Tipping DME driver....

goofy4tink · Aug 3, 2015

So, under what circumstances do you feel it's right to tip your DME bus driver? I'm curious.

goofy4tink · Aug 3, 2015

Could you guys elaborate as to your reasoning?

mom2AidanAndEli · Aug 3, 2015

We don't have any bags that the driver has to handle. The kids each have a small backpack and I have a very small duffel bag that we use as carry-ons. We carry them on the bus, we sit with them on our laps or at our feet. I don't feel a need to tip a bus driver for driving a bus!

Sixty-something · Aug 3, 2015

I went with #1 because a bus driver's main job is to drive. Stowing my luggage and dragging it out of the locker without damaging it is an extra service. Plus it is a convenience for me that I don't have to hold a heavy bag on my lap. So I give the guy something if he has actually handled my bags. If I carry on my own little bag and want to squeeze into a seat with it on my lap, feeling like I'm going to be crushed under it, then there's no need to tip.

minnie mum · Aug 3, 2015

I always tip anyone who has to wrestle our bags either to the curb or our room. But if we don't have bags, no. I don't tip city bus drivers for doing their job so I see no need to tip the DME driver just for driving.

kandb · Aug 3, 2015

We usually tip, they probably don't get paid a lot and they are usually nice. We had a super funny bus driver on our way to the airport once and I tipped him extra because he went above and beyond.

karly05 · Aug 4, 2015

I went for #1. I would always tip if I had the driver stow my bag. That said, I did tip a couple of years ago without him handling my bag: I was the only one going to POFQ, and was the last stop, so it was like having an exclusive ride. The driver was pleasant and actually seemed a little surprised when I tipped him.

DebbieB · Aug 4, 2015

If the driver did a good job and was entertaining or informative on the trip, I give him a couple bucks even without bags.

goofy4tink · Aug 4, 2015

Okay...here's the reason I ask. I used DME to MCO, from SSR, on Friday afternoon. I've used DME more times than I can count. I tip when I have stowed luggage. I have even tipped with no luggage but because the driver went above and beyond....good driver, interesting tidbits about the area, etc. But....on this particular trip, I had a few 'issues'. At the start of the trip, the driver gave his spiel about where we were going, how long it would take, etc. Then he added that gratuities were always appreciated for exceptional service. When we got to MCO, the driver held us all on the bus, while he got all the luggage unstowed. Said no one would be able to leave the bus, due to safety issues, until the bags were taken out. I had no bags but had to sit there anyway. Yes, I realize some people may have needed help down the steps, but why hold everyone on the bus?
1. Seriously? There is a sign, right above the driver's head, as he talks, about gratuities. Why do they feel the need to ask for a tip?? That really annoys me.
2. Why do we have to be held hostage on the bus? In all my trips on DME, I've been held hostage only once or twice. I thought that they had stopped this practice.
Even though I had no stowed bags, I had $3.00 in my pocket, ready to hand out at the end of the ride. Well, that $3 stayed there. Others tipped as they got off the bus...I was so tempted to tell the driver that I don't tip when asked to!!!

I'm always interested in seeing how others handle this. Some say the drivers don't make a lot. That doesn't go far with me. They know, going in, what they are going to make. I don't tip bus drivers at home, or at the parks. If the driver just drives the bus, why would I tip him? That's nothing exceptional. Asking for a tip is most certainly not exceptional service!!! To the best of my knowledge, the Mears drivers make a decent amount. When I took the Mears shuttle van to the Dolphin a week ago, I tipped, and it was pretty decent....$5 for one bag. Then again, he didn't ask me to tip him.

paults · Aug 4, 2015

sometimes. no bags. If the driver doesn't mention what resorts we are going to ,no tip.
Twice the driver went to FQ and PO with on one getting off. It took 2 hours to get to BWV, we were last. That was few yrs ago but now they seem to mention the resorts they are stopping at. If no is going there them they pass it.

