Tipping Info Thread for Disney Dining

[Tricia1972]

A post was just removed that also contained a question, however, the question is addressed in the first post of the thread.

Please remember that comments on personal tipping habits/beliefs is limited on the board.

Thanks

 

[chris013087]

Okay I know that this has probably been asked before. We are a party of 5 going. I had two questions. When I booked my dining reservations online it booted out one person from one of the reservations and it was for 4 people. I called disney and they said you have to keep trying to get it for 5. What should I do if I cant get it? Also the youngest person going with us is 10 years old. Is he considered children dining or adult dining?

Thanks

 

[mom2of2]

Keep trying for 5 but if you can't get it go to you meal about 30 min before and tell them you are a partu of 5. Unless its a prepaid meal you should be fine. Any child who's agr is double digits is an adult at Disney.

 

[vicgurganus]

I read back a few pages in the thread and could not find the answer to my question.

This is the first time we have used Disney Dining Plan. We are a party of 6m, therefore gratuity is added. How does this work? The meals are pre-paid so how do they add a gratuity? Do you just get a bill for the gratuity? Is the amount of a gratuity added to the cost of the meal plan when it's purchased? Totally confused on how they will add gratuity when I have a pre-paid dining plan.

Thanks.

 

[Tricia1972]

I read back a few pages in the thread and could not find the answer to my question.

This is the first time we have used Disney Dining Plan. We are a party of 6m, therefore gratuity is added. How does this work? The meals are pre-paid so how do they add a gratuity? Do you just get a bill for the gratuity? Is the amount of a gratuity added to the cost of the meal plan when it's purchased? Totally confused on how they will add gratuity when I have a pre-paid dining plan.

Thanks.

You will get a bill that will show how much is due for gratuity. They will base the 18% off of what your total bill would have been if you'd paid out of pocket.

Hope that this helps.

 

[vicgurganus]

Thanks. I guess there is no real way to plan ahead since I have no idea ahead of time what everybody will be eating. Or do the character meals have a pre-set price? All of our table service meals are character meals. I would like to budget cash for tips as it will just make my life easier. That or have a gift card set aside for tips.

 

[vicgurganus]

Oh, one more question. Cinderella's Royal Table has gratuity included correct? I do not have to budget for that tip?

 

[jenseib]

Oh, one more question. Cinderella's Royal Table has gratuity included correct? I do not have to budget for that tip?

Correct. And many of the character meals are buffets so those are set prices. Some are not though.

 

[vicgurganus]

Thanks all. Hopefully I will figure this out

 

[smidgy]

I read back a few pages in the thread and could not find the answer to my question.

This is the first time we have used Disney Dining Plan. We are a party of 6m, therefore gratuity is added. How does this work? The meals are pre-paid so how do they add a gratuity? Do you just get a bill for the gratuity? Is the amount of a gratuity added to the cost of the meal plan when it's purchased? Totally confused on how they will add gratuity when I have a pre-paid dining plan.

Thanks.

you have a pre-paid dining plan, but only for the food. even for those who are not a party of 6 or more, the tip is not included or pre-paid on the dining plan. we always pay the tip separately, even though we are only a party of 2

I remember when the tip was first left off the dining plan, and servers would mention this. some people got upset that the server even mentioned a tip, but the servers knew that a lot of people didn't realize it was no longer covered and they didn't want to get stiffed.. they were kinda between a rock and a hard place there.

 

[TDC Nala]

All the character meals are fixed price meals. Some are not buffets, but are fixed price nonetheless.

 

[AJ12345]

We're going to be with extended family on the Deluxe Dining Plan. However we're in separate rooms. It's only two of us and 4 of them. I don't want to get stuck paying for their gratuities at restaurants by splitting the bill in two.

Is it ok if we ask for 2 separate checks since we're on two separate reservations when we sit down together??? We'll be doing all sit down meals so I want to make it as easy as possible.

I just don't want it to be weird or a big deal.

 

[LeeLee'sMom]

I may be wrong but I am thinking they will have to do 2 separate checks because it will be 2 different parties (i.e. not in same room). If that is not automatic simply ask them to do so, if you need an "excuse" say you like to keep the receipts to keep track of your dining credits

 

[sweeteypie1118]

I don't see why it would be a problem. It actually makes things easier instead of wasting time trying to figure out who should pay what. You also avoid the situation of others spending a lot more than you and suggesting you divide evenly. I ended up paying 10 bucks for just a diet coke a few weeks ago for that reason!!!

 

[AJ12345]

Yeah. That's what I'm hoping to avoid. They are a party of 4 so they'll be spending about double what we're spending. I just don't want it to be awkward asking to split the bill, but it seems like it should be ok.

I was just hoping the CM's wouldn't give us a hard time about it.

 

[LeeLee'sMom]

Tell me about it...not too long ago I helped paying for lobsters that I didn't even have (not a lobster fan) so my $15 chicken parm & $7 captn' and coke ended up costing me about $50.... my fault for not speaking up.

 

[TDC Nala]

If each party is on a separate dining plan, there will automatically be separate checks issued. Parties not on DDP can ask to have the checks split. Be careful if you are using TIW, because all discounted TIW meals are supposed to be on the same check.

I don't know whether to close this as a gratuity question (all gratuity discussion is to be limited to the Tipping Information sticky thread) or consider it a question about getting separate checks, despite the title. So I'm going to leave it open.

 

[sweeteypie1118]

They won't give you a problem for asking for 2 seperate checks at the restaurants. Plus you'll avoid any uncomfortable situations or hard feelings getting stuck paying for more than your share.

 

[LJSquishy]

You can get separate checks with no problem. Just keep in mind, if you book one reservation for the entire group of 6, you will be charged the automatic 18% gratuity even though you split your checks since your table is 6 or more.

 

[LONES]

My family of 4 just traveled to Disney with my parents. They were in one room, and we were in another room. We were all on the dining plan, and ate all of our TS meals together. The waiters always asked us if we were on the dining plan, and who was together. At the end of the meal they would ask for a KTTW card from each "room". We would get an itemized bill of what our group of 4 ordered, with the 18% gratuity on that added at the end. My parents would get a separate bill with what they ordered, with the 18% added on only theirs.

It actually worked out really well for us being on the dining plan.... it kept Grandpa from paying for all the meals! No fighting over the check!