Magical Express, Large Group- Should we tip?

[Hi Pluto]

We will be traveling with a large school group in a couple weeks, and we will be using the magical express. Our group of 47 will be filling an entire bus by ourselves. Our luggage will be sent ahead to the resort using the yellow luggage tags. Do we still tip our driver even though there will be no bags for him/her to store under the bus?

I was thinking of tipping $40 as a courtesy since we are so massive, but what do you think? More? Less?

 

[sam_gordon]

We will be traveling with a large school group in a couple weeks, and we will be using the magical express. Our group of 47 will be filling an entire bus by ourselves. Our luggage will be sent ahead to the resort using the yellow luggage tags. Do we still tip our driver even though there will be no bags for him/her to store under the bus?

I was thinking of tipping $40 as a courtesy since we are so massive, but what do you think? More? Less?

Will the driver have to go "above and beyond" for your group vs 47 random people? If not, IMO, no, no tip is necessary.

 

[FCDub]

Not a single person will have a carry-on bag to go beneath the bus?

 

[Donaldswife]

There probably will be several carry on bags that will need to go under the bus, and the driver will have to put them under and retrieve. I would tip $1-2 per bag that has be loaded by the driver.

 

[Ross Kratter]

We will be traveling with a large school group in a couple weeks, and we will be using the magical express. Our group of 47 will be filling an entire bus by ourselves. Our luggage will be sent ahead to the resort using the yellow luggage tags. Do we still tip our driver even though there will be no bags for him/her to store under the bus?

I was thinking of tipping $40 as a courtesy since we are so massive, but what do you think? More? Less?

I think that'd be a very nice gesture.

 

[Woodview]

The Driver will have to " Put Up " with 40 + Noisy Kids & Tired Adults

The Driver Might need to Buy new Ear Plugs .

 

[Bjkandma]

Tipping is always appreciated. The amount of the tip is at your discretion. I think your suggested $40 tip for using the bus, and possible handling of some luggage, would be appropriate and appreciated!

 

[Hi Pluto]

Thanks everyone for the helpful suggestions. I will probably stick with the $40 that I've budgeted for.

 

[sam_gordon]

The Driver will have to " Put Up " with 40 + Noisy Kids & Tired Adults

The Driver Might need to Buy new Ear Plugs .

And this is different than a normal busload because????

Tipping is always appreciated. The amount of the tip is at your discretion. I think your suggested $40 tip for using the bus, and possible handling of some luggage, would be appropriate and appreciated!

Appreciated? I'm sure. Appropriate? I don't think so.

 

[jagafen]

FWIW, we always tip the DME driver. At the very least, Disney is providing a free transfer and saving me at least $50 one way. I can throw the driver $5-10.

 

[cedricandsophie]

I don’t understand why some people seem so hostile about tipping. If any one on these boards had a job like this I think we would hope to get a tip to help supplement what is probably not big hourly rate. We always bring on our bags on the bus because I like to know where they are and have them at the resort with me. For three of us with checked luggage and carryons I tip at least 5 and sometimes 10 if the driver is especially gracious and friendly. But I also overtip good servers and give money to the homeless on the streets. While I won’t miss $5 it can make a big difference to someone else. And to answer your question i would tip at least $40. That amount will add substantially to what the driver takes home that day.

 

[Hi Pluto]

The Driver will have to " Put Up " with 40 + Noisy Kids & Tired Adults

The Driver Might need to Buy new Ear Plugs .

I know this is sort of tongue-in-cheek, but my high school students are actually really well-behaved and respectful humans.

 

[sam_gordon]

I don’t understand why some people seem so hostile about tipping. If any one on these boards had a job like this I think we would hope to get a tip to help supplement what is probably not big hourly rate. We always bring on our bags on the bus because I like to know where they are and have them at the resort with me. For three of us with checked luggage and carryons I tip at least 5 and sometimes 10 if the driver is especially gracious and friendly. But I also overtip good servers and give money to the homeless on the streets. While I won’t miss $5 it can make a big difference to someone else. And to answer your question i would tip at least $40. That amount will add substantially to what the driver takes home that day.

