tips--buffets

[Rock'n Robin]

I know that in the past when we have gone to buffet restaurants, we have not tipped 15% because the wait staff does not do as much--I am getting my own food, etc. They just keep refills coming. Does this apply at WDW as well, do you think? We are doing 2 buffets this trip. Now that we are tipping ourselves, I was just wondering.
Robin M.

 

[cmwade77]

For buffets out here we usually have to get our own refills, at that point I feel leaving a tip is not needed; however, at some of tose buffets you ocassionally get a host/hostess that will ask what you are drinking and will keep it refilled (even though it is not his/her job to do so), I do tip in those cases as to me that's going above & beyond. As for Disney Buffets, the tip is always included at the DLR (except at Story Tellers, but that mixes a buffet with a full service restaurant, so it's a bit different). At WDW I never seem to have very good servers at the buffets when paying OOP, I had one meal where I had to get up and ask the manager to get me a refill on my soda, because I had not yet recieved a refill, at that restaurant, the tip left was one penney as I did not see my server after he brought me my first drink, it was even the manager that brought out my bill in hnd sight I probably should have asked that the bill be reduced even, perhpas even eliminated as the lack of service ruined the meal, I was by myself at the Crystal Palace and wanted to get some photos, I finally go the person sitting at the table next to mine to take some pictures and I returned the favor for thier group, as they were having similar problems. At a buffet a server has two responsibilities: Clear the plates and refill the drinks, neither of which was done my entire meal, except once by the manager. I had a similar thing happen at Hollywood & Vine for a dinner when paying OOP. Now when using the dining plan at Crystal Palace (Party of 7), Hollywood & Vine (party of 7) and Boma (Party of two) plates were promptly cleared, drinks were refilled before they were half empty and the servers even offered to help bring food back to the table, take pictures, etc. Out of the group though I would say that Hollywood & Vine had consistently the worst service of the group.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

In the tipping industry is there a standard for buffet servers?

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Here is what I found on a tipping FAQ website:

Server at a partial service restaurant – 10% of your total bill. Use discretion based on how much the server is expected to do for you

I would interpet that to mean that 10% would be fine unless the CM really went above and beyond, less if the tables don't get cleared and your drinks don't get refilled.
Robin M.

 

[TDC Nala]

Personally I tip the same at a WDW buffet as I would at a regular restaurant for good service.

If you have 6 or more people in your party, or you are using DDE, you'll have an automatic 18% tip added to your bill at WDW buffets.

Now when using the dining plan at Crystal Palace (Party of 7), Hollywood & Vine (party of 7) and Jiko (Party of two) plates were promptly cleared, drinks were refilled before they were half empty and the servers even offered to help bring food back to the table, take pictures, etc.

Jiko is not a buffet. You are most likely referring to Boma.

 

[cmwade77]

Personally I tip the same at a WDW buffet as I would at a regular restaurant for good service.

If you have 6 or more people in your party, or you are using DDE, you'll have an automatic 18% tip added to your bill at WDW buffets.



Jiko is not a buffet. You are most likely referring to Boma.

You are right, I meant Boma, not Jiko, sorry I was drooling over their menu a few minutes ago.

As for standard, 10% is considered the norm and I would fight an automatic tip of 18% at a buffet, unless I felt the service was good enough to warrant it.

 

[christa112]

I tip on the service and I am sure I will probably tip less for buffets, because IMO the wait staff does do less than a server in a place where they bring you your food.

 

[WETWHISTLE]

We were just at Disney, and we ate at 3 different buffets - Chef Mickey's, Ohana's, and Crystal Palace. We tipped at LEAST 20% for each of those three. I usually took what it would be for 20% of the bill, and rounded up. So if it would be $12.40, I would just round up to $13.00. Except for Ohana's where I tipped more than that. I thought we had excellent service so I wanted to tip them well.

 

[Va-bear]

I always do 10% at buffets - well, unless it's terrible service, as another mentioned - was taught that was the norm.

 

[Pumbaa_]

You have to also consider that Disney is a resort destination, not a regular restaurant.

We tip the same for all TS

 

[Tricia1972]

I know that general tipping guidelines suggest 10%-15% for buffets. I'd lean towards 15% at WDW buffets (if my tips weren't already figured at 18%), but my own personal experience with service at WDW buffets has not warranted a tip of more than 15% IMO. I have, however, heard of servers who do a bang up job and really go the extra mile.

If we ever had a server who did half of what some servers have done for others, I'd tip 20% with a smile. To me it's all about tipping at least the 'minimum', but still rewarding - and rewarding well, for those that go the extra mile.

