Tipping in 2008 - Dining plan and buffets

[Pumbaa_]

I love tipping threads. They are always so much fun.

People will do what people will do. If someone wants to stiff a Disney waiter (since this is a Disney Dining site, that is the focus here), they are going to stiff the waiter. People can justify this anyway they want. Tipping is the custom in this country. Tipping IS a percentage of the bill.


The discussion can continue UNLESS personal attacks begin.

thanks for playing nice

 

[tfiga]

People keep wanting to state this thread is an attempt to stiff the waiters, I think that is completely untrue. My mother was a waitress for 20 yrs and my sister is currently a waitress. This thread is in regards to BUFFETS. Buffet servers do not have the same rate of pay as regular TS waitresses do. I always tip a minimum of 20% and in many cases quite a bit more at TS places, but I do not see that a someone who brings me a drink would even be considered similiar to a waitress at a TS. Maybe I am wrong and Disney is stiffing their buffet wait staff, but every buffet place I have ever been to or heard of pays there staff more than a waitress wage because in most places this is not considered a heavily tipped position. I think of buffet waitresses as similiar to the people at Starbucks who put the cup out requesting tips or the mousekeepers at the resorts they are paid a salary that is not expected to be supplemented by gratuities. If someone knows with absolute certainty that the wait staff at the buffets are paid the same as those at the TS places, I will give up the discussion and give my 20%.

 

[THERESA522]

I'm usually not one to post and get flamed, but there's always a first. So here I go.

There is NO WAY in heck that I'd tip a buffet waiter the same as a TS waiter. I don't care if I'm in Disney or not. The buffet waiter barely even "waits" on you! They typically bring a drink & refills and bring you your check. They may bus the table and give you a clean plate, but in NO WAY does that compare to a regular waiter. At a buffet, YOU'RE SERVING YOURSELF. Huge difference there.

I just don't understand how so many people are arguing about this. Pretty common knowledge here in NJ - 10% is a standard tip at a buffet-style restaurant. Of course, you can tip more if you want, but no way is 15 to 20% common for a buffet. Never heard of it.

 

[Pumbaa_]

There is no differentiation at Disney between the types of server. A server receives the same base rate regardless of what type of restaurant they work. This is also union based employment.

 

[tfiga]

Wow, it appears to me that Disney is getting off pretty cheap by not paying their buffet staff an acceptable wage. If Pumbaa is right I will tip the standard 20%, as much as I feel they are not providing an equivalent service as their TS counterparts, I always assumed that they were paid more than the TS waitresses. I think Disney is wrong, but I won't punish the waitstaff for that.

 

[dqpowell]

As much as I feel they are not providing an equivalent service as their TS counterparts, I always assumed that they were paid more than the TS waitresses. I think Disney is wrong, but I won't punish the waitstaff for that.

They are assigned more tables than the non-buffet servers are. They actually can earn more money than their non-buffet counterparts in certain circumstances, less in others. Tip whatever you feel comfortable tipping, but don't assume that they aren't making good money if you tip 10%.

Oh, and you certainly aren't "punishing" them by leaving 10% tips.

David

 

[Marshypooh]

I tip 20% at the character buffets, Crystal Palace for example. I have always been under the assumption that the waitstaff had to share a percentage of their tips with the characters. And since I have always had very friendly servers and wonderful character experiences I wanted to make sure I showed my appreciation. I honestly don't know if the servers must give up a portion of their tips to the characters, as I said, I just assumed that they did. Does anyone know if this is true or not?

 

[dqpowell]

Does anyone know if this is true or not?

Not.

David

 

[Pumbaa_]

They are assigned more tables than the non-buffet servers are. They actually can earn more money than their non-buffet counterparts in certain circumstances, less in others. Tip whatever you feel comfortable tipping, but don't assume that they aren't making good money if you tip 10%.

Oh, and you certainly aren't "punishing" them by leaving 10% tips.