Why this job? I hope I get a tip (bonus) in MY job. If someone wants to tip, go for it. I don't care if you tip 10%, 20%, 100% or more.

Personally, I have a problem with people who think tips are REQUIRED. Do you tip when you go to the grocery store? Wal*Mart (or like stores)? Fast Food locations? I'm guessing those employees probably don't make a "big hourly rate" either.

Please explain to me how the driver is doing anything different on this trip as opposed to every other DME trip they take. So if you think a group of $47 requires at least a $40 tip, shouldn't everyone tip on every trip regardless of whether they stow bags or not?

 

[JayMass]

Tipping is always a source of disagreement. People have varying attitudes toward it. I think the only time a tip is required is in a restaurant because the waitstaff is paid below minimum wage because of tipping. Not tipping in a restaurant gives the message that there was something wrong with your service. You might even get a manager to come by and ask what the problem was.

Aside from restaurants, tipping is a personal choice in my opinion. My personal rule, though, is that you should tip if you even think it might be appropriate and appreciated. Worse case scenario is that they will refuse it. What's the harm in that? They certainly won't be offended or make you feel like you made a mistake! However, if you don't tip you might end up feeling bad or like you made a mistake.

 

[sam_gordon]

My personal rule, though, is that you should tip if you even think it might be appropriate and appreciated.

I don't disagree with you. But "appropriate" is what is in debate. I don't think anyone would NOT appreciate a tip. Is it an insult to tip a DME driver? Absolutely not. But I'm guessing it's also not an insult to tip the QS server, or the CM at the gift shop. They probably don't make more the than driver. So why would it be appropriate to tip the driver and not the QS server or the CM at the gift shop?

 

[Ross Kratter]

I don't disagree with you. But "appropriate" is what is in debate. I don't think anyone would NOT appreciate a tip. Is it an insult to tip a DME driver? Absolutely not. But I'm guessing it's also not an insult to tip the QS server, or the CM at the gift shop. They probably don't make more the than driver. So why would it be appropriate to tip the driver and not the QS server or the CM at the gift shop?

QS servers and gift shop CMs are not permitted to accept tips. On the DME buses, there is a sign at the front, next to the driver’s name, reading, “Gratuity permitted for exceptional service.”

 

[jagafen]

Personally, I have a problem with people who think tips are REQUIRED. Do you tip when you go to the grocery store? Wal*Mart (or like stores)? Fast Food locations? I'm guessing those employees probably don't make a "big hourly rate" either.

Tips are customary (which I'm sure you're aware of, not trying to make it seem like I'm educating you!) in certain fields. Airport transportation is one of them. Baggage handlers are another. DME does both. I've spent 10+ years waitressing and bartending and basically needing my tips to pay my bills. Thankfully, I don't have to rely on tips anymore to just make basic ends meet. But having worked so long in a service industry (and Walmart/Fast food is not a tipped service industry) I will never begrudge someone who is performing a service for me a few extra bucks.

 

[bumbershoot]

Our group of 47 will be filling an entire bus by ourselves.

Are there only 12 rows on the bus? I feel like there are more. You might not be the only ones.

We always bring on our bags on the bus because I like to know where they are and have them at the resort with me.

You must have small bags. Theres no room on the bus for bigger bags, and they’ve refused ones I thought were small enough.

I think the only time a tip is required is in a restaurant because the waitstaff is paid below minimum wage because of tipping.

If that’s why you’re tipping, I hope you know that not all states do “server minimum.” My state, WA, certainly doesn’t!

 

[sam_gordon]

QS servers and gift shop CMs are not permitted to accept tips. On the DME buses, there is a sign at the front, next to the driver’s name, reading, “Gratuity permitted for exceptional service.”

And again I ask, what part of driving the bus with a load of people qualifies for "exceptional service"? To me, it's routine.

Regarding those not being allowed to accept tips, McDonald's workers? Wal*Mart? Any minimum wage job? For that matter, does DME pay minimum wage?

 

[Ross Kratter]

Are there only 12 rows on the bus? I feel like there are more. You might not be the only ones.

A typical coach bus has 56 seats. DME buses are not typically 100% full.