Question about tipping at buffets About This Page:

[Angela531]

Buffets are not our preferred restaurant style. I cannot even remember the last one I ate at but at Disney we are open to trying them. Especially when traveling with picky eaters (DD's BFF). We are booked for breakfast at 1900 PF. Do you still tip the same way at a buffet? We typically tip at least 18-20% normally but is it the same guidelines when you serve yourself? Thanks!

[Her Dotness]

We usually tip that much at Disney buffets, too, as long as our server meets our drink refill needs punctually and clears empty plates promptly.

They're likely working far more tables than in full service places is my reasoning. Plus, lots of people probably tip on the fact that "the server doesn't do nearly as much."

We usually don't tip more than 20% at buffets although we typically do for excellent service at "sit and set" TS, as I refer to regular TS. We might if our server is unusually welcoming or meets some exceptional need we might have.

[Straitlover]

How big is your group? They add on an auto 18% gratuity for groups of a certain size (think it's 6+?).

[Angela531]

Originally Posted by Straitlover

How big is your group? They add on an auto 18% gratuity for groups of a certain size (think it's 6+?).

We'll be a party of 5.

[Her Dotness]

Yes, the auto-18% is for 6 or more.

[xwewhisper]

I still tip the full amount at a buffet if I got reasonable service. If my server comes and takes my drink order and then is never seen or heard from again, then it might drop down to the 15%. But they are working just as hard as they would be at a normal sit down meal.

[CinderAbby]

I too tip normally because even though they are not serving me food, they are certainly cleaning up after me and it could generate a lot more dishes than a typical TS restaurant. Plus in our experience at the some of the character meals, the server makes sure that I've seen the characters and keeps me "up to date" on their progress if I haven't.

[feonag]

We also tip 20%. Servers run their buts off, especially coming back and forth constantly clearing plates.

[yalibrarian]

I still tip the full amount at a buffet if I got reasonable service. If my server comes and takes my drink order and then is never seen or heard from again, then it might drop down to the 15%. But they are working just as hard as they would be at a normal sit down meal.

At local casual buffets where basically they get our drinks and then we're on our own, we tip a couple of dollars per person (at least 15%) and go up if they provide more service like clearing plates and refilling drinks. Our server at the Tusker House buffet spent more time at our table than at a fancy table service place where we dined on the same trip. Refilled drinks without us asking, cleared plates, offered to carry for my husband who is disabled, brought extra napkins for my son. Fully deserved an 18% tip. We don't leave change either, rounding up to a full dollar amount.

[momtotaryn]

We don't do many buffets back at home, but when we do, it's because of a large get together for some special occasion, so we will tip the minimum 18% that is automatically added. If we have exceptional service, we will add more.

When we are in Las Vegas (which is at least once a year), that is when we do quite a few buffets. The servers usually just bring drinks and possibly refills. We are not huge eaters, so they may clear the plates once, when we get our dessert. Depending on the cost of the buffet, we will tip a couple of dollars up to $5+ per person. As you may know, many buffets in Las Vegas can be inexpensive ($5.99 breakfast, $7.99 lunch, $10.99 dinner at one hotel we stayed at, and the buffet was good too!). Higher end hotels will have more pricier buffets.

For WDW, all the buffets we will do are character ones. We will be dining with my sister's family (party of 8), so I'm expecting the tip to be 18%, and as mentioned above, if the service is exceptional, we will add more.

[wheezie]

We always tip the full amount too, for all the reasons given already.

[luvnwdwgal]

We never do buffets at home and in all our trips to WDW we've only ate at 3 and that was quite awhile ago. Since we have free dining this year and love seafood, I thought that we would try Cape May Cafe for dinner. I was also wondering about the tipping. We hardly ever go out for dinner, but when we do I usually tip 20%.

[Kynna]

We tend to tip buffets about %15 and TS %20 as a rule. If we see our server often or if we are with messy kids we will do more.

[momtotaryn]

I wanted to add this...we were recently in Japan for my DD's high school band's concert performance. We did not do any buffets, but I thought I'd mention about the tipping practice there. You do NOT tip (restaurants, hotels, etc.). I believe it's seen as "rude" and "insulting", because good service and politeness is already expected. If you try to tip, you will most likely be refused, and you shouldn't feel offended.

It was really weird for us not to tip at first, since we are so used to tipping in the US. However, after a short time, it was nice to not have to worry about it. Plus it sure saved us lots of $$$!

[Angela531]

Thank you for all of your input. That was how I was feeling as well, that it should be within the standard 15-20%, however I thought I had read somewhere (a long while back) that people tip at buffets only 10-15%. Since it has been so long I no longer remember where I read it I just remember it stood out to me because I was shocked that one would only tip 10%. Now that we're going to a buffet I just wanted to see what is the norm. Thanks again!