Tipping at Character Meals - Buffets

[Claire&TheBoys]

Sorry if I missed this in the FAQ's but I was wondering what the accepted practice is for tipping your server at the Crystal Palace, Chef Mickey's, etc, Character Meals where the meal is buffet-style. At home, if we go to an AYCE buffet like Golden Corral where our server only brings drinks and clean plates, we usually tip about $1-2 per person (which is about 10%). At a sit-down restaurant we tip 20-25%. I was just wondering what is normally done at the Disney restaurants when you are going to a buffet and getting your own food.

Thanks in advance!

 

[mom2my3kids]

Buffet as far as I know gets tipped as table service restaraunts. 15-20 percent..

 

[daisyduck123]

If you are on the Dining Plan, the tip is already included.
We usually include an extra tip, for good service.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

Thanks! We are not on the DP (staying at SoG and getting FL resident passes) so we will be paying for our meals directly. I will keep that in mind when we tip at the CM.

 

[want2bamommy]

Sorry if I missed this in the FAQ's but I was wondering what the accepted practice is for tipping your server at the Crystal Palace, Chef Mickey's, etc, Character Meals where the meal is buffet-style. At home, if we go to an AYCE buffet like Golden Corral where our server only brings drinks and clean plates, we usually tip about $1-2 per person (which is about 10%). At a sit-down restaurant we tip 20-25%. I was just wondering what is normally done at the Disney restaurants when you are going to a buffet and getting your own food.

Thanks in advance!

DH and I have always tipped $1-$2 per person at a buffet (non-Disney) and I am not sure what we'd do at Disney. GOOD QUESTION! I look forward to seeing everyone's answers though. We will be on the DDP for our next trip (and were for our last one).

Missie

 

[flexsmom]

There's no way we tip 15-20% at a buffet, whether we're at WDW or not. I'm happy to tip our servers for the beverage service we receive and the occasional clearing of used dishes (assuming we have good service, of course), but there is no ordering, no delivery of food, nothing for which that full tip is normally provided! I agree with the $2/pp or so and I think that is very fair for the effort provided with buffet service.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

There's no way we tip 15-20% at a buffet, whether we're at WDW or not. I'm happy to tip our servers for the beverage service we receive and the occasional clearing of used dishes (assuming we have good service, of course), but there is no ordering, no delivery of food, nothing for which that full tip is normally provided! I agree with the $2/pp or so and I think that is very fair for the effort provided with buffet service.

That's what I was thinking too, I just didn't want to be the "cheapskate" of the night, you know? A dinner at Chef Mickey's is going to be about $70 for 2 adults, 1 child and 1 toddler (under 3) and tipping $14 to bring drinks and bus the table seems like a lot. We'll probably do $10 - the baby can make a mess! That should be adequate, don't you think?

 

[tiggersmom2]

I can honestly tell you that all the servers I have had at the buffets at WDW, work as hard, if not harder than the ones at "regular restaurants". We always tip 20% unless they are baaaaaaad.

 

[Amy&Dan]

That's what I was thinking too, I just didn't want to be the "cheapskate" of the night, you know? A dinner at Chef Mickey's is going to be about $70 for 2 adults, 1 child and 1 toddler (under 3) and tipping $14 to bring drinks and bus the table seems like a lot. We'll probably do $10 - the baby can make a mess! That should be adequate, don't you think?

I think $10 is okay. I wouldn't tip any less than that for a $70 tab but that is quite near 15% which is quite acceptable. I always tip 20% at the buffets partly because we are massive ice tea drinkers and my husband goes through around 20 plates as he feeding frenzies himself, so thats a lot of refills and clean ups! But thats just me. To me, it looks like those servers at the buffets work really hard. They do way more than the people who bus the tables at my local Country Buffet (and those people don't get me my drinks there) And sadly, there are probably lots of people who go to Chef Mickey's and don't tip at all. So your $10 will likely be just fine with your server.

Have fun, we love Chef Mickey's!

 

[Disney Fans]

We also tip!

 

[The Sweetness]

I can honestly tell you that all the servers I have had at the buffets at WDW, work as hard, if not harder than the ones at "regular restaurants". We always tip 20% unless they are baaaaaaad.

