Just Returned from the Poly: Lovely stay...but I have a concern

[Tam1067]

Reading these posts gave me an "Ah Ha" moment. If I was checking in at the airport I would be tipping both the hotel Bellman and the Skycaps. Guess airport hotel check-in should be no different. However, I would not normally tip the person giving me my boarding pass. I'll be keeping it in mind when we travel to the world in Dec.

This is the problem--it's so confusing because no one ever tips the airline employees at the airport check-in who give you boarding passes and take your luggage, right? How did the resort airline check-in people suddenly become skycaps?

Skycaps at the airport now generally have a straight per bag handling fee. Those at the Disney resorts do not. Furthermore, Disney covers tips through the Magical Express system (you don't tip the guys who leave your bags in your room for instance) so why is leaving and going home any different?

Also, being asked point blank for a tip is not appropriate in any circumstances. If there is a fee involved, then that should be specified, but I still do not think that someone putting a tag on my bags deserves cash for that.

 

[mickey2minnie1]

Hi,

I am taking my three for their first time to the World. We are staying at the Poly. They are two boys and a girl your ages.

What did they enjoy most?
Did you do the Neverland Club?
Did all do the pool slide?
Would you say that it is their favorite resort from all that you have stayed?
Did they want to use the pool each day?

I think that is it for now!

 

[mika911]

Well, we only have 2 checked bags, so giving them $4 total isn't a big deal. Like someone else said, you don't want them purposely not getting your bags to you.

The reason you do not tip the employee at the airport who gives the boarding pass is because they are an airline employee and are not allowed to accept tips.

 

[bigAWL]

Maybe I'm confused, too. When I do curbside check-in at the airport (I'm trying to jog my memory, because it's been a while), I tip the guy who helps me get my bags from the car to the curb-side desk, because it's a big pain handling bags for a family of five, and I can't usually get the car pulled up right in front of the desk. There's another guy at the desk taggin my bags and handing over the boarding passes. I've never tipped him. I've assumed he is an airline employee, since the desk he's standing behind has the name and logo of the airline. Am I stiffing that guy?

I've never done resort-check-in, but from the description in the OP, I would equate the bellman to the guy I tipped at the airport, and the three guys at the check-in desk to the airline curbside desk guy. So I wouldn't assume to need to tip them either. Doesn't the bellman bring the bags right to thier desk? I guess they don't work for a particular airline. Is that the difference? (edit: I guess that was answered as I was typing.)

 

[mika911]

bigAWL,

The guy who gives the tag at the airline counter at airport is not allowed to take tips, so you are treating him fine.

I know the RAC people are working a little less hard and in better conditions than the airport skycaps, but that is still how they're defined I guess. I don't mind giving the tip and feel better about my bags.

 

[Tink3Belle]

I would never tip the people at the ticket desk. It was rude of them to ask.

 

[Tam1067]

Hi,

I am taking my three for their first time to the World. We are staying at the Poly. They are two boys and a girl your ages.

What did they enjoy most?
Did you do the Neverland Club?
Did all do the pool slide?
Would you say that it is their favorite resort from all that you have stayed?
Did they want to use the pool each day?

I think that is it for now!

You'll love it! My kids certainly did. We did not do the Neverland Club. My boys like the slide, but DD is too scared to try it. We used the pool on about 3 different days, though the kids would have liked to use it more. We just didn't have time to spend at the pool because we were so busy at the parks--but the boys especially were upset we didn't swim more often.

We've also stayed at Port Orleans Riverside and Wilderness Lodge. The last two trips have been to the Polynesian, and the boys only have vague memories of WL, so I can't say they prefer one or the other. I will say that the kids absolutely love the Poly and have no interest in staying elsewhere. Be sure to ask to ride in the front of the Monorail, too. I think that's one of their favorite things to do.

 

[Tam1067]

Maybe I'm confused, too. When I do curbside check-in at the airport (I'm trying to jog my memory, because it's been a while), I tip the guy who helps me get my bags from the car to the curb-side desk, because it's a big pain handling bags for a family of five, and I can't usually get the car pulled up right in front of the desk. There's another guy at the desk taggin my bags and handing over the boarding passes. I've never tipped him. I've assumed he is an airline employee, since the desk he's standing behind has the name and logo of the airline. Am I stiffing that guy?

I've never done resort-check-in, but from the description in the OP, I would equate the bellman to the guy I tipped at the airport, and the three guys at the check-in desk to the airline curbside desk guy. So I wouldn't assume to need to tip them either. Doesn't the bellman bring the bags right to thier desk? I guess they don't work for a particular airline. Is that the difference? (edit: I guess that was answered as I was typing.)

