How much to tip

[DisneyJade]

hi, i tried to search the boards, but the engine is down.
I'm trying to get an idea of how much we'll spend in gratuities on our upcoming trip. (not including meal tips, which I've included in our food budget). we are taking a shuttle, so I don't need to worry about cabbie/driver tips.

*I am more concerned about how much to tip mousekeeping (per day? or do you just tip at the end of the week?)
*will i want to tip street performers in the parks/entertainers in DD?
* And what other tips may I be overlooking? (not: we're not on a concierge floor or anything, and we don't plan to use a bell hop)

we'll be in the world for 4nights and three full days.
Thanks!


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[bratray]

hello

the "norm" for tipping mouse keeping is $1.00 per person staying in the room (4 people = $4.00- Per Day)
this is just a guideline- i feel people should tip according to service- if service is not so good- then not so good tip!
mousekeepers may change from day to day so i always tip on a daily basis

i believe bell man usually get $.50 to $1.00 per bag

i would imagine that street performers wouldn't be able to accept a tip (maybe wrong)

have a great trip

lisa

 

[patsal]

Tips are a personal thing when it comes to mousekeeping and bellpeople. Here is what I do. I tip daily for maid service usually $1.00 per person per day ( you may not have the same mousekeeper each day)--we are pretty tidy so there isn't much to do in our rooms. When we DVC I leave 1.00 per person per day on T&T day and $2.00 per person on full clean day. Note I have already vaccumed, put all trash into one bag, and we usually have all recyclables and dishes done, all used towels are in a heap in the tub. Maidservice is not considered a tipped position, so again it is a personal thing. I tip bell services $1.00 per bag, except the kids numerous small bags which I tip $2.00 per kid. Valet parking, I tip when I pick up the car-- $1-$2 depending on service, etc.
I have never heard of tipping the street performers at WDW--I don't think that would be something to plan for.
Basically I tip anyone who helps with bags, cleans up after me, and brings me food or my car. I usually stop at the bank before a trip and get $50.00 in one dollar bills so I know I'm all set. Have fun!

 

[DisneyJade]

GREAT! Thanks for all the tips on tips!

 

[epcotfan]

Like the previous posters I also tip mousekeeping on a day to day basis since you could have a different person tending to your room everyday.

 

[Minnie's Mate]

I agree with patsal, but would like to add one thing.

When eating at buffet, many people don't feel obligated to tip or not to tip the customary 15%. I feel that it IS customary to tip the servers at the Disney, and other, buffets because they take your drink order and keep your drink filled, clear your used dishes, and virtually everything full service restaurant servers do except bring your plate of food. If you look at the number of times the server may clear dirty dishes, they really work harder for you than the full service restaurant servers do.

 

[Disneyolic]

I have heard it is customary to tip 10% when you are serving yourself food, such as a buffet, and are getting served beverages and getting your table cleared, etc.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

we are taking a shuttle, so I don't need to worry about cabbie/driver tips.

Yes, you do. They expect a tip also. The general rule of thumb is about 10% for the total fare, split each way.

 

[Disneyolic]

If it is a Mears type shuttle where they just drive you to your resort (ie, no extra stops) then I thought you just tip for your baggage handling ($1 - $2 per bag). That would probably equal out to almost the same depending on how much baggage you have.

 

[patsal]

If you are taking a shuttle like Mears just tip on baggage, if they help out. Often times they do not and I only tip them if the ride is not stressful--once I had a driver that really seemed to dispise tourists and knocked Disney in the commentarty for the whole trip, he didn't help with luggage and I did not feel the need to leave a tip. Besides that shuttle was not direct and the number of stops is crazy.

 

[Minnie's Mate]

Ten percent is correct for the rule of thumb for a minimum for satisfactory service at a buffet. However, you should also take into consideration how much work is involved.

If the only difference from a full service restaurant is that you plate your own food, then you should tip accordingly as if the server had brought your food, too. Remember, the server has to keep your beverage glass full and clear your used plates and that it is fully legal to pay a food server a minimum wage of approx. $2.30/hour since tips are a major part of their pay.

Most restaurants now have the server enter the bill in the register under his/her name and is then taxed, yes IRS taxes and state and local taxes, based on 10-12% of his/her sales whether that much tip was received or not.