I agree 100%

Its just my personal observation, but I see my *server* at least 3 times more often at buffets than a traditional TS. There are always 1 or 2 dishes to be cleared (for 2 A, a 15y old, and a tot) and we rarely have to pile them up, as the server is continuously running from table to table clearing (like the energizer bunny)

Maybe I am the only one who thinks so, but I feel that buffet staff work twice as hard as regular TS servers. Especially at a place where all the server does is take your order, and bring your drinks and a bill, with food runners doing all the serving. ((sometimes, at TGI Fridays (my fave) we dont see our waiter/ ess (at our table) untill we are ready to settle our bill (once we have our Cokes etc...) I still tip 18- 20% unless I feel that the server themself did a crappy job (not getting a refill on drinks, or napkins we asked for etc) In that case, I will leave the crappy server at the mercy of my DH. He isnt cheap by any means, but he doesnt like to pay (tip) for service he doesnt feel he recieved) He will low ball a bad server with $1 per person

*** While Im on the subject, can anyone w experience enlighten me, as to whether food runners, and bussers get to share the servers tips? It seems like they should, esp if they are doing more of the work than the server

 

[Laren]

I also agree that servers esp. at WDW often work harder at the buffets than at TS. At TS there are often 'back up' people who bus the table and bring out the entrees and such- buffet servers seem to get it from all angles.

Especially if you know ahead of time that your family is 'messy'- I'd tip standard as in what you'd tip at table service and if the kids leave food beneath the booth, ect. then even more.

I guess I've had so many servers in my family that I always "pre-bus" the table and tidy up for the server before we leave- vacation or not. Force of habit LOL.

 

[sadeeyore]

We have only done Crystal Palace and Chef Mickey's for breakfast and always tip $20 for four adults (includes 10year old DS)
DS has special needs and is very fussy he only eats croissants that have been warmed and our servers have always been really great getting the croissants heated for him. I feel we ask more than just clearing plates and filling drinks so we should tip a bit more.

 

[beachgrl001]

So if you are on the DP and the tip is already included, then would you still leave 15-20%? I would feel really funny leaving nothing even if the tip is included in the DP...

 

[dlnsmmy1]

At disney we tip the same at buffets as we do at sit down. The only thing the servers don't do is bring your food. They still make sure you have everything you need. Will help if you have dietary needs, bring drinks. I have young children and they are always there to help carry plates and so forth. I feel like they deserve the tip, but that is just my opinion. You would certainly not be in the minority to tip less because of a buffet.

 

[MickeyNicki]

We tip 20% if the server keeps our plates cleared and the drinks filled (which they always do).

 

[LizinSTL]

So if you are on the DP and the tip is already included, then would you still leave 15-20%? I would feel really funny leaving nothing even if the tip is included in the DP...

You didn't leave "nothing" - you left 18% if you are on the DDP. If you feel the need to leave a 33-38% tip for your server then, I guess you are more than welcome to, but there is no need to leave an additional tip unless you feel like you received absolutely superior service or you feel like the 18% is inadequate for some reason. When you receive your bill, you'll see the 18% added on , then when you give your card and they bring it back for you to sign, it'll be zero'd out. But you'll have seen the amount that had been added on for your server. No worries, they are given that 18%. If you are in doubt, you can ask. We asked our first night and were assured that the full 18% tip was given to our server

 

[ballarinamom]

This will be the first time we are on DDP. We usually tip around 20% regardless of buffet or full service. I plan to still leave extra for our tip even though I know tip will be included in DDP. From what I understand, they receive a flat tip regardless of the bill. Our extra would be a supplement, especially knowing the savings that comes with DDP . I understand people leaving a smaller tip at buffet, but at Disney they do appear to work harder. And they have to do it around characters. I have read many reviews were people complain about the service at restaurants. Maybe if they got tipped properly for the amount of work they do, the waitstaff may be more eager to help. I live in a tourist town (San Antonio) and I see first hand how annoying some tourists can be. Some seem to take "but it's my vacation" to the extreme.

 

[LizinSTL]

This will be the first time we are on DDP. We usually tip around 20% regardless of buffet or full service. I plan to still leave extra for our tip even though I know tip will be included in DDP. From what I understand, they receive a flat tip regardless of the bill. Our extra would be a supplement, especially knowing the savings that comes with DDP . I understand people leaving a smaller tip at buffet, but at Disney they do appear to work harder. And they have to do it around characters. I have read many reviews were people complain about the service at restaurants. Maybe if they got tipped properly for the amount of work they do, the waitstaff may be more eager to help. I live in a tourist town (San Antonio) and I see first hand how annoying some tourists can be. Some seem to take "but it's my vacation" to the extreme.

At Disney owned restaurants they get 18% of your bill....not a flat amount. I specifically asked the servers at 3 different disney owned restaurants.
The servers that I spoke with LIKED this. Two were buffets and one was a regular a la carte restaurant and they all had similar answers to why they liked the DDP and the guaranteed 18% tip.

One of the buffet servers said it made up for the people who didn't tip at all at buffets. She said that about 20% of her tables didn't tip at all. Since the IRS presumes that she receives tips from 100% of her tables, she pays taxes as if she receives those tips. The DDP helps cover that.

 

[ballarinamom]

Lizin- Thanks for the update! I had read o several threads that the servers get a flat $5.00. Good to know they are taken care of. As a former server who put herself through college, I know what they put up with between the customers, IRS and small tips. Thanks again!