Out of curiosity I decided to put this to the test and, unless things have changed dramatically, this would not be true for us.
Four dollars for the server, $3 for the assistant server and one $1 for the head server per day adds up to $8. Times three people that is $24 a day.
On our last
Disney cruise we did the buffet for breakfast and lunch. The only service I remember being provided was table bussing. No table service as it was a buffet and no drink service because there were drink stations. This would only warrant a $2 tip (which is about 7.5% on a $27 bill, not that we calculate it that way) in total at each meal. So $4 there. (I am ignoring the one day we did a sit down lunch as well as the one day we did counter pizza because they would balance out.)
Dinners at a table service restaurant for the three of us before adult beverages and taxes typically costs between $25 and $35. Because Disney has more upscale selections, I will go with $50. Fifteen per cent of this is $7.50. (I am ignoring the dinner we did at Cabanas and the night we did room service.)
$24 - ($6+$7.50) = $12.50
So this would cost me $12.50 a day in tips on other trips, which is just over
half what Disney recommends.
I would now like to see how Disney calculates their recommended amount.