Tipping on DME?

[DisneyFirefly]

I've never taken DME before. Two of my previous visits were College Programs, and the third was off-site. I know how DME works and all that, but I'm just not sure if you're expected to tip the driver. I've used Mears in the past and always tipped them, but I'm not sure about this.

So, yeah, are you expected to tip for using DME?

TIA!

 

[fireman17]

Yes, I've always have tipped the DME driver. We've always have carryons from the trip and our stroller as well and the driver is the one who will load the bus and unload at your resort.

 

[DisneyFirefly]

Okay, thanks I couldn't find any information anywhere, so I figured I'd ask here. Thanks again!

 

[goofy4tink]

This is how I have handled tipping on my many trips with DME...
IF the driver handles any baggage for me, I tip about $2 per bag.
BUT...if that driver, who handled my bag, actively mentions a tip, then all bets are off. I have had a driver who never said one word, from the time I got on the bus, until we reached the first resort. And that was to inform the passengers that gratuities were always gratefully accepted!!! Now...there is signage at the front of the bus..hard to miss it..that tells you this, there is no need for a driver to tell me. I find that to be offensive.
This driver repeated that same spiel at each resort. My tip money stayed in my pocket.

On the other hand...I had no baggage with me, just my pocketbook, on one DME trip. The driver was friendly and helpful. He welcomed every single person to the bus, and then handed out some very interesting info about the area, as well as about WDW itself. He wasn't obnoxious with a bunch of stupid jokes or such. Just pleasant and fun....all the while driving the bus in a very safe manner.
That driver got a $5 tip from me that day. He really started my vacation off on the right foot!!!

So...as you can see...it's up to you. There are instances where a tip is going to be expected. But..even then, if you got less than wonderful service, you don't need to be handing over tips.

 

[Brian Noble]

In general, if the driver handles bags for you (that go under the bus) a tip would be appropriate. Otherwise, not at all necessary.

 

[MinnieLee]

We always tip the ME driver but it is your decision. We don't have our luggage with us but I would tip a cab driver or a limo driver at home for the service or convenience. When we use Mears to go to US or Seaworld we tip that driver also. Definitely if you have luggage. Yes, there is a sign that says "Gratituties Gladly Accepted" and some drivers do a little extra such as give the "guided" tour or play trivia games. We have never had a driver that that rude and maybe if we came across that we would question our tip.

Again, it is a matter of what you wish to do.

 

[DisneyFirefly]

Okay! Thanks again, all!

 

[Gary M]

I have no luggage that the driver handles, but still tip them $5.

 

[LdnCpl]

It's funny but I find attitudes up here in Canada a lot different regarding tipping. People in the hospitality industry here just don't seem as forthright about their tips. That being said. ..

I tip for good service and that's it. You get my food to me hot and in a timely manner you get a tip. Take forever and cold -not a chance.

Drive me safely to my location, deliver bags, smile and greet me sincerely and do your job and genuinely like what you do, you get a tip. Clean my room and make it feel homey then a tip you shall get

A tip is a reward for a job well done. It is not a regulated daily pay bonus. It should not be expected but should be appreciated.

 

[skiingfast]

I had suspected that a tip was always customary on ME, bage be handled or not.

On one particular trip going from MCO to the world.... When I showed the driver my ME ticket he gestured to another guy standing near the bus door. Later this same "other guy" stepped onto the bus to let us know we would be leaving in a few minutes.

The driver got on and off we went. At the resort the driver got off and stood at the bottom of the stairs where he first opened his mouth. I couldn't understand and asked him what he said. Cash? That was it. Needless to say he didn't get any and this made me reevaluate tipping on ME. The drivers now have to earn a tip.

 

[meachell13]

Are you supposed to tip on the way back to MCO too?

 

[gmeh1]

I watch, on my breaks, the ME busses unload and it astounds me to watch people get off the bus, wait for their bags and walk away without a tip to the driver.
The rides are free, the drivers have gotten you from point a to point b safely, they make very little in the way of hourly wages (they are lucky to have a job in FL, our unemployment rate is about 12%), they are in the service industry. ME has saved you a ton of money, no limo or car rental costs, why not tip them?
The signs and the comments re: tips are for those that really don't have a clue about tipping, they may be on their first trip where the service industry plays a large part in their vacation experience, or they may be from a different country where folks in the service industry make a living wage and tipping is not required.
This is a general statement and certainly not aimed at anyone here on the DIS.

