DME and Bell Services?

[kristenrice]

Ok, probably an odd question...(and maybe not in the right forum)

We are arriving at MCO (hopefully) at 8:30pm and using DME to the AKV.
For our arrival night, we have a small, value studio booked and we will be moving to a 1BR the next day. I plan on packing everything for at least the first 2 days in our carry-ons. Can I have Bell Services hold our checked luggage until we check in to the 1BR? I know that I have had to give our room number to Bell Services in the past and I won't know what it will be until the next morning when I check in. I do NOT want it delivered to our studio on our arrival night since I am sure we will have 2 very sleepy children and at least one exhausted adult. I figure that there is no sense in them delivering it the next morning since we will need them to store it for us anyways from when we vacate the studio until our 1BR is ready. (I would LOVE it if the room were ready in the morning, but I am certainly not planning on it.)
So how does that work with the gratuity if you do not have your bags delivered until the next day? I do not want to jilt someone out of a tip. Will Bell Services deliver it to our new room even if we are not in it yet? Is the gratuity still "included" despite the delay, or is a tip expected since the luggage was stored? FWIW, we're talking one, maybe two, average size, rolling suitcases...nothing excessive, oversized or overweight.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Interesting question on the tip - Bell Services can't deliver anything to a room you're not 'in' yet, i.e. if you haven't checked out of the studio and into the larger unit. I suppose the only thing to do is ask, when you get to the resort. Not about the tip, specifically, but if they can hold the luggage until you check in to your other room.

I suppose... it'd be similar to any arrival around the same time; you'd ask Bell Services and the Front Desk both to hold your luggage until the next day - if you get there around 8:30, your luggage could show up at 9 or it could show up at 11:30 - and put the "privacy please" card in your key slot.

Then, when you wake up and the message light is flashing on your phone, call back and ask them to hold your luggage until you change rooms; then, I guess, make sure you're not in the new room when your luggage arrives? I'm not sure that will work for avoiding additional tipping; you may be told you'll need to actually be in the (new) room so someone can deliver your luggage.

 

[goofy4tink]

I would stop at Bell Services when you arrive at AKL..let them know that you want your luggage held until the next morning. Then, put the 'privacy please' hanger out on your door....just to be on the safe side!! You will, as previously stated, have a message light flashing on your phone in the morning. Call Bell Services and tell them you want your bags held until you move into your 'new' room. But, I would be prepared to tip them when they bring it up. Yes, I realize that tips are included when you use DME but you are asking them to do something a bit different..not a big deal but a tip would be really nice.

 

[kristenrice]

Thanks for the replies. I was planning on a tip but I wasn't sure if I had to be in the room when the luggage arrived. I wasn't sure how to leave a tip if I wasn't there. Now, I know what to do!

 

[seashoreCM]

You never have to wait in your room for baggage unless you just called Bell Services for it. For Magical Express and occasional resort to resort free transfers, not part of Magical Express, if nobody is there when the bellhop delivers the baggage automagically, then Disney will take money out of the till to tip him. Normally for resort to resort transfers you have to call for your baggage.

Disney hints: http://www.cockam.com/disney.htm

 

[goofy4tink]

You never have to wait in your room for baggage unless you just called Bell Services for it. For Magical Express and occasional resort to resort free transfers, not part of Magical Express, if nobody is there when the bellhop delivers the baggage automagically, then Disney will take money out of the till to tip him. Normally for resort to resort transfers you have to call for your baggage.

Disney hints: http://www.cockam.com/disney.htm

I have always had to be in my room in order to have Bell Services bring something up. They have always asked if I will be there, in the room. If I say no, that I am leaving, they tell me to call them when I return, that they will not deliver anything to an empty room..unless it is the DME baggage.
I can't imagine Disney taking money out of the till to tip someone. That's a bit presumptuous..what if the service didn't deserve a tip??? Nope, I've never heard of such a thing.

 

[seashoreCM]

>>> ... didn't deserve ...

Psst! (also presumptuous) Usually a supervisor is not sent around to tail, and write an evaluation of, the bellhop delivering the DME baggage. So he gets his tip anyway.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Okay, let's skip the presumption and go with actual experience.

September 26, 2008 I moved from SSR to OKW.

At this late date, I forget how my luggage traveled, but it did need to be left with Bell Services - i.e. my studio wasn't ready.

When it was ready, and I'd taken care of some things in it, I left to meet a person (who shall remain anonymous) at Epcot.

Before getting in line for the bus, I went to Bell Services and asked to have my luggage sent to my room.

Despite the ones visible in my hand - i.e. it would be apparent that I intended to tip at that moment - I was told I HAD to be in the room, that Bell Services could not enter a unit without the Guest's presence.