Hi Sarah,
Welcome back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel! What a happy trip your parents have planned for everyone!
I trust you will find the
Disney Dining Plans easy to use and a good value during your visit. How your dining bills come to the table will depend on how your resort reservation was made. When we have traveled with my parents and stayed together in a 2-bedroom villa, we received one bill when dining. When we traveled with other relatives and they stayed in a separate room, we each received separate bills when dining. Regardless of how the bills arrive at the table, you can certainly pay the tip for everyone.
If you have the Disney Dining Plan, you will have one table-service and one quick-service meal per night of stay for everyone 3-years old and over in your party. If you have the Deluxe Dining Plan, you will receive three meal entitlements per night of stay and those can be either quick-service or table-service. When we first did the Deluxe Dining Plan, I did not calculate the significant increase in tips because we did more table-service meals than we had on the Disney Dining Plan.
Since you are traveling in a large group, be sure you have made
advanced dining reservations. Although the whole group may not want to eat together for every meal, it might be nice to gather together for dinner each night. Two of our favorite family-style restaurants are 'Ohana and Liberty Tree Tavern. What better place to recount tales from the day's adventures than at 'Ohana with family?
Sarah, may I also suggest
Memory Maker - you will want to keep all of the priceless photos from this trip!
Magic, memories and Minnie Mouse hugs,
Donyell