Freaking out about affording trip...how much do I really need?

[DeDixie]

Have you considered driving straight thru? We drive from Delaware and it's less than 16 hours. Just a thought.

 

[Jana49]

Just a thought -

It used to be that housekeepers made less than minimum wage and relied on tips, much like a waitress. Even if that is not still the case, it would be best to work it in your budget somehow, because they count on tips, I would think.

We tip $5 a day and stay at the value resorts, and are so pleased with the good job the housekeepers do. I even make special envelopes for them so they know the money is intended for them.

Jana

 

[4greatboys]

I assume you belong to Connections or Hotwire since you are getting vouchers. They also sell the gift cards for Planet Hollywood. They are $10 each but you get a $2 rebate back per card. So if you bought $50 in certs you will get back $10 so it ends up costing you $40 for $50 worth of food--you can also use the certs for the tip and/or merchandise. You can also get 10% off your bill with your AP or DVC member card.

 

[momof2inPA]

Our family of four drove down in December, staying overnight on the way down and back and spending one night in Daytona. The travel hotels were $49- Country Inn and Suites and $59- Comfort Suites. We paid $69 at the Radisson, but I think we way overpaid and it was not very nice. If I did it again, I wouldn't book the hotels ahead of time, but just stop and make an offer. The hotels are empty that time of the year and willing to rent rooms very cheaply.

 

[shatzjsl]

If your on a budget, is it so wrong not to tip housekeeping?

I think it would be wrong not to tip housekeeping. Even if you plan on only $2 per day you should be okay. It is still a nice gesture. And remember to leave it daily! You may not have the same housekeeper every day of your stay.

But if it comes down to the family eating or tipping, the answer would be eating and maybe leaving a nice note of appreciation.

 

[StephStanley]

I think the not tipping was a joke- I laughed anyway. I will definetely tip, thats not a question.

If I couldnt afford two bucks a day, I wouldnt have any business visiting Disney! lol

 

[chadfromdallas]

Originally posted by StephStanley
If I couldnt afford two bucks a day, I wouldnt have any business visiting Disney! lol

Well $2 a day *5(what I will be staying) equals another souviner

 

[MATTERHORN]

Sorry, had to butt in here, I hope this was a joke, but anyone thinking of not tipping for a service provided is rediculous. If you need that extra souvener that badly, then you should leave the sign out that requests they do not clean your room. Sorry if it was intended as a joke, but as the others have said it doesn't have to be much, but it is silly to think that you will tip someone that brings you food, but not someone that cleans up after you? I live in Vegas where tips are relied upon in many industries including housekeeping and it is amazing how some people treat those that make their vacation relaxing and enjoyable. Sorry so long, but please don't use the services if you don't want to tip.

Andrea

Also, this was not intended so much for this post as for the MANY I see about people not tipping! AMAZING!

 

[exwdwcm]

great tips listed here.

we saved a ton on one trip by staying in the wilderness home in ft. wilderness----we cooked at least one meal each day in our kitchen there. We ate every breakfast but one (did one character breakfast) there as well. We shopped for stuff and shipped it down before we went- cereal, canned goods etc. We took midday breaks and would have sandwiches at lunch etc.

It saved a ton of money and made the meals we did eat at WDW all the more special. Of course, part of the fun is eating there, so it just depends on how much you want to splurge.

We always do a pre-disney garage sale as a family. We usually make around $1,000. I was a member here about 3 years ago and someone posted a great garage sale thread and we used tons of those tips and made a lot more money than usual. (putting small items like toiletiries or jewelry in ziploc baggies, then selling them- people go nuts just cuz it is in a ziploc baggie!).....anyways- that always helps with the cost!

 

[keswick1uk]

Tipping is part of the holiday. Thats server and others wages. We accept and agree to pay a hotel $x we should agree to do the same with the staff...even though they don't formally leave a bill.

I actually disagree with tipping in the sense I wish everyone was paid a fair and proper wage for their services by their employer so they could guarantee what they take home to live on; we would of course have a higher menu price to compensate. But, as that is not the case, then the tips *must* be built into the budget. Just think how you would feel if your wage relied on a whim and someone decided just not to pay.

 

[mad4themouse]

Originally posted by MATTERHORN
Sorry, had to butt in here, I hope this was a joke, but anyone thinking of not tipping for a service provided is rediculous. If you need that extra souvener that badly, then you should leave the sign out that requests they do not clean your room. Sorry if it was intended as a joke, but as the others have said it doesn't have to be much, but it is silly to think that you will tip someone that brings you food, but not someone that cleans up after you? I live in Vegas where tips are relied upon in many industries including housekeeping and it is amazing how some people treat those that make their vacation relaxing and enjoyable. Sorry so long, but please don't use the services if you don't want to tip.

Andrea

Also, this was not intended so much for this post as for the MANY I see about people not tipping! AMAZING!

Sometimes people make posts like those to see what kind of reaction they can get from everyone else.

 

[crisi]

Disney does not consider hotel housekeeping to be a tipped position. They don't get paid well, and if you feel like you need to augment their income, that is very generous of you. But, unlike bell staff or waitstaff, where tipping is "expected," and they are paid below minimum wage and dependant on tips to make anything approaching a decent income, it is not expected that you tip the housekeeping staff.

 

[Eyore4Ever149]

I know tipping is a sensitive topic, I think we all agree on that. I feel like the person who wrote "that" post didnt actually read the whole chain, and would have known no one is joking.

I came from a "well bred" family I suppose and my father never tipped. I worked for a large hotel in TX, where I was doing a training program. I spent 3 weeks cleaning tile with a toothbrush, or making beds, washing windows, folding someone's pj's neatly for their return, folding TP into a triangle, making sure the roll faced down, made fancy folded wash clothes, laid out bathrobes, you name it...oh and while off topic I have to add...women are the worst!

My point, if I got a tip, hey cool, but if not, I didn't have time to think about it. One man gave a woman I was working with and me a single red rose (he was in the room while I was there) I thought that was so awesome!

I got one folded bunny our first night, I tipped like crazy right in front of the bunny all weekend and never got another animal. bummer.

If you cant afford to tip, then dont, if you have 4 quarters in your pocket, go ahead, maybe you will get the second bunny I was waiting for.

Im thinking of asking my own budget questions in a new thread....