2 DAY countdown! Question thread - more questions added 02 Oct

[Tyggress]

Thanks! I'm trying to figure out - are ALL the food carts and QS/TS restaurants in DLR/DCA charging tax on food? If so, what is it? 8%?

Whenever I buy a churro for $4.25, they charge me $4.25...I've never had the food carts charge tax, probably because the change would be too cumbersome with the number of people they serve all day long. The tax is probably built into that $0.25. However, CS and TS places WILL charge you tax.

 

[Canadian Harmony]

You're all awesome. I'm so excited that it's getting so close now!

 

[figment_jii]

Thanks! I'm trying to figure out - are ALL the food carts and QS/TS restaurants in DLR/DCA charging tax on food? If so, what is it? 8%?

All dining locations charge tax, but for many of the smaller locations (like the popcorn and churro carts), the price posted on the sign board already includes the tax. So, look for the words "Including Tax" on the price board to know if the tax will be added later or if it's already been added.

In terms of the BBB (and probably A&E Boutique), the pricing on the Disneyland.com webpage say "plus tax". So those prices do not include tax.

The tax rate on my receipt from Sunday was 8% (both for shopping and dining).

 

[Canadian Harmony]

My work computer has a wicked firewall AND it's old, so Disney's webpage doesn't like it. It's difficult for me to search anything on the webpage or to get information off it.

 

[carrierael77]

Here in the USA assume tax on everything. Food carts have it included in the price (and when you purchase food at a store that is not prepared). Otherwise assume tax. Some things such as soda, beer, cigarettes etc there are additional taxes (called sin tax) above the normal sales tax. Other items (such as rental cars) will have other taxes on them.

I am not positive how that all shakes down in California, haven't looked too closely.

Tips: if a place like Starbucks, earl of sandwich has a tip jar, it is polite to throw in a buck. Other quick service in disneyland shouldn't have tip jars. But, if you are being served (sitting at a table, have a waiter), 15% is the normal minimum for tip. Then up to 20% if service is great.

 

[figment_jii]

Anaheim doesn't have a tax on soda (I think the only place in CA that has a soda tax is Berkeley). In terms of tipping at TS locations, it's also worth noting that the tip is based on the pre-tax, pre-discount (if applicable) sub-total. While there are no rules about how much you tip, 15% is generally considered the bare minimum, 18% to 20% is pretty common/standard these days.

 

[Astylla]

Can I just chime in and say THANK YOU for asking about tipping ? Because thankfully I believe many California restaurant establishments require minimum wage even in serving guests , as someone who used to serve tables all the time for tips only it is absolutely refreshing that you want to understand how it works. In my experience I unfortunately would encounter out of country visitors who were not aware of the standard "customs" , I think whenever we travel we should educate ourselves. That isn't to say anything should be automatic but more common courtesy in knowledge. Anyhow carry on

 

[Canadian Harmony]

Well, I'm an ex-sailor, and used to sail around the world where tipping was customary. However, being Canadian, we have a reputation of being notoriously cheap tippers (and we are, don't deny it) and I customarily tip 15% as my baseline. Having said that, when I'm budgeting my pennies for the trip, I'm working with a 25% exchange rate NOT in my favour, plus sales tax, plus tipping, so I need to have a really good idea as to how much I'm supposed to have with me to cover everything.

It's always good info to have though, so I don't get the evil eye.

 

[Canadian Harmony]

I'm so freakin' excited!!!

Ok, here's my question: Now that I'm gimped up from falling last week and it seems my leg is going to take longer than I thought to heal, I've decided to borrow a friend's cane for the trip.

Other than being an awesome way to stop teens from line hopping (I kid. mostly), will this get us into a different line than the regular or FP line? I've heard conflicting reports.

 

[parasyte]

An older thread from this year had some mention of what to do with the cane while riding (mostly you have it with you, some rides a CM will keep it while you're on the ride). Another thread a few years back has at least one person mentioning that a family member had no problem using the regular entrance. I can't imagine the lines for most rides wouldn't be able to accommodate a cane.

If you have (or end up having) problems standing even with a cane, you'd want to go to guest services and register for disability access service.

 

[Imdboss]

I'm so freakin' excited!!!

Ok, here's my question: Now that I'm gimped up from falling last week and it seems my leg is going to take longer than I thought to heal, I've decided to borrow a friend's cane for the trip.

Other than being an awesome way to stop teens from line hopping (I kid. mostly), will this get us into a different line than the regular or FP line? I've heard conflicting reports.

You will go in the regular lines. If you can't stand in line for that long then you'll need to get a wheelchair which a lot of the lines are w/c accessable. Hope the foot feels better soon!

