New charge for Bell Service Delivery

[sbd78]

Thanks for the clarification.

When you put it that way though it seems like a tip wouldn't be expected as the $6 is specifically to bring the groceries to the room?

This is what I'm wondering too? Last year we had to meet the delivery guy anyway to show our ID because we had beer and wine in our order. I have no problem carrying the stuff back to my room myself. As long as I'm not charged a fee to carry my own groceries back to my room, I'm o.k. with this. If my order is too big and I need Disney to deliver it, I'll pay the fee.

 

[starry_solo]

Thanks for the clarification.

When you put it that way though it seems like a tip wouldn't be expected as the $6 is specifically to bring the groceries to the room?

Nope. That's a delivery fee which Disney charges and of which, the CM apparently only gets $1.

Think of it like the delivery fee that the pizza place charges

 

[quandrea]

A card is (a) not a package and (b) delivered to the Front Desk, not to Bell Services.

Luggage picked up from your roo. Is not groceries being delivered to your room.

DVD members have always been, and will continue to be, able to go grocery shopping. Nothing in your list of touted note indicates free grocery delivery.

What do you mean by “touted note?”

 

[saskdw]

Nope. That's a delivery fee which Disney charges and of which, the CM apparently only gets $1.

Think of it like the delivery fee that the pizza place charges

I wasn't asking you.

I was asking the person that actually works there to see their response.

 

[vacationer1954]

The real solution is for employees not to work for employers that do this.

The real solution is for consumers who feel that way to refuse to do business with companies that treat employees like that. Vacationers are purchasing a luxury - the employees are earning money to feed their families. You have a choice where to vacation and you even have a choice whether to travel on vacation - low-income employees generally don't have loads of choices of jobs that would treat them better.

 

[vacationer1954]

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]:

Actually, what it says in the image you posted is that the fee is for "handling" - and explicitly says that the fee applies whether the packages are received "or" delivered. That "or" means that the fee isn't for delivery at all, since it is imposed even if the packages are received but not delivered.

 

[vacationer1954]

Except, it does not cost $6 to store stuff for a couple of hours...

It doesn't cost $100 to have me hobble around the park for a day.

People can make whatever excuses they wish for whatever they want to do, of course.

 

[Hopefully]

Many, many guests have large grocery deliveries. Dvc is a timeshare that Disney sold us. They tout the joys of being able to cook in your own kitchen, bake cookies with your kids, drink wine and eat tapas on your balcony. This is the picture they paint in their promotional ads. To then turn around and charge for the service of having your grocery brought to said kitchen is obnoxious.

I totally disagree.
I ama DVC Owner. Disney did NOT promise me grocery delivery.

 

[quandrea]

I totally disagree.
I ama DVC Owner. Disney did NOT promise me grocery delivery.

That’s fine.

 

[Irish_Mike]

Thanks for the clarification.

When you put it that way though it seems like a tip wouldn't be expected as the $6 is specifically to bring the groceries to the room?

I'll put it this way - tips are never expected for any delivery from a bellman, however it's no different than if you stiff a server, bartender, etc.

The other poster is correct in that the bellman only receive $1 of the fee, and you are correct in that it only applies for delivery to the room. Anything extra is what you feel is deserved. I can't tell you how to make that choice.

 

[saskdw]

I'll put it this way - tips are never expected for any delivery from a bellman, however it's no different than if you stiff a server, bartender, etc.

The other poster is correct in that the bellman only receive $1 of the fee, and you are correct in that it only applies for delivery to the room. Anything extra is what you feel is deserved. I can't tell you how to make that choice.

I always tip, it's not me they have to worry about. I was just curious what the Disney and CM take on this was.

It seems that some people will view this as a charge in lieu of a tip because it is specifically for the delivery. I would think that the bellmen are concerned about this.

It certainly could effect the tip amounts. Someone that used to tip $10 might only give $5 now. Or something to that effect. I do believe it will have an impact.

 

[crvetter]

I totally disagree.
I ama DVC Owner. Disney did NOT promise me grocery delivery.

Not saying I'm actually taking a side. However, as a DVC member you do pay for all costs associated with the DVC resort through your dues, presumably that would include bell services. For DVC and Cash Resort combos the split of cost is done by projected occupancy numbers.

