2012 Beach and Yacht FAQ, Part 3- Don't Post Here!!! New Thread, November 2012

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MickeyT - Thanks for the suggestion and the link. I will wait and check-in in person. I have printed the room number layouts and will use them as a guide.
 
Is he looking to buy or rent? There are some great deals out there right now for buying. A six year old house in our development that was built for a little over $200,000 just sold for $130,000. The owner got transferred. And you can build brand new starting at $160,000 in our area ... that's a 3 bedroom/2 bath with normal size lot. We wanted to stay away from all the tourist stuff and traffic so that's why we're where we are ... plus we like the lakes, hills and orange orchards!

We will be buying-just makes more sense. We have looked at prices. They are great!! I think he's more looking at a condo though in case the job (commuting) doesn't work out. He will be commuting back and forth so not sure how this will all play out. Although the houses are almost the same price as a condo:scared1:
I think we just want to make sure we have a vacation home for a while if he needs to move back home permanently.
This is all just overwhelming to me right now.
 
We have just got back from a 2 week stay at Yacht Club on the dining plan traveling from uk. We arrived at 8pm and because that's 1am body clock time we really didn't have the energy or want to commit to a meal. We used counter service credits to get some food from the marketplace and took it back to our room to settle in which was casual and flexible. It was also a good chance to pick up our refillable mugs and to scope out the amenities too. :thumbsup2

With regards to the tipping, although it hurts (!) I think you just have to suck it up. It's not fair to penalize the server (most of whom offer excellent service) just because we usually tip 10% here in UK. In the US the tip is not just a bonus for good service but forms the basis of the server's earnings, that's why it's not really discretionary. Hope this helps :goodvibes

I second picking up a quick service meal, either at Marketplace, of if you feel like a short walk to stretch your legs, along the Boardwalk. They have a take out pizza window, and other options.
I know that when we fly in from the west coast, it's a long enough flight, and we just don't feel like a sit down dinner.

As for tipping, when in Rome.........
 


Wow! Thanks for all the ideas and the photos... really helps a lot. At least now I can convince mom to wait until we get to the Beach Club to grab a bite and not at the Airport! Bleeechhh!! lol
 
After much discussion, we booked the BC/YC for our trip next Aug./Sept. :cool1: Please give me your honest views of transportation at this resort. We are a bit worried as we have read some negative reviews on this--mostly the bus to MK, AK, and DTD. I am not as worried about the negative reviews of the bus to DTD as many resorts have that. I am more concerned with the bus service to the MK and AK. Please reassure us--thanks!!

I am bumping this up for some input please--my wife keeps asking what the nice people here on this forum said about the transportation--thanks so much for any help!!
 
DisneylandDad said:
I am bumping this up for some input please--my wife keeps asking what the nice people here on this forum said about the transportation--thanks so much for any help!!

We may have gotten lucky bit when we were there (YC) in Sept we had a very short wait for a bus to MK and it was not crowded at all, in fact only one other family was on with us. However, after waiting a while for an AK bus we opted to,take the car as the kids were getting cranky and hungry. I think it's one of those things you just never know.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards
 


DisneylandDad said:
I am bumping this up for some input please--my wife keeps asking what the nice people here on this forum said about the transportation--thanks so much for any help!!

We always take the car around other than Epcot and HS. I have seen lines waiting for the buses but never paid attention to how long the wait is. I just like the ease of use of the rental car. We spend the money on a luxury car so might as well use it.
 
I'm now less than 2 weeks away from my first BC CL stay and I can't wait :yay:

Is Perriwigs open yet?
 
thanks for the 'tips' on handling gratuities.

I will go along with what you are saying. But really, in USA they only pay staff $3 an hour? Ouch. Thank god for the minimum wage in the UK. But why not give the people a decent wage and just up the prices by 10% or so, very strange!

And I take it the servers DO get the tip rather than the restaraunt taking some of it? Or is it better leaving the tip as cash?

