Tipping Information for Disney Dining (Updated for 2025)

[crazy4wdw]

It’s time to do an update to the restaurant board tipping thread for 2025.

Tipping threads on the Restaurant Board often result in arguments between posters regarding tipping habits and other issues. Please remember to be courteous and respectful to your fellow disboard members.

Often posts on the tipping thread tend to be closed as a result of debates, so again, BE NICE! The restaurant board moderator has created this thread where tipping questions can be asked and answered, especially by members who may be planning their initial trip to Walt Disney World. THIS IS NOT A PLACE FOR DEBATES.

Here are the basic guidelines:

1) No fighting, name calling, or debating on individual’s personal tipping habits. This includes but is not limited to:

A) I will not tip my server more than I give my place of worship.

B) I will not tip a server more than I make an hour

C) Everyone knows that servers make 100K a year, why should I tip them?

D) Servers should be paid a living wage and should not have to depend on tips to support
themselves.

E) I should not have to contribute to the general operation of the restaurant by tipping.

F) It’s a buffet restaurant and I have to obtain the items for my meal; I should not have to provide a tip.
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2) No flaming any disboard member for any reason.
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3) Any post deemed off topic or is against the posting guidelines will be deleted without comment and the poster will receive an infraction.
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4) Any other thread started on the restaurant board which asks about “tipping” will be closed with a note to refer to this thread.
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5) No personal tipping habits are to be discussed. Generally speaking, what you tip at Disney is entirely up to you. To determine the total cost of your meal, please refer to this link to Walt Disney World menus on the boards. Disney does provide 18% and 20% calculations on the your dining receipt. What you actually tip is up to you with the exceptions below.

A) Parties of six (6) or more are automatically charged an 18% gratuity. This includes everyone sitting at the table, including children under the age of 3. If you are dining with another group and are paying separately, you will still be charged the 18% gratuity if there are 6 or more people at the table.

B) If there is a concern about a set gratuity and the level of service provided, your option is to discuss your concerns with the manager of the restaurant. Only the restaurant manager can adjust a mandatory gratuity. Speak to the manger during the early portion of the meal in order to receive improved service instead of waiting until the end of the meal to complain about the service.

C) Disney does not differentiate between different types of table service restaurants, i.e. buffets, all you care to eat meals, and a la carte. All restaurants, with the exception of quick service, are treated equal by Disney and will carry the same mandatory gratuity if it applies.
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6) You may pay your gratuity by the following methods:

A) Disney Visa

B) Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, American Express, Visa, JCB (Japanese Credit Bureau)

C) Disney gift cards

D) Disney Visa reward cards

F) Magic Bands or Key to the World Cards (KTTW)

G) Cash

H) Disney Dollars (Disney is no longer issuing Disney Dollars but if you have any
from a previous trip, they are still accepted).
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7) The gratuity is included for the dinner show at Fort Wilderness Campground (Hoop-De-Doo Musical Revue).
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8) Gratuities are not accepted for fireworks dessert parties and other dessert parties such as MNSSHP Halloween Parties, MVMCP Parties, etc.
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9) Gratuities are not included for guests who use the Disney Dining Plan. Your dining
receipt will include the total value of the meal with a suggested gratuity of 18% and
20%.
Note: If you use your dining plan credits for the Hoop-De-Do Musical Revue at Fort Wilderness, the gratuity for the dinner show will be included (refer to #7).
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Please abide by these guidelines so everyone can discuss the information they need regarding tipping at Walt Disney World. We do not want to ban this topic from the Restaurant Board.

Thank you and I appreciate your cooperation

 

[garnwr32229]

I’m just trying to be clear so I know roughly how much I should plan for tips while on the dining plan. I was just looking at the basic price for restaurants like chef mickeys, artist point, garden grill etc. but an alcoholic beverage or non alcoholic speciality drink is included in the table service credit right? So when looking at the final bill I should also look at the cost of the non-alcoholic/alcoholic special drink also when trying to estimate the tip right?
I hope I’m making sense. Just trying to be prepared

 

[crazy4wdw]

I’m just trying to be clear so I know roughly how much I should plan for tips while on the dining plan. I was just looking at the basic price for restaurants like chef mickeys, artist point, garden grill etc. but an alcoholic beverage or non alcoholic speciality drink is included in the table service credit right? So when looking at the final bill I should also look at the cost of the non-alcoholic/alcoholic special drink also when trying to estimate the tip right?
I hope I’m making sense. Just trying to be prepared

Yes, you are correct.

I've never used the Disney dining plan but it's my understanding that when your server gives you the bill for the meal, the receipt will show the total value of the meal including any beverages. You're provided that information for the gratuity.

 

[garnwr32229]

Yes, you are correct.

I've never used the Disney dining plan but it's my understanding that when your server gives you the bill for the meal, the receipt will show the total value of the meal including any beverages. You're provided that information for the gratuity.

Thank you. I was wondering how that worked also. If I would see the final cost so I could tip off that or if They just subtracted the credit and I had to figure out the total myself.

 

[jf256]

Hi,

Just a question - now that BOG is a price fix menu - does it include tip? like CRT?

