DLH Bellman Tipping- am I wrong?

[ADisneyFamilyof5]

Normally our room is not ready and we have a cart full of luggage, so we have them store our bags until the afternoon. We also usually hit the parks before we leave, so we have them store our bags after we check out. We always tip $10-$15 when they are delivered to our room and then again when we receive them back at our car because I read that you tip "when the action is completed". Then on our trip a few weeks ago, the bellman that had come to get our bags when we were checking out waited and didn't leave until we tipped him. I only had $4 in ones and a couple $50s, so we gave him the $4 and he finally left. In all the times we have stayed at a Disney property, we have never had a bellman stand there and stare at us until we tipped him. I never want to stiff a person when it is customary to tip and if I have been doing it all wrong for the past few years I will feel terrible. But that guy staring at us was very uncomfortable. So my question is, do I tip $10-$15 every time someone touches our bags (so 4 times?) or just when the action is completed (2 times)?

 

[Nonsuch]

Staying at GCH, I usually tip bell services every time (so 4 times in your example).
One CM handles Valet and Bell on arrival, and gets a $20 combined tip -- likely one of the higher paying service jobs at DLR

 

[DLgal]

Tip every time someone handles your bags. There is no guarantee that the same person will help you both times.

 

[ADisneyFamilyof5]

Thanks guys. I feel bad on stiffing people in the past, but now I know!

 

[bumbershoot]

But in another very recent thread on the Wdw side here says to tip at the end of the transaction, and that THAT is the norm.

So there’s no norm.

the bellman that had come to get our bags when we were checking out waited and didn't leave until we tipped him.

I literally laughed out loud. I’d take the bags back, that guy would get no tip, and I’d walk right down to find management and have a chat about him. That’s just a NO.



That said...

I personally tip a dollar a bag to each person that touches bags (except I don’t play the game when they set it up to have three people deal with bags on one basic transaction after official checkin time and I’ll have a room...that’s when someone unloads my car and passes it to a second person, bags go in the back then delivered by a third instead of #2 just following me up). I don’t do the BIG tipping thing. I do basic tipping and to everyone. Mostly.

 

[waltonmkb]

I tip every time someone handles our bag, but I only tip around $5-$8.

 

[NannyBeBe]

I always am careful to tip those who help me or serve me in any way, but I do not allow myself to be intimidated into tipping.

 

[tarheelalum]

If somebody came to my room to get my bags, I'd give them a tip.

 

[DizMe]

Tipping is so confusing. It seems like it used to be much easier, but now I feel like you're expected to tip everyone. I usually avoid it when I'm unsure or don't want to hand out bills willy-nilly (we're a family of 5) by taking my own bags to and from the room.

ETA: We do often store bags if the room isn't ready or we have to check out before leaving the resort, so that's when we tip everyone who handles them.

 

[lalasmama]

I tip $1-2 per bag (so, usually about $5, or whatever I have in singles, but never past $5), to whomever I deal with for my bags. However, I don't stay at any DLR hotels, so I'm not generally dealing with bellhops. But, with the Lyft driver, the bus porter-type person, etc., I do as above.

I'm shocked that they stood there waiting, though! I'm not a nice "expected" tipper!

 

[SeansMom]

Here’s what Emily Post, the queen of manners says:

Travel:
Skycap: $2 first bag, $1 per additional bag

Doorman: A smile and a “thanks” when he opens the door, plus $1-$4 for carrying luggage; $1-$2 for hailing cab (add an extra $1 if it’s raining);
$1-$4 beyond the call of duty.

Bellhop: $2 first bag; $1 per additional bag; $2-3 for each additional service, such as room delivery.

Housekeeper: $2-$5 per day, left daily with a note marked “Housekeeping – Thank you”

Concierge: No obligation for answering questions. $5-10 for tickets or restaurant reservations; $15 for hard-to-get tickets or reservations (or 10-20% of the ticket price)

Taxi Driver: 15-20% of the fare, but minimally $1

 

[beachdreamr1229]

Tipping gets so confusing these days. I don't remember ever tipping housekeeping on all the trips I took as a kid. I felt so bad when I discovered last year that it was a thing. For bellhop, I agree with those who tip everyone who comes in contact with the bags. But, I only tip between $5 and $10 for a cart of luggage (usually 5-7 pieces).