Don't think I fancy the rose and crown after just leaving the UK lol. will take your advice and stick around beach / yacht club - hopefully we won't need reservations for a hotel restaraunt?
 
Wow! Thanks for all the ideas and the photos... really helps a lot. At least now I can convince mom to wait until we get to the Beach Club to grab a bite and not at the Airport! Bleeechhh!! lol

Not the airport!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :scared:

thanks for the 'tips' on handling gratuities.

I will go along with what you are saying. But really, in USA they only pay staff $3 an hour? Ouch. Thank god for the minimum wage in the UK. But why not give the people a decent wage and just up the prices by 10% or so, very strange!

And I take it the servers DO get the tip rather than the restaraunt taking some of it? Or is it better leaving the tip as cash?

Don't think I fancy the rose and crown after just leaving the UK lol. will take your advice and stick around beach / yacht club - hopefully we won't need reservations for a hotel restaraunt?


In some areas the servers are paid even less. When I waited tables my wage was about $1 an hour. Most restaurants track ticket totals that each server is responsible for and that amount is the basis for that server's taxable wages. If a patron chooses not to tip the server is still responsible for the income taxes that ticket generated so he or she will actually pay for the privilege of serving that table. I don't think it really matters if you leave cash or not any more. We generally do but it is an old habit of ours. Mostly because my DH is worried the server will not get the money if he does not personally hand it over. ;)

No reputable establishment will hold back gratuities. The server does not keep all of that money though. In most sit down restaurants there are bus people to clear and set tables, runners to get food to tables quickly and the bar tenders that are responsible for drinks. Servers generally tip out hose folks so that 18 to 20% of the gratuity is divided between a multitude of people, some you see and some that you don't. They are all responsible for ensuring that your meal :goodvibes

Years ago, when I was much much younger there was a lot of talk about mandatory minimum wages for wait staff and restaurants would raise the prices of meals to compensate those costs but the gossip that I heard was that restaurants that tried it quickly went back to the conventional tipping system.
 
thanks for the 'tips' on handling gratuities.

I will go along with what you are saying. But really, in USA they only pay staff $3 an hour? Ouch. Thank god for the minimum wage in the UK. But why not give the people a decent wage and just up the prices by 10% or so, very strange!

And I take it the servers DO get the tip rather than the restaraunt taking some of it? Or is it better leaving the tip as cash?

Don't think I fancy the rose and crown after just leaving the UK lol. will take your advice and stick around beach / yacht club - hopefully we won't need reservations for a hotel restaraunt?

Minimum wage in the US is 7.25 (non-gratuity position) 2.13 (gratuity position). FL minimum wage is 7.67 and 4.65 (much better than the federal minimum for wait staff).

Tipping wait staff in such a way is a loooooonnnnnngggggg tradition in the US. It ain't changin' anytime soon!

I was a waitress in the 80's and made about $2.00/hour. Tips were my real income.

To answer your question regarding the restaurant taking a portion. They will not. And again with a large party, they will most likely add it automatically. Always carefully examine your check at the bottom to see if the gratuity was added in or not.

Have a lovely holiday!
 
I am bumping this up for some input please--my wife keeps asking what the nice people here on this forum said about the transportation--thanks so much for any help!!

One of the pleasures of the EPCOT resorts is the walk/boat aspect. As others have said EPCOT and DHS are simple due to distance. MK, AK and DTD, you just never know. It's bus roulette.

In my opinion DTD is the worst. We just drive there. Too many stops and not enough buses. AK comes in second. Getting where we just drive there. MK, I've had good and bad. Depends on timing. We stick with the buses here.

A couple caveats to all this though. I've heard Disney is making a more concentrated effort to time the buses. They are hearing us. I am hearing better reviews lately.
 
again, thank you to the posters who have made the tipping position clearer to me. I understand the situation now. The tip will be added automatically to the bill for parties of 6 or more (mandatory with dining plan) so it will be easier for the 8 of us to sit together - I'll just pay it all when checking out of the hotel.

and good point on it being 1am ish UK time when we finally get to hotel - a snack from the market place in beach club sounds best idea

Cheers!
 
