Tipping & DME question

[Jenwdwfan]

I'm going to be taking DME for the first time in January and am a little confused about the tipping. It is my understanding that there is no tip necessary for the delivery of my bags, as it would be possible no one will be in the room when they are delivered. It is somehow already included in the service. However, I am arriving late and as I will most definitely be in my room when the bags are delivered, should I be tipping?

As I am not on a Participating Airline for the trip home, I understand if I have Bell services collect my bags from the room I would tip then and again when my bags are pulled from Bell services and put on the bus correct? Do I tip both the Bell service person and the driver or does Bell services load it onto the bus.

Any suggestions and help would be appreciated!!!

Many thanks!

Jen

 

[localdriver]

I'm going to be taking DME for the first time in January and am a little confused about the tipping. It is my understanding that there is no tip necessary for the delivery of my bags, as it would be possible no one will be in the room when they are delivered. It is somehow already included in the service. However, I am arriving late and as I will most definitely be in my room when the bags are delivered, should I be tipping?

As I am not on a Participating Airline for the trip home, I understand if I have Bell services collect my bags from the room I would tip then and again when my bags are pulled from Bell services and put on the bus correct? Do I tip both the Bell service person and the driver or does Bell services load it onto the bus.

Any suggestions and help would be appreciated!!!

Many thanks!

Jen

The driver will load and unload your luggage. It is customary to tip anyone who handles your luggage.

Thanks for asking.

 

[Jenwdwfan]

Thanks for the response. So you are saying I tip the bus driver both ways. What about when the bags arrive in my room?

Thanks!

Jen

 

[seashoreCM]

At check in you do not have to go to your room and wait for the bellhop to arrive with your luggage and tip him. Enjoy yourself right away, head off to the parks, etc.

All other tipping courtesies are the usual normal ones.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/magicx.htm

 

[tmt martins]

Don't tip 1st driver he won't handle your bags they get pulled and truck delivered.Tip bellhop if your in room when they arrive.

Side note if your arriving real late you might want to not use the baggage service they might not arrive until next morning.If you want don't put your yellow tags on retrieve your bags from baggage and then go to ME check-in ( you would then tip driver as he will load bags for you.

on depart yes tip bellhops and ME driver if they both handle bags .

Hope this answers all your ???

 

[CleveRocks]

My opinion on tipping DME drivers:

On arrival, you have no checked luggage, but if you choose to have the driver stow your carry-ons in the luggage bay, you should tip the driver. If you keep your carry-ons with you, I'm sure a tip would be very appreciated but I really don't think it's necessary or even expected. Carry-ons that are too large to fit under your seat or on the overhead shelf MUST be stowed in the luggage bay underneath the bus.

On departure, yes, tip the DME driver, as he/she will be loading and unloading your checked luggage and perhaps your carry-ons as well.

My opinion on tipping Bell Services:

You have it right, the person delivering your bags to your room is already "pre-tipped" by Disney. But as others have said, if you have Bell Services pick up your luggage when you're departing, that person should be tipped. If it's stored for you, I'd also tip the person who gets it out of storage for you (although a very sweet Bell Services CM refused my $10 tip for wheeling out a cart with 12 bags on it, which by the way was suitcases and carry-ons for 6 people). Bell Services will NOT load the luggage onto the bus.

Some advice on timing:

Bell Services may tend to get overwhelmed and overutilized around check-out time, as happened with us. Check-out time is 11:00 a.m. We called for luggage assistance around 10:45 a.m. They told us they were very busy and asked if we were leaving for the airport immediately or if they would be storing our bags. They asked us to simply leave all the bags to be stored INSIDE our room near the door, and to leave a tip, if we desired, on top of the luggage. It made me nervous for a second that we wouldn't have a receipt for the luggage, but my trust in the magic of Disney paid off. At about 3:40 p.m. we asked for our luggage to be brought out of storage to catch our 4:00 p.m. DME bus; it came out about 10 minutes later. So I guess my advice is don't leave any luggage handling until the last minute.

-- Eric

 

[aero99]

Our experience:

When we got into cue for our hotel (AKL), they asked us if we were AKL and immediately loaded us on the bus. We went to CBR and then CSR. We were the only two left on the bus and were a little confused so we moved up to the front row. The driver looked confused after he saw us still on the bus and asked where we were heading. He told us he hadn't been informed of the AKL stop but quickly (and while smiling) said he would take us right there. We didn't have any luggage but tipped him $5 for his pleasant attitude and quickly handling the problems (instead of calling base, figuring out what went wrong, etc...)

On the way back the bus was there when we exited the hotel and we handed our 3 pieces of luggage to the driver who asked which airline. When we got to our stop, on the way out we each tipped him (total about $6). It was a great experience overall and will continue to use ME.

 

[Jenwdwfan]

Thank you to everyone who has replied so far! I believe I've finally gotten a handle on the tipping , but always interested in more input.

Jen