New charge for Bell Service Delivery

[Farro]

You could very well be right.

However Disney could have been smarter about this. Most people already feel like they are paying $400/night for a hotel room that's worth $200 everywhere else. So they feel like all these services should be included in the premium they are paying to stay at Disney. Honestly they raise the room prices every year, they should have just included this $6 in a room hike. Yes the $6 is fair for that service, but include it with the room. Just raise the room price $6 and avoid the complaining.

I firmly believe this will affect the CM's tips. There are already people here stating they will no longer tip and some indicating they will tip less to reflect the delivery charge. Keep in mind most people who feel this way won't comment here because they don't want to be attacked. They will just do it. The bell services staff will feel the brunt of this and Disney obviously doesn't care.

To the bolded - I believe it will too, but I blame the customer. When I order delivery at home and there is a fee, I know darn well it's not going to the guy who dropped my food off. So I tip them a few bucks. Same concept applies here.

Don't blame the messenger, tip your bell services person for lugging your water bottles to your room people.

 

[SL6827]

I just picked up my very first order of groceries at Walmart and realized that I forgot to get any cash to tip the Walmart employee who brought the groceries to the car. I was mortified that I forgot. When I got there I explained and he said that they could not take tips. Well I was somewhat relieved, but still felt horrible. I would never in a million years not tip for Bell services. Have people lost their mind?

 

[Baduist]

I just picked up my very first order of groceries at Walmart and realized that I forgot to get any cash to tip the Walmart employee who brought the groceries to the car. I was mortified that I forgot. When I got there I explained and he said that they could not take tips. Well I was somewhat relieved, but still felt horrible. I would never in a million years not tip for Bell services. Have people lost their mind?

It’s funny to me, I feel the same way but most people in my country (and in most countries, I think) aren’t even aware that you’re supposed to tip.

It’s anAnerican thing.

I’m sure most people you tip are totally used to not getting tips from some people (although they might judge you more if you’re American).

 

[carolina_yankee]

Stopping for groceries on the way to the hotel is different from having groceries delivered to then by Bell Services.

How, exactly? Both end up at Bell Services and both get delivered to the room - one for $6 and the other for free.

Example: For my May trip - I'm driving in from FLL for a conference. I was planning to have groceries delivered to CCV anyway so I could just get to resort, grab a bit to eat for lunch and head over to Epcot.

Now, I'm shopping for groceries - grabbing a bite at the grocery store - and dropping everything off with bell services. Then, when I get to my room, bell services will deliver free of charge.

Disney gets no $6 delivery fee - CM gets the usual $10 tip for my bag and groceries I dropped off while waiting for room to be ready, and Geyser Point doesn't get my lunch money.

These are choices. Sometimes choices come at a cost.

They didn't come at a cost a couple of days ago. It's cheap - and it comes with a string of other cash grabs (paid resort parking) and unfriendly guest policies (botched credit holds and security checks) that Disney didn't have in place for 46 years.

It's a trend, so what's next?

Dirk

 

[cruisin5]

For me, the $6 is more of an annoyance and a sign. For convenience sake, I'd pay it but I do think any justification for it is just spin. Bell services isn't getting the money. Disney isn't using it increase storage capacity or staffing. It's going into Mickey's pocket. So, for those who think they don't have to tip, please do. Your out-sourced CM won't see any of it.

What annoys me is that Disney is now trying to limit or profit from (or both) a behavior they have created.

• Magical Express discourages having a car.
• Parking Fees discourage having a car.
• The DME pitch of "faster to the fun" discourages waiting around in your room (which may not be ready yet) for a grocery delivery to avoid fees.
• In-room fridges encourage ordering basic supplies.
• $4 sodas/waters and $7 pretzels encourage ordering basic supplies.
• Dining Plans that don't account for 3 meals, or that do but for the daily price of a week's worth of groceries encourages ordering basic supplies.
• Airline fees for luggage encourages ordering basic supplies (especially bulky items like diapers or heavy items like baby food).

Now, in addition to paying the vendor a service fee, tipping the driver, and tipping bell services, the guest has to give Scrooge McDuck another $6.