David

Interesting David. We have had servers report here that at Disney, this is not the practice (although it is the generally accepted practice in the real world).

Curious, where did you learn this?

Thanks for sharing

 

[GreatLakes5]

I first had to interject this recurring thought I had while reading this.... My dear father is now 84. We used to go out to a local buffet restaurant every Friday (pay day, dontchyaknow). We paid when we entered. Yes, someone cleared the dishes and glasses but we never tipped. If I were to tell him now that tipping at a buffet is the norm I may just send him to his grave It's a very generational thing but I can't help but picturing him sitting here and 'listening' to this discussion.

Just our.02....doesn't matter to our family if we're at Disney or not so that's kind of a non-issue as far as who gets more tables, etc. We will tip at a buffet IF we actually meet the person assisting us. Nothing over the top, but at least some personal contact of some sort. If I never meet them, that person is a busboy in my mind, not a server and I've never (directly) tipped a bus boy at a restaurant. Make contact with the customer (my family) and I'll tip, though it will be much closer to 10% and even that, I must admit, would be for over the top service. I'm just not in agreement with the "tipping standards" for a buffet.

In a restaurant it's 20%.....BUT I am a firm believer that a tip is not a requirement unless the restaurant itself adds the gratuity. I find it cheap and disrespectful to leave nothing UNLESS nothing was truly earned and I've heard horror stories where I'd concurr that nothing was the appropriate tip. Tipping for this family is based on service. (Also why I generally do not tip the DQ teenager who just made my blizzard in the mall.)

 

[dqpowell]

Interesting David. We have had servers report here that at Disney, this is not the practice (although it is the generally accepted practice in the real world).

Curious, where did you learn this?

Common knowledge. I believe somebody (other than I) mentioned it on this very thread. "Just Another Guy" said it isn't true, but I don't recall seeing any indication that he was in a better position to know than the person who said it was true.

Let's consider the possibility that buffet servers don't get more tables at Disney restaurants. All that means is that they may get less tip income than their non-buffet counterparts do. Which brings us right back to my original point: they're providing less service to the guests than their non-buffet counterparts. Just because they might be getting less tip income doesn't mean they're unable to make a living wage. They're certainly making a lot more money than a Golden Corral buffet server, even if they're making the same average tip percentage.

David

 

[FayeW]

Let me just reiterate what another poster mentioned above. Minimum wage for servers is SIGNIFICANTLY LESS than min. wage in other fields. I don't know the exact rate, but I think it's about HALF of what reg. min. wage is. They DO NOT make a living wage from their pay. It is expected that they will make enough from tips to pay rent, buy groceries, make car payments, etc. That's just the way it is in this country. I never worked in the food industry, but my DH did when he was in high school. He always leaves 20% tip. If the service is not as good, he'll leave 15%. This is what these people have to live off of. It's just really sad that people are trying to find ways to keep them from earning a decent living - both Disney and guests are guilty in this. Heck, even out in the real world - people just don't get it that these servers live off of their TIPS NOT THEIR WAGES!

If they are unable to earn a "living wage" doing the job they have elected to do, then I suggest they need to do what millions of other people do who don't earn enough money: find another job to either replace or supplement the one they have. Their standard of living is not my problem or my responsibility. I will continue to tip according to the service I receive.

As for buffets, I have two comments:

1) The guest simply does not receive the same level of service at a buffet restaurant as they do at a TS restaurant. Period.

2) The waitstaff may not be assigned more tables at a buffet restaurant, but they undoubtedly turn them over more quickly so they still have more tables per shift than a TS server working the same shift.

 

[adisneynut]

Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World Resort.

It will be up to you what form of payment you wish to use.
Also the amount added by you, except for parties of normally 8 or more,
that might be different in some restaurants. Then gratuities would be
automatically added at 18%

Have a wonderful visit!

I was asking if we could charge to our room key or pay cash and is there a certain amount to tip.

