Dme Facts About Tips

[ducklite]

Are we expected to tip if the driver does not handle our bags? If your luggage comes on a separate bus, the driver is not providing that service. I'm asking because I really don't know the tipping etiquette in this situation.

If the driver isn't handling your bags (which I imagine is the majority of the time the way DME is set up) you are under no obligation to tip. Of course it's still at your discretion. I don't tip the city bus driver, the Disney bus driver, or the school bus driver, so IMHO a Mears driver not handling a bag is no different than the above.

Anne

 

[ksjayhawkfan]

I think that simply saying "Please keep in mind the bus drivers don't work for Disney and get no tips from Disney" and leaving it at that would be a lot less offfensive. But actually posting "tip guidelines"? That's RUDE. There are a dozen WDW CM's who are servers who post on these boards and NEVER say a WORD about tips.

Anne

I totally agree with this statement. I posted what our ME drivers said when we got back from our trip, but I didnt get any replies about it so I thought I was the only one who thought this way. Here is what I posted:

There is one thing that was bugging me about the ME service. I know that the drivers are Mears employees. On the way to our resort, our driver mentioned that 4 times and she kept saying "My children and I thank you for any gratuity you may want to leave." It just seemed like she was begging or trying to make us feel like we HAD to tip her. Which we did since she loaded and unloaded our suitcase. Then on the way back we got the same thing. Only this guy was flat out rude about Disney. It wasnt a very good way to end our trip.

 

[manning]

On the way to our resort, our driver mentioned that 4 times and she kept saying "My children and I thank you for any gratuity you may want to leave."

I would have tipped her....... a penny. And reminded her the tip amount went down every time she made the reminder.

 

[Lewisc]

Bicker--There have been credible posts from people other than DME drivers that stated DCL drivers get paid extra in recognition of luggage handling without tips but that wasn't done with ME. Sounds like the drivers union dropped the ball. Disney should either pay, have Disney CM's handle the luggage at both ends or at least acknowledge that luggage handling is a tipped situation.

Anne-- You travel a lot and know who to tip. Almost everyone understand the appropriate tip for restaurant servers. I suspect a lot of guests don't realize a free shuttle bus driver who handles luggage should be tipped. I think the link to the tipping website is so readers don't think the ME driver is making it up.

Some of the posts seem a little over the top but I see where the DME drivers are coming from.

I guess I'm one of the few people not offended by the posts so to steal an icon from Bicker

 

[cocowum]

If the driver isn't handling your bags (which I imagine is the majority of the time the way DME is set up) you are under no obligation to tip. Of course it's still at your discretion. I don't tip the city bus driver, the Disney bus driver, or the school bus driver, so IMHO a Mears driver not handling a bag is no different than the above.

Anne

ITA.

 

[jtbdas]

Having been a part of the Disney RFP process regarding transportation, Disney negotiates the whole package and that is why they are advising the way they are in regards to tipping. The issue belongs to Mears and it is apparent they are not passing along any extras to their drivers, it appears as though they are being paid their normal allotments for their work. When you negotiate with Disney they are very clear in their expectations and responsiblities of reimbursement for your services. This is not Disney's fault. Tipping has always been by choice. Furthermore the way Disney is selling the DME package is to be inclusive of your vacation package and inclusive is just that "INCLUSIVE" so the guests are not going to tip, that is their impression.

Disney has hired Mears to provide a service, unlike sitting down to dinner, as a vacation package a service is always inclusive and very rarely nets tips. However that is not to say that if there is service above and beyond just a ride to and from, then a tip is appropriate, especially in the handling of bags.

 

[paulmc80]

Never saw this post as a complaint.
I would think the DME bus driver tips are not included. That's the reason for the gratuity signs. To make it clear. If Disney hadn't made a broad statement that tips are included in all their litereature, then no need for the signs.
Don't mean to repeat myself, but its very clear from posts on this board that lots of folks don't realize what is and is not included.