Tipping Etiquette

[SnowWhite09]

Hi All,

We are from Australia and as you probably know, tipping is not a big thing here. On our trip to DL we were lucky enough to be invited to "captain" the Mark Twain Riverboat. It was only once we had returned home that we asked ourselves whether or not we should have tipped the CM for providing our daughter with this opportunity. I hope this doesn't sound silly, but what is the etiquette for this type of thing?

TIA!

 

[miss.potatohead]

We too were picked to captain it - there is no reason to tip them as far as I know, so don't worry It is a hidden gem of Disneyland, some people say you can knock on the captain's door and request to ride with them up there, but we were invited by the CM once we had got onboard the boat. Just one of those special disney moments.

 

[skiingfast]

In the parks other than the CM waiting tables, they can not really take tips.

CM will refuse the tips three times. If you still give them a tip they don't keep it they turn it into a manager. The manager pools these tips to buy the whole crew lunch.


So no tip was nessecary.

What is better is to visit customer services and fill out a comment card. You can also email and postal mai comments to DLR. It helps greatly to include the day, time and location, and name then describe the situation. This way it can reward the specific CM, by letting him/her know what they did made a difference, and let thier mangers and coworkers know as well. They are striving to make magic not earn tips.

 

[Sally_fan]

My children were very lucky to be chosen to do this a few years back as well & as skiingfast stated above...there is no tip necessary in this case. We were very grateful to have been given the opportunity & thanked the captain many times. No worries! Gotta love when you are sprinkled with a little bit if Disney magic!

Edited to add: I love the comment card suggestion! I wish that I would have known about this on some of our earlier trips as quite a few cast members have gone out if their way to make moments special for us. But I know now!

 

[larina]

We too were picked to captain it - there is no reason to tip them as far as I know, so don't worry It is a hidden gem of Disneyland, some people say you can knock on the captain's door and request to ride with them up there, but we were invited by the CM once we had got onboard the boat. Just one of those special disney moments.

We asked the man at the turn styles. He was the captain for the next trip. I guess several asked after us, once on the boat, and there were a couple knocks at the door, but we already it all set up by then. the door knocking seemed irritating, he had to maneuver those stairs just to check it.

 

[larina]

Oh, and even we (my mom has tipping issues and has been known to over tip and/or tip people that don't need a tip, but she's getting better!) didn't tip the captain. Didn't even occur to me.

 

[disneydreamer74]

It is hard to figure out indeed! The last time we did F! Premium viewing we noticed that our CM went above and beyond to accomdate us. He moved our chairs to a spot where my DD5 would be able to see the show. We were moved by his kindness and asked if he could receive tips and he said yes! So we tipped him of course. But, it is one of those situations that you aren't sure if you should tip or not!

 

[Malcon10t]

Tipped positions include those in VIP Services and Special Events, so the tour guides and Fantasmic! seating can be tipped.

ETA - But no, the captain isn't a tipped position. And will refuse. If you keep pushing, after the 3rd refusal, they will accept, turn it into their lead and it is donated to CHOC.

 

[SnowWhite09]

Thanks so much to everyone for your responses. As you say the tipping thing is difficult for us because it is not something that is expected in Australia.

Thanks again - now we will be better prepared for our next trip!