Disney Dollars as Tips?

[Luv4Disney]

Hey all! I know DD works like cash, but can they be used for tips? Is there a way servers can exchange it out for cash, or no? Would we be better off leaving a plain old cash tip? TIA!

 

[nalabell]

As a former cast member I can tell you that Disney Dollars are not the way to go if you want to give a tip. They can not be turned into cash and would have to be spent on Disney property. I get that it sounds good and any cast member would tell you thank you, but cash is always better.

 

[Tomm Morrow]

Hey all! I know DD works like cash, but can they be used for tips? Is there a way servers can exchange it out for cash, or no? Would we be better off leaving a plain old cash tip? TIA!

My sources tell me that CM's love Disney Dollars, they get two for one when making purchases inside the park.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

Really? I thought CM's could just exchange them at the end of the night for $. You learn something new every day!

However, if, say, your bill is $15.50, and you leave a $20 Disney Dollar, I assume the CM can keep the change in cash, as they can just bring you cash back in any case.

NED

 

[David R]

As cute as Disney dollars are to guests, leave cash, you'll make the CM much happier.

 

[HumphreytheBear]

I know with Bell services and valets at the hotels they just change the Disney Dollars out with the front desk Cast members before they go home. No big deal. I assume, by the other posts, it is not that easy for restaurant servers, but that is an area I never worked in at WDW...

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

My sources tell me that CM's love Disney Dollars, they get two for one when making purchases inside the park.

completely 100% false.

 

[Tomm Morrow]

completely 100% false.

Hey Syracuse, I would never doubt your word but I must say, my sources have never failed me yet. Are you a CM, by chance? Thanks for responding, the dialogue is great.

 

[David R]

It is false.

Disney dollars are a small annoyance to CMs (at least at the restaurants) since they are handled differently than regular cash. CM can exchange them for cash at the end of their shift but that involves extra steps and the intervention of a manager.

If all you have are Disney dollars, then sure, leave that, but if you have cash, leave it as a tip even if you pay with Disney dollars.

 

[MyGoofy26]

Hey Syracuse, I would never doubt your word but I must say, my sources have never failed me yet. Are you a CM, by chance? Thanks for responding, the dialogue is great.

I'm a former CM and worked merchandise and NEVER heard anything about 2 for one for Disney Dollars. That'd be better than the CM discount, essentially giving you half off. Disney Dollars are considered cash (until the final counts at the end of the night) and I can't imagine any circumstance where Disney would offer this sort of deal for what they view (at least during the purchase) as cash.

 

[Tracks N Slabs]

Hey Syracuse, I would never doubt your word but I must say, my sources have never failed me yet. Are you a CM, by chance? Thanks for responding, the dialogue is great.

Syracuse is correct. Disney Dollars are exactlly like cash and the face value does not change for Cast members. As mentioned cast members have discounts available to them for merchandise and food, but Disney Dollars are not 2 for one.

 

[WillCAD]

I prefer to leave cash, simply because it saves the CM the extra step of having to cash them in someplace. A Disney Dollar may be treated like cash, but it is in essence a gift certificate that can only be spent at WDW.

However, I often pay for my meals with Disney Dollars and tell the server to keep the change (sometimes this makes the tip larger than a standard 15%, too). Since all change from a Disney Dollar transaction is in US cash, I have been operating under the assumption that this negates the need for the CM to cash in any Disney Dollars.

 

[kirbsam]

as much as we all think it is cute to do this stuff, cash is king.

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

However, I often pay for my meals with Disney Dollars and tell the server to keep the change (sometimes this makes the tip larger than a standard 15%, too). Since all change from a Disney Dollar transaction is in US cash, I have been operating under the assumption that this negates the need for the CM to cash in any Disney Dollars.

That is a good point... Using a previous post as an example... If your bil is $15.50 and you give them $20 in Disney Dollars the change they are going to bring back to you is going to be US currency, not Disney Dollars. If it comes down to it, just let them bring the actual change to you and leave that on the table... Problem solved, right?

And as mentioned above, it is not an issue for bell services or valets, a lot of them stop by the front desk at the end of the night to change out all the $1.00 bils that they have accumulated, it is just as easy to cash in a few Disney dollars at that time. In my expereince money is money, no matter what form it comes in, I have seen bellman take foreign currency and exchange it, if it means whether or not they get a tip, or the size of the tip...they are going to take whatever you want to give them.

 

[Brian Noble]

Nothing says "I love you" like cold hard cash.

 

[Luv4Disney]

Thanks for all the responses and different views on things! I think we'll go with the "cold hard cash" since it just seems easier and they won't have to worry about exchanging it. Thanks again!