How much to tip the Valet?

[Steamboat Girlie]

From what I understand, there is compliamentary valet parking for DVC members at AKV (not sure about where else). We are renting a car next trip. This seems like a nice perk. How much to tip the valet?

 

[disneynutz]

We tip a couple of bucks. FYI, the valets are outsourced to a outside contractor. If your car gets damaged, Disney will not get involved.

 

[rlduvall]

Is it true that you should tip before and after? (you know the parking thingy)

 

[Dean]

The industry standard is to tip on pickup just like it's the industry standard is to tip on the final destination of the bags (room in, car out). If you search the internet you'll see most rec concentrate around $2 per episode with some beings $1-2 and others $2-3, last I checked, they were split fairly evenly, you can search for yourself. I don't tip on drop off or over unless they they go above and beyond, inclement weather and the like. Ultimately you'll have to make your own decision as to what you're comfortable with.

 

[mitros]

We tip a couple of bucks. FYI, the valets are outsourced to a outside contractor. If your car gets damaged, Disney will not get involved.

Whoa! Is that a fact? How the h-e double hockey sticks are you supposed to get any damage taken care of if Disney is not responsible?! This out-sourcing cr** is getting out of hand......

 

[disneynutz]

Whoa! Is that a fact? How the h-e double hockey sticks are you supposed to get any damage taken care of if Disney is not responsible?! This out-sourcing cr** is getting out of hand......

In a recent report Disney referred the Guest to the valet company who told the Guest that it wasn't their fault, end of story. (now we know why Disney got out of the valet business). The Guest had rental insurance that picked up the tab. Others report that car rental insurance is now becoming popular to cover collisions.

 

[mitros]

Wow, I sure will never valet park at WDW again!

 

[Uncleromulus]

Another of their gimmicks is to actually BILL your room with a valet parking charge!! They scan the parking permit from your resort, don't charge you a thing at the time, then suddenly the valet parking charge shows up on your bill when you check out. This happens with free DVC parking and also with free DDE parking.

 

[n2mm]

Another of their gimmicks is to actually BILL your room with a valet parking charge!! They scan the parking permit from your resort, don't charge you a thing at the time, then suddenly the valet parking charge shows up on your bill when you check out. This happens with free DVC parking and also with free DDE parking.

I agree. This just happened to us last week. We parked at the GF for 1900 PF. We used our DDE discount. When we went to pick up our car my husband showed his DDE card to the CM. The next day we checked our bill (only because I heard this happens) and the $10 charge was on my bill. It took a manager at Pop Century to take it off. I agree, they scan your room parking pass because I never gave them my room card. The next time we valet park either with DVC or DDE, I WILL take my room parking pass out of my car so that they won't have anything to scan. It ticked us off, because the CM knew that our parking pass had already been scanned when we showed our DDE card. I guess they hope that people won't notice it on their bill.

 

[dsneygirl]

Another of their gimmicks is to actually BILL your room with a valet parking charge!! They scan the parking permit from your resort, don't charge you a thing at the time, then suddenly the valet parking charge shows up on your bill when you check out. This happens with free DVC parking and also with free DDE parking.

This happened to us too at BWV. We just spoke to the front desk when we got our bill and had it taken off but still annoying.

 

[5forDiz]

Bit ot but have to wonder if outsourcing valet parking was a wise idea on Disney's part :
Read this past week ( see link below ) that a family had their car valet parked at Disney deluxe resort & a few days later when they wanted it to drive over to AK for a dinner reservation there was a problem " locating " it . < these folks are pretty convinced their car was taken on a joy ride because things were disconnected &/or out of place from how they had left them inside the vehicle . >



http://www.tripso.com/columns/did-mickey-take-my-suv-for-a-joyride/

 

[kpatches]

Another of their gimmicks is to actually BILL your room with a valet parking charge!! They scan the parking permit from your resort, don't charge you a thing at the time, then suddenly the valet parking charge shows up on your bill when you check out. This happens with free DVC parking and also with free DDE parking.

This actually happened to us on two visits in the past year. We were even charged at the Contemporary Resort on a night we were not there!!! Now we make sure to go over our bill carefully before we check out.

