The Disney Tipping Info Thread *Updated 9.1.09*

[catne]

CRT, pizza delivery, in-room dining, grand gathering events, and the dinner shows (HDDR, SoA, MBYBBQ) have gratuities included in the price/meal credit.

This info is correct.

Signature dining (like Cali Grille, Narcoosee's, etc.) does NOT have gratuities included...though it does take 2 TS credits to dine there. (just higher priced food but nothing extra included in the price)

 

[n2mm]

Believe me, the signature restraurants do not include the tip. I believe the dinner shows Luau/HDDR do include the tip. We ate at Narcossess in January and the tip alone was $35 and that was only for a party of 2. OP, be prepared as the tips can add up quickly. While some folks like to maximize the value of the TS dining, it also means a bigger tip too.

 

[lisalonglash]

What's your best ballpark guess for total tips for this situation:

2 adults, 1 junior, 1 child
total 28 table service credits (7 family meals)
total 28 counter service credits (7 family meals)

I don't think we'll be doing any signature restaurants or dinner shows. How much money will we be spending in tips, do you think?

Thanks for your help - I'm trying to budget!

 

[ChelleinNC]

What's your best ballpark guess for total tips for this situation:

2 adults, 1 junior, 1 child
total 28 table service credits (7 family meals)
total 28 counter service credits (7 family meals)

I don't think we'll be doing any signature restaurants or dinner shows. How much money will we be spending in tips, do you think?

Thanks for your help - I'm trying to budget!

Without knowing where you're planning to eat, it's hard to estimate a tip. Your meal "total" will be cheaper & less of a tip at Beaches & Cream than it would be at LeCellier. It also depends on if you'll be ordering the filet or a burger. Look at the menus at see what you think you're family would order, then you'll have a better idea of what you'll need to budget for tips.

Also wanted to mention, there's no such thing as a "junior" when it comes to dining. It's either a child (9 & under) or an adult (10 & up).

 

[lisalonglash]

Without knowing where you're planning to eat, it's hard to estimate a tip. Your meal "total" will be cheaper & less of a tip at Beaches & Cream than it would be at LeCellier. It also depends on if you'll be ordering the filet or a burger. Look at the menus at see what you think you're family would order, then you'll have a better idea of what you'll need to budget for tips.

Also wanted to mention, there's no such thing as a "junior" when it comes to dining. It's either a child (9 & under) or an adult (10 & up).

Thank you, Chelle! I will take a look at the menus when we've pseudo-finalized our restaurant choices and go from there.

 

[tmccullough]

What's your best ballpark guess for total tips for this situation:

2 adults, 1 junior, 1 child
total 28 table service credits (7 family meals)
total 28 counter service credits (7 family meals)

I don't think we'll be doing any signature restaurants or dinner shows. How much money will we be spending in tips, do you think?

Thanks for your help - I'm trying to budget!

We have 2 adults, 2 juniors, and 1 child and I calculated based on the 7 TS meals we're doing at 18% averages to about $175 so if you subtract the junior off of mine, it would probably be about $140 if you're tipping the 18%. HTH!!

 

[PrincessBelle87]

This might have been posted before but I couldn't find anything so I'll give it a try:

We leave Sunday yay for Disney and we have a character breakfast scheduled for Monday morning. It's the Storybook Princess one in Epcot. My question is, while it seems as though the breakfast is a buffet, are we expected to tip anyone as well? As in, is there a waiter/waitress who brings you drinks? Or is the tip included in the price? Thanks for the replies!

 

[messinaeagle]

We will be there in three weeks, and have the same breakfast scheduled. I have been to other buffet character meals, and I do leave a tip as there is a server to bring drinks and clear plates. As far as how much to leave, give the server what you are comfortable with. Just keep in mind that they depend on tips for most of their income. The tip is included for parties of six or more.

 

[PrincessBelle87]

We will be there in three weeks, and have the same breakfast scheduled. I have been to other buffet character meals, and I do leave a tip as there is a server to bring drinks and clear plates. As far as how much to leave, give the server what you are comfortable with. Just keep in mind that they depend on tips for most of their income. The tip is included for parties of six or more.

Thanks for your reply. I'm assuming the tip is NOT included in the price, then. I think some of the character meals the tip is included. Just wanted to make sure before I do the wrong thing!

 

[messinaeagle]

If nothing els you can always ask. You won't be the first and you won't be the last

 

[ChelleinNC]

Actually, PSB is not a "buffet" in the truest sense. There is a cold bar (fruits, danish, etc) that is a buffet and then the hot entrees are brought to the table and served family style. Discussions on tips are limited to the Disney Tipping Info Thread

 

[NorweJenNY]

Thanks for your reply. I'm assuming the tip is NOT included in the price, then. I think some of the character meals the tip is included. Just wanted to make sure before I do the wrong thing!

I think you might be thinking about the character meals with the Disney Dining Plan... tips were once included with that, though not any more.

When using 2 TS credits on the Disney Dining Plan for Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, Mickey's Backyard BBQ, Spirit of Aloha Dinner show, or private in-room dining at Deluxe resorts, the gratuities are still included.

 

[TDC Nala]

The question on tipping at the character meals has been merged with the Tipping Information Thread.

 

[lazy daisy]

Does anybody know if its ok to use disney dollars for tips? We have quite a few of them ...and I was just wondering......

 

[noahdove]

I would like the answer to this also...

 

[Pumbaa_]

yes, you can use Disney dollars for tips

 

[Ladybugsy]

Okay, this is a longshot here, but you don't know if you don't ask, right? If you are on the FDP can you have the Tables in wonderland discount applied to the price of the check before it is totalled? I guess that would be using 2 discounts.

Just trying to save a buck

 

[jenseib]

Thanks for your reply. I'm assuming the tip is NOT included in the price, then. I think some of the character meals the tip is included. Just wanted to make sure before I do the wrong thing!

No, character meals for the most part do NOT include tip. Dinner shows do ,as does CRT. I think thats it.
You DO tip for buffets at Disney. When the bill is borught to you they have your total along with two tips amounts a 18% and 20%. Those are the suggested amounts. You can tip 15% if you want, or you can tip more. But the buffets expect a tip just like any other restaurant. That was hard for me to understand at first, becuase growing up I was told you don't tip at buffets, unless they did some fantastic extra service.
I think our tips usually ran around 15 per meal for 2 adults and a child. Of course some were higher and some lower. Depending on where and what you eat.

 

[Tricia1972]

Okay, this is a longshot here, but you don't know if you don't ask, right? If you are on the FDP can you have the Tables in wonderland discount applied to the price of the check before it is totalled? I guess that would be using 2 discounts.

Just trying to save a buck

Not sure if I can answer yet. Is the FDP the Fantasmic Dining Package, or Free Dining Plan here?

If it's the Fantasmic Dining Package, the Tables in Wonderland cannot be used for it at all.

If it's the Free Dining Plan, then your meal will be covered, and the discount would apply to your non-plan items such as appetizer and alcohol.

Not sure how tipping fits into either of my acronyms though, so I may be way off base.

 

[msce2]

I'm wondering how willing the Mangers are to adjust the 18% gratuity on a party of 6 or more if the service is not up to par?

At home I usually tip 20% or more, but adjust accordingly if the service is not good (it takes a lot for this to happen and I would usually tip 15%. I've only tipped 10% once and that was because of incredibly bad service). Just wondering since we are going to be at least a party of 9, I've been reading about people who were just left for almost an hour (at a buffet) without seeing their server. I'm not going to be willing to pay 18% if I only see a server 2x when they first bring the drinks and when they bring the check.