 

[Bluewild79]

My husband was a bellman/valet in Las Vegas for a long time. His advice is similar to Emily Post's - $1/$2 per bag. If you plan to be a big tipper, it often helps to do it at check-in and the bellman may score an upgrade or extra perks for you. If our bags are taken by one bellman and then delivered by a different, he would tip both although they most likely are in a tip-sharing pool. Same with Valet. If you tip big at drop off you can get a better, closer parking spot, etc.

He would like you to know that he would NEVER have waited for a tip. A tip in an appreciation of a job well done and in no way expected (in his mind at least.) He's super guest service oriented so it's pretty appropriate that he's been in the hospitality business for 20+ years! We are always good tippers but we expect good service!

 

[Nonsuch]

My husband was a bellman/valet in Las Vegas for a long time. His advice is similar to Emily Post's - $1/$2 per bag. If you plan to be a big tipper, it often helps to do it at check-in and the bellman may score an upgrade or extra perks for you. If our bags are taken by one bellman and then delivered by a different, he would tip both although they most likely are in a tip-sharing pool. Same with Valet. If you tip big at drop off you can get a better, closer parking spot, etc...

I wonder if Valet and/or Bell at DLR hotels have a sharing pool, something I've been meaning to investigate.

A note for GCH in particular: Avoid bringing bags into the lobby. Have Bell Services take them from your car on arrival, or room when departing. There is sometimes a long line in the lobby to store bags

 

[cobright]

Bell services is your first impression and a task that takes them up to the front for you is an excellent time to drop a tip. For 8 bags I would lead with a $20 or $30 tip and make a comment like, "Thank you sir, you guys always take good care of us here."

The message is clear and implies a level of service commiserate with the gratuity is expected, but also appreciated.

 

[MillauFr]

I wish they had a bellhop tip option on the app or credit card swipers. I don't carry cash anymore and it makes it more difficult to tip.

 

[Malcon10t]

I generally tip the valet and the bellman who unloads my car. The valet gets $5, the guy unloading our car gets $10. When we have the luggage brought up, the bellman is usually good about placing luggage where we need it. He usually goes and gets ice for us. I tip him $20. When we leave, valet gets $5 again, and the bellman who picks up our luggage also loads our car and returns my scooter to bell services and I tip him $20. If I was having my luggage held, I'd tip $10 at the room, and probably $15 at the car.

 

[slpeters]

To me "when the action is completed" has to be thought of in terms of people not institutions. The guy who came for your bags is done once he leaves--his action is completed--and so it would be customary to tip. On the other hand blatantly demanding to be tipped is tacky in the extreme.

 

[bethwc101]

I guess I am one of those who never does things on vacations that require tips. When we stay at the GCH, we park our car, walk over check in before room is available, then go straight to the parks. When our room is ready we go to our car, bring our bags to our room. I had done the luggage storage once or twice before, but find it sometimes takes longer standing in line to store our bags or get them than the time it takes to walk to our car and get our bags.
Never use housekeeping.
Not cheap, I just don't like people touching my things. I'm weird like that.

 

[tink89]

DH prefers to carry his own bags. Not to not tip but he does not want or need the extra help. Especially when it is just 3 of us.
What we do usually do is have them store our luggage either before our room is ready or before we go home. We will always bring our bags down and walk them over to be stored. We tip who ever gives us a ticket and who ever gives us our bags back.

I also am not a fan of housekeeping coming in everyday. So i leave a bigger tip at the end but if we are having a long stay and need them to come i will tip for each day we used that service.Although last year we had house keeping come in to our room on the second day we requested to not disturb. They said it was a new policy. So now ill just have them come in every other day.