I am budgeting $225 for my tips my next trip (two people). We are eating 16 TS meals and on the DxDDP (all our meals are actually TS with the exception of lunch one day at IOA at US). Basically I looked at what we will eat, totaled it up and multiplied it by the percentage that we will tip. I added all together and then added a bit more for those meals where we have exceptional service. I put it on a Disney gift card (Ratatouille even) to use when we go.
We always order appetizers and desserts simply because we've already paid for them through the
DDP. I would feel it would be a waste not to get them and really it doesn't add much more to our tips. However, I can see that it could be a larger expense for a large family over multiple days.
For example a $7 dessert at 18% tip is just $1.26. A $10 App is $1.80 at 18%.
With our deluxe plan, we are spending $78.99/day/person.
Without apps and desserts my MK day would be like this: Buffet breakfast $22.99, lunch entree $16.99, dinner entree $10.99, two snacks $8. Total for this day: $58.99 without drinks factored in. By not ordering apps or dessert, I have actually lost $20.
Our Epcot day would be a bit better: breakfast, $39.40; lunch $13.95; dinner: 25.95. Total. $79.30 without snacks or drinks factored in. However, I want the plan to save me money and it doesn't unless we order/eat what it comes with. I always add up what we would order for the week then figure the cost of the dining plan/tip and see if I save money
I like to eat on vacation and try new things so I generally go with the dining plan. I generally use my app credit to try something new because I know I have dinner and dessert if I don't particularly like it.
It would be very nice to have tips included. However, I'd still use the plan either way. I like knowing I don't have to worry about food costs when I get there. I can also see why Disney took off the tips. They actually have to pay out the full cost of the tip to the server. However, in terms of food cost, the steak on the menu may only cost Disney X and they bump it up to Y. So they have more room to play in terms of making money off of the plan. (If I just made any sense there.) I also like that my server is not guaranteed a tip when I sit down and tell them I'm on the DDP. In my experience, I generally get less service at places where the tip is guaranteed than when I can tip what I want.
