$ Questions - Working on the Budget - Tax & Character Meals

[egritz]

Does anyone know the answer to these questions:

What is the current tax rate charged for food at character dining?
Is tip added to the Plaza Inn (I can't remember)?
Is the tip included at Surf's Up/Ariel's Grotto? Or is it the set 18%?
Does anyone know if/how much the character meals increased from last year?

I have the total amounts we paid for our Character Meals last November (Plaza Inn, Ariel's Grotto, & Surf's Up). I'm now just trying to narrow down the budget and I want to get a good guesstimate on what these are going to cost us this year to decide if we need to cut one (or maybe add Goofy's kitchen!)

TIA

 

[califlorican]

Sales tax in Anaheim is 8%, so it would be the same at the restaurants I believe.
And I THINK 18% gratuity is included in groups of 6 or more (including babies it seems like)

 

[kappyfamily]

Yep, gratuity isn't included unless you have 6 or more. The only other time it is included is in WDW and using the Tables in Wonderland card. Happy planning!

 

[scrappingpickle]

If you by the dining vouchers from Get Away today the tax and grat is included.

 

[agamble]

If you by the dining vouchers from Get Away today the tax and grat is included.

This is true, but may not be a better deal depending on the meal and current price. I called the Disney Dine line and asked the price of the Chip and Dale breakfast for our reserved day before we went (it was 29.99 for an adult in May). They don't include the tax/tip in the price as mentioned, but they charge everyone the tip when you pay to enter. If your trip is close enough to book reservations I would call and ask for the exact price during your days. If not, just know that Chip and Dale was 29.99 and Minnie's is a few dollars less with Goofy's being about $5 more for breakfast and a lot more for lunch and dinner.

 

[Girimama33]

I like getting the dining vouchers...as long as I am going to save some money. The only time you lose money with them is for GK breakfast, and the children's dinner. You save $3.27 on the adult voucher. I have an AP, and still get a better discount on some of these meals with a voucher (instead of using the AP)...especially Surf's Up.
I made this spreadsheet, and try to keep it updated with the current pricing.The totals are with 8% tax and 18% tip...
First column is cost of meal, second is tax, third is tip and fourth is the total. The fifth figure is the cost of the voucher you would need.
c=children B, L D...need no explanation, right? I marked the red totals where you lose $ with the vouchers and green where you save $.

GOOFY'S KITCHEN
B $ 30.99 $ 2.48 $ 5.58 $ 39.05 $ 44.00
B/C $ 15.99 $ 1.28 $ 2.88 $ 20.15 $ 22.00
D $ 38.99 $ 2.88 $ 5.40 $ 47.27 $ 44.00
C $ 16.99 $ 1.28 $ 2.40 $ 20.67 $ 22.00
ARIEL'S GROTTO
B $ 36.99 $ 2.96 $ 6.66 $ 46.61 $ 44.00
C $ 19.99 $ 1.60 $ 3.60 $ 25.19 $ 22.00
L $ 41.99 $ 3.36 $ 7.56 $ 52.91 $ 44.00
C $ 21.99 $ 1.76 $ 3.96 $ 27.71 $ 22.00
MINNIES
B $ 29.99 $ 2.40 $ 5.40 $ 37.79 $ 33.00
C $ 14.00 $ 1.12 $ 2.52 $ 17.64 $ 17.00
STORYTELLERS
B $ 30.99 $ 2.48 $ 5.58 $ 39.05 $ 33.00
C $ 17.99 $ 1.44 $ 3.24 $ 22.67 $ 17.00
SURF'S UP
B $ 30.99 $ 2.48 $ 5.58 $ 39.05 $ 33.00
C $ 15.99 $ 1.28 $ 2.88 $ 20.15 $ 17.00

 

[keltiesmom]

when we went in 2013 the cast member at minnies informed us that our vouchers were worth more then the meal was because we were there in the off season. We used 2 of our vouchers and cash to pay for that meal, and saved the last voucher to use another time at surfs up. I dont think the cast member there gave us full credit for the voucher though, because the meal was quite a bit more than what we had paid at minnies. It is worth knowing the current cost and the value of the voucher so you can maximize them.

 

[amyg1975]

I like getting the dining vouchers...as long as I am going to save some money. The only time you lose money with them is for GK breakfast, and the children's dinner. You save $3.27 on the adult voucher. I have an AP, and still get a discount on some of these meals with a voucher...especially Surf's Up.

How do you get a discount with your AP if you buy a voucher?

 

[Girimama33]

Reading it back...It doesn't read right... What I was saying was the voucher sometimes provides a better discount than having an AP.

 

[amyg1975]

Reading it back...It doesn't read right... What I was saying was the voucher sometimes provides a better discount than having an AP.

Ok, that makes sense now!

 

[egritz]

I like getting the dining vouchers...as long as I am going to save some money. The only time you lose money with them is for GK breakfast, and the children's dinner. You save $3.27 on the adult voucher. I have an AP, and still get a better discount on some of these meals with a voucher (instead of using the AP)...especially Surf's Up.
I made this spreadsheet, and try to keep it updated with the current pricing.The totals are with 8% tax and 18% tip...
First column is cost of meal, second is tax, third is tip and fourth is the total. The fifth figure is the cost of the voucher you would need.
c=children B, L D...need no explanation, right? I marked the red totals where you lose $ with the vouchers and green where you save $.

GOOFY'S KITCHEN
B $ 30.99 $ 2.48 $ 5.58 $ 39.05 $ 44.00
B/C $ 15.99 $ 1.28 $ 2.88 $ 20.15 $ 22.00
D $ 38.99 $ 2.88 $ 5.40 $ 47.27 $ 44.00
C $ 16.99 $ 1.28 $ 2.40 $ 20.67 $ 22.00
ARIEL'S GROTTO
B $ 36.99 $ 2.96 $ 6.66 $ 46.61 $ 44.00
C $ 19.99 $ 1.60 $ 3.60 $ 25.19 $ 22.00
L $ 41.99 $ 3.36 $ 7.56 $ 52.91 $ 44.00
C $ 21.99 $ 1.76 $ 3.96 $ 27.71 $ 22.00
MINNIES
B $ 29.99 $ 2.40 $ 5.40 $ 37.79 $ 33.00
C $ 14.00 $ 1.12 $ 2.52 $ 17.64 $ 17.00
STORYTELLERS
B $ 30.99 $ 2.48 $ 5.58 $ 39.05 $ 33.00
C $ 17.99 $ 1.44 $ 3.24 $ 22.67 $ 17.00
SURF'S UP
B $ 30.99 $ 2.48 $ 5.58 $ 39.05 $ 33.00
C $ 15.99 $ 1.28 $ 2.88 $ 20.15 $ 17.00

This is awesome, I love spread sheets!

 

[agamble]

Both times we went to Minnie's it was cheaper to pay at the park and get our AP discount than use a voucher.

 

[Girimama33]

Both times we went to Minnie's it was cheaper to pay at the park and get our AP discount than use a voucher.

I said some of the meals. I typically go to Surf's Up and AG lunch, and the voucher is cheaper than the AP discount. I always do the math, and go whichever way I can save the most.