Greetings Janeese! Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel. I'd be glad to assist with your planning questions.
It sounds like you have a quite a Walt Disney World adventure right around the corner! What a great idea for your family to be making use of a
Disney Dining Plan. It's so wonderful to have all of your meals coordinated and prepaid, especially when you are traveling with a larger group.
Gratuities are not included on the Disney Dining Plan with the exception of Dinner Shows, Private In-Room Dining, and Cinderella's Royal Table. When dining as a party of 6 or more at a table-service restaurant, an 18% gratuity is automatically added to your bill, so expect to see this charge when you are all enjoying a sit-down meal together. If you receive exceptional service, you are always welcome to leave additional, or you can give a specific compliment to a Cast Member that served you. Check out some ideas on
how to recognize and thank a Cast Member from my fellow panelist, Kathy!
Ah, lunch at
Be Our Guest Restaurant. The perfect way to take a break from the heat of the day and enjoy a delicious meal in a setting from one of my favorite Disney films. As lunch is quick-service, there are no gratuities for service here. But - if you receive a little extra pixie-dust from the wonderful Cast Members, don't forget about those tips from Kathy on how to say thank you! Mom tip: have your family look at the lunch menu ahead of time and take advantage of Order-Ahead Dining to avoid standing in line to order.
I hope I've helped with your planning questions, Janeese. I am so excited for all of great meals waiting for you on your vacation.
Bon appétit!
Betsy