Tipping Question...I need your opinions

[loribell]

My husband and I have always been very generous tippers. We almost always leave at least 20%, that is unless the service is really bad. Recently while discussing a trip with a friend I mentioned this and she thought it was to much, especially for buffets.

So, my question is what should you tip at a buffet, 10%, 15% or something else?

Thanks for your input,

Lori

8 days and counting until we surprise the kids with a trip to our favorite place!!!!!!!

 

[Suzanne74]

I have never really been out to a buffet so I am curious too as we are doing a few of the character ones when we go this time. I would think not to tip 20% though - seems to much when you are serving yourself - maybe 10% or 15% if they do a great job. I will be curious what others say too.

 

[Forever42]

It's been said by cast members here that the cast members at the buffets make the same as the ones at the regular restaurants, $2.50 per hour.

We get just as good service at the buffets as at the sit down restaurants, so we always tip 20%. It's only a little extra money to us, and it adds up for the server.

 

[jann1033]

we also always leave the same ( 20%) our local buffets often say "no tipping' but never heard that at wdw ! this was hotly debated once on here but to each his own.

 

[tiggersmom2]

I leave atleast 15%.

 

[Minky]

This is their sole income...when you dont leave a tip to your server they are actually paying for you to eat there, becuase they in turn have to tip out bussers and bartenders etc. Also they get taxed on what the government THINKS that they made. I like to leave at least 20%....these servers (the good ones) are trying so hard to give us a great vacation and carry on the magic in the restaraunt, I want to give something back.

 

[webray]

We leave 20% at disney buffets, unless the service is really horrible. 20% is basically where we start at, for all restaurants..again, unless the service is horrible.

We believe in encouraging good service with good tips.

I could never ever be a waitress..it is a hard job..and these people put up with a lot of c**p, no way I would do it.

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

There was a recent thread on this subject and, of course, there were many many opinions. Most people believe, as do I, that the waitstaff works very hard under sometimes very trying conditions. It was pointed out that at the buffets they are constantly taking away your empty plates, ususally while we are back at the buffet getting more food. They are constantly refilling our drinks and seeing if we need anything. Bottom line is they work as hard at buffets, if not harder. I believe this is especially true at Disney where most of the servers are very nice and go out of their way to treat the guests as special.
Unless a server is really bad and has some kind of attitude I think 20% is a fair tip.

 

[momxx5]

We are good tippers. We have both worked in the service industry in the past and relied on the generosity of others as reward for our hard work.

Unless the service is horrendous we tip at least 20% rounding up, buffets included.

I think I am the only one who tips at our local CiCi's Pizza, there are no servers but people that bus the tables. I always leave them a few bucks.

 

[thevolcanogod]

Yea, there were a few other threads on this topic that I've seen - the most incendiary over on RADP. Some people have very strong opinions on the subject. Without offering my opinion, I tip according to service. If service is what I expect, I tip 15%. If it is really good I go up to 20%, if it is poor I may go rather low. The lowest I have ever tipped is the coinage returned from paying the bill, but that was a very extreme case. Buffets, it will depend on how much server interaction there is, but usually I tip a bit less than normal table-service restaurants.

 

[loribell]

Thanks for all the replys. So I guess I wasn't out of range after all. It has always just been automatic for me to leave 20% unless our server is really bad. Glad to know I haven't been giving away to much money! HA!

Lori

 

[CPM]

I have worked in both buffet restaurants and full service. It's a lot harder to be a server in a buffet restaurant!!
You are constantly clearing, refilling and WAITING! Your tables sit longer, less turnover.
I tip more for buffets. 20% is greatly appreciated if the server is doing their job.