Tipping with a family of 6

[HonnyDipp]

We are a family of 6 on the dining plan, and I understand that the gratuity is included with the bill. So I'm wondering, if you still leave a tip (at TS & buffet) how much do you leave?

 

[perla75]

We are a family of 6 on the dining plan, and I understand that the gratuity is included with the bill. So I'm wondering, if you still leave a tip (at TS & buffet) how much do you leave?

Well, I think 18% is already worked into your bill. I've read that some people will leave an additional 2%-7% if they want to. Otherwise, 18% is a good tip, so you shouldn't feel obligated to leave anymore, unless you want to.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

Just to clarify - the gratuity is not included on the DDP, you must pay separately out-of-pocket for that. The receipt will give you amounts for a "suggested tip" for both 18% and 20%. We generally tip in the 20% range if the service is pretty good.

 

[HonnyDipp]

Thats odd, the CM I spoke with the other day told me it was 18% was included for a party of 6

 

[Hootch]

are six or more people ages three or older in your party, you will be presented a bill for 18% for gratuity at the end of the meal. If you want to supplement that due to excellent service you could and I think the 2% - 7% mentioned above is a good suggestion.

 

[n2mm]

A misunderstanding. The CM means that the tip will be automatically added on your bill, which means if you are using the DDP, then you will get a bill at the end of your meal that will be 18% of the cost of your meal. We are always a group of 6 or more, so we are well aware of this additional expense. As other's have mentioned, the bill will show you how much 18% is and how much 20% is, just in case you want to up it to 20%. You can pay either cash, or you can pay with your room card if you have charging priviledges added on. Sorry you misunderstood the CM, but at least you know before you get that first bill. However, for CRT and HDD/Luau, the tip is included in those meals.

 

[n2mm]

are six or more people ages three or older in your party, you will be presented a bill for 18% for gratuity at the end of the meal. If you want to supplement that due to excellent service you could and I think the 2% - 7% mentioned above is a good suggestion.

Sorry, let me correct you. If you have six in your party, no matter what age or if they are eating or not, you will be presented a bill for 18%.....

We know first hand as we have dined with our infant granddaughters many times, making us a party of 6. Last year the girls were 3 months old and 2 and we certainly counted as 6. It goes by the party number, not by who is or is not eating.

 

[Bonelady]

Many places include the tip for large parties of 6 or more. I am not aware if it's done at Disney and if it is, if it is done everywhere.

Carefully check your receipt to make sure.

If you have received excellent service, I would always leave another 2%. I think that is most often done in a Table Service place, but if you want to recognize especially good service at a CS, leave $1 per person.

That applies only if the tip is included in your check.

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

The gratuity IS included on your bill at WDW on a party of 6 or more. I just made an ADR yesterday for a party of six and the CM mentioned that gratuity would be added to our bill.

- Jennifer

 

[flipflop]

Thats odd, the CM I spoke with the other day told me it was 18% was included for a party of 6

What the CM probably meant was that tip would automatically be added since you are a party of 6. My guess would be bad word selection on the part of the CM - included vs. added.

Included when referencing the DDP makes it sound like the tip is PAID FOR - rather than just added to the bill and then paid OOP by the guest.

 

[ILoveMickeyandMinnie]

Sorry, let me correct you. If you have six in your party, no matter what age or if they are eating or not, you will be presented a bill for 18%.....

We know first hand as we have dined with our infant granddaughters many times, making us a party of 6. Last year the girls were 3 months old and 2 and we certainly counted as 6. It goes by the party number, not by who is or is not eating.

That really stinks, I was just about to post a question about this very thing. The CM the other day when I was booking my ADR's mentioned that since we were a party of 6 we would have the 18% added on to pay. I thought he must just have been misinformed or just plain wrong since two of our party are a two year old and a 3 month old.

Darn. My DH isn't going to be happy.

 

[perla75]

That really stinks, I was just about to post a question about this very thing. The CM the other day when I was booking my ADR's mentioned that since we were a party of 6 we would have the 18% added on to pay. I thought he must just have been misinformed or just plain wrong since two of our party are a two year old and a 3 month old.

Darn. My DH isn't going to be happy.

