Guide to Tipping in Walt Disney World

Tipping is a hot button topic that summons spirited conversation, but the fact remains that American culture, and Disney World by default, includes tipping. Folks coming from other countries where tipping isn’t standard may find this information helpful. Additionally, anyone who is booking tours or experiences, or anyone that hasn’t visited Disney World in several years might find useful data here.

We will cover: 

• Where tips / gratuity are expected
• Typical or common tip amounts
• When tips are not allowed or expected
• Experiences where gratuities are included
• Places that only accept cash tips
• Disney Dining Plan tipping

Disclaimer: With a few exceptions, tipping is optional. This post will relay traditional or usual tipping amounts by experience. We’d also like to note that tipping above the traditional amount for exceptional service is always nice, but also not required. We’ve included recommended amounts based on our own experiences and feedback provided by our Subscribers. This guide is simply another tool to help you budget for a Disney World vacation.

Cash, Please

There are several places that will require cash for tipping. If you don’t have an opportunity to change out larger bills for smaller currency, the front desk of any resort will be able to help.

Transportation

Mears Connect:

• $2 or $3 per bag, $5 minimum if the driver loads and unloads your bags from the luggage bay
  • Cash only

Ride Share like Lyft or Uber: 

• 10% to 20% of the fare or $5, whichever is larger
  • Cash or tip on the app

Resort Valet Services:

• $5 to $10 at drop off and pick up since Cast Members will likely be different. This is in addition to the $42 valet fee at Disney Resorts and $44 fee at the Dolphin, Swan, and Swan Reserve
  • Cash only

Bell Services:

• Grocery pick up: $5 to $10 to the Bell Services Cast Member. This is separate from the tip you’ll receive a prompt for when you schedule your delivery service. Plan for more if you have a large order of heavy and/or refrigerated items like the cart in the photo above.
  • Cash only
• Luggage pick up or drop off: $2 to $3 per bag, $5 minimum for more than one bag
  • Cash only
• Scooter, wheelchair, or stroller rental pick up: $5 to $10
  • Cash only
• Owner’s Locker pick up or drop off: $20
  • Cash only

Dining: 

Disney Dining Plan note: If you’re on the Disney Dining Plan, consider leaving a credit card on file when you check in to your resort. If you do not have a card on file, you will need cash for tips. You will not be able to add a tip to your bill without a credit card attached to your My Disney Experience profile.

• Table Service: 20%
• Buffet Table Service: 15% to 20%
• Quick Service: With a few exceptions, quick service dining locations inside the four Disney World parks do not accept tips. Many Disney Springs quick service spots and 3rd party (not Disney owned) places at Disney resorts will have tip jars or prompts for tips at check-out. Examples:
  •  The Cake Bake Shop at the BoardWalk will prompt (sometimes more than once) for tips on food, beverages, or merchandise. We suggest a $2 to $5 tip on food orders. We do not recommend tipping on just merchandise purchases although it will be an option at the register.
  • Joffrey’s locations inside the parks have a tip prompt. We typically leave $1 or $2 but many folks do not tip here.
  • The gelato stand in Hollywood Studios has a tip prompt. A $1 tip is respectable but many folks don’t tip here, either.
• Dining / Drinking experiences where payment in full is due at booking. Taxes and gratuity are included in the pre-paid total. There is no option to remove the automatic gratuity.
  • Cinderella’s Royal Table
  • La Cava Experience
  • Learn How to Taste Wine with Master Sommelier George Miliotes at Wine Bar George
    • This is the one experience on this list where we would discourage tipping your host. If you decide to leave an additional tip for exceptional service, the tip should go to the wait staff. Mr. Miliotes is the host, but he is also the owner of the establishment and should not be tipped.
  • The Garden View Lounge Tea Experience
  • Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue
• Parties of 6 or more will have an automatic 18% gratuity added to their bill.
• Room Service will also have an automatic gratuity

Bars:

There are bars all over Walt Disney World ~ inside EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, and at every Disney resort.

• We do not recommend tipping if you’re only ordering bottled or fountain sodas or water
• $2 to $4 per mixed drink or draft beer or cider
• $1 to $2 for bottled beer or pre-mixed cocktails
• $4 or more for anything that comes with an enhancement. For example, anything that comes with a dome and a smoke gun at La Cava should warrant more. Plan for higher tips at Trader Sam’s where you’ll likely get a mini show with your beverage.
• $++ Top shelf pours (like the 18 yr Macallan at Rose & Crown), flights, or bottles should receive a larger tip.

Housekeeping

Housekeeping occurs daily at Deluxe Resorts and every other day at Moderate and Value Resorts.

• $10 to $20 on day of service
  • Cash only
  • Leave the tip on a pillow or on an open table (maybe with a note of thanks) each day of service since the Mousekeeping Cast Members may be different each time your room is cleaned. The intention is to make clear that the cash is for your attendant and not just random bills you left out.
    • We’d like to note that many of the TouringPlans Subscribers (Liners) who have responded to our surveys and polls through the years tip much more than $20 a day. Much, much more. We love them for their passion and generosity. This isn’t a note to make anyone feel pressure, it’s just an acknowledgement of the Liners out there who show Cast Members their appreciation in the form of big bills. We love you.
• $2 to $5 for extra towels or other toiletries (toothbrush, lotion, extra blanket or pillow) delivered to your room independent of scheduled housekeeping.
  • Cash only

Enchanting Extras:

• VIP Tours: $50 to $100 per person with a minimum of $300
  • Cash or ask your guide for their Venmo or other mobile payment app
• Horseback riding, Archery, Back Trail Adventure at Fort Wilderness: $5 to $10 per person
  • Cash only
• Fireworks Cruises or Fishing Excursions: $50 minimum
  • Cash only
• Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique: $10 to $20
  • Cash only
• Hair braiding, face painting, or henna tattoo artists: $5 or more, depending on the time spent / design
  • Cash only
• Horse-drawn Carriage rides, including Holiday Sleigh Rides: $5 to $10 per person
  • Cash only
• Water park or resort cabana attendants: Minimum of $25, more if you utilize available food and beverage assistance. For example, if you reserve a Beachcomber Shack at Typhoon Lagoon and you don’t require anything from your attendant while you’re there, $25 is more than generous. If, however, Grandma is lounging all day and has ordered cocktails, the kids have ordered a platter of chicken tenders, and your attendant has grabbed you several bottles of lemonade that don’t come standard in your cooler (personal experience note), you’ll want to dig deeper for a bigger tip.
• Spa Services: 15% to 20% on services, not merchandise

Again, this is just a guide and not a required list of places to tip. What did we miss? Are there amounts you don’t agree with or times you’d suggest more than our amounts? Less? We’re very interested in this topic since it’s often a “hidden expense” that many guests, especially our friends from outside the US, need to consider when budgeting for a Disney vacation.

We welcome all comments. Thank you for reading!