When is it customary to tip bell services?

[keishashadow]

I think for many part of it is they subconsciously feel guilty about being able to take such vacations, I'll reference you to those that speak to the income level of the tipped position as a likely example of this situation.

Unfortuantely, here will always be people who refuse to tip, just the way of the world. I'd like to think tipping is more a show of appreciation for good services rendered. Most would acknowledge that in our current system valets are a tipping position, and go with the flow.

I'm sure there are other DVC'rs who have been employed in the service industry (whether via a summer job, working their way through college or even as a displaced worker in hard times) and remember the drill of working a menial job for meager pay, depending upon tips to make a living wage.

fyi, for those who use gift cards/coupons etc, when dining, the tip is customarily allocated on the pre-discounted amount.

 

[bighoo93]

Unfortuantely, here will always be people who refuse to tip, just the way of the world. I'd like to think tipping is more a show of appreciation for good services rendered. Most would acknowledge that in our current system valets are a tipping position, and go with the flow.

It would be nice, though, if everyone was just out in the open about it. Many times, these "tipping positions" aggressively seek to perform their service for me, as if it is a complimentary part of the deal (i.e., they are already compensated). And why would I deny that? They just greet me and start grabbing my bags before I can say anything. But if someone expects/deserves $10 to push the cart of my luggage up to my room, I'd rather just do it myself. No offense, it just isn't a service that is worth $10 (or more) to me. I'd rather that they were open about the charge for their service and the option for me to request it. I know that isn't how it works, but I do think that is sometimes the reason why such services don't receive tips. Maybe the customer didn't want it in the first place.

 

[keishashadow]

It would be nice, though, if everyone was just out in the open about it. Many times, these "tipping positions" aggressively seek to perform their service for me, as if it is a complimentary part of the deal (i.e., they are already compensated). And why would I deny that? They just greet me and start grabbing my bags before I can say anything. But if someone expects/deserves $10 to push the cart of my luggage up to my room, I'd rather just do it myself. No offense, it just isn't a service that is worth $10 (or more) to me. I'd rather that they were open about the charge for their service and the option for me to request it. I know that isn't how it works, but I do think that is sometimes the reason why such services don't receive tips. Maybe the customer didn't want it in the first place.

i understand what you're saying, nobody wants to be gouged, but the betting woman in me would go with majority of hotels adhering to their bottom line with bellman positions receiving less than minimum wage with tips factored into their wages ala servers.

Without gratuities the hotel would likely pass the increased wages they would need to pay to keep the employees along to the guests in room rates or a resort fee. It's an ala carte service. Many guests do handle their own luggage if just 1 bag but days of self-serve luggage carts in better establishments appears to be a thing of the past.

 

[tripletsmama]

Oooh self serve luggage carts would be great! We don't really need the service of someone loading and unloading the cart. We really just need the cart to handle all the stuff we bring for a 1-2 week stay.

 

[disneynutz]

Oooh self serve luggage carts would be great! We don't really need the service of someone loading and unloading the cart. We really just need the cart to handle all the stuff we bring for a 1-2 week stay.

The policy of providing carts means less tips for Bell Services. The unions will argue that there is a liability issue of guests using carts and there could be but tips are the main reason.

Bill

 

[bumbershoot]

Most would acknowledge that in our current system valets are a tipping position, and go with the flow.

Yep.


I would bet that the etiquette of tipping when the bags get to you is based on a non-Disney system where one person unloads the car, follows you to checkin, then follows you up to your room. Sure, it's Disney's fault, not our fault, that they have two people performing this, but ultimately, it's more than one person touching our bags. So split the tip in half if you must, but recognize that more than one person is doing you a service.

I'm pretty sure that if one person performed it all, I would tip them more than I'm tipping with Disney's system.


And I can be pushed too far, too. Our first time at Royal Pacific, there was one guy who unloaded our car and put bags on the cart, then he handed the cart to someone else, he went to Bell Services with the bags, and then we had to have someone else bring the bags to our room. Now that was too many!

 

[Dean]

Unfortuantely, here will always be people who refuse to tip, just the way of the world. I'd like to think tipping is more a show of appreciation for good services rendered. Most would acknowledge that in our current system valets are a tipping position, and go with the flow.

