"Having a GRAND time - The Official GF Chat Thread"

[goofygal531]

The "service fee" on room service is the included tip. You don't need to tip extra....they charge you MUCH MORE for the food than if you went to Gaspies to get it and then the 18% serv fee is actually the tip for the "server". )

I had no idea! I thought that was like a service and handling type of fee - the staff in the kitchen or something. We always give the guy who delivers it a few bucks. Just to make sure he gets it himself. My DH is an overtipper. Even when gratiuties are included, he always give a little something on the side. I guess out of habit. It just feels odd not to tip. But I will let him know not to tip Room Service 20%, a buck or two is fine. Can you tell I'm the cheap one!

Shel, anyone who performs a service for you, you tip. Usually anywhere from 15-20% the cost of the bill. This gets hefty when you have spa services. At my local day spa, you have to ask for a tip envelope at the front desk, just put the cash in it and write your spa treatment person's name on the front. I always double check their names!

something about passports at EPCOT. I never saw them and I never saw anyone with them.

Yeah, I heard of these. You can find them near the autograph books in the gift shops. I think they're around $10.

http://www.mouseshoppe.com/product.cfm?ProductID=7272

My DS4 loves the penny press machines. We buy a new penny press book every trip and he fills it up. It's such a thrill for him to search for the machine in the parks and resorts. He's not interested in the passport or kidcots in Epcot.

 

[praline3001]

Since I dont want to be needlessly chatting on the official thread
anyone know where in that thread they would have the conceirge menus? Goofy gal said back in Nov someone posted it but I cant seem to be able to find it? Maybe someone could throw me a link here so I can read it.


I am also seriously thinking of doing the VIP tour thing. I know it seems a bit over the top but with the crowds and all for June it might be worth it. Savannah could get much more knocked out and I am thinking an easier time for me...
What do you gals think? I am on the fence about it... it is a LOT OF MONEY but at the same time I think it would make our trip more enjoyable/ less stressful. I also have motion sickness and she does NOT. There are a few rides I just can't go on and her and I talked about it and she seemed okay with it BUT I know she would be thrilled to have the tour guide ride with her on the rides that make me dizzy.

 

[goofygal531]

Brook,

It's not an official menu, a poster must of had a notebook and pen with her and took very good notes every meal offering!

Kelly scanned and posted the meal offering schedule with the times listed.

I'll try to find it for you.

I was interested about the tour guide too, when my kids get older I would love to do something like that. But do they really take you to all the parks like they did on the show?? I doubt it in six hours!

The only part of the show I liked was the Richard Petty thing in the beginning. DH is starting to get nervous! It looks like fun, I told him to take lots of photos!

Mare

 

[goofygal531]

Found it! It was posted by MinnieSota:

Since there has been a lot of talk about concierge offerings, I thought I'd repost this info from the old thread. We stayed at RPC in October of this year. Here's what I made note of:

Breakfast offerings:

Assorted cereals, instant oatmeal
Fruit and yogurt
Plain and sesame bagels with cream cheese
Cinnamon raisin toast
Whole wheat and white toast
Assorted sweet rolls and croissants
Sticky buns (2 out of 6 mornings)
Cold cuts and cheese
Juices, teas, coffee and the Nescafe machine

Lunch offerings:

Veggies and dips
Cheese and crackers
Spreads (hummus) with bagel chips
Turkey and cheese sandwiches
Potato chips
Cookies
Lemonade, ice tea, Perrier, Evian and Coke products (plus Ginger Ale)

Afternoon tea time:

Cookies (sugar, oatmeal raisin, chocolate chip)
Scones and devonshire cream/jams
Banana bread
Small tea cookies
Same beverages

Evening: (5-7 PM - Food changed each night)

Grilled Chicken Ceasar Salad With Croutons
Crabcakes
Mushroom Phyllo Pouches
Brie With Lingonberries
Salmon with Potato Salad
Virginia Ham Biscuits
Assorted Veggies
Assorted cheeses and crackers

