Planning meals is a big part of any Walt Disney World vacation. Between character breakfasts, signature dining, and quick-service favorites, guests often spend hundreds of dollars on food throughout their trip. Now, a new Florida law is changing what visitors will see before they place those orders.
The legislation doesn’t introduce new restaurant fees or increase menu prices. Instead, it requires restaurants across Florida, including those at Walt Disney World, to be much more transparent whenever mandatory charges are added to a bill.
For Disney guests, that means fewer surprises and more visible pricing throughout the dining experience.
Florida Tightens Restaurant Disclosure Rules
As of July 1, Florida restaurants that charge mandatory “operations charges” must clearly explain those fees before customers make a purchase.
The law covers automatic gratuities, service charges, delivery fees, credit card surcharges, and similar mandatory additions beyond menu prices and sales tax.
Restaurants must now display:
- The exact amount or percentage of the fee.
- A clear explanation of why it’s being charged.
- Notices on printed menus, websites, and mobile ordering platforms.
- Font that is at least as large as menu descriptions.
- Itemized receipts separating gratuity, operations charges, and taxes.
Quick-service restaurants without printed menus must also display the information on menu boards or near checkout.
What Changes at Disney World?
Most Disney guests won’t notice dramatic differences because Walt Disney World has long disclosed many of its dining policies.
Still, the new law requires those notices to be even more prominent.
One of the biggest examples is Disney’s automatic 18% gratuity for parties of six or more at table-service restaurants. Guests booking dining reservations or browsing menus should expect that policy to appear more clearly than before.
The fee itself hasn’t changed. Disney simply has to ensure guests can easily see it before ordering.
Mobile Ordering Gets New Attention
The legislation specifically mentions mobile applications, making Disney’s My Disney Experience app part of the new requirements.
Whether guests are placing Mobile Orders or paying delivery fees at select Disney Resort hotels, mandatory charges must now appear clearly before checkout.
As more guests rely on their phones to order meals, the law extends the same transparency standards beyond traditional restaurant menus.
Dinner Shows Remain Largely Unaffected
Some Disney dining experiences already bundle everything into one advertised price.
Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, for example, includes gratuity in its listed admission cost. Since guests see the complete price before purchasing, these types of fixed-price experiences generally fall outside the new disclosure requirements.
However, any separate mandatory surcharge added outside the advertised package would still need to follow the law.
More Information Before You Order
The biggest takeaway for Disney fans is simple.
Restaurant bills aren’t suddenly becoming more expensive because of this legislation.
Instead, Florida wants guests to understand every mandatory charge before they commit to a meal.
Whether you’re grabbing lunch in Magic Kingdom, enjoying dinner at EPCOT, or ordering food back at your Disney Resort hotel, you’ll likely notice clearer language surrounding automatic fees moving forward.
For many visitors, that’s exactly the point.
