Sorry, but based on my experience working chain restaurants, and know several disney buffet servers, I still don't see a difference in the amount of work they do. It might be a different type of work, but buffet servers are not out back taking smoke breaks, and playing video games on their cell phones. They do just as much running as a regular sever.

Personally, a 4 vs a 6 top at Apple Bees was no different, with the exception of 2 more dinners coming out. I would still check on the table just as much, be there for refills just as much, etc.

 

[mom2my3kids]

If you can point out who on this thread said that, I'd appreciate it. I don't recall seing anybody say this. Disney servers make a lot more money than the servers at IHOP. The meals cost a lot more. Just FYI. Nobody said you didn't deserve the money you made in your job, and nobody told you to shut up.

David

Sorry for my heated tone, I had just got off work and something on this thread set me off I apologize. But there have been posts that said "well if you don't like your job quit". Nobody is complain really just saying its a really hard job that most people don't want to do. Heck my sister in law said she could never do it because she would be fired the first day after someone got smart with her. David your lucky I like your name, its one my big brothers names..
I realize that Disney makes alot more money then me, but does that mean they don't deserve it? Just because lets say I make 88.00 on a Monday working my behind off and they happen to make 200.00 a day. I am sure prices are alot higher in Orlando then my home town. Now like I have posted many many times if you get good service tip between 15-20 percent bad service then its up to you stiff the server, leave a note or don't tip well. This is will be last post on this subject as you can tell I am very passionate about it. When I do end my serving days, I will remember them fondly and I will always tip very well..

 

[PrincessTrisha]

Thats one of the big things I think people are forgetting here. A disney buffet IS NOT pnderosa/golden corral/etc.

You're right - Disney buffets are not like ponderosa and golden corral.

So why are you comparing Disney sit down restaurants to applebees and a local mexican restaurant?

Why not compare what servers have to do at say Kona Cafe or Le Cellier with what a server at Cape May or Chef Mickey's?

At applebee's many people are familar with the menu, have seen the specials on tv, etc - and they are just out for a bite with family and friends.

Disney restaurants don't have that (well, except for us obsessed Disers who know exactly what we're ordering 6 months from now). Most people have never seen the menu before and are not familar with the restaurant. And I imagine that people on vacation are a little more inclined to order dessert and even appetizers. Depending on the number of screaming children they have (or have encountered) might even be more inclined to order alcohol (please note the small - yes I realize very small - bit of humour in this ).

And please don't misinterpret what I am saying -
All servers who do their jobs well work hard and deserve their tips.

But, not on the dining plan, I would not tip my server at 1900 Park Fare the same percentage as my server at Le Cellier unless the buffet server was absolutely outstanding and the full service server wasn't stellar.

 

[girt25]

Thats one of the big things I think people are forgetting here. A disney buffet IS NOT pnderosa/golden corral/etc.

I'm pretty uninformed on this subject, I don't eat at buffets very much. So i'm not trying to have a debate, just want some questions answered...

I've never been to a "golden corral", but i looked up the price on the web. about 1/2 to 1/3 the price of a "disney buffet" Doesn't that cover the difference? 2-3 times the tip at the same percentage. I mean, I don't tip 45% at charlie trotters because the server is bring me 12 courses of food and 8 glasses of wine, and 20% at applebees because they're bring me 2 course and a drink refill. I tip at about the same percentage, because the difference is already covered in the price of the meal.

 

[cinmell]

We tip 20% at both buffet and table service meals.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

I tip 20% at both and feel anything less than 15% (minimum) at a buffet is just wrong and very, very cheap.

 

[Hannathy]

Just because it has Disney in front of it doesn't make a buffet anything but a buffet. Sorry it isn't wrong to tip less at a buffet than at full service rest. I would never tip 20% at a buffet unless they did something absolutely outstanding for me. What a racket bring me a drink and expect 20% of Disney prices cause it is "Disney" Sorry not going to happen, I to work hard for my money.

