May 11th 2008 ~ Any Double Dippers Out There?

[jojo6617]

JoJo where are you flying from? We're coming from MA so only have a 3hr flight.

We live in Newcastle in the north east of england however we are flying from manchester so its 3hr by car first then the dreaded 9/10 hr flight

 

[branv]

Standard is 15-20%, and which end of that is closer to "normal" depends from area to area, person to person. TBH, in our little corner of the globe, the only people I know who tip closer to 15% are our older relatives and the ones from more rural areas. If you asked me what was "normal" for us and most of the people we know, I'd tell you 20% (mainly b/c it's just easier to do the math ), with 15% for mediocre service. I know it sounds weird, but it's b/c waitstaff only get a salary of about $2/hr, which is meant to be supplemented by tips. But do what you're comfortable with, and remember you tip on the total before tax is added.

So at $40, expect to tip about $6-$8, $80 about $12-$16.

Which begs the question, since you're a nail tech -- in the UK, do they tip nail/salon people? Tipping for those services runs the same as with wait staff generally speaking in the U.S. But I know lots of the techs/stylists also have to "pay" for their chair in the salon. How does it work for you guys?

Hope that helps!

 

[momof4ngls]

Hope someone can help, I'v been to the US 8 times now but I'm still very unsure about tipping. I never know how much or when to give, as us brits only really give if where very happy with the service. For example if you dine at somewhere such as TGI Fridays and you have a bill for $40.00 what would be an appropriate amount. If we receive a bill for $80.00 from Rain forrest cafe, again what would be appropriate. I understand that 15% is often bandied about but is this the norm?

Food servers in the US usually rely on tips to make up the majority of their income. For that reason, it is typical to tip at least 15%. I normally tip 20% for good-excellent service, and 25% for outstanding service. If the service is absolutely horrible, I'll only tip 10%, but I do tip something, because I have relied on that tip money myself. I did a quick Google search and found this page: http://www.tipping.org/tips/us.html which appears to have lots of different categories with tip suggestions. I don't know how appropriate all the tip suggestions are, and can't read through them all right now with a two year old who has decided today is the day to get into everything that does NOT belong to him. But maybe it'll at least give you a good idea.

 

[disneyfool_1202]

OMG I'm trying to start packing with a 2.5 year old who is driving me BONKERS. I didn't even pull out clothes / suitcases yet. As I've been buying things here and there (toiletries, Disney visors, FE Gifts, etc...). I've amassed bags upon bags in my living room so I pulled them all out from behind the couch and decided to go through them, bag up things in baggies, etc.... DS has been walking around the house in her swim vest wither her Disney visor and sunglasses on and unpacking EVERYTHING I get into a zip loc baggie!! What the hell was I thinking trying to get anything done today?? I'm better off waiting until next Saturday NIGHT when she's ASLEEP!!!!

At least I've got all the laundry done. I still need to do grocery shopping and it's almost 3:30. My SIL is coming by at 4 to pick up the stuff to buy the receital tickets (which of course are being sold on the day before we come home from WDW) and I have no clue what's for dinner!!!

Should I pack "dinner" clothes for our 1st night in our carry on?? Like capris & blouse, sundress for DS, and shirt / khaki's for DH/DS? I'm not sure what time our luggage will hit our stateroom and we have early seating.

 

[momof4ngls]

OMG I'm trying to start packing with a 2.5 year old who is driving me BONKERS. I didn't even pull out clothes / suitcases yet. As I've been buying things here and there (toiletries, Disney visors, FE Gifts, etc...). I've amassed bags upon bags in my living room so I pulled them all out from behind the couch and decided to go through them, bag up things in baggies, etc.... DS has been walking around the house in her swim vest wither her Disney visor and sunglasses on and unpacking EVERYTHING I get into a zip loc baggie!! What the hell was I thinking trying to get anything done today?? I'm better off waiting until next Saturday NIGHT when she's ASLEEP!!!!

At least I've got all the laundry done. I still need to do grocery shopping and it's almost 3:30. My SIL is coming by at 4 to pick up the stuff to buy the receital tickets (which of course are being sold on the day before we come home from WDW) and I have no clue what's for dinner!!!

Should I pack "dinner" clothes for our 1st night in our carry on?? Like capris & blouse, sundress for DS, and shirt / khaki's for DH/DS? I'm not sure what time our luggage will hit our stateroom and we have early seating.

Well, personally I'd not pack a sundress for DS, but that's just a personal choice.

I will probably pack dinner clothes in our carry-on, just in case luggage gets lost or is late.

 

[jojo6617]

Thanks thats a great help,

I dont actually work in a salon I'm a mobile nail tec.for example if I charge £20.00 for treatment £2.00 would be a good tip often £1.00 sometimes nothing.Thats not because i'm bad at my job its just the norm ( I hope) if someone gave me 25% i would be on
thank again
x
jojo

 

[disneyfool_1202]

Well, personally I'd not pack a sundress for DS, but that's just a personal choice.

