The Disney Tipping Info Thread *Updated 9.1.09*

[danalee]

Thanks Sparkie for letting us know how that worked for you! That is exactly what we are planing on doing in a couple weeks. Tips in cash no charging on the room key~

 

[TDC Nala]

3. First, ANY menu you see online is uofficial. It was provided to the given website by a website user/'customer', or obtained by someone connected with the website. Therefore, it is EXTREMELY common for a menu to not be complete.

Or to be outdated. WDW changes menus at both table and counter service with some regularity.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Just wondering but do you have to write cash in the tip line. Couldnt you just put a big fat 0 on there and then just leave the tip in cash on the table or give to the server itself?

You could - but that may ultimately cause issues, or at least increased scrutiny, by either an external auditor or the IRS.

 

[Disney8704]

Why would it cause issues? It wouldnt be any different if you paid for the entire meal in cash including meal and tip. Regardless the server still has to put in they got a tip of $xx

You could - but that may ultimately cause issues, or at least increased scrutiny, by either an external auditor or the IRS.

 

[disneymath]

Okay ... I had to laugh about the pp who was wondering if the tip was calculated pre-tax or post-tax ... my family is in the same position!

We are a party of six (5 adults and I infant) and are fully aware that an 18% tip will be required of us at our TS meals - not necessarily happy, but aware and prepared to pay. Since most of our TS meals are buffets or family style, we wanted to get the tips ready in advance.

Can anyone tell me, based on non-holiday pricing, what the tip amount would be (at 18%) for either 1 adult or 5 adults at the following places?

Ohanna (dinner)
Garden Grill (dinner)
Cape May Clam Bake (dinner = we'll likely get soda which isn't included in the buffet price but is included as part of the DDP?)
Crystal Palace (dinner)
Boma (breakfast)
Hollywood & Vine (dinner - Fantasmic Pkg)

Thanks in advance!

 

[Tricia1972]

Okay ... I had to laugh about the pp who was wondering if the tip was calculated pre-tax or post-tax ... my family is in the same position!

We are a party of six (5 adults and I infant) and are fully aware that an 18% tip will be required of us at our TS meals - not necessarily happy, but aware and prepared to pay. Since most of our TS meals are buffets or family style, we wanted to get the tips ready in advance.

Can anyone tell me, based on non-holiday pricing, what the tip amount would be (at 18%) for either 1 adult or 5 adults at the following places?

Ohanna (dinner)
Garden Grill (dinner)
Cape May Clam Bake (dinner = we'll likely get soda which isn't included in the buffet price but is included as part of the DDP?)
Crystal Palace (dinner)
Boma (breakfast)
Hollywood & Vine (dinner - Fantasmic Pkg)

Thanks in advance!

With a newborn my time is more limited, however if you use this template it'll calculate your 18% tip for you.

http://personalpages.tds.net/~rb/DIS/MYW Dining/DisneyDining Template.xls

 

[mom2my3kids]

You could - but that may ultimately cause issues, or at least increased scrutiny, by either an external auditor or the IRS.

I always put "on table" in the tip line if leaving cash, it lets the server be aware there is money on the table if not seen. Also if someone took it off the table you would know they left a tip and to find out where it went.

 

[disneymath]

With a newborn my time is more limited, however if you use this template it'll calculate your 18% tip for you.

http://personalpages.tds.net/~rb/DIS/MYW Dining/DisneyDining Template.xls

Wow ... that's quite the planning spreadsheet ... as you mentioned, a bit time consuming likley ... but thanks for posting it , I will probably use it closer to our trip if I can't find the answers elsewhere.

 

[hematite153]

Confirmation for those who've asked.

Yes, as has been said, we all believe in tipping on the pre-tax value, but, there was some question about which number Disney was using.

We happened to run across some of our receipts from Jan and were able to confirm that the mandatory 18% for parties of 6 or more is 18% of the pre-tax value. Enjoy planning your trips!

 

[disneymath]

Confirmation for those who've asked.

Yes, as has been said, we all believe in tipping on the pre-tax value, but, there was some question about which number Disney was using.

