Hi Sophie!
This question is such a good one! I love that you're really planning out an upcoming holiday. When browsing menus on the Disney app, remember that the prices you see don't include tax. On average, you can expect to pay between 6.5% and 7.5% extra for tax, depending on where you dine. For example, if you're staying at a property like the Disney All-Star Resort, which is just outside Orange County, the tax rate will be on the higher end. It's a small difference, but it’s good to know for planning!
As for tipping, there’s no need to worry about it at
Quick-Service restaurants—just grab your food and enjoy! For table-service restaurants, where you have a server, it's customary to leave a tip. I always recommend budgeting for gratuity in those cases, especially since for parties of 6 or more, an 18% gratuity will automatically be added to your bill. A little magic tip: if you're dining at a buffet-style restaurant with a server who brings drinks or assists with anything, it's still polite to leave a tip, even if the service is a bit different from a traditional sit-down meal.
For the ultimate experience, don’t forget to make
dining reservations in advance using the Disney website. When your at the Theme Parks or
Disney Resorts Collection hotels, don’t forget to use
Mobile Food & Beverage Ordering at Quick-Service dining locations. It’s a great time-saver, letting you skip the lines and enjoy more of the parks. When you arrive in the United States, you’ll be able to download the My Disney Experience Mobile App to take advantage of that feature.
Wishing you and your family the most magical time at Walt Disney World! Please come back and visit us again real soon!
~Heather