New charge for Bell Service Delivery

[EdnaMarieMode]

The fee is for delivery of packages to your room, per the US WDW site [note: the Canadian site still has the fee at $5]:

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Unless they change how things are handled as well, grocery orders delivered by a direct delivery service [i.e. from Garden Grocer, Dizzy Dolphin, Amazon Prime Now, Instacart and other similar services] deliver to Bell Services, not the front desk. There is therefore no fee for the hotel to *receive* the order, but there is a fee if Bell Services *delivers* the order to your room.

If you order from one of those grocery services and they deliver to Bell Services and then you go to Bell Services and have them retrieve your order from storage and then YOU take your order to your room yourself, the understanding is there is NO FEE. Likewise if you were to just meet the grocery service in the lobby directly.

Hence part of the problem: the fee is a delivery fee and some guests will/may interpret that to mean that no tip is required.

As to your point about not assuming everyone can pick up the delivery, this is quite true. I have mobility and medical issues that mean while I could handle a small order [a couple lightweight bags], anything more becomes a challenge and at a certain point not possible for me to do myself. I could do it myself if allowed to borrow a cart, as other hotels I stay at allow, but historically when we have visited Disney doesn't allow that. We don't have young kids, so no stroller available to load.

SW

I hadn't seen that and was referencing the article linked above. It'll be interesting to see if they now lump "bell services" in with "front desk" (which they could be, even though they are technically different functions). If anyone onsite could provide actual experience that would help. The articles I've seen also specifically mention strollers, gifts, and cribs- none of which are usually left with the front desk but instead are left with bell services.

I have already seen many comments here about how people will no longer tip because of the charge. That's unfortunate and I do wonder how long it will be before Disney raises the fee to cover that. I can't understand how $6 is such a problem that anyone would take a few dollars of tip money away from the CM delivering the items.

The only real known solutions are: go to the store yourself and bring items to your room (so no Disney involvement), or don't have items delivered. Anything else is just speculation due to yet another inconsistent rollout of information.

RE: carts. Dizzy Dolphin's post had numerous replies from current guests that they were not allowed to use a cart from Bell Services and that guests are not allowed to use those carts. I'm not sure if that's entirely true (we've never asked to use one).

 

[Starwind]

If anyone gets any clarity on the "luggage not delivered by Magical Express" issue, I'd be interested.

We use Magical Express, but retrieve our bags from baggage claim and take them on the bus with us. I've had too many non-Disney trips where a checked bag decides to take a little side trip without me and would prefer to deal with the airline right away if needed. It is always a challenge when arriving on ME at our resort to get Bell Services to come and assist with bags [they never automatically do, and at some resorts due to layout the issue is worse than others; e.g. WL you are going up stairs]. Our room is never ready on arrival, so bags go into storage with Bell Services for at least a few hours. We've never been allowed to use the luggage carts ourselves. It would be disappointing to be required to pay a delivery fee for luggage, too. And yes, we would still tip -- bags are heavy and we have enough they get to put their Tetris skills to use.

SW

 

[Starwind]

Packages were quite some time ago though and we ordered packages, not groceries and we were told that package fees were waived for DVC members staying on points, so is it the same for grocery delivery fees?

Yeah, the packages fee started ~December 2017 [they started right around our trip, which was then]. I didn't realize the package fee was waived for DVC members on points, I thought it applied to everyone.

Sorry, no idea re: the grocery fee. Perhaps contact Member Services and ask them directly ?

SW

 

[cmwade77]

DVC resorts are also charging the fee now.

Hmm, I will have to go through our contracts to see if they are allowed to do so or not, but I don't believe this is allowed.

 

[Starwind]

RE: carts. Dizzy Dolphin's post had numerous replies from current guests that they were not allowed to use a cart from Bell Services and that guests are not allowed to use those carts. I'm not sure if that's entirely true (we've never asked to use one).

We've asked to use the carts ourselves [at Deluxe resorts] on previous trips and been told no, but that Bell Services would be happy to help us.

Now, at WL in particular I can totally understand due to that insane ramp.... ;-) But yeah, the Dizzy Dolphin responses are quire a mix of people having been allowed and not allowed at various resorts.

