The Disney Tipping Info Thread *Updated 9.1.09*

[disneycountrygirl]

Has anyone done this?

To further explain, we are Disney Visa Cardholders. We are also on the free dining plan.

But we will still have to pay a 18% tip at all the 1TS restaurants because we have 7 in our party.

Can we use our reward points card to pay the tip? Anyone know?

 

[jana616]

I am wondering this exact same thing, because we have 6 in our group during FD as well, and a bunch of rewards dollars to use. I am not sure if this is correct, but I think we can charge the tip back to the room, and then use the rewards card to pay off that balance. Someone who knows, is this correct? And if not, how do we do it?

 

[tkitty]

Has anyone done this?

To further explain, we are Disney Visa Cardholders. We are also on the free dining plan.

But we will still have to pay a 18% tip at all the 1TS restaurants because we have 7 in our party.

Can we use our reward points card to pay the tip? Anyone know?

It was my understanding that this can be done. I plan on using my Disney rewards card to pay for my Dining plan on arrival, and the rest to cover charges to my room.
So if anyone has a reason to believe this will not work, speak now!

 

[Sandisw]

Has anyone done this?

To further explain, we are Disney Visa Cardholders. We are also on the free dining plan.

But we will still have to pay a 18% tip at all the 1TS restaurants because we have 7 in our party.

Can we use our reward points card to pay the tip? Anyone know?

Yes, the rewards card can be used for the tips. I just came back and used it for one of my meals (the other ones I used the Disney Gift Cards I purchased ahead of time).

And, the TS restaurants now list what 18% and 20% tip would be at the bottom of the receipt for easier calculation. We were only a party of 4 so there was no automatic adding, but it was nice to have it already there.

Have a great trip!

 

[Incredimom3]

We were on free dining last year and tried to tip with cash. My husband carefully checked receipts, yet at the end of our trip, our resort bill reflected tips charged from some restaurants where we'd left cash. I am not insinuating any intentional wrongdoing on CMs part. I'm sure that things get confusing from time to time (we sometimes had two families, 8 people) splitting checks,etc... When we arrive this year, we'll definitely make tip charges to our room to avoid double-tipping. That said, we wouldn't hesitate to designate generous tips, especially, as the dining is free for us.

 

[hygienejean]

How were they able to charge your room if you left cash? I remember reading about this (somewhere on this thread) that people were getting charged more for tips than they actaully gave. I think the problems were with the CC being put on the room key. They said the safest way to tip is cash only I think.... so sorry that this happened to you.

We were on free dining last year and tried to tip with cash. My husband carefully checked receipts, yet at the end of our trip, our resort bill reflected tips charged from some restaurants where we'd left cash. I am not insinuating any intentional wrongdoing on CMs part. I'm sure that things get confusing from time to time (we sometimes had two families, 8 people) splitting checks,etc... When we arrive this year, we'll definitely make tip charges to our room to avoid double-tipping. That said, we wouldn't hesitate to designate generous tips, especially, as the dining is free for us.

 

[ShhhQ]

We were on free dining last year and tried to tip with cash. My husband carefully checked receipts, yet at the end of our trip, our resort bill reflected tips charged from some restaurants where we'd left cash. I am not insinuating any intentional wrongdoing on CMs part. I'm sure that things get confusing from time to time (we sometimes had two families, 8 people) splitting checks,etc... When we arrive this year, we'll definitely make tip charges to our room to avoid double-tipping. That said, we wouldn't hesitate to designate generous tips, especially, as the dining is free for us.

When tipping with cash, it is a safer option to use a card that doesn't have charging privlidges (sp) attached to it. So that no mistake can be made.

 

[Incredimom3]

I don't recall exactly how many times we were charged a tip in addition to the cash left, but it did happen several times. I was checking my receipts against the statement that we received at check out (I waited until we were on the road home) and I realized that this had happened. My husband was still on a Disney high and told me not to call, complain, etc... I didn't take note of which restaurants did this. We ate at the following restaurants: Tony's
Whispering Canyon Cafe
Crystal Palace
Sci Fi
Akershus
Chef Mickey's
Coral Reef
Ohana

I assume that the incidents where we left tip in cash and then our room key was also charged may have occurred when we ate with our friends. We were splitting the check for tip and TS credits. My husband worked carefully to calculate tip on our portion and left it in cash. The other family used their room key. The cast members would bring my husband the check and I know that he examined it each time (he wanted to make sure that we weren't accidentally paying OOP. I think that the way we were paying may have been confusing. My husband usually tips 20%, so I know that we didn't "cheat" any CMs who were serving us; however, to be safe this year, we'll just charge it to our room. That way we have a paper trail and know exactly what we're spending.

 

[anna0513]

What if you are traveling with other people and your party consists of 6 people with the other people combined. We obviously will be sitting together for meals. Will they try to automatically add the tip because we are now a party of six? We technically should have two checks because we are two different families.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

What if you are traveling with other people and your party consists of 6 people with the other people combined. We obviously will be sitting together for meals. Will they try to automatically add the tip because we are now a party of six? We technically should have two checks because we are two different families.

