Coronavirus and Walt Disney World general discussion

[BrianLo]

Not that bad, but it's something for others to keep in perspective when they hear dollar figures about wages on this side of the border.

A few years ago, the ON min wage was the equivalent of $8 or $9 USD per hour. Not much better than many States. Now it's like $11 USD.

Indeed. It's only BC and Alberta that carrying the 15+ figures and you are probably only getting ahead in Alberta thanks to cost of living everywhere else in Canada. But I agree, tipping culture is ingrained coast to coast.

Teachers are one of the other pretty discrepant jobs. As in ours are considered well paid and have some pretty stellar pension plans.

 

[Heppenheimer]

“ God is separating the sheep’s from the goats”.

A friend just sent me this.. he saw it on YouTube. This is what we are up against people. How do we tell them it’s ok? Ugh

I think this was in Alabama. I wonder if their thoughts would change if COVID-19 knocked out several key Crimson Tide players.

 

[Andrew C]

I think this was in Alabama. I wonder if their thoughts would change if COVID-19 knocked out several key Crimson Tide players.

Nah. Probably auburn fans.

 

[Lilofan]

I think this was in Alabama. I wonder if their thoughts would change if COVID-19 knocked out several key Crimson Tide players.

Saban isn't playing around. He noted all but one Bama player received the covid vaccine.

 

[Lilofan]

Not that bad, but it's something for others to keep in perspective when they hear dollar figures about wages on this side of the border.

A few years ago, the ON min wage was the equivalent of $8 or $9 USD per hour. Not much better than many States. Now it's like $11 USD.

I will take that and the public health care that comes with it minus the Canadian winters.

 

[jpinkc]

These governors think they are propping up the economy and fighting for individual rights, yet by their actions they are prolonging the pandemic and preventing the economy from recovering. Just look at the recent extremely low crowds at WDW.

Thats more to do with Schools reopening and normal for this time of year. By the Holidays it will be back to a disaster area at WDW

 

[DisneyFan32]

Fauci says US could be back to normal by spring 2022 â if vaccinations take off

‘It’s up to us,’ Fauci says as infectious Delta variant feeds surge in cases, with a majority of hospitalisations and deaths are among unvaccinated people

www.theguardian.com

Let's hope before Christmas, kids 5-11 will getting vaccinating before new variant kicks next year's planning soon. As Fauci predicting the future of ending pandemic as we know it, I'm afraid new variants will getting worse by Christmas if we won't stop the spreading virus as possible. Let's speed up to get back to normal by Spring 2022. What about federal transportation lifting masks in January 2022 if there is no new variants as enough people are vaccinated with kids 5-11 too? @Lilofan

 

[mikejs78]

Thats more to do with Schools reopening and normal for this time of year. By the Holidays it will be back to a disaster area at WDW

This is not the normal school reopening drop-off...

 

[mikejs78]

Fauci says US could be back to normal by spring 2022 â if vaccinations take off

‘It’s up to us,’ Fauci says as infectious Delta variant feeds surge in cases, with a majority of hospitalisations and deaths are among unvaccinated people

www.theguardian.com

Let's hope before Christmas, kids 5-11 will getting vaccinating before new variant kicks next year's planning soon. As Fauci predicting the future of ending pandemic as we know it, I'm afraid new variants will getting worse by Christmas if we won't stop the spreading virus as possible. Let's speed up to get back to normal by Spring 2022. What about federal transportation lifting masks in January 2022 if there is no new variants as enough people are vaccinated with kids 5-11 too? @Lilofan

Based on the timelines I've been hearing, we could also have kids 2-4 approved by then. 6 months to under 2 years may be a bit longer though.

 

[LittleBuford]

Did you mean UK?

In Canada tipping is expected.

It is in the UK too, though at a lower percentage than is usual in the US.

