ME tipping - again!

[Miss Mickey Mania]

Sorry for bringing this up again. Just call this one "DME Tipping for Dummies"

I want to verify who I should tip/not tip.

I plan on tipping the bus driver.

My luggage should "magically" appear in my room - we'll see.
If I'm in the room when it arrives, I DON'T tip. Is that correct? That will feel odd but from what I've read this is the deal.

Am I missing anything here? I'm down to the final few days and silly thoughts are running through my mind now.

Hey, look at my counter!

 

[CleveRocks]

Everything you wrote is accurate. Tip Bell Services upon delivery if you want, but rest assured they get a payment from Disney for each bag (or each room, I'm not sure which).

-- Eric

 

[traumamama]

Sorry for bringing this up again. Just call this one "DME Tipping for Dummies"

I want to verify who I should tip/not tip.

I plan on tipping the bus driver.

My luggage should "magically" appear in my room - we'll see.
If I'm in the room when it arrives, I DON'T tip. Is that correct? That will feel odd but from what I've read this is the deal.

Am I missing anything here? I'm down to the final few days and silly thoughts are running through my mind now.

Hey, look at my counter!

looks like we are gonna be there at the same time.... wich bus driver are you talking about or do we tip all of them????

 

[localdriver]

Sorry for bringing this up again. Just call this one "DME Tipping for Dummies"

I want to verify who I should tip/not tip.

I plan on tipping the bus driver.

My luggage should "magically" appear in my room - we'll see.
If I'm in the room when it arrives, I DON'T tip. Is that correct? That will feel odd but from what I've read this is the deal.

Am I missing anything here? I'm down to the final few days and silly thoughts are running through my mind now.

Hey, look at my counter!

Disney does not make it easy. For, in my opinion, their short term benefit. Disney has lost MANY bell staff for their DME tipping(all included) advertising.

Further Mears(DME Drivers) has lost many great drivers for the same issue.

DISNEY LIES like a rug for their own short term financial gain.

As far as complimentary, the service is, but not the luggage handling.

Check this, By definition DME is just a Courtesy shuttle.

http://www.findalink.net/tippingetiquette.php

So you do as you wish, it is always your choice, but it is your choice, not Disney's.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

My luggage should "magically" appear in my room - we'll see.
If I'm in the room when it arrives, I DON'T tip. Is that correct? That will feel odd but from what I've read this is the deal.

Disney's official explanation is that they cover the inbound bell service gratuity for Magical Express luggage delivered to the room. Here's what Disney's Magical Express FAQ (for meeting attendees) says:

Q: Are Bell Service gratuities included for luggage delivery to my Resort room?

A: Yes, but for the inbound service only. Gratuities are not included if you elect to use Bell Services for luggage assistance when departing.​

In another thread, Tyler (Chip 'n Dale Express) explained how this works, and it doesn't seem that those who deliver the luggage to the rooms are being cheated out of tips. Tyler wrote:

Moderates and Deluxes both have Bell Services. DME luggage is done "GTY" which is the same as convention guest luggage. Instead of getting an hourly wage increase, it's a per bag guaranteed rate. From what I have heard (through the rumor mill) bellmen are always very eager to do GTY's.

Value Resorts use Luggage Assistance. CMs are regular hourly CMs, so DME luggage is processed just as usual.​

 

[CleveRocks]

Thank you for posting that, Horace. I knew I read Tyler's comments on the subject but I couldn't recall the details.

-- Eric

 

[agnes!]

I am puzzled & not looking to start a flame war, but I really don't understand something...
Why should I tip the DME bus driver *at all*? He/she doesn't handle the bags, the driver drives from MCO to WDW resorts & back again. Why am I expected to tip the driver when they don't do the "heavy lifting"? If there's anybody I'm inclined to tip(even if not technically necessary) it would be the bellstaff. I could understand driver-tipping if I bring my checked bags with me or have a lot of carryons that have to be stowed or any kind of extra work above/beyond the driving itself, but what if it's just my traveling party & carryons we easily manage ourselves?

agnes!

