Tipping at Walt Disney World can be tricky. Which cast members should you tip? And when? And most importantly, how much?
First, let us say, “Congratulations!” At least you’re aware that on some occasions you DO need to leave a gratuity for services provided.
As for the who, what, when, and how much questions, relax. We have you covered!
First, let’s discuss tipping for food service. I think just about everyone knows that servers at table service restaurants rely on customer tips. That is just as true at Disney World as anywhere. Even if you are visiting from a country that doesn’t tip as a matter of course, you should tip while you’re at Walt Disney World. It’s our custom here.
Generally, for servers in sit-down restaurants, the appropriate tip is anywhere between 18 percent and 20 percent of the cost of your overall bill. In a hectic, tourist-heavy environment like Walt Disney World, we’d advise going the full 20 percent (or more if your experience warrants it). Whatever you do, don’t leave less than 15 percent. While that may have been acceptable years ago, it simply doesn’t fly these days.
An important note to remember here is that the Disney Dining Plan does not include gratuity, so you should still be leaving a tip even if you’re using dining credits to pay for your meal. If you’re unsure of what the cash value of your meal would be off-plan, Disney provides a conversion with your DDP check.
All that being said, there are some notable exceptions for food service tipping at Disney World. Firstly, all parties of six or more will automatically have an 18 percent gratuity added to their bill, as will any guests attending prepaid restaurants like Cinderella’s Royal Table or dinner shows on property like the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue.
Guests paying for their meal using Tables in Wonderland or using a cast member discount also will have the automatic 18 percent added on to their checks. Of course, in any of these situations, you’re more than welcome to leave a larger amount if you feel that it’s deserved.
Finally, for non-traditional meals, such as buffets or bars, you should still be tipping, though the amount may differ. For example, a drink or two at a bar may only call for a gratuity of a few dollars, while a larger order or one including appetizers or other food deserves 18 percent to 20 percent like a normal meal. As far as room service deliveries, a service charge is built into the cost — you’ll see it noted on the room service menu. However, as usual, if you feel you received exemplary service, something extra is always a nice gesture.
Food service isn’t the only area in Walt Disney World where tipping is appropriate, however. Some others include: housekeeping (generally a dollar a day per person in your party, for each day of your stay), Magical Express drivers (a couple of dollars, especially if they’ll be loading/unloading your bags), parking attendants (once again, usually a few dollars), concierge services (the amount of which varies based on the level you’re using, as well as the complexity of your requests), salon services including massages, haircuts, etc. (15 percent to 20 percent), and specialized recreation like guided tours or boat rentals (15 percent).
Also, while you’re at Disney World you may use non-Disney transportation (taxis, town cars, and rideshares like Uber and Lyft). You will probably want to tip these drivers, whereas you probably wouldn’t tip most Disney transportation cast members. For regular cabs, 15 percent to 20 percent is the standard, town cars are at least 20 percent, and rideshares are at your discretion.
Retail cast members (including those at counter-service restaurants), in-park performers, front desk workers at Disney resorts, and most Disney transportation drivers (boat, bus, monorail) shouldn’t be tipped. We say MOST, because you might want to tip your Minnie Van driver, especially if they help you with lots of luggage and child car seats. Because these drivers are Disney cast members, however, they may well turn your generosity down — but it doesn’t hurt to offer!
If you’d like to reward any cast member for exceptional service, especially those who don’t accept tips, be sure to get their name and then sing their praises by leaving a compliment at Guest Relations… or post a #CastCompliment on Twitter to @WDWToday.
Do you feel we missed anything, or do you have your own tips and tricks for tipping at Walt Disney World? Let us know in the comments below!
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PLEASE read your bill when it comes to the table. All tips should be calculated BEFORE your discount. I received a bill tonight at Disney Springs where the tip was calculated AFTER my discount. My server should not be financially penalized for my discount!
Honestly, all of these tipping rules are convoluted and actually don’t make any sense.
For example you say 20% for a town car driver and 15% for a taxi, yet in my experience Taxi drivers always do far more work than town car drivers and taxi drivers generally have to clean and maintain their own cars, town car drivers usually have a company that does this for them and the drivers aren’t responsible for the costs associated with doing so. So, who deserves the larger tip? Additionally, you are suggest a larger percentage based on what is almost always a higher dollar amount.
Tipping food servers is another example, you have Server A at a low cost restaurant, but they seat you, bring your food, drink refills, check and rings up you check. Server B works at a high end restaurant where someone else seats you, the server takes your order and checks on you once while someone else brings you your food, someone else seats your table another person clears your table and yet another person brings drinks. In many states the server cannot share the tips with the other people and there is federal court case to determine if they can be forced to do so on a federal level. So why does the person at the high end restaurant deserver a larger dollar amount than the server who worked a lot harder for you?
I think tipping what you think the service is worth is reasonable,I don’t think a set percentage makes sense.
As for housekeeping, they are considered a non tipped position and by Disneys rules those with no tipped positions aren’t allowed to take tips unless you insist at least three times after they have said no.
Family of 3 with 6 bags. How much to tip Magical Express driver. We arrived after 10:00 PM and he had to put put our bags on and off the bus.
None that aren’t servers.
The VIP tour guides can accept tips as well.
I struggle with if I should tip the airline check in people. What is confusing is sometimes I have one person checking me in and one person who does my luggage… What is the correct protocol? I have heard some mixed results
I always tip the highly annoying “Citizens of Hollywood” to leave me alone. Money well spent. My rule is to tip them 15-18% of the misery they cause me.
Which is more beneficial to the untippable CM, filling out a compliment card or the tweet?
If you mention a CM by name they do get recognized by supervision/management.
Help me a lot. Thanks.
Thank you. That will be an 18% tip, please.