Connections vouchers & tipping

[Liz]

So many people post that they leave a tip in addition to their Connections vouchers (which includes the tip). For us that's a big part of the savings of Connections, that the tip is included. Are we going to look like real cheapskates if we don't tip over and above Connections?

Thanks!

 

[ehagerty]

I don't know what motivates a person to tip on top of the 15% that is included for the service in the meal voucher. I presume it is habit - or feeling like they got a good deal and want to share it with the service staff. Occasionally, they may want to actually make a statement that the service was exceptional and bring the tip up to 20-25% by adding an additional cash tip.

I have used Meal Vouchers, and like you, part of the attraction (cost effectiveness analysis) is that the tip is included. I know, from having been a waitress (not at Disney), that 15% of a big bill is very attractive - and I wouldn't expect more on top of that. Occasionally it happened - but I never resented people who did not throw more on top of it.

Stick to your guns/values. The service staff does not expect more - and they should not.

As an example, we used 2 (A)dult and 2 (C)hild meal vouchers for lunch (I won't say where, I don't want to spoil it for myself) at a cost of $84. The bill came to $235. The waitress received $40 just for our table that lunch. Did she really need more cash from us on top of that? I don't think so.

 

[DisneyKidds]

We don't leave any tip when using a voucher. The voucher includes a 15% gratuity and I don't see the necessity in leaving more unless the service was exceptional.

ehagerty - great use of vouchers ! Can you at least give us some clues? Was it Brown Derby?, Le Cellier?, Concourse Steakhouse? At least tell us what park or resort it was in. You won't spoil anything .

 

[Kacey]

When we use one voucher per person, we don't leave an extra tip. However, a couple times when we split a meal between us (used one voucher for 2 people) we left a little extra if the waitperson did a good job.

Once, at B&C we had 2 vouchers out and the waitress actually suggested we use only one and split it because they let you order so much food. She also offered us the Kitchen Sink, which we declined because we really were full. She was so helpful, we left her an extra tip.

But they do get their percentage on the final cost of the meal, not on the cost of the voucher, so it is to their advantage to have you order the most expensive things on the menu. Generates a larger tip.

 

[ehagerty]

DisneyKidds

The waitress at the Brown Derby told us that she trained service staff on the more than 400 different meal vouchers - and that resorts had a more liberal interpretation of them than the theme parks restaurants (two different companies.....)

That said, your question contains your answer!!

 

[chris1gill]

I agree with what's already been said... You do not need to leave an additional tip at all. The servers are being tipped 15% of the TOTAL cost of the bill, not the cost of the voucher, so you needn't hang your head if you did not leave any more of a tip. Personally, if I've received really excellent service, I will leave an additional 5% to bump the tip up to 20%, but I've read reports of people leaving an additional 15 or 20%, I think that's unnecessary....

 

[Gillian]

ehagerty, great job! Now if I can just figure out your clues, I'll make a lunch ps!

 

[twinklingstars4u]

I'm in agreement with everyone else. The only other reason we leave a little extra is if we run the poor server to death (more tea, more tea and more tea!) or if our DD makes a huge mess! At her age most of it hits the floor!!

 

[Mic]

We returned last night from a trip with 4 teenagers. At B&C, these girls used 2 vouchers, ordering a milkshake to split for 1 dessert, and a kitchen sink for the other. They got a little carried away and made quite a mess, so I made each of them put down $2 for the mess they made(but the waiter was pretty good, too.)

 

[chris1gill]

I'd have left a bit extra as well Mic Having ordered the Kitchen Sink, I can just imagine the kind of mess one could make! Where else did you use your vouchers?

 

[WDWINJUNE!]

I'm also wondering where else did you use the vouchers. I have a couple of Q&C vouchers and I'm not sure where were going to use them. I know we will probably be making a special trip to Beaches and Cream for one, but don't know where else to go.

Has anyone used them at ASMU, for like a pizza or something?

Thanks
Laura

 

[Mic]

