Disgruntled Disney porter

[Buschfan]

I have to say you should always tip these guys. These folks were the friendliest porters we have ever dealt with. However, I disagree with his statement that DCL is the most profitable part of Disney as they aren't rushing to build new ships. Click on View: Complete Thread to see responses.



Worker speaks out

 

[Michelle]

We ALWAYS tip the porters on BOTH ends, when dropping off the bags and when picking them up after the cruise. They are excellent and do a great and tough job. Interesting to read the story.

 

[taswira]

They <I>are</I> the friendliest porters I have ever seen . . . except for ONE. I <I>always</I> tip the porters well when they take my bag at the DCL terminal - even though I travel with only <I>one</I> lightweight roll-a-board that can be pulled with one finger (and I <B>never</B> pack any beverages - <I>shame</I> on those who do in checked luggage!)! On my most recent DCL cruise in November, my mother was with me. We each had a single lightweight roll-a-board. When we disembarked, there must have been twenty porters lined up waiting for business. Although we really did not need one, we accepted because they looked desperate for work. Unfortunately, we could not select the porter we wanted of course, so we got the first guy in the line. He was a real sour-puss. He put the total of 2 roll-a-boards on his cart, not even <I>asking</I> if we wanted to place our carry-on bags on it, and walked as fast as his legs would carry him to our car. My mother is 80 years old and can <I>not</I> walk fast. I did not want to leave her on her own, so I walked at a normal pace beside her. The porter raced across the street and yelled back at us, "<I>Where is it</I>?" I advised him that he was already standing beside it. We were the closest car directly across the street from the terminal (NOT in the far lot). He stood there impatiently until we arrived and I opened the trunk. Then he dragged the bags over the bumper, plopped them down and slammed the lid shut. I was so shocked by his bad attitude that I was tempted not to give him <I>anything</I>, but he held out his open palm and I gave him a $5 bill. He did <I>not</I> even thank me!

I'm sorry for the woes of the porters. I am sorry that they can not join the union. But I'll be #!&*%^ if I'm going to throw good money away on a guy with a bad attitude just because he crossed the street with luggage we could have easily carried ourselves.

Granted, this was the <I>exception</I>. This was the <I>only</I> time I have encounteed a <I>rude</I> porter at the DCL terminal. It is too bad it had to happen when my mother was with me. It was the only thing she did not like in her cruise experience. As for me - I will continue to tip well when I arrive, but I can and <I>will</I> carry my own luggage to the car at journey's end.

 

[sjm]

The post by this porter on rec.travel.cruises today, I understand is a duplicate of a post from 2001. I really think he is posting to beg for tips. It really makes me feel like not tiping, but of course I will any porter who handles my luggage.

He also says in one of his posts that we will be charged a Luggage Handling Fee, which from everything I know is not the case. Unless it is a fee that is built into our cruise fare or the Disney Shuttle fare.

Also he talks about "fogging" the cabins between cruises, does anyone know if they really do this? Also if they do fog the rooms, is there any smell left in the cabins, I am very sensitive to chemicals.


taswira, Maybe this poster is the same porter that you had a problem with.


There is much more on this thread, that is not posted on google yet. You might want to keep reading it.

sue

 

[ppiew]

He is barking up the wrong tree anyway. He doesn't work for DCL according to the post, but for a DCL contractor! If he or anyone expects picketing or other labor efforts to be effective, they should be directed toward their employer - not toward (in this case)DCL. As most sub-contractors, I am sure his employer bids for the contract. If that employer choses to not pay his employees more $$$ that allows a lower bid.

No matter what the reason - it boils down to one fact - if you don't like who you work for, or don't feel you are being treated right - look for another job. Sorry, but I do NOT sympathize with this at all.

 

[tstobb]

Google really cuts the posts short - if you can access newsgroups some other way, there are over 70 total posts in the thread!

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

The porters were <b><i>very</i></b> with the tips on the cruise we went on. I had to go back to the terminal, and when I returned to the car, I passed a bunch of porters returning from the lots. They were quite pleased, saying "5's and 10's and 20's. Oh MY!" (in the same cadence as "Lions, and tigers, and bears. Oh MY!" from "Wizard of Oz".).

