How To Tip the Disney Dining Plan

Tipping is a hot topic around social media and takes some thought in how to present it in a post, but I’ll do my best to provide as much (or as little) insights as you’ll be requiring for your planning. Take these thoughts with a grain of salt, as everything is personal preferences.

***Just as a warning***This article will 100% make you hungry!!!

TIPPING IS NOT REQUIRED

Yes, tipping is nice, but when you’re on the Disney Dining Plan, you’ve already paid for the food with your initial purchase. It’s not like you’re getting anything for free, so don’t feel that you are required to tip.

When you’re on the Quick Service Dining Plan, there isn’t a requirement to tip at Quick Service locations.

18-20% is the usual tip that we budget throughout our stay on property. Sometimes its less and sometimes it’s more depending on the situations, and we can all tell our experiences on both ends of that spectrum. For this topic, it’s more of a generalization and common courtesy vs individual times…because we all have those stories that we can put on TripAdvisor;)


Article Continues Below

PARTIES OF 6 OR MORE

An 18% gratuity is automatically added to your bill for parties of six or more. Just be aware of this going in and you’ll be fine. The last thing you want to have is sticker-shock when the bill comes.

THE TIPS ON TIPPING

Now that we’ve gone over the general terms, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of the Tipping procedure while you’re on the Disney Dining Plan (Table Service Dining).

Your goal while on the DDP is to have great dining experiences, and it’s important to set yourself up to truly enjoy your full vacation. This means that when you’re booking your ADR’s 180 days out, that you’re thinking about the entire price-point of your vacation.

THIS IS WHERE DUSTIN GETS TO PLAN-GEEK OUT

The cost for the Regular Disney Dining Plan is $75.49/night per adult

  • 1 quick service meal
  • 1 Table Service Meal
  • 2 Snacks
  • 1 Refillable Mug

HOW DO YOU BUDGET YOUR TIPS?

It’s all about planning in advance to know what 18-20% of your Table Service bills will look like. Take into account the meal as a whole, with either an average of $40-45 for adults who get Steak/Chicken and $30-35 for vegetarians. Buffets will usually be a higher pricepoint (aka a better value for your credits at $45-$50 per reservation).

Example:
Dinner @ Be Our Guest
$35
Grilled Strip Steak (Entree)
$5
The Grey Stuff (Dessert)
$4.19
All Natural Lemonade (Non-Alcoholic Drink)

44.19 = Total Bill (without Tax)

The tip for this meal could range from $6.50 (15%) to $8.50 (20%) if the service and food was up to par.


Article Continues Below

HOW DO I DO THE MATH?

Disney does it for you!

Take an example from our lunch @ Tusker House

Total for the meal was $74.53 (including tax). Now because we were on the DDP, we only looked at the suggested tip and decided what the meal was worth.

We ended up tipping $15 between the two of us, because the experience was memorable and the chef came out and helped us with options for Jill (as she’s a vegetarian).


Article Continues Below

HOW TO PLAN FOR TIPS

We do three things during our vacations, and this is for Two guests:

1. We bring a $10 bill for each meal to start with

2. We bring enough smaller bills to make up the difference in the tips (a variety of $1 and $5 bills)

3. Always tip to fit the experience. Buffets vs individual sit-down meals, time of day and other factors that could impact the overall meal.


If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to let me know via social media @StepstoMagic!

Dustin Fuhshttp://www.stepstomagic.com
I’m Dustin Fuhs, a theme park fanatic that has created this platform to showcase my passion, tools and opinions to create a fun and interactive experience for everyone who visits. My goal is to help you and your family have the most magical experience at Walt Disney World. In reading my articles and ideas, I hope that you can find some fantastic ways to bring your dreams into reality!

Related articles

Problems in Walt Disney World that Nobody Expects

Discover the Top 10 unexpected challenges you might face at Walt Disney World, from ride shutdowns to out-of-stock merchandise.

20 Unbeatable Ways to Experience an Adult-Only Disney World Trip

Having an adult-only vacation in Disney World is more than hanging out at the pool.

The Ultimate Guide to Guilty Pleasures at Walt Disney World: From Character Selfies to Dessert-First Buffets

Discover the ultimate guide to guilty pleasures at Walt Disney World. From snapping selfies with characters to starting buffets with dessert, our list adds a sprinkle of unconventional fun to your magical trip!

The Ultimate Guide to Walt Disney World Crowd Patterns and Best Times to Visit

Plan your perfect Walt Disney World vacation with our ultimate guide. Discover the best times to visit, how to beat the crowds, and maximize your magical experience with our weekday and seasonal insights.

Attractions that You Can Get Soaked On at Universal Orlando Resort

Universal Orlando Resort is filled with thrilling and exciting experiences, but if you're thinking that every attraction will keep you nice and dry when you're going through the exit...you've got another thing coming!

The 5-Second Disney Day Checklist

A day at a Walt Disney World theme park is stressful, with crowds and constantly changing environments that will impact your "perfectly planned" vacation. The only thing worse than not getting to fulfill your dream day is to start out with forgetting something in your hotel room!

Amazing Disney World Vacation Traditions

Tradition is defined on Dictionary.com as "an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior". This is 100% a topic that can be shared through a vacation to Disney World!

How To Drink Around the World at EPCOT

This has been a hot topic in the email requests, so it's time to dive into one of...

Top Ten Disney Advance Dining Reservations to get ASAP

Discover the essential Disney advance dining reservations for an awesome Walt Disney World experience.

Top 10 Hilarious Jungle Cruise Puns

Embark on a pun-filled adventure! Discover the top 10 Jungle Cruise puns that will make you laugh, groan, and fall in love with Disney humor.

10 Things We Will Never Do Again at Disney World

Learn from our mistakes! Uncover the 10 things we vow never to do again at Disney World for a smoother, happier vacation experience.

Things That We Wish We Bought at Disney World

Shop smarter, not harder! Read about the items we regret not purchasing at Disney World to make your next trip's shopping spree guilt-free.
148 Shares
Pin148
Share
Tweet