 

[Canadian Harmony]

An older thread from this year had some mention of what to do with the cane while riding (mostly you have it with you, some rides a CM will keep it while you're on the ride). Another thread a few years back has at least one person mentioning that a family member had no problem using the regular entrance. I can't imagine the lines for most rides wouldn't be able to accommodate a cane.

If you have (or end up having) problems standing even with a cane, you'd want to go to guest services and register for disability access service.

Good to know. I've found over the last couple days that it's getting harder to stand for long periods of time as the ache really intensifies. I landed just below my kneecap, and my entire shin is one giant bruise, with beautiful colours on either side of the knee joint itself. It looks really bad on the sides, but it's the front that hurts. I'm still going to wear shorts and capris though - the weather's supposed to be fantastic and I don't want to sweat.

Another Question!
We're eating at Steakhouse 55 while we're there. Is there a dress code for that establishment? Can I wear my sandals throughout the park, or should I bring a pair of closed-toed shoes for dining or certain rides?

 

[figment_jii]

Can I wear my sandals throughout the park, or should I bring a pair of closed-toed shoes for dining or certain rides?

I've worn my Tevas throughout the day in the parks. None of the rides have any real restrictions regarding shoes, except perhaps Soarin'. If you have flip flops or other shoes that can fall off, they'll ask you to leave on the ground at the start of the ride (you don't have to walk anywhere bare foot, just slip them off after you've sat down in your seat). In terms of in-park dining, only Club 33 has any type of dress code. In terms of resort dining, Steakhouse 55, like Napa Rose, is considered one of the finer dining locations in DLR, so I would probably consider wearing something closer to business/resort causal opposed to theme park attire.

 

[Canadian Harmony]

Excellent! Thank you!

 

[Tyggress]

Well, I'm an ex-sailor, and used to sail around the world where tipping was customary. However, being Canadian, we have a reputation of being notoriously cheap tippers (and we are, don't deny it) and I customarily tip 15% as my baseline. Having said that, when I'm budgeting my pennies for the trip, I'm working with a 25% exchange rate NOT in my favour, plus sales tax, plus tipping, so I need to have a really good idea as to how much I'm supposed to have with me to cover everything.

It's always good info to have though, so I don't get the evil eye.

The easiest way to automatically tip 15% is to double the tax on the bill. Like @figment_jii said, you tip on the pre-tax amount. Since Anaheim's tax rate is 8%, if you double the tax, you're tipping 16%, generally. Just a little tip if you don't like computing math in your head.

 

[Canadian Harmony]

Thanks for the shortcut! I hate math.

And the exchange rate bites - $763CAD got me $550USD.

 

[Canadian Harmony]

I know I've asked this before but I'm going to again:

Getting from PPH to In & Out on Harbour, which is near to a Walmart so we can get water and ponchos... Should we attempt a bus, call for a cab, or brave Uber? And if we do what you suggest... HOW do we? I know how to hail a cab, but have never used Uber before and where's the bus that'll take us up the road to the Walmart/Costco block?

Also --- does rain cancel F! showings? It's supposed to rain on Sunday and if we're going to be out of luck for F!, I'd rather save the funds and just have a regular meal at RBT.

 

[Imdboss]

To

I know I've asked this before but I'm going to again:

Getting from PPH to In & Out on Harbour, which is near to a Walmart so we can get water and ponchos... Should we attempt a bus, call for a cab, or brave Uber? And if we do what you suggest... HOW do we? I know how to hail a cab, but have never used Uber before and where's the bus that'll take us up the road to the Walmart/Costco block?

Also --- does rain cancel F! showings? It's supposed to rain on Sunday and if we're going to be out of luck for F!, I'd rather save the funds and just have a regular meal at RBT.

To use Uber you need to download their app on your phone. From there you'll put in your payment info and its stored so when you get dropped off there's never any exchange of money with the driver. When you are ready to get picked up you put in location of where you are going and select the type of service you want (from a basic car, black car, suv, etc). It'll let you know appx how long the wait is and once a driver accepts your pick up request it'll tell you they are on the way. Then when they arrive it'll give you a notice. It's a great service and very easy to use, we love it!

 

[Canadian Harmony]

But I only want to pay cash, so I don't think it would work for me. But I love the idea of the service!

I think we're going to take the bus and have an adventure!

Does anyone know about F!?

 

[figment_jii]

Also --- does rain cancel F! showings? It's supposed to rain on Sunday and if we're going to be out of luck for F!, I'd rather save the funds and just have a regular meal at RBT.

It depends on how much it's raining, how long it's been raining, or how heavily it's rained. If it's pouring rain, they may cancel F!, but they do also a reduced version of F! that they can perform if the stage is still wet. In generally, they do not cancel F! unless it's raining really hard/bad.