The Disney Tipping Info Thread *Updated 9.1.09*

[disneygirlinnj]

You can use the TiW on SOME counter service meals. It works at Sassagoula in POFQ, etc. If you PM me your email I can fwd the pdf file that TiW just sent me yesterday. I called asking the same question and the lady was nice enough to forward me the whole current list! It also covers alcohol, if you drink at all.

 

[MelanieC]

We spend several thousand when traveling for 2 weeks, so we definately get good use out of it. I agree with the tip before discount, but I wanted the price to be accurate and the last time I used the DDE was before they added the tip on automatically. Actually it makes it painless to add the tip on. Just pay and go.

The more I'm trying to figure out this whole is DDP worth it with free dining (its only $23 per person per night for the 8 nights we are there during DDP, but it really messes with the way we like to eat - 2 sit downs per day. I keep trying to come up with a way that works, but its messing up how we like to eat, lol.

 

[Rebelmom67]

if you have the DDP
don't put charging on your room key or they may charge your Credit Card and not take the DDP credit ...
if you have to charge on your room key Use your kids room key when paying for food on the ddp ..

EXCELLENT advice !! I can't tell you how many times I clearly told the waiter/waitress that I would be paying with CASH for the tip and extra expenses (such as appetizers or alcohol) only to have them take my cash AND charge my room key!!! That infuriated me!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Here is the computation for TiW:

$100.00 menu cost for meal.
$ 18.00 = 18% gratuity
$ 20.00 = 20% discount

$100 base
-- 20 discount
$ 80 taxable amount
$ 5.20 is 6.5% tax on $80.

So what happens is

$100.00
-- 20.00
+ 18.00
+ 5.20

$103.20 total considering discount, gratuity and tax.

 

[MelanieC]

Perfect - Thanks, that is exactly what I was looking for

 

[jenseib]

I know the tip is added automatically - 18%. I'm trying to compare TiW versus DDP.

Is the 18% added before the 20% discount is taken off or before. I'd like to get as close as possible for comparison issues.

TIA,

Tip is always on the full price before any discount at any restuarant.
One other question, Do mean the deluxe dining plan?
I see you wrote DDp but said something about sitting down for 2 meals and adding a cost. So I assume you mean deluxe=DxDDP. The regular plan is referred to DDP.

 

[smidgy]

at home, I like to use Restaurant.com or the entertainment book. often the tip is included before the discount. if it is not, I still always tip before the discount.
with free dining, the tip after the discount would be 18% of zero. server wouldn't make much that way.
I still think the free dining would be better for you than TIW. Yes, you have less sit-down restaurants, but the meals are free. and you were going to tip anyway. besides... it will give you a chance to enjoy many of the great counter service meals offered.
I don't know where you are staying, or if you have a car...but Pepper Market at coronado springs is pricey "out-of-pocket" but using counter service credits, you can get some VERY nice meals,, steaks and such! and don't forget Flame tree at AK! use the time you have freed up from having fewer reservations to take a tour... Keys to the Kingdom is fun and the Segway Tours are a blast!!!! have fun!!!!

 

[Heatherly30]

Ok, so correct me if I'm wrong. When we check in we will get a key card (looks like a credit card) that will hold all of our snack, counter service and table service credits. When we go to purchase our meals, we will hand them our card and they will deduct the appropriate meal or snack from our card.

Would we be safest having tips and add'l fees charged to our key card to avoid being double charged? (Tipping in cash and also charged).

So can we share CS meals? Mostly wondering for my children. Could DD and DS split a CS meal, or just eat off of my plate? May not need to, but just wondering.

 

[ExtinctDino]

ok, so correct me if i'm wrong. When we check in we will get a key card (looks like a credit card) that will hold all of our snack, counter service and table service credits. When we go to purchase our meals, we will hand them our card and they will deduct the appropriate meal or snack from our card.


would we be safest having tips and add'l fees charged to our key card to avoid being double charged? (tipping in cash and also charged).


So can we share cs meals? Mostly wondering for my children. Could dd and ds split a cs meal, or just eat off of my plate? May not need to, but just wondering.

1) Yes
2) Yes - check receipts closely to make sure everything is charged correctly before leaving restaurant, and also check key card charges carefully at your resort periodically.
3) Yes - we almost never order 4 cs meals for the 4 of us at one sitting.