It's especially annoying for DVC members where the whole DVC pitch is "home away home" and "full kitchens to prepare your own meals," but don't forget to budget paying us for the privilege of having groceries delivered to your room for your kitchen!!

It's also annoying because if I drive myself, bell services is going handle the same amount of groceries without the charge. They'll just come from my trunk instead of via another delivery vehicle. For a premium vacation, this kind of nickel and diming is cheap. It's like cruising with NCL or Carnival instead of DCL.

Can I afford the fee? Sure. But in the past year, the whole character of a Disney Resort stay has changed since my last visit:

• Security checks that will ignore whether or not you are sleeping, dressing, bathing, or doing anything else private.
• Parking fees that used to be free (and still are for DVC members)
• And now, pay for delivery from bell services of items that you, yourself did not bring in your vehicle that Disney doesn't want you to have in the first place.

Very annoying.

Dirk

Disney isn't stopping anyone from renting a car. MDE is an option as are many other options.
Almost all hotels and resorts charge a parking fee. Just be glad they haven't started a resort fee, yet.
Use the latch on the door.

Cruising with DCL is at least twice as expensive as cruising with NCL or Carnival, even after adding the extras offered by NCL/Carnival.

Sounds like the Four Seasons may suit your needs better than a Disney operated resort.

It's all about choices.

 

[saskdw]

To the bolded - I believe it will too, but I blame the customer. When I order delivery at home and there is a fee, I know darn well it's not going to the guy who dropped my food off. So I tip them a few bucks. Same concept applies here.

Don't blame the messenger, tip your bell services person for lugging your water bottles to your room people.

Here's the problem though.

Garden Grocer charges a delivery fee. They also have a spot for a tip when you order online and I believe it states the tip goes to the staff. Now Disney is charging another delivery fee and there's another tip to the bellman. That's two delivery fee's and two tips. Depending on your tipping habits that's somewhere between $20-$50 to get $100 of groceries delivered. A little extreme by anyone's standards.

Again, I tip well on vacation I'm not going to take out my wrath on an underpaid overworked CM who is struggling to feed his family, but there are many who won't see it that way.

 

[saskdw]

I just picked up my very first order of groceries at Walmart and realized that I forgot to get any cash to tip the Walmart employee who brought the groceries to the car. I was mortified that I forgot. When I got there I explained and he said that they could not take tips. Well I was somewhat relieved, but still felt horrible. I would never in a million years not tip for Bell services. Have people lost their mind?

Is it actually standard practice in the US to tip the person at the grocery store for bring your cart to the car?

I tip well on vacation, but would never even think to tip for something like that. Definetly doesn't happen much in Canada.

 

[cruisin5]

Here's the problem though.

Garden Grocer charges a delivery fee. They also have a spot for a tip when you order online and I believe it states the tip goes to the staff. Now Disney is charging another delivery fee and there's another tip to the bellman. That's two delivery fee's and two tips. Depending on your tipping habits that's somewhere between $20-$50 to get $100 of groceries delivered. A little extreme by anyone's standards.

Again, I tip well on vacation I'm not going to take out my wrath on an underpaid overworked CM who is struggling to feed his family, but there are many who won't see it that way.

I thought I tipped well too but no way would I end up tipping $50 for $100 worth of groceries.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Is it actually standard practice in the US to tip the person at the grocery store for bring your cart to the car?

I tip well on vacation, but would never even think to tip for something like that. Definetly doesn't happen much in Canada.

It depends on the grocery store. Many have signs that helping with your groceries does not require a tip. Other upscale stores don't say a thing and the staff pretty much depend on a tip.

 

[saskdw]

I thought I tipped well too but no way would I end up tipping $50 for $100 worth of groceries.

If the GG fee is $10, you tip GG staff $10, Disney fee is $6, and Disney CM tip is $10, that's $36 to get $100 of groceries delivered. Adds up quick. I usually tip GG staff $20 and the Disney CM gets $10-$20 depending on how much there is to carry.

 

[cruisin5]

If the GG fee is $10, you tip GG staff $10, Disney fee is $6, and Disney CM tip is $10, that's $36 to get $100 of groceries delivered. Adds up quick. I usually tip GG staff $20 and the Disney CM gets $10-$20 depending on how much there is to carry.

