Did you (or will you) tip extra on the Dining Plan?

[michellex2]

I understand that the dining plan includes a 15 to 18% gratuity for the server. I noted that some people in the dining reviews are tipping extra on top of the tip incuded in the dining plan. I'm curious as to what the "typical" response is for tipping extra or not, hence, the included (I hope -- I've never done this before) poll. [NOTE: (1) You can select more than one answer AND (2) If you will be going to Disney on the DP and know what you intend to do re: tipping, you can still answer the poll.]

 

[Letsbgoofy]

I tipped extra whenever we got great service. In Morroco, the waiter never even came back to refill our drinks. He didn't get anything extra! 2 people got 25% tips, at Kona Cafe and the Maya Grill - fantastic and friendly service.

 

[ChrisLei]

More than likely we will not be tipping extra. We are actually paying for the dining plan, since the free dining was not in effect for the dates we are going. If we had gotten it for free like many others did we would DEFINITELY be tipping extra.

 

[Frantasmic]

It will depend. I would be less likely to tip at a buffet, even a character one, because the included tip exceeds what most people suggest for a buffet. It would have to be exceptionally good service to tip there.

For the other TS places, I will be more likely to tip extra, but I am looking at probably no more than 5 percent extra.

 

[honeymo78]

I treat the included tip the same way I treat tipping in any restaurant I go to at home. If we get good service we tip 15% at home, if it's exceptional we tip more, if it's bad service we tip less and sometimes speak to management. The same holds true at WDW except if it is just good service we don't have to leave a tip at all since it is included, if it's exceptional we'll leave something extra at the table, and if it's poor service we let someone know. I think you should tip in WDW the same way you tip at home. If 15% is your normal tip amount at home, then why should you do anything different on your vacation.

 

[mlwear]

As other posters, we tipped extra for great service. For regualr service, we thought the 15 to 18% was fine. For VERY bad service (Concourse Steak House to be specific), I didn't think she even deserved the full included tip. I think this is a bit of a drawback to the included tip. The server thinks they know how much they will be tipped and maybe just do what is necessary. Couple of other places weren't as bad as Concourse, but servers sure didn't go to any trouble for us.

If you order additional items, some places go ahead and add the gratuity that the dining plan mandated. (I don't know how they would have done this if the dining plan had been free.) Just something to check your bill for. We had a birthday cake at Ohana. I was surprised to see the extra already added on. We tipped an additional $10 because it was extra work for the server. Some places gave us two bills and the servers were always very clear to point out that the tip was included in the bill covered by the dining plan but not in the bill for oop items.

 

[Tinkerbell10403]

I had budgeted on tipping a little extra...even though I was on the dining plan and the tip was included. However, when I received my bill...there is an itemized receipt of how much you paid. The tips that were given to our servers were anywhere in the $6-10 dollar range. I felt that it was fine not to tip extra because if we were at a buffet, the server hardly even had to see us at all. Plus, it is written on the bill that "Gratuities are included". At CG...the tip added into our bill was close to $20.00. I think that the dining plan is designed to make dining out at Disney easier, and help people save money. If I have already paid for the plan, then I see no reason why I should tip somebody twice.

 

[foxtrotter]

We tipped extra for every one of our 8 TS meals. Of course, we were lucky enough to have excellent service at every meal. I probably would have skipped the extra had service been subpar.

 

[tkldisney]

We always tip at least 20%, so yes we will add extra tip to 15-18% except for buffets which 15% is fine.

 

[ladysoleil]

I tipped additionally based on service. It cost me nothing, so I had no problem in tipping as I would have if I had paid for the meal if the service was phenomenal. If it wasn't, no additional tips.

Yes, I know they do get the standard tip, but I wouldn't tip 15% to a server I really liked who did a great job anyway. If they earned more, they got more. Also, it's nice to get a bit of cash for a job well done, and I understand that the included tips work like credit card tips. I figure that we tip to show appreciation. There's no appreciation of a good job shown by a flat 15% that Disney paid for us. I think it means more to have a customer thank you and tip you personally. I know for a fact that the servers who got additional tips were very happy with us for it, as we were very happy with them for making our meals enjoyable.

In particular, the Le Cellier and California Grill waiters earned every bit of that tip. We greatly enjoyed our conversations with them about Canada, the parks, things to see that they found fun, etc. The experience was as much about the food as it was enjoying the company, and these guys were great!