 

[paulmc80]

They do mean tipping the driver when you're bringing your checked bags and/or when you feel they've provided great service.

 

[Miss Mickey Mania]

They do mean tipping the driver when you're bringing your checked bags and/or when you feel they've provided great service.

That is what I meant, thank you .

I'll report on my opinion of ME when I get back - after July 19th. Thanks for the help.

 

[localdriver]

I am puzzled & not looking to start a flame war, but I really don't understand something...
Why should I tip the DME bus driver *at all*? He/she doesn't handle the bags, the driver drives from MCO to WDW resorts & back again. Why am I expected to tip the driver when they don't do the "heavy lifting"? If there's anybody I'm inclined to tip(even if not technically necessary) it would be the bellstaff. I could understand driver-tipping if I bring my checked bags with me or have a lot of carryons that have to be stowed or any kind of extra work above/beyond the driving itself, but what if it's just my traveling party & carryons we easily manage ourselves?

agnes!

If no bag handling was the case then OK, but just not the case. DME drivers handles plenty of bags.

Some choose not to use the tagging process and bring their bags to the bus. Many more bring there bags to the bus for their return home, because they are not flying a participating airline.

Point being, if you choose to carry your bags, then you should also consider tipping the driver for dealing with them, no different than you consider a tip for skycaps or the bell staff.

The statement that "Why should I tip the DME bus driver *at all*? He/she doesn't handle the bags, the driver drives from MCO to WDW resorts & back again." is absolutely false.

Not one time have I made a trip Disney to MCO and not had plenty of luggage.

Hey, all I'm saying is tip when you believe it due, Don't buy into "all is included" as Disney would like you to believe.

Localdriver

 

[agnes!]

When I travel on ME, I expect for the driver not to have to handle any of my bags, they will go separately in another conveyance. Therefore, in that circumstance I will not tip the ME driver & my previous statement *is* true.

If I did happen to bring my bags with me & the ME driver incurs extra/unexpected luggage-handling, I would tip the driver, as my bags are sometimes hard for even *me* to handle & part of my vacation is having someone else take care of some of life's details.

Miss Mickey Mania, I'm with you & paulmc80 & I do "tip when I believe it is due" .
(Heck, I usually tip housekeeping when I stay at a hotel, because I appreciate their services *so* much.)

agnes!

 

[TDC Nala]

I tip the DME driver if he/she handles my luggage.

If I just had my backpack and I carried it myself I probably wouldn't tip the driver.

 

[Mears_Driver]

When I travel on ME, I expect for the driver not to have to handle any of my bags, they will go separately in another conveyance. Therefore, in that circumstance I will not tip the ME driver & my previous statement *is* true.

If I did happen to bring my bags with me & the ME driver incurs extra/unexpected luggage-handling, I would tip the driver, as my bags are sometimes hard for even *me* to handle & part of my vacation is having someone else take care of some of life's details.

Miss Mickey Mania, I'm with you & paulmc80 & I do "tip when I believe it is due" .
(Heck, I usually tip housekeeping when I stay at a hotel, because I appreciate their services *so* much.)

agnes!

Agnes, I drive one of the DME busses and I will tell you that we always enjoy it when people tip us, luggage or no luggage.

But, I understand if you don't tip the driver when you don't have luggage. I'll tell you though, that some of my best tips have come from people who didn't have luggage on the bus. I like to treat the people on the bus the way I would want to be treated. I talk to them, tell them some interesting things about the area and Disney and maybe even some personal story that might make them laugh. People enjoy that and some of them tip me, some of them don't.

The choice to tip is up to you. If you tip us or don't tip us we still hope that you have a great flight home and come back again.

 

[Lewisc]

The tipping guidelines are the same if you take a shuttle to an airport hotel or a shuttle to an offsite car rental agency.

If the driver helps you with your luggage you should tip similar to a bellhop, $1-$2 /bag.