 

[Flugell]

We tend to work on 10% of bill, though some only tip on cost of food, not drinks. The% of tip expected in the USA is outrageous to the U.K. brain. A few years ago there were 8 of us at Planet Hollywood in Downtown Disney, as it was then, and we were informed that 20% tip was required. The bill came to over $400 dollars and we were expected to tip $80 dollars. We did so and yes the service had been good but it seemed totally excessive- more than the cost of 1 person’s meal and as we were celebrating birthdays we paid for everything. This impacted on our spending on other things.

It is in the UK too, though at a lower percentage than is usual in the US.

Having just read about the dreadful wages servers are paid it now makes a little more sense but surely the wages should be the responsibility of the employer not the customers! Increase the prices of the food so customers, especially in an area utilised by many countries, can keep a close eye on expenditure!
Just another thought- don’t show prices minus taxes. I find this an infuriating policy. In the U.K. it is ILLEGAL to show one price and charge another, even if an error has been made and the price is much lower than it should be! On our first visit to WDW sent my son in to buy something for $4.99 with a $5 note. He came out saying he hadn’t got enough money. Ridiculous and caused me to question the honesty of the shopkeeper. I got very irritated because there was no explanatory signage and when I asked they couldn’t tell me what the tax rate was, just the new price. Several other British people joined me in my complaint. Even a sign saying prices shown are subject to state/ district tax of x% would be helpful and prevent misunderstandings!

 

[Chomama]

I wish people from out of state understood how bizarre the football culture is down here. Those rednecks don’t care if the head coach is vaccinated or if he “made all his players get that shot”. They just say he is part of the elite and they won’t be fooled

 

[lazyboy97o]

Having just read about the dreadful wages servers are paid it now makes a little more sense but surely the wages should be the responsibility of the employer not the customers! Increase the prices of the food so customers,

This has been tried recently a few places and it’s not uncommon for the staff to end up really disliking the change because they ended up earning less.

Just another thought- don’t show prices minus taxes. I find this an infuriating policy. In the U.K. it is ILLEGAL to show one price and charge another, even if an error has been made and the price is much lower than it should be! On our first visit to WDW sent my son in to buy something for $4.99 with a $5 note. He came out saying he hadn’t got enough money. Ridiculous and caused me to question the honesty of the shopkeeper. I got very irritated because there was no explanatory signage and when I asked they couldn’t tell me what the tax rate was, just the new price. Several other British people joined me in my complaint. Even a sign saying prices shown are subject to state/ district tax of x% would be helpful and prevent misunderstandings!

The reasoning is that the customer, not the business, is paying the tax. The business is just collecting the tax on behalf of the state. Depending on the product being purchased the sales tax rate can also vary.

 

[Flugell]

This has been tried recently a few places and it’s not uncommon for the staff to end up really disliking the change because they ended up earning less.

The reasoning is that the customer, not the business, is paying the tax. The business is just collecting the tax on behalf of the state. Depending on the product being purchased the sales tax rate can also vary.

Thanks for the explanations.
As for the hospitality industry I would still expect to pay 10% tip but don’t really understand why employees would complain if they had a regular guaranteed income and additional tips. If they are then earning less money that seems to prove that the tips are excessive! I would guess at $15 per hour which is equivalent ish! to our minimum wage. With 10% tips that would surely be a decent ish wage.
As for the shops, the customer in the U.K. also pays the tax collected by the shops for the government. It is probably easier as we have a National tax mandate rather than state/district. However clear signage that prices are before tax and will increase would make it clearer to all international visitors.
Not that we’ll be able to visit in the near future .

 

[LittleBuford]

We tend to work on 10% of bill, though some only tip on cost of food, not drinks. The% of tip expected in the USA is outrageous to the U.K. brain. A few years ago there were 8 of us at Planet Hollywood in Downtown Disney, as it was then, and we were informed that 20% tip was required. The bill came to over $400 dollars and we were expected to tip $80 dollars. We did so and yes the service had been good but it seemed totally excessive- more than the cost of 1 person’s meal and as we were celebrating birthdays we paid for everything. This impacted on our spending on other things.