Can you tell I was a wee bit frazzeled today?? The good news: My bump is going DOWN!!! I no longer look like a man taping my winkie to hide it! (seriously- that's what I felt like - the damn thing was just sticking out in a not so good way). It may not be completely gone by next week and there is the potential for a relapse, but I'm hoping and praying to be able to wear my bathing suit and not look like I have a growth protruding from my pelvic region!!

I also found the kids pirate costumes from Halloween (well DD had a pirate costume but decided to dress up as Cinderella so she never wore it). So those are 'packed'. I use the term 'packed' very loosely here because as of this moment nothing has come close to finding itself in or remotely close to a suitcase. In baggies- yes, suitcase, no. I think I'm going to hit Walgreens and buy some of those vaccume bags to pack DD's princess dress and Minnie Mouse dress because they are sort of poofy and will have sparkles on everything else that come remotely close to them in the luggage.

One week from this moment I'll be sitting in the W.D. Theater waiting with the show to start!!!! YIPPEE!!!

 

[disneyfool_1202]

Where is everyone this morning?? Have you all gone to Florida early and left me here by myself for the next 6 days?

 

[Tarabra]

I'm still here!! We're leaving early Weds. morning, so today is packing day. Getting the paperwork, birth cert, etc. together. DH did most of the laundry yesterday, so now I have to fold it and just start packing it instead of putting it away.

Get this...I got an email on Sat. from someone coming in from out of state. (Actually she is originally from England and her name is Karen. What a coincidence. ) She will be looking for houses from $450k - $550k and will only be in town THIS weekend. Auuuuggggghhhh!!!! I can't believe it. I'll have to split my commission with someone else. My AZ people are still waiting on an appraisal and are hoping it comes in way under what our contract is for. The sellers just bought it a year ago and are asking $95k more. We got them down $35k, but still. This is a declining market folks!! I also got another buyer on Friday and have been running around w/ him. Where were these people in Jan. and Feb?? Hopefully it will be just as busy when I get back. That would be great.

Well, I can't spend too much time online today. Too much to do.

Tara

 

[Tarabra]

I'm an idiot!!!! I went to pull out the birth certificates. Whew, I was a day early!! Well...I can't find one for my son. I knew I had the one from the hospital and his social security number, but his actual birth certificate from the County was not there. I don't remember if I ordered it or not. With my daughter, somehow, I had a form or something, but I don't remember doing that for Jonah. Uggghh! They won't take the hospital certificate, even w/ the footprints. So first thing tomorrow I need to run down and get it. Like I don't have a ton of other things to do. I noticed it today around 3:50 and the place closes at 4:30. Grrrrr..... I did get a bunch packed and tried on some clothes, cursed my children for letting nothing fit anymore, (kidding), and I am getting ready to do the laundry. We are on a shared well, (yes, I know... how primitive...we live in a lake community and that's the way it is here) and we were without water for the afternoon. Sometimes the circuit is overloaded or something. So, gotta run.

 

[branv]

The good news: My bump is going DOWN!!!

pack DD's princess dress and Minnie Mouse dress because they are sort of poofy and will have sparkles on everything else that come remotely close to them in the luggage.

YAY! I'm sure it will be all better by the trip I had to lol about the sparkles...don't you almost wish you could be that age again just so you could get away with wearing something sparkly like that?

I'm an idiot!!!! I went to pull out the birth certificates. Whew, I was a day early!! Well...I can't find one for my son. I knew I had the one from the hospital and his social security number, but his actual birth certificate from the County was not there. I don't remember if I ordered it or not. With my daughter, somehow, I had a form or something, but I don't remember doing that for Jonah. Uggghh! They won't take the hospital certificate, even w/ the footprints. So first thing tomorrow I need to run down and get it. Like I don't have a ton of other things to do. I noticed it today around 3:50 and the place closes at 4:30. Grrrrr..... I did get a bunch packed and tried on some clothes, cursed my children for letting nothing fit anymore, (kidding), and I am getting ready to do the laundry. We are on a shared well, (yes, I know... how primitive...we live in a lake community and that's the way it is here) and we were without water for the afternoon. Sometimes the circuit is overloaded or something. So, gotta run.

Oh man, I would have PLOTZED! Full out Gone With the Wind type fluttering vapors. Glad you can at least get a copy in your area. My poor sis had to drive four hours to get hers, can you imagine?

Well everything has come to a crashing halt here. Since DH's uncle passed away on Sunday, we are taking an unexpected trip to Houston Wednesday for the funeral. We wanted to get in Tuesday for the viewing as well, but apparently there is some kind of HUGE convention and we can't find a single hotel room for an 80-mile radius...something about 70K+ attendees Soooo, we'll be getting up around 4 a.m. to get to the funeral by 10 am, then turning around and arriving back home around 8 pm, before hauling to get everything finished up before bedtime since have to be up at 5 am for our flight the next day. We are going to be some tired little patoots! I've been speeding into a frenzy everything I'd originally planned to do over 3 days. But we're at least glad that we get to go in for the service. DH's uncle had heart issues, but he was only 60, so it's still kind of stunning.