 

[ancestry]

If the driver handles any of our luggage (early morning or late evening flights when we can't use RAC) then I tip him/her several dollars per bag.

I do not tip the driver if there aren't any bags for him/her to handle. Should the driver ever go above and beyond the call of duty for anything when I didn't have bags, I would tip but that hasn't happened yet.

I don't want to derail the thread and turn this into a tipping debate but I, personally, strongly disagree with some of the other posts and opinions here. I'm only sharing this so that the OP knows there are varying opinions and that the OP will need to decide what s/he would like to do regarding tipping.

 

[kristenrice]

This is how I have handled tipping on my many trips with DME...
IF the driver handles any baggage for me, I tip about $2 per bag.
BUT...if that driver, who handled my bag, actively mentions a tip, then all bets are off. I have had a driver who never said one word, from the time I got on the bus, until we reached the first resort. And that was to inform the passengers that gratuities were always gratefully accepted!!! Now...there is signage at the front of the bus..hard to miss it..that tells you this, there is no need for a driver to tell me. I find that to be offensive.
This driver repeated that same spiel at each resort. My tip money stayed in my pocket.

On the other hand...I had no baggage with me, just my pocketbook, on one DME trip. The driver was friendly and helpful. He welcomed every single person to the bus, and then handed out some very interesting info about the area, as well as about WDW itself. He wasn't obnoxious with a bunch of stupid jokes or such. Just pleasant and fun....all the while driving the bus in a very safe manner.
That driver got a $5 tip from me that day. He really started my vacation off on the right foot!!!

So...as you can see...it's up to you. There are instances where a tip is going to be expected. But..even then, if you got less than wonderful service, you don't need to be handing over tips.

I *totally* agree with this! Nothing bothers me more than drivers who actively solicit tips. If you want a tip from me, don't tell me you want one....show me! Provide excellent (heck, I'd settle for satisfactory) service, smile and be pleasant. Don't rub your "I'm-having-a-bad-day" attitude off on me...I'm on vacation. If the only time you acknowledge me is to extend your hand for a tip, you can expect a nice handshake and a polite "Thank you"!

FWIW, I usually tip $1-$2/bag, depending on how many I have. I have no problem tipping for services rendered, but only if it is earned. Are the DME drivers a "tipped position"? I don't think they are so they are earning their paychecks by getting you from point A to point B. If they want additional money, they need to earn it by providing something additional.

 

[Cee]

I always tip $5.

 

[goofy4tink]

I watch, on my breaks, the ME busses unload and it astounds me to watch people get off the bus, wait for their bags and walk away without a tip to the driver.
The rides are free, the drivers have gotten you from point a to point b safely, they make very little in the way of hourly wages (they are lucky to have a job in FL, our unemployment rate is about 12%), they are in the service industry. ME has saved you a ton of money, no limo or car rental costs, why not tip them?
The signs and the comments re: tips are for those that really don't have a clue about tipping, they may be on their first trip where the service industry plays a large part in their vacation experience, or they may be from a different country where folks in the service industry make a living wage and tipping is not required.
This is a general statement and certainly not aimed at anyone here on the DIS.

While I completely understand what you are saying, I have to disagree. All DME literature tells guests that all gratuities have been included. So, the vast majority of guests feel no other tips are needed. BUT....what they fail to understand is that you have to use DME the way it is intended to be used in order not to hand out any other gratuities. If you don't tag your bags, and you bring them to the bus, all bets are off. IF you have a large carryon bag that the driver has to stow, then a tip is expected. Any time a driver touches a bag, he is going to expect a tip.

But, on the other hand....from what I understand, they are making more than minumum wage. If a driver wants a tip from me, he is going to have to do something other than sit there and drive that bus. If he greets me, then is pleasant and personable on the ride to my resort, then I will tip him, even if I don't have a bag that was 'touched'.

