Official Star Wars Weekends Thread Tips and Tricks 2015

[MooksterL1]

the show is 30 minutes. They will probably ask you to be there 15 to 20 minutes before the show

Thanks! Do you think 7:35 Jedi Mickey dinner is doable?

 

[yulilin3]

Thanks! Do you think 7:35 Jedi Mickey dinner is doable?

yes, it is.

 

[coluk003]

Question for those who did VIP last year... (Or any other Disney VIP tour).

Aside from shopping money, how much additional should this cost me? I know alcohol is extra at lunch, and I assume we also need tipping money for lunch servers. Are there servers at breakfast to be tipped. Do I need to tip tour guides?

Assume most everything would be payable via magic band.

As far as tipping the guide you don't have to ,but if you feel you want to or they did a great job remember the rule of 3 a Disney cast member must refuse any gift three times before they can take it. Usuallyafter the first offer people don't offer any longer. This was the rule when I worked promotions for the media in Disneyland. This maybe different however for tour guides but I don't see how it would be.

If they can't take it no matter what, write their name down and go to guest service before you leave the park that day. Those are rarely done by guests, but carry HEAVY weight with promotions and pay scales and transfers. I take a small pocket sized notepad with me, write their first name down, what they look like, like hair color, fair skin what ever, where they were and how they helped me, and on the way out I stop at guest services. The line can be an hour long, I still wait, because it means a lot

 

[MooksterL1]

yes, it is.

Yay!! Thanks again!

 

[slaveone]

As far as tipping the guide you don't have to ,but if you feel you want to or they did a great job remember the rule of 3 a Disney cast member must refuse any gift three times before they can take it. Usuallyafter the first offer people don't offer any longer. This was the rule when I worked promotions for the media in Disneyland. This maybe different however for tour guides but I don't see how it would be.

If they can't take it no matter what, write their name down and go to guest service before you leave the park that day. Those are rarely done by guests, but carry HEAVY weight with promotions and pay scales and transfers. I take a small pocket sized notepad with me, write their first name down, what they look like, like hair color, fair skin what ever, where they were and how they helped me, and on the way out I stop at guest services. The line can be an hour long, I still wait, because it means a lot

Tour guides are a tippable position unless that has changed recently. It is not expected but I've yet to find a VIP tour guide or plaid coat that doesn't deserve a tip. And sometimes things other then money are even more appreciated because they are a magical moment from the guest. In case of items go with rule of three.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Tour guides are a tippable position unless that has changed recently. It is not expected but I've yet to find a VIP tour guide or plaid coat that doesn't deserve a tip. And sometimes things other then money are even more appreciated because they are a magical moment for the guest. In case of items go with rule of three.

Any guidance on a good amount to tip, percentage-wise, maybe?

 

[slaveone]

I don't use a percentage system personally. I've tipped anywhere from 20 to 40 percent depending on tour. Sometimes only 10.

 

[hydrotony]

Okay, so I have an autograph question. We are NOT planning on waiting in lines to get celebrity fastpasses for autographs. But it just dawned on me. Should we bring anything along for any sort of "off-chance" autograph or photo-op opportunity. My gut feeling is that this is purely not possible, but I didn't want to actually be at a show or other location, run across a celebrity, and my kids actually want an autograph, then can't get one because of my own lack of preparation. Is there really any point in bringing something for Mayhew or Park or Oz to sign if we are not even planning to spend the time for designated autograph FPs?

Peter Mayhew almost ran over my toes when he was scooting on his scooter across from Star Tours last year (IIRC) so I guess if he hit me, I would have had a selfie or autograph opportunity. You never know.

 

[slaveone]

I ended up just walking up to Ray park last year no wait no fp because rain scared most people off. He was great. He teased me about my shirt which is darth maul getting rainbow face paint.

