Tipping at buffets

[Goofy4Disney]

Just wanting to see what everyone says about this. What do you normally tip at a buffet? We're going to CM, Boma, 1900 PF, Biergarten to name a few. There are 4 of us, 3 adults, 1 teenager.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

We tip the same 18 to 20% that we tip at other TS restaurants. From our experience, the buffet servers work every bit as hard as the others do, sometimes harder. That is from a WDW perspective. We don't eat at buffets elsewhere.

 

[Freyja]

We tip the same 18 to 20% that we tip at other TS restaurants. From our experience, the buffet servers work every bit as hard as the others do, sometimes harder.

Same here!

 

[Goofy4Disney]

Thanks. Anyone else?

 

[beattyfamily]

I tip the same as a regular meal; 20% for good service, less for not so good service.

I do know there's been other (longer) threads on this subject in the Budget Board where there was lots of debate. Some think that 10% or $2 a person is plenty.

 

[danielle782001]

I tip the same as a regular meal; 20% for good service, less for not so good service.

About the same here.... I agree that great service is great service... Great service gets 20% (or more) and not such good service gets 18%... We have given less only a couple of times (not in Disney) for REALLY bad service....

There is a server in Tusker House... His name is Neil... We always give him more because he makes us laugh, takes lots of pics for us, and takes really good care of us... When the dining plan included the tip we would always give him an extra $5-10... We did that once or twice at a few other places as well.

 

[momof2mouseketeers]

We tip the same at buffets as we do regular table service. Our normal is
20%, but there are many times, when we'll go over that.

 

[KayLuvsMickey]

We tip 15% for slow kind of "bad" service, 18% for adaquate service and 20% for excellent sevice, which btw, we get at most Disney restuants, including buffets

Happy Eating!

 

[divawife]

20% is ridiculous unless it is outstanding service.

I tip 18% for buffets unless there is something really special they did such as take pics, overhear us say something and take care of it, make sure we see a specific character.

18% is my norm but if they leave dirty dishes for a long time, if we don't see them again till the bill comes, if we never get what we politely ask for (like more coffee or juice or butter), if they leave a dirty tray next to our table and take off, if they push dessert before we even have begun our meal it is 15%.

 

[shellybaxter]

20% is ridiculous unless it is outstanding service.

.

I will have to respectfully disagree. Many people (me included) use 20% as the normal starting point for both table service and buffet restaurants

 

[Pumbaa_]

We typically tip 20% at Disney TS. We don't treat the different types of TS differently, our tip is based upon service only.

 

[dioxide45]

We typically tip 20% at Disney TS. We don't treat the different types of TS differently, our tip is based upon service only.

Tipping expectations seem to always go up. At one time it was 10%, then 15%, then 18%, now it is closer to 20%. There will come a day that you will just double your check to cover the tip.

 

[iheartdisney]

Tipping expectations seem to always go up. At one time it was 10%, then 15%, then 18%, now it is closer to 20%. There will come a day that you will just double your check to cover the tip.

Isn't it insane that Disney inflates EVERYTHING, including gratuities?!?
I'm sticking with 15% as the industry standard, and that doesn't change just because I'm on vacation!
15% is the starting point. It goes up for good service and *gasp* down for bad service. Last time we were at CP, we didn't see our waitress once we got our first round of drinks. we had to flag down other waitresses for refills, and then it took 20 minutes after we ASKED for the check, which was the first time we spotted her AFTER we had finished eating. Guess who got LESS!
I'm sorry, but its a buffet...give me the check as soon as I sit down...there aren't any suprises as to what the total is!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Isn't it insane that Disney inflates EVERYTHING, including gratuities?!?
I'm sticking with 15% as the industry standard, and that doesn't change just because I'm on vacation!
15% is the starting point. It goes up for good service and *gasp* down for bad service. Last time we were at CP, we didn't see our waitress once we got our first round of drinks. we had to flag down other waitresses for refills, and then it took 20 minutes after we ASKED for the check, which was the first time we spotted her AFTER we had finished eating. Guess who got LESS!
I'm sorry, but its a buffet...give me the check as soon as I sit down...there aren't any suprises as to what the total is!

I think the industry standard must be regional. We've been tipping 18% for several years now. I didn't realize anyone still tipped 15%, until the tipping saga started playing out on the DIS. Obviously, some still do. I can see why WDW's standard is 18%. We live in FL & that's pretty much standard everywhere here. I'm not saying you're wrong at all. I'm just pointing out that many of us seem to have a different idea of what "industry standard" is.

 

[loonytoony]

Buffet tipping?????? They better work hard to earn it. I start at zero until I see someone then work up. If they keep my table clean and drinks filled they will get what they deserve.

 

[a Really Bad Egg]

20% is ridiculous unless it is outstanding service.

Actually, 20% would not be considered ridiculous at all to some.

Buffet tipping??????

This is why I think the DDP will go back to including tips.

 

[Freyja]

Buffet tipping?????? They better work hard to earn it. I start at zero until I see someone then work up. If they keep my table clean and drinks filled they will get what they deserve.

Which is how much?

 

[tarheelmjfan]

This is why I think the DDP will go back to including tips.

I think it's more likely they'll decide to automatically charge everyone 18%. They're already doing that with DDE members. If the servers suffer this year, I wouldn't be surprised to see it applied to everyone soon.

 

[pumba]

Good Gosh.......we tip at ts and buffets usually the same......WHY at buffets you ask...because they come around alot more then a regular waitress.....they bring our drinks, they pick up empty plates, they bring more napkins..give us refills ask us if we need anything We had such great service at CP both in April last year and at Christmas time....the waitresses earn their money in my opinon...

PLUS ...my mother was a waitress when my father had a heart attack when I was young....she worked hard and always told us that waitresses and waiters are the workers that never get enough thanks.......she reminded us to always look at the whole picture....how busy is the waitress....does she have more stations then she can handle......we have had some great waitresses and we have had some slow ones.......the slow ones are the ones that have more then they can handle......maybe because someone else called in sick and they need a backup....

 

[dobtia]

It straight up depends on the experience. Our expectations are really simple at a buffet. If the drinks stay refilled then we tip like any other service. At a buffet that and empty plates is the whole job. We will tip around 20% for good service.

Now that rule of thumb gets jacked way up when you compare 25 dollars for a character breakfast vs 10 dollars back at home.

But good service is good service.