Gratuities For The Bus Drivers

[MILEMRKR63]

I have been raised to always tip when services are rendered. My parents were very firm about that.

How many folks actually tip the friendly drivers of the busses? I make it a poiint to throw the driver a 5 each time I use the busses wherever I go and have on many occasions tipped greater after a long night of festivities at Manequines. I love seeing their reactions.

Any comments about this subject?

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Although the gesture is appreciated, Disney Transport bus drivers are not allowed to accept tips... In fact, they could possibly get in trouble for accepting one. :( (I tell you though, if I got a dollar for every passenger I drove, I'd be RICH!!! LOL)

A great alternative... When I was a bus driver, when I created special magic for guests, I would sometimes recieve a card of some sorts. It would have a Disney icon on it, and say, "Thank you for making our vacation magical -- The XXXX Family"

I always thought it was a wonderful thing to recieve... Money can be spent, but those cards and the memories associated with them remain with me forever. :)

BTW: This card tip works for other CMs too! Get creative, have fun!

[hulabird]

That is weird that they can't accept tips when mousekeeping can.
Oh well....

[Tigger&Belle]

I've read on these boards that there are some non-tipped positions and in those positions the CM is not allowed to accept tips, but if the tipper insists a certain # of times (I think I read 3) that they can then take the tip. It is up to their supervisor/department what to do with the tip--split with others, kept, donated to charity, etc.

T&B

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Tigger&Belle
I've read on these boards that there are some non-tipped positions and in those positions the CM is not allowed to accept tips, but if the tipper insists a certain # of times (I think I read 3) that they can then take the tip. It is up to their supervisor/department what to do with the tip--split with others, kept, donated to charity, etc.

T&B

I think if that was a fact, Tyler would have told us.

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by hulabird
That is weird that they can't accept tips when mousekeeping can.



As far as I know, there are only two non-tipped positions where the CM can accept (but not solicit for) a tip... Luggage Assistance and Housekeeping. I remember before Pop Century first opened, this was a query we had, since originally we were not allowed to accept tips out in Luggage Assistance. It had to go through the high-ups as well as the Union contract in order for us to be able to accept tips.

It's a standard Disney wide policy that hourly CMs cannot accept tips. I think they do that to avoid the whole "tip me for a better room" or "tip me for better service" deal.

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
I think if that was a fact, Tyler would have told us.

That's always been the common rumor that goes around. Personally, I'm skeptical about how true it really is.

[GEM]

Yikes! There are lots of times we're on the busses many times in one day. We certainly can't affored $40 a day for bus driver tips . . .

[betterlatethannever]

Originally posted by Chip 'n Dale Express
...(I tell you though, if I got a dollar for every passenger I drove, I'd be RICH!!! LOL)

At $1, you would not just be rich, you would be filty rich:teeth:

As a bus driver, four trips per hour x 40 people per trip (avg) x 40 hours/wk x 50 wks/yr= $320,000 per year.

Would you settle for $0.25 per person?;)

Ed

[Figment2]

We were at Cape May last week and got a server "in training." She could not accept tips (which we did not think was fair especially since she was so wonderful). We even tried to talk to her Manager with no success.

I am however writing Disney about her and several other CM's who should be commended.

Bottom line - if you run into CM's that go that extra distance, write Disney!

Cyn

[bubbasmom99]

What about valet parking? We had a rather distateful experience with a valet on our honeymoon... she kept saying I am taking care of your car right now but someone else will bring it back... and she said it a few times, as if to remind us that a tip up front is needed as well as when brought back. It was our only experience ever at Disney where someone was so obviously begging for a tip. If she hadn't been so obvious, she would have been tipped well!

[Tigger&Belle]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
I think if that was a fact, Tyler would have told us.

Like I said, this is something that I read on the boards. I haven't had personal experience with this.

If I remember correctly, the situation was at Epcot, at one of the outdoor WS sitting areas (not a restaurant, but a place maybe outside of a restaurant). The person writing about her experience wanted to tip the person who helped her, but was told it was not allowed. It was in that thread that this whole thing was discussed. This was some months ago and since I was clueless exactly where in Epcot they were even talking about I don't remember more details. I just thought that it was strange that they could accept tips after declining them several time. Of course since it sounded strange maybe it wasn't even true.

Just passing on what I'd read...

T&B

[gannonmbpk]

What will work well if the cm's cannot accept tips is getting their name and writing a letter to either the resort manager where they work or Mr. Weiss or Mr Cockerel (sp) and letting them know what the cm did and how they made your vacation special. Ive done this a few times and actually gotton follow up calls from WDW administration and assured the cm would be recognized once we even got our letter posted in the cm newsletter itself. I know it's not cash but public recognition is almost as good

hoping to find tyler in a few weeks

Matt

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by gannonmbpk
What will work well if the cm's cannot accept tips is getting their name and writing a letter to either the resort manager where they work or Mr. Weiss or Mr Cockerel (sp) and letting them know what the cm did and how they made your vacation special. Ive done this a few times and actually gotton follow up calls from WDW administration and assured the cm would be recognized once we even got our letter posted in the cm newsletter itself. I know it's not cash but public recognition is almost as good

hoping to find tyler in a few weeks

Matt

Indeed... I personally think that recognition is much more valuable to me than a tip...

[Tigger&Belle]

Matt, that is very true. Money can be spent and not remembered, but kind words from a guest stays with the CM for a long time and it can benefit them financially in an indirect way.

T&B