Welcome to planDisney, K! I'm so glad to be able to answer a question for someone from my home province of Ontario. My family loves the
Disney Dining Plan because it makes paying for our meals so simple, and the only decision we have to make is which delicious menu item we're going to choose! I'm happy to walk you through some of the finer details so you can decide if the dining plan is going to be right for your family on your upcoming trip to Walt Disney World Resort.
With the exception of
Cinderella's Royal Table and
Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue,
gratuities are not included when you use the Disney Dining Plan. At the end of each meal, you will receive a receipt that details what you ate, including any extra out-of-pocket choices like appetizers or extra beverages, and what, if any, amount is left over after your dining plan has been applied. When the bill comes, there will be an opportunity to tip the Cast Member who served you using your credit card, cash, or by using your
Disney Band to charge that amount to your
Resort Hotel room. Your server does not receive any gratuity from your use of the dining plan, it covers only the menu items that you ordered and not the service. A tip of 18% to 20% is customary for great service, and also keep in mind that an 18% gratuity will automatically be added to your bill if you're dining with a party of 6 or more.
I hope this answers your question, K, and please let us know if there's anything else we can do to help you plan your magical vacation!
Jessica