Phone cards as tips

[donaldsgal]

For people who use phone cards as tips for exceptional service, how do you do this? I'm thinking of getting one or two and saving them for the most exceptional service. Do you give a monetary tip in addition to the phone card? If not, does the CM appreciate the phone card knowing they get no monetary tip?

Thanks!

 

[clh2]

If you are planning on giving one to any of your dining servers, or your cabin attendant - tip regular money first, and the phone card on top of that.

For counselors in the lab, they aren't supposed to accept cash, so they can be given a phone card in lieu of cash.

 

[tvguy]

Someone commented recently that most cast members have cell phones now so the calling cards are of no use. You can never go wrong with a cash tip, let THEM decide how to spend it.

 

[donaldsgal]

Good point, tvguy. I'll take that off my to-do list, which is great!

 

[CM_Mom]

Many cast members do have cell phones so we tipped our server extra cash.

A thought about gifts for the non-tipped positions. Purchase a bunch of WalMart or Target gift cards in $5.00 or $10.00 denominations. Then you have something to give when you encounter exceptional service and any you have left over you can spend yourself when you get home.

Since we have cell phones that we use for long distance, we wouldn't have a need for left over phone cards.

 

[ivanova]

Someone commented recently that most cast members have cell phones now so the calling cards are of no use. You can never go wrong with a cash tip, let THEM decide how to spend it.

I beg to differ....you CAN go wrong with a cash tip to a nontippable position like the kid/teen counselors...they have to forfeit that money to DCL, so why bother giving it to them in the first place? Whereas a gift card or other nonmonetary gift might mean more because they can keep it.

 

[CM_Mom]

Just a note: CASH tips are not really "given to DCL" they are turned in to the manager of the area and are saved in a fund for some activity for the entire team. When DD was a counselor, they occasionally took all the counselors out to breakfast at a restaurant in Port Canaveral or did some other activity that all could enjoy with the money from cash tips.

IMHO, some type of gift card is the best way to make sure that the specific CM you wish to reward gets the sole benefit of the gift.

Also, in case anyone is thinking of a "keepsake" type of gift, please remember that people's taste varies a lot AND the CMs have VERY limited space to keep personal items.

 

[tvguy]

I beg to differ....you CAN go wrong with a cash tip to a nontippable position like the kid/teen counselors...they have to forfeit that money to DCL, so why bother giving it to them in the first place? Whereas a gift card or other nonmonetary gift might mean more because they can keep it.

Just making the point that phone cards may be useless to them. The Target Wal-Mart cards merchandise cards however would be great for positions that can't take tips. I don't recall seeing this in the Caribbean, but in Alaska K-Mart runs a free shuttle van from the docks to their store for crew members of the ships........just like you and I they need personal items from the store.

 

[CM_Mom]

In Port Canaveral there is a "fun bus" that the crew can take for a small charge that does the rounds of the mall, WalMart, Target, etc. That's were most of them go for personal items and "goodies" like candy, Gatorade, bottled water, Pepsi, etc or sometimes small seasonal decorations for their cabins.

 

[webray]

The phone cards are not used as a replacement of the suggested monetary tip..they are in addition to the amounts you should be tipping the staff.

 

[my3kids]

Cash is always appreciated.

 

[kplatt]

Be sure to read the fine print on the phone cards you use as tips -- one that I had planned to give to our server was not valid for calls to India, and yes, the server was from India. But maybe they can trade with other CMs if they get one they can't use.

 

[nzdisneymom]

In Port Canaveral there is a "fun bus" that the crew can take for a small charge that does the rounds of the mall, WalMart, Target, etc. That's were most of them go for personal items and "goodies" like candy, Gatorade, bottled water, Pepsi, etc or sometimes small seasonal decorations for their cabins.

CM-Mom, is your DD still doing the kids' clubs (was it Magic or Wonder)? And do the CM's prefer Walmart / Target over other gift cards? I think that's what we'll do for the non-tippable CMs.

 

[Mmketeer]

Hi Jenny,

I always pay the normal grat. and then give a bonus item ontop of that to those who went above and beyond. I bring along blank thank you cards to put the item in and that way I have a safe way to give it to them and I can also write a quick note on why they are receiving it. At Christmas time I switch the thank you cards for a holiday theme. Things I have given out are: Phone cards, store gift cards, key chains, ink pens & stationary from Walt Disney World or other trinkets from the parks. Cause' just because they work for WDW doesn't mean they can actually get to the parks during their 6 month contract and they can buy DCL stuff on board, but not WDW logo merchandise to take or send home to their families. I am sure their was other stuff as well, but I can't remember any more (it's been awhile since I have been onboard).
Just remember whatever you give above and beyond will be appreciated as it really is suppose to be the "thought" that counts.
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[DisneyTart]

We gave a Target card in a thank you card to the CM working scoops...LeeAnn. She was there almost everytime we went there, always had a smile on her face and even gave my DH a green apple to help w/DD13 seasickness during our rough seas nite. The next morning she even asked him how we were feeling. She just went out of her way to make our stay nice.

We tipped our room host Mario the norm plus more and then gave him a trip T-shirt I designed celebrating Disneyland's B-day on the cruise. Afterall he became part of the family.
~Bethany