A former secretary of one of my business associates said she was a server at a national chain of buffets, and she was required to sort a certain number of silver ware settings and roll them up in a napkin on her time before she could even clock in. When she did clock in, she was only paid the waitress wage of $1.15/hour. At the time, national minimum wage was something like $4.25/hour.

Also, originally, the tip was paid in advance to insure good service. Times changed (probably when dinning out became more mainstream as apposed to an upper class only thing) to make it easier to know how much tip would be appropriate. This is when the 15% rule of thumb came into being.

Either way, I do feel that using the 10% or 15% rule of thumb is the basis of the tip amount and should be adjusted up or down depending on the quality of the service received. If you have additional "minimums" based on the size of the party, that is considered acceptable as well.

 

[Tiffany]

Originally posted by DisneyJade
*I am more concerned about how much to tip mousekeeping (per day? or do you just tip at the end of the week?)
*will i want to tip street performers in the parks/entertainers in DD?
* And what other tips may I be overlooking? (not: we're not on a concierge floor or anything, and we don't plan to use a bell hop)

we'll be in the world for 4nights and three full days.
Thanks!

Well, mousekeeping is not a tipped position. You will find that many people including myself so tip mousekeeping but it is not required. If you can fit it into your budget then $1 per person in the room per day is a fine amount.

You do not tip the street performers on Disney property. They are CM paid by Disney and should be considered a character.

If you valet park you should tip the valet a couple of bucks.

If you have bell services bring your bags to your room or take them from your room to your car when you check out you should tip that person about a $1 per bag.

Let me know if you have any other questions and hope you have a great trip.

 

[Tiffany]

Originally posted by Disneyolic
I have heard it is customary to tip 10% when you are serving yourself food, such as a buffet, and are getting served beverages and getting your table cleared, etc.

I agree with this. The customary tip amount for a buffet is 10% and the customary tip amount for full service sit down is 15%. If service is above what is expected then we tip more 15% for the buffet and 20% for full service.

 

[Muffy]

I tip 15% at buffets because the waitstaff works just as hard at a buffet, JMHO.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

If it is a Mears type shuttle where they just drive you to your resort (ie, no extra stops) then I thought you just tip for your baggage handling ($1 - $2 per bag). That would probably equal out to almost the same depending on how much baggage you have.

You are probably right on this one, I was thinking the town car type services. I took Mears once and that was more than enough for me. It took FOREVER and that was back in 88.

 

[DisneyJade]

the mears discussion has me thinking of switching to a cab. for not much more, is this a worthy upgrade?

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

I would, in a heartbeat. Or....one of the limo services.

Taxi

Outside the baggage handling area is also the Taxi service. Cabs/vans arrive and take guests as they come in...so no telling what "company" you will get. Groups of 4 or more may get a taxi van. The price was the same for 2 adults as it was for 4; approximately $40 one way for the ride (plus gratuity) to a Disney Property Hotel.



MEARS SHUTTLE

$28/adult/roundtrip and $20/Child Ages 4-11. (Disney sometimes includes a $3-off discount coupon with your reservation confirmation.) The vehicle is either a van or bus and will take passengers to the WDW resort hotels. Your Mears transportation vehicle will in all probability contains guests headed for different "Disney" hotels - so be prepared for a non-direct journey. You will, however, be taken to the hotel you are staying at. You will need to make reservations for your return trip. Again, because the van/bus may go to several hotels, you will need to allow sufficient time to get to the airport. You can visit their website at http://www.mearstransportation.com

Thinking back, we actually used Mears twice, once in 88 and once in 89. The trip in 89 is where we encountered the screaming child (ALL THE WAY TO THE AIRPORT with numerous stops at other resorts) After that, I swore, never again.

We used a taxi and liked that in 90, used Florida Towne Car in 94 and LOVED that and the other times we rented a car and really found that to be best for us.

 

[patsal]

In a heartbeat I would use a towncar service. Your fare will be the same as the cab and it is cleaner, and more attractive. You can also have a quick grocery stop to pick up extra water bottles and or snacks. I have never been happy with Mears and it always gives me a bad start/end to my vacation. If there are two of you the cost wil lbe almost the same and the convienience will be well worth the few extra dollars. The driver will also help you load everything into the car--after a long day this can be a huge thing! Have a great trip!