Tipping Magical Express driver?

[Disney Ron]

I don't want to start a war, but I wonder what's the thought on tipping the ME driver? The times we have used ME the driver had to handle some things for us and stored them under the bus and we always tipped. We haven't used ME in 7 years, because we always rent a car, but this trip our 6 and 8 year olds want to ride ME and use nothing but Disney Transportation for our stay starting Friday. We will not have a single item for the driver to handle so my question is, would you tip or not? Honestly I'm leaning toward not tipping, but I just wanted other thoughts.

TIA!!!

 

[minnie mum]

We have only tipped if they had to handle our luggage. I don't tip city bus drivers or park bus drivers, so why would I tip the ME driver just for driving?

 

[Alesia]

You should absolutely tip anyone who handles your bags.

If the driver doesn't handle your bags it is completely up to you. I wouldn't tip unless they did something extraordinary.

 

[goofy4tink]

I've done it all different ways. If the driver stows my bag, I tip. If the driver 'asks', in some fashion, for a tip, then I cut the tip in half! I refuse to tip after being asked to.
On the other hand, I've had no bags stowed but had a great experience, and tipped the driver.
It all depends on what happens.

 

[DebbieB]

If he made the trip enjoyable, I give him a couple bucks. I haven't had someone ask for a tip, but if they did, I would not tip.

 

[afyoung]

I have debated this in my mind. We are arriving past the magical hour of using the luggage service provided by ME and will have to claim our own baggage. I have been budgeting tip money for my trip because I don't want to carry a bunch of cash, and figured I would need to keep some for the ME. I have been known to ask drivers of shuttles if tipping is customary for them. Some say...oh only if you want to, and others have said no. I always tip both of those because I feel they are being honst. If someone states up front verbally (as opposed to a tip jar on display) that they expect a tip, or holds out their hand, then I tend to tip but less than I would have if they hadn't "asked" for one. Even bartenders use tip jars, so I don't feel that is actually asking, but more so answering questions like ours.

 

[kwdw]

If the bus driver helps me with a bag, I tip. If I just get on and off the bus, I don't tip.

 

[MrPTato]

I only tipped once as they never handle our bags. It was our first time on ME and the driver warned us, slowed down, lifted his sun visor and allowed us to take pictures of the arch before entering WDW. Listening to other on the bus, not many drivers will do that. I thought it was a nice touch.

 

[VikingInMouseEars]

My rule of thumb is for both ME and airport parking lot shuttles, if the driver loads my bags they get $1 per bag.

 

[Lillian Gracey]

DH and I tipped the ME driver a couple of bucks for handling our luggage during our last trip. We wouldn't tip otherwise.