The Disney Tipping Info Thread *Updated 9.1.09*

[Tricia1972]

Yes, you'll be able to put the tip on your room card. We are also DVC and never had a problem charging back to the room. (Of course your room key has to have charging privileges on it.)

 

[tweedlemom]

We started saving Disney Dollars months ago to pay for our WDW meals. We were then lucky enough to get free dining. Is it acceptable to use Disney Dollars for tipping? I know they are accepted as good as cash in WDW, but I just want to make sure that goes for tipping as well. Thanks.

 

[Tricia1972]

Disney Dollars for tips can be a hot button sometimes. Some say yes, and most say no because essentially you are giving them a gift certificate for where they work as a tip.

Would you give your Applebee's Gift Certificate to your server at Applebee's? Yes the certificate at Applebee's can only be used for food and Disney Dollars can be used for merchandise. Maybe Cracker Barrel would be a better example, where they have food and merchandise.

Essentially with Disney Dollars you are giving them a tip of a gift certificate that they can't use for groceries, to pay the rent, the fuel bill, daycare, etc.

 

[lilyv]

Disney Dollars for tips can be a hot button sometimes. Some say yes, and most say no because essentially you are giving them a gift certificate for where they work as a tip.

Would you give your Applebee's Gift Certificate to your server at Applebee's? Yes the certificate at Applebee's can only be used for food and Disney Dollars can be used for merchandise. Maybe Cracker Barrel would be a better example, where they have food and merchandise.

Essentially with Disney Dollars you are giving them a tip of a gift certificate that they can't use for groceries, to pay the rent, the fuel bill, daycare, etc.

I think you explained this very well. I believe, as you do, that most servers need tips to help pay for groceries, rent, daycare, gas, and other expenses of daily life.
A gift certificate amount, while kinda nice, isn't the same thing by a long shot. I'll stick with cash tips.

 

[JLKennedy]

This is the way it was explained to me yesterday:

If you are an oop guest then tax and gratuity is included by being pre-charged automatically to your CC.

If you are on the DDP then tax is included, gratuity is not.

Like I said, I'm sure to find out in Sep!!

ALL TIPS ARE INCLUDED ON ALL DINNER SHOWS.

It says it in Disney's dining brochure. It is a "price-fixed" meal so all is included, EVEN ON THE DINING PLANS.

 

[Lehuaann]

ALL TIPS ARE INCLUDED ON ALL DINNER SHOWS.

It says it in Disney's dining brochure. It is a "price-fixed" meal so all is included, EVEN ON THE DINING PLANS.

My quote was not referring to Dinner Shows. If you go back and re-read the thread and my post correctly it was a response to a Character Meal: Akershus Princess Storybook (PSD) not a Dinner Show.

PSD (1 TS) is a pre-paid Character Meal for those paying out of pocket (meaning you pay the meal/gratuity at booking). Some of us on the dining plan wondered if the gratuity was now included like Cinderella's Royal Table (2 TS). I called and was told not with the DDP (dining plan). Disney Dining Brochure still has PSD listed as 1 TS credit/NO gratuity included.

Per the Disney Dining Brochure *Dinner Shows include gratuity* and are considered:
Spirit of Aloha
Hoop Dee Doo Revue
Mickey's Backyard BBQ

Hope this brings some clarity!

 

[Pumbaa_]

I think you can tip with Disney dollars. Disney dollars can be turned into cash at any time, unlike a gift certificate.

Anytime you pay with Disney dollars, all your change is given in real dollars. CM should be able to trade their DD into cash at the end of the night

 

[Tricia1972]

I think you can tip with Disney dollars. Disney dollars can be turned into cash at any time, unlike a gift certificate.

Anytime you pay with Disney dollars, all your change is given in real dollars. CM should be able to trade their DD into cash at the end of the night

That is good to know! I wonder why people get slaughtered when they suggest doing this?

If it converts to cash, then I think it's fine. Yeah it's more of a hassle for the server, but they can change it to cash - so that's cool.

 

[just another guy]

Yeah it's more of a hassle for the server/QUOTE]

Not really. At the end of their shift, they have to "bank out" with someone in charge of the stores money. One of two things happens. The server owes the store money(lots of cash transactions) or the store owes the server money(credit card tips). If the server owes, he simply hands the disney dollars over first. If the store owes him lets say $50, yet he has $20 in disney dollars, he simply hands those over, and the banker gives the server $70. Nothing hard about that.

 

[Tricia1972]

Well that's just plain simple. It makes even less sense that people get trashed for doing this. Which was actually my original point of the snippet that you quoted. :

 

[danalee]

So we are a party of 6 going in Aug. Myself, DH, DS and my DM will be on one room card and my SIL & Nephew(who is an adult) will be on the same card.

So when we were discussing the dining part of our trip we figured that we would tip in cash, being that there 5 adults, that way everyone pays there part of the tip. (I hope that made sense the way I explained it )

So anyway my question is, can we do that? I mean we dont use our room card for charges, (long story on that one from a past trip but hubby says never again) so anyway if we dont have charging privlidges on our room key and neither do the two from the other room, then cash i am thinking would be ok even with 6 of us???