I am bumping this up for some input please--my wife keeps asking what the nice people here on this forum said about the transportation--thanks so much for any help!!

I didn't respond to your initial request because I have to admit that other than the DTD bus, we have NEVER had an issue with the bus which seems to be contrary to other's experience. However I have noticed that when there are bad experiences people tend to be more vocal than when the service is just what you expected it to be. We fly to Orlando, ME to WDW, then rely 100% on their transportation. The only time we deviate from this is if we need to be somewhere super early or we are coming back late at night from dinner at another resort, then we take a cab which fares tend to run $15 to $20 I have found. I am not one to complain about the bus service. Just remember, things can be slow at times, you can "just miss the bus", and the bus can be full of cheerleaders coming back from a late night at the park, but it's all part of the experience.
 
I am bumping this up for some input please--my wife keeps asking what the nice people here on this forum said about the transportation--thanks so much for any help!!

The answers to the transportation question are very subjective. I think the time of year and the time of day can also impact your experience with the bus service.

Personally, the only time we have had an issue with bus transportation is the ride back from DTD, but that is a problem that is World-wide. Our two trips were in July, and our experiences with the buses to AK and MK have always been first thing in the morning. Never waited more than 5 minutes at that time (7:30 am) and never had a crowded bus. Answer could be very different at 9 or 10 am. IDK.

We rarely take a bus BACK to BC from MK or AK. If we are at MK, we take the mono to EPCOT, enjoy some attractions or maybe some lunch/snacks there before returning to the room. Our AK routine is to go from AK to BB to Boma to HS and then walk back to BC.

In fact, the location of the BC- "walking" distance to two parks and the flexibility of getting back to the resort from one of the theme parks or even from other resorts in a variety ways is one of the main draws of the Beach Club for our family (sorry SAB!)
 
I just saw a great photo of the BC lobby decorated for the holidays, over on a Disney facebook group that I frequent. The gingerbread carousel looked beautiful! (I also spotted Teena in the background of the photo, which was a fun little surprise!) pixiedust:
It made me wonder...does the lobby smell of gingerbread all the time during the holidays??
 
I am bumping this up for some input please--my wife keeps asking what the nice people here on this forum said about the transportation--thanks so much for any help!!


Hi there, we were there at YC for 14 nights first 2 weeks of Nov. We visited at least one and mostly 2 parks a day and in that time the worst we experienced was 2 waits of 20 minutes. Mostly it the wait was in the 0-7 minutes range. Both times we waited 20 minutes were return from blizzard beach/ animal kingdom bus and both times an employee approached us and told us they were aware of the wait and that a bus had been requested. They seem to be working hard to ensure the bus service is efficient.
We had a return from MK when we just missed the bus (couldn't be bothered to run) after a packed MSEP. Another bus arrived in less than 15 minutes, no-one was standing. We had one return service (MK again) where we waited a longish time whilst a person in a wheelchair disembarked (it was an old bus) and people ended up standing and that is the sum total of problems with our 25 plus bus journeys. I love, love, love the boat, walk, monorail options that the resort offers. You can get a bit creative with your route as your mood or other circumstances dictate.:)
 
I just saw a great photo of the BC lobby decorated for the holidays, over on a Disney facebook group that I frequent. The gingerbread carousel looked beautiful! (I also spotted Teena in the background of the photo, which was a fun little surprise!) pixiedust:
It made me wonder...does the lobby smell of gingerbread all the time during the holidays??

Unfortunately our wonderful fresh smell is gone for the entire time the carousel is up and we smell like gingerbread. It's fine for the first 30 minutes. Then it gets a bit strong. And my hair and clothes smell. Dogs were chasing me yesterday when I got home from work.
 
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