Hi Nicole,
Welcome back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel! It sounds like you are doing some fantastic planning!
You are correct. The
Dining Plans do not include gratuities. The deluxe dining plan is my absolute favorite dining plan! When using the deluxe plan, we have enjoyed the
California Grill and Cinderella's Royal Table, both of which require two Table-Service credits per person on the dining plan.
We typically tip 18%. Your estimate of the gratuity would depend on how many Table-Service restaurants you plan to visit and the restaurants you select. During our last visit, we tipped about $300 total for our 5 night/6 day stay. But we only ate at one or two Quick-Service locations. For some restaurants, you can view the prices on the menu to get a better estimate of what the meal cost would be. The
Coral Reef Restaurant Dinner Menu will give you an idea of prices at a Table-Service restaurant. Of course, signature restaurants like the California Grill are more expensive, so your tip estimate would be higher.
My main suggestion, therefore, would be to decide how many Table-Service meals you plan to eat and then check the menus for those restaurants. If available, there is a "view menu" icon on the restaurant's home page. Buffet prices may not be listed. You can call the Walt Disney World Resort at 407-939-1947 to check on buffet prices.
We eat like royalty on the deluxe dining plan! We love the views from atop the Contemporary Resort at the California Grill. The view of the fireworks at Magic Kingdom is spectacular. I do hope you enjoy at least one signature dining experience!
-Donyell