I’ve sailed Disney more than ten times, and tipping is straightforward once you know who’s covered and how to handle the extras. Disney publishes a recommended amount per guest, you can pre-pay or let it post to your stateroom bill, and you’ll still get envelopes near the end of the cruise so you can say thank you in person.
Table of Contents
At a glance
Recommended amount: $16.00 per guest, per night, including infants and children. This covers your dining room server, assistant server, head server, and stateroom host.
How to pay: You can pre-pay before you sail, or let the amount post to your onboard folio and adjust at Guest Services. Envelopes and printed slips still arrive for handoff, and the crew receives the tips even if you don’t hand over the envelopes.
Extras with auto-gratuity: Bars, specialty coffees and Senses Spa services carry 18% automatically. You can add more.
Concierge: These staterooms carry higher recommended gratuities than standard staterooms.
The baseline
Amount and who is included
Disney’s current guidance recommends $16.00 per guest, per night. That total is divided among your rotational dining team and your stateroom host. You can pre-add this before you sail, or let it post to your folio and adjust if you wish.
How the envelopes and printed slips work
On the second-to-last evening, your stateroom host leaves envelopes and slips showing each crew member’s amount. Hand them out at dinner or breakfast on debarkation morning. If you forget, they still receive the gratuity because it is already on your account. I still hand over the slips with a quick thank-you, and I add a note or a little cash when someone truly shines.
How to pay your gratuities
Whether you choose to pay ahead or as part of your folio, you can always adjust amounts during your cruise by stopping at Guest Services.
You should know that pre-paying isn’t always an option. This is true with Concierge, Guaranteed with Restrictions, and some bookings done through a travel agent.
If you do see the option, you have to add gratuities at least three days before you sail, else they’ll just default to your stateroom bill.
Pros | Cons | |
|---|---|---|
Pre-pay before you sail | One less task onboard | Some people want to pay this as part of the onboard folio vs before |
Let it post to your stateroom bill | Use any onboard credit towards your stateroom’s gratuities | Larger final folio |
What isn’t covered by the baseline
Bars and cocktails: 18% auto-gratuity is added to checks. If a bartender nails a recommendation or remembers our favorites, I write in a little extra. Any alcoholic drinks you get in the main dining rooms are also brought to you on a separate check at the end of dinner, with auto-gratuity added.
Specialty coffee: My morning espresso also shows an 18% gratuity. I add a bit more on the last morning if the same barista has taken care of me all week.
Senses Spa & Salon: An 18% service charge is added. You can add more on the line provided.
Room service: Food is included, but I tip the delivery team a few dollars in cash. You can also add the tip onto the receipt, and it will show up on your onboard account as well.
Porters at the terminal: Bring small bills for embarkation and disembarkation. These are the folks that help with your bags when you first arrive, or when you’re coming back to go through passport control and customs.
Port Adventures: Tip guides separately in the local currency or as recommended by the operator. Disney doesn’t add any tip in.
Adult dining: Palo, Remy and Enchanté
These meals are special. Service is attentive and memorable. My advice, based on many dinners and brunches: I tip around 20% of what a comparable meal would cost on land.
Example: Let’s say you do the prix fixe Prezzo Fisso menu. It’s four courses for $50. Personal opinion but I don’t think $10 feels right to me, for what’s more like a $100 meal on land. So I’d tip $20 instead.
Drinks already carry an auto-gratuity. I add extra for the dining service itself when the experience is outstanding.
What about Concierge and Suite gratuities?
Concierge gratuities are higher than standard staterooms and are handled separately, currentl $27.25 USD per night, per stateroom guest. Be sure to confirm the figure for your sailing with Disney or onboard Concierge at check-in, and budget a dedicated line item for the Concierge Lounge team.
When I add extra
I keep a few fives, tens, and twenties for the moments that deserve something extra special:
a dining server who goes over and beyond when it comes to food allergies
a stateroom host who solves a late-night issue right away
a barista who knows my order by day two and greets me with a smile and by name
I still hand over the printed slips so accounting lines up, then add cash. The crew works extremely hard to make sure we all have a wonderful cruise.
Examples: base gratuities for common sailing lengths
3-Night | 4-Night | 7-Night | |
|---|---|---|---|
Per Guest Totals | $48 | $64 | $112 |
Family of Four | $192 total | $256 total | $448 total |
Note: Concierge gratuities are higher; verify the current figure with Disney.
Final thoughts from a frequent Disney cruiser
Pre-pay if you want a tidy budget. Let it post if you like the flexibility to adjust. Keep a little cash for the human moments that make a cruise feel special. If you’re booking soon, I can help you pick the right itinerary, sort dining, and set up a simple gratuity plan so you’re never guessing.
Ready to plan your Disney cruise?
My planning help is complimentary, and I offer onboard credit on eligible sailings as a thank-you for booking with me.
“This was our first Disney Cruise, and Gabe made it a breeze from start to finish. He helped us pick the perfect staterooms, guided us through key planning dates, advised on the various restaurants on the ship, and even shared a first-timer checklist that made packing stress-free.”
FAQs
Do infants count toward the nightly gratuity?
Yes. The recommendation is per guest, including infants and children.
Can I adjust amounts?
Yes. Visit Guest Services before the last evening to increase or decrease. You can also always add cash.
What if I misplace the envelopes?
The crew still receives the gratuity. The envelopes are for presentation and for adding a note or cash.
Is room service included?
Food is included in the price of your cruise, tipping the delivery team is customary.
Do bar, coffee, and spa already include a tip?
Yes, 18% is added automatically to bar and specialty coffee checks and to spa services. You can add more.
Concierge…how much should I plan for?
Concierge tipping is higher than standard staterooms. Disney’s site reflects a higher recommended nightly amount for Concierge guests
About Gabe
I run Gabe Travels out of the Pittsburgh area and have sailed Disney more than ten times across different ships and itineraries. I focus on practical planning that makes your vacation feel easy, with clear guidance on dining, stateroom choices, and tipping.
Gabe Travers is an Independent Travel Advisor affiliated with EnchantAway Travel, through which Disney Cruise Line bookings are made.