I'm sure there are other DVC'rs who have been employed in the service industry (whether via a summer job, working their way through college or even as a displaced worker in hard times) and remember the drill of working a menial job for meager pay, depending upon tips to make a living wage.

fyi, for those who use gift cards/coupons etc, when dining, the tip is customarily allocated on the pre-discounted amount.

I'm not sure your point. If your referencing me specifically, I tip valet's on pick up as recommended, I tip on pre discounted amounts and I round up when we share meals. I've also worked low paying jobs with and without tips and I know what it's like to go hungry because you can't afford to buy food. Many's the time when eaten ketchup sandwiches or ate stale cereal because that's all that was available. However, I don't think that matters, what does matter is tipping appropriately based on a standard. Some don't tip or tip appropriately just like there are those that go on cruises and skip dining the last night to avoid tipping, pretty low class as an appropriate tip is part of the deal IMO. Many over tip as well and it seems particularly common at Disney, their choice of course but lets honestly label it what it is. IMO, tipping both ways on valet or both groups on the bags the full amount each is over tipping.

i understand what you're saying, nobody wants to be gouged, but the betting woman in me would go with majority of hotels adhering to their bottom line with bellman positions receiving less than minimum wage with tips factored into their wages ala servers.

Without gratuities the hotel would likely pass the increased wages they would need to pay to keep the employees along to the guests in room rates or a resort fee. It's an ala carte service. Many guests do handle their own luggage if just 1 bag but days of self-serve luggage carts in better establishments appears to be a thing of the past.

I think it's safe to bet that most valet's are in a tipped position, I've referenced the industry standards already. It's not safe to assume the same for housekeeping because it's not so. In general though I despise the system that passes on these costs to customers in such a haphazard and skewed way. Far better to do away with the entire practice and charge what the costs are.

The policy of providing carts means less tips for Bell Services. The unions will argue that there is a liability issue of guests using carts and there could be but tips are the main reason.

Bill

Most timeshare provide carts, I think VB used to as well, not sure if they still do. Most timeshare don't have valet parking or bell services other than for HC situation unless they are mixed use properties with combined checkin areas. Personally I prefer the carts but I know not everyone does.

Yep.


I would bet that the etiquette of tipping when the bags get to you is based on a non-Disney system where one person unloads the car, follows you to checkin, then follows you up to your room. Sure, it's Disney's fault, not our fault, that they have two people performing this, but ultimately, it's more than one person touching our bags. So split the tip in half if you must, but recognize that more than one person is doing you a service.

I'm pretty sure that if one person performed it all, I would tip them more than I'm tipping with Disney's system.


And I can be pushed too far, too. Our first time at Royal Pacific, there was one guy who unloaded our car and put bags on the cart, then he handed the cart to someone else, he went to Bell Services with the bags, and then we had to have someone else bring the bags to our room. Now that was too many!

Disney is by no means the only situation where there are 2 different groups involved. IMO, that Disney created a division changes nothing on this topic but I could see dividing the tip between the 2 for the same total.

 

[keishashadow]

I'm not sure your point. If your referencing me specifically, I tip valet's on pick up as recommended, I tip on pre discounted amounts and I round up when we share meals. I've also worked low paying jobs with and without tips and I know what it's like to go hungry because you can't afford to buy food. Many's the time when eaten ketchup sandwiches or ate stale cereal because that's all that was available. However, I don't think that matters, what does matter is tipping appropriately based on a standard. Some don't tip or tip appropriately just like there are those that go on cruises and skip dining the last night to avoid tipping, pretty low class as an appropriate tip is part of the deal IMO. Many over tip as well and it seems particularly common at Disney, their choice of course but lets honestly label it what it is. IMO, tipping both ways on valet or both groups on the bags the full amount each is over tipping.

I think it's safe to bet that most valet's are in a tipped position, I've referenced the industry standards already. It's not safe to assume the same for housekeeping because it's not so. In general though I despise the system that passes on these costs to customers in such a haphazard and skewed way. Far better to do away with the entire practice and charge what the costs are.

Most timeshare provide carts, I think VB used to as well, not sure if they still do. Most timeshare don't have valet parking or bell services other than for HC situation unless they are mixed use properties with combined checkin areas. Personally I prefer the carts but I know not everyone does.

