12 Days until our trip and I'm freaking out

[jtowntoflorida]

Originally Posted by mickeyinthehouse

I would say to plan on tips for anyone that helps you with your bags. Also, you need to tip for your meals as the tip is not included in the dining plan. We are leaving tomorrow and I have tried to have everything packed in the suitcases for awhile just to determine if we have enough space. But I can't get my DH to get his stuff together until the last minute - he is now realizing that maybe we need another suitcase...

Can you charge your tips to your room? We typically don't carry any cash and just charge everything to the room.

Originally Posted by JoAnnPan

I understand what you mean about spending a lot on tips. I went to Las Vegas once and felt like everyone had their hand out just for holding open a door, etc.

I always tip the ME driver (he is driving me to/from my resort and taking care of my bags) and the maids (daily). This is just what I do - there are many, many threads, opinions on the boards about tipping.
If my room is not ready when we check in and have to store our bags I tip the bell hop a dollar bag to hold them and when our room is ready I do the same for the person that brings the bags to the room (if he brings up 4 bags I will give him a $5).
The restaurants at Disney, from what I remember, print on the bill what 18% & 20% of the bill's tip would be. Nice of them isn't it?
I do not tip the daily bus drivers to and from the parks. Really haven't seen many do this.

So basically....I tip the ME driver/maids/bell hop (if I have the need to use them)/waitstaff at restaurants/bartenders.

Like I said, this is just what I do.
Stop stressing...deep breath.

What do you do about tipping the bellhop if your bags are delivered to your room when you're not there? I felt bad last year because our bags magically appeared in our room while we were out exploring the resort.

Originally Posted by Atrain13

I set up touring plans for each day as well. What are the chances of actually sticking with them? As you can tell I like to have everything planned out in advance as much as possible, but I know all too well that when actually being there I just want to have fun and the plans can change.

I considered our touring plans to be more of a general to-do list than an actual plan. The parks are so big and overwhelming, it was nice to know what attractions to head for and in a general order. We spent three days in the MK and only followed the plan the first day. After that, we knew what we liked and adapted the other two days to maximize the favorites and skip everything else.

[princessSunshine]

I totally agree with JoAnnPan about the tipping - these are the regular/typical people we tip too...as for the touring plans, glad to hear your using them as a guideline only - we use the plans but if we can turn around and walk right back onto Buzz, we do (and have done 3 times in a row one day) so sometimes you can fit more (or less) into your day depending on crowds, walking speed and desire to ride. Have fun, relax and try not to be too commando or you'll miss the stop and smell the roses moments

You have all the advice you need from posters. Now enjoy!

[JoAnnPan]

What do you do about tipping the bellhop if your bags are delivered to your room when you're not there? I felt bad last year because our bags magically appeared in our room while we were out exploring the resort.

Sorry I forgot about the ME bag service. I do not use the ME to deliver my bags - always get them from the airport myself and bring them to the bus with me. I get nervous they will not magically appear. Though I do not read about many problems with this. Just makes me more comfortable.
So if I have to check them I call bell hop once I am in my room.
In the case where you are not there when the bags are delivery perhaps stop at bell hop and give them a tip/tell them what room it is from?

[princessSunshine]

Originally Posted by jtowntoflorida

Can you charge your tips to your room? We typically don't carry any cash and just charge everything to the room.



What do you do about tipping the bellhop if your bags are delivered to your room when you're not there? I felt bad last year because our bags magically appeared in our room while we were out exploring the resort.



I considered our touring plans to be more of a general to-do list than an actual plan. The parks are so big and overwhelming, it was nice to know what attractions to head for and in a general order. We spent three days in the MK and only followed the plan the first day. After that, we knew what we liked and adapted the other two days to maximize the favorites and skip everything else.