 

[my3kids]

At our disembarkation talk, the gentleman said they work exclusively for tips, were independant of Disney and the recommended tip was $1.50 to $2.00 per bag. Ours was great, ran us through customs and into the lot(we were happy to jog along with because we wanted to hit the road) We tipped about what the ship suggested. I'm afraid I tipped less at check in because we pulled up to the door and the suitcases were being put onto a cart with everyone elses. There, it didn't seem apparant that a tip was indicated, although I did. Maybe the Magical Cruise guide should say if driving, the gentlemen at the door are expecting a larger than it appears sort of tip

 

[Wishing on a star]

I too have a hard time generating a whole lot of sympathy here. Yes, this guy is being paid. Yes, he is getting tips. No, DCL passengers are not being mis-informed. And, hey, in a state like FL, it isn't like there are not a gazillion other travel related employers begging for employees. And, I thought about this too. If porters are exclusively 'porters', then they work a couple hours in the morning (debarkation), Then help people with luggage for a few hours during embarkation. Then they are off for the day. A job? Yes. Grueling Slave labor 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Not quite.

Apparantly he wants to Picket DCL, who is NOT his employer... He apparantly works for a smaller company who wishes to underbid for the contract, and underpay its employees.... SO??? WHY go online and rag about DCL??? Also, sounds like he wants to go Union... It is kinda hard for me to put a porter on a luxury cruise ship in with the same guys who work the Cargo Ship docks, which is heavy industrial labor.... And, hey, isn't it the Longshoreman, especially in CA, whom President Bush had to order back to work?

Sounds like folks who always think that they are entitled to more-more-more from everyone else whom they perceive as having a little more... ( DCL and their passengers ).

PS: Any porter who expects me to 'run' after him, so that he can rush back for maybe one extra tip.... First, that is just RUDE... Second, he just may not get a tip from me! The passengers who need a porter the most are the ones who are least able to 'run'.... elderly, families with young children and babies.. etc. Porters like this do not need extra tips, they need a major attitude adjustment!

 

[Hygiene99]

very intresting article ......
does not seem right....
Peter local 4 boston I.U.O.E.

 

[tchrmom]

We did tip our guy.......and he was VERY friendly! DH tipped he more than he should, just because we recognize that this is how these guys make a living. HOWEVER...........if this guy's job is SO awful, I suggest that he find a new line of work. I'll carry my own bags on and off.

 

[4nana]

I guess my heart goes out to all people who have jobs of this nature to put food on the table for their families. My DH was in construction for yrs. w/o any benefits, so I can easily relate and appreciate where they are coming from. As I can too Disney employees who count on our tips as income.

As for our group of 16, we have to give every porter we met a big hand!! Our grp traveled with 30 bags, 2 strollers, backpacks, etc. and we were 'VERY' impressed with every single porter we met! It was one more thing we did not have to hassle over or worry about. When all was said and done, we had 'happily' tipped several hundred dollars to porters for a job well done.

Starting with BWI ~ our hubbies let the gang off at the curb ck in, one male stayed with us and the others went to park the cars for our 9 day trip. Dec 13 it was cold and windy, so the SW attn'd suggest everyone go inside w/the kids and leave the most generous person with him...LOL! He ck'd all the tickets, tagged, loaded all the suitcases. Next time we saw them was at MCO.

MCO baggage claim, a porter loaded all our bags and took them out to our 'Yourride' van where our driver 'Mike' loaded them in a trailer. Upon arrival to Radisson, Mike and our men unloaded all our luggage and the Rad porters delivered them right to our 5 adj rooms.

When it was time to leave Radisson, a porter came to the rooms, got the bags, and our 2 shuttle drivers manipulated all our luggage and strollers in the vans. At cruise terminal we were dropped off at a side door of the main entrance. A porter took all our bags and we happily headed for embarkation. The next thing we knew by 4:30 all 30+ pcs of luggage arrived safely in our 5 cabins.

Disembarkation, it was very easy to find all our luggage. Again the porters loaded all our luggage and our group trucked across the street to the parking lot where 'Youride' was waiting and once again loaded our luggage.

For the trip home to MD., we arrived 2 hrs early at MCO for our 11:30am flight. Our men helped Mike unloaded all our luggage and a porter took them to be ck'd. Two hrs later we arrived safely at BWI where our men and porters loaded our luggage in the cars for their final destination home.

By the looks of the new scratches on our luggage, they made happy memories with some stories to tell! It is a back breaking job and we greatfully applaud each porter who helped our bags arrive safely back home. Thanx guys and gals!

 

[Cruise]

Originally posted by ppiew
He is barking up the wrong tree anyway. He doesn't work for DCL according to the post, but for a DCL contractor! If he or anyone expects picketing or other labor efforts to be effective, they should be directed toward their employer - not toward (in this case)DCL. As most sub-contractors, I am sure his employer bids for the contract. If that employer choses to not pay his employees more $$$ that allows a lower bid.