Southwest Chicken Salad
Scallops in Ancho Chili Bacon
Watermelon and Pineapple Salsa
Herb Goat Cheese Crostini
Chicken Wellington
Gazpacho Shrimp Shooters
Assorted Veggies, Cheeses, Crackers

Chicken Satay
Beef Skewer with Thai Chili Sauce
Carrot and grape salad
Coconut mango salad
Flatbread
Assorted veggies, cheeses, crackers

Hot and Sour Cucumber Salad
Asian Chicken Salad
Broccoli Cashew Salad
Thai Spring Rolls
Duck Potstickers
Vegetable Sushi with Wasabi
Assorted veggies, cheeses, crackers
Wonton Skins with Cinnamon

Wines included Penfold Cabernet, Coppola Merlot, Mumm Cuvee, a chardonnay and pinot grigio
Beers included Bud, Miller Lite, Heineken, Corona

Cordials and desserts (8-10 PM):

Chocolate covered strawberries
Swirled cheesecakes
Fruit tarts
Chocolate covered Ladyfingers
Carrot cakes
Big cookies
Tea cookies

Adult beverages included Bailey's, Kahluha, Drambouie, Brandy and 2 others (I'm a Bailey's girl!)

My kids are older so I didn't pay as much attention but what I remember is:

Turkey cheese roll-ups
Fish Nuggets
Chicken nuggets
PBJ Crustables
Cupcakes
Brownies

Hope this helps! Our favorite evening offerings were on Tuesday (Potstickers, Thai Spring Rolls, etc,) I know people say you can't make a meal out of concierge offerings but there were at least two nights that I really did not need anything else. We ate all of our breakfasts in the lounge with the exception of our last morning when we ate at the GF Cafe.
Rarely had midday offerings but often had scones! I think we had desserts and cordials 2 or 3 nights.

 

[vbarry]

Hey Ladies!!

DS plays travel travel basketball. We traveled over an hour at 11 am and just got home. I washing his uniform so he's ready to go tomorrow (same schedule). I am not going, I need to DD ready for school with all the studying she has.

Anyway, a friend of mine today me something about passports at EPCOT. I never saw them and I never saw anyone with them. So, I thought to myself you were the girls to ask....So do they exist? if so where could we get them?

Praline - Very funny about the wood!!!
Sorry never heard anything about it!!

The Passport book can be bought at the gift shops in Epcot. You can take these around to each country and they stamp them and usually sign them. We also do the mask where you go to each country and the kids can color on the mask and they also put a stamp on them. I think it is called the Kidcot area. (not sure) Anyway- I found this a great way to tour the country with kids.

 

[vbarry]

Since I dont want to be needlessly chatting on the official thread
anyone know where in that thread they would have the conceirge menus? Goofy gal said back in Nov someone posted it but I cant seem to be able to find it? Maybe someone could throw me a link here so I can read it.


I am also seriously thinking of doing the VIP tour thing. I know it seems a bit over the top but with the crowds and all for June it might be worth it. Savannah could get much more knocked out and I am thinking an easier time for me...
What do you gals think? I am on the fence about it... it is a LOT OF MONEY but at the same time I think it would make our trip more enjoyable/ less stressful. I also have motion sickness and she does NOT. There are a few rides I just can't go on and her and I talked about it and she seemed okay with it BUT I know she would be thrilled to have the tour guide ride with her on the rides that make me dizzy.

If it were just me and my girls I would probably consider this also. I do not think I would want to do it with hubby along. It is nice touring as a family.

I would call and ask about it. I think it would be definately nice for MK since MK is always so busy anymore. Let us know what you find out.

 

[princessesrule4]

The Passport book can be bought at the gift shops in Epcot. You can take these around to each country and they stamp them and usually sign them. We also do the mask where you go to each country and the kids can color on the mask and they also put a stamp on them. I think it is called the Kidcot area. (not sure) Anyway- I found this a great way to tour the country with kids.