SW

 

[cmwade77]

We've asked to use the carts ourselves [at Deluxe resorts] on previous trips and been told no, but that Bell Services would be happy to help us.

Now, at WL in particular I can totally understand due to that insane ramp.... ;-) But yeah, the Dizzy Dolphin responses are quire a mix of people having been allowed and not allowed at various resorts.

SW

You shouldn't ever be allowed to use carts at any hotel with bell services, as they are the tools of their trade, it would be like going to a repair shop and asking the mechanic to use his tools for free to work on your car. So, I can understand why people would be told no in that case.

 

[Sparkly]

I'm not surprised Disney charges with the sheer amount of groceries and packages that must be delivered by Bell Services. You can pay more then $6 here to get your shopping delivered from a online store, let alone Disney.

 

[cmwade77]

I'm not surprised Disney charges with the sheer amount of groceries and packages that must be delivered by Bell Services. You can pay more then $6 here to get your shopping delivered from a online store, let alone Disney.

Who would pay to get groceries delivered? Amazon, Vons/Albertson's, Kroeger (and all variants) and several others all deliver for free with a minimum purchase. And many more through Instacart and Google Express offer free delivery as well.

 

[EdnaMarieMode]

@EdnaMarieMode I don't think the fee is unreasonable for delivering to the room (my orders last year were pretty huge and took at least one luggage cart). But I think all the stroller companies deliver to bell services. I would think that those companies would build in those fees to their contracts to be preferred vendors.

I agree completely- a family looking to have a stroller, a crib (I realize Disney supplies pack n plays and sometimes has cribs but there are some who prefer to rent elsewhere), and groceries *could* be looking at $18 in charges (in theory- we won't really know until we hear more about the specifics).

 

[Sparkly]

Who would pay to get groceries delivered? Amazon, Vons/Albertson's, Kroeger (and all variants) and several others all deliver for free with a minimum purchase. And many more through Instacart and Google Express offer free delivery as well.

Not here they don't offer free delivery. It's often like £2-4 depending on when you want it delivered, plus a extra £4 if you spend under a certain amount.

 

[Starwind]

You shouldn't ever be allowed to use carts at any hotel with bell services, as they are the tools of their trade, it would be like going to a repair shop and asking the mechanic to use his tools for free to work on your car. So, I can understand why people would be told no in that case.

I don't have a problem with not being able to use the carts ourselves. I do wish they would be more responsive to guest needs though -- e.g. when the Magical Express or Disney Cruise Line bus arrives, they might want to actually come over and see if there is anyone arriving who, you know, **needs assistance** instead of the guest having to make the trek all the way over to the valet/Bell Services desk, wait in line, and ask for help, never once being OFFERED assistance, which is what has happened to us each of our stays. We are fortunate there are two of us, so one can guard the bags, but it is frustrating and not a good way to start one's stay.

If assistance isn't being actively offered, I may as well ask if I can borrow the cart and do it myself.

SW

 

[saskdw]

I hadn't seen that and was referencing the article linked above. It'll be interesting to see if they now lump "bell services" in with "front desk" (which they could be, even though they are technically different functions). If anyone onsite could provide actual experience that would help. The articles I've seen also specifically mention strollers, gifts, and cribs- none of which are usually left with the front desk but instead are left with bell services.

I have already seen many comments here about how people will no longer tip because of the charge. That's unfortunate and I do wonder how long it will be before Disney raises the fee to cover that. I can't understand how $6 is such a problem that anyone would take a few dollars of tip money away from the CM delivering the items.

The only real known solutions are: go to the store yourself and bring items to your room (so no Disney involvement), or don't have items delivered. Anything else is just speculation due to yet another inconsistent rollout of information.

RE: carts. Dizzy Dolphin's post had numerous replies from current guests that they were not allowed to use a cart from Bell Services and that guests are not allowed to use those carts. I'm not sure if that's entirely true (we've never asked to use one).

I will still tip.

However I can see the point of people who say they will no longer tip. It's not $6.

When I order from Garden Grocer there is a delivery fee. Than I tip the GG staff. Now there is a delivery fee at WDW, Than you have to tip the bellman.

