Tipping at the AYCE meals

[psimon]

Tipping a a subjective thing... how you were feeling at the time, how the food was, how friendly your server was, etc. Usually we all start with an estimate of what the tip should be and then add or subtract based on how the meal went. I have heard that tipping rates have gone up and 15-20% is not the norm any more.

What do you use as a basis for calculating a tip for all you can eat (AYCE) meals?

 

[BriarRosie]

AYCE can be buffets or family-style, but I wanted to focus on buffets.

I know that some people have said, "The servers don't take the orders and
bring them to you. All they do is get your drinks." This seems to justify
lower than a 15% tip.

But what many people seem to forget is that the servers work just as hard
(if not harder) than servers who take orders and bring the food to you.

Buffet servers are constantly clearing away all the multiple used plates as
you're going to the buffet. So the next time someone says, "Oh, all they do
is refill your drinks", ask them, "Who do you think is clearing away all the used
dishes while we're getting more items at the buffet?"

That's why I tip buffet servers at WDW no less than 15%.

 

[Danadisney]

I agree. Servers work very hard running back and forth clearing plates and refilling drinks for AYCE meals. I always tip 20% if service is efficient and friendly. If it is mediocre than I tip 15%.

 

[princesstommi]

I "overtip" everywhere. Normally, and definitely at Disney, I rarely tip below 20-25% - even at AYCE meals.

 

[psimon]

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[lillygator]

We usually tip the 20%....unless the service is just terrible.

 

[Gymbomom]

We tip 15% at buffet and 20% at the Family Style. If we have special requests and our server is very attentive we go ahead and give 20%.
We NEVER tip on how the food was. Servers have no control over how the food is, please don't hold them accountable for that!

 

[NeverlandClub23]

Lately a lot of places I go to eat have food runners so your server a lot of time doesn't bring your meal so it's about the same as a buffet except they take your order. I would never tip below 15% because people live off of those tips not the $2 an hour they make.

 

[Gymbomom]

Those food runners get a % of money from that server. So, in a sense when you tip, you are tipping both of them.

 

[psimon]

Bump to get more responses in the poll.