8/17/08 Captain Jack's Repossession Repo Cruise to PC thru TPC #6

[arlenesp]

I just got the mail.
I already have the girls passports!
Exactly 9 days. Amazing! Sure hope no one pays for expediated service.

Sent ours off yesterday the 1st so it will be easy to track how long it takes.Mine, I have a tracking # for since I had to send the old passport.

 

[sk8ingmom]

I haven't actually worked out my budget yet, but one line item you might consider - laundry.

No, I don't mean coins spent while fighting for washers at 2:00am. I mean the "let Disney do it" laundry service. DCL doesn't gouge nearly as much as a high end hotel does. For $10/day per person you can pretty much stay in clean clothes the entire trip (and travel a bit lighter). It's a luxury, but hey - this is TOAL, right?

Ooo. Laundry. I need to add that - I can't bring myself to pay DCL to wash my undies and t-shirts, but I'll need washer/dryer money and pressing for the fancy duds.

OK guy, I can take it. Have I unitentionally been a cheapskate on our last 2 cruises?

Here is what I've gone by (from http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/dcl/en_US/help/overview?name=OnboardServicesFAQLandingPage#9)

Per Guest per cruise 3-Night 4-Night 7-Night
Dining Room Server $11.00 $14.75 $25.75
Dining Room Asst. Server $8.00 $10.75 $18.75
Dining Room Head Server $2.75 $3.75 $6.50
Stateroom Host/Hostess $10.75 $14.50 $25.25
Dining Manager Your Discretion
Room Service Your Discretion
Palo Gratuity included

Every quidebook I've read says the Palo fee is the servers tip. We always tipped our Palo server at a bit more than the going rate for the main dining room (add together server, head, assistant). So when Palo was $5-$10 per person, we considered that $10-$20 to be the 'first dollars in' for the tip since DCL lists Palo as 'gratuity included'. We always tip, but nowhere near almost $100.

BTW, we had the same waiter we'd had for brunch for our dinner and he seemed pretty happy to see us again!

We're all friends, so here's hoping we can have civil discourse. If not, please ignore my question.

 

[tom31b]

Ooo. Laundry. I need to add that - I can't bring myself to pay DCL to wash my undies and t-shirts, but I'll need washer/dryer money and pressing for the fancy duds.

Laundry is just that roll of quarters, doesn't count.....

OK guy, I can take it. Have I unitentionally been a cheapskate on our last 2 cruises?

Here is what I've gone by (from http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/dcl/en_US/help/overview?name=OnboardServicesFAQLandingPage#9)



Every quidebook I've read says the Palo fee is the servers tip. We always tipped our Palo server at a bit more than the going rate for the main dining room (add together server, head, assistant). So when Palo was $5-$10 per person, we considered that $10-$20 to be the 'first dollars in' for the tip since DCL lists Palo as 'gratuity included'. We always tip, but nowhere near almost $100.

BTW, we had the same waiter we'd had for brunch for our dinner and he seemed pretty happy to see us again!

You are right on the Palo tip. No, not a cheapskate (on this) and I think the $100 figure included some alcoholic drinks.

We're all friends, so here's hoping we can have civil discourse. If not, please ignore my question.

Is this for JR?

 

[Diznyfan68]

Ooo. Laundry. I need to add that - I can't bring myself to pay DCL to wash my undies and t-shirts, but I'll need washer/dryer money and pressing for the fancy duds.

OK guy, I can take it. Have I unitentionally been a cheapskate on our last 2 cruises?

Here is what I've gone by (from http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/dcl/en_US/help/overview?name=OnboardServicesFAQLandingPage#9)



Every quidebook I've read says the Palo fee is the servers tip. We always tipped our Palo server at a bit more than the going rate for the main dining room (add together server, head, assistant). So when Palo was $5-$10 per person, we considered that $10-$20 to be the 'first dollars in' for the tip since DCL lists Palo as 'gratuity included'. We always tip, but nowhere near almost $100.

BTW, we had the same waiter we'd had for brunch for our dinner and he seemed pretty happy to see us again!

We're all friends, so here's hoping we can have civil discourse. If not, please ignore my question.

We haven't done Palo (only on the one 3 day!) but everything I've read led me to the same conclusion - that the $15 (or $5 or $10) is their gratuity.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Ooo. Laundry. I need to add that - I can't bring myself to pay DCL to wash my undies and t-shirts, but I'll need washer/dryer money and pressing for the fancy duds.

