Gifts/gratuities question?? Any Ideas!

[diznylnd]

Hello all! I just have a question for some Prior cruisers as to the tips. I know that there is the customary gratuities for the dining servers and the statroom Host/hostess, but my question is :

What about the people that will be watching my most precious cargo DD4?

I would like to give them a special something too. Are there too many cast members to tip in the kids club, and a group gift my be best? And if so any ideas on a good group gift?

Thanks for all the help in advance..

 

[happiest in Disney]

I don't have an answer on what would be a good gift...but I had to tell you the picture in your post is so adorable.
Donna

 

[BuzzBoyMom]

room stewards and servers in the dining room always get the cash! CMs in the labs and other child areas can be given phone cards or wallmart gift cards that they use while in port. One of the nicest ways to give it would be to have your DD draw pictures on cards before you leave. Then towards the end of the cruise, your DD can decide who (if any) gets which picture and put a little phone card inside! Nice and personalized.

 

[diznylnd]

Thanks...

 

[kcashner]

There are about 12 counsellors in each age group. I usually ask DD if there was a counsellor or two who made her time really special, and then give a gift card or phone card along with a thank you note or picture from DD to those people. I place it in an envelope with that person's name on it if they are not there on the last night.

Cash given to the counsellors is pooled and either divided among the team or used to throw a party (depending on which CM or CM parent is right, or it may represent a policy change). Bottom line, if you give cash, it will not go to the person you may want to reward. Gifts, gift cards, phone cards, etc. that are given to the group are "raffled" off or handed out one to a CM (if there are enough for each CM to get one) on a periodic basis. Gifts, gift cards, phone cards given to an individual with an individual's name on them can be kept by that person--or at least that's what the CMs told me. SO, we try to reward those who made my DD's time really special.

Ideas....phone cards, Target or Walmart gift cards (that's where the crew bus takes them when the ship is in port). Photos or thank you notes/drawings from the kids are always nice.

 

[diznylnd]

 

[CM_Mom]

The Kids Navigators have the pictures of all the Counselors for the age group on them. They aren't fantastic pictures but they are faces of everyone with their names. DD recommends talking to your child with the Navigator when you can read the names and show them the pictures to help them pick out the ones that made their trip special. Kcashner's idea of envelopes with names is good too.

What DD doesn't like to see is kids put on the spot to pick a favorite on the last night in the club with all the other counselors looking on or possibly the child's favorite counselor not working. She feels discussing with the child in the cabin before hand is easier on the child. Also handmade thank you cards are a real hit with the counselors. Sometimes the thought really does count.

For some parents who the special ones are is obvious since the kids talk about them all the time.

 

[snelsonbrown]

Hello there,
Can I just offer a small suggestion? I have spoke with a number of cast members and the subject of gifts came up - their feelings?
They really would like the cash, BUT if they had their rathers between phone cards and Walmart cards - they would take the Walmart cards - they get so many phone cards that they trade or sell them - This is only an imput and not to change anyone's mind as to what they want to do or offer and not to be taken wrong.

I agree that picture is adorable - what a beautiful little girl but then I don't believe I have ever seen an ugly child - so innocent about the world.
Anyhow thanks for allowing me to put 2 cents in.
Always
Shirley

 

[diznylnd]

I dont want to hurt anyones feelings by picking one or 2 people in particular. I would try to have my daughter let me know prior to giving the gift, who she wants to give it too. I wish I could just come up with a nice group gift...

Thanks for all the advice so far and I would love to hear any other Ideas too...

Kirsty

Cant wait to set sail...

 

[kcashner]

That's why it's a good thing that there are many people on the boards. I would never have thought of discussing which counsellors made the trip special in the club!!! I'm so glad someone else brought this up.

We do the counsellor gift cards in the cabin at the same time we do the tips for servers, etc. That way, DD has some understanding of what we are doing and why. Of course, she's well beyond 4 years old now too......

 

[ivanova]

Originally posted by snelsonbrown
Hello there,
Can I just offer a small suggestion? I have spoke with a number of cast members and the subject of gifts came up - their feelings?
They really would like the cash, BUT if they had their rathers between phone cards and Walmart cards - they would take the Walmart cards - they get so many phone cards that they trade or sell them - This is only an imput and not to change anyone's mind as to what they want to do or offer and not to be taken wrong.

I agree that picture is adorable - what a beautiful little girl but then I don't believe I have ever seen an ugly child - so innocent about the world.
Anyhow thanks for allowing me to put 2 cents in.
Always
Shirley

I know servers and stateroom hosts much prefer the cash over cards ... but I was under the impression that the rest of the CMs in "nontippable" positions were not ALLOWED to accept cash, and if you force it onto them an equal amount is deducted from their pay or it goes into some kind of group fund. If you want to reward a CM that is not in a tipping position, then the cards are probably the only way you can ensure that you're tipping the person you want to recognize.

 

[inkkognito]

We like to buy FL lottery tickets and pass those out as a little something extra. That way, the CMs have some fun, and who knows...they might win something too!
Barb

 

[CM_Mom]

but I was under the impression that the rest of the CMs in "nontippable" positions were not ALLOWED to accept cash, and if you force it onto them an equal amount is deducted from their pay or it goes into some kind of group fund.

The counselors in the Club/Lab are required to turn any cash in to their manager for a group fund that's usually used for a group activity - like taking the whole department to breakfast in Port Canaveral.

For group gifts, what about a box of chocolates? Choose one about the size the group could consume pretty quickly since there are restrictions on what they can have in their cabins.

DD has also mentioned lollipops with a hand written note.

 

[wildernessgirl]

Has anyone tried giving the CM one of those adjustable visa cards? It's like cash, you tell the bank what $ amount you want on the visa card. That way they can get to keep the "cash on the visa card". I don't think that that would go into a group fund. I think the lowest amount for those are $20-$25.


Just a thought!

 

[diznylnd]

There are so many good idea's here and I have no idea what to do. It just seems to me that anyone that makes your trip memorable or goes out of their way for you, should be able to be tipped as a way to show your gratitude for there gestures that go above and beyond

I love the FL lotto ticket idea because they are inexpensive and I could get enough for everyone.. and not hurt anyones feelings and my DD4 would love to hand something out to everyone.

Maybe I could attach a little business card size note with a picture of my DD on it with a Thank you and let her sign it. Thanks for the Great idea on the lotto ticket Barb. (since we are renting a car and driving to port ourselves we could just stop on the way and buy the tickets)