Tipping Etiquette for Disney Dining

[kristie64063]

Just curious what others do ... There are so many restaurants at Disney that are buffets ... I always tip at a buffet, but not nearly what I tip for a full service restaurant. My DH and I are great tippers, usually minimum 20%, sometimes more. But not at a buffet. A typical buffet here at home, probably $2-$5, max. I would maybe go a little more at Disney, but probably not much.

Also, buffet servers usually make more than the typical server, at least minimum wage or more.

Your thoughts??

 

[Bouncin-Tigger]

Somebody pass the popcorn!

 

[Physics Guy]

 

[MouseEarsForAll]

Just curious what others do ... There are so many restaurants at Disney that are buffets ... I always tip at a buffet, but not nearly what I tip for a full service restaurant. My DH and I are great tippers, usually minimum 20%, sometimes more. But not at a buffet. A typical buffet here at home, probably $2-$5, max. I would maybe go a little more at Disney, but probably not much.

Also, buffet servers usually make more than the typical server, at least minimum wage or more.

Your thoughts??

I think you should tip however much you feel comfortable with. Everyone's preferences are different, and in this case, it isn't a one-size-fits-all.

 

[photo_chick]

A buffet at Disney for my family of 4 (2 adults, 1 Disney adult and 1 child) can easily run $150-$200. So 20% of that is a lot more than $3-$5.

It's been my experience that the buffet servers at WDW go above and beyond the level of service you get at a typical buffet. It's not like at Golden Corral or Pancho's. Consequently I tip well at Disney because they really go above and beyond... or at least it's well according to the tip guide on the ticket.

 

[rgf207]

This should get interesting

 

[latexscooter]

Just curious what others do ... There are so many restaurants at Disney that are buffets ... I always tip at a buffet, but not nearly what I tip for a full service restaurant. My DH and I are great tippers, usually minimum 20%, sometimes more. But not at a buffet. A typical buffet here at home, probably $2-$5, max. I would maybe go a little more at Disney, but probably not much.

Also, buffet servers usually make more than the typical server, at least minimum wage or more.

Your thoughts??

I tip a minimum of 15% at a buffet. They keep the drinks flowing and the table clear of plates. Our family seems to go through a crazy amount of plates at buffets, far more than the usual 2-3 at a traditional ala carte meal. Rather than piling our plates until they're tip over full we like to grab 2-3 small portions of things at a time and then return later for fresh food. More trips = more plates for us. I feel that my tip is fair and the servers earn it.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Tip what you are comfortable with. Before you decide what is comfortable for you, you need to know a few things. First servers at a Disney buffet get the same hourly wage as servers at any other Disney table service, perhapse at your local buffet they do not but at Disney they do. Second, buffet servers at a Disney buffet tend to work as hard if not harder than servers at other Disney table service restaraunts. On parties of 6 or more Disney adds the same tip percentage to checks at a buffet as they do to tips at a standard table service, so at least in Disney's mind you should tips the same at both types of restaraunts. But as always tips are based on service and your opinion on what the service is worth compared to the cost of the meal.

 

[Jennasis]

I don't know (care?) what others do, but I wouldn't feel right tipping less than 15-20% at any restaurant, buffet or otherwise. It's not Golden Corral.

 

[ses1230]

This thread wil be closed soon, but I'll add my .02. Ultimately you have to tip what you think is appropriate, but in my experience the servers at buffet restaurants work just as hard as serves at traditional sit down meals. $2-$5 would not be acceptable, imo.

 

[LaurieN]

I always tip a minimum of 20% no matter where I am, many times 25% depending on the service. There was one time on our last visit (Nov 2011) at Cape May Cafe (breakfast) I actually only left 15% because our server was HORRIBLE!! She asked if we were on the dining plan (we were) she made a face brought our drinks and we didn't see her again, it was so bad even Goofy jestured to us as to say "you are still here" I had to ask another server to please get her so we could get our check and leave!
I understand having a bad day and A LOT of people "forget" to tip when they are on the dining plan but WOW she just dismissed us the minute she found out we were not a "cash" table.
Laurie

PS She honestly didn't deserve a tip at all but having been a server for many years I don't have the heart to just not tip even when the service is that bad!

 

[disneyfantotheend]

There is a thread devoted specifically devoted to tipping questions here http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2300858.

 

[arlsdimples]

This can get to be a touchy subject anywhere not just Disney. We always tip well especially at Disney regardless of whether it is buffet or traditional. DH and I both were servers in another life so we often get into conversations with the cast members in restaurants about their job. One thing that upset us was when the free dinning plan (or non free dinning plan) stopped including the tip as part of the package. We always added a tip as if it were not included, so when it was included the server received double. Obviously most people did not do this. However after talking to many servers/cast members after the change took place we discovered that many many times people would not include a tip at all. The reason it upset us is because at least before (as far as we understood) the server always received something.

Tipping amount in my mind should come from a combination of the quality of service you receive and the total of the check. I've never had anything but excellent service in Disney and have found the cast members to be very attentive and friendly.

 

[kifuller4]

We had a horrible waitress at Hollywood and vine (F! Dinner) and I think I left her about 10%. She refilled our drinks once ( we were there at the end of Aug) and only took our plates once. That is the LEAST I have ever tipped at Disney.

 

[dprincessmom]

I actually tip more while at WDW - I don't know why, maybe it is the pixie dust.

Honestly, we haven't had a bad server experience so I am not certain how I would handle it and we have found (like others) that the buffet servers are usually over the top with their efforts to make you happy.

 

[francie57]

I agree with others, we tip just as well for a buffet as we do for a sit down. We never leave less than the 18% that is listed on the bottom of the check - usually leave more since we have always had great service on our trips. We were at LeCellier for dinner on one trip and the couple at the table next to us had the same server as us, who was fantastic and you never had to wait for anything to be refilled, etc. and the couple (in their 30s) left a $5 tip for their meal. I actually felt bad for the server. I would rather over tip a little than to have someone think I was cheap.

 

[Virtucomp]

We tip at Disney just as we do anywhere else. We start with 15 to 18 % in mind. If the service is good it goes up. If the service is bad it goes down. I don't think we ever made it below 10% anywhere accept the lady at the diner that carelessly poured hot coffee on my arm and didn't seem to think it was a big deal.

My dearly departed Mother-in-law had a boyfriend that used to tip $1 no matter where we went or how many people dined. He took us to a local sit down restaurant and left $1 . We had to wait until he started walking out to run back and add some cash to the table.

 

[luvmy2babies]

I did 20% across all of our meals on our trip last month except CRT where 18% was already in the bill. For us it was usually $13 to $15. We had mostly buffets, a couple of family served meals and CRT. ETA: We had good service at each place we ate.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

As others have stated it's what you feel comfortable with. We are a family of 5 on our first visit to CP we received a pot of coffee, no juice and didn't see our server for over an hour what we had to "grab" another server to find ours for our check. We needed some things and she was never around. The service was awful and she received $5. The next time our server was always there to refill our juice, coffee and even gave us an anniversary cupcake while everyone around us was singing. She received $40. We always tip based on service. Doesn't matter if we are at Disney or Golden Corral.

 

[Mickeyrella]

Hmm I guess it depends on you, the service you got for the price you paid, and of course your financial situation. I always pay the minimum, and I will only give more if service is truly exceptional. Disney servers usually go above and beyond to give you exceptional service, in these cases I might give more than the standard 15%. You are not obligated to give more than 15%, if your party is 5 people or less.