Having just read about the dreadful wages servers are paid it now makes a little more sense but surely the wages should be the responsibility of the employer not the customers! Increase the prices of the food so customers, especially in an area utilised by many countries, can keep a close eye on expenditure!
Just another thought- don’t show prices minus taxes. I find this an infuriating policy. In the U.K. it is ILLEGAL to show one price and charge another, even if an error has been made and the price is much lower than it should be! On our first visit to WDW sent my son in to buy something for $4.99 with a $5 note. He came out saying he hadn’t got enough money. Ridiculous and caused me to question the honesty of the shopkeeper. I got very irritated because there was no explanatory signage and when I asked they couldn’t tell me what the tax rate was, just the new price. Several other British people joined me in my complaint. Even a sign saying prices shown are subject to state/ district tax of x% would be helpful and prevent misunderstandings!

I’ve been here so long now that the switch is like second nature: 20% on this side of the pond, 10% when I’m back in Blighty. I still haven’t got used to the “surprise” sales tax, though.

 

[Lilofan]

I wish people from out of state understood how bizarre the football culture is down here. Those rednecks don’t care if the head coach is vaccinated or if he “made all his players get that shot”. They just say he is part of the elite and they won’t be fooled

If you are referring to the bizarre state of Alabama, you are correct. Bama football demands excellence each year, the state expects it, the talented team coached by perfectionist Nick Saban aims to crush every opponent and strives to compete for the national championship every year in one of the most elite programs in the country. To get there he needs his players on the field and vaccinated. If he made his players get the shot then kudos Coach Saban! Imagine if that winning mindset would filter into the residents of Alabama to defeat covid by getting vaccinated.

 

[Chomama]

If you are referring to the bizarre state of Alabama, you are correct. Bama football demands excellence each year, the state expects it, the talented team coached by perfectionist Nick Saban aims to crush every opponent and strives to compete for the national championship every year in one of the most elite programs in the country. To get there he needs his players on the field and vaccinated. If he made his players get the shot then kudos Coach Saban! Imagine if that winning mindset would filter into the residents of Alabama to defeat covid by getting vaccinated.

Agree. Just see a lot of out of town people say things like “if
Saban told everyone in Alabama to get the vax they would!” Nope. It doesn’t work that way. The reality is people down here aren’t going to get the shot. We are
Stuck

 

[Disney Experience]

Did you mean UK?

In Canada tipping is expected. Severs make less than minimum wage, though not as significantly compared to many parts of the USA.

The servers told me Canadians generally did not tip. Personally I do not know what is customary in Canada. If tippingbis normal up there then not sure why he felt the way he did ( Many years ago). Perhaps he conflated the two countries.

Now Australia I know from personal experience was tipping not expected.

 

[FeelsSoGoodToBeBad]

However clear signage that prices are before tax and will increase would make it clearer to all international visitors.

Hell, it would make it clearer to all domestic visitors as well, especially if they told you how much you'd be charged!

The sales tax situation is crazy in the US. Food at the grocery is taxed in some areas, others it isn't. When it is, the tax is usually less than non-food items, but not always. Then there is the state sales tax, county sales tax, city sales tax -- not all are charged in all places and some cities run together with odd borders, so it is a guessing game as to which tax(es) you'll be charged on any given transaction. When I lived in Indiana it was a flat 5% sales tax everywhere and that was it, with no tax on groceries. Now I think the state sales tax is 7% and there are all kinds of local taxes added in. It is impossible to keep up with it all.

I think stores show prices before tax so they can look like their goods cost the same as the store down the road or in the next city. If they had to add the tax in for the items, people would quickly realize which areas had the higher sales taxes and stop buying at those stores.

 

[Heppenheimer]

Agree. Just see a lot of out of town people say things like “if
Saban told everyone in Alabama to get the vax they would!” Nope. It doesn’t work that way. The reality is people down here aren’t going to get the shot. We are
Stuck

What about if it was required to watch a game in the stadium? Would that move the needle?

Btw, 'Bama fans have always impressed this Yankee. They don't seem arrogant or particularly hostile to other schools (perhaps Auburn being an exception). OSU fans could learn a lesson...