My DD loves to do the mask at the Kidcots and go from country to country getting the stamps and the little symbols that they attach to the mask ( can't think what they're called!) She enjoys talking to the CM's from each country. The girls from China and Japan showed her how to write her name in characters, which she thought was pretty cool!

 

[praline3001]

Thanks for the menu! Savannah loves it!

We aren't big eaters but we like good food


I think I am going to call the VIP tour thing and get some prices and information on them. I have read several places its $125 an hour but then I have read several other places that resort guest get a discount and its $95 an hour. I am not sure if it would be worth $800 but I would seriously think about it for $600. I am not looking for a sitter for Savannah, but someone who could do the grunt work and the planning for us so I don't have to do that part of things The guide will get us all out fast passes while we are doing other things and I *read* on here that though you dont get to the front of the line, the tour guide has the ability to get more than 1 set of fast passes at a time... she doesn't have to wait for the window to get a new fast pass.

I will talk to them tomorrow and see what I can find out.

 

[WishesQueen]

The Passport book can be bought at the gift shops in Epcot. You can take these around to each country and they stamp them and usually sign them. We also do the mask where you go to each country and the kids can color on the mask and they also put a stamp on them. I think it is called the Kidcot area. (not sure) Anyway- I found this a great way to tour the country with kids.

We have done the mask, and what a pain it was walking around with two of them. Now that their older I thought this would be a nice thing for her to do. She loves collecting ANYTHING!!!

Brook - I have to agree, I wouldn't use a VIP tourguide with my DH but it sounds like she might be helpful on your girls only trip. But is it worth the $$$ for a few rides to you???

Goofygal - Thanks for the link, I would love to purchase those before we leave so her can get excited and I would also love to get them for friends that going right before us!!!

 

[praline3001]

I wanted to add IF we do this VIP tour... big IF
I am going to book it for 2 of our 8 days there
1 for MK day
1 for DHS day

I don't do the tea cups the way Savannah likes to do the tea cups I dont SPIN!!!!!!
Also, MK is just soooooooo crowded I have 2 days planned there and am thinking with those 2 days we will only get 1/2 the stuff done she wants to even with fast passes. Using the VIP tour you are able to do the entire park ...at least the stuff you want to do... in 1 day.

As to the DHS day, there are a lot of shows we missed last time that Savannah wants to see. She also LOVES RNR. I will ride RNR ONCE MAYBE... I am not big on this particular ride. I dont like the gut wrentching feeling at the start I didn't have to ride it at all in Feb as DH took the kids!

We are doing the safari tour at AK and with that, I see no reason to do the VIP thing. Epcot, I dont do the Mission Space ride (well I do the wimpy side hehe)
and we did Soarin 6 times in Feb so if we can't get on Soarin no biggie. We also spent 3 full days in Epcot this last trip so whatever we miss, we did EVERYTHING just a few months ago

So the price range I am looking at would be 1500 (for 125 an hour) or 1140 (for $95 an hour)

 

[praline3001]

Brook - I have to agree, I wouldn't use a VIP tourguide with my DH but it sounds like she might be helpful on your girls only trip. But is it worth the $$$ for a few rides to you???

Thats the part I am trying to figure out.
They do a lot more than just get you on rides.... thinking she could stand in line for one of Savannah's Mickey Bars for us
I am going to call Monday and get an idea of exactly all they do and decide then.

 

[arbonnette]

Yeah, the Adventures are pricey, but it will be a once in a lifetime trip for my extended family. Mom, Dad, brother, his wife, sister, me, DD, and niece and nephew. We wanted to go this summer but all were booked for our number of people when I called in Feb. I guess despite the priciness, lots of people are going ... So we are going to book when the 2009 adventures come out around August for June 2009.