Chris and June-
Sorry to report that I only used the Q&C vouchers at Beaches and Cream. Dh and I split a steak sandwich, a ceasar salad, and a fudge mud slide one evening while our youngest swam at stormalong bay(had to "hop" there 1 last time before BCV opens). We substituted O-rings for the FF, and the waiter split the sandwich in the back. We used only 1 voucher, and still could not eat all the food. On the second trip, there were 5 of us(2 adults, 3 kids)and we used 2 vouchers for lunch. Two youngest children split an adult hot-dog with FF, another child ate a bowl of chili(the appetizer), and DH and I split a sandwich of the day(french dip) and a salad. For dessert, we ordered a kitchen sink and a banana split. In both cases, we ordered a chocolate milk shake as the drink, and it was brought out in 2 seperate cups. The 2nd waiter did not split anything but the shake for us, but that was OK. The third(and last)time we went to Beaches and Cream was for dinner our last night. We had 4 teenage girls with us, and they honestly thought they could eat the kitchen sink! We used a total of 4 vouchers for 9 people(2 adults, 4 teens, and kids 8,9, and 12). The waiter was great! The girls ordered 2 chicken sandwiches(split), a large order of O-rings and a bowl of chili as appetizers(which they did not eat). 1 girl wanted a coke and a milkshake, so the waiter suggested we count 1 milkshake as dessert, and order the kitchen sink as the other dessert. We told the girls if they did not finish the dessert, they had to pay the bill! Two kids split an adult burger, with the 12-year-old eating the chili(she said she was saving room for dessert!)and DH and I shared a chicken sandwich and salad. We ordered a kitchen sink, but barely made it through the toppings, let alone the ice cream! I did glance at the bill on the last trip before signing the voucher, and for just 5 of us it was over $71, which I covered with 2 vouchers($22). If anyone finds a better use for these vouchers, please let me know! By the way, the 4 teens have sworn off all ice cream until school starts back in August!

 

[chris1gill]

ROFL!! I can just picture this in my head We're staying at the BWV's in November, so I can definitely see us doing B&C at least three times... there's only 4 of us, so we'll just order the kitchen sink once LOL... it was so much fun to order it & the staff is funny to begin with, it makes for a memorable experience Tasty Too!! The price isn't actually that bad either... if you were to order 3 sundaes it would be over 24.00, the kitchen sink is only 21.00... So, for a group of 4, what can we say... we'll go for the sink!!

Coronado Springs Pepper Market also offers a very good bargain where the vouchers are concerned... we stayed there once while using the vouchers & once we pool hopped over there & then used the vouchers... Routine the bill would top over 50.00 for 2 vouchers...

We're DVC'ers also by the way!

 

[Mic]

chris-
Thanks for the tip on Pepper Market. We had intended to go once, but we ran out of time(in 7 days!). I ended up bringing 3 Q&C and 1 adult lunch voucher home with me(we did not make it to RC either). I took about $230 in groceries with us, and we ended up bringing half the non-perishables home with us, and throwing away half the perishables. I have decided that I will not bring groceries again(unless it is a really good sale item) because the new Winn Dixie is so convenient. I will have to post my budget later(I am pretty proud of myself!); the Connections vouchers were a good deal for us. Now I have 10 months left to make my $80 membership pay for itself.

 

[chris1gill]

Hi Mic,

Which Winn Dixie are you referring to as being convenient? Is that new near Disney?

I have our food system down to an almost perfect level LOL... I have a grocery list that I work off, that ensures we leave as little as possible at the end of our trip!! We go for 12 nights & spend about 120.00 on perishables & 100.00 on Omaha Steaks delivered... So usually that gives us all but one or two dinner, and gives us 3 or 4 lunches, as well as breakfast... It took a couple of trips to get the list perfected, but now we're good to go LOL... I just have to find that list before November Typically during our trip we might have 1 character breakfast, a character dinner & counter service lunch most days... After trying LeCellier on our last trip for lunch, we'll certainly be going back there with the vouchers as well...

I can't wait to see your budget when you post it!

 

[hulabird]

Hey Chris1gill-

You used Connections last year too, didn't you? I think I remember you from the Connections threads from last year. Did you stay a member or are you rejoining this year? I cancelled last year during the 30 days, but I am thinking of rejoining, and I am wondering if I will be able to get the 30 day trial again OR have to finish where I left off. I saw on their sight that the cost has gone up considerably, from 79.95 to 139.95 year.....that was checking through Blink.com

 

[chris1gill]

Hi Hulabird,

Yup, we signed up last year for the 30 days & cancelled afterwards... I am going to sign up again, but I keep getting error messages doing it online, so I have to call. If you go to their site directly https://www.connections123.com/join.asp?PC=ENT or go to www.mypoints.com to sign up, the fee is still 79.95. I don't know WHY going through blink is SO expensive... I do plan on keeping the membership this year, I think there's definitely enough value to keep it for the year & cancel after the first year is up... (I'll have gotten two disney trips + whatever gift certificates I order)...

We had a great experience with the vouchers, so I look forward to using them in November!

UPDATE
Hi Hulabird, well, I just spent 1 hour & 12 minutes on hold for Connections, but I re-activated my membership, and I DO still have the 30 day free policy in effect. I know that was one of your questions if you could do that... I think their website is having some trouble right now it's so extremely slow now that I'm logged in. When I re-activated, I ordered the Q&C vouchers at the same time... I only ordered six this time because I haven't figured out exactly what I need!