This is it exactly! The bellman brings the bags right to the airline check-in people who merely type in your information, print out borading passes, and put them on the bags, and hold the bags until they're brought to the airport.

I also don't like the idea of being pressured to tip these folks, or of feeling that I need to tip them so that my bags don't get sent to Seattle or Honolulu (wasn't that a Seinfeld episode?). That's just not acceptable service at a Disney resort, regardless of whether the people working the desk are direct Disney employees or not.

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

We returned last night from our second Polynesian stay in as many years. Overall, it was a great experience.

Details: We arrived at about 11:30 a.m. on July 9, received our leis and were checked in quickly. I had requested Tokelau because I wanted a larger room in a central location with a balcony, and we got that request.

I can say that we only had a few minor issues. First, as others have noted, the pool is crowded, and it's nearly impossible to find a chair in the afternoon.

Glad you enjoyed your trip. Did you check out the quiet pool? I know Tokelau longhouse is by the quiet pool - was that crowded as well? We've requested Tokelau as well - I hope we get it - seems like a great location. Thanks for any info.

Oh - Did you ever use the laundry room? We are a family of 5 as well and I'm curious if you did laundry or not and if you didn't - how many outfits did you pack per child? We have DS8, DD5 & DD2 - I know I'll have to pack more outfits for DD2 then the other two as shes a typical 2 year old - messy! Thanks again!

 

[agnes!]

That remark about "we get tips too" was rude.

Slightly off-topic...
I have seen a lot of unhappy posts from deluxe resort guests regarding valet/bellman issues. The valets are employees of an outside firm, I have yet to see ANY posts saying how great the servce is since WDW handed over the valet service to an outside firm. Also, are the bellmen now also non-Disney employees as well? From what I hear, a lot of long-time employees left WDW after the changeover, WDW lost a *lot* of what I call "institutional memory". And remember, just because someone who is working somewhere at WDW has on a "WDW CM"-style nametag, that does NOT mean they actually work directly for Disney. A lot of these people are subcontractors, for instance, the coffee kiosks in Epcot, both the one in World Showcase near Off-Kilter and the one near Mission Space.

Back on-topic...
I can understand tipping the person who gets my luggage from my room to the airline check-in desk, they've done all the work. I don't really understand why I'm then supposed to tip the people who are standing at a counter, who only tag the bags and maybe move them a couple of feet. So if I give a $5 tip (or whatever, lets make it $10) to the person who gets my luggage from my room to the check-in desk, am I then "supposed" to give another tip to the person who tags my bag? How much and what is considered fair? I dunno, I don't mind paying a fair price for my vacation, but I *really* dislike feeling like I'm getting nickle-&-dimed/tipped to death every time I turn around.

Back off-topic
And while I'm at it, I really dislike tip jars at take-out restaurants and coffee places.

agnes!

 

[betterlatethannever]

Boy, flying is getting more and more expensive!!!

Isn't that the truth. I've parked at an offiste parking lot for over 30 years when going to the airport. A shuttle would take me to the airport. Back then there was a sign saying "tipping not allowed".

Not sure when it changed but the sign is no longer there and the drivers are getting tips.

Ed

 

[kileybeth]

very enlightening and a bit scary for a Mom of 4 and party of 6. My DH actually prefers to handle our bags himself. We have a routine and it works well. It is always awkward for me when the bellmen or whoever tries to "capture" your bags from you before you even get out of your vehicle, set them down, etc. And nooo, we do not stand around looking lost or in the way of others.

I was thinking I had all my tipping etiquette covered for our upcoming trip (and $$$) set aside but now I have to wonder.

So here is my question, we have just switched to a non participating airline for our flight home and will be leaving our numerous bags (think 6 or 7!) at the check out desk so we can go into the parks one last time (we don't catch ME until after 5pm on departure day) sooo it is my understanding that I won't be using RAC at all right?

Once ME drops us off it is my choice to carry our bags into the terminal and up to check in on our own? Will this be a problem?

BTW, and b/c I suppose others will think we are just cheap, my DH is one of the best tippers I know! I often wonder what in the world he is thinking!

 

[Tam1067]

Glad you enjoyed your trip. Did you check out the quiet pool? I know Tokelau longhouse is by the quiet pool - was that crowded as well? We've requested Tokelau as well - I hope we get it - seems like a great location. Thanks for any info.