Regarding the VIP tours, I am seriously considering it for our Dec. trip. My dad can't get around well anymore, and it's getting worse, so if we were able to get more done in a shorter amount of time (i.e. multiple fass passes) it would be completely worth it to us. Gosh, I keep finding more ways to increase the cost of our Disney trips. First, it was only Deluxe. Now, we fell in love with RPC and can't say anywhere else. Now I am looking at VIP touring.

Have a great Sunday, everyone. We are going to an inflatable water slide party. DD is super excited. Heck, I may even want to get on it myself!

- Andrea

 

[goofygal531]

They do a lot more than just get you on rides.... thinking she could stand in line for one of Savannah's Mickey Bars for us

Brook, I love the tea cups! DH and DS4 hate them, I'd be happy to go for a spin with Savannah! Since we'll be there the same days, this is a possibility....

Make sure to price outside tour guides like Tour Guide Mike's service (he used to be a WDW VIP tour guide and now has his own company), they might be a few bucks less.

http://www.michaelsvips.com/



Another idea, if you really just want another person with you to do the things you don't want to, consider Kid's Nite Out mother's helpers. I heard from several posters they hire them to tag along and help out during a day at the park. I like this idea and honestly never would have thought about it myself. The price would be drastically lower at $14 an hour instead of $100.

Mare

 

[goofygal531]

So we are going to book when the 2009 adventures come out around August for June 2009.

The 2009 adventures are out already. They offer two sets of prices early bird and regular rates. That's why all the tours are booked for the rest of this year, they're so expensive people take advantage of the early bird prices. A friend of mine is doing the Hollywood tour next summer and by booking early her family of 4 saved over $3,000.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

good afternoon ladies
whats everyone doing today?

 

[Alicnwondrln]

The 2009 adventures are out already. They offer two sets of prices early bird and regular rates. That's why all the tours are booked for the rest of this year, they're so expensive people take advantage of the early bird prices. A friend of mine is doing the Hollywood tour next summer and by booking early her family of 4 saved over $3,000.

goofys right
if you want to do this book the early rates you will save a ton.

 

[goofygal531]

I wanted to add IF we do this VIP tour... big IF
I am going to book it for 2 of our 8 days there
1 for MK day
1 for DHS day

So the price range I am looking at would be 1500 (for 125 an hour) or 1140 (for $95 an hour)

Brook, Michael's VIPs (which is VIP Mike) lets you split the tour into two days:

We request that your Private Guide be used a minimum of six consecutive hours per day. An exception is always made if your family utilizes our recommended split-day itinerary and if he or she is joining you for the second half. (The total VIP Tour hours for this recommended daily plan is typically 6-8 hours depending on the theme park.) There are also a couple of touring situations when we know the day will require less than six hours for an optimal experience, for example Disney's Animal Kingdom, and you are only charged for that day's total duration. The end goal is to provide whatever is best for you and your vacation.

http://www.michaelsvips.com/vip_tour.htm

This is getting very interesting...

 

[goofygal531]

good afternoon ladies
whats everyone doing today?

Lazy Sunday. Boys watching Little Einsteins, mommy on computer - all still in PJs Daddy off to driving range.

 

[goofygal531]

goofys right
if you want to do this book the early rates you will save a ton.

The adventures are just so expensive that most families need to take advantage of the discounted early bird rates, some need the time to save for the trip. They are popular and do book up well in advance. If you know which tour your interested in, book it with the minimum deposit asap.

The adventures are similiar to booking a cruise, early bird discounts and booking a year in advance. 2010 adventures will be announced soon. The disney cruises are announced already until 2011!

Disney knows families need time to plan for these elaborate vacations. There's no $1,600 special for either anytime soon!

 

[WishesQueen]

good afternoon ladies
whats everyone doing today?

Boys are out at Basketball tournaments, me and DD are sitting out today.

I lost a pound, Finally!!! So I jumped on the treadmill!!!

Yesterday we ate two meals out and I found a way to loss weight, half way through my meal I gave my dish to my DH and DS, it was gone before I could change my mind. My DS will never gain weight with all the Basketball he plays, but my DH is going to need a diet next!!!