Pleas Help- Do you tip the DME bus driver

[Goofy'slady]

My husband and I are leaving for our couples only trip in 9 days. (both of our 30th b-days and our fith year anniversary) And this will be our first trip using Disney's Magical Express and after reading the tipping thread on another board I don't want to miss tipping someone who should receive a tip just because I though it was "his job" to drive us to our resort. Do most of the DME guest tip the drivers and if so how much?

Thanks,
Toya

 

[ducklite]

Unless the driver assists you with luggage or performs some other service above and beyond giving you a courteous, safe ride in a clean vehicle, there's no reason to tip.

Anne

 

[Disney Ron]

Toya, we always tip the driver.

 

[Microcell]

Five bucks just like the skycap! One is taking care of my precious cargo, and so is the other!

(and mousekeeping)

 

[CarolMN]

We tip only if the driver assists with luggage

 

[pugdog]

According to DME you do not need to tip from MCO to the resort, it is already included. Of course if you have them put some bags under the bus then tip above what DME is already tipping. On the way back to MCO by all means tip them as DME is not tipping the drivers that way.

 

[Lewisc]

The normal tip is $1-$2 for every bag the driver stows under the bus. The DME bus doesn't have space for the larger roller style carry on bags. Those bags wind up under the bus.

 

[Gary M]

I have no baggage on the DME and still tip $5.

 

[OKW Lover]

You're right - his normal job is to drive the bus. That's what he is paid for. Now if he helps with my bags, then I tip a couple of dollars per bag.

 

[clkelley]

We always tip the driver a $5 also, but then we have an ECV that we load under the bus. (They are only allowed under the bus if the passenger can load them, the driver is not supposed to, but the driver always assists us) We also always have a couple of carryons that also goes under the bus.

For the return trip, he gets a $10 as we don't use RAC.

 

[goofy4tink]

I've used DME about 5-6 times now. I tip if they have helped with my bags, but since I usually allow my checked bags to go their separate way, there are no bags for the bus driver to handle.
Now....if the driver has been really fun, and has provided us with some form of entertainment, then I usually give a $5 tip. But, there have been times when the driver may have been entitled to a tip, but has come right out and told us that gratuities are gladly accepted, in addition to the signage right beside the driver's seat!!!! That irks me, so I chose not to hand over a tip. If you ask me for a tip, you will get none.

 

[goinback]

We have used ME only one time. We did not load bags, but our driver was wonderful. He was getting everybody pumped up to be at Disney World the whole ride. When we approached the WDW gate, he did a countdown, and then as we were passing under the gate he said "You are finally here!!" It was such a great ride and he brought us some Disney magic, so we tipped him a 5!

 

[Vickie46]

we always tip the driver 5.00

 

[DisneyHumbug]

I tip, unless they ask for a tip, then they don't get one!!