How much do you tip at buffets?

[MsPeggySue911]

Since I learned that tipping discussions are allowed on this board I decided to ask what I always wanted to ask on another board but wasn't allowed.

How much percentage wise, do you tip at buffet places? Do you tip as much as you would at a sit down place where the waiter has to serve the food for you?

I am just curious because we are planning on doing a few very expensive buffets (Cape May dinner) that the bill will run us around $200 (we have DDP) and the expected tip (if we assume everyone tips 20%) would be around $40. FOR A TIP!! That seems like quite a chunk of change to me for a buffet where you have to serve yourself.

What do y'all do, if you don't mind telling me? TIA!

[bennette]

How much percentage wise, do you tip at buffet places? Do you tip as much as you would at a sit down place where the waiter has to serve the food for you?

I am just curious because we are planning on doing a few very expensive buffets (Cape May dinner) that the bill will run us around $200 (we have DDP) and the expected tip (if we assume everyone tips 20%) would be around $40. FOR A TIP!!

We tip the same at buffets as anywhere else. Which is to say between 15 and 20 percent, depending on the quality of service. I tend to work my server pretty well at buffets (condiments, extra whatever, speedy plate removal, a special drink request, two drinks, more drinks, a billion napkins, etc.) They aren't taking my order or bringing out the plate (that someone else, who gets paid a higher base salary, dished out) but they are certainly working hard to ensure the quality of my experience.

I might tip less if I got awful service or if I was at a cafeteria type buffet where you literally get everything yourself and possibly bus it, too.

[MammaSilva]

Add me to the tip appropriately club. I also tip pre discount. I will say that if they do the auto service charge I'm less likely to tip above and beyond that unless I got exceptional service, and we have on several occasions but just as often we've gotten what I considered standard service which results in a standard tip. If your bill is 200 and you feel 20 percent is too much, 15 percent is an acceptable number for most occasions.

[3Princesses1Prince]

We were a party of 8, so we were auto tipped 18%. We had a great server at Cape May and she definitely worked for it...getting drinks, clearing plates quickly, etc. If its not auto tipped, I'd probably tip closer to 15% for buffets unless there was stellar service, but with dealing with 4 adults and 4 kids, I had no issue with doing 18%.

[bennette]

I believe at my last buffet meal, there were five parties, several children, many adults, and one very well behaved dog. Not entirely sure how many kids were there--but we were a big party.

As you might guess, we tipped our very patient server over twenty percent.

[Malcon10t]

I believe at my last buffet meal, there were five parties, several children, many adults, and one very well behaved dog. Not entirely sure how many kids were there--but we were a big party.

As you might guess, we tipped our very patient server over twenty percent.

11 adults. 3 kids, and the Princess (dog.)

[MickeyDogMom]

I believe at my last buffet meal, there were five parties, several children, many adults, and one very well behaved dog. Not entirely sure how many kids were there--but we were a big party.

As you might guess, we tipped our very patient server over twenty percent.

11 adults. 3 kids, and the Princess (dog.)

I'm trying to remember where we did this and I just can't. I'm sure it happened.

[bennette]

I'm trying to remember where we did this and I just can't. I'm sure it happened.

Surf's Up. You needed a LOT of caffeine and protein. Some of the adults in your party were noticeably less well behaved than the dog. It might be your last buffet meal EVER. :0

[Malcon10t]

I'm trying to remember where we did this and I just can't. I'm sure it happened.

You were having issues with the oldest member of our party...

I generally tip about the same at buffets, where they do work for it. The buffets at Disneyland, the servers usually are kept hopping by our groups...

[danyoung]

Some good info here -

http://www.ehow.com/info_8594949_tip...e-buffets.html

[cstephens]

I am just curious because we are planning on doing a few very expensive buffets (Cape May dinner) that the bill will run us around $200 (we have DDP) and the expected tip (if we assume everyone tips 20%) would be around $40. FOR A TIP!! That seems like quite a chunk of change to me for a buffet where you have to serve yourself.

If it was a buffet where you do ALL the work yourself, I'd agree with you. But at Cape May, it's not like that. Sure, you get the food yourself, but there's much more to it than that. Our server was wonderful when we were there. He was very prompt in getting our drink refills, and he was constantly empyting our "trash bucket" - we did dinner there with the seafood, so we had lots of shells. He also gave us some tips since it was our first time there, and when we had a special dietary request, he went back to the kitchen to check on it. For a high-end buffet, we tip the same as a normal restaurant, between 20% and 25%, depending on how much they do.

