It's all about the money...

[JenLT]

I add 10% to what I think our foodPlus an additional $50 per day for our two traveling days.....

Hope this helps!

Great point. I think its easy to forget the travel days for budget. We drive and I know we spend a lot of extra to make it fun and exciting.

 

[kydisneyfans]

I would not carry that much cash either but would buy Disney gift cards to cover the costs you know you will have.

-Sams has the $500 card for $474.
-Kroger/Giant Eagle has fuel points.
-Meijer has $3 off next purchase for every $50 in gift cards-spend $500 of Disney card, get $30 off groceries.

The Kroger program is best for us, we saved $32.50 on 32 1/2 gallons of fuel last night. Prices had also jumped at Shell/Speedway and Kroger was the cheapest in town, saving us more.

 

[Manda]

The drivers don't really agree with that concept.

There is no means to give a tip via the app with Uber. Uber has stated they will not allow tips to be included as part of the in app transactions.

http://www.businessinsider.com/uber-explains-why-it-wont-include-a-tip-button-in-its-app-2016-4
http://www.businessinsider.com/uber-should-support-tips-in-the-app-2016-4

I use uberx at least weekly, for last couple years, in multiple cities/areas/countries. My customer rating is very good. I know lots of people that drive. The only time I ever tip is if I'm asking them to do something that I know is annoying - example: a long drive to the middle of nowhere where I know it's unlikely they will find another passenger. I've got lots of friends who drive and one is sitting next to me right now. I just asked him and he said he's been driving for a few months and has been tipped once and that's totally fine and what is expected. He's never expected a tip and he doesn't give tips either (except in circumstances like I stated). I use uber because it's cashless. If I'm going to need to do math and have cash, I'll just go back to regular cabs.

 

[AngiTN]

I use uberx at least weekly, for last couple years, in multiple cities/areas/countries. My customer rating is very good. I know lots of people that drive. The only time I ever tip is if I'm asking them to do something that I know is annoying - example: a long drive to the middle of nowhere where I know it's unlikely they will find another passenger. I've got lots of friends who drive and one is sitting next to me right now. I just asked him and he said he's been driving for a few months and has been tipped once and that's totally fine and what is expected. He's never expected a tip and he doesn't give tips either (except in circumstances like I stated). I use uber because it's cashless. If I'm going to need to do math and have cash, I'll just go back to regular cabs.

I've said it before and will again, tipping is never required and in my opinion, shouldn't be expected. We all know in reality things are very different. However, everyone views tipping differently and have differing levels of comfort of having a service performed and not tipping on it. Some people are good with it, others feel very obligated to tip. And I think you'll find a very wide range of what drivers expect in regards to tips. I think the entire point was mostly to let folks know that technically tips are not included in the Uber fare cost and if you choose to tip you will need cash, which is how this part of the conversation applies to the OP. Or use Lyft and don't bother with cash at all, and you can still tip and, if not tipping bothers you, feel better about the ride.

 

[Roxyfire]

I've said it before and will again, tipping is never required and in my opinion, shouldn't be expected. We all know in reality things are very different. However, everyone views tipping differently and have differing levels of comfort of having a service performed and not tipping on it. Some people are good with it, others feel very obligated to tip. And I think you'll find a very wide range of what drivers expect in regards to tips. I think the entire point was mostly to let folks know that technically tips are not included in the Uber fare cost and if you choose to tip you will need cash, which is how this part of the conversation applies to the OP. Or use Lyft and don't bother with cash at all, and you can still tip and, if not tipping bothers you, feel better about the ride.

I agree, on a standard ride unless they did something out of the ordinary (waited for you to go into a store quickly) then the fare is the fare. I've never used Uber at home but I did in Orlando. Both drivers helped me load my luggage into and out of their vehicle. I tipped them both because they went above and beyond. For a quick trip somewhere I don't see the purpose and I don't carry cash 90% of the time either.

 

[All about me]

18% is the standard,...

In restaurants offering traditional table service,[67] a gratuity of 15% of the amount of a customer’s check is customary when adequate service is provided.

re: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gratuity#United_States

 

[Lisa F]

In restaurants offering traditional table service,[67] a gratuity of 15% of the amount of a customer’s check is customary when adequate service is provided.

re: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gratuity#United_States

18% is the standard auto gratuity at WDW even at buffets is what I meant.

If you wish to save 3% by splitting your tables up so that you can tip only 15% but don't eat together, I think that is downright insane. That was my point.

 

[pcstang]

The tip portion you're talking about is ONLY for UberTaxi, which is different from UberX, UberXL, UberBlack and UberFamily you use at Disney.

OP, I agree with everyone that I would never travel with that much cash. If you have the money to take with you, why not open a credit card to use strictly for the trip and pay it off immediately upon your return home? You are MUCH more protected that way. Even with a debit card, you will have a hold on the account for resort incidentals, and you run the risk of someone stealing the number and you're left without money to pay while the bank straightens it out.

If something happens with a CC, you are not responsibly for fraudulent charges.

Even having thousands of dollars in gift cards would make me nervous, because if any disappear from your room or your wallet, they're just gone.

Yes, that's why I replied again. When I signed up years ago I believe there was an area to include a set tip for each ride. I took 20 seconds to go look at their site and that's the image I posted just to clarify how it is now. I still stand by my belief that one of the benefits for me is a cashless transaction.

 

[Minnesota!]

One option for using a debit card is to open an account at another bank. Put your vacation money in that account and use the debit card from it on your vacation. It will protect your main account but still give you credit card-like convenience for your trip.

This is what we do... I have a vacation savings account at Capital One. When paying for the vacation comes to pass, I just transfer it to my checking at Capital One and go from there.

 

[Meriam]

18% is the standard auto gratuity at WDW even at buffets is what I meant.

