a bunch of questions about Cape May

[bellelab]

Our first day will be spent at Epcot and I can't decide whether to eat at Cape May for breakfast at 7:55am or dinner at Garden Grill at 5:30pm. We are on the QSDP and this will be our only TS meal and it will be OOP.

So my questions are:

1. Do you pay gratuity at buffets and if so is it as much as the regular TS restaurants?

2. What is the best way to get to the Beach Club from All Star Movies and that early? I can't figure that one out.

3. After eating breakfast does the boat take you from Beach Club to the entrance of Epcot? I'd like to use the walkway but that takes you to World Showcase entrance and that doesn't open until 11. I don't want to walk necessarily to the front of the park (can you even do that?).

 

[Wish Upon A Star]

Ok, I can provide some insight on 2 questions . . .

1. Yes, you should tip your server even if it is a buffet. They do provide your table with coffee, juice, etc. They take away your dirty plates so you can go back up for a 2nd helping.

2. I have no clue on that one. Buses will take you to park entrances, but at that time of morning, you probably cannot get from entrance of Epcot to Beach Club.

3. You can walk directly to Epcot from the Beach Club or you can take the Ferry which is over by the Yacht Club. The walk is nice and takes you right to the International Gateway. You can enter the park and walk through England, Canada, etc . .the countries will be roped off, but you can still get in.

 

[JKMJ441724]

Our first day will be spent at Epcot and I can't decide whether to eat at Cape May for breakfast at 7:55am or dinner at Garden Grill at 5:30pm. We are on the QSDP and this will be our only TS meal and it will be OOP.

So my questions are:

1. Do you pay gratuity at buffets and if so is it as much as the regular TS restaurants?

Yes. Gratuities are still expected. There are MANY MANY threads that debate how much. So as not to start any arguments on your thread, I'm opting to not post my opinion on the matter.

3. After eating breakfast does the boat take you from Beach Club to the entrance of Epcot? I'd like to use the walkway but that takes you to World Showcase entrance and that doesn't open until 11. I don't want to walk necessarily to the front of the park (can you even do that?).

Don't know about the boat, but yes, you can walk to the front of the park from the WS entrance. We used that time to wonder around WS and take some pictures without a mob of people in them.

 

[OhThePain]

1. Do you pay gratuity at buffets and if so is it as much as the regular TS restaurants?

Yes you pay for gratuities at buffets. It really depends, IMO. If the server is there to take the plates and give refills without us having to wait long, they get what they deserve. If they go out of their way for us (like taking pictures of us with the characters without us asking for them to do so) they get more. If they are never there when we need them they get less.

2. What is the best way to get to the Beach Club from All Star Movies and that early? I can't figure that one out.

The best way would be by your own car or taxi, neither of which I use but that is the easiest way. The easiest way with Dinsey transportation is to take a bus to DHS and then take a boat from DHS to BC (or you can walk, but it's a pretty long walk for that early in the morning). If you are going to use Disney transportation try to be at your bus stop by about 6:30 (between waiting for the bus, riding to DHS, waiting for the boat and the boat ride to BC, it can be a long commute).

3. After eating breakfast does the boat take you from Beach Club to the entrance of Epcot? I'd like to use the walkway but that takes you to World Showcase entrance and that doesn't open until 11. I don't want to walk necessarily to the front of the park (can you even do that?).

The boat takes you to the International Gateway in the WS, the same area that the walkway takes you. You can enter the park here even before 11. They have the WS roped off so the only place they will let you walk is towards Future World.

 

[DisneyFive]

If you are a party of 6 or more, they add an automatic 18% gratuity no matter where you eat!

This is very excessive for my family's buffet meals, IMO. My family is 5, and we bring my wifes' parents which makes our group 7. Two of our buffets are character buffets, and $35-$40 per adult. At 1900 Park fair, our waitor/waitress will make around $40 for a tip on our group. Crazy for a buffet. Our 4 buffets this trip will cost us between $27 and $40 each meal in tips.

In our trip alone, our tips will add up to $260.

Dan

 

[Tricia1972]

All tipping discussion on the Restaurant Board is limited to the Tipping Info Sticky at the top of the forum http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2300858

The first post explains why there is just one thread, had thread guidelines and a tipping FAQ.

Closing this thread and referring everyone there for the tipping portion of the question.