Budgeting for tipping?

[sweetcitywoman]

Hi all! Okay, so I haven’t been to wDw in about 7 years and it’s time to bring my kids and grandkids to the happiest place on earth! That said, I’m trying desperately to do so on a budget and have created a spreadsheet for this purpose. I have line items for accommodations, dining, airfare, and souvenirs. As I was reading the various posts and dining plan details, I realized that gratuities are not included meaning I really need to account for those as well. My husband will not be joining us so I want to be prepared to know how and when and how much to tip. I’m paying for two rooms at the Polynesian and dining plans for 5 adults and 2 children. Advice needed! How much will all this tipping add to my budget? Help! lol

 

[Ralphmiller007]

I would go through and figure out what your average table service meal cost will be...maybe check out some menus on what restaurants you are going to, and depending on what dining plan you're on you would have to account for beverages, desserts, and maybe appetizers along with entrees. How much you tip is up to you, we generally tip 20%, although with that many people they might automatically add an 18% gratuity to your table. There are also dining plan calculators online you can search for that will figure out average costs per meal/total, I believe. On the dining plan you would tip based off of what your food would cost if paying out of pocket.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Hi all! Okay, so I haven’t been to wDw in about 7 years and it’s time to bring my kids and grandkids to the happiest place on earth! That said, I’m trying desperately to do so on a budget and have created a spreadsheet for this purpose. I have line items for accommodations, dining, airfare, and souvenirs. As I was reading the various posts and dining plan details, I realized that gratuities are not included meaning I really need to account for those as well. My husband will not be joining us so I want to be prepared to know how and when and how much to tip. I’m paying for two rooms at the Polynesian and dining plans for 5 adults and 2 children. Advice needed! How much will all this tipping add to my budget? Help! lol

Depends on where you will be eating. QS = no tipping accepted or expected. TS, whether 1 or 2 credit restaurants will have 2 amts pre-calculated at the bottom of your receipt. The percentages are 18% and 20% but are only suggestions; you can tip the % you like.

The easiest way for you to figure out your tipping allotment for budgeting purposes is to look at your spreadsheet total for dining and compute the % amt; you'll now have a working amount for tips.

HTH!

 

[NYCgrrl]

I just thought of a faster method that works nicely as a start up point.
It probably isn't as accurate but makes a nice working figure. Calculate the daily cost of the type of dining plan you have then multiply that figure by the number of nights you're staying there. Compute your tip percentage from that; easy peasy and you'll get a number long before everyone is in agreement on the chosen eateries.

If your budget crunching isn't working out just the way you want you could always tell those now grown ish type people that it would be useful for them to pay the tips so they can continue to assert their independence at every opportunity.

 

[kaytieeldr]

probably isn't as accurate but makes a nice working figure. Calculate the daily cost of the type of dining plan you have then multiply that figure by the number of nights you're staying there. Compute your tip percentage from that; easy peasy and you'll get a number long before everyone is in agreement on the chosen eateries

Plus, because there's no expectation of a tip at QS, the tip budget will be more than what the OP actually needs.

 

[pearlieq]

Generally speaking (and there is a very broad range) the menu "cost" of the table service meal included in the dining plan (entree, dessert, drink) will be around $50/adult and $20/child. So, for your party, you can expect the total on the check you're handed to be about $300ish and the tip would be somewhere between $45 - $60. You'd probably be safe budgeting about $50 per table service meal you're planning on having with the whole group of 7. At some restaurants your group size will require you to pay an auto-gratuity of 18%.

Again, there is a lot of variation. Your check total may be more if you take advantage of the offer of an alcoholic or speciality beverage with the dining plan instead of soft drinks.

 

[MNMomof3]

Do you tip at buffet style restaurants? We tend not to here at home, but wondering if wdw is different

 

[TwoMisfits]

Do you tip at buffet style restaurants? We tend not to here at home, but wondering if wdw is different

Yes...as an example, while at home, OP might tip 10-15% at a buffet, b/c she is a party of 6 or more, she will tip 18% on all Disney World buffets. That tip cost can get pricey, since 18% on a $55 buffet would be almost $10/person...or almost the cost of getting a CS entree.

 

[MNMomof3]

Thanks! It’s good to remember those extra costs when deciding which dining plan to go with!

 

[Stephenhaven]

Well, look after your plan and then decide where are you going to tip, at hotels, restaurant and then decide your budget.

 

[bigbabyblues]

If you are a party of 7, the automatic gratuity will be added to your bill at restaurants, and it won't be a suggestion. I believe it is 18% added for a party of 6 or more.

 

[LovesTimone]

For your size party it will be a 18% tip added on automatically, no matter if you are on the dinning plan or not...

If you are ordering adult beverages, or additional items such as appetizer, ... you will pay for this on another check, and 18% tip will be added...


I would look at the character meals buffet or all you can eat which runs about 50 to 65 dollars depending on time of year... so for a buffet that is 55.00 it would be like 9.90 person let just call it 10.00 bucks per person, so 70.00 dollars, for the meal on reg DDP... If you are not eating at a buffet then the cost of the tip is going to vary some what depending on what each person orders...

You could look at your ADR's then... go by the most expensive entree and dessert ... the add in the tax and tip 18% X 7 people... this will give you a ball park numbers and more than likely more than you are going to need, but at least this way you have it covered...

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I would use www.distripplanner.com

I know this site is really used to compare paying OOP or doing the DDP but there is a portion that tells you how much your tips will average out to be.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Do you tip at buffet style restaurants? We tend not to here at home, but wondering if wdw is different

Yes we do but not at 18%. But we are a family of 4 and aren't subject to the automatic 18%.

 

[siren0119]

Do you tip at buffet style restaurants? We tend not to here at home, but wondering if wdw is different

Absolutely, if there are servers who are tending to the tables, refilling drinks, taking plates away, etc. They are doing the same amount of work as a server in a menu-based restaurant. At Disney this is exactly what the serving staff is doing, so they get the same tip as any other restaurant.