[MerlinMatt]

There have been a number of threads about tipping, particularly Mousekeeping, but most recently valets.

As far as I know, Disney is no different than the rest of the world, so here are typical standards:

Restaurants: 10-15% for poor service (or less if they do a horrible job), 15-20% for average service and >20% for excellent service [20% is easy to calculate and is generally the standard]

Housekeeping / Mousekeeping: $1 / person / day (i.e. 4 people = $4 per day) The best way to do this is to leave a daily tip because you may not have the same person cleaning your room each day. Technically, Mousekeeping is not *supposed* to accept tips, so you should feel no guilt if you don't leave a tip.

Limo/car/van drivers: This is a moving standard and it really depends on the company. Some companies include the tip/gratuity as part of the bill. If that's the case, DO NOT tip the driver again. You're only cheating yourself, unless you're in a particularly generous mood. Otherwise, a good standard is $5 for every 30 minutes of driving, but it's a judgement call. If it's a short drive and the driver insisted on carrying/packing your bags, was prompt and extra courteous/friendly, then tack an addition $5-10. Also, if you've paid for a round-trip and gratuity is not included, you should generally calculate what the tip should be and pay half on the way there and half on the way back. (Similar to Mousekeeping in that you don't know that the drivers will be the same.)

Valets: Only tip when you get your car. For every car that they park, there's a car that they will bring back. If it's two different people parking and retrieving your car, don't worry about it. Many valet services end up pooling their tips at the end of a shift anyway. In any case, it will work out for them in the end. Tipping when you drop off the car tends to be awkward anyway.

Disney concierge: don't tip concierges at Disney. They are compensated quite well and are also not supposed to accept tips anyway.

Tipping in general - helpful hint. When tipping drivers or valets, IMO, the best and classiest way to do it is to hold the tip in your hand and reach out for a handshake, therefore quietly exchanging the tip.

[mickaholic4077]

Thanks for these guidelines,Matt. I don't tip when I hand the car over,because of your explanation(it would be awkward).

[EmpressJenny]

Wow! A magician and an etiquette master to boot!

And don't forget your bartenders people! We ought to be tipped a dollar per drink, unless you alkies are ordering Long Island Iced Teas, or something comparably complicated and time consuming (like those cursed mudslides), and then it should be a little more

[Franco54]

What a guy this MerlinMatt is!! He is just a fountain of information!! Must be because he is from Quincy!!!

[MerlinMatt]

Originally Posted by EmpressJenny

Wow! A magician and an etiquette master to boot!

And don't forget your bartenders people! We ought to be tipped a dollar per drink, unless you alkies are ordering Long Island Iced Teas, or something comparably complicated and time consuming (like those cursed mudslides), and then it should be a little more

Ahhh.. bartenders. How could I forget? I used to BE a bartender.

Yes, a dollar a drink is a good place to start. But if you eat at the bar, then you should tip comparably to a waiter/waitress, especially if they're willing to listen to you yap away.

BTW, WDW is a bad place to be if you're planning on hanging out at a bar a lot. You wanna talk about expensive?

That said, WDW bartender do tend to be very heavy handed.. so I guess it works out. I just hope you're using the buses..

[inluvwithdisney]

I agree totally about the concierge because that is exactly what the concierge planner told me!!! I just asked flat out!!!

I have also heard valet pool tips and split them too!!!! We have casinos here in Colorado that have mostly valet lots and I know a couple of people that work the valet and say that typically that is how it is done!!!

[EmpressJenny]

It's possible, inluv. At my job we pool our tips and split them at the end of the night.

[MerlinMatt]

Originally Posted by Franco54

He is just a fountain of information!!

For those of you NOT from Quincy...

"fountain of information" is a euphemism for "full of crap"

[GrumpyDad]

Originally Posted by MerlinMatt

That said, WDW bartender do tend to be very heavy handed.. so I guess it works out. I just hope you're using the buses..

I have found this to depend a bit on where you are. At the convention resorts this is certainly true, however our last visit was to the CBR and the drinks were much less potent, excellently prepared, but not as strong as at some of the others.

The Rum Runners at Cap'n Jacks in DTD however were straight up lethal, my DW and DD both had great shopping trips after I finished one of those!

-harry

[mickaholic4077]

Okay,ladies,I guess that means ply your men with drinks before you go to DTD!!!!!!