We happened to run across some of our receipts from Jan and were able to confirm that the mandatory 18% for parties of 6 or more is 18% of the pre-tax value. Enjoy planning your trips!

Thanks for the confirmation!

 

[DznyDreams]

. . . For starters, it's not just Disney - it's any dining venue where tipping is customary: Tip on the pre-tax check. The server isn't earning the tax, so there's no reason to calculate any tip using that figure.

Gotcha. Thank you.

Thanks to everyone who has participated in setting me straight about the pre-tax/post-tax tip calculations.

 

[jlatina32]

Can we use Disney Dream reward dollars to tip?

 

[just another guy]

Just wondering but do you have to write cash in the tip line. Couldnt you just put a big fat 0 on there and then just leave the tip in cash on the table or give to the server itself?

I wouldn't do that. When you give the server your room key to take care of the DDP, they still have to bring you back some paperwork to sign. Seeing a "big fat 0" may cause the server to think they are getting stiffed, and thus not making the return of your paperwork their top priority.

Cash, or On Table work best.

 

[Jersey Girl]

I know this has been asked before but I can't find the answer at the moment. What do people do as far as tipping at buffets? We are a family of four and most of our meals will be character buffets as they offer the most variety for the kids. Thanks!

 

[kaytieeldr]

The 'courtesy tip calculations' on your check will show 18% and 20%. What you will actually do is whatever you consider appropriate.

Example: I would most likely tip the 20% - in part, just because I do and in part because, especially with a buffet, I will know before I even leave home exactly what my meal will cost - so I can budget whatever tip percent I choose with 100% accuracy. I would prefer that everybody tip at one of the 'courtesy calcs', but I would not EXPECT everyone to (but then, I'm not a Disney server and I'm not in charge of your vacation budget )

 

[Disney8704]

Yeah but what about when you are paying with a credit card? We arent on the DDP, but plan to either pay for our meals by credit card or cash. I dont know remember how Disney works, but I know at other restaurants outside disney, they bring you your check, you hand them the check and your credit card, they go run your card, they bring back both, you fill out the tip and total line, sign it, put it back in the book, leave it on the table, get up and go.

So the server wont think for 1 second they got jipped out on a tip if they see cash laying there for them even though theres a 0 in the tip line.

I wouldn't do that. When you give the server your room key to take care of the DDP, they still have to bring you back some paperwork to sign. Seeing a "big fat 0" may cause the server to think they are getting stiffed, and thus not making the return of your paperwork their top priority.

Cash, or On Table work best.

 

[hungrygreenhippo]

Buffet service does warrant a gratuity. The standard (in society) is 10% (as compared to 15% for full-service). Disney, however, makes no differentiation between buffets and full-service, pegging their standard at 18% for both.

Does anyone know whether the hourly wage for servers is the same at Disney full-service restaurants and buffets?

In my experience, typically full-service restaurant servers earn less than minimum wage, thus justifying a 15-20+% tip. However, buffet servers earn the standard minimum wage which is why a 10% tip (if any) is more common outside of Disney.

I realize that no matter where they work, servers play an important part in the Disney experience. I'd just like to be able to make an informed decision about how much I tip at buffets rather than blindly following what Disney dictates.

 

[Tricia1972]

Does anyone know whether the hourly wage for servers is the same at Disney full-service restaurants and buffets?

In my experience, typically full-service restaurant servers earn less than minimum wage, thus justifying a 15-20+% tip. However, buffet servers earn the standard minimum wage which is why a 10% tip (if any) is more common outside of Disney.

I realize that no matter where they work, servers play an important part in the Disney experience. I'd just like to be able to make an informed decision about how much I tip at buffets rather than blindly following what Disney dictates.

They all make the same $3.80/hour base wage. (According to the Disney contract)

 

[bicker]

Keep in mind that servers at full-service restaurants and buffet service servers serve different numbers of tables per hour; buffet service servers cover more tables per hour because they have less work to do for each table. That accounts for the difference between 10% and 15% -- not any difference between base pay rate.

 

[hungrygreenhippo]

They all make the same $3.80/hour base wage. (According to the Disney contract)

Thanks for the info. That eases my mind about Disney setting 18% as the standard.