Magical Exspress ?'s

[teroot]

Do you tip the driver of the Magical express bus when being picked up at the airport and taken to your resort and if so how much is customary.

I Can't remember what we did the last time a few years ago.

Starting to d=set up all my tip envelopes for different things. My sister and I split expense and set all up a head of time so were both not pulling out $ and trying to figure out who paid what

Thanks teroot

 

[docusmc1]

I tip $5.00 each way for my wife and I.

 

[dzorn]

Do you tip the driver of the Magical express bus when being picked up at the airport and taken to your resort and if so how much is customary.

I Can't remember what we did the last time a few years ago.

Starting to d=set up all my tip envelopes for different things. My sister and I split expense and set all up a head of time so were both not pulling out $ and trying to figure out who paid what

Thanks teroot

If he has to put my bags under the bus yes otherwise no.

Denise in MI

 

[Jestocost]

If the driver handles any of your bags to put them under the bus at the airport and to get them out at your resort, a tip of $1-2 per bag would be customary. A tip under any other circumstances is not expected (although I'm sure it would be accepted).

 

[teroot]

Thanks for the fast replies
teroot

 

[docusmc1]

These drivers do except tips, they are not Disney employees. They work for Mears which under contract with Disney. I drove for them a few years ago and their hourly rate was around $9.75 per hour. I do not think they are making any more now. Just think of it like a large taxicab. They do provide a service just as waitstaff, or any other service industry.

The drivers for the Disney Transportation buses are not allow to accept tips. Nor do they expect them.

 

[aubriee]

If the driver touches my bag he gets a tip. Even if I don't have a bag to go under the bus, if he does anything to make the trip pleasant (give advice, tell jokes, etc) he still gets a tip. If he doesn't touch my bag and doesn't do anything but drive, then he probably won't. The only other time I definitely won't tip is if once we arrive at the resort, if he closes the door and won't let us off the bus until he unloads all the luggage underneath the bus and then stands at the door with his hand out for a tip. For some reason that drives me crazy. If I don't have anything under the bus, let me off when we arrive and you'll get a tip, but keep me hostage on that bus, then hold your hand out for a tip and you won't get a dang thing.

 

[goofy4tink]

I use DME several times a year. Here is how I handle the DME bus driver tipping issue.
If the driver has contributed, in some way, to making my trip to WDW more pleasant, then I give a tip....whether or not I have had a bag stowed. If that driver has done nothing more than open the bus door, drive the bus, and then let me out at my resort? Nope, no tip. Especially if that driver makes an announcement at each resort that gratuities are always gratefully accepted. And I don't much care if I had 4 bags stowed...you ask for a tip, you get nothing!

I have had drivers who were wonderfully informative, and were funny...all while safely driving the bus. They made my trip with them very pleasant...they got nice tips (about $5 for just me). But, I have also had drivers who never greeted me as I got on the bus, they never said a word on the drive to WDW. Then, I actually had one driver who was almost surly....no greeting, no chatting on the drive...who stood up at each resort, and announced that gratuities are gratefully accepted. He then got off the bus, closed the door behind him and wouldn't let anyone off the bus until all the luggage was unloaded at each stop. He actually had his hand out...literally!!!

I really take each trip on it's own. I always have tip money in my pocket, and usually I hand it out at the end of my ride. But there have been several occasions when that money stayed right in my pocket.

I don't much care how much the drivers are paid. That isn't my problem. Waitstaff get paid only a few dollars...they depend on tips. Bus drivers??? Nope. If they want a tip from me, they are going to have to go beyond what I consider to be routine service. And, there is signage, at the front of each bus, that you can't help seeing as you get off, that says...'gratuities are gratefully accepted for outstanding service'..or something like that. I do NOT need to be told about tipping.

 

[Alesia]

These drivers do except tips, they are not Disney employees. They work for Mears which under contract with Disney. I drove for them a few years ago and their hourly rate was around $9.75 per hour. I do not think they are making any more now. Just think of it like a large taxicab. They do provide a service just as waitstaff, or any other service industry.

The difference is that they make 3 times more on the hour than servers do. Not everyone in the service industry depends on tips.

In any case, they should be tipped if they handle bags or if they give extraordinary service.