Tipping Valet BCV

[ilovefh]

We are leaving tomorrow and I have a few questions.

1. When we use valet I know it is free...so for tipping do you tip the guy who parks your car or the one who brings it to you or both? How much is customary?

2. Are there hairdryers and irons in the rooms or can they be requested at BCV?

If you can't tell this is my first trip home!

 

[Sammie]

There are hair dryers.

As to valet tipping, some tip only when you have your car brought to you.

We tip going and coming a couple of dollars.

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

I tip both ways .. 2 dollars. I usually tip more if it is raining.

 

[Dean]

The industry standard is to tip on pick up.

 

[Granny]

As Dean pointed out, there are standards for tipping various positions. But many members report that they tip both on drop off and pick up.

It's a personal choice, no right or wrong (unless you don't tip at all!).

 

[JimC]

The norm for tipping valet is one to two dollars when the car is returned, even if the valet parking is free.

 

[canda]

I used to be a valet. 1-2 dollars was the normal tip at pick up. It would even out when you get tipped for bringing up a car that you did not park. It was rare but nice when we would be tipped at drop off. We did not pool tips, I think they do at DVC. I have seen them drop money into a slot at the Valet desk. I have never asked if they pool, that is just my guess.

I call for my car before I leave the room. This will help the valet bring your car up. Sometimes they are busy, and It takes time to run back and forth. If you come down and ask for your car on a busy day, you could be waiting in line.

I would tip a valet 3-5 if they (even when busy) take time to help into the car, greet you by your name, ("have a nice day, Mr. ......")
and any other extra help they may provide.

I keep $2 in my left pocket for standard service, and $4 in my right pocket for better service, like when they remember my name or something. I reach into the pocket for the service I was given.

A valet should never really expect a tip or hold out their hand.
If you do tip, then it is up to you and there is no right or wrong way. You would be surprised at how many people do not tip. I would not complain if people did not tip me, that was their right not to. Some feel that the 5-10 dollars a day to park was enough.

 

[FoxxBoys]

I share this personal insight as a former valet. Whether you are running to get someone's car or running back from having parked someone's car, you're still running - it just depends on which direction you're running. Tipping only when a car is brought around for you is comparable to saying thank you to only one of the people who provided you with a service. Unlike restaurants where servers tip out their bussers or bar staff, valets don't tip out one another. There are many times when the person who parks your car is no longer working when you've come to retrieve it.

Rest assured, the valet who takes your keys and parks your car will appreciate being tipped for the service. Similar to restaurant servers, valets are paid a wage that is significantly less than minimum wage. Valets are not paid a higher wage for the time they spend parking a car. All time is paid less than $3/hour regardless of whether the valet is parking a car or bringing one around.

How can you make sure you're tip is going to the person who parks your car when the entrance/drop off is busy? Ask the valet who gives you the claim ticket for your car if he/she is going to park your car. If someone other than a valet writes the claim slip, this person will give your tip to the valet who parks your car. Generally speaking, if a valet writes your claim slip and takes your keys, he/she will park your car.

Finally, with all due respect, remember exactly how much $2 buys in the grocery store or what percentage of your utility bill this pays. In an eight-hour shift, depending on the location, $2 for every car being brought around is not a lot. If the valet is fortunate enough to park a few cars and be tipped for parking them, the take-home is a little greater. How much do I tip? $5 in and $5 out. For a free service, $10 spent on a gratuity for someone I'm "paying" directly is $10 well spent. If we're checking in with luggage, DH will usually throw in a few extra dollars for having the valet handle our luggage too. In the end, it's what you can afford - and if you're staying at WDW, things probably aren't too tight to spare a few extra dollars.

With the holidays rapidly approaching, tipping a deserving Cast Member (whether a valet, a bellman, a restaurant server, or a housekeeper [though housekeepers are not in tipped positions]) is a great way to share holiday cheer and remember those who make the magic for us.

 

[Pa@okw95]

I tip $5 when the car is brought to me. Tipping when you arrive is just pure nonsense created by WDW valets. You tip when the car is brought to you only. As for $2 I must say even my $5 is getting to be a little short. I have been thinking about increase it to $10.

 

[rward]

Tipping either way is fine as long as you tip. But, I prefer to tip at drop off – usually 5 dollars. I want them to take care of my car. I do tip at pick up also, but not always 5 dollars.

This thread reminds of a visit pre-DVC. We were staying at Contemporary on the MK side. One afternoon I was getting a kick out of watching the Valets run from the pick/drop off area – but as soon as they knew they were out of sight – yep, they stopped running. It was summer and very hot, but I just thought it was kind a funny.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by ilovefh
...(snip)....2. Are there hairdryers and irons in the rooms or can they be requested at BCV?...........

Since it appears no one completely answered this -

There are irons and ironing boards in the room.

Best wishes -

 

[ear_poppin]

I stayed in 7 different hotels on my last trip including BCV and SSR.

I used Bellman at all hotels on entry apart from SSR. I would tip the Bellman $5 as he was also the valet who took the car plus took my bags out of the trunk and stored the luggage.

Plus $5 to the person who brought the bags to the room.

On collection I would give $3 to the valet. We took our own bags out as it was getting rather expensive by then !

Denise

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by FoxxBoys
I share this personal insight as a former valet. Whether you are running to get someone's car or running back from having parked someone's car, you're still running - it just depends on which direction you're running. Tipping only when a car is brought around for you is comparable to saying thank you to only one of the people who provided you with a service. Unlike restaurants where servers tip out their bussers or bar staff, valets don't tip out one another. There are many times when the person who parks your car is no longer working when you've come to retrieve it.

