How much to put aside for Tips

[Mike N Kathy]

We are going to be eatig out at alot of signature places we will be a group of 6 so the gratuity will be automatic ... I will be responsible for 2 of us and my 3 year old How much cash per day do u figure i should bring for tips

 

[Buzz's Buddy]

Take a look at a few of the menus and pick what you're likely to order, being sure to include any drinks, appetizers and desserts. That way, you can get an idea what your total will be and figure out how much you'll need for tips.

 

[apostolic4life]

We are going to be eatig out at alot of signature places we will be a group of 6 so the gratuity will be automatic ... I will be responsible for 2 of us and my 3 year old How much cash per day do u figure i should bring for tips

Well, since tipping is generally based on a percentage of your final bill no one will be able to answer this for you. I would suggest going to the menus of the restaurant you will be dining in and estimate and average of what you will spend then figure your percentage from that average. Be sure to include all drinks too. After you have that percentage figured add a few bucks to buffer in case you order more. Hope that helps!

 

[PrincessKitty1]

Here's a link to the menus for all the TS restaurants at WDW. Take a look at the prices and remember to add in the price of drinks, and estimate 20% of your total for tips.

http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menus.htm

 

[Mike N Kathy]

Here's a link to the menus for all the TS restaurants at WDW. Take a look at the prices and remember to add in the price of drinks, and estimate 20% of your total for tips.

http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menus.htm

Yeah i did that but then i figured id take the lazy route and ask everyone else what they bring

 

[mom2my3kids]

It all depends on the amount of the check, how many people and all so we really can't say

 

[mefordis]

I am figuring for our trip (regular ddp) about $75 - $100 for tips. A couple of buffets and no signature restaurants. Will be going for 5 nights. I tip 20%.

 

[jennifer293]

Can the tip be charged to the room key or does it have to be in cash??? I am trying to avoid carrying cash around and would rather pay for it at checkout.

 

[Kathi OD]

Can the tip be charged to the room key or does it have to be in cash??? I am trying to avoid carrying cash around and would rather pay for it at checkout.

Your tip can be added to your room key, if you so desire.

 

[Hopefully]

Even though you thought you would do "the lazy thing" and ask how much others bring, that has no bearing on what you will need to bring. As PP have said, tips are generally a percentage of the total bill. Knowing that you will be eating at Signature Restaurants does suggest that you will need more rather than less, but still we can not compute the amount for you. Will you eat the cheapest item on the menu or perhaps the most expensive? Will you have alcoholic beveragaes and dessert? All of these type situations will determine the amount of tip.
Looking at the menus and estimating what you will eat is the only way to get close. We can't help here.

 

[Tricia1972]

If you don't want to go through the menus, then I guess the best answer is bring 20% of your food allowance (assuming you are paying OOP)

If you budget $100/day for food, bring an extra $20 to cover gratuity. Some days you may tip more and others you may tip less. It should all work out.

If you are on a Dining Plan, then you'll also be tipping more. Having the extra food is great and can be a good value, but you can spend a lot more on tips. At a signature the average entree is about $40, but can be as high as $60, Desserts may be $10 or more, Appetizers can be $15, Beverage is $3, Adult Beverages can be $10. $88 per person, we'll estimate $90 to make sure you have enough. Your 3yo should be about $15. $195 - so budget a minimum of $39 per signature meal.

Regular TS meals can be as much $32 for the entree, $7 for dessert, $12 for appetizer, $3 for beverage, $10 for adult beverage. $64 per adult could be your average. Kids are $7.49. $136 - so budget a minimum of $27 for regular TS.

 

[boardom]

If you don't want to go through the menus, then I guess the best answer is bring 20% of your food allowance (assuming you are paying OOP)

If you budget $100/day for food, bring an extra $20 to cover gratuity. Some days you may tip more and others you may tip less. It should all work out.

If you are on a Dining Plan, then you'll also be tipping more. Having the extra food is great and can be a good value, but you can spend a lot more on tips. At a signature the average entree is about $40, but can be as high as $60, Desserts may be $10 or more, Appetizers can be $15, Beverage is $3, Adult Beverages can be $10. $88 per person, we'll estimate $90 to make sure you have enough. Your 3yo should be about $15. $195 - so budget a minimum of $39 per signature meal.

Regular TS meals can be as much $32 for the entree, $7 for dessert, $12 for appetizer, $3 for beverage, $10 for adult beverage. $64 per adult could be your average. Kids are $7.49. $136 - so budget a minimum of $27 for regular TS.

Very helpful analysis Tricia. We're in roughly the same situation as the OP, 2 adults and a 3YO, and we're on the DxDDP so lots of sit-downs, though prob. only 1-2 signature restaurants. I was figuring on budgeting around $400 for tips, so sounds like I may have estimated high? Or not. Originally thought I might bring that in cash so I don't get stuck w/a big bill at checkout, but I liked the suggestion in another thread to charge to the room and pay with rewards $$.

 

[Tricia1972]

Very helpful analysis Tricia. We're in roughly the same situation as the OP, 2 adults and a 3YO, and we're on the DxDDP so lots of sit-downs, though prob. only 1-2 signature restaurants. I was figuring on budgeting around $400 for tips, so sounds like I may have estimated high? Or not. Originally thought I might bring that in cash so I don't get stuck w/a big bill at checkout, but I liked the suggestion in another thread to charge to the room and pay with rewards $$.

I'm a big believer in budget high and be happy if you spend less. I'd probably keep your budget right where it's at. If you have enough rewards $$ to pay it off - then I like the charging back to your room. It saves you from carrying that much cash around.

I've also heard of using a pre-paid credit card for tips.

 

[acourtwdw]

I am a big fan of charging the tips back to the room. I don't like to carry a lot of cash while on vacation. I'm sure that someone had a better day when they found the $50 I dropped somewhere at BW.

 

[ArielRae]

DH said since they took away the tip from the dining plan every server will get $5.00 for their tip no matter how much our meal comes out to.

 

[frannn]

DH said since they took away the tip from the dining plan every server will get $5.00 for their tip no matter how much our meal comes out to.

I understand that taking away the tip from the DP made it less of a deal, but its not the servers' fault. Maybe you can convince your DH to be a bit more fair with his tipping. Unless you were speaking in jest?

 

[teacup317]

My DH and I almost always leave $5.00 for each $25.00 we spend on a meal. So if the meal is $186.00 and the service is great the server gets a $20.00 tip, if the service wasn't so hot $15.00.

But usually our rule of thumb is $5.00 on $25.00

 

[Tricia1972]

My DH and I almost always leave $5.00 for each $25.00 we spend on a meal. So if the meal is $186.00 and the service is great the server gets a $20.00 tip, if the service wasn't so hot $15.00.

But usually our rule of thumb is $5.00 on $25.00

$5 for $25 is good and averages to 20%


Your $186 example has me confused. $25 goes into $186, 7.44 times, which would be $37.20 (exactly 7.44 x $5) or if you round the $25 figure, it'd be a $35 tip, and even rounding that'd be over 18% and a very fair tip.

 

[teacup317]

I just used the $186.00 as an example so the amounts wouldn't be even amounts. And you are correct. My math never was very good, that's why I let my DH handle it.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

DH said since they took away the tip from the dining plan every server will get $5.00 for their tip no matter how much our meal comes out to.

That's just mean and unfair to the servers.