Oh - Did you ever use the laundry room? We are a family of 5 as well and I'm curious if you did laundry or not and if you didn't - how many outfits did you pack per child? We have DS8, DD5 & DD2 - I know I'll have to pack more outfits for DD2 then the other two as shes a typical 2 year old - messy! Thanks again!

You'll love Tokelau. We did not use the quiet pool because my kids said it was boring. Of course, we walked by it several times a day, but they preferred the volcano pool. The quiet pool was never very crowded when we walked by.

I did not use the laundry room because I packed enough stuff to avoid laundry. The laundry facilities are in the same building as the Neverland Club which is not that far from Tokelau. My kids generally went through one outfit a day, though they wore shorts for two days a couple of times. I had a few extra shirts and underwear packed that they didn't use. I also had several extra outfits for DD which she never ended up wearing.

 

[doconeill]

We tried to do the resort check-in at the Beach Club last Thursday. I knew they were not Disney employees, but didn't realize they were from the same company as the Skycaps (Bags Inc.) until he was explaining to another person who kept assuming that they were part of Magical Express or something.

However, I couldn't really justify tipping as we ended up there for over 30 minutes that we had intended for going over to the MK on our last day while they couldn't complete the checkin with JetBlue. It wouldn't print boarding passes, eventually it said we had too many bags checked already (we only two), they spent 20 minutes on hold with JetBlue to delete the records, after which it screwed up in a completely new way, etc.

We ended up bringing our bags over for storage with the valet service, and killed time at Epcot instead (since we now had to return to BC for our bags).

Even when we checked in at the airport, the agent said we had already checked in, and I had to explain it all...fortunately I expected this and arrived extra early. The agent was quick about correcting it though.

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

You'll love Tokelau. We did not use the quiet pool because my kids said it was boring. Of course, we walked by it several times a day, but they preferred the volcano pool. The quiet pool was never very crowded when we walked by.

I did not use the laundry room because I packed enough stuff to avoid laundry. The laundry facilities are in the same building as the Neverland Club which is not that far from Tokelau. My kids generally went through one outfit a day, though they wore shorts for two days a couple of times. I had a few extra shirts and underwear packed that they didn't use. I also had several extra outfits for DD which she never ended up wearing.

Thanks for the info. I'll pack some extras too - maybe that will keep from the laundry room!

Oh forgot to ask how the buses to AK, MGM & DTD were? I'm a little concerned w/the bus situation in general. I'm considering renting a car to get around except for MK & Epcot (maybe). Thanks again.

 

[LoveKermit]

I literally said, "WHAT?" out loud to my computer and dog when I read this. Isn't that right up here with us "common folk" asking for an upgrade at a hotel (Disney or otherwise) or at the airport (for 1st class)? And when you do that, does it usually happen?

I can't wait for our Poly stay. Our daughter is too little to have some of the same concerns that others have, but I love reading all the stuff anyway. Keep it coming!!!!!

 

[Tam1067]

Thanks for the info. I'll pack some extras too - maybe that will keep from the laundry room!

Oh forgot to ask how the buses to AK, MGM & DTD were? I'm a little concerned w/the bus situation in general. I'm considering renting a car to get around except for MK & Epcot (maybe). Thanks again.

We used the bus to MGM and AK. We did not go to DTD, so I can't speak for that.

The bus was fine. I think the longest we waited was about 10 minutes, and with the exception of when we left MGM in the middle of a huge thunderstorm right when Fantasmic was supposed to start, they were never crowded either.

Also, getting to Epcot is really easy. You just walk to the TTC (about 5 minutes) and then take the Monorail. That's one of the huge perks of staying at the Polynesian, I think.

One day we also exited Epcot through the International Gateway and took the boat to MGM which was nice too.

 

[fatherfolke]

Generally, I will give cash to someone who actually helps me. For others at WDW who have their hands out but offer little service, I will give tips in the form of dogs with good chances of winning at Sanford-Orlando Dog Track. That actually seems to appease many of them.

 

[Tam1067]

Just an update:

I emailed Disney about the incident with the airline check-in person asking for a tip. I got a call today from the Disney executive offices. The person I spoke to told me the check-in people are TSA employees. That shocks me even more, as the TSA is a government agency, and I would think they are not allowed to accept tips.

Anyway, I got a nice if standard apology and was told that the TSA people have been informed about this "rude" treatment being unacceptable. I'm still confused about the TSA thing, though.

 

[doconeill]

The ones at the Beach Club had name tags that specifically stated "Bags Inc." - they may be in some way contracted by the TSA, but it seems more like they contract with the airport. They certainly need TSA clearance though...