For simplicity sake take SSR or OKW, the dues at those resorts supposedly pay for 100% the cost for running the resort. Where these types of fees get concerning as a DVC member is Disney could be double dipping, charging guests the $6 fee and charging DVC members the full cost of Bell Services at the resort. So Disney then gets the Bell Services cost fully covered by you as a DVC member but pockets the $6 as a pure profit. This is explicitly something not allowed since you can only be charged actual costs, this is why you aren't charged for parking costs. This holds true at the DVC/Cash combos but I simply chose the DVC exclusives for simplicity.

However, if Disney offsets the cost what they charge to members for Bell Services by the $6 fees then it is clean, and you'll see that show up on your dues statement likely or a lowering of the Bell Service fees charged. This is done for parking, fees Disney collects on the rooms it rents through breakage show up as income on it. Also if the $6 is pushed as a mandatory "gratuity" then because it goes directly to an employee it wouldn't be offset from your dues.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Friends. Do yall whine when gas goes up and then threaten to not drive? 6 bucks is nothing. That's 2/3 of a decent beer on site. Carry on my wayward son (in the style of Kansas)

 

[snappy]

Not saying I'm actually taking a side. However, as a DVC member you do pay for all costs associated with the DVC resort through your dues, presumably that would include bell services. For DVC and Cash Resort combos the split of cost is done by projected occupancy numbers.

For simplicity sake take SSR or OKW, the dues at those resorts supposedly pay for 100% the cost for running the resort. Where these types of fees get concerning as a DVC member is Disney could be double dipping, charging guests the $6 fee and charging DVC members the full cost of Bell Services at the resort. So Disney then gets the Bell Services cost fully covered by you as a DVC member but pockets the $6 as a pure profit. This is explicitly something not allowed since you can only be charged actual costs, this is why you aren't charged for parking costs. This holds true at the DVC/Cash combos but I simply chose the DVC exclusives for simplicity.

However, if Disney offsets the cost what they charge to members for Bell Services by the $6 fees then it is clean, and you'll see that show up on your dues statement likely or a lowering of the Bell Service fees charged. This is done for parking, fees Disney collects on the rooms it rents through breakage show up as income on it. Also if the $6 is pushed as a mandatory "gratuity" then because it goes directly to an employee it wouldn't be offset from your dues.

Sounds like a good analysis of the effect of this fee on DVC owners.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Some services that Disney provides, like Magic Express or transportation to the parks, don't cost you anything. Other services they provide, like Minnievans, you are charged to use. Same with the package delivery.

 

[Lynne M]

Guys, DVC operations/finances should be discussed on the DVC boards. Let's keep the conversation focused on the non-DVC guests, please.

 

[s.r.disney nut]

Are you serious?

Yes I am! carrying things to a room is the same no matter what it is. And I always tipped quite well when they brought whatever it was to my room or DVC unit!

 

[s.r.disney nut]

Now I use Grocery delivery for one thing. Because of Disney's choice of soda (Coke) I have 2 cases of Diet Pepsi delivered. In the past I lways tipped them $10-$20 dollars for their trouble. If I am charged $6 for delivery they are getting paid for this and right or wrong I will drop my tip to $5-$10 dollars. Under the guise of money for stockholders Disney has just found another way to nickel and dime me. Should this bother me? Maybe not but after spending anywhere from $12K to $26K for a 2 week vacation I do get annoyed by everywhere I look Disney has its hand out.

I agree. I would definitely lower my gratuity to the person delivering to the room if I have to pay the fee.

 

[s.r.disney nut]

When the delivery service makes the delivery to Bell Services and you are not there, where do the groceries go? To a refrigerator or a freezer or both if the groceries need that. Why does Disney need to have freezers and refrigerators at Bell Services? To store all the groceries being delivered by offsite vendors or storing groceries of guests who are having their stuff transferred to a different hotel. In the second case, they need refrigerators and freezers at both ends since nothing is sent to the second resort until later in the afternoon and not delivered to the room until the guest calls to request it be delivered. Disney is now charging guests who do their grocery shopping with offsite vendors for the storage and handling in Bell Service onsite. And groceries aren't easily handled like luggage. It might be in bags, open boxes, whatever the delivery service uses. So, tip the person bringing you your groceries from Bell Services and pay the storage fee. If $6 is going to break your budget, you need to stay home.

It won't break my budget, but Disney always has it's hand out for more. If they didn't have such high prices for their grocery service, maybe more people would use it.

 

[skippytx]

Fee seems reasonable and fair. Won’t change the way I tip the bell services folks either. They work hard to make my vacation easier and I appreciate it