tipping for luggage

[sunflowerfields]

How does the tipping for luggage work? Okay, first time I tip will be when we get on the first plane in KC. I'm sure of that, but exactly who do I hand the tip to? Then I thought next would be at Disney when we get there, but how does that work since they may deliver the bags to our room when we are not there? Then, when we leave Disney, we take our luggage down to the bus area and somebody will handle it to the airport from there? So we would tip there, but who do we hand the tip to? I feel really stupid asking, but I don't know and I am so nervous I can't even think straight. We leave Monday morning and I am trying to have envelopes with the correct amount of money in them ready. Is any of my thinking correct? Thank you for any help. (I asked early on about tipping in general and got great information, I am just confused about how to do the luggage.)

 

[dmunsil]

The rule of thumb is $1-2 per bag for everyone who moves your luggage. The amount varies based on your generosity, how big/heavy the bags are, how pleasant they are to deal with, etc. Some people only count large suitcases and don't tip for small attaches, purses, etc. I count all the bags, but y'know, it's really up to you.

You do not necessarily need to tip anyone when you get on the plane if you check your bags the normal way at the counter; those people are not tipped. Only if you use the courtesy bag check at the curbside do you tip.

If you're using Disney's Magical Express, you don't tip anyone if your bags are being handled automatically via the yellow luggage tags. They pre-tip everyone who would normally be tipped.

If you are carrying your own bags to the bus, and the driver has to load/unload your bags into the cargo hold, you tip him when he takes your bags out, but not when they go in.

If you have bell services carry your bags to your room, you tip. If they bring your bags to your room automatically from Magical Express, there's no need to tip if you aren't there, but if they come while you're there, I usually tip. Technically they're already tipped, but I'm sure it's not what you'd call a "generous" tip, so I throw in an extra few bucks.

Coming back, if you use the Disney resort airline check-in service, I believe there's no need to tip, though I'm sure they would accept a tip.

Keep in mind that you can tip openly, ask for change, etc. They're happy to get the money. There's no need to be cool or fold up the money or anything. If you have a 20 and you need to tip a bellhop for 6 bags, say, "Can you break a 20?" They always carry a lot of small bills, so the answer will be "Sure!". Maybe you figure for these 6 bags, $10 is a good amount. Say, "Just give me back 10." They will take your $20, give you back $10, smile and ask if you need anything else. It's super easy.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Inbound (arrival day):

At your home airport:

If you use curbside check-in, a tip to the skycap is customary when the skycap hands your boarding passes and baggage claim receipts to you.

If you check in with an airline counter agent, you do not tip -- even though the airline counter agent performs the same functions as the curbside skycap.

In either case, be sure to attach your yellow Disney's Magical Express (DME) baggage routing tags to any bags that you check.​

At WDW:

If a DME driver has stored your carry-on bags in the luggage hold of your DME motorcoach, a tip to the driver is appropriate when he or she returns your bags to you upon arrival at your WDW resort hotel.

If your carry-ons are just personal items that you can keep with you on the motorcoach, you should not feel an obligation to tip. If the driver is exceptionally pleasant or provides personal service, you might choose to tip anyway.

You do not need to tip when bell services brings your bags to your room. Disney takes care or the compensation for the bell services CM when DME is used as designed. Chances are you won't be in your room when the bags are delivered.​

Outbound (departure day):

At WDW:

If you use Resort Airline Check-in (RAC) to check your bags and obtain your boarding passes, a tip is customary. Think of RAC as curbside check-in, except that the curb is 20 miles from the airport.

If a DME driver has stored any of your bags in the luggage hold of your DME motorcoach, a tip to the driver is appropriate when he or she returns your bags to you at the airport.​

In addition, if you use the services of porters at your home airport, porters at Orlando Airport, bell services CMs at WDW to assist you (beyond the basic inbound delivery of your yellow-tagged bags), the bell desk to hold your bags until your room is ready, the bell desk to hold your bags until your outbound DME motorcoach pick-up time, or other services that require additional handling of your bags, tips are usually expected.

Using DME transportation and baggage transfers, and handling your own bags at other times, you can minimize how much you need to budget for tips.

As far as the amount is concerned, start with the "$1-$3 per bag" rule of thumb. Then consider the friendliness and helpfulness of person helping you. If I use a skycap service, I typically tip a $5 bill regardless of whether I check one, two, or three bags. The amount of work is essentially the same for the skycap. I will go higher for exceptional device. I would consider going lower if the service is marginal, but I usually find skycaps to be pleasant (after all, they rely on tips).

There is no need for envelopes.

 

[sunflowerfields]

thanks so much for these answers. I'm feeling calmer just having some rules of thumb to go by. Trying new things when your older is pretty stressful! Hopefully the next trip we won't need so much help!

 

[dansamy]

Well, I probably made a bell services cast member's day, provided he actually received what I left him. I put $60 in an envelope with his name & left it at concierge because I had no cash when we checked in. (I rarely carry cash. DH fusses at me all the time about it.) We had 6 pieces of luggage & assorted grocery bags.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Well, I probably made a bell services cast member's day, provided he actually received what I left him. I put $60 in an envelope with his name & left it at concierge because I had no cash when we checked in. (I rarely carry cash. DH fusses at me all the time about it.) We had 6 pieces of luggage & assorted grocery bags.

Wow - you tipped far too much (unless you are a celebrity or a millionaire, ). $10-15 would have been plenty.

 

[dansamy]

Wow - you tipped far too much (unless you are a celebrity or a millionaire, ). $10-15 would have been plenty.

It was guilt! I didn't have cash, so I had to leave it with concierge after I got cash.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Wow - you tipped far too much (unless you are a celebrity or a millionaire, ). $10-15 would have been plenty.

Yeah, I would LOVE to be a fly on the wall when my sister's boss cruises on the Fantasy at Christmas! He hates Disney but this is a one time deal for the grandkids. He is used to chartering an entire yacht for his vacation. When he tips, it's at least a $20 and often a $50 or $100. He'll be apalled at the 'suggested' tip amounts! LOL! There are gonna be some happy CMs on that cruise!!
My sister says he'll tip someone just for opening the door for him! Geez!! LOL!

 

[n2mm]

Just wanted to repeat, that Disney Resort Airline Checkin (RAC) for departure day, IS a tipped position. As mentioned, this is "curb side service" (the same as at the airport). This is one place I generally tip extra because it's one of the best services offered (IMHO). I generally tip $2 per bag, unless I only have 2 bags, then I tip $5 for the 2. These folks are not cast members. Tips are accepted and pooled for these folks. I love not having to drag my suitcases to the airport and then stand in my airline line and check these bags. Being able to drop your bags off and not see them again until you get to your home airport is wonderful.