 

[pearlieq]

There are definitley mixed opinions on this, but I don't think anything more than 10% is justified at a buffet unless the server does something truly exceptional.

I've heard people say "WDW is a resort" to justify a higher tipping standard, but I tend to be more in line with the opposite view on that. I think WDW restaurant prices are ridiculously inflated vs. the "real" world and that makes me more inclined to hold the line on a 10% buffet tip and 15% tip for regular meals.

It's the same work to serve us at a decent offsite restaurant where the check would be $50 as it is to serve us at a WDW restaurant where the same meal would cost $70. Either way, I would feel a $10 tip is adequate for the service we received--it just happens to work out to 20% at a "normal" restaurant and 15% at an overpriced WDW restaurant.

I don't think servers should be tipped more at WDW just because the food prices are inflated.

 

[skier_pete]

I agree with Buffet tipping.... 10 % for "Adequate" service, possibly up to 15% for "Exceptional" service...which at WDW would be answering various questions of the customers about the restaurant / resort.

No one has pointed out in this thread, that the reason buffet standard tip is usually less than sit-down restaurants is that the servers normally have roughly twice as many tables to handle as they do in a regular menu/sit down restaurant. Therefore, they are getting tipped by twice as many people and doing roughly the same amount of work as a regular server. (Less work per table, but still working pretty hard if doing a good job.) So, while I usually leave 18 - 20 % at a regular restaurant, I only leave 10 - 15 % at a buffet, and usually closer to the 10%.

SkierPete

 

[ReneeA]

We tip 20% at a WDW buffet - but we are typically very good tippers. If a waitperson does their job, they get 20-25%.

 

[irene_dsc]

We were just at Disney, and we ate at 3 different buffets - Chef Mickey's, Ohana's, and Crystal Palace. We tipped at LEAST 20% for each of those three. I usually took what it would be for 20% of the bill, and rounded up. So if it would be $12.40, I would just round up to $13.00. Except for Ohana's where I tipped more than that. I thought we had excellent service so I wanted to tip them well.

Btw, 'Ohana is family-style, not buffet - the servers actually work harder than typical wait staff as far as coming around with food almost constantly (if you have good service), tho otoh, they don't have to actually remember specific orders. I assume the wait staff divide the tips there, since you have the person who seats you and brings drinks, plus the person who brings around the platters.

(I forget exactly what we tipped at Boma & 1900 PF, but we had good service at both, so probably did 18% at least.)

 

[just another guy]

No one has pointed out in this thread, that the reason buffet standard tip is usually less than sit-down restaurants is that the servers normally have roughly twice as many tables to handle as they do in a regular menu/sit down restaurant. Therefore, they are getting tipped by twice as many people and doing roughly the same amount of work as a regular server. (Less work per table, but still working pretty hard if doing a good job.) So, while I usually leave 18 - 20 % at a regular restaurant, I only leave 10 - 15 % at a buffet, and usually closer to the 10%.

Thats 100% wrong for disney. Disney holds servers regardless of menu vs a buffet to the same standards. They have a cap on the number of guess that can be taking care of at any given time, something like 22. As I'm sure you probably understand, every night, each server has their own "station" or certain tables that they will be taking care of. Normally its around 16-18 people, not the max.

 

[TiggerDad3]

I am in the oppinion that for buffet service I would never normally tip more than 10% regardless where it is located.

Others tip more because they can and because they like to... don't feel like you have to meet anyone's standard but your own.

a table of 4 at a buffet that charges $27 p/p and at 18% gratuity comes to $19.44, if you think the person filling your drink and taking your plates merrits that large of a gratuity and you can afford it... then they would definately appreciate it, but if you think that is too much... than adjust to what is right for you. A $10 tip in that instance would in my oppinion be very fair.

Of course, I always consider... did I make a bigger mess than usual for some reason or make thier jobs more difficult... then compensate accordingly.

 

[edk35]

The whole tipping thing just puzzles me at times. I know that if we are in a party larger than 5 ...the tip is automatically included. I found this past trip in Jan. that when we had that automatic tip included at buffets the SERVICE was less than stellar. I mean we had to flag down another waiter to get our refills and we only saw our waitress once. The plates weren't cleared. I even complained at the 1900 Parkfare breakfast buffet about this.

I have to agree with the posters that the prices at WDW for meals are very inflated and because most of us tip 15-20% the wait staff is getting a good deal. I know we have had excellend servers that deserve good tips but we have also had some that don't deserve the 15-20%. I guess it comes down to personal preference and how we feel we are served/cared for for our expensive meals while at WDW. I tend to tip well.......but I will also complain when we don't get good service.