Dreaming of the Disney DREAM, Feb 17, 2013

[Tigger1313]

I'm definitely doing the Wild Side, lol, I'm not missing that.
Last year if I remember the Wild Side started towards the end of the 5K run. When I left the Wild Side around 3PM, they were about to start a volleyball game.
I may miss the very beginning, but hope to catch-up with them after the run.
I can do the 5K in about 20mi. Mom will have my change of clothes and I'll catch-up with the group after that.

Counting down the days

VIBE!!!

Alex the problem you might have is you have to meet the wild side in the Vibe and it might be at the same time you are running. I don't think you have to sign up for the 5k so I would ask once you get on board is see if you can do both.

Maybe you can meet the wild side at the bikes, I think that is where they start.

 

[Douvres Family]

Do you any of you veteran cruisers have any advice re: prepaying gratuities vs tipping on board?

I think I saw something about Disney changing their procedures in 2012 to add their recommended tip automatically. Is that accurate?

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks!

We last cruised in February 2012, they add the gratuity only upon request. Last year we paid them all in cash.

This year we called DCL and asked them of our options...it appears to be the same. So we requested to pre-pay suggested the gratuities in advance, but we will give them a little extra in their envelopes.

I hope this helps...

 

[dizneeat]

We last cruised in February 2012, they add the gratuity only upon request. Last year we paid them all in cash.

This year we called DCL and asked them of our options...it appears to be the same. So we requested to pre-pay suggested the gratuities in advance, but we will give them a little extra in their envelopes.

I hope this helps...

Dania, tips ARE added to your account.
It changed before our summer cruises. They will just charge your account with the amount requested - no more forms to fill in. You can reduce or add to it, but they WILL charge your onboard account.

 

[Douvres Family]

Dania, tips ARE added to your account.
It changed before our summer cruises. They will just charge your account with the amount requested - no more forms to fill in. You can reduce or add to it, but they WILL charge your onboard account.

Thanks Karin...that's good to know...Victor in DCL never mentioned that when we called.

Well, are we still allowed to give them cash in addition?

 

[dizneeat]

Thanks Karin...that's good to know...Victor in DCL never mentioned that when we called.

Well, are we still allowed to give them cash in addition?

They will charge you with the suggested amount and then deliver little slips of paper for you to hand out. If you want to top up you can do so in cash or add something at GS.
We usually add at GS, so the people at Disney see that we were VERY happy with the services of special CMs.

 

[Douvres Family]

Please enlighten me...does each individual get all the gratuities or is it shared? Is it taxed?

I read on another board that they don't get it all...that's why we were giving the extra in cash...one of the ppl participating was a former CM of DCL.

 

[dizneeat]

Please enlighten me...does each individual get all the gratuities or is it shared? Is it taxed?

I read on another board that they don't get it all...that's why we were giving the extra in cash...one of the ppl participating was a former CM of DCL.

Actually I don't know about the servers, but we spent a few nights with our stateroom host (the one from summer 2011) last summer and he said that the tip goes right to his account.
So I guess the whole tip goes there - and yes, I think it is taxed. We actually "double tip", so I guess tax would not make too much of a dent in the tip.

Ana once told us that they get VERY little salary and the tips are ALL they actually earn - so I guess they are theirs and not shared.

And yes, we have given them cash as well, as well as leftover drinks, snacks and sweets.
ALL our hosts remembered us when we saw them again and I guess being a good tipper helped as well.
(Like, we ran into our head server the first day in one of the hallways and he looked at us and said "where's my Milka" - so I am SURE he knew exactly who we were.
btw - milka is european chocolate which we always give out and they LOVE. It is MUCH cheaper here than the stuff they sell in Germany.)

 

[Douvres Family]

Actually I don't know about the servers, but we spent a few nights with our stateroom host (the one from summer 2011) last summer and he said that the tip goes right to his account.
So I guess the whole tip goes there - and yes, I think it is taxed. We actually "double tip", so I guess tax would not make too much of a dent in the tip.

Ana once told us that they get VERY little salary and the tips are ALL they actually earn - so I guess they are theirs and not shared.

And yes, we have given them cash as well, as well as leftover drinks, snacks and sweets.
ALL our hosts remembered us when we saw them again and I guess being a good tipper helped as well.
(Like, we ran into our head server the first day in one of the hallways and he looked at us and said "where's my Milka" - so I am SURE he knew exactly who we were.
btw - milka is european chocolate which we always give out and they LOVE. It is MUCH cheaper here than the stuff they sell in Germany.)

I'm so glad I asked...Tax in NYC is so high, between taxes and social security, we lose a third of our salary. So whenever we tip, we prefer to give it in cash so they can enjoy it right away. However, with DCL I think we'll do the same as you have.

We like to see ourselves as generous tippers...as a young man, Dimitri worked in the restaurant business and we know what it's like to be on the other end. He was a cook and server...now he works with computer programs during the day and cooks awesome meals for us on the weekends

We got a little something for Ana and her hubby...and for our stateroom host.

 

[nchristeutah]

I love the idea of bringing something special for our stateroom host and servers. What do you recommend?

The idea of giving them left overs sounds interesting, too. What sort of left overs would they appreciate?

 

[Douvres Family]

I love the idea of bringing something special for our stateroom host and servers. What do you recommend?

The idea of giving them left overs sounds interesting, too. What sort of left overs would they appreciate?

I got the idea of giving gifts from our hometown or city from another disboard member...so I try to get little things from novelty stores found only in NYC...and right now I'm looking for a really good sweet shop that NY is known for...but I just don't know which one...lol

 

[dizneeat]

I love the idea of bringing something special for our stateroom host and servers. What do you recommend?

The idea of giving them left overs sounds interesting, too. What sort of left overs would they appreciate?