Our server at LTT, to be honest, didn't even deserve the 15% they got. If there was a way to remove the tip, I would have!

 

[marvin12]

We always tip extra if the service is good, I start saving dollars the minute we know we are going on vacation. That money is just for tips. Works out great for us.

 

[mvav269]

We tipped extra at Le Celllier, Alfredo's and Concourse Steakhouse for excellent service. We did not tip extra at Chef Mickey's because it was a buffet and our server was never around.

 

[n2mm]

WE tipped extra at ALL of our TS dining while there last week. The servers were all wonderful and deserved extra. Every one of them came back and personally thanked us for our geneorsity, which makes be think that this was rare to tip beyond the 18% included. However, we did not tip housekeeping at the contemporary resort, because we had average housekeeping and sometimes less than average. Our best service had to be the Kona Cafe' (Debbie) and CRT/dinner. We did not do any buffets. All of our servers were great, but Kona's and CRT/dinner really made an impression on us.

 

[mlwear]

Our best service had to be the Kona Cafe' (Debbie) and CRT/dinner. We did not do any buffets. All of our servers were great, but Kona's and CRT/dinner really made an impression on us.

We also had a wonderful server at Kona. I don't keep track of names. She was probably around 60-ish and had short brown or dark red hair (this has been more than a month ago). She was very friendly and also helpful. We had three TS credits left and had three adults (including my 10 year old son) and a child for dinner. She gave suggestions of foods that my 10 year old could easily split with his brother so we wouldn't have to pay oop for a kids meal. Also, we were so stuffed the idea of dessert was not even tolerable (if you knew me, you would be shocked by that statement ). She suggested that she pack up cheesecake as it travels better than the other desserts and we could take it to go. She was really attentive throughout our meal and didn't try to rush us through. We did leave her a generous additional tip.

 

[ReneeA]

We tipped extra on every ts meal. We were lucky enough to get the dining plan for free, and had really good service at every restaurant we went to. I tried to keep extra $5.00 bills on me to add to the table.

ReneeA

 

[jann1033]

unless the service stinks we tip 20% so we would always tip extra since my husband never thinks the service is thatbad .me, i'd tip probably 15 %( or at least no more than the dining plan amount) a few times but not many ( 3 times in my total "Disney" experience of 20+ yrs). if the service was really good we'd tip more than 20%. i never would base my tip on if i paid for the plan or it was free...that has(imo) nothing to do with the service and hence the tip, just how good a deal i got

we also frequently split meals and so leave closer to what it would be for 2 meals since they still filled both our drinks, sometimes brought us 2 plates, ect.

 

[bjgrazi]

We just got back and the only restaurant we tipped extra was at Boma, Annie was an awesome waitress and we let her and her manager know it.

At the others that we went to, service was fair at best.

They included Beaches & Cream......
Crystal Palace........ she gave us coffee, but forgot the cream that we asked twice for.
Whispering Canyon....... service was horrible food wasn't much better. I won't waste my time there again.

 

[goodeats]

I was on the Discovery Magic Plan (similar to Silver Plan) last time, so it included some meals. We only tipped extra once when the service was exceptional.

I did notice the waiters/waitresses would try to run up the bill so the 18% was more than it would be normally. I figured it evened out. For instance "would you like a lobster tail with that?".

 

[Kim In NC]

Some places gave us two bills and the servers were always very clear to point out that the tip was included in the bill covered by the dining plan but not in the bill for oop items.

We were on the free dining plan over Labor Day week. If we ordered extras like special drinks for DS, we received a second bill - but each time the server pointed out that the tip WAS included on that one too - it was usually charged at a 18% rate on that one. We only tipped extra at one place - the rest of the time we didn't think the server rated more than 15%. Our server at Alfredo's would have been tipped $0 if we had to do it OOP. He took our order - disappeared, brought salads - no drinks, diappeared - assistant cleaned table off including our silverware - still no drinks and wanted to know why we weren't leaving. When we explained that we had ordered dinner and drinks she apologized and went and found everything. It was absolutely horrible!!!! The manager didn't give a care either!

 

[HaleyB]

I plan to tip extra at every TS meal. If we get a bad server they will not get the extra tip, a great one will get a great tip. I tend to over tip anyway, because I know so many people under tip these days (in general, not my DIS friends, of course). Servers put up with so much and work so hard for their wages.