 

[disneyfool_1202]

DH's uncle had heart issues, but he was only 60, so it's still kind of stunning.

So sad - I'm sorry to hear about DH's uncle. My dad's family has a STRONG hitory of heart disease- all of his brothers in their 50's. My dad is the only one left and the healthiest of the bunch but even he's had a heart attack and is on meds including nitro for occasional angina. I sent all of my "in case of an emergency" how to reach me email to my cousin. I hate that I have to consider that sort of thing before any type of vacation.

On another note- What is going on with everyone this week??? What happened to "the calm before the storm - we have it in reverse! Family deaths days before vacation. A mysterious bump growing in my abdomen. Missing birth certificates. It doesn't stop there folks.......... DS has had a cough for almost 2 wks which we attributed to his allergies (it's that time of year) but could it settle down? Oh no... yesterday on my way home from work DH calls and tells me DS's cough sounds croupy - I get home and he has a temp of 100.6 and sounds HORRIBLE. So off to the doctor's we go (at 6:30pm...). On my way my BF, who is coming on this trip with her family, calls me on the way to her son's doctor's office where he is sitting waiting to have stitches put into his forhead! Apparently he was playing with a neighbor who was swinging a golf club and WHAM - right above his eye. They closed it with surgical glue and derma-bond and are hoping it stays closed- if it opens up again within the next 24-48 hours he'll need 8 stitches above his eye.
Then back to DS - I got him to the doctor's where he was diagnosed with a sinus infection.... so he's on amoxicillin and should be feeling much better before we cruise. Hopefully DD will remain healthy (no signs of getting sick but with our luck she'll come down with something on Saturday.......

I SO need this vacation!!

 

[garys12]

My Son who is 5 had the best line this morning at breakfast....He said "Wouldn't it be great, if we can just wake up tomorrow morning and it would be Saturday?" "Then we can get on the plane to Disney."

One thing is that getting the kids out of bed and ready for school this week has been a dream since I keep telling them - no fighting with me when I wake you up... You wont have to wake up for School next week on OUR CRUISE!

We will be at the Cocoa Beach Hilton on Saturday - probably at the Port by 11:30 on Sunday.

GS

 

[momof4ngls]

In our trip information from Make a Wish, they suggested that on the last day of the cruise, we head to Downtown Disney if we have time. I have no clue what Downtown Disney is. Can somebody please enlighten me on what is there, if we pay a fee for entrance, etc. Is there some way to find out what is going on there that week? How late is it open (I'm wondering if we should consider it the night before the cruise as well)?

 

[Cruiser1969]

In our trip information from Make a Wish, they suggested that on the last day of the cruise, we head to Downtown Disney if we have time. I have no clue what Downtown Disney is. Can somebody please enlighten me on what is there, if we pay a fee for entrance, etc. Is there some way to find out what is going on there that week? How late is it open (I'm wondering if we should consider it the night before the cruise as well)?

If you like to shop, you'll like DD. There is the huge World of Disney store which keeps me occupied for hours!!!

For families, DD is basically a restaurant and shopping area. There is no fee to get in. It's a good way to kill some time if you don't want to pay to get into a park. Also, in the DD area is Cirque de Soleil ($$) Disney Quest ($$), Pleasure Isand (nightlife - $$), and an AMC movie theatre ($$). Of course, all of these require admission.


I'm sure others will add their perpective of DD for you.

 

[Cruiser1969]

WOW!! Seems like a lot is going on the week before the big cruise!!

I hope that we all find ourselves healthy and happy once we board our floating paradise five days from now!!!!

 

[momof4ngls]

Thank you for the info, Maria!

Branv, so sorry about your loss!! I hope things go as well as possible.

 

[Tarabra]

Let me add to the misery. Well, remember I mentioned my big deal on the $616k house? Well, the appraisal came in 30k under. We're waiting to hear back from the seller. My buyer's like, well, I'll have to come back up to look for something else. Can someone from your office take me around? So now I have over a million dollars in sales floating around while I'm gone. I had another deal fall apart this week because the sellers didn't have enough to close. They are still working on finding some cash. I'm gonna scream. I had weeks and weeks this winter with not one phone call. Unbelieveable. I did write an offer last night, but still waiting to hear back on that one. It's full price, so shouldn't be a problem.

I got the birth certificate. No big deal. Although once again stopped at Target and spent another $50k. Gotta finish packing.

T

 

[Tarabra]

Well, we're off first thing in the morning. I've been running all day. I can't wait to get out of here. See ya on Sunday at 3:00.

Tara

 

[momof4ngls]

Tara, I'm sorry about the troubles with the house sales. I hope it all works out well. Have a wonderful trip! See ya Sunday.