How much money will I need......

[hinodis]

I have the dining package so everything is paid for. How much extra money will I need for tips and extras. We will not be buying alot of souvineers. Can I put the tips on my room charge and pay with Dis gift cards at check out?

 

[poohfriend77]

You can charge tips (and practically everything else) with your room key. We only used cash for the occasional drink or snack that we did not want to pay for with a snack credit.

We did use cash for travel though. Snacks at the airport, tipping baggage handlers, car service (or tipping ME driver).

Don't wait until check out to try to apply your gift cards! I made that mistake, and they had already "cleared" my account and charged our room balance to my credit card. I only had about $25 left on my gift card, so it wasn't a big deal. But I think you can apply gift cards at check-in (or any other day during your trip), and they will show up as a "credit" until you make more charges.

 

[MEM]

I have the dining package so everything is paid for. How much extra money will I need for tips and extras. We will not be buying alot of souvineers. Can I put the tips on my room charge and pay with Dis gift cards at check out?

You don't say how many days you'll be there or which dining plan or how many people are traveling with you. Your budget for dining tips could be huge - a meal for 4 adults at Artist Point, for example, is a minimum of $200and many people on the dining plan will spend the equivalent of much more than that by selecting high-priced entrees and then adding appetizers and alcohol...an 18% tip would be $36 just for that one meal at a bare minimum.

Its also easy to say you won't be buying a lot of souvenirs. I can tell you that I just returned from 16 days at WDW and I went way over budget on souvenirs and I'm not talking just Tee shirts and plush animals. Scarves, watches, rings, etc.

 

[hinodis]

You don't say how many days you'll be there or which dining plan or how many people are traveling with you. Your budget for dining tips could be huge - a meal for 4 adults at Artist Point, for example, is a minimum of $200and many people on the dining plan will spend the equivalent of much more than that by selecting high-priced entrees and then adding appetizers and alcohol...an 18% tip would be $36 just for that one meal at a bare minimum.

Its also easy to say you won't be buying a lot of souvenirs. I can tell you that I just returned from 16 days at WDW and I went way over budget on souvenirs and I'm not talking just Tee shirts and plush animals. Scarves, watches, rings, etc.

We will be there for only 4 days. Two adult on the plus dining package. Just 4 table service dinners.

 

[angierae]

I have the dining package so everything is paid for. How much extra money will I need for tips and extras. We will not be buying alot of souvineers. Can I put the tips on my room charge and pay with Dis gift cards at check out?

Go to allears.net and look at the menus for the restaurants you're planning to eat at, and look at the prices of what you're likely to order. Add it all up and figure 18% or 20% or however you usually tip.

(Or, if you're anal about making sure you have enough $, like me, pick out the most expensive everything, add that up, and budget 20% of that. )

 

[Va-bear]

We almost never buy souvies - some for the kids but that is already in their budget - DH and I just aren't the type. So, depending on the restaurant, IF the meal was about $100 dollars and you tip 20% - then you'd need 20 per meal x 4 meals = $80 dollars total (but make it $100/$120 to be safe and incase you add a drink/appetizer).

Have fun!!!

 

[tink576]

Not all places on the dining plan will allow you to place a tip when you check out (I'm just thinking of wolfgang puck express, where you pay for your order before you sit down)

 

[KittyKitty]

I also tip housekeeping . Don't know if they can be put on your room key.

 

[fitislandgirl]

Just wanted to say thank you for all the information in this thread. I found it very helpful! Taking first trip August 31st!

 

[SaraJayne]

DH and I just got back...4 nights, 5 days and on the dining plan also.

We charged $117 to our room...and two of those charges were souvenirs for the kids.

We ate at Kouzzina, 'Ohana and Flying Fish.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I also tip housekeeping . Don't know if they can be put on your room key.

No, you can't put housekeeping tip on your room key, housekeeping is NOT a tipped position. If you plan to tip the housekeepers, you will need cash.

I always go to the menus on Allears, which many have been updated this month, and figure out what our tip will be close to and add a little more. With the buffet and/or places with a fixed price, it is easy to do. Some places that you order individually, I try to look at what I know DH would usually order, what I might order and estimate from there.

I would have them add the GC at check-in, you can go daily, even several times a day and have them check the balance of what you charge, it shows up immediately, then you can add accordingly.