Tipping DME

[GrammyJudy]

Does eveyone tip the DME busdriver? How much? I feel awful that we never thought about this before on our last few trips.

 

[dudspizza]

Tipping is included for bell services if you allow DME to deliver your bags. If you take your bags to the DME bus and the driver loads and unloads your bags, a tip is customary. $1 per bag works.

If you feel the driver did an excellent job of driving the bus, you can tip if you feel so inclined, but tipping is not necessary.

 

[ancestry]

I don't tip the driver unless he handles our bags in which case I usually give a $1 per bag or $5 for all of us (usually 3-4 bags).

 

[goofy4tink]

Depends. If I have nothing to stow under the bus, then a tip isn't going to be expected. But, if the driver 'touches' your bag(s), then he/she will be looking for a tip.
Now..with that being said, here are a few of my DME experiences.
1. had a bag that was stowed beneath the bus..carryon size but too big to keep with me on the bus. I had $3 in my pocket for a tip when I got to my resort. BUT..that driver never said hello, welcome to Orlando..nothing. He said nothing when he got on the bus. The only things that came out of his mouth was to announce which resort we were at, and...wait for it...ready??? To tell us that gratuities are always gratefully accepted!! I kid you not. There is a sign, right above the windshield, that states this policy. Nope, that $3 stayed right in my pocket. And the driver had a not so nice expression on his face when he handed over my bag. But I'm sorry, he did nothing to make my bus ride nicer....in fact, he made it worse. He held everyone on the bus until all bags for that resort were taken out.

2. had no carryon bag to stow, only a tote bag that I kept with me. But, this driver was hysterical. He told us little bits of area history, he was funny. He was a safe driver. He was quiet when he should have been...no talking during the video. He was so pleasant and cheerful. He seemed to really enjoy his job. He got a nice $5 tip when I got off the bus. I told him that he had started my WDW stay off incredibly nicely!!


So, you can see that different experiences will have different results. But, long story short..if they touch your bag, they'll look to be tipped. Otherwise, not so much.

 

[PatsMom]

Unless we got a really lousy driver, we tip on the return trip to the airport because we fly Southwest so we've always had bags the driver had to loan and unload. Anywhere from $3 to $5 depending on the driver and how many bags we have.

We don't usually tip on the way to WDW since our bags are delivered directly to the hotel. Of course, if we got a really great, entertaining driver we would reconsider this.

 

[monarchsfan16]

I usually have a couple dollars in my pocket in case the driver is exceptional, but since SW joined RAC, I haven't been tipping. Before SWA joined RAC, I tipped $2 when the driver handed over my (1) bag at the airport. Nowadays, I just have a backpack with me, which I bring onto the bus.