Rest assured, the valet who takes your keys and parks your car will appreciate being tipped for the service. Similar to restaurant servers, valets are paid a wage that is significantly less than minimum wage. Valets are not paid a higher wage for the time they spend parking a car. All time is paid less than $3/hour regardless of whether the valet is parking a car or bringing one around.

How can you make sure you're tip is going to the person who parks your car when the entrance/drop off is busy? Ask the valet who gives you the claim ticket for your car if he/she is going to park your car. If someone other than a valet writes the claim slip, this person will give your tip to the valet who parks your car. Generally speaking, if a valet writes your claim slip and takes your keys, he/she will park your car.

Finally, with all due respect, remember exactly how much $2 buys in the grocery store or what percentage of your utility bill this pays. In an eight-hour shift, depending on the location, $2 for every car being brought around is not a lot. If the valet is fortunate enough to park a few cars and be tipped for parking them, the take-home is a little greater. How much do I tip? $5 in and $5 out. For a free service, $10 spent on a gratuity for someone I'm "paying" directly is $10 well spent. If we're checking in with luggage, DH will usually throw in a few extra dollars for having the valet handle our luggage too. In the end, it's what you can afford - and if you're staying at WDW, things probably aren't too tight to spare a few extra dollars.

As a former valet, I'm sure you know that there are formulas for this process whether it be pooling tips or the idea that one will average about the same number of cars each way. Being a valet isn't meant to be a career job. A starter wage and an average of 4-5 cars each direction per hour should be sufficient to fulfill the expectations of income for the job. A tip is just that, not a guarantee and should not be an expectation. I follow the guidelines and tip for extra or special, as it should be. Others can do what they want and feel comfortable with.

 

[FoxxBoys]

Originally posted by Dean
Being a valet isn't meant to be a career job... ...I follow the guidelines and tip for extra or special, as it should be. Others can do what they want and feel comfortable with.

Indeed, it is not a career job for most. Whether it is for some or not, it's still a job that's meant to support at least one person. Disney valets do not generally pool their tips, and when it comes down to brass tacks, there's no formula for determining how much money you're going to make in a shift. It depends on where you are when someone needs a car brought around or parked - and ultimately what practice of tipping to which the owner subscribes. If you've just left with a car to be parked received from someone who didn't offer a tip and you're in the valet parking lot when the next Guest arrives to pick up a car for which the valet will be tipped, you've missed that opportunity. Four or five cars per hour only holds true for peak periods, depending on the location and is not the rule for the majority of an eight-hour shift. Valets, like other service industry personnel, take such jobs for the money they can make - in tips - by offering a quality service experience for the consumer, because it's most definitely not for the $2+ an hour wage.

Dean, as with your insight offered originally, mine was offered with the same intentions - from the perspective of someone who has held a position as a Disney valet trying to make ends meet through college until the right job (or graduation) came along. Ramen noodles only suffice for so long during slow periods in occupancy and attendance. Individuals who are valets, regardless of where they are in their career paths, have at least one mouth to feed and a household to support.

Some people find it beneficial to have multiple, and sometimes differing, opinions when making a decision for themselves. Ultimately, it is true that tipping is entirely up to the discretion of the tipper and any amount should be based strictly on the service level experienced, and not on a set expectation. The idea of stowing different amounts in different pockets or palms is an excellent one, and a practice I'm going to adopt. Thank you for the idea!

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by FoxxBoys
Indeed, it is not a career job for most. Whether it is for some or not, it's still a job that's meant to support at least one person. Disney valets do not generally pool their tips, and when it comes down to brass tacks, there's no formula for determining how much money you're going to make in a shift. It depends on where you are when someone needs a car brought around or parked - and ultimately what practice of tipping to which the owner subscribes. If you've just left with a car to be parked received from someone who didn't offer a tip and you're in the valet parking lot when the next Guest arrives to pick up a car for which the valet will be tipped, you've missed that opportunity. Four or five cars per hour only holds true for peak periods, depending on the location and is not the rule for the majority of an eight-hour shift. Valets, like other service industry personnel, take such jobs for the money they can make - in tips - by offering a quality service experience for the consumer, because it's most definitely not for the $2+ an hour wage.

Dean, as with your insight offered originally, mine was offered with the same intentions - from the perspective of someone who has held a position as a Disney valet trying to make ends meet through college until the right job (or graduation) came along. Ramen noodles only suffice for so long during slow periods in occupancy and attendance. Individuals who are valets, regardless of where they are in their career paths, have at least one mouth to feed and a household to support.

Some people find it beneficial to have multiple, and sometimes differing, opinions when making a decision for themselves. Ultimately, it is true that tipping is entirely up to the discretion of the tipper and any amount should be based strictly on the service level experienced, and not on a set expectation. The idea of stowing different amounts in different pockets or palms is an excellent one, and a practice I'm going to adopt. Thank you for the idea!

Are you sure you're not still are a valet, LOL. It seems we have vastly differing views on what's reasonable to expect from this type of job. To me it's an entry level position but I guess one can make it what they want to a degree. I do agree, as I've stated, that there are other factors to be taken into account such as special service, raining, bags and the like. Personally I tip based on standards and adjust according, but to be honest, the idea of a tip based pay system is just nuts. What happens is employers simply shift the pay scale accordingly so the tip is now the salary and not a tip at all.