Tipping on the Dining Plan

[Tys Nanny]

I understand that since we have the DDP, an 18% gratuity will automatically be added to our bill since we are a party of six, even though one of us is nursing and I can't imagine any of our waiters/waitresses will be serving him, but that's another story. Anyway, our normal tip for decent service is about 20%, rounded up. For good service, it's always higher.

What is the expectation at DW? Do the servers feel the 18% is adequate and normal? Do most people tip the standard 20%? Of course, any server who makes my DGS's meal magical will receive a bigger tip, but for the average, adequate service, is 18% sufficient or should we follow our normal practice? (I live in the NE, and from what I've heard, a 20% tip is not the norm in other areas, which prompted my question.)

 

[Luvchefmic]

I understand that since we have the DDP, an 18% gratuity will automatically be added to our bill since we are a party of six, even though one of us is nursing and I can't imagine any of our waiters/waitresses will be serving him, but that's another story. Anyway, our normal tip for decent service is about 20%, rounded up. For good service, it's always higher.

What is the expectation at DW? Do the servers feel the 18% is adequate and normal? Do most people tip the standard 20%? Of course, any server who makes my DGS's meal magical will receive a bigger tip, but for the average, adequate service, is 18% sufficient or should we follow our normal practice? (I live in the NE, and from what I've heard, a 20% tip is not the norm in other areas, which prompted my question.)

Are you saying its a party of 5 getting TS and there is also a nursing infant ?

 

[LJSquishy]

18% will be adequate. As I always do, if service is above and beyond what I expect, I tip more. Have a fantastic trip!

 

[MolonLabe]

18% is great. If you have excellent service, show your appreciation and give another 2 or 3%

 

[lauradis]

You can tip more if you like, there is normal tip line at bottom.

 

[OhMari]

Buffets you can tip lower. The industry standard is 18%, but that is totally up to you if you want to tip more or less. We used my Disney Rewards or my Disney Gift card and they would take our Key card for the dining Plan and my other card for the tip. Next time I go, I am just going to put my money all on my Key card, I had some problems and it was too many slips.

 

[Allison]

The dining plan has nothing to do with it. Any party of 6 or more has the auto gratuity.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

We tip in cash (we think it's easier) and tip in whole dollar amounts, so if the tip is calculated at $18.21, we'd probably tip $20. 18% is perfectly adequate.

 

[Tys Nanny]

Are you saying its a party of 5 getting TS and there is also a nursing infant ?

Yup.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Yup.

then the tip is not automatically added in because thats done with party of 6 that's what I was asking ....anyway 18 - 20 % like others have said unless exceptional & then more

 

[angierae]

then the tip is not automatically added in because thats done with party of 6 that's what I was asking ....anyway 18 - 20 % like others have said unless exceptional & then more

They will count a group of five with an infant as a party of six.

 

[smitch425]

then the tip is not automatically added in because thats done with party of 6 that's what I was asking ....anyway 18 - 20 % like others have said unless exceptional & then more

ADRs count infants in the head count (because they do have heads ), so they will add the tip automatically. It makes no difference if one of the 6 doesn't eat. If they are at the table, they count.

 

[Luvchefmic]

They will count a group of five with an infant as a party of six.

ADRs count infants in the head count (because they do have heads ), so they will add the tip automatically. It makes no difference if one of the 6 doesn't eat. If they are at the table, they count.

WOW learn something everyday and that is just plain ridiculous

 

[4HppyCamprs]

We travel as a party of 6 and Yes for two of those trips had breast feeding infants. Dining plan or no dining plan they auto charge gratuities for parties of 6 or more. I typically tip 20% but since they auto tip 18% I just leave it at that. My mil is a server and her employer does auto tipping at 15% and she hates it because like me most just leave it and the servers (at her job) typically do better without auto gratuities being added.

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[dsneprincess]

We travel as a party of 6 and Yes for two of those trips had breast feeding infants. Dining plan or no dining plan they auto charge gratuities for parties of 6 or more. I typically tip 20% but since they auto tip 18% I just leave it at that. My mil is a server and her employer does auto tipping at 15% and she hates it because like me most just leave it and the servers (at her job) typically do better without auto gratuities being added.

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We do the same. We also always tip cash, BUT if it is auto added. & we charge the meal, it will be charged. Not sure how restaurants feel this is Actually helping their servers.

 

[winterwhite]

We do the same. We also always tip cash, BUT if it is auto added. & we charge the meal, it will be charged. Not sure how restaurants feel this is Actually helping their servers.

This helps their servers because there are a startling number of people, particularly those who are not American, who do not tip at all. And there are also plenty of Americans who don't tip when they feel a meal is "too expensive" even if they agreed to the cost when arriving. Still others will split the check and each will assume the other person is leaving the tip, leaving the server nothing.

I imagine that getting stiffed on tips was enough of a problem that disney had to institute the policy to protect servers-- and it's very standard across the industry for there to be an automatic gratuity on larger parties.

 

[jgates]

I used to get the 12 top table as my boss knew she could count on me to handle it. OFTEN the above listed situations occurred. One person would say I'll take care of it, you get tip - guess what - no one knew what was spent & would toss a dollar or two down or something silly. Other times great grandma would pick up tab & she would tip $5 or something that to her WAS a good tip - no one else realized. Some people have a max mental tip - $5 per person, etc - they just won't go above that. On our last meal at Narcoosees - we tipped $65 for 4 of us (I think it was like 23%). If that poor server had the $5 per person tippers - yikes.

So yes there were times that I would have been ecstatic to have 18% added - but we never did!!!

 

[marthachick]

They will count a group of five with an infant as a party of six.

If that's the case, I would not tip above the 18% because you are already tipping above 18% per actual diner.

 

[Lewisc]

If that's the case, I would not tip above the 18% because you are already tipping above 18% per actual diner.

You're not. The auto tip is 18% of the check. Infants aren't charged so an infant doesnt increase the tip, just causes the application of the auto tip.
Customers receiveing poor service should ask for a manager so the situation can be addressed.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

We do the same. We also always tip cash, BUT if it is auto added. & we charge the meal, it will be charged. Not sure how restaurants feel this is Actually helping their servers.

Haven't you read any tipping posts before? People will come up with all kinds of excuses as to why they left a smaller tip or no tip at all.

Also, people from certain countries are used to a service charge added to the bill so I would like to think that is the reason why they leave no tip at all.

They only thing I can't understand is why WDW doesn't automatically add a service charge to all bills regardless of a party's size.

You can always add more to the gratuity if the service is good.