Tipping at buffets

[Freyja]

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.

They also add a 18% tip to all groups of 6 or more.

 

[Sammie]

We tip the same for buffets as we do at nonbuffets. It is based on the level of service and sometimes that does mean 20%.

 

[sherry8253]

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

I agree with you Shelly. 20% is also a starting point for us.

 

[Goofy4Disney]

The main reason why I asked is that here in Oklahoma, everyone I know tips 15% as standard. Buffets are considered less because when we're seated, extra plates are left on the table at the same time our drink order is made. Yes, they come back to pick up the dishes, but at the same time they are doing so with other tables. It's a little different than bringing food specifically to one table and waiting on each table at a time. Not that they don't work hard, just different overall.

Having said that, I realize that everything is always more at Disney, and I didn't want an adequate server to feel as though we were not satisfied by leaving our normal 15%, nor to have an excellent server feel disappointed because we'd left 18%. And for the buffets, be completely hacked at us because we left 10% and so on. KWIM?

My intent was not to start a debate over the issue, just to simply find out what others do.

 

[dioxide45]

I have found that if you just use the same plate over and over again, you can actually really save on the tip. There is nothing for the server to pick up. It is best to lick the plate off before going up so other people think you grabbed a new one.

 

[kimgof]

I agree about starting at 20%. It's like a teacher starting everyone in the class with an A. You can work and keep it or slack off and watch it go down. If a waiter/waitress does their job they get a great tip. Their job may be different for a buffet a little, that doesn't mean they are worth less. I am sure the wait staff in the fancy restaurants get the same crappy salary as the wait staff in the buffets. They all basically live on tips. I try to keep that in mind when I leave a tip.

 

[Brian Noble]

Miss Manners, my favorite authority on all things etiquette, suggests that one tip in the same percentages regardless of service type. I tend to tip about 18-20% in both "full service" and buffet restaurants.

If one needs a justification beyond Miss Manners' suggestion---and who would?---the fact that Disney buffets are generally less expensive than full service resturants ought to do nicely.

 

[Goofy4Disney]

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.

Now if they start doing this for everyone, I won't be able to eat at these places anymore. My DH has repeatedly said (not just during Disney discussions) that he will not eat at a place where he is told what he will pay for a tip. I have to agree with that. We did notice a big difference between eating OOP and DDP when tip was included. With the DDP they knew they had their tip before we were even seated! "Never again" was all I heard throughout every meal.

18% isn't bad for a vacation destination IMO, if we plan on it now by our own doing. Being told on the other hand, well as I said I'll be one of the strictly-CS kinda gals. Thanks for the input everyone.

 

[ElizabethB]

We'll soon be dining at several buffets as a family group of 9. We'll be charged the 18% at buffets, obviously. Since the buffets we're doing are character meals, I consider some part of the cost to be the entertainment -- visiting with the characters. Seems to me I shouldn't have to tip the waiter for that part of the admission fee. But, I won't have a choice.

So be it. Go to WDW. Live by their rules.

 

[dioxide45]

We'll soon be dining at several buffets as a family group of 9. We'll be charged the 18% at buffets, obviously. Since the buffets we're doing are character meals, I consider some part of the cost to be the entertainment -- visiting with the characters. Seems to me I shouldn't have to tip the waiter for that part of the admission fee. But, I won't have a choice.

So be it. Go to WDW. Live by their rules.

I have the same issue with Dinner Shows. We went to Arabian Knights and they handed out little cards that had a tip "suggestion" it was about 18% of the total price. I would think that more than half of the price was for the show, why should I tip the server for that?

 

[dbriggsq]

We will also be a family party of 10 this August - eating mainly at buffets for speed and choice. The tip will come to around $55 - the price of 2 extra meals. It makes it very expensive for a large family.

 

[simonkodousek]

We always tip 15-20% (or even more) depending on how good the service is. I tend not to tip according to food quality because that is not the server's fault; if I do have a complaint about the food however, I will make sure to mention it to the server and let them deal with it further if need be.

 

[Brian Noble]

My DH has repeatedly said (not just during Disney discussions) that he will not eat at a place where he is told what he will pay for a tip.

Then I recommend avoiding most of Europe.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

18% isn't bad for a vacation destination IMO, if we plan on it now by our own doing.

If everyone adopted a similar attitude to yours, Disney wouldn't need to consider automatic gratuity. Unfortunately, I didn't realize there could be so many reasons to not tip or tip little, until the topic arose in masses on the DIS. It's the guests that rationlize reasons for not tipping appropriately that will bring about the 18% mandatory gratuity, if/when WDW deems it necessary.

 

[lecach]

Everyone I know just tips 10% for buffets here at home. And while some tip more the average amoung everyone i know is 15% for table service.

At Disney we'll be a party of 8 so I know we'll get the auto tip of 18% everywhere. But my MIL is pretty demanding so the servers will earn it.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

Everyone I know just tips 10% for buffets here at home.

I was always taught that 10% is a good tip at a buffet. You are getting your own food. The servers are just filling drinks and removing plates.

Many on these boards will try to shame people who don't tip the same at regular TS vs. buffet. "Oh, but they work so hard." A lot of people work hard. But like I said, I am getting my own food, so it is a buffet, and most tipping guidelines will say 10% at a buffet. I don't believe in throwing money around just to do it, even if it is a WDW.

 

[Tir na nOg]

I have found that if you just use the same plate over and over again, you can actually really save on the tip. There is nothing for the server to pick up. It is best to lick the plate off before going up so other people think you grabbed a new one.

I almost choked on my lunch reading your post. Thanks for the laugh!

 

[beattyfamily]

I was always taught that 10% is a good tip at a buffet. You are getting your own food. The servers are just filling drinks and removing plates.

Many on these boards will try to shame people who don't tip the same at regular TS vs. buffet. "Oh, but they work so hard." A lot of people work hard. But like I said, I am getting my own food, so it is a buffet, and most tipping guidelines will say 10% at a buffet. I don't believe in throwing money around just to do it, even if it is a WDW.

That very well may be so but THIS thread was going quite well and the only "shaming" or negativity I've seen so far is post #9:

Originally posted by divawife: 20% is ridiculous unless it is outstanding service.

Other than that, people have really only posted what they typically tip with no judgements or 'shaming' of what others choose to tip.

 

[ChrisAlli]

We'll soon be dining at several buffets as a family group of 9. We'll be charged the 18% at buffets, obviously. Since the buffets we're doing are character meals, I consider some part of the cost to be the entertainment -- visiting with the characters. Seems to me I shouldn't have to tip the waiter for that part of the admission fee. But, I won't have a choice.

So be it. Go to WDW. Live by their rules.

We will be a party of nine as well, but asking for seperate checks for each family (2) will they add 18% to both????

 

[Freyja]

Then I recommend avoiding most of Europe.

Interesting comment considering that tips are not very common in most parts of Europe, and actually non existent in very many countries in Europe. Most Europeans I know refer to the US as the "biggest tippers of all".