TIA

 

[mommyto_3princesses]

If I'm going to go out to eat on the Dining plan with myself, my boyfriend, my mom, my dad, our 2 yr old and our newborn...we will be considered a party of 6 and automatically get the 18% gratuity

I had a friend that just returned and she has six in her party that included a 2 year old. She said that some restaurants added the 18% and some did not. The ones that did was 1900 Park Fare-she said that the service was terrible and the manager would not adjust the 18%. Chef Mickeys, and Coral Reef also added the 18% but she said the service was great so she would have tipped 18% anyway. She said that the Donald Breakfast at AK, Boatwrights at POR, Planet Hollywood, and the Princess meal at Norway did not add the 18%. Looks like it is up to each restaurant on what they do.

 

[Tinker*Shell*Bell]

I am on the DDP and using credits for a breakfast at CRT.
Will I need money for a tip? Or is the tip covered by my credits.
I don't know why I am still unsure of this, but the back and forth over what is and what is not covered has me spinning.
Thanks for any information you can share!
Sheli

 

[hematite153]

I had a friend that just returned and she has six in her party that included a 2 year old. She said that some restaurants added the 18% and some did not. The ones that did was 1900 Park Fare-she said that the service was terrible and the manager would not adjust the 18%.

We had terrible service at 1900 PF too (with the guaranteed 18% tip). We got drink refills only once after walking across the restaurant to ask the waiter for them, not a single plate was cleared before we left and it took 20 minutes to find him to get a bill. After all of that figuring out how to get a manager would have been one challenge too many. If they refused to adjust it anyway, I'm glad I didn't bother.

 

[kimsuenew]

OK, I know that the DDP no longer includes gratuity and I am fine with that/clear about that part... my question is in regards to CRT. We were fortunate to get breakfast ressies there during our upcoming trip (by the way it's me that wants to go... a 41 year old , I just really want to see the inside of the Castle, DH & DS have no idea about this ADR tee hee). I know this TS breakfast takes 2 TS credits per person, and that we get a package of pictures included (I think of our group with Cinderella ). My question is this: I have heard it is and I have heard it is not, so is the gratuity truly included in this meal or is it like all other WDW TS locations? Thanks in advance Dis Friends!

DDP - http://adisneycruise.disney.go.com/...dia/reserve/packages/2008DisneyDiningPlan.pdf

Deluxe DDP - http://adisneyworld.disney.go.com/m...cific/eng/nontheme/tickets/08DeluxeDining.pdf

Gratuities are included for the following:

Character Dining (CRT only)..."Two (2) Table Service meals for each person dining at Cinderella's Royal Table will be redeemed from your meal plan balance. Gratuities are included."

Dinner Shows (HDDR/Mickey's BBQ/SoA)..."Two (2) Table Service meals for each person dining at a Dinner Show will be redeemed from your meal plan balance. Gratuities are included."

Private In Room Dining/Pizza Delivery..."Two (2) Table Service meals for each Private In-Room Dining meal ordered will be redeemed from your meal plan balance. Two (2) Adult Table Service meals will be redeemed from your meal plan balance for Pizza Delivery. Gratuities are included for both."

Gratuities are also included for Grand Gathering Experiences.

I am on the DDP and using credits for a breakfast at CRT.
Will I need money for a tip? Or is the tip covered by my credits.
I don't know why I am still unsure of this, but the back and forth over what is and what is not covered has me spinning.
Thanks for any information you can share!
Sheli

Hi! I had the same exact question and the above quotes answer it. It is included! I was thrilled to hear that! Have fun!

 

[JLKennedy]

I am on the DDP and using credits for a breakfast at CRT.
Will I need money for a tip? Or is the tip covered by my credits.
I don't know why I am still unsure of this, but the back and forth over what is and what is not covered has me spinning.
Thanks for any information you can share!
Sheli

Your tip is included in the "dining shows".

 

[Tricia1972]

I am on the DDP and using credits for a breakfast at CRT.
Will I need money for a tip? Or is the tip covered by my credits.
I don't know why I am still unsure of this, but the back and forth over what is and what is not covered has me spinning.
Thanks for any information you can share!
Sheli

Your tip is covered with credits.

 

[Tricia1972]

So we are a party of 6 going in Aug. Myself, DH, DS and my DM will be on one room card and my SIL & Nephew(who is an adult) will be on the same card.

So when we were discussing the dining part of our trip we figured that we would tip in cash, being that there 5 adults, that way everyone pays there part of the tip. (I hope that made sense the way I explained it )

So anyway my question is, can we do that? I mean we dont use our room card for charges, (long story on that one from a past trip but hubby says never again) so anyway if we dont have charging privlidges on our room key and neither do the two from the other room, then cash i am thinking would be ok even with 6 of us???

TIA

Cash will be fine. The 18% gratuity will be added to your bill and will show as a balance due. Simply give cash to the server with your bill/receipt and you can wait for change if you'd like.

 

[cruiseconvert]

We will be a group of more than 6 from three different households, using the dining plan. Does the automatic gratuity go on one person's bill, or can each household pay their share using KTTW or credit card? Thanks!

 

[Tricia1972]

We will be a group of more than 6 from three different households, using the dining plan. Does the automatic gratuity go on one person's bill, or can each household pay their share using KTTW or credit card? Thanks!

You will get three different bills and everyone will have 18% of that bills food cost added as gratuity to their individual bill.