[emamasa]

Just curious - I know tip is included with the dining plan (18% I think I read) - but, do any of you tip extra? I will play it be ear and tip extra for graet service - mainly because if it is only 18% added on, that isn't as much as I would normally tip! How about everyone else?

[alicefan]

We have once or twice for exceptional service.

[PhilliesFan]

We used the plan last July. We extra tipped on several occasions when the service was very good, that being at the California Grill and Mama Melrose.

[WishUponAStar]

I am probably in the minority but D and I always tip about 15% over the cheque total. The only exception would be TERRIBLE service, which very RARELY happens in WDW. I guess I do because I've known several server CMs from WDW and I know how hard they work, long hours, what they have to put up with sometimes, and obviously don't get paid nearly enough.

[Maria]

We did a couple of times when the service was very very good.

[leslieh]

I would for excellent service, as 18% is less than my normal tipping percentage.

[KarenWDWCP]

I left extra almost every time ( I think I had one exception) both times I've used the dining plan.

[bransworld]

In the past we did if the service was really good. On our upcoming trip we definitely will because there is going to be more of us. Now if the service is really rotten we may not.

[emamasa]

I'm gonna have to remember to have cash with me so I can! I hadn't thought about it before, we usually charge our meals, so I don't have to carry much cash. But, since I can't charge just a tip, I'll need cash. Does anyone know for sure what the tip % they actually get is? I thought 18%, which is low, IMHO, especially for the service one would expect at WDW.

[Soundgod]

With rare exception, I do not tip extra while on the meal plan. For starters, if the waiter can swing espresso and cappucino with desert even though we've had iced tea with the meal, he'll actuall increase his tip from Disney Travel. We had a waiter make a mistake at Wolfgang Puck's and one meal was supposed to not have been charged. Well, they charged us for the misprepared meal, and the waiter got the FULL tip. If I'm paying out of pocket, I will tip 20% on the total. I believe that the 18% tip is also based on the total, so they are doing fine. If service is really good, I will tip extra. If service is bad, they still get the full tip, on plan. At buffets, I tip 10% because the waiter is only bussing my table and bringing beverages, I'm doing most of the work myself.

And don't ever think that 18% is low. The recommended tip is 15-18% of the before tax total.

[Jen]

Originally Posted by Soundgod

And don't ever think that 18% is low. The recommended tip is 15-18% of the before tax total.

In most instances, 18% is a good tip. But as a waitress, there are several "high maintainace" tables that have worked you well over that 18%....

[emamasa]

Originally Posted by Soundgod

And don't ever think that 18% is low. The recommended tip is 15-18% of the before tax total.

I am a server, so yes, I do think it is low if it is exceptional service. In large metropilitan areas, 20-25% is the going rate for exceptional service. Even in my small town, 18-20% is normal for great service.

I agree that I am doing more work at a buffet becuase I have to leave my seat to pick out my own food, but considering the server still has to bring dishes (empty or not), clear dishes (more than at a regular meal most times), get and refill drinks, clean up and everything else a server does, I still tip more than 10%. But, the amount we all tip is not my point, it is an individual choice how well one tips or not. To some people, 10-15% is a great tip! I was just curious about extra tips on dining plan!

Thanks for everyone's responses!

[mrspooky]

We usually have a table of 8 wherever we go, and my in laws are not on the dining plan because they are AP, but they do have the Disney Dining Experience card, so since we confuse them so much we always leave something extra.

[mickey]

I would say almost always, if that was a choice. We usually leave a bit extra, unless the waiter/waitress is horrible, which has only happened twice.

[iluvwdw]

I live in New York and always tip 20% AFTER tax...which is HIGH around here! So many people just double the tax, which is like 17%. So PLEASE don't think that 18% is low.