Tipping on the DDP when children are free

[crazy4wdw]

Someone posted this question on the tipping subforum and I'm not sure of the answer. So I'm posting the question on the main thread.

"Tipping on DDP with free child in 2026? This may be a moot point since we will have 3 DDP and 9 people but would the 18% be a part of the total bill or just adult part of the bill since kids are free"

 

[erionm]

IMHO, the gratuity should be based on the menu price of the meal and not what you paid for the DDP.

 

[MillauFr]

Why don't they just have a service charge and get rid of the tipping. Many of the foreigners don't know about American tipping customs and leave nothing.

 

[Minnie1222]

Many of the foreigners don't know about American tipping customs and leave nothing.

Oh they do! The ones who don't tip are just pretending they don't know.

 

[suzannews]

This is what we've been told so far...even though kids are free, their account will still have dining credits, same as if they paid for the plan, so the server can ring in the meals correctly. If there are 6 or more people at the table, yes, the 18% auto grat will be added to the check for the total $$ amount including the free kids meals.

 

[scrappinginontario]

This is what we've been told so far...even though kids are free, their account will still have dining credits, same as if they paid for the plan, so the server can ring in the meals correctly. If there are 6 or more people at the table, yes, the 18% auto grat will be added to the check for the total $$ amount including the free kids meals.

Unless they have changed things, this was never my experience. We visited a few times with FD before my DD was 3 and she was never given dining credits.

The tip is based on the amount spent is it not? 18% of the total bill is based on price of those meals and since under 3 is free, it should not affect the price, correct?

 

[sponica]

Unless they have changed things, this was never my experience. We visited a few times with FD before my DD was 3 and she was never given dining credits.

The tip is based on the amount spent is it not? 18% of the total bill is based on price of those meals and since under 3 is free, it should not affect the price, correct?

But next year the dining plan is free for kids 3-9. So they do get credits

 

[MillauFr]

Oh they do! The ones who don't tip are just pretending they don't know.

Maybe. But why should people who tip subsidize those who don't? It is better if everyone contributes an equal share proportional to their bill.

 

[MillauFr]

If there are 6 or more people at the table, yes, the 18% auto grat will be added to the check for the total $$ amount including the free kids meals.

And why is it 6 or more only get charged a service charge? It is easier to serve one table of 6 than 3 tables of two. If anything it is the tables with fewer people that should get charged a service charge. Not the other way around.

 

[jimmymc]

The bill will still show what the food would've costed if nobody was on the dining plan, so they can tip off of that.