I try to avoid "me too" posts, but I have to say my view is the same here. DCL cannot be blamed for going for a lower bid - if the bid was even lower. Could just be that this porter's company takes a bigger cut, thus leaving less for wages for the workers. It sounds like he's just going after Disney because they're the big name and he's hoping for more reaction than he would get from "Sal's Port Help" or whoever he works for.

No matter what the reason - it boils down to one fact - if you don't like who you work for, or don't feel you are being treated right - look for another job. Sorry, but I do NOT sympathize with this at all.

Again, I agree. If there were no other jobs available then I might sympathize. But, as another poster pointed out, there are thousands of tourism opportunities in FL and the post itself refers to more than one other company working at Port Canaveral providing the same services.

Since I have no way of knowing which guy this is, I'll still tip porters, as I always have. But I have to admit that, for me, tips are either "tips" or "nice tips" depending on the attitude of the person providing me with a service. I can get bags moved or a meal served by just about anyone.... to get it with a smile and helpful attitude deserves a greater show of appreciation for that smile from me.

Julie

 

[taswira]

4nana - You were so LUCKY! 30 bags and service with a smile! They <I>deserved</I> their tips!

I don't care what kind of service job one has, if they can not do their work proficiently and at least "fake" a good attitude, IMO they do not deserve a tip from me just because they "have a job that depends on tips." After I tipped the "disgruntled porter" my mom and I had after disembarking, I drove away wishing I had <I>not</I> tipped him <I>at all</I>. Perhaps it would have helped teach him a lesson. As it was, he was rewarded for bad service and a bad attitude. I will <I>never</I> do that again!

Service on the ship for me has been anywhere from good to fantastic (with fantastic being the norm!). I tip accordingly - anywhere from the recommended to twice the recommended and much more in exceptional cases. But I made a resolution NEVER again to voluntarily reward someone for deliberate bad service and bad attitude! Why would <I>anyone</I> want to encourage such behavior?

 

[4nana]

taswira ~
I can appreciate where you are coming from and agree.
Sorry you had a bad experience. I have seen your cute Mom on your web site and I can just visualize her crossing the street and trying to keep up. I'm very blessed also to still have both my parents at 86 and 73. It amazes me how some people impatiently buzz around the elderly, not even considering that some day they may also be moving a little slower .

 

[dmadman43]

However, I disagree with his statement that DCL is the most profitable part of Disney as they aren't rushing to build new ships

Not to make this a debate, but looked at individually, DCL is one of the most profitable businesses of the Walt Disney Company. Not sure how not continually building cruise ships proves that it's not.

 

[tstobb]

Originally posted by dmadman43
Not to make this a debate, but looked at individually, DCL is one of the most profitable businesses of the Walt Disney Company. Not sure how not continually building cruise ships proves that it's not.

PLEASE tell me where to find this information? NOWHERE in any financial reports does Disney break out DCL from the Parks & Resorts numbers.

 

[tksbaskets]

the porter we had was great! Well worth a couple of $ per bag. Got us through customs and right to the proper bus.

Best of all....

I wasn't loaded down with bags like a pack animal and sweating like a swine!

 

[Melrosgirl]

I consider myself a pretty good tipper. (I grew up in Las Vegas after all - home of the tip!).

On my last cruise on Princess at the NYC pier, we dropped our luggage off at the pier and the porter had the nerve to say "you can tip me now" before we even got our bags all out of the car.

I was really ticked off. We did tip him and planned to anyway, but his arrogance was something else.

Of course, after all of that, he didn't bother to tell us our ship was delayed for the next 8 hours (a slight detail that he could have just mentioned, don't you think?). <sigh>

Those who expect tips usually don't deserve them.

 

[lruggiero]

Taswira-

I am sorry that you had such an unpleasant expericence, however about your comment..


(and I never pack any beverages - shame on those who do in checked luggage!)!

Have you ever traveled with children requiring formula?? These are very heavy containers and require bottled water and when you have a baby that you are taking away on a cruise that you have spent alot of money on, the last thing you want is to mess with anything going in their stomachs. So my opinion is...shame on you for assuming everyones intentions. It seem that everyone on these boards has an awful lot to say about everyone else's personal business.

I too had a very bad experience with a porter when we disembarked and this had nothing to do with the weight of our bags (even though that was not a problem) because he didn't even see our bags and had an attitude because we had a stroller!!! Anyway, my husband is a far too generous tipper and we certainly can't afford him to be that way but he feels that he is on vacation and everyone deserves to make a living.

I agree but I was a waitress for many years and if you have an attitude you are not going to make as much as the nexy guy regardless of the "weight" of the trays that you carry. I treat people as they treat me. If you are nice and do your job, you are rewarded nicely. If not, you get something but certainly not as much as you would have.
He's already getting paid for the job, the tips are just "gravy"