Surf's Up. You needed a LOT of caffeine and protein. Some of the adults in your party were noticeably less well behaved than the dog. It might be your last buffet meal EVER. :0

That was NOT the last buffet that MDM attended. I know that for a fact. And she *loved* the last buffet that I know about.

[scoobydooby]

We tip 20 per cent everywhere including buffets.

[Malcon10t]

That was NOT the last buffet that MDM attended. I know that for a fact. And she *loved* the last buffet that I know about.

And the problem person was with us there too, but I controlled her better. We all LOVED the buffet and Youngest says she is going next year.

I believe at this buffet tip was added prior to eating, and we added to it so it came out to be about 25%.

[MickeyDogMom]

That was NOT the last buffet that MDM attended. I know that for a fact. And she *loved* the last buffet that I know about.

I didn't sit next to certain people but that food and environment blocked out any lingering annoyances. I agree that buffet was EPIC. I believe that word is overused but it's the only thing I could think of as comparable to that buffet's significance. I could have happily lived there.

I know I'm totally OT.

I believe in tipping the appropriate amount, if you have great service. Back on topic...

[TinaMouse]

I'm with the others. I tip 20% in almost all cases. 15 if the service was iffy...

[CBFETT]

20%. But will go to 15% if the service was sub standard.

[Barberella]

Yes, I'm in agreement that at Disney, buffet servers deserve the same tip as those in sit-down restaurants - that is 18 to 20%.

While some may think buffet servers shouldn't get the same as those at sit-down Disney restaurants because the server doesn't take your order and serve you the food, I am in disagreement with this argument.

Seldom at a Disney buffet do people make one trip to the buffet tables. Most people make at least 2 trips, some make 3, 4 or more trips. Each time you make another trip up to the buffet, you should expect that your dirty plates and cutlery (yes, dirty cutlery goes too) will have either been removed, or are removed quickly after you reseat yourself. That's one of the main jobs of the server - to circulate their section and quickly remove what needs to be removed.

[fairestoneofall]

We always tip at 20% unless poor service or above and beyond service warrants an adjustment.
FWIW- When I was a server in Orlando we made $2.13 an hour. Yes, you read that correctly. We relied on our tips to survive. I can't imagine that a buffet server would make a higher hourly wage than a non-buffet server. Not that it makes a difference, we tip 20% no matter what kind of server it is.

[GusMan]

Im in the 18-20% camp for tipping, regardless, unless the service stinks. Then, if it is really bad, I make sure I say something to the manager.

Ive said it once, and I will say it again - there is NO reason for service to be poor at a Disney TS eatery. They charge too much for that sort of service. Poor service deserves some sort of convo with someone in charge so that the poor service does not continue. Everyone has an off night, but still.

[miltimo5]

i usually go by the service. if the servers are contantly clearing away plates and refilling drinks i go 20% or round up . 10-15% if the service is mediocre. but at WDW i have always run into nothing but top line service so 20% of the meal cost + rounding up to the nearest dollar

[TinaMouse]

I'm in the 20 camp too. We were just talking about this today, though. We went to our local Chinese place who does buffets at lunch. There were HUGE signs saying, "Don't forget to tip your servers" which makes me think that a lot of people don't tip at buffets. My mom said, "Oh, no more than 10% then." I looked a her (she's usually an EXCELLENT tipper) like she had three heads! So apparently, there's a lot of opinions out there on this one!

[scoobydooby]

I have some friends also from England who are going to Orlando at Christmas. She was asking me how much food costs and when I reminded her to add on a 20 per cent tip for all meals to her budget she was horrified. I fear they will just sit there stony faced tipping a couple of $s everywhere they go. I wonder if a lot of Brits do this?

[mco65]

I would not TIP as much at a buffet as I would a full service type of restaurant but since my wife controls all the tipping, she typically tips 20% regardless much to my chagrin.

[TinaMouse]

I have some friends also from England who are going to Orlando at Christmas. She was asking me how much food costs and when I reminded her to add on a 20 per cent tip for all meals to her budget she was horrified. I fear they will just sit there stony faced tipping a couple of $s everywhere they go. I wonder if a lot of Brits do this?

I think they must because I have received the "gratuity not included" speech often....