 

[smartestnumber5]

Why not compare what servers have to do at say Kona Cafe or Le Cellier with what a server at Cape May or Chef Mickey's?
.
.
.
And I imagine that people on vacation are a little more inclined to order dessert and even appetizers. Depending on the number of screaming children they have (or have encountered) might even be more inclined to order alcohol (please note the small - yes I realize very small - bit of humour in this ).

I think you are right that we need to compare Disney full service to Disney buffet and that people eating at a Disney full service are more likely to order more things. Notice though for every extra thing they order the server automatically gets a higher tip than the buffet server (assuming they are tipped at the same rate) because the total bill gets higher.

Le Cellier v.s Boma

Total bill at Le Cellier (4 appetizers, 4 entrees, 4 desserts, 2 sides, 4 drinks): 191.86. 20% tip = 38.372.
Total bill at Le Cellier (4 entrees and 4 drinks) = 114.96. 20% tip = 22.99
Total bill at Boma (4 adult buffets) = 103.96. 20% tip = 20.79 (10% = 10.40)

If a family of four tips a Boma server at 10% and then has a 3 course meal at LeCellier and tips 20%, the Le Cellier server gets almost 4 times the tip that the Boma server does. No doubt the Le Cellier server does more work for a 3 course meal than the Boma server does, but is it 4 times as much work?

Of course, things will look different if we consider The Plaza vs. Boma.
Total bill at The Plaza (4 app, 4 entrees, 4 desserts, 2 milkshakes, 4 drinks): 85.36. 20% tip = 17.07. Now in this case I can definitely see the reasoning that it seems unfair that this server served a 3 course meal and got a few dollars less than their counterpart at Boma (assuming a 20% tip rate). But it also seems unfair to me that the server at The Plaza served just as many courses as the server at Le Cellier and got only half the tip simply because the food is so much cheaper at The Plaza. In fact, at The Plaza server who serves a 3 course meal gets less tip than the server at Le Cellier who serves nothing but entrees!

Similarly it isn't fair that that one server at Le Cellier will get a table full of vegetarians and another will get a table full of meat lovers. 4 steaks and 4 drinks provide a 20% tip of 22.99 while 4 veggie entrees and 4 drinks gives a 20% tip of only 14.79 yet obviously the amount of work is the same. I'm sure servers at meat heavy restaurants must really dread it when a group announces they are vegetarians--they probably figure, "Great, I just lost 1/3 of my tip right there."

There are all kinds of inequalities like these that have to do with serving/tipping and personally I don't try to balance any of them out. I tip the same % whether or not the meals are vegetarian or meat. I tip the same % whether I'm at The Plaza or at Le Cellier. Personally, then, since I don't try to balance out all of these inequalities, I don't see any reason to do so regarding buffets vs. full service either.

I've never been to a "golden corral", but i looked up the price on the web. about 1/2 to 1/3 the price of a "disney buffet" Doesn't that cover the difference? 2-3 times the tip at the same percentage. I mean, I don't tip 45% at charlie trotters because the server is bring me 12 courses of food and 8 glasses of wine, and 20% at applebees because they're bring me 2 course and a drink refill. I tip at about the same percentage, because the difference is already covered in the price of the meal.

I think maybe the difference being pointed out between a Disney buffet and typical at home buffets is about what the server is expected to do. I don't do buffets at home, but we did go to a few in Vegas a few months ago. We had breakfast at the buffet in Mandalay Bay (it's supposed to be a good one according to most of the guidebooks and we enjoyed it a lot). I believe it cost $15-16 so comparable to breakfast at some of the non-character Disney buffets. But it was very different from a Disney buffet in terms of service.

At the Mandalay Bay buffet you pay before you are seated. This cuts off a few steps from what servers have to do--no printing up the bill, no giving it to the customer, no taking it and running the credit card, and no returning the card to the customer. There also apparently were no specialty drinks available (or at least, we weren't told about them if there were) so servers did not have to deal with complicated drink orders--just the normal juice, milk, coffee. I think these two things together made it the case that there was really need to have "servers" in the traditional sense at the Mandalay Bay Buffet. That is, we did not have anyone who was our server--no one who introduced themselves, or said "let me know if you need anything" or told us what was on the buffet.