OK guy, I can take it. Have I unitentionally been a cheapskate on our last 2 cruises?

Here is what I've gone by (from http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/dcl/en_US/help/overview?name=OnboardServicesFAQLandingPage#9)



Every quidebook I've read says the Palo fee is the servers tip. We always tipped our Palo server at a bit more than the going rate for the main dining room (add together server, head, assistant). So when Palo was $5-$10 per person, we considered that $10-$20 to be the 'first dollars in' for the tip since DCL lists Palo as 'gratuity included'. We always tip, but nowhere near almost $100.

BTW, we had the same waiter we'd had for brunch for our dinner and he seemed pretty happy to see us again!

We're all friends, so here's hoping we can have civil discourse. If not, please ignore my question.

The Palo tip debate is often a very very hot topic on the main forum and everyone reads it different, as quoted above most say its included, inc DCL Website, but they also say additional at your discretion, the minimum I have ever tipped is double the charge, but usually I tip $25/$30.

 

[Celestine]

The new Janet Evanovich is due out June 17th. I doubt that I'll be able to "save" it for the trip, and even if I could wait ... I'd probably get it read on the cross-country flight out to CA. BUT, I'd be willing to bring it along and let someone else read it. You'll find me on a deck w/a book at some point every day ... one of my ideas of Heaven. I was worried about having to pack myself enough books for 2+ weeks of vacation. This book swap would be awesome for me

Not heard of this author - what sort of material? I usual read Patricia Cornwell, Karin Slaughter, Lee Child, Kathy Reichs etc. but have bought "Love in the time of cholera" as it is set in Cartegana which I'm trying to save to finiah on the cruise

Celestine

 

[arlenesp]

Ooo. Laundry. I need to add that - I can't bring myself to pay DCL to wash my undies and t-shirts, but I'll need washer/dryer money and pressing for the fancy duds.

OK guy, I can take it. Have I unitentionally been a cheapskate on our last 2 cruises?

Here is what I've gone by (from http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/dcl/en_US/help/overview?name=OnboardServicesFAQLandingPage#9)



Every quidebook I've read says the Palo fee is the servers tip. We always tipped our Palo server at a bit more than the going rate for the main dining room (add together server, head, assistant). So when Palo was $5-$10 per person, we considered that $10-$20 to be the 'first dollars in' for the tip since DCL lists Palo as 'gratuity included'. We always tip, but nowhere near almost $100.

BTW, we had the same waiter we'd had for brunch for our dinner and he seemed pretty happy to see us again!

We're all friends, so here's hoping we can have civil discourse. If not, please ignore my question.

You will get all sorts of answers on this one. I don't go overboard tipping so I guess we are in the same club.When we did our first Palo brunch, we gave an additional tip ( not nearly as much as some would have you think is necessary) and when we came back to the room we found a thank you note from our server. She has always been extremely gracious each time we ran into her again on our other cruises as well.Bottom line is whatever you tip is your discretion. There are some who deduct the tip the night they do Palo from their servers in the dining room as well. It makes sense but we have never thought of doing it.

Still waiting to see my final payment authorized on the Disney Visa and then I will do the Happy Dance as well.

 

[tom31b]

The new Janet Evanovich is due out June 17th.

Gotta love the "Trenton, NJ" books. She is very accurate with the details of the area, restaurants, streets, etc.

In fact, they do tours based on her books from time to time (she usually leads them)

 

[A Litle Pixie Dust]

You will get all sorts of answers on this one. I don't go overboard tipping so I guess we are in the same club.When we did our first Palo brunch, we gave an additional tip ( not nearly as much as some would have you think is necessary) and when we came back to the room we found a thank you note from our server. She has always been extremely gracious each time we ran into her again on our other cruises as well.Bottom line is whatever you tip is your discretion. There are some who deduct the tip the night they do Palo from their servers in the dining room as well. It makes sense but we have never thought of doing it.

Still waiting to see my final payment authorized on the Disney Visa and then I will do the Happy Dance as well.

I have only been to Palo twice..the first time..it was included in our Honeymoon package so to be honest..we had no idea what we were supposed to do. We did not leave an additional tip. The 2nd time was for tea with my sister..we did leave a small additional tip but understood that the cost of the tea was part of the tip. So...I can see leaving something extra for outstanding service. But I am not an overboard tipper. I wouldn't deduct it from our regular serving staff in the main dining room. I figure if I can afford to go on this cruise..I can afford a few extra dollars for someone who had made my trip more enjoyable. Just my 2 cents (pun intended but I never leave only 2 cents!)

