You can add prepaid gratuities to your Disney Cruise reservation online, by phone, or through the Disney Cruise Line app before your sailing date
Prepaid gratuities let you pay tips for your crew members in advance rather than settling them onboard. Disney Cruise Line offers this option through your online reservation account, by calling their reservations line, or through the official Disney Cruise Line mobile app. You can add gratuities at any point before your cruise departs, and you can adjust the amounts if your plans change.
The standard gratuity amounts Disney suggests are roughly $15 per person per day for dining staff, $18 per person per day for stateroom attendants, and $20 per person per day for head servers — though you can choose any amount you prefer. Prepaid gratuities appear as a separate charge on your final bill and are distributed to crew members according to Disney's standard tipping practices.
Key Takeaways
- Log into your Disney Cruise Line reservation online, open the "My Reservations" section, and select "Gratuities" to add or modify tip amounts before your sailing date.
- Disney's suggested daily gratuity rates are approximately $15 for dining staff, $18 for stateroom attendants, and $20 for head servers per person, but you can adjust these amounts to your preference.
- You can also add or change gratuities by calling Disney Cruise Line reservations at 1-800-939-5277 or through the Disney Cruise Line app under your reservation details.
- Prepaid gratuities are charged to your onboard account and appear on your final bill as a separate line item, distributed to crew members after your cruise ends.
- If you prepay gratuities and later want to adjust them, you can modify the amounts online or by phone up until your sailing date.
Adding Gratuities Through Your Online Reservation
Start by visiting the Disney Cruise Line website and logging into your account with your reservation confirmation number and last name. Once you are logged in, look for the "My Reservations" section and select the specific cruise you want to modify. You should see a menu of options including "Gratuities" — click on that link to open the gratuity management page.
On the gratuities page, you will see fields for each crew member category: dining room server, assistant server, head server, and stateroom attendant. Disney displays its suggested amounts next to each field, but you can enter any amount you choose. Enter your preferred daily tip per person for each role, then review the total cost for your entire party and sailing length. Click "Save" or "Confirm" to finalize your prepaid gratuities.
The system will calculate the total based on the number of guests in your stateroom and the number of nights you are sailing. If you have multiple staterooms under one reservation, you may need to set gratuities for each room separately — check your confirmation screen to see whether additional staterooms appear in the menu.
Calling Disney Cruise Line to Add Gratuities
If you prefer to handle gratuities by phone, call Disney Cruise Line reservations at 1-800-939-5277. Have your reservation confirmation number and last name ready when you call. A representative will pull up your reservation and walk you through the gratuity options, explaining the suggested amounts for each crew member category.
Tell the representative the daily amount you want to prepay for each position, and they will calculate the total charge and add it to your reservation. The representative will confirm the amounts before finalizing, so you have a chance to adjust if needed. Gratuities added by phone appear on your account within one to two business days.
Using the Disney Cruise Line Mobile App
Open the official Disney Cruise Line app on your phone and log in with your account credentials. Navigate to "My Reservations" and select the cruise you want to modify. Scroll down to find the "Gratuities" or "Onboard Charges" section — the exact wording varies depending on your app version.
Tap on the gratuities option to see the suggested amounts for each crew member role. Enter your preferred daily tip amounts in the fields provided, review the total cost, and confirm your selection. The app will save your changes when ready, and the gratuities will be added to your onboard account.
Understanding Gratuity Amounts and Distribution
Disney's suggested daily gratuity rates are approximately $15 per person per day for dining room servers, $18 per person per day for stateroom attendants, and $20 per person per day for head servers. These are suggestions only — you can prepay less, more, or nothing at all. Some guests prepay the suggested amount, while others adjust based on their budget or service preferences.
The total charge is calculated by multiplying your daily per-person amount by the number of guests in your stateroom and the number of nights you are sailing. For example, a family of four sailing for seven nights and prepaying $15 per person per day for dining staff would be charged $420 for that category alone. The charges for all crew categories are combined into one prepaid gratuity total.
After your cruise ends, Disney distributes the prepaid gratuities to crew members according to their standard tipping practices. Crew members who worked in your stateroom or served you in the dining room receive their portion of the tips. You do not need to hand out cash or envelopes if you have prepaid — the system handles the distribution automatically.
Modifying or Removing Prepaid Gratuities Before Your Cruise
If you change your mind about the amounts you prepaid, you can adjust them anytime before your sailing date using the same methods you used to add them. Log back into your reservation online, open the gratuities section, and change the daily amounts to whatever you prefer. You can also call reservations at 1-800-939-5277 to request changes over the phone.
If you want to remove prepaid gratuities entirely and pay onboard instead, you can set all amounts to zero through your online reservation or by calling. Keep in mind that if you remove prepaid gratuities, you will need to settle the tips onboard using your stateroom charge card or cash before you disembark on your final day.
Changes made online typically take effect within one to two business days. If your cruise is departing very soon, calling reservations directly is faster because a representative can process the change when ready and confirm it over the phone.
What Happens If You Do Not Prepay Gratuities
If you do not prepay gratuities, you will be asked to settle them on your final evening onboard. Disney will present you with a suggested gratuity total for your stateroom, and you can adjust it up or down before authorizing the charge to your onboard account. You can also choose to pay gratuities in cash and hand them directly to crew members if you prefer.
Many guests prepay because it spreads the cost across their vacation budget and removes the need to handle tips on the last day when you are packing and preparing to leave. Others prefer to wait and see the quality of service before deciding on amounts. Both approaches are common and accepted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I prepay different gratuity amounts for different staterooms on the same reservation?
Yes, if your reservation includes multiple staterooms, you can set different gratuity amounts for each room. When you access the gratuities section online or by phone, you should see options to modify each stateroom separately. This is useful if one stateroom has more guests or if you want to adjust tips based on the size of each room.
What if I want to add gratuities after I have already checked in onboard?
You can add or modify gratuities at the Guest Services desk on your ship at any time during your cruise. Staff at Guest Services can adjust your prepaid amounts or add gratuities if you did not prepay. They will explain the suggested amounts and process any changes to your onboard account.
Do I have to prepay the suggested gratuity amounts?
No, the amounts Disney suggests are guidelines only. You can prepay any amount you choose, including zero. Some guests prepay less than suggested, while others prepay more. The choice is entirely yours based on your budget and preferences.
Will prepaid gratuities show up on my final bill?
Yes, prepaid gratuities appear as a separate line item on your final onboard bill. You will see the total amount charged, broken down by crew member category if you request an itemized statement. This charge is separate from your room, dining, and any other onboard purchases.
Can I pay gratuities in cash instead of prepaying or charging to my account?
Yes, you can hand cash tips directly to crew members at any time during your cruise. Many guests do this in addition to or instead of prepaid gratuities. If you choose to pay only in cash and do not prepay, you will still see a suggested gratuity total on your final bill, but you can decline to charge it and settle with cash instead.