Just out of curiosity, what's the difference? Were you guys planning on not tipping? I'm NOT trying to flame, I'm just trying to understand why people get so upset about this.

From what I've read on here, if you have an issue with your service, just let the manager know and they will adjust your bill. I've read that this is generally an easy process.

 

[rdsx28]

I think that's great that they add the 18% tip for a party of 6. they deserve the 18% for the amount of service they have to give. I do think I would not even count a 3 month old when making the reservation.They are usually in a carrier anyway so why be charged for them. Just a thought.

 

[perla75]

I think that's great that they add the 18% tip for a party of 6. they deserve the 18% for the amount of service they have to give. I do think I would not even count a 3 month old when making the reservation.They are usually in a carrier anyway so why be charged for them. Just a thought.

I think they will charge you for the baby once they see him/her when you arrive. I know when we were gathering info about our possible WDW wedding and reception, I asked about my BFF's baby at the reception lunch (which will just be a regular lunch at a regular WDW restaurant), I was told that they charge for basically any human body sharing the space at the table, whether they are eating or not). You may come across generous CM's who bend the rules and let it slide, but be prepared if they don't.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

I think that's great that they add the 18% tip for a party of 6. they deserve the 18% for the amount of service they have to give. I do think I would not even count a 3 month old when making the reservation.They are usually in a carrier anyway so why be charged for them. Just a thought.

The carrier takes up space so you need to count the infant to make sure you have a place to put the carrier.
The 18% add to parties of six or more(DDP or no DDP) is based on the total bill of food/drink ordered, so if only 4 in the pary eat, the tip would be presented as 18% of what the 4 people ate, nothing is added for those not eating, except the fact that Disney(and many others) will automatically add the 18% instead of leaving it up to the guest.

 

[HonnyDipp]

A misunderstanding. The CM means that the tip will be automatically added on your bill, which means if you are using the DDP, then you will get a bill at the end of your meal that will be 18% of the cost of your meal. We are always a group of 6 or more, so we are well aware of this additional expense. As other's have mentioned, the bill will show you how much 18% is and how much 20% is, just in case you want to up it to 20%. You can pay either cash, or you can pay with your room card if you have charging priviledges added on. Sorry you misunderstood the CM, but at least you know before you get that first bill. However, for CRT and HDD/Luau, the tip is included in those meals.

That sums it up for me! Thanks!

 

[annie1995]

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. But you are charged 18% of your bill for parties 6 or more. The infant wouldn't be eating anyways, so the bill would only be technically for 5 right?

 

[perla75]

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. But you are charged 18% of your bill for parties 6 or more. The infant wouldn't be eating anyways, so the bill would only be technically for 5 right?

From what I've read on these boards and also from what the Disney people told me over the phone when we were planning our lunch reception, they base the automatic tip on 6 bodies taking up space at the table. So, children under 3 would count into the "6 guest automatic tip" whether they are eating or not.

So, if the infant did not eat, the actual numeric tip would be based on the # of people who ate, but it would still be automatically added on, due to the 6 guests in the party. That's how they explained it over the phone anyways...

 

[n2mm]

Yes, the wording is "parties of six or more". However, that doesn't mean all in the party are eating, it's if you have a party of six or more at the table you are automatically have the 18% added to your bill. So even if there are only 5 eating, the tip will be added on the total of those 5 people.

 

[liznboys]

Just out of curiosity, what's the difference? Were you guys planning on not tipping? I'm NOT trying to flame, I'm just trying to understand why people get so upset about this.

From what I've read on here, if you have an issue with your service, just let the manager know and they will adjust your bill. I've read that this is generally an easy process.

Ditto. I don't understand why anyone would be bothered by this.

We are a family of 6 with one child under 3. On our trip last week, just as expected, the 18% was automatically added to our bills. We would have paid that anyway (or for poor service would have spoken to a manager to adjust the tip), it's not like we were paying more or were paying a fee or something. Our youngest still ate free at the family style and buffet meals, so the tip was still based on the expected price-2 adults and 3 kids for us.

I think it's actually a nice thing, saves me from having to calculate the tip. My dh doesn't care either way, but he's much better at figuring tips than I am!