 

[Diznyfan68]

Just checked the DCL site - there is a Cat12 available. Cost? Over $7k for my family of 3!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Just checked the DCL site - there is a Cat12 available. Cost? Over $7k for my family of 3!

Wow!!

 

[GoofyontheHiSeas]

Here is what I've gone by (from http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/dcl/en_US/help/overview?name=OnboardServicesFAQLandingPage#9)



Every guidebook I've read says the Palo fee is the servers tip. We always tipped our Palo server at a bit more than the going rate for the main dining room (add together server, head, assistant). So when Palo was $5-$10 per person, we considered that $10-$20 to be the 'first dollars in' for the tip since DCL lists Palo as 'gratuity included'. We always tip, but nowhere near almost $100.

BTW, we had the same waiter we'd had for brunch for our dinner and he seemed pretty happy to see us again!

We're all friends, so here's hoping we can have civil discourse. If not, please ignore my question.

We usually leave an additional tip at Palo too but that is for exceptional service that we usually receive there. Your numbers are right on as far as we are concerned.

 

[Luckyinlife]

My 8 and 10 year old still ride in a booster seat here at home. Yes, I am a mean mom!

Mine too! Our kids will be fast friends comparing notes about their mean moms!

 

[poohssmum]

Is it the # series of one of the "filler" books? I would love for it be the #13 book.

Actually, it's the #14 book, called Fearless Fourteen.

 

[Nutty4Disney]

Gotta love the "Trenton, NJ" books. She is very accurate with the details of the area, restaurants, streets, etc.

In fact, they do tours based on her books from time to time (she usually leads them)

While not from NJ, I was born in Baltimore and LOVE (and miss) my TastyKakes. So when she goes on about about them my mouth waters. And my 82 year old mom gets a kick out of Grandma Mazur. I secretly think she lives vicarously through the character (without the stretch pants). Just such an enjoyable, funny light read. I doubt I will hold off until the cruise to read the next one. This is one of the books I always buy in hardback as both my Mom and DD read them also. Almost at cheap at Sam's as a paperback at Border's.

 

[poohssmum]

Gotta love the "Trenton, NJ" books. She is very accurate with the details of the area, restaurants, streets, etc.

In fact, they do tours based on her books from time to time (she usually leads them)

Might be just me ... but I always seem to start craving doughnuts when I read the Stephanie Plum books If I was in the area, I'd probably sign up for one of those tours too ... yeah, yeah, I'm a geek.

 

[m&m's mom]

Not heard of this author - what sort of material? I usual read Patricia Cornwell, Karin Slaughter, Lee Child, Kathy Reichs etc. but have bought "Love in the time of cholera" as it is set in Cartegana which I'm trying to save to finiah on the cruise

Celestine

She writes a series of books that start with One. I think it is "One for the Money" etc. Every title has the next number in the series. They are absolutely GREAT books! Funny and easy reads. I did not start reading them until a couple of years ago and I ws obsessed about reading them. I read 1-11 immediately and then had to wait for 12 to come out. Now I am hoping for 13.

On a side note I was so surprised to learn that Patricia Cornwell was a lifelong close friend of the Billy Graham family. She grew up living very close to the Grahams.

 

[m&m's mom]

Gotta love the "Trenton, NJ" books. She is very accurate with the details of the area, restaurants, streets, etc.

In fact, they do tours based on her books from time to time (she usually leads them)

Ohh! I would love that. Her writng style is just so entertaining.

 

[m&m's mom]

Actually, it's the #14 book, called Fearless Fourteen.

Oh you are right. I forget about it. I came out a couple summers ago, right?

 

[m&m's mom]

My DS started reading the Percy Jackson series which is very similar to Harry Potter (each book is a new year -- summer camp instead of Hogwarts and the kids are children of Greek gods instead of wizards). I went ahead and read them just to see why he liked them so much. The newest one comes out next week and he can't wait to start reading it.

This is funny. I just went to pick up the girls at school. I told Megan that there was a new series of books she might like to start on. I said it is Percy something. She pointed to the book she has had her nose buried in for the last few days and sure enough, it is a Percy Jackson book.