The Disney Tipping Info Thread *Updated 9.1.09*

[TPCShauna]

Can someone help with these tip questions please?

I want to book some Character meals, buffet dinner at CP and breakfast at Tusker House and Cape May, we are a party of 5, how much tip do I leave for buffet meals?

Also, is the tip included in the cost of the Princess story book breakfast?

Finally, what is the standard tip given for table service meals? what percentage of the bill? 10% 15% 18% 20%?

Thank you

Disney's recommended tip for good service is 18% on ALL meals including buffets.

No, the tip is not included in the Akershus Princess breakfast.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

And here's my question. I know that the tip is not included in the DDP any more but do they make you tip 18% or can you tip what you think is fair?

 

[bicker]

If there are six or more members in your party (including infants), then the 18% gratuity will be automatic. Otherwise, you decide what percentage is appropriate.

 

[TDC Nala]

If there are six or more members in your party (including infants), then the 18% gratuity will be automatic. Otherwise, you decide what percentage is appropriate.

Or, if you are using the Tables in Wonderland (TIW, formerly DDE) discount program, you get an 18% automatic tip added regardless of your party size.

The automatic tip applies ONLY to: TIW members or parties of 6 or more. Any party of 5 or less that is not using TIW can decide to tip less if they wish (this includes DDP users). Any party can always tip more.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

That's good to hear. It'll just be DH and I for all meals except one when my parents are joining us. I always get frustrated when an automatic tip is added. I can understand for large parties since they consistently tip lower than smaller parties, though.

 

[njdisneyfreak]

We have the DDP for our upcoming trip. We did the premium package, so we have the three meals taken care of, but with the new method, does anyone know if you can put your tip on a credit card, at each restaurant, or does the tip have to be in cash?

 

[bicker]

Credit cards are acceptable.

 

[milmore104]

I just booked the 2 ADR's I could for now. We are a party of 5 plus an infant (5 months when we go). I know I have to add her into the table ressie because there needs to be room for her but if I'm not paying for her meal or service why is it a party of 6 and the gratuity will be added to the bill automatically? Isn't it really still a party of 5?
Yes I do tip and please don't flame me for this. But I like to be incontrol of what I tip. I always tip at least 18% but more if the service is better than that. However I do tip less if the service is really bad. In the 16 trips we've made we have only under tipped 4 x's.
I'm just confused why I would have to tip for a baby that won't even be eating off my plate?

 

[Pumbaa_]

Disney counts how many warm bodies are at a table in regards to the auto gratuity. Regardless of age, a party of 6 is a party of 6.

On the plus side, since you will not be ordering for the baby, there is no additional dollar amount you will pay. It will be 18% on what the party of 5 order

 

[griz_fan]

Disney counts how many warm bodies are at a table in regards to the auto gratuity. Regardless of age, a party of 6 is a party of 6.

On the plus side, since you will not be ordering for the baby, there is no additional dollar amount you will pay. It will be 18% on what the party of 5 order

Pardon my ignorance, but I'm relatively new to all this. We'll have a party of 6 (Wife and I, our 4 kids) on our 1st trip to WDW this January. Since there will be 6 in our party, the 18% gratuity will automatically be added to our bill, if I understand correctly. But, we'll be on the dining plan. So, if we're using the dining plan for a given meal, does that mean the dining plan will cover the meal and we'll need to separately pay the 18%? Say we have $90 in food, $10 in alcoholic beverages, $90 would be covered by the dining plan, and we'd need to come up with $28 out of pocket ($10 drinks, $18 tip)?

thanks!

 

[Tricia1972]

Pardon my ignorance, but I'm relatively new to all this. We'll have a party of 6 (Wife and I, our 4 kids) on our 1st trip to WDW this January. Since there will be 6 in our party, the 18% gratuity will automatically be added to our bill, if I understand correctly. But, we'll be on the dining plan. So, if we're using the dining plan for a given meal, does that mean the dining plan will cover the meal and we'll need to separately pay the 18%? Say we have $90 in food, $10 in alcoholic beverages, $90 would be covered by the dining plan, and we'd need to come up with $28 out of pocket ($10 drinks, $18 tip)?

thanks!

That's exactly right.

 

[christianweecare]

DH & I will be at the World in just a few weeks with the DXDP. I can't decide if I should charge all of our tips back to the room with the KTTW card or carry along cash for our tips. Has anyone had an issue with charging the tip back to the room? Is there any place that will not do this? I would think that all dining plan participants should be able to charge the tip to your room key. It sure seems like it would be so much easier not to worry about carrying cash around for this purpose. I had considering bringing along just $20 in cash along with out KTTW. Any first hand experience out there?

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Is CRT the only TS that includes tip? I am trying to figure my tips for all my TS meals in advance and I can't remember if the Princess Storybook Breakfast at Akershus was the same or not. I know I had to do a $10 hold on my cc and I know the picture package is inculded, but not sure on the tip????

 

[nutty4wdw]

when eating at a buffet you don't usually tip the same as table service. but i heard people saying they tip the normal 15-20% at Boma which is a buffet. how do people tip here

 

[acourtwdw]

We tip 20% at buffets just like regular table service as longs as the service warrants it.

 

[Krmrr]

Hi,

We charged back to the room for 7 days, never a problem. We checked out at 7a.m. Went to Boma had breakfast used the card and the tip showed up as a small separate charge by Disney on our next statement.

We did not have to pull out any money for the whole visit.

Enjoy your trip.

 

[blanq]

I am a bit confused,by your post as isn't 15-20% kind of the normal range for a restaurant? I do know I have heard some people say they tip around 10% for buffets, but I just tip somewhere in the 15-20% range when at Boma or other buffets. First of all, I think that the servers do as much running around as normal TS servers do. Yes, you do have to get your own food, but the servers have to be more hawkish about clearing your plates away. We tend to order alcohol here too (love the wine flights!), so the server has that added work for my family.

 

[Pumbaa_]

blanq, on the tipping thread we limit discussion of personal tipping habits.

Guidelines page 1
1. No fighting, name calling or debate on people's personal tipping habits. This includes but not limited to:

The reason for this is that in the past every single tipping thread would end up closed and out of hand with people attacking other people's views. We have this one thread now for people to ask questions and receive responses, but we do limit the discussion due to past history.

Thanks for understanding why this thread is not open for debate or discussion on TS tipping

 

[atksn]

We decided to do the DDP for our upcoming trip, AND it is our first time staying on property. I have Disney Reward $$ (Visa), and also will be recieving Disney Gift Cards for Xmas. My understanding is that I can pay any charges toward our room with those forms of payment, at our resort, the day before we leave. (Correct me if I am wrong.)

My question is this: With the dining plan, do you get a reciept like you would if you were paying out of pocket- where you can fill in the tip amount for TS restaurants? I am just wanting to know if I have to bring cash for that, or if I can have tips billed to my room, and pay off my account with Reward/Gift $ (or even a credit card) ???

TIA

 

[PrincessTiffany]

We decided to do the DDP for our upcoming trip, AND it is our first time staying on property. I have Disney Reward $$ (Visa), and also will be recieving Disney Gift Cards for Xmas. My understanding is that I can pay any charges toward our room with those forms of payment, at our resort, the day before we leave. (Correct me if I am wrong.)

My question is this: With the dining plan, do you get a reciept like you would if you were paying out of pocket- where you can fill in the tip amount for TS restaurants? I am just wanting to know if I have to bring cash for that, or if I can have tips billed to my room, and pay off my account with Reward/Gift $ (or even a credit card) ???

TIA

You can charge the tips back to your room and pay it off with your Disney Visa Rewards.