I’ve been to Disney several times over the years & had the Disney Dining Plan (DDP). I’ve never used my magic band/card to pay for tips at sit down restaurants on property, just cash tips, as I’ve always been afraid of being double charged for the meal (charging my card instead of using my dining credits).
This year, I am determined to get over my fear of double paying, by figuring out how to tip using my magic band. Can anyone ease my mind about this and explain the process of tipping on my magic band AFTER using DDP credits?
It works the same way that paying for the meal works. Basically they give you the receipt and it should say X meals, show the dining plan credits used and then list the charges for say non-covered items like extra drinks or apps, and then give the remaining dollar amount. You just give your band to pay for that amount.
You should see on the receipt that the meals went towards the dining plan so I would say there is basically a zero chance of being double charged.
Something similar to this happened to us in May at O’Hana, but it was the tip, not the cost of the meal. We left a cash tip and the waiter charged our band/room for a tip as well. We were on the dining plan. When you get the receipt after they run the dining plan you’ll see the remaining dining plan credits and have to sign off on it. Once they run the bill through the system that way I think it’s a process for them to change the payment method and the likelihood of being charged twice is low.
This is helpful. I’ll just make sure I look at the receipt closely. For whatever reason, when I’m at Disney, all logic goes out of my mind and I forget how to be a responsible adult.
Thank you for clarifying this - this will be helpful. So I just write the tip amount and they charge my room? Or does it charge my credit card linked to my Disney account?
Yes this. We bring disney gift cards with us (bought at a discount at BJ’s) and go to the front desk each night on our way back to our room to pay off any charges that we put on it during the day. That way it never goes to our credit card.
Ohhhhhh, that is a wonderful idea… We are staying for 12 days, so rather than having a ridiculous check out bill, using gift cards may be an alternative option (and discounted option).
We’ve always waited till the last night and I’ve never had a charge go to my card. They might put holds but nothing permanent. Going each night seems daunting.
Yes. And you can consolidate funds (up to $1000 each card) on disneygiftcard.com
I think it’s a dollar amount thing as to when they hit the card? I could be making that up. But we’re usually walking past the front desk anyway on our way in after the parks and it’s not a big deal to stop and pay quick. I’ve already spent the money to buy the gift card and don’t want it hitting my credit card because then I’d have to use more money to pay it. Which makes no sense in the whole scheme of things, but that’s how my brain works
Maybe. I’ve been told it’s a hold in $100 increments. But I’ve never actually looked in real time how it plays out. I do know I’ve never been charged on my credit card except for the few things that were charged after the GC payoff.