Ah, I understand. I distinguish between fees and tipping. Fees go into the cost of the item, tipping is in addition to the cost; in my mind at least!

 

[vacationer1954]

However Disney could have been smarter about this.

Maybe how they're handling it is actually smarter than what you suggest instead.

Here's the problem though. Garden Grocer charges a delivery fee. They also have a spot for a tip when you order online and I believe it states the tip goes to the staff. Now Disney is charging another delivery fee and there's another tip to the bellman.

So rent a room at a DVC resort and use their grocery delivery service - one fee. Problem solved.

 

[saskdw]

Maybe how they're handling it is actually smarter than what you suggest instead.

So rent a room at a DVC resort and use their grocery delivery service - one fee. Problem solved.

I don't want a room at a DVC resort.

 

[SL6827]

Is it actually standard practice in the US to tip the person at the grocery store for bring your cart to the car?

I tip well on vacation, but would never even think to tip for something like that. Definetly doesn't happen much in Canada.

I really don't know, I just assumed I should give the kid something, but like I said I had no physical cash on me. But he did say they were not supposed to take tips.

 

[quandrea]

How, exactly? Both end up at Bell Services and both get delivered to the room - one for $6 and the other for free.

Example: For my May trip - I'm driving in from FLL for a conference. I was planning to have groceries delivered to CCV anyway so I could just get to resort, grab a bit to eat for lunch and head over to Epcot.

Now, I'm shopping for groceries - grabbing a bite at the grocery store - and dropping everything off with bell services. Then, when I get to my room, bell services will deliver free of charge.

Disney gets no $6 delivery fee - CM gets the usual $10 tip for my bag and groceries I dropped off while waiting for room to be ready, and Geyser Point doesn't get my lunch money.



They didn't come at a cost a couple of days ago. It's cheap - and it comes with a string of other cash grabs (paid resort parking) and unfriendly guest policies (botched credit holds and security checks) that Disney didn't have in place for 46 years.

It's a trend, so what's next?

Dirk

I don’t thinbell services will deliver free of charge. If the items didn’t come via ME and Bell Services brings the items to your room, you are paying the six dollars. To avoid the fee, you’d have to go to bell Services after your lunch and collect your groceries.

 

[SL6827]

Almost all hotels and resorts charge a parking fee. Just be glad they haven't started a resort fee, yet.

 

[saskdw]

I really don't know, I just assumed I should give the kid something, but like I said I had no physical cash on me. But he did say they were not supposed to take tips.

I was just curious. It's not something that happens where I'm from in western Canada.

 

[SL6827]

I was just curious. It's not something that happens where I'm from in western Canada.

Right. Americans do seem to tip more than others I think.

 

[carolina_yankee]

I don’t thinbell services will deliver free of charge. If the items didn’t come via ME and Bell Services brings the items to your room, you are paying the six dollars. To avoid the fee, you’d have to go to bell Services after your lunch and collect your groceries.

Of course they will. They’ll deliver my luggage from my car free of charge so they’ll deliver anything else that comes from my car free of charge. And they’ll also store it free of charge if my room isn’t ready when I get there. Luggage is luggage, whether it is in a suitcase or a brown bag.

The charge isn’t based on it being groceries, it’s based on it being “delivered.” It’s not a delivery if it comes from my car. It’s my stuff that arrives with me, which bell services is supposed to handle. Or else why have Bell Services?

Dirk

 

[quandrea]

Of course they will. They’ll deliver my luggage from my car free of charge so they’ll deliver anything else that comes from my car free of charge. And they’ll also store it free of charge if my room isn’t ready when I get there. Luggage is luggage, whether it is in a suitcase or a brown bag.

The charge isn’t based on it being groceries, it’s based on it being “delivered.” It’s not a delivery if it comes from my car. It’s my stuff that arrives with me, which bell services is supposed to handle. Or else why have Bell Services?

Dirk

I hope that’s true. This wording suggests otherwise to me. From earlier in the thread:

Effective today, If you have something from bell services delivered to your room, other than your luggage that came through Magical Express, Disney will charge you a $6 charge per trip. This policy applies to groceries, gift baskets, strollers or anything that you ask bell services to deliver to your room.