Tipping at Character Meals - Buffets

[diseyore]

Last time I was there the tip was automatically included in the price of the ticket. It was printed right on the receipt. Now that may have changed, but I know several restaurants in the Orlando area also include a tip automatically.

 

[The Sweetness]

I may tip a bit extra (in addition to the auto- 18%), but not double up. Certainly not more than $5, and maybe not even that, if we cushioned the bill a bit by ordering OOP extras (cocktails or a b/day cake W 18% auto/ added. I'll check my tab to see if the extra 18% was tacked on or not at each place)

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

Wow! Thanks for all the responses. Don't worry - we never stiff a server! My husband waited tables for a popular Australian-themed steakhouse and he always tips well - he got stiffed or shorted too many times. I'm sure he'll be generous, I just wanted to be able to tell him what the "norm" was for the character meals. Appreciate the info!

 

[Stinky_Pete]

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%).

10% is customary for buffets. After all, they are just getting drinks and clearing plates, so there isn't that much individual service involved. Plus since they are only doing drinks and plates each waiter can cover more tables than a waiter at a full-service restaurant. So even at 10% per table they are still doing pretty well.

At a sit-down restaurant we tip 20-25%.

Wow! I wish I had customers like you when I waited tables!

 

[Robert P]

On AYCE meals, the main things (we think) within the direct control and service of the waitstaff are the empty plates cleared and the drinks being refilled. If those things are covered well, then we tip around the 15%-18% range (or very close to usual).

Now, if either of those 2 areas are lacking, we will drop the % accordingly.

 

[BrerMama]

Just wanted to agree that some of the best service we've had at Disney restaurants has been at buffets. Drinks refilled promptly, offered my kids milk or apple juice with dessert even though they'd already had pop with their meal, taking time to chat with us about the buffet and how it all works.... I can remember our servers from Chef Mickey's and the Princess Storybook Breakfast last trip, but not from any table service...

 

[Dreamfinder2]

A quick search yielded this info:

http://magazines.ivillage.com/goodhousekeeping/etiquette/peggy/qas/0,,284566_291653,00.html

We typically tip 10% at buffets, 15 - 18% at table service meals.

As an aside, we ate at Pepper Market at Coronado Springs last fall, and a 10% gratuity is automatically added. Once we'd got our orders, no one - and I mean NO ONE - came by to check on us, offer refills, nothing. I sure don't have a problem with 10%, assuming there was any service rendered. When I mentioned it to the cashier as we were leaving, she called a manager over who wanted to know where we were sitting. I knew someone was about to get in trouble, and I felt sorta bad about that. But, he comped all our meals except our beverages, and I thought that was more than fair. Just a little bit of pixie dust to take the edge off a less-than-perfect experience.

Gotta love Disney.

 

[The Sweetness]

Theres something we may all be able to agree on. No service at all requires no tip at all