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Mother, Son, Giraffe, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Animal Kingdom, Savannah
  • On Apr 10, 2009
    Julie Asked Note: This answer was provided prior to the change to planDisney and may still contain references to Disney Parks Moms Panel.

    Experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    Hi. We are coming to WDW in September from New Zealand, and are not used to tipping. What are the rules, who do we tip, and how much.

    Hi Julie,

    While there are no set rules for tipping, I can share some guidelines that I follow.  Sometimes, if the service I received was exceptional, I may offer more, but this should help give you an idea of how/when to tip.

    • Anyone who offers to take your bags for you at the airport or at the resort: generally $1 per bag.
    • Shuttle Van/Bus: $2 per person
    • Housekeeping (or Mousekeeping as it is referred to in Disney): $1 per day per person is a general rule of thumb.  Again, this is an area where my family sometimes gives more as some "mousekeepers" do an exceptional job.  If you are planning on tipping Mousekeeping, you'll want to do so on a daily basis, rather than leave one tip at the end of your stay.  Different housekeepers may attend your room each day.  Be sure to leave your tip in an envelope marked "For Housekeeping"; otherwise, it may not be collected.
    • Counter-service dining: Nothing
    • Buffet Eatery (not food courts): 10-15% of bill
    • Full-Service Dining: 15-20% of bill
    Again, while gratuity is standard in the United States, it is left to your discretion.  If you receive extremely poor service and feel that a tip is not warranted, make sure you notify a manager of the problem so that it can be corrected for future guests.  Likewise, when you receive exceptional service, it's nice to notify someone of that as well.

    Hope this helps.  Have a magical vacation!

thumbnail image for Diane

Meet the Panelist: Diane, Georgia

After spending 25 years in RI, my husband and I relocated to GA with our youngest, who is now in high school. I took my first trip to Walt Disney World when I was 11 and I have traveled many times since then with all different party sizes. From creating our first itinerary as a honeymooner to later creating magical experiences for our multigenerational family gatherings, every aspect of planning a vacation has been pure joy to me.  Learn More About Diane

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