The Disney Tipping Info Thread *Updated 9.1.09*

[Tricia1972]

I think it would be easiest to leave the tip together, so cash might be your best bet.

Actually when you are a party of 6 or more the tip is a line item on your bill.

$100 - Food
$18 - Tip
$6.50 - Tax
$124.50 - Total Bill

Being that they are on the DDP, that will subtract out the $106.50, leaving an $18 Balance on the bill that they will have to settle before they leave.

As I said in my post - they can pay cash for that balance, but it will be a balance due. Being that they are separate parties, each group will have a separate balance due on their individual bill and they will have settle up separately.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Being that they are separate parties, each group will have a separate balance due on their individual bill and they will have settle up separately.

Oh sorry. I didn't get that they were seperate parties. I had assumed they were all one party.

 

[hematite153]

But where on your receipt does it show the auto gratuity? I am not seeing it and it does not appear to have been charged. I added up what was purchased, subtracted 20% discount, added the tax and added gratuity that I wrote on the slip and it comes out right with no extra gratuity taken. I just want to make sure I did not give an extra tip.

When are these receipts from? The automatic gratuity with DDE began in 2008.

 

[Braxtonsmom03]

Thank you for your responses!

So basically your saying there is no difference whether we use cash or our kttw card ?

I think it would be easier to not use cash since we will have to "figure" things our before we go to dinner everynight. Not to mention that way we can see what we spent for the week on tips?!

I just wanted to make sure that we weren't going to be in the uncomfortable "did we tip enough, or to much" thing. when you spilt a bill sometimes that happens!

So our tip amount will definely be on our own check for my dh, myself and the kids? and our inlaws will have their seperate tip amount and so on and so forth? so were going to be getting 3 different checks at each ts(we have 3 different hotel rooms at different resorts)? they go by the people in your room right?

Thank you~
I hope the above makes sense!

 

[Tricia1972]

Thank you for your responses!

So basically your saying there is no difference whether we use cash or our kttw card ?

I think it would be easier to not use cash since we will have to "figure" things our before we go to dinner everynight. Not to mention that way we can see what we spent for the week on tips?!

I just wanted to make sure that we weren't going to be in the uncomfortable "did we tip enough, or to much" thing. when you spilt a bill sometimes that happens!

So our tip amount will definely be on our own check for my dh, myself and the kids? and our inlaws will have their seperate tip amount and so on and so forth? so were going to be getting 3 different checks at each ts(we have 3 different hotel rooms at different resorts)? they go by the people in your room right?

Thank you~
I hope the above makes sense!

Yes, everyone will get their own separate bill, and the tip will be listed as part of the balance due on that bill. Though you're all together at the table, you'll all be separate when it comes to billing. Just make sure you tell your server who is with who when you're ordering. That'll make it much easier for everyone in the end.

 

[KPtoys]

Im trying to figure how much Im going to bring in cash and in NY it's 8.625% so we usually just double tax and add on a little more. I like to know in advance how we are going to figure out the tip without whipping out the calculator

 

[triplejen]

I don't know the FL tax but unless it's the same as NY tax the % won't help you. The reason we double the tax in NY is because doubling our tax gives you 17.25% of the bill -- add a little more and you're in the right neighborhood for an 18-20% tip.

But 18-20% is a universal tip amount (and what's recommended at Disney). If FL's tax is only 4%, doubling it will only give you 8% of the bill, which will not be what you want to tip. Likewise, if their tax is 12%, doubling it will give you 24% -- more than you're looking to tip.

Hope that made sense

 

[KPtoys]

I don't know the FL tax but unless it's the same as NY tax the % won't help you. The reason we double the tax in NY is because doubling our tax gives you 17.25% of the bill -- add a little more and you're in the right neighborhood for an 18-20% tip.

But 18-20% is a universal tip amount (and what's recommended at Disney). If FL's tax is only 4%, doubling it will only give you 8% of the bill, which will not be what you want to tip. Likewise, if their tax is 12%, doubling it will give you 24% -- more than you're looking to tip.