 

[Cricket2]

The next time we valet park either with DVC or DDE, I WILL take my room parking pass out of my car so that they won't have anything to scan.

Smart!

We have done this for years and I have continually advised people to ALWAYS... no wait, NEVER... EVER... LEAVE YOUR PARKING PASS IN YOUR WINDOW ONCE YOU PASS A SECURITY GATE ANYWHERE BUT YOUR OWN HOTEL. It serves no productive purpose to leave it there whatsoever.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

The Valet company is responsible for their drivers actions, so if the driver was to back into another vehicle, despite any legal wording on any contract (that isn't even signed) is null and void and would not be upheld in a court of law.

 

[ckg]

The industry standard is to tip on pickup just like it's the industry standard is to tip on the final destination of the bags (room in, car out). If you search the internet you'll see most rec concentrate around $2 per episode with some beings $1-2 and others $2-3, last I checked, they were split fairly evenly, you can search for yourself. I don't tip on drop off or over unless they they go above and beyond, inclement weather and the like. Ultimately you'll have to make your own decision as to what you're comfortable with.

I agree here. I just got back from BCV and my Mother in law is one of those folks who thinks a tip should come at all routes of the bags/car etc. We ended up tipping 4 times for the bags once to the bell station, once to the room, once from the bell station, once to the car and the valet dropping off the car and picking it up. I don't mind paying for service but it got old. I feel the tip to get the car is certainly warranted (and should be fair) as it is To Insure Prompt Service.

Just my 2 cents

 

[Dean]

I agree here. I just got back from BCV and my Mother in law is one of those folks who thinks a tip should come at all routes of the bags/car etc. We ended up tipping 4 times for the bags once to the bell station, once to the room, once from the bell station, once to the car and the valet dropping off the car and picking it up. I don't mind paying for service but it got old. I feel the tip to get the car is certainly warranted (and should be fair) as it is To Insure Prompt Service.

Just my 2 cents

This is an area where there are standards in place. Though there is some variability, most places that give recommendation are relatively consistent. One thing I've noticed on travel type websites is that a significant number of people over tip or at least say they do compared to standards. I'm sure that those that do otherwise are less likely to say so. I'm sure we've all also heard lots of horror stories like the cruise guests that skip the final meal and/or make themselves scarce the last day or so to avoid tipping. Unfortunately Tipping has moved from a "To Improve Performance" or "To Improve Promptness" whichever is the true origins of the acronym; to a way to transfer employee costs to the customer in addition to the direct charge made to the customer by the company involved. We've seen the standard tip in the US for good restaurant service go from 15% to 18-20% over the last 20 years or so as well.

 

[alystad]

Our keys were lost at the Beach Club! It was a bit stressful and nothing was done for us and we lost about an hour of our time.

When they finally found the key and had the car - I said to them "That is not our car." LOL It was a little funy to watch their faces!

 

[PEANUT1]

we just got back and I used the valet about 6 times. I tipped $2 each time when I received my car...it is Sooooo worth it in my opinion..especially at BWV where the parking is a little far.

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

I have been tipping the valets at DVC $5 at drop off and another $5 at pickup for a few years now. I figured the normal rates were $10 so I figured that was a reasonable tip, split $5 at drop/pickup. Over this past summer I was wondering if $5 each way was enough as it seemed I had been giving the same amount for a long time (years). I never looked into the standards or thought much about it to be honest.

I will say that I have had exceptional valet service every time I come and go. My vehicle was always waiting for me (have never waited for it, not once) when I got to the lobby the vehicle running, the AC on medium and the radio/cd on low. Every time I pull up to the valet area my vehicle doors were opened for us and greetings were always exceptionally pleasant. They would often tell me if I was low on fuel and or help with any bags or items going in or out of the vehicle as well. The valet's all know me by name which I figured was all standard service.

I always thought the valet service was top notch and it is, when you tip them well. The extra efforts/service I had noticed all make sense now, as I was giving them 400% above the norm.

 

[Brian Noble]

I usually follow the standard (last interaction), but sometimes will leave a little something when dropping off bags at the bell station if I've got several of them, or the car with the valet if it's nasty out.