Tipping at Disney World can be confusing for international guests who are not used to how Americans tip in general. Tipping and gratuities are what happens in the United States and at Disney World so we decided to provide a Disney World Tipping Guide.
Let’s guide you through the process of tipping at Walt Disney World step by step.
Arriving at the Airport
Let’s start at the beginning. You have just arrived in the airport at Orlando so who might you need to tip. This is pretty simple because if anybody help you by handling your luggage you should be looking to tip them around $1 to $2 per bag. It is always handy to have a few low value dollar notes in your wallet when you arrive in Orlando just in case you need them for tipping.
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Getting to Your Resort
If you are taking the Mears Connect bus service to Disney World you will find that usually the driver will load your luggage on to the bus and then unload them again when you get to your resort. We normally tip the driver $1 dollar per bag but what usually happens is that we will tip a $5 note as we normally have 4 large suitcases. This will be the same if you are travelling by some other type of shuttle bus where the driver will handle your luggage.
If travelling by a form of taxi then you will tip the driver 15-20% of the fare. The more helpful the driver will give you an indication of what to tip.
Getting To Your Resort Room
When you are checking in at your resort before going to your room you can use bell services to take your bags to your room. This is a useful service if you are staying at a Disney Resort as they can be large and it saves you trying to transport them yourself (possibly on another bus). You will usually get to your room before bell services arrive with your luggage and again we tip around $1 to $2 per bag. Like the Magical Express Driver I normally tip $5 dollars if I have a $5 note.
Housekeeping (or Mouse Keeping)
You can opt out of House Keeping when staying at a Disney World Resort to save some money. As we are on vacation we always keep the service and get our room tidied every day.
You should tip $1 per person staying in the room so for us it would be $4 for 4 people (We normally round this up to $5 per day). We always put these tips into a small envelope and write Mouse Keeping on it and our daughter will decorate each envelope. You can also do this before you arrive at Disney World.
Having the money in an envelope makes it clear that the tip is for the house keepers meaning there isn’t any confusion. In the past tipping for housekeeping wasn’t standard practice but it very much is now.
Getting Around Disney World
If you are using the Disney World Resort buses (or boats or monorail) then you do not need to worry about tips. If you need to use a taxi to get somewhere for a specific time then the standard rate of 15% to 20% for a taxi ride tip should be considered. You also need to consider this tip when using Uber, Lyft or a Minnie Van.
For some Disney World Transportation Tips take a look at our article here or by clicking the image below.
Dining at Disney World
When Dining at Disney World you will need to think about tips as well. If you are dining at a Quick Service Restaurant then you don’t need to think about tips.
You can find our Top 10 Quick Service Restaurants Here.
For Table Service Restaurants you will need to tip 18% to 20% (this is suggested by Disney) of the total bill value. If you are on the Dining Plan the suggested tip will be on the bill that you get at the end of your meal. The amount you tip is down to your discretion and we normally tip to the higher end of the scale when we are really well looked after by our server.
If you are really not happy with the service you received we would advise to ask to speak to the manager first before tipping low or not at all. Fortunately we have never been in that situation when dining at Disney World.
You can find our Top 10 Table Service Restaurants here or by clicking the image below.
Drinking at Disney World
Do be aware that if you buy a drink from a bar that you will need to tip. There are bar type areas at Epcot, Animal Kingdom & Hollywood Studios where when you buy alcoholic drinks you should tip the bartender. You will find this at Disney Resort bar areas too as this can sometimes catch out international guests. If you buy a beer from a quick service kiosk in one of the Disney World parks you don’t need to tip.
Disney’s tipping for bar staff is 18% to 20% the same as table restaurants. It is more common however to tip $1/$2 per drink across the USA and that’s what we tend to do.
You can find our full Disney World Planning Guide here
Other Personal Services
You may use some of the services on offer at some of the Spas at Disney World or maybe another personal service at a Salon for example (this includes Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and Harmony Barber Shop) where you will need to consider tipping 15% to 20% of the value of the service being provided.
Going Home
When it comes to leaving Disney World (try not to think about it too much) you may choose to use bell services to collect your luggage. As when you arrived tip $2 per bag. If you are staying at a Disney Resort you can get Bell Services to store your luggage until you have to catch the Magical Express back to the airport. Normally Bell Services will wheel your luggage out to you on a trolley for you to lift your luggage off so you shouldn’t have to tip them again.
The Magical Express Driver will load and unload your luggage on and off the bus the same as when you arrived. So again we would tip at least $1 per bag when you get to the airport and collect your luggage from the Magical Express driver.
Once you get inside the airport and check in your luggage for the flight home that should be the end of the tipping on your vacation. Now it’s time to plan your next Disney World Vacation.
What About Helpful Cast Members
The cast members inside the parks can get into a lot of trouble for accepting tips but there is something you can do if you feel a cast member deserves a bit of recognition. Remember their name and their home town that is detailed on their badge. Head to guest services and ask for a guest communications comment card. On the card fill it in with the cast members name, hometown and detail how they helped you. This will get passed on to management to see and will be really helpful to highlight the great work they are doing for guests in the parks.
Disney World Tipping Overview:
Before Getting to Disney World
- Magical Express Driver or Anyone that Handles your Luggage: $1/$2 per bag
- Taxi Driver: 15 to 20% of your taxi fare
After Check in at your Resort
- Bell Services: $1/$2 per bag
- Housekeeping (each day): $1 per person staying in your room
Getting Around Disney World:
- Disney World Transportation: Nil
- Taxi, Uber, Lift or Minnie Van: 15 to 20% of your total fare
- Cast Members: Nil
Dining at Disney World:
- Quick Service Restaurants: Nil
- Table Service Restaurants: 18% to 20% of your total bill
- Bars: 18% to 20% of your bar bill (suggested by Disney), we go for $1/$2 per drink.
- Buying Beers from Quick Service Kiosks: Nil
Personal Services:
- Spa Treatments, Salons: 15% to 20% of the value of the service being provided
Going Home:
- Magical Express Driver or Anyone that Handles your Luggage: $1/$2 per bag
- Taxi Driver: 15 to 20% of your taxi fare
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Thanks for taking a look at our Disney World Tipping guide. For more Disney World Planning you can find our previous article here.
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