So, the problem is actually with Disney. They need to make it known that if you bring bags with you and those bags have to be stowed beneath the bus, then tipping is going to be expected.

 

[twinklebug]

I tip $2 per bag plus $2 per person. Handed our last DME driver a $20 (didn't have ones and I felt the ride was worth it) and you would have thought he won the lottery LOL. Love making people happy when I can on a limited budget - The smile and thanks he gave us in return was a great way to finish the vacation.

 

[gmeh1]

I *totally* agree with this! Nothing bothers me more than drivers who actively solicit tips. If you want a tip from me, don't tell me you want one....show me! Provide excellent (heck, I'd settle for satisfactory) service, smile and be pleasant. Don't rub your "I'm-having-a-bad-day" attitude off on me...I'm on vacation. If the only time you acknowledge me is to extend your hand for a tip, you can expect a nice handshake and a polite "Thank you"!

FWIW, I usually tip $1-$2/bag, depending on how many I have. I have no problem tipping for services rendered, but only if it is earned. Are the DME drivers a "tipped position"? I don't think they are so they are earning their paychecks by getting you from point A to point B. If they want additional money, they need to earn it by providing something additional.

Yes, the bus drivers are considered a tipped position. They work for Mears, not Disney. They don't extend their hand, they stand beside the bus to assist pax off the bus. If you are asking if they work only for tips, then, I would answer "no". They are, however, considered "service industry" employees, just like cabbies and limo drivers.

 

[gmeh1]

While I completely understand what you are saying, I have to disagree. All DME literature tells guests that all gratuities have been included. So, the vast majority of guests feel no other tips are needed. BUT....what they fail to understand is that you have to use DME the way it is intended to be used in order not to hand out any other gratuities. If you don't tag your bags, and you bring them to the bus, all bets are off. IF you have a large carryon bag that the driver has to stow, then a tip is expected. Any time a driver touches a bag, he is going to expect a tip.

But, on the other hand....from what I understand, they are making more than minumum wage. If a driver wants a tip from me, he is going to have to do something other than sit there and drive that bus. If he greets me, then is pleasant and personable on the ride to my resort, then I will tip him, even if I don't have a bag that was 'touched'.

So, the problem is actually with Disney. They need to make it known that if you bring bags with you and those bags have to be stowed beneath the bus, then tipping is going to be expected.

Good points!!! They do make more than min. wage, barely. We don't have unions in this state, hence the reason they fall into the "service industry" category.
I was actually talking about the busses that are bringing people to the airport for their departures. The drivers help the people with the shopping bags, help the kids off the bus, help the ladies and people that need help getting off the bus and get the luggage, strollers, etc. from underneath the bus.
You are totally correct, Disney does need to "inform" the DME and Cruise Line passengers.
I am different, I want the driver to drive, not chatter. I want his/her concentration on the road. I live here, I know what these folks drive like down here. I took ME once(years ago), and they had someone on board running the commentary, showed a film etc. GREAT experience and well worth tipping the driver, safe, efficient, and FREE. I did not have any bags(they were tagged for delivery). Loved that!!!

 

[Charleyann]

It's funny but I find attitudes up here in Canada a lot different regarding tipping. People in the hospitality industry here just don't seem as forthright about their tips. That being said. ..

I tip for good service and that's it. You get my food to me hot and in a timely manner you get a tip. Take forever and cold -not a chance.

Drive me safely to my location, deliver bags, smile and greet me sincerely and do your job and genuinely like what you do, you get a tip. Clean my room and make it feel homey then a tip you shall get

A tip is a reward for a job well done. It is not a regulated daily pay bonus. It should not be expected but should be appreciated.

I fully agree. I find in Disney World, it is expected of you to give tips to everyone to pay their wages....Holy cow, the company is laughing. They pay their employee practically nothing because we pay them in tips whether we get good service or not....

One thing I do dislike about Disney is being nickled and dimed all the time ...

Might as well start tipping ALL Disney Bus drivers and monorail drivers. checkin personel, cleaning staff, maintaince , ticket both operators, etc.... .