Educate an Aussie! (handbags and tipping)

I don't have much advice on handbags.

If you're staying on property you can actually charge stuff back to your room, although that requires a credit card on file. If you're not staying on property you can of course still use a credit card rather than carrying cash.

Your tipping numbers are pretty much on. I usually tip the bellhops a bit more and MouseKeeping a bit less. You'll usually hear debate on these even among regular tippers. I'd only do 20% for waitstaff if they're good. 15% is probably "standard." $1 per drink for barstaff is about my usual. Bellhops I'll usually do $2 or so per bag. Basically though I just do "if I have a fair amount of stuff, $10 -- Otherwise $5." We always tip the waitstaff on the credit card receipt, since we don't want to carry cash. There are a couple of lines on there for you to add the tip.

*I* usually leave the MouseKeeping tip at the end, but my Wife makes the relevant point that many different people clean our room over the course of our stay, so leaving it every night might make more sense to some. We usually just leave it on the nightstand, but since we do it at the end it's obvious it's a tip. For those who do it every night, what do you do?

I'd say MouseKeeping is probably the tip on there that is the most inconsistent. I know plenty of people who leave no tip for them at all and I don't think it's considered inappropriate not to.

Have a blast on your trip too!

Hi Helen and OMG I am so excited for you!!

My perspective on all but the handbags (sorry, NO idea on that one!):

When you check in you should be able to tie a credit card to your room/room key, so that when you purchase food or stuffs you can just have each place charge it to the room vs. carrying cash.

As for tipping, you hit all the ones we consider. For wait staff we just add it to the food bill/tab, so you don't have to pay that in cash separately if using a credit card. I think your amounts are right on. For Mousekeeping, we usually take some envelops and address them to Mousekeeping ahead of time, and then leave them in an open spot where we know they will be/look, like in the bathroom with the soaps and shampoos. I would guess you could also just leave the bills right with the little sign (usually in the bathroom area) that has the name of your mousekeeper written on it.

At 8 days I am useless for anything other than packing and preparing! YAY!

I can help a bit with the handbags.

My wife makes me carry all of her stuff, but usually she doesnt have anything. I carry her ID's and such. I carry a bookbag that has our camera, some snacks, drinks, and such. So I usually carry everything in a bookbag, and everyone else gets to kinda chill... lol

When it comes to rides... there is usually two options. Option 1 is what happens 95% of the time and that is you put it in between your legs during the ride. Its not going anywhere. If its a roller coaster, ill wrap my leg a bit into the arms of the backpack. Option 2 is you can leave it with them. Them as in the cast members. But that only works on the rides where you come back to the start. For example... Haunted Mansion... dont think it will happen. Toy Story Mania... you can leave it with them.

I recommend a backpack over a hand bag because its close-able, and easier to carry. But thats my recommendation.

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Edit: OH!!! And its great for carrying souvenirs!

here's what I do about handbags... I dont even bring one to Florida with me. I just use a small backpack typed bag that I can wear on my back. Mine is from Disneyland, but they sell them there at WDW too! it's just easier and I make sure I only bring what I'm going to need: wallet, glasses, SUNSCREEN, phone, extra battery, camera.

Also, if you are staying on property you can send your purchases directly to your resort from the park. Just go pick it up at the general store the next day! I <3 package pickup!!

You're going to have so much fun!

I usually try to avoid bringing much with me into the parks, including a handbag. I bring my phone, my park tickets, my camera (the camera bag usually holds everything), and a ziploc bag to put everything in in case I'm going on a water ride!

As for tipping: here's a primer on Tipping in Disney World from the Disney Food Blog.

I am so excited for you! Everyone answered about the tipping and charging so here is my take on the handbags.....

I bring a backpack. It makes it so easy to carry everything. You will be able to bring it on a ride no problem, just tuck it with you and like Mase said you can wrap it a little around your leg.

I have also brought a smaller backpack that has one strap that goes over your chest. I like those a lot too if you're not bringing as much into the parks.

Can't wait to hear more!

Helen! So exciting - we can't WAIT to hear all about your trip!

I'll echo most of what's here about the tips...we do tend toward 15% for waitstaff if the service is just so-so and 20% if it's good. Everything else, between you and Brad, is similar to how we tip.

As for handbag, I'll join the backpack club with a couple of caveats. I have a one shoulder, sling-type model, that hooks in front from two straps - one across a shoulder, the opposit around the other side of my waist. For long days, it's really comfy, and it's waterproof, so it holds all the necessities - camera, phone, SUNSCREEN!, snacks, water, credit cards/id, etc. The other trick I sometimes use is a small crossover organizer, with just enough room for cards and camera/sunglasses. both are convenient. I think it just depends on what your "must takes" into the parks are. Here's a pic to show you the two options. The purse has a zip pocket in the front that holds all of your cards/money/change:

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Yeah I hate carrying a purse.....I don't even carry a purse when I'm at home. I just make hubby pay for everything..LOL...and like he said he carries the backpack.

So excited for you! What are your tricks for dealing with the timechange, Helen, so that you can hit the ground running!?

Hey Helen -its a backpack for me....I leave my handbag at the hotel but take wallet. I travel quite a bit for work so when I do Disney, I always have a small wallet with the essentials - license, debit card, credit card, cash. I find that backpack work the best 'cuz I always have my camera with me and my camera is not one of those little bitty ones that would fit in a pocket. Also, you definately want to carry sun screen, lip sun screen so back pack is the best. You can always bring a plastic garbage bag to thrown your back pack into when you hit the water rides. and don't forget a HAT! Well, speaking as a light skinned individual who burns easily - I always bring it all with me....better than getting burned....have a fabulous time! Who cares about all the crazy stuff - just have fun and act like a kid! Safe travels to yoiu !

Hey Helen, zip loc bags work good to. Keep some in you back pack to keep stuff dry if your worried about things getting wet.

So are we down to 4 days? I can't figure out how the timezone affects things? Either way it's very exciting!

Oh, good! I'm so glad that you'll be recovering at the end, and not the beginning! I know traveling back and forth between the US east and west coast knocks me on my head. I can't wrap my head around traveling around the world (although I sure hope I get to one of these days.)

Good luck, safe travels, and we'll be waiting to hear all about it!

Just thinking about that just gave me a headache! LOL

To me... that would just be so weird...