Hi Margy,
Taking a large group of people to Disney World is always a bit of an undertaking, but it is extra magical to have all of your friends or family together for a fun Disney vacation. How amazing that you are planning such a magical experience and picking up the bill! Luckily the
Disney dining plans are a great way to budget for meals since you pay a flat fee and then use your allotted meals however you want throughout your vacation. Gratuities at table service restaurants are the only additional fees you will need to worry about.
Dining at Disney World is not much different than dining elsewhere. As you mentioned an 18% gratuity will be added if your party is larger than 6 people.
Gratuities will be for the entire bill including meals, drinks, cocktails, and also anything you order that is not included with your Disney dining plan meal. When it is time to pay the gratuity bill you will be able to either charge it to your room using your
MagicBand+ or provide an alternate form of payment to the cast member waiting on your table.
Since you are using the
Disney Dining Plan, I highly recommend saving one of your meals for a character dining experience. Even if you are not traveling with children, a character meal is a great opportunity for fun pictures and interactions with Disney friends. Breakfast à la Art with Mickey & Friends at
Topolino's Terrace is marvelous! The food is delicious, the characters are dressed up in fun Parisian-inspired outfits, and you can hop on the Disney Skyline when you finish for a fun day at Hollywood Studios or EPCOT.
Happy Planning,
Jenna