 

[Colleen27]

Ok, so correct me if I'm wrong. When we check in we will get a key card (looks like a credit card) that will hold all of our snack, counter service and table service credits. When we go to purchase our meals, we will hand them our card and they will deduct the appropriate meal or snack from our card.

Would we be safest having tips and add'l fees charged to our key card to avoid being double charged? (Tipping in cash and also charged).

What we do is use one of the kids' key cards to pay for DDP meals, since we don't add charging privileges to those. That way the only thing they can be used for is DDP credits.

 

[inkedupmomma]

What we do is use one of the kids' key cards to pay for DDP meals, since we don't add charging privileges to those. That way the only thing they can be used for is DDP credits.

Excellent idea!! I don't put any charging privileges on any of our cards, for just this reason!

 

[mickeyluvr004]

ok heres a question for ya all we have 2 cabins at fort wilderness and we have 6 in one cabin and 4 in the other if we eat separately 6 at one and 4 at the other they won't charge the 18% right? I do not have an issue with paying a tip but last year one of the places that we went the waiter was rude and said to me this is what you owe me that was fine but he didn't deserve what I owed him as he was never around and we had to continually track him down when we needed something and I do not want to have to go through that again this year so we figured that we sit at separate tables and we won't have to go through that again. this is my husbands view

 

[Atotty]

Our next trip, we'll be a party of 5 part of the time and a party of 6 the rest. The ADRS I made for 6 the CM made sure I knew the tip would be added to the bill. The aprty of 5 won't.

 

[justplaingoofy]

ok heres a question for ya all we have 2 cabins at fort wilderness and we have 6 in one cabin and 4 in the other if we eat separately 6 at one and 4 at the other they won't charge the 18% right?

parties of 6 or more automatically have gratuity added.

We were just there in Feb.
my husband and I in one room
sil, bil, 2 kids in another room
mil,fil visiting off property

if we all ate together they typically added in the gratuity. We usually asked for seperate checks just to keep it easier for alcoholic drinks etc..sometimes they added in the gratuity, sometimes they did not.

 

[jenseib]

ok heres a question for ya all we have 2 cabins at fort wilderness and we have 6 in one cabin and 4 in the other if we eat separately 6 at one and 4 at the other they won't charge the 18% right? I do not have an issue with paying a tip but last year one of the places that we went the waiter was rude and said to me this is what you owe me that was fine but he didn't deserve what I owed him as he was never around and we had to continually track him down when we needed something and I do not want to have to go through that again this year so we figured that we sit at separate tables and we won't have to go through that again. this is my husbands view

One table would be 6, so yes it would be added. I think if you have a problem you can talk to the manager.

 

[disneynuts777]

ok heres a question for ya all we have 2 cabins at fort wilderness and we have 6 in one cabin and 4 in the other if we eat separately 6 at one and 4 at the other they won't charge the 18% right? I do not have an issue with paying a tip but last year one of the places that we went the waiter was rude and said to me this is what you owe me that was fine but he didn't deserve what I owed him as he was never around and we had to continually track him down when we needed something and I do not want to have to go through that again this year so we figured that we sit at separate tables and we won't have to go through that again. this is my husbands view

The table of six would have the auto 18% added. The table of four would not. If you are trying to avoid the auto grat. you would have to sit as 2 seperate tables of five and have different ADR numbers.

 

[shellybaxter]

The table of six would have the auto 18% added. The table of four would not. If you are trying to avoid the auto grat. you would have to sit as 2 seperate tables of five and have different ADR numbers.

And not be asked to be seated as a group (not with OR near each other) when you get there

 

[CosmicGirl]

Hi everyone!

Here in Belgium we're not used to tipping a certain percentage of a meal's value at TS locations, so I wanna make sure we do it right...
When on the DP tax is included, so should the tip be 15-20% of the amount before or after tax? If it's after tax, do you get a bill with the total value of your meal including tax (as this is not mentioned on the menu)?

Thanks!

 

[TDC Nala]

The policy of the Restaurant Forum is that all tipping discussion must take place on the Tipping Information Thread, so this question is being moved to that thread.

 

[CosmicGirl]

Sorry, I considered it to be more of a European in the US question than an actual tipping question.