Hope that made sense

I wanted to know what it was before hand so I knew how to figure it out in the restaurant with 3 squirmy kids

 

[Tricia1972]

Im trying to figure how much Im going to bring in cash and in NY it's 8.625% so we usually just double tax and add on a little more. I like to know in advance how we are going to figure out the tip without whipping out the calculator

Disney prints out suggested amounts at the bottom of the receipt - for 18% and 20%, so no calculator is needed.

If you are a party of 6 or more (including kids and infants) then you'll be subject to an auto gratuity of 18% and Disney will add that amount to your bill.

Hope this helps!

(On a side note - tax is 6.5%)

 

[KPtoys]

OMG! They are so thoughtful!! Yes, as long as I don't have to do any figuring I am THRILLED! Thanks so much!

 

[CRCrazy]

I know this is a little late, since there aren't many days left but I wanted to give anyone using the dining plan for the CP package a warning.

We used the dining plan for our meal at Coral Reef - which is a Tier 1 restaurant - so it was $53.99/pp if we paid out of pocket. Of course, for that price, you get appetizer, entree and dessert, along with a non-alcoholic beverage.

I knew that the appetizer wasn't included on the basic dining plan, and I was good with that. I just wanted my regular meal, and the reserved seating, since I was going to listen to my daughter sing with her college choir.

I had no qualms with the meal, or with the server. However, when I got the check - we were charged the full $53.99 pp fee - since the tip is based on the total price of the meal - we ended up having to pay a tip that was about $12 higher than it would have been based on the price of the meal we actually ate. I would have left the appropriate tip, but I didn't want to insult the server, since she did do an adequate job. If the tip is to be based on the full 3 course price, we should have been offered it. Otherwise the price should have reflected what we actually ordered.

Anyway - be forewarned - your tip may be more than you expect at the higher end restaurants!

 

[triplejen]

I wanted to know what it was before hand so I knew how to figure it out in the restaurant with 3 squirmy kids

Of course -- sorry!

 

[kathyfranklin]

Simple... they add it on to your bill. Regardless of if you pay with cash or cc...if you use DDE at all they WILL add the tip to the bill. It's the rules of the DDE card use.

I'm trying to decide about DDP, but all the discussion of tip is very confusing to me.

Is the tip amount automatic? Meaning, they just calcualte the tip and then add it to your bill? So, if they deduct the cost of the food and tax, the balance is the tip? Then what - we pay in cash or on KKTW or credit card? What if you want to adjust the tip up or down - is this not possible? Is being on DDP the same as a large party, where 18% gratuity is automatic? Is gratuity charged to your room? Not trying to cheat anyone out of a tip - just want to understand how this is all working.

TIA

 

[Pumbaa_]

parties of 6 or more incur 18% tip added onto the bill

if you are on DDP and not at a table with 6 or more, then the tip amount is up to your discretion

if you read back a couple pages, you will see many examples of how the actualy payment process works

hope that helps!

 

[kathyfranklin]

Yes - this helps very much - thank you.

 

[Jersey Girl]

I'm sure this has been said more than once - we were there the beginning of this month and were on the basic dining plan. We had a buffet meal every night and when I got the bill, I would write in 'cash' next to the tip line. I then signed what I was supposed to for using the DDP and got back my two copies of the bill, one of the actuallly amount I would have paid and the other, the bill showing 0$ because of the plan. I then left what I felt was adequate based on the price of the meal, which is different at each place, and service.

 

[seakzoo]

Does anyone know if we can use a gift card for our tips? We are on the DDP. We got a $200 gift card free for booking in Jan. We were planning on using it for tips.
thanks!

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Does anyone know if we can use a gift card for our tips? We are on the DDP. We got a $200 gift card free for booking in Jan. We were planning on using it for tips.
thanks!

Yes, you can use your gift card for anything you choose except for your actually vacation package that has been pre-payed.

 

[ShellieR]

We will be using the DDP so our food is paid for. When we eat at a table service do we still get a receipt so we will know how much the total for the food was so we can tip 15%???

 

[kldmom2000]

Yes-you still get a receipt and at the bottom, there's a suggested 18% tip amount for you but you can always leave what you feel is appropriate based on the service