Instead, we were seated and went right up to the buffet (at Disney buffets I've always had the feeling that there is an expectation that you wait for your server to come by before going up there). After we got back with our first plates it was at least another 5 minutes until anyone came over and asked what we wanted to drink and a few minutes later she brought the drinks out. Someone else came around with coffee to refill cups a bit later. And another person cleared our plates. We didn't actually need anything during the meal, but if we had it was unclear who we should have asked for it because we didn't have an actual server.

That's very different than the experiences I've had at Disney buffets where everyone has their own server, where the server does everything with the bill, where there are specialty drinks available that the server mentions, where the server explains the buffet, etc. But if you tip 10% at all buffets then the Mandalay Bay "server" and the Boma server will get exactly the same tip since despite considerable differences in service there is no price difference btw these restaurants.

The way I see it, if I have an actual server--someone who is assigned to my table, someone who makes themselves known to me, someone who is the person I should ask if I need anything, someone who comes by to ask me how I'm liking the food, who does all of the bill related things, etc.--then they should be tipped the normal 15-20%. If all I have is essentially a runner or a busser (like at Mandalay Bay) then I can see tipping less. And IMO a Disney buffet server is a server, not just a nameless person who pours some coffee into my cup or takes away my dirty plates. JMO.

 

[just another guy]

I think maybe the difference being pointed out between a Disney buffet and typical at home buffets is about what the server is expected to do. I don't do buffets at home, but we did go to a few in Vegas a few months ago. We had breakfast at the buffet in Mandalay Bay (it's supposed to be a good one according to most of the guidebooks and we enjoyed it a lot). I believe it cost $15-16 so comparable to breakfast at some of the non-character Disney buffets. But it was very different from a Disney buffet in terms of service.

At the Mandalay Bay buffet you pay before you are seated. This cuts off a few steps from what servers have to do--no printing up the bill, no giving it to the customer, no taking it and running the credit card, and no returning the card to the customer. There also apparently were no specialty drinks available (or at least, we weren't told about them if there were) so servers did not have to deal with complicated drink orders--just the normal juice, milk, coffee. I think these two things together made it the case that there was really need to have "servers" in the traditional sense at the Mandalay Bay Buffet. That is, we did not have anyone who was our server--no one who introduced themselves, or said "let me know if you need anything" or told us what was on the buffet.

Instead, we were seated and went right up to the buffet (at Disney buffets I've always had the feeling that there is an expectation that you wait for your server to come by before going up there). After we got back with our first plates it was at least another 5 minutes until anyone came over and asked what we wanted to drink and a few minutes later she brought the drinks out. Someone else came around with coffee to refill cups a bit later. And another person cleared our plates. We didn't actually need anything during the meal, but if we had it was unclear who we should have asked for it because we didn't have an actual server.

That's very different than the experiences I've had at Disney buffets where everyone has their own server, where the server does everything with the bill, where there are specialty drinks available that the server mentions, where the server explains the buffet, etc. But if you tip 10% at all buffets then the Mandalay Bay "server" and the Boma server will get exactly the same tip since despite considerable differences in service there is no price difference btw these restaurants.

The way I see it, if I have an actual server--someone who is assigned to my table, someone who makes themselves known to me, someone who is the person I should ask if I need anything, someone who comes by to ask me how I'm liking the food, who does all of the bill related things, etc.--then they should be tipped the normal 15-20%. If all I have is essentially a runner or a busser (like at Mandalay Bay) then I can see tipping less. And IMO a Disney buffet server is a server, not just a nameless person who pours some coffee into my cup or takes away my dirty plates. JMO.

Well said, and I fully agree!

 

[Kath2003]

I tip 10% for basics. The extra 5-10% comes from taking the to talk to us - I once had a server at CP so good we left 30% Best service anywhere, ever.

 

[pumba]

I hope that everyone will be kind when they respond to this thread......we dont need to be calling any servers names or each other..........thanks