The Disney Tipping Info Thread *Updated 9.1.09*

[Winue]

when you have the basic DDP, when you go to a restaurant, do you just leave a tip? are taxes included in the plan?

sorry in advance if this is a stupid question, this is the first time we are looking at it...

 

[sydprincess]

If you are going to be paying a CASH tip on the DDP, do you leave it as you normally would, or do you need to let the server know in advance?

 

[Tricia1972]

when you have the basic DDP, when you go to a restaurant, do you just leave a tip? are taxes included in the plan?

sorry in advance if this is a stupid question, this is the first time we are looking at it...

Taxes are included in the plan, and the tip is not. So yes you'd leave an additional tip.

 

[Tricia1972]

If you are going to be paying a CASH tip on the DDP, do you leave it as you normally would, or do you need to let the server know in advance?

so long as you weren't a group of 6 or more, you can just write CASH on the tip line and leave the tip at the table.

Groups of 6 or more have their tip added to the total bill. You'd need to settle the bill (including paying the tip) before leaving the table.

(Same applies for those using the DDE/TiW card - I know it doesn't apply to your question, just answering for others who may be reading)

 

[sydprincess]

Okay, thanks! That helps!

 

[renae3]

Does anyone know if tip and gratuity is included at crt, chef mickey, and ohana? What about other buffet type of restaurants? Thanks so much!

 

[MichiganMomto4]

No. But it may be required for a party of 6 or more.

The only gratuity that I know is included in your ddp is for the shows - HDD and SoA.

 

[renae3]

I meant to ask if taxes and gratuity were included, sorry about that!

 

[hematite153]

I meant to ask if taxes and gratuity were included, sorry about that!

If you are using the DDP, then, taxes are included for the included portions of your meal (which would be everything but alcohol at a buffet), gratuities are not included. If you have a party of 6 or more (or are using DDE/TiW) there will be a mandatory 18% tip.

If you are not using the DDP, then, taxes are not included in the price of the meal. So, you'll have the listed price, plus tax, plus tip (discretionary, with the exceptions listed above).

 

[Tricia1972]

Does anyone know if tip and gratuity is included at crt, chef mickey, and ohana? What about other buffet type of restaurants? Thanks so much!

On the DDP tax is included at all meals.

Dinner shows include gratuity, but your regular restaurants do not.

 

[blondinkaya]

Okay, I just skimmed the questions and noticed that, on this last page, it was mentioned that groups of six or more will have to have their bill settled (including the mandatory 18% tip) before leaving the table.

This past trip, there were just four of us on the dining plan, and we always wrote "Cash" on the receipt and put the tip money on the table before leaving (sometimes we'd leave 18% and sometimes more). With it being the mandatory 18% since we'll be a party of six, do we have to wait for the waiter to count the cash? It sounds like a silly question, but it just seems weird to me that we would have to go through them counting the cash in front of us if we didn't want to use our kttw or credit card for the tips.

Maybe a Disney gift card would be the better way to go ...

 

[krolyat]

Does anyone know if you can use Disney Dollars as tips?

 

[Freyja]

Does anyone know if you can use Disney Dollars as tips?

Yes you can!

 

[krolyat]

Yes you can!

That's great! Thank you for the quick reply.

 

[tiggeroo42]

When I booked my dining package, the CM mentioned in passing how great it would be to not even worry about tips with the $200 gift card we are getting. I didn't think of it at the time, but how would that work exactly? Can I tip a server with my gift card?

 

[Pixiedust34]

You can charge the tip to your room, and then pay off the balance with the gift card.

 

[mrslur]

How would this work? Charging to your room means you have a credit card on file that gets charged in the end. How would you pay off the credit card with a Disney gift card? I had planned on just giving the gift card to the server for tips.

 

[hematite153]

How would this work? Charging to your room means you have a credit card on file that gets charged in the end. How would you pay off the credit card with a Disney gift card? I had planned on just giving the gift card to the server for tips.

Yes, if you charge tips to your room, they will be charged to your credit card UNLESS you pay them first.

So, you can charge tips (and other things) to your room. Then, when you get to the point where you've charged more than $200 (and less than the charging max) to your room stop by the front desk/concierge with your gift card to pay down $200 worth of the charges.

 

[smylie1]

The following will have an automatic 18% gratuity added to their restaurant bill:

1) Disney Dining Experience members regardless of party size

2) Any party of six or more (including infants and people who are not eating). If you have a large party that is separated into 2 or more tables of fewer than six people, the automatic gratuity will not be added if each table has a different server. If your party's tables have the same server, you'll get the automatic gratuity added.

If you wish to have the automatic gratuity reduced for service issues, you must contact a restaurant manager and request it.

If you are using the Disney Dining Plan (which is a different program from the Disney Dining Experience mentioned above), neither of the 2008 plans (basic and deluxe) includes the gratuity in the dining plan price. DDP users will be charged an automatic tip of 18% only if there are six or more persons in their dining party. If you have a party of five or less, there will be "suggested" tip amounts printed on your bill.

So how do you pay the atomatic gratuity if you are a party of 6+ and are on the DDP? Do they bring you seperate bill for the tip?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Yes.