That's 2 delivery fee's and 2 tips to get $100 of groceries delivered. There will be people that draw a line in the sand.

 

[TinkFan74]

I am a DVC member who often gets food delivered, and this seems like a reasonable fee to me, I will gladly pay it on my next trip.

 

[cruisin5]

I don't have a problem with not being able to use the carts ourselves. I do wish they would be more responsive to guest needs though -- e.g. when the Magical Express or Disney Cruise Line bus arrives, they might want to actually come over and see if there is anyone arriving who, you know, **needs assistance** instead of the guest having to make the trek all the way over to the valet/Bell Services desk, wait in line, and ask for help, never once being OFFERED assistance, which is what has happened to us each of our stays. We are fortunate there are two of us, so one can guard the bags, but it is frustrating and not a good way to start one's stay.

If assistance isn't being actively offered, I may as well ask if I can borrow the cart and do it myself.

SW

This is where Disney has gone downhill over the years. When arriving by car we used to be swarmed by people opening car doors and offering luggage assistance. Now, you have to seek and ask for assistance. (Same for arrival by DME).


I don't take this to mean they are charging to deliver the luggage and groceries and water and strollers that you left with Bell Services or that they transferred from during a split stay. They are charging for items delivered by a third party that you want to be brought to your room.

 

[Starwind]

Who would pay to get groceries delivered? Amazon, Vons/Albertson's, Kroeger (and all variants) and several others all deliver for free with a minimum purchase. And many more through Instacart and Google Express offer free delivery as well.

Depends where you live.

Here we don't have Amazon Prime Now - the best Amazon Prime has is next day delivery for some non-perishables. Walmart Grocery is a pickup service, not delivery. Only one of the major grocery chains delivers, it uses Instacart, it is same day, and there is a $5.99 to $3.99 delivery fee on orders >$35 -- though your first delivery is free and sometimes they will run a special that gets you free delivery after that. Prices are higher than in store and no coupons, promotions, or discounts apply. With that same grocer you can also "click and collect" and order directly via the store's website [not instacart] and pick up your order, but there is a $10 delivery fee [waived for first month of service]. Costco does have have a 2 day non-perishables grocery delivery service, which is free with a minimum $75 order.

SW

 

[SharonZ]

Honestly I would pay the $6 and still tip accordingly. I can't imagine the amount of food and groceries that bell services stores and delivers these days. It would cost you more in cab/Uber fare to pick it up yourself and haul it back to your room.

 

[Starwind]

This is where Disney has gone downhill over the years. When arriving by car we used to be swarmed by people opening car doors and offering luggage assistance. Now, you have to seek and ask for assistance. (Same for arrival by DME).


I don't take this to mean they are charging to deliver the luggage and groceries and water and strollers that you left with Bell Services or that they transferred from during a split stay. They are charging for items delivered by a third party that you want to be brought to your room.

Agreed re: decline in service; one of many examples.

And I hope you are correct re: only affecting things delivered by 3rd parties.

SW

 

[fla4fun]

When a hotel charges a delivery charge for room service, we always still tip the person delivering our food. Why is this any different than someone delivering our groceries when there is a delivery charge? IMHO, tip the delivery person.

We don’t automatically tip for room service above the fee. We read the breakdown of the fee to see if gratuities are listed, and if so, what the amount is. Most hotels we have ordered room service from have included a gratuity of 18-20%, so we do not tip on top of that. If it lists no gratuity at all or a very small amount, then we tip extra to bring it up to the 18-20% range. This information is usually provided right on the room service menu.

The typical tip for bell services is 1-2 dollars per item, so if the CM is getting $1 of the delivery fee and it’s just one package, I feel it’s OK not to tip extra, although it’s certainly a personal choice. However, more than one package and I would be tipping extra for each additional bag/box just as I tip for each piece of luggage.

 

[Disneypro1]

We'll just carry our own stuff. No fuss no muss....no tips no issues. The way we always have.
Keep it simple.

 

[Farro]

We'll just carry our own stuff. No fuss no muss....no tips no issues. The way we always have.
Keep it simple.

That doesn't work if your room isn't ready and you need to store your luggage with bell services.

Although I truly don't believe this policy applies to that situation.