 

[Vijoge]

My DH has a degree in Culinary Arts, a degree in Hotel Restaurant Management , and has worked in the food service industry since he was 14. He says an 18% tip at a buffet is ridiculous. He says anything from a dollar or two to 10% (depending on how much service you receive) is plenty.

 

[TANYABETH]

I am going to keep some one dollar bills on me and just leave whatever I feel is right for the service. Maybe $3-4 for a buffet (for 2 of us) and $5-6 for TS? Not sure.
I think there will be a lot of people who just get up and leave with not leaving a tip. Either they assume its included or go with the 'They won't see me again, and I want to save $' attitude. My ex was like that. He refused to tip ANYWHERE unless he knew he would be back to the same place. He used to say 'Who cares, they will never see me again'. I would leave cash on the table and he would pick it up and pocket it. Sooooo embarrassing!

Is this some sort of joke????? $5-$6 tip for two at a Disney table service restaurant!!!What are you eating a cup of soup and water??The table service meals I have had at Disney are usually from anywhere from $50 to over $100 for two of us which I would leave $10 for the $50 and $20 for the $100.

 

[DebbieB]

The thing that bugs me about Disney buffets is that they are overpriced to start with. So tipping 18% on an inflated bill is really high. When I went with 3 friends, our tip was $20 total on the dining plan. That's alot for filling glasses and clearing plates for 1 table. Plus you figure they each have at least 4 or 5 tables an hour. Even if they get 10% they are doing pretty well even with a low base wage.

 

[smidgy]

I'd try to dumb it down a bit,
David

we all have varying opinions on tipping, thus... the thread. when it comes to insulting another's intelllectual capabiltiy...THAT is argumentative and should not be allowed.

 

[Pumbaa_]

My DH has a degree in Culinary Arts, a degree in Hotel Restaurant Management , and has worked in the food service industry since he was 14. He says an 18% tip at a buffet is ridiculous. He says anything from a dollar or two to 10% (depending on how much service you receive) is plenty.

If the meal is $27.99 per adult a dollar or 2 is fine? Interesting perspective

The expectation at Disney is that people tip. This is not the Golden Corral where you pay as you herd your way in (thanks for the visual there ). The wage for servers is based on the fact that they will be tipped.

Have I said how much I love tipping threads

I have never analyzed how many contacts I have with servers. I am on vacation, I want to enjoy my meal and hopefully me server will enhance me experience. Maybe it is making sure pooh hits our table before we leave, maybe it is taking pictures of my family, keeping my beverage filled, or just being friendly and making my day.

Love the different views on dining, some are regional, some are family based, always interesting though

 

[lilyv]

If the meal is $27.99 per adult a dollar or 2 is fine? Interesting perspective

The expectation at Disney is that people tip. This is not the Golden Corral where you pay as you herd your way in (thanks for the visual there ). The wage for servers is based on the fact that they will be tipped.

Have I said how much I love tipping threads

I have never analyzed how many contacts I have with servers. I am on vacation, I want to enjoy my meal and hopefully me server will enhance me experience. Maybe it is making sure pooh hits our table before we leave, maybe it is taking pictures of my family, keeping my beverage filled, or just being friendly and making my day.

Love the different views on dining, some are regional, some are family based, always interesting though

I appreciate the personal service, and the wait staff add to our Disney experience. I don't spend a lot of time thinking about tips, I just tip fairly. I'm not going to short anyone, and I generally tip 15-20%, wherever I am. It's nice, at Disney, to have the opportunity to spread a little pixie dust back.

 

[dqpowell]

when it comes to insulting another's intelllectual capabiltiy...THAT is argumentative and should not be allowed.

You pulled only a portion of my comment out of context, clearly to make it look worse than it was. Here's the whole thing:

I'd try to dumb it down a bit, but I'm pretty sure you understood it as written and are only being argumentative now.

I was not insulting anybody's intellectual capability. I was pointing out that dumbing it down was unnecessary, that it was understood as originally written. That doesn't imply "dumb."

David