Disney is by no means the only situation where there are 2 different groups involved. IMO, that Disney created a division changes nothing on this topic but I could see dividing the tip between the 2 for the same total.

no specific reference to you. my point is that the expectation of minimum tips are built into many jobs via a flawed system that saves hotels $, same with cruiselines. Naturally, people can choose to not tip, but the OP posed a question that fell into the tipping category in general as to guidelines. As for over-tipping, i've never heard of anybody complaining about being tipped too much. We're the norm, typically tip a couple of $s per bag, 20% in restaurants, but more when we feel it is deserved.

My DH also prefers self-service luggage carts (especially when his golf clubs are involved lol) but he admits that at hotels where they don't offer bell-serivces, the carts can be hard to find when you need them.

bumbershoot - yes, it's amusing at the onsite universal hotels where one's luggage moves a grand total of 30 feet, with the expectation of 2 different tips, not to mention the delivery to the room. We now just split the intial tip between the 1st two gentlemen we encounter there and give larger 2nd tip to the employee that delivers the luggage to the room. Especially at PBH where they have to push it over the cobblestones in the harbor.

 

[Dano1182]

Self service carts would be nice.There is one problem with that.

I have stayed in hotels with no or limited valet type service.(residence inn)

Some Marriott vaction clubs have carts by thier villas.

People use the carts take the bags to the room and then leave the cart in the hallway.Or use the carts when leaving and leave them in parking lot.

Then there are the kids and drunk adults who use them as skateboards.


Then quiclky there are none left in lobby.

I recently started to give a small tip to unlaooder and a standard dollar a bag to valet who brings to room.

I agrre it is funny how you need to be in the room for some things and not other delveries.

 

[backyardponder]

I don't tip people!


It's not nice to push people over!

Good one!

 

[Bronte]

I let DH do all the tipping and he tips a lot
Pretty much everyone that carries our bags at $2 per bag.
We also tip extra when we split meals (we both worked in restaurants through college.)

Loved the comment about "tipping" people.
That made me laugh out loud ... thanks KingRichard !!!!

 

[mac_tlc]

I usually tip when the bags arrive. Maybe I should have done it differently on our most recent trip a couple weeks ago. If I had tipped the Bell Services guy at BLT when he picked up our bags, maybe they would have been delivered to OKW, where we were, instaed of Saratoga Springs.

Made for an interesting two hours at OKW, at 11PM, with a 5 month old infant whose "belongings" were at a different resort. -- So much for "Insuring Prompt Service " ......


mac_tlc


BTW -- Have I mentioned that I hate the new thermostats at OKW lately?

 

[bobbiwoz]

We tip when they take the bags and when we get them. We did a fair amount of tipping at OKW this past week. We stayed in 2 villas and the Bell Service people also brought us in the little cart over to the new villa.

 

[stlocke]

We just returned from 10 day WDW stay. We always tip our bellman when we receive and get our luggage taken. While at Kidani Village the other day, I went up to the gift shop and explained that I needed change so I could give tips to the bellman and the airline check in employee. There was a manager that overheard me and she told me they are not allowed to accept tips and anything they are given has to be given to their manager who in turn sends it to a Disney conservation fund!?!?!? Has anyone ever heard this before? We go to Disney 1-2 times a year and that's the first I've ever heard of that. If I am giving a tip, it's because I want them to have it...if I want to donate to a conservation fund, I'll do that. But sometimes I just want to tip for great service. Makes me sad!

 

[disneynutz]

We just returned from 10 day WDW stay. We always tip our bellman when we receive and get our luggage taken. While at Kidani Village the other day, I went up to the gift shop and explained that I needed change so I could give tips to the bellman and the airline check in employee. There was a manager that overheard me and she told me they are not allowed to accept tips and anything they are given has to be given to their manager who in turn sends it to a Disney conservation fund!?!?!? Has anyone ever heard this before? We go to Disney 1-2 times a year and that's the first I've ever heard of that. If I am giving a tip, it's because I want them to have it...if I want to donate to a conservation fund, I'll do that. But sometimes I just want to tip for great service. Makes me sad!

Not true, the RAC people aren't even Disney employees, they are contractors. The union and Disney worked out a deal that requires that an adult be in the room to accept luggage from Bell Services. It isn't a security issue, it's an opportunity to get a tip.

Bill

 

[stlocke]

Why would she tell me that?? My husband talked to one of the bellman when waiting to do airline check in and he's a cast member too so they were talking about the perks of being Disney employees. I'm confused.