They won't try, they WILL automatically add the 18% gratuity. It doesn't matter if all six of you have a separate check, you are still a party of six and will be charged as such.

 

[zima-cheryl]

but still one question can I pay tips in Disney Dollars?

The one comment I'd make about Disney Dollars (the monopoly money type... not the Visa Reward Point cards) would be while you probably can tip w/those, remember that is going to be a hassle for the CM. They probably want to take home their tips in regular $$ that they can use at the store or deposit at the bank, so if you left disney dollars for a tip they have the extra step of having to get them converted. Not that it is a huge deal...but why not do the easier thing for the CM if you can?

How much of a hassle is it for the wait staff to do this? Do we tell them when we arrive that we are on the DDP?

We always tell them right away if we are on the DDP. I think it is a bigger hassle if you tell them later. If you let them know up front about things like the DDP, splitting checks, charging/cash, etc. then as they enter your order in the computer they get it all in up front. That may save you a few minutes when you check out, because it is in the computer correctly instead of having to be re-entered/re-rung for the changes.

I have also read that you can write Cash or Table on the check/bill. Can we do that and hand them the check/bill with our KTTW card and leave the cash on the table or hand it to the wait staff?

I'd never leave cash on the table -- always hand it to your server (at WDW or any restaurant). Unfortunately I've seen too many cases where someone picked up & pocketed the tip $$ left on the table for the wait staff. Hard to believe someone would do that, but folks do it...

 

[Fenchurch]

I really tried to read through the thread to find my answer, but it's too much! You all have been so nice about answering the same question more than once, so I apologize if I am also repeating something that has been asked already.

I understand that I can use the regular DP and TiW card together (TiW for an appetizer, beer, etc added to the meal.) I'm assuming that the automatic 18% gratuity will be added to the total amount of the meal, not just the "extras" that are not on the DP. Am I correct? We have used the DP before but I am a new passholder and new to TiW

 

[ChelleinNC]

I really tried to read through the thread to find my answer, but it's too much! You all have been so nice about answering the same question more than once, so I apologize if I am also repeating something that has been asked already.

I understand that I can use the regular DP and TiW card together (TiW for an appetizer, beer, etc added to the meal.) I'm assuming that the automatic 18% gratuity will be added to the total amount of the meal, not just the "extras" that are not on the DP. Am I correct? We have used the DP before but I am a new passholder and new to TiW

When I have used both in the past, we received 2 checks. 1 for DDP and 1 for TiW, so the only automatic gratuity was on the TiW check.

 

[dwsandy]

I haven't read the entire thread to know if this has been asked before so my apologies if it has

We are a party of 7 on the DDP. Is it possible to get 2 bills if it is 2 separate families and still have the automatic tip included for each bill? If so, should we request this when our waiter/waitress takes our order?
TIA

 

[bicker]

Actually, as a party of 7, the automatic gratuity will be applied regardless.

 

[ShhhQ]

I haven't read the entire thread to know if this has been asked before so my apologies if it has

We are a party of 7 on the DDP. Is it possible to get 2 bills if it is 2 separate families and still have the automatic tip included for each bill? If so, should we request this when our waiter/waitress takes our order?
TIA

We went last year with 3 different parties that totalled 7 (4, 2 and 1) while the gratuties are automatically added to your bill no matter what with a party that size.. you should at least let them know how many parties and how they are split up before ordering.

 

[Tricia1972]

I haven't read the entire thread to know if this has been asked before so my apologies if it has

We are a party of 7 on the DDP. Is it possible to get 2 bills if it is 2 separate families and still have the automatic tip included for each bill? If so, should we request this when our waiter/waitress takes our order?
TIA

Because you're on the DDP the server will have to split the bills anyway, because you can't use your TS entitlements/credits to pay for the other family (unless all 7 of you are in the same room)

Just let the server know who is with who before you place your order, even at buffets. At the end of the meal the server will present each family a bill showing what the auto gratuity is for each family.

 

[Luvin'theDis]

Children's Activity Centres?!?

You pay an hourly fee per child - do you have to tip on top of this fee??? Just curious because I don't want to mess up and be embarrassed at the time.

Any one that has used these centres, please any info would be much appreciated.

Thanks!!

 

[yolie912]

Great thread!!

Would love your input....

Should I pay the tips with my disney gift card right away??

or

Should I pay with my room key and at the end of check out give them
my disney gift card??

What would you do??

 

[Pumbaa_]

Great thread!!

Would love your input....

Should I pay the tips with my disney gift card right away??

or

Should I pay with my room key and at the end of check out give them
my disney gift card??

What would you do??

it's totally up to you. We will be charging back tot he roomn and then paying it off with our gift card. Easier for me, and one record with everything on it. I am always afraid if they make a mistake with the gift card, or put a hold on it for too much then i will have issues later.,

good luck and have a great time!!