You can charge meal tips to your room if your key to the world is setup for charging to your room.
As for tipping for bags when you're not there - I don't believe they expect a tip, since you're not there to hand it to them, so I'd say no tip IMHO (yes you may not be there when the maids clean, but they are doing that everyday, so it's customary to tip everyday, or one big tip at the end of stay)

[maeslife]

We leave in five days. I do the same as far as the tips are concerned. One thing I did not see on your list that is a must have for disney for us is MOLESKIN! Love the stuff, and by day 2-3 we need it. I usually bring two pair of shoes, but prefer my tennis shoes. It does wonders for your feet for the sure to have blisters. Hope you have a great trip!

[Atrain13]

Whats moleskin?

[Bob1510a]

Originally Posted by Atrain13

Whats moleskin?

Prevents blisters on wear spots on your feet. You can get it at Walmart for a couple bucks.

We take some on every trip

[intheworks]

glow sticks. great to pop out at night in the parks and much cheaper than anything you can buy there. we are leaving in 9 days. I haven't been to Disney in over 4years. can't wait!

[fla4fun]

I think the best thing you can do is to just relax!

I can tell you from experience that something will get missed somewhere along the line, and all the stressing out in the world won't prevent it from happening. In fact, it might make it more likely.

For example, on my September trip, I forgot to pack any socks! I had them all paired up and laid out next to me on the sofa where I was packing. I got to the resort the next day and not one pair made it into the suitcase. So I had an excuse to buy a few pair of Disney socks.

On my trip in May I forgot my spare pair of shoes. They were still sitting by the door in a bag where I'd put them to take out to the car. I managed to get by with just the one pair fine (I like to take two in case one gets wet in rain or on rides).

It's always something small, and never something I can't make do without. I figure if that's all that goes wrong, I'm not doing too bad!

But even if I remember everything, things can still happen. Like the time I got there and my camera wouldn't work (worked just fine the day before) and I had to go out and buy a new one. You just can't plan for everything. Stay calm and just take it all with a spoonful of sugar.

[disneynutsss]

i started reading this and began to have anxiety!!

I have 10 days left and SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much to do!!

[clsteve]

Don't forget to call your credit card company(s) and let them know you will be traveling and have unusual charges from an unusual state. They can and will shut off the cards- usually at an embarassing time- if you dont.....

[GillianP1301]

To the OP - I get really stressed before travelling too, so I totally relate. Before our last trip in August, I started making packing lists a month before we even left. For me, if it's not on a list, it will not happen, and I put every little on the list. It works for me, I forgot nothing this past trip. So, some of the "extras" that I threw in that I find helpful:

* hanging shoe organizer - helps keep your room tidier, I would keep toiletries and small stuff like phone chargers in it. Vanity space is usually really limited in hotels, I find.

* extra duffle bag - I bought a huge one that comes folded up in a small square and threw it in my luggage. I used it as my dirty laundry hamper and at the end of my trip, stuck a luggage tag on it and I was pretty much packed. I used our suitcases for all the souvenirs and stuff.

* small sewing kit - the little scissors in there came in handy a few times

* medications, especially prescription. Even if it's not stuff you use regularly, have it.

* Some OTC stuff like Pepto, Tylenol, etc... I know you can buy it there, but who wants to waste their time doing a drug store run?

* Ziploc bags - used them for putting my camera inside during rain or wet rides. Handy to keep extra desserts or snacks in for later in the room too.

And other stuff I did before leaving home:

* arranged for neighbour to get our mail (you can also just ask the post office to stop delivering while you're gone)
* called my cell phone provider and added a travel package to avoid high roaming charges (I'm in Canada, not sure this is necessary if you're already in the States)
* made a binder of all my ADRs, plane reservations, rental car info, stroller rental (basically anything that was pre-booked) along with the map printouts for driving directions (we rented a car), and any other important information for each day of our trip. This is now a good souvenir/diary of the trip, so I'm glad I took the time to do it. It also was a really good way to fill in the time in the last week while I anxiously awaited departure day.