Palo reservation and tipping question

[junoluca]

Hello,

now that our cruise is coming closer, I have two questions and hope, someone can help with his/her experience.

My son decided that he would like to go to the Palo Champagne Brunch although at first he wasn´t interested. (that´s why I didn´t try to get a reservation when they were available online)
Do you think there´s a chance to get a reservation when we board the ship? We will take the Disney transportation from WDW to the port and won´t be at the ship very early.

And another question is about tipping the tour guides at the shore excursions.
When we did a tour at a port of call on our previous cruises, we noticed that besides us there were just one or two people who tipped the tour guide. All the others just left. We always tipped the guide but we were never sure what´s the appropriate tip, or what the guides expect at the different POC. (we´re going on the Eastern Cruise)
Can anyone clarify this for me?

Thanks a lot in advance.

Greetings from Germany, Jutta

 

[NHdisneylover]

Hello Jutta,
Brunch is the hardest meal to et and enarly always goes quite quickly. If you really want it you may consider hiring a private towncar to take you to the port instead of using Disney transfers (so that you can arrive early). I do not know how large your party is, but with 4 or more people you will likely even save a bit of money.
Even if you take DCL transfers though it does not hurt to ask. Often you can be put on a waiting list and sometimes people cancel (or concierge guests do not use all the slots being held for them) and you get a call about an opening.

I am sorry I cannot help you with tips on excusrions. We generally do our own thing in port. Have a great trip.

 

[mickeyfan1]

Tipping is a personal choice, I always get irritated when the driver or guide announces that "Tips are always appreciated". I already know that. If you are asking for one, you just lost out. I generally have a few singles in my pocket and will tip the driver/guide if they do anything more than standard. Don't open the door of the car, don't say hello, just act surly in general, again, no tip. I also think that people believe they are paying so muc for the tours that they shouldn't have to tip.

Brunch, is your son 21?

 

[kcashner]

About 1/2 of the reservations are available on line; the others are held till after boarding. In order to get a Palo brunch reservation after boarding, you will want to board as quickly as possible. That means arriving at the port by about 10:15 am. The DCL transportation from WDW will have you at the port about 1:30, by which time there will probably be no reservations available.

As above poster suggested, you can use a towncar service (car and driver) which will pick you up at your Disney resort and take you to the terminal at whatever time you choose. The cost for this is about $120. Since you are from Germany, you probably aren't interested in the other option which is to rent a car and drive yourself; rental cars can be dropped off near the terminal and you take a free shuttle to the terminal. The cost is usually under $50.

Tipping on excursions (like tipping in general) is a hot topic. It is not required, but most tour drivers/guides, etc will put out a tip jar. No one will turn down a tip. If they do more than just drive, I'll usually tip a small amount. As above poster said, they get a tip from me if they provide good commentary, hold doors open, smile, etc.

 

[junoluca]

Whow, that was fast!!!

Thanks a lot for your answers!!!

It´s only my son and me. So I will try to get onto the waiting list at Palo´s for the brunch. Maybe we are lucky and get a reservation.
The towncar is also a good suggestion, but for the two of us the Disney bus is much cheaper.

And I will be much more certain deciding how much to tip.

Thanks again!!!

Jutta

 

[all5ofus]

On the Eastern there is one more sea day and therefore one more brunch day so your odds are better than any other cruise. Get there early and give it a shot.

 

[ontariomonkey]

We went to try and put our name on the list for Palo brunch at about 3pm the first day (duh) and there were 3 or 4 pages of names in front of ours. Oh well. The man just looked at us sadly and said "I don't think it's going to happen for you" LOL. There are worse things. This was a 7 day eastern btw.

 

[DisneyCruiser83]

The Eastern and Western both have three chances for brunch as it is served on the Key West day on the Western. So, either way, you have an even chance. I would at least try for the waiting list, you never know!
DH and I generally tip $5 or so for good service from a guide.

 

[plutolovr]

We just returned from a Western 7-day and there was no Palo brunch on the Key West day. Lumiere's did have a brunch menu though, perhaps this is what the PP meant.

 

[kcashner]

In December, Palo had brunch on Key West day. There was also a brunch menu in Lumiere's.

Eastern and Western each have 3 Palo brunch days--Key West day essentially functions as a sea day in the morning as we don't dock till noon.

 

[sayhello]

Whow, that was fast!!!

Thanks a lot for your answers!!!

It´s only my son and me. So I will try to get onto the waiting list at Palo´s for the brunch. Maybe we are lucky and get a reservation.
The towncar is also a good suggestion, but for the two of us the Disney bus is much cheaper.

And I will be much more certain deciding how much to tip.

Thanks again!!!

Jutta

Quick question, Jutta, how old is your son? Even for brunch, Palo is Adults Only (18 or older). For all I know, your son may be 40, but since you didn't specify, I thought I'd ask, to make sure.

Sayhello

 

[junoluca]

Hi sayhello!

Thanks a lot for asking!
This attention for others is what I really like on this forum!

My son is 21, and this is his first trip to the US where he´s called "adult" and is allowed to do all the adult things and even drive our rental car.
And believe me, he´s really excited about all that.

Jutta

 

[sayhello]

Hi sayhello!

Thanks a lot for asking!
This attention for others is what I really like on this forum!

My son is 21, and this is his first trip to the US where he´s called "adult" and is allowed to do all the adult things and even drive our rental car.
And believe me, he´s really excited about all that.

Jutta

Excellent! You're welcome, and I hope you both have a wonderful time!

Sayhello

 

[cakesnjammom]

We tipped $25 at Brunch and more for dinner (cannot remember exactly). We had Annie/AnnMarie and she was wonderful and made us feel at ease and comfortable. The food is fabulous and brunch was easier to get once on the ship than prior. If it is not availablewhen you board do not forget to go on the waiting list!! YUM!!