Tipping with gift card

[mmouse50]

Ok, this is possibly a stupid question - 2 parties (2 checks) but totalling more than 6 people for the table. When the checks arrive at the end of the meal they will already include the 18% gratuity so, if we are paying with gift cards nothing has to be done except hand them the gift card. If I want to add more tip than the 18% and still have it charged to the gift card - do I write it on the bill prior to them running the gift card? Or after like they do for a CC?

Example: total bill is $100 (for each party) - tip at 18% (because there is more than 6 at the table) is $18.00 - I want to tip 20% ($20.00) - do I add 2.00 under the total making it 120.00 before they pick up the check and gift card - so they can run it all through at one time or let them run the 118.00 and add the extra 2.00 when they bring back the final bill like they do credit cards?

 

[disneyworld19]

There’s no such thing as a stupid question
We use gift cards almost exclusively when we visit to save 5% buying from target beforehand (for the room, dining, tickets—anything we’d pay Disney for)

For us, they have always been treated like a credit card when they present the dining bill; they run the gift card and return the receipt to add tip to the total and sign. We’ve done this with a party large enough to include the gratuity. Have an awesome trip!

 

[focusondisney]

When I use gift cards, they run them like a credit card. They bring the gift card back with a slip for you to sign. That’s when you add the tip (or extra tip in your case). You can sign & leave the slip on the table, no need to wait around for the server to come back. The slip the server will bring back after running the bill on with the GC will have the card balance on it. You just have to remember to subtract the tip from the balance listed so you know exactly how much is left on your GC.

 

[mmouse50]

ok - thank you so much. I don't know why I was stressing about it, actually beginning to stress about alot for this trip but this is one last thing I have to worry about.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

Comments above are accurate and many of the servers are extremely accustomed to guests paying with GC and many will even return the final receipt if you're still sitting there after you signed to let you know the remaining balance. I think the more experienced servers will notice if you're still seated after you pay and don't get up right away that you may want the receipt. We didn't care since we'd ballpark how much we tipped and had a general idea of what was remaining but we'd notice if we lingered any, many servers would bring the final receipt back and point out your remaining GC balance. So they're super helpful.

 

[BeachMouse1]

It’s nice that you’re discussing an additional tip! We always take some cash with us and leave the tip in cash when using gift cards. But we are a party of 2 only so gratuity isn’t added in but in your case where the 18% is $18 for example the additional $2 given in cash might be easier plus cast members have told us they appreciate cash a great deal (i don’t know if cash tips actually help them anymore but that’s what cast members we have spoken with said)

 

[gottalovepluto]

It’s nice that you’re discussing an additional tip! We always take some cash with us and leave the tip in cash when using gift cards. But we are a party of 2 only so gratuity isn’t added in but in your case where the 18% is $18 for example the additional $2 given in cash might be easier plus cast members have told us they appreciate cash a great deal (i don’t know if cash tips actually help them anymore but that’s what cast members we have spoken with said)

Well, cash is a funny thing… You know you left it on the table but Uncle Sam not so much…

 

[glocon]

Just got back from 9 days at Disney and mostly used gift cards.
Every single time without exception for us, the server brought the receipt to sign and a receipt for me to keep with the balance left on the card at the same time.
Have a great time!