 

[babesboo99]

We will be on the DxDP when we go in October family of 4 , 2 adults and 2 children . My question is can I tip with gift cards and if so how does that work? do I wait for the bill to come and tell them we would like to use this for your tip and tell them what to take out ? not really sure how that would work we always used cash but I figure I can get gift cards starting now.

 

[crazy4wdw]

Hi,

Just a question - now that BOG is a price fix menu - does it include tip? like CRT?

From the Walt Disney World Website:

This 3-course dining experience is $60 for adults (ages 10 and up) and $36 for children (ages 3 to 9). Tax and gratuity are not included. If using a dining plan, the prix fixe dinner will require 2 table-service meal entitlements per person.

 

[crazy4wdw]

We will be on the DxDP when we go in October family of 4 , 2 adults and 2 children . My question is can I tip with gift cards and if so how does that work? do I wait for the bill to come and tell them we would like to use this for your tip and tell them what to take out ? not really sure how that would work we always used cash but I figure I can get gift cards starting now.

Yes, you should be able to tip with a Disney gift card. You will receive a receipt/bill at the end of the meal. You'll indicate on the receipt the amount of tip you'd like to leave the server and then give you server your gift card. Shouldn't be an issue.

 

[crazy4wdw]

Yes, you are correct.

I've never used the Disney dining plan but it's my understanding that when your server gives you the bill for the meal, the receipt will show the total value of the meal including any beverages. You're provided that information for the gratuity.

Thank you. I was wondering how that worked also. If I would see the final cost so I could tip off that or if They just subtracted the credit and I had to figure out the total myself.

I believe in addition to the value of the meal/drinks, you receipt will also have the amount for the tip; 15%, 18%, & 20%.

 

[babesboo99]

Yes, you should be able to tip with a Disney gift card. You will receive a receipt/bill at the end of the meal. You'll indicate on the receipt the amount of tip you'd like to leave the server and then give you server your gift card. Shouldn't be an issue.

Thank you.

 

[garnwr32229]

If on the dining plan can you charge the tip back to your room and pay with gift cards at the resort? Just trying the think of ways I can carry less to the parks.

 

[crazy4wdw]

If on the dining plan can you charge the tip back to your room and pay with gift cards at the resort? Just trying the think of ways I can carry less to the parks.

Yes, you can use your magic band, key to the world card, or credit/debit card to pay for your gratuity.

 

[Happy Art Teacher]

If on the dining plan can you charge the tip back to your room and pay with gift cards at the resort? Just trying the think of ways I can carry less to the parks.

great idea!

 

[mmouse50]

How would paying with the gift cards at the resorts work with the new credit card policy that is being implemented at the of February?

 

[lcc2]

How would paying with the gift cards at the resorts work with the new credit card policy that is being implemented at the of February?

Unfortunately, I don’t think we will know until it is implemented.

 

[roylanc]

Yes, you are correct.

I've never used the Disney dining plan but it's my understanding that when your server gives you the bill for the meal, the receipt will show the total value of the meal including any beverages. You're provided that information for the gratuity.

Yes the gratuity is worked out at the bottom of the receipt 18% & 20%.

 

[chippydale33]

Does anyone with a Disney Premier Visa credit card know if you are on the dining plan, but charge your server's tip to the credit card, do you get the "10% back for disney dining"? I know it seems strange to receive 10% "off" or "cash back on your statement" gratuities, but if your card is being used at a restaurant I wonder if it matters what it is being charged for?

 

[crazy4wdw]

Does anyone with a Disney Premier Visa credit card know if you are on the dining plan, but charge your server's tip to the credit card, do you get the "10% back for disney dining"? I know it seems strange to receive 10% "off" or "cash back on your statement" gratuities, but if your card is being used at a restaurant I wonder if it matters what it is being charged for?

My guess would be "no". Since the server receives the entire tip, I wouldn't think that Chase would give you 10% off the gratuity.

 

[sigp228]

We will be on the DxDP when we go in October family of 4 , 2 adults and 2 children . My question is can I tip with gift cards and if so how does that work? do I wait for the bill to come and tell them we would like to use this for your tip and tell them what to take out ? not really sure how that would work we always used cash but I figure I can get gift cards starting now.

To make it easier, may I suggest that you simply charge the bill to your room with your magicband. What you can do is take as many gift cards as you have and have the values applied to your account at the front desk of your resort. I am thinking if you lets say had a 40 dollar tip but only had a 50 GC or two 25's etc. What if you brought the one you thought had 50 on it but it was the one that had 10? If I stay at a Disney report, I usually buy GC's at a discount somewhere (online sellers, trade sites, etc) and then apply the values to my account. I know I will be charging food and such to the room.

 

[babesboo99]

To make it easier, may I suggest that you simply charge the bill to your room with your magicband. What you can do is take as many gift cards as you have and have the values applied to your account at the front desk of your resort. I am thinking if you lets say had a 40 dollar tip but only had a 50 GC or two 25's etc. What if you brought the one you thought had 50 on it but it was the one that had 10? If I stay at a Disney report, I usually buy GC's at a discount somewhere (online sellers, trade sites, etc) and then apply the values to my account. I know I will be charging food and such to the room.

I didnt even think of that that's a great idea and sounds alot easier