A question for the ME drivers, what is your opinion if a guest asks for change? I try to bring fives and singles but the ATM's only give 20's and I don't always get a chance to break the bills. Not a problem for a paid service since you'll get change then.

 

[localdriver]

The tipping guidelines are the same if you take a shuttle to an airport hotel or a shuttle to an offsite car rental agency.

If the driver helps you with your luggage you should tip similar to a bellhop, $1-$2 /bag.

A question for the ME drivers, what is your opinion if a guest asks for change? I try to bring fives and singles but the ATM's only give 20's and I don't always get a chance to break the bills. Not a problem for a paid service since you'll get change then.

Great Question. I always start my day with 10 singles and 2 five's in my wallet just for this situation. That's me, I can't speak for others, but experience helps, it has happened more than a few times, so I try to be prepared.

 

[localdriver]

When I travel on ME, I expect for the driver not to have to handle any of my bags, they will go separately in another conveyance. Therefore, in that circumstance I will not tip the ME driver & my previous statement *is* true.

If I did happen to bring my bags with me & the ME driver incurs extra/unexpected luggage-handling, I would tip the driver, as my bags are sometimes hard for even *me* to handle & part of my vacation is having someone else take care of some of life's details.

Miss Mickey Mania, I'm with you & paulmc80 & I do "tip when I believe it is due" .
(Heck, I usually tip housekeeping when I stay at a hotel, because I appreciate their services *so* much.)

agnes!

Yes Agnes! , Point well taken! Actually we are going to the same point! It's about service.

BTW, Always understand, "that any tip" "must be earned by the driver", by great service, safety, and professionalism.

"But not nullified or skipped" due to Disney's projected wisdom that "all is included" when "in fact", "that is not true". It is Disney's Marketing that "Everything is included" that is the issue.

That is my real point.

 

[BuckNaked]

I am puzzled & not looking to start a flame war, but I really don't understand something...
Why should I tip the DME bus driver *at all*? He/she doesn't handle the bags, the driver drives from MCO to WDW resorts & back again. Why am I expected to tip the driver when they don't do the "heavy lifting"? If there's anybody I'm inclined to tip(even if not technically necessary) it would be the bellstaff. I could understand driver-tipping if I bring my checked bags with me or have a lot of carryons that have to be stowed or any kind of extra work above/beyond the driving itself, but what if it's just my traveling party & carryons we easily manage ourselves?

agnes!

The drivers on from the resorts to the airport most certainly DO do the heavy lifting, at least ours did. He took everyone's luggage and stored it under the bus, and took it all out when we arrived at the airport. Of course I tipped him!!!

 

[Mears_Driver]

The tipping guidelines are the same if you take a shuttle to an airport hotel or a shuttle to an offsite car rental agency.

If the driver helps you with your luggage you should tip similar to a bellhop, $1-$2 /bag.

A question for the ME drivers, what is your opinion if a guest asks for change? I try to bring fives and singles but the ATM's only give 20's and I don't always get a chance to break the bills. Not a problem for a paid service since you'll get change then.

I am another driver for DME and I will tell you that giving someone change for a $5 or a $10 is a much better option than not getting a tip at all. I think that if a driver is not willing to make change for you that driver doesn't understand the concept of being thankful for every tip that you get.

 

[twotoohappy]

When in doubt, tip. That's how I feel.
We're taking ME in August and I'll tip w/out bags.
They're providing a service and a couple of bucks won't break the bank.
But, if the driver was rude/unpleasant then I wouldn't tip.
I'd rather tip and make them smile

 

[localdriver]

When in doubt, tip. That's how I feel.
We're taking ME in August and I'll tip w/out bags.
They're providing a service and a couple of bucks won't break the bank.
But, if the driver was rude/unpleasant then I wouldn't tip.
I'd rather tip and make them smile

You make me smile!!

I agree, if a driver is rude etc. I wouldn't tip either.

Thank You for your comments.