Since I think you refer to me as giving the "left overs" they might not resemble your usual left overs.
Many of the CMs on board come from Eastern Europe and prefer European chocolate to the US variety. So we usually travel with a LARGE array of sweets to hand out (think Milka - that is sold at Epcot).
So, any we have NOT handed out until we disembark are devided into equal parts and handed out to CMs we had fun with, or who took extra care of us.
As for leftover drinks - my DB likes to try different beers and sometimes at the end of the cruise there are several "left over" - now these are given to stateroom hosts (they can hide them easiest) And we have been known to hand out bottles of rum from the Bahamas as well.
We usually buy snacks before we board - bags of chips, tortilla chips which we then hand out. CM need to pay for them on board.
So, not being a native and English not my first language that might be where I might have misled you with "left overs". But to us it is just that! Bars of chocolate left over from handing out.

I got the idea of giving gifts from our hometown or city from another disboard member...so I try to get little things from novelty stores found only in NYC...and right now I'm looking for a really good sweet shop that NY is known for...but I just don't know which one...lol

Dania, I just talked to Tom about the tax thing and he reminded me that the ship is registered in the Bahamas and CMs are employed in the Bahamas as well. They do NOT have visas for the US! (At least that is what our former stateroom host told us.) So I am not even sure they pay taxes in the Bahamas or very little. No way they pay as much as you do. And by the way 42% of our salary goes towards taxes and social security too!

 

[Douvres Family]

Dania, I just talked to Tom about the tax thing and he reminded me that the ship is registered in the Bahamas and CMs are employed in the Bahamas as well. They do NOT have visas for the US! (At least that is what our former stateroom host told us.) So I am not even sure they pay taxes in the Bahamas or very little. No way they pay as much as you do. And by the way 42% of our salary goes towards taxes and social security too!

HOLY MOLY!!! 42%!!!
Okey dokey... that's a lot...ours is like 33%
I just try to keep things like that under consideration when giving gratuities...
I didn't think their gratuities would be taxed, I just wanted to make it easier for them.

 

[nchristeutah]

Thank you for clearing that up, Karin! I knew you couldn't mean food you had already partly eaten, but I wondered if you were boxing up anything you hadn't tried for some reason. Your explanation makes a lot more sense!

Hmmm.... that makes me wonder. My mother is from Australia and I love the Cadbury frogs and koalas but I don't currently have any. I also love vegemite and I DO have some of that, but I am not sure it would be a popular gift since people who weren't raised on it tend to dislike it . Maybe I can find some frogs or koalas to take as a fun treat for the servers and cabin host. I would be a little concerned that they would melt, though. Do you ever have problems with that, Karin? Do you do anything special to prevent it?

 

[nchristeutah]

Karin - are you familiar with Milo? Do you think they would like that?

 

[dizneeat]

Thank you for clearing that up, Karin! I knew you couldn't mean food you had already partly eaten, but I wondered if you were boxing up anything you hadn't tried for some reason. Your explanation makes a lot more sense!

Hmmm.... that makes me wonder. My mother is from Australia and I love the Cadbury frogs and koalas but I don't currently have any. I also love vegemite and I DO have some of that, but I am not sure it would be a popular gift since people who weren't raised on it tend to dislike it . Maybe I can find some frogs or koalas to take as a fun treat for the servers and cabin host. I would be a little concerned that they would melt, though. Do you ever have problems with that, Karin? Do you do anything special to prevent it?

In February it is relatively easy. We carry it inside the suitcase, wrapped in bubble wrap. Have not had any problems with it melting so far.

Karin - are you familiar with Milo? Do you think they would like that?

No, I was not familiar with it, but after googling it, it looks like something similar to what we have here and I am sure that would be very much appreciated.

 

[Douvres Family]

24 DAYS!!!
AND IN 21 days we'll be in Orlando...

 

[Douvres Family]

So DH had a double hernia surgery last Friday...I've been just a little
He rushed himself this week, trying to do too much too soon.
He's back in bed...DS is with him making sure he stays in bed.
I wish we were leaving tomorrow...and he could relax and lay by the pool or on a hammock...

 

[dizneeat]

24 DAYS!!!
AND IN 21 days we'll be in Orlando...

We will be enjoying BLT and extra magic hours at the Magic Kingdom in just 22 days!
23 until the DREAM!

So DH had a double hernia surgery last Friday...I've been just a little
He rushed himself this week, trying to do too much too soon.
He's back in bed...DS is with him making sure he stays in bed.
I wish we were leaving tomorrow...and he could relax and lay by the pool or on a hammock...

So sorry to hear that, Dania!
Lots of healing so Jimmy gets better soon!
Oh, and btw Tom fell and hurt his back. He's currently on sickleave, having to go to the doctors for shots every day.
Hope his pain is gone by the time we leave for the US.

 

[Douvres Family]

We will be enjoying BLT and extra magic hours at the Magic Kingdom in just 22 days!
23 until the DREAM!



So sorry to hear that, Dania!
Lots of healing so Jimmy gets better soon!
Oh, and btw Tom fell and hurt his back. He's currently on sickleave, having to go to the doctors for shots every day.
Hope his pain is gone by the time we leave for the US.

OH NO! for Tom too!!! I hope he heals quickly and swiftly...please give him our best...I hope they both feel better by the time we cruise...DH didnt get the chance to ride the Aquaduck last year...hopefully we can all do it...that would be a cool picture...

Taking DS to Boy Scouts now...Ciao for now...

 

[macoac92]

Hi Everyone-
We are heading on the Dream Feb 17th for our first Disney Cruise!! (My husband and I aren't telling the kids we are going until we are at the port
I am so excited to have just found this link to get on the Meet and FE lists....But I think I'm too late, right?