Tips for tourists (Please read if you will be visiting Orlando on vacation) (credit)

[**NoodLes**]

Here I decided to compile a list of things to keep in mind while on vacation here. These tips here will make your vacation go alot smoother and get better service while visiting Orlando and just about anywhere in Florida, so here goes:

Tip 1: THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT RULE HERE. Tip, tip, tip, tip, tip!!! Like cash tip.$$$$$$$ Anybody who lifts a suitcase, gives you a ride somewhere, or just gives you great customer service, you need to tip. We see tourists all day, we're not here to make friends. We don't give good customer service just because its our job, we expect to get paid by you even if its just a few bucks. The heavier the suitcase, the more you need to give. Generally $2-$3 per bag is the norm. Even if your not sure if you should tip somebody, tip them anyway. I've never ever met a person who refused straight cash from anybody.

Tip 2: Have money on your credit card. All car rental companies will take at least $100 authorization over the amount and all hotels/resorts will hold a deposit. These are so you don't mess up the room or you decide to take the car longer than you are supposed to. Companies will not hesitate to take authorization of thousands of dollars if they do not know where the car is. Probably is stolen anyway.

Tip 3: DO NOT STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD!! Countless times I have seen people literally stop or attempt to reverse at the airport MCO and I-4 with cars all around them going at least 60 mph. If you don't know where to go, stop where it is safe to do so, not in the middle of the dang street, you can always go back around. You will not fall off the planet if you go 200 yards further!

Tip 4: Do not stiff the taxi driver. Taxis are considerably expensive here, its not that they are trying to rip you off. A typical ride from the airport to Disney area is about $50 plus TIP! When you arrive at your resort and you make a scene, every bellboy can see this and you are setting yourself up for bad service the whole time because we know you are noobs and don't know whats going on.

Tip 5: Write down the directions I give you the 1st TIME! I hate repeating myself 2 or 3 times because you think you can memorize it all. All you have to say is "hold on, let me get a pen and paper." Don't say this after I gave directions to godknowswhere, FL.

And last but not least is just do not be rude. The first reaction many people use is anger when they don't understand the rules of the hotel or car rental. Its not our fault you do not know how to read and most important we do not get paid enough to deal with your problems. Hope this helps any people thinking of taking a vacation here.

[mcbadhair]

I work as a waiter, so please tip your IF they do a good job. There are lots of americans that tip very badly, they know how to tip because they are Americans. Most waiter make between $2.50- $5.00hr and that doesn't pay the bills.

English people please tip at least the standard 15%. I know you know that you must tip in America. Don't be cheap for God sakes the pound is worth double the dollar so everything is 50% off for you.

[DessertRat]

Sounds more like, "Tips for making my life easier/more pleasant while you're here as a tourist", not tips for the tourist.

In my opinion, if you're rude or give crappy service just because someone doesn't tip you, you should have to get another job. I know that as an employer I wouldn't keep you on if I heard about this (well, from multiple customers). Be nice to people because they're people, not just because you're hoping they'll give you money they're not legally obligated to give you.

[michael c]

Originally Posted by mcbadhair

I work as a waiter, so please tip your IF they do a good job. There are lots of americans that tip very badly, they know how to tip because they are Americans. Most waiter make between $2.50- $5.00hr and that doesn't pay the bills.

English people please tip at least the standard 15%. I know you know that you must tip in America. Don't be cheap for God sakes the pound is worth double the dollar so everything is 50% off for you.

I do agree its only right to tip properly, but I am paid in American money so that 50% off thing doesn't work for me. I am a working person just like yourself and as the tips continue to go up because restaurants don't want to pay their employees properly it falls on us like everything else seems to. That being said I will always tip properly because its only right but I do think when the service is poor we have a right to reflect that in our tip. I am not talking about things ( the food not cooked right for instance ) that are not your fault but simply put, poor service. Some people are awful but at tip time they expect a huge tip or become concerned with the service at the end of the meal and thats not right either.

[Lindsey_Mcfarren]

Originally Posted by **NoodLes**

And last but not least is just do not be rude. The first reaction many people use is anger when they don't understand the rules of the hotel or car rental. Its not our fault you do not know how to read and most important we do not get paid enough to deal with your problems. Hope this helps any people thinking of taking a vacation here.

You might do well to take your own advice on this one. The kind of tone you use deems it near imposible to give creedance to anything you say.

[indianwells]

Well I have been to Orlando as a tourist and in most cases I will tip 15-20%, and more for exceptional service.
However, give me bad, or rude service and you will not receive a penny, and for the record I don't give a flying foo foo what you think of me.

[kinglouix]

Also, never leave your kids alone at the hotel pool. The theme park hotels are crowded with pedophiles who pray on out of towners because they know they probably won't be around to be witnesses. They make a big deal about murders in Orlando (which) they should, but it is also teaming with kiddie diddlers.

[Rose31]

Besides tipping...because I do not have a problem with tipping a waiter 20% if they offer me subperb service of course, what other tips can you offer tourists? I love traveling and I always tip the housekeeping staff and other people who provide me a service.

Can you offer the following tips:
Neighborhoods to avoid, neighborhoods to visit
What to do outside of Disney and the typical tourists activities
What are the great arts & cultural institutions will you reccommend
What is the weather like towards the end of April?


Any other helpful information for us tourists will be appreciated!

Thanks

[AliceT]

Not everyone is allowed to accept a tip. If you are on Walt Disney World property and you can't start your car, security will come to your aid with jumper cables. He or she is not allowed to accept gratuities. A "thank you" is sufficient.

If you keep your pet in any of the kennels and they walk your dog for you, do not tip them. It is included in the kennel fee.

If you travel with your pets, keep a record of their vaccinations and the phone number of the vet you use. A rabies tag dangling from the collar is not proof that your dog is vaccinated. They will need to see the vaccination history and they will also call your vet to verify it - no matter where that vet is located.

If you travel with your pets, keep your cat in a travel crate and your dog on a leash. It doesn't matter how well behaved they are or that they are voice trained. Keep them on a leash. All of Walt Disney World property is a wildlife refuge. Nobody will think it's cute that your dog is chasing a rabbit or a squirrel in a wildlife refuge. Please keep them on a leash.

Bring their food with you. The kennels at Walt Disney World do have dog food that you can buy there, but if it isn't what your dog usually eats, make sure you bring some with you. Dogs have sensitive stomaches and shouldn't switch from one food to another just on your whim.

If security helps you find your car in one of the massive parking lots, do not tip him/her. They can be fired for accepting a tip for this service which is part of their job description.

When someone says "no thank you" to a tip, there is a valid reason for it - it's against the policy of the employer and if anyone sees another employee take a tip, they are not allowed to keep it. You are endangering their livelihood.

When visiting Walt Disney World, you tip the bellman at the hotel, the valet parker, the waiter or waitress serving you just as you would anywhere else.

But, if you wouldn't think of tipping a police officer, then don't tip security at Walt Disney World, either.

And when you are in the park, don't pick you child up and hand them to a character. Characters are not allowed to pick up children.

[AliceT]

Florida is a "right to work" state. Getting unionized wouldn't matter. I have known a great many waiters and waitresses and never heard of any restaurant that paid even close to minimum wage. The better the restaurant, the less the waiter/waitress makes because the tips they get is managment's guarantee they will strive to offer excellent service to the customers. Never assume that anyone serving your food to you is getting minimum wage. They aren't.