If you wish to save 3% by splitting your tables up so that you can tip only 15% but don't eat together, I think that is downright insane. That was my point.

18% is the standard auto gratuity at WDW even at buffets is what I meant.

If you wish to save 3% by splitting your tables up so that you can tip only 15% but don't eat together, I think that is downright insane. That was my point.

Ouch! Point taken. I agree it would be splitting hairs to split up, but $10 per each meal could indeed make a difference for some families with 4 children on a tight budget...but I'm glad it's obviously not your problem.
In my experience, teenagers enjoy having a table to themselves from time-to-time. But your point is taken, and I can agree with you; time to move on. ;-)

 

[patclairesmom]

You can also cash checks at your resort if need be.

 

[Lisa F]

Ouch! Point taken. I agree it would be splitting hairs to split up, but $10 per each meal could indeed make a difference for some families with 4 children on a tight budget...but I'm glad it's obviously not your problem.
In my experience, teenagers enjoy having a table to themselves from time-to-time. But your point is taken, and I can agree with you; time to move on. ;-)

If you're on that tight a budget that you need to cut back on tips to save $70 over the course of a week then you should cut back one of your TS meals to a QS meal to better fit your budget. Disney is an expensive vacation. You should not make it happen on the back of your server. I'm a single working mother with a special needs kid and I pay out of pocket for a lot of things for him like therapy and therapeutic riding, and because of that it takes me 2+ years to save up for a disney vacation... and the only reason it is not more is because I bought into DVC with his father in 1999 when things were different. If I had to save up another few thousand for accommodations it would be even more time, another year or two. I would never enrich my own vacation on the back of a server by lowballing them on a tip. If I couldn't afford to tip generously when earned by the server, I would cut back on TS meals until I could OR take a little more time to save up that extra $70. For what a Disney vacation costs, if that $70 can break your vacation you need to take a little more time and save up a little extra money.

 

[JenLT]

.... Disney is an expensive vacation. You should not make it happen on the back of your server. I would never enrich my own vacation on the back of a server by lowballing them on a tip......

While I agree that splitting up doesn't sound like a fun family dinner, I think you may be overreacting. I think it is terrible to stiff a server, but I don't think the amount of money for tips talked about here is anywhere close to taking advantage of a server.

 

[Lisa F]

While I agree that splitting up doesn't sound like a fun family dinner, I think you may be overreacting. I think it is terrible to stiff a server, but I don't think the amount of money for tips talked about here is anywhere close to taking advantage of a server.

my point is this. you are on vacation with your family. for a family of 6 you'd split up your family JUST to avoid the autogratuity of 18% so you can instead pay 15%? for a $300 meal that is $9. It is really worth it to split your family in two and not have a family meal together to save $9 on a $300 bill?

at the point at which it MIGHT become monetarily worth it, yes, you would be stiffing your server. But really you are going to pay $2100 for 7 meals and then save $63 by splitting your family apart at family mealtimes on vacation? If you are $63 away from being able to afford your vacation there are tons of other better and non-ridiculous ways to save that money.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

When we've done the DDP we would charge everything else to our room. We aren't huge souvenir people but I let the kids get a few things and so do we. Our bill at the end of 7 nights was around $650 which included souvenirs, OOP TS meal, drinks, BBB for DD, etc. We would tip in cash. We would take about $300 in cash and come back with around $100.

For your group and for two weeks I would take 3K in cash.

I don't tip 18% at WDW, especially not at buffets. I tip 15% at restaurants, $20 at buffets and 20% or higher at the signatures. At home I tip 20% everywhere. We don't do buffets at home. WDW upcharges for their food. Just because they upcharge doesn't mean I'm tipping on the upcharge of that. Sci Fi can run our family of 4 $100. The same kind of place at home runs us about $60. The servers/waitress in each place didn't work harder than the other. Same food, same work so they get the same amount, not the same percentage. That's how I see it. NO WAY am I giving a buffet a $50 tip and I'm not a cheap person but I don't let myself get taken advantage of either.

 

[busymommy2pink]

As a Canadian, we don't use credit because of the crazy international fee we are charged. ANd we use cash only to keep our budget in track. We intensely calculate every expense, and when the money is gone it's gone. We do link a card to our room to and pay it off nights. We keep the cash locked in the safe and a locked bag. We've never had an issue, knock on wood. We have to exchange all our currency before arrival. If we don't have money for a want, then we don't get it. Saves a lot on impulse purchases. We have to tbink about it very carefully.

What OOP meals? Sit down or quick service? That makes a big difference. Along with breakfast or dinner. Our dinners we budget based on the menu. Usually around $150. We plan approx $20-25 per sit down in tips. Each person gets $150 spending. That includes anything they want that's not on dining plan like candy and whatever they want to bring home.

 

[Anonny]

In restaurants offering traditional table service,[67] a gratuity of 15% of the amount of a customer’s check is customary when adequate service is provided.

re: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gratuity#United_States

I agree with the 15% as an acceptable standard tip. I've been leaving tips for 40 years. Restaurant food prices have increased over the years. Tipping 15%, I've been leaving more money as the restaurant tab has increased.

 

[thelittlemermaid2]

No matter what you end up deciding, make sure you have a little extra for things you can't plan for. For example, you never know when your personal water bottle will be empty and one of you will be severely dehydrated and will need to buy water ASAP! Some things you can't plan for, so be prepared for the unexpected expenses!

 

[AngiTN]

No matter what you end up deciding, make sure you have a little extra for things you can't plan for. For example, you never know when your personal water bottle will be empty and one of you will be severely dehydrated and will need to buy water ASAP! Some things you can't plan for, so be prepared for the unexpected expenses!

But don't forget you can get water for free from any QS location (and it's filtered, not tap)