 

[momofallsons]

This is off-topic, but was hoping someone on here could answer this or direct me to a different thread I could post it to...
We are doing a BOG breakfast one morning during our trip at 9:00 (MK also opens at 9 that day). What time do you think we should arrive in order to have time to get into the park and once inside make our way to the breakfast? Also is there a special entrance to get in for early ADRs?

 

[lovethattink]

This is off-topic, but was hoping someone on here could answer this or direct me to a different thread I could post it to...
We are doing a BOG breakfast one morning during our trip at 9:00 (MK also opens at 9 that day). What time do you think we should arrive in order to have time to get into the park and once inside make our way to the breakfast? Also is there a special entrance to get in for early ADRs?

There is a special park entry line for dining reservations. Usually it's on the far right.

 

[yulilin3]

A friend of mine just linked us to her reservation (for her honeymoon, strange seeing a party of four there ) and we have Frank Oz fps for Saturday

 

[JayLeeJay]

A friend of mine just linked us to her reservation (for her honeymoon, strange seeing a party of four there ) and we have Frank Oz fps for Saturday

This is great news! If anyone else is wanting FP but is currently unable to book FP for weekend IV or V (and has valid tickets/days left on an AP) let me know. I have already helped a few people secure FP and am happy to help others if I can.

 

[msmama]

I don't use a percentage system personally. I've tipped anywhere from 20 to 40 percent depending on tour. Sometimes only 10.

You said you don't do percentage but then said the percentage. So did you just do $50 and that happened to be the percentage for that particular tour? Not even sure where to start with this, lol.

I thought for the rule of 3, even if it was finally accepted it had to be shared (though all I've ever heard of using that rule are concierges).

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

You said you don't do percentage but then said the percentage. So did you just do $50 and that happened to be the percentage for that particular tour? Not even sure where to start with this, lol.

I thought for the rule of 3, even if it was finally accepted it had to be shared (though all I've ever heard of using that rule are concierges).

I can see being generally comfortable with something like a $40 tip, let's say, so this is 10% of a $400 tour, or 40% of a $100 tour if the CM was PARTICULARLY awesome.

I tend to stick with a range of percentages for tips for other services (hairdressers, our awesome petsitter, etc.), but really have no idea what would be reasonable for something like a VIP tour in WDW...

We recently did a dinner cruise that was something like $200 for our family, and we gave each of the 3 crew members $20 -- so that was 30% total but it felt like less than $20 a piece wasn't enough.

I don't know... I just REALLY appreciate great service, and REALLY want to show them that. I guess we'll figure it all out on May 17th!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Hi all! I was just about to return a MEDIUM in this tshirt and noticed that it's sold out on Her Universe. If you'd like to coordinate, happy to pass along to a DISer rather than just send back to the company. Let me know!

http://www.heruniverse.com/brands/star-wars/saber-logo-tee.html

 

[slaveone]

The reason I gave percentages in general it depends on the tour experience and I use the percentages to give others a general ideal. My best tour at Disney was a Behind the Seeds tour at Epcot. The tour was only $16 and I gave my guide $20. For the big VIP tours I wouldn't tip the same but if my guide went above and beyond I can easily see a $50 dollar tip. I also think tips are dependant on the size of my party. I tip larger the larger group I have. I also bring homemade trinkets like thank you cards and pins these are for special cast members who make my day better be they housekeeping, waitstaff, or whatever.

 

[ADisneyQueen]

A friend of mine just linked us to her reservation (for her honeymoon, strange seeing a party of four there ) and we have Frank Oz fps for Saturday

Wow, I'm so glad I read your post b/c I had not idea the Frank Oz fp were now available. I was able to get mine for Friday. When did these beome available? Also is this at the beauty and the beast theater or somewhere else?

 

[slaveone]

Beauty and beast theater still.

 

[yulilin3]

Wow, I'm so glad I read your post b/c I had not idea the Frank Oz fp were now available. I was able to get mine for Friday. When did these beome available? Also is this at the beauty and the beast theater or somewhere else?

Weekend V fps opened Friday