Sandi · Aug 4, 2015

I thought they'd stopped the "hostage" situation, too. I've never had one of those experiences, but it would irritate me to no end. I'd also be irked if the driver asked for a gratuity. One time, we had a driver from MCO to our resort who went on and on about how he donates part of the gratuity he receives to a charity, so he'd appreciate our being extra generous. That was irritating. I tipped him because he handled our bags, but it was annoying. That only happened once and we've done DME many, many times (not as many as goofy4tink, but I'm trying to catch up).

I tip when a driver handles our bags and I always have carry on bags to stow. It seems we're always among the last to get our bags and it looks like most people don't tip whether we're staying at Pop or Poly or anywhere else. The DME drivers have always thanked us.

tjmw2727 · Aug 4, 2015

I generally only tip when the driver handles the bags and since I usually use the DME luggage delivery and or RAC I don't usually have bags. I have occasionally tipped for good service - for me that is a smooth ride without to much driver hype! I also tipped once when we had a breakdown and I felt the driver handled things very well including transfer to another bus. I usually have a few ones handy and then decide upon arrival at the hotel/airport.

As for the situation at the airport that bothers me as well, happened to us in April this year but not in June although the driver did mention that an airport representative "may be boarding the bus upon arrival at the airport" luckily no body did.

tobikaye · Aug 4, 2015

I picked when my bags are touched by the driver. For the most part, if I have something under the bus, then I might tip, especially if the bag were heavier.

sug78 · Aug 4, 2015

Tip at your disgression- you are never required to tip. I only tip when I feel someone deserves it

cranbiz · Aug 4, 2015

Only tip the driver if he handles my bags. Other than that, He's paid to drive the bus from the airport to WDW. That's his primary job function. Stowing bags is part of that function but more of a service, therefore worthy of a tip IF the driver doesn't grovel.

Seeing as I drove a real Disney Transport bus, tips were not an option for me. If I really thought I was being treated unfairly, that was due to my job choice. It was not my place to grovel. Working for Mears or working for Disney, we had the same responsibility, getting the guest from point A to point B safely.

kaytieeldr · Aug 4, 2015

I chose #1 because all standard advice indicates tipping anyone who handles your luggage. But if this had been a multiple choice , I'd have Sen #2 as well.

Disneylover99 · Aug 5, 2015

There were two occasions where we did not tip. Both were because the driver's English was so poor and accent was so thick, nobody knew what they were saying. We knew the spiel, so we just learned to tune them out, but it was frustrating for first timers using ME, because they had no idea if important info. was being said.

On one of the trips, when the driver arrived at the first resort, he turned around and said a speech, then got off the bus. It was silent for a moment on the bus, then somebody whispered, "this is my resort.....do you think I should get off now?" and everybody cracked up. :hyper:

goofy4tink · Aug 5, 2015

Disneylover99 said:
There were two occasions where we did not tip. Both were because the driver's English was so poor and accent was so thick, nobody knew what they were saying. We knew the spiel, so we just learned to tune them out, but it was frustrating for first timers using ME, because they had no idea if important info. was being said.

On one of the trips, when the driver arrived at the first resort, he turned around and said a speech, then got off the bus. It was silent for a moment on the bus, then somebody whispered, "this is my resort.....do you think I should get off now?" and everybody cracked up.

I've had that same experience....thank God I knew where I was getting off!! Those of us that knew the drill made the resort announcements for those unfamiliar with the resorts!

Disneylover99 · Aug 5, 2015

goofy4tink said:
I've had that same experience....thank God I knew where I was getting off!! Those of us that knew the drill made the resort announcements for those unfamiliar with the resorts!

That's what happened on our bus as well.

Tipping DME driver....

under what circumstances do you tip the DME driver?

1. When your bags are 'touched' by the driver

2. No bags at all but feel a tip is right

3. If the driver mentions it in the welcome spiel

4. Other because there is always an other choice

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