First Timer Disneyworld Holiday!

[katiefish]

hello everyone me & my bf are going to Disneyworld this october 1st to the 15th staying at the art of animation little mermaid suite, no dinning plan & we have already got our park tickets. I guess is what I'm asking is about money lol we are from the UK so tipping isn't a big deal over here and i hear it is over there so how much is expected. Also how much do you guys recommend taking as spending money? Many thanks

 

[englanddg]

Nothing is expected when it comes to tipping, but to be polite, a range of 10% to 30% is average.

I normally just do it in multiples of $5. Keeps the arithmetic easy.

To give you an idea, waitress wage in Florida is around $3 an hour...so that's why tipping is a big deal.

As far as non-food service employees, they are all making at least $7.25 an hour or more, so tipping things like housekeeping, baggage handlers and magical express drivers is less a concern. The fair rate, I think, is a dollar per bag handled for the latter two,and a dollar a day for housekeeping. That's what I do unless exceptional service is rendered.

As far as spending cash, well...that depends. How much shopping do you plan on doing? I go with a $2,000 kitty for shopping, but pretty much never use it all, outside of the one year where I went nuts and bought a bunch of Disney Art.

 

[katiefish]

thank you about the tipping as for spending in one of 11 children so maybe $2,000 would be good its a trip of a life time so i plan to take lots as will my bf

 

[Kingdom Konsultant]

What we usually tell our clients is $2 per bag for bell services. As far as housekeeping$5 per day is about normal especially if you need extra towels,shampoo etc left. Tipping in the sit down restaurants plan on around 20%. They do put the recommended tipping amounts on the bill at either 18 or 20%. Money to spend on food per day since you do not have a dining plan and food is expensive at WDW, go with $150 per day since you can easily pay $45 per person for dinner at a sit down restaurant. Approximately $12-$15 per person for breakfast at a quick service and lunch will be around $20 per person at a quick service.

Have a great time!

Pam

 

[jlsHouston]

This is how I tip at WDW. And I am a moderate tipper. For meals, if I go to a buffet I tip 15% of the bill unless I had a terrible server, then I tip 10%. If it is a regular sit down where they take my order and bring it to me I tip 20%, unless again the service is horrible then I only tip 10%. I always tip a server 10% terrible or not because like the other poster mentioned they don't even get paid minimum wage. So the tips are part of their wage. I don't over tip on my food bill at WDW because the I feel like the food prices are pricey are a bit pricey so if I am tipping on percent then they are getting the lower end.
For maid service, I tip a dollar a day, if I am getting service. If not then on the days I do get service I tip $ 5 bucks. I tend to get maid service about every 3 days. The rest of time I clean up my room every morning and get rid of the towels I can't re use and get a supply of fresh ones and hang the leave me alone sign on the door.
For valet I tip $ 1 when I drop the car and $ 1 when I pick it up.
For Bell Services I tip a flat $10.00.
Roughly if you are going to spend $ 100 per day on meals then figure to have $ 20 in tip money.

 

[stevehousse]

If u aren't used to tipping take my advice. A lot of people will tell u that u have to tip more than u should, especially being from another country, u don't want to waste all ur money tipping everyone especially if you aren't familiar with that custom or our monetary system. I wouldn't want u blowing all your money and not realize it!

Really the only place where tipping is a standard is at table service restaurant or bar. Don't bother tipping quick service staff, there is no need to tip the maid service(no matter what others may tell u) and carry your own bag to your room. U will save yourself money.

The easiest way to figure out a tip is this. The "standard" tip should be roughly 20% of your bill. The easiest way to figure this out is to take the first number of the bill (let's say your meal at dinner cost you (53.00) , and times it by 2. So 5 x 2 = $10. Now depending on the service (good or bad) you can either add to that and tip more if u want, or you can decrease it, your choice, but that is always a good ballpark reference on how much you should be tipping a waiter, always use that first number multiplied by 2. Just don't ever stiff a waiter and leave them with hardly nothing...

 

[baggienath7]

so we are from the UK and have been the past 3 years, tipping is seriously nothing to worry about, if you feel someone has done you a service, tip them if not then don't, just go with the flow and you'll be fine.

with regards to spending money we usually go for 17 nights and we take £1800 so about $3000 and that will cover everything, we also have our wages go in when we go so that covers any extra cost, but if you aim for £2000 you should be fine. you don't want to go to Florida and be worried about money after all.

Have a lovely trip

 

[katiefish]

thanks for all the help you guys its ny first wdw holiday and ny first trip abroad too lol. All your comments have been super helpfull.

baggienath7 we where aiming on £2000 to start with so your comment really helped

 

[ShookieJones]

I want to give you some tips on tipping but I only work on tips and I'm afraid that because you're from some crazy foreign country where all your customs are turned upside down I won't get a decent tip.
Sorry.







Looks like with all the other member's posts, you have it all figured out - Have a blast!

 

[katiefish]

a little confused with the last post we are not all crazy here at the UK

 

[ShookieJones]

a little confused with the last post we are not all crazy here at the UK

There's nothing to be confused about, I'm just having fun and be a tad bit silly (it's what I do) based on some of the comments that always come up on the subject of tipping: what you should do and how everyone has different customs etc., etc.

The last line:

Looks like with all the other member's posts, you have it all figured out - Have a blast!

Is the only line I was serious about.

 

[katiefish]

Oh i see lol makes more sense now

 

[Arty Cordova]

Hi Katiefish, just an FYI, the Little Mermaid room is not suite. I just don't want you to be disspaointed when you arrive. The Lion King, Cars and Finding Nemo rooms ARE suites in case you want to consider upgrading.

 

[ratherbeinwdw]

To get a really close idea of what you need for food, go to allears.net. They have every restaurant in all the parks and DTD listed with menus and prices. It also saves tons of time if you already know if a place is somewhere you will enjoy eating. We eat lots of qs meals and never spend the kind of money others are spending. We usually eat at three or four sit-downs in eight days. We are doing more our upcoming trip because some newbies are joining us. I usually tip 18% at sit downs since they already have that amount as a choice on your check. If the service is really good, we do 20%. You don't tip at quick service places. Earl of Sandwich in DTD is the best deal on site.

 

[PigletIsMyCat]

as far as tipping for food service, you've got some great advice. if i remember correctly, most restaurants in the orlando area (not just at disney) will put averages on the bottom of your bill/receipt. they often will put what 18%, 20%, and 25% of your bill will be. this would be the easiest way to determine.