Tipping valet?

[Desnik]

How much do you tip the valet? We will be staying at the BWI and keeping our car in valet for most of the time we are there. So, how much would you tip the valet?

 

[Tiffany]

Originally posted by Desnik
How much do you tip the valet? We will be staying at the BWI and keeping our car in valet for most of the time we are there. So, how much would you tip the valet?

Hi Desnik,

The charge is $6 per day to valet at the Disney deluxe resorts. Tipping is a personal choice. We tip $2 at drop off and pick up but most travel books reconmend to just tip when you are picking up $1 or $2.

Just keep in mind that you are charged the $6 per day even if you do not take your car out on a given day.

Example you arrive on Sun and valet. Your car stays in valet on Mon and then Tue you checkout. You will be billed $6 * 3 = $18 to your room for valet. You generaly tip in cash directly to the person taking care of you.

Hope this helps and have a great trip.

 

[Desnik]

Thanks! I kind of figured around that amount, but I wanted to be sure. We are driving down in our new car and DH says he feels more comfortable with it in valet for the duration of our stay.

 

[BounceyOne]

We usually tip a dollar in and a dollar out ths way everyone gets a tip, not just the 'out' guy (or gal)

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

It really depends. Usually we tip $2 in and out, but if they bring the car up very quickly, they'll get $3. Or, if it is raining and they have to get the car, they'll get $3-4. It all depends on the circumstances (always feel bad sending the valet out in the rain! But, sometimes you've got to get where your going reguardless of the weather!).

 

[Uncleromulus]

Lots of theories on this issue--. As Tiffany says, most travel books recommend tipping $1.00 or $2.00 when you pick up your car. Near as I can determine, that advice is based on the premise that when your car is delivered to you, that is the "end" of the valet service for that event.. getting the car brought to you is the true "service rendered". And it also assumes that the job of parking the car and bringing the car back is "rotated" amomg the valets--often when they park a car, they will drive back with another for some guest to pick up.
That said, I do know that valet tips are not shared by the valets at WDW so being a nice guy in every sense, I tip $2.00 to the guy who parks the car, and $2.00 when the car is returned to me.

 

[shannonandtom]

We usually tip the valet $5.00 for drop off and another for pick-up. Keep in mind, if you have luggage, he is probably taking that out of your car too. The daily charge of $6.00 is very resonable so we don't mind giving the guys a little extra. When I'm in Chicago, I pay $30.00 a day for valet and Disney could probably get that as well but they don't.

Tom...

 

[DC7800]

shannonandtom,
Nice to know I'm not the only one who tips $5.00 at drop off and when picking up the car. They do get all our bags out of the car, and as disorganized as we tend to be after the drive down to WDW that's worth every penny of the tip.

$6.00/day for valet parking is not unreasonable (though free valet parking was a nice perk), but if Disney is going to charge for the service, I'd like to see it extended to the moderate resorts.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Since we stay at OKW, we just park in front of our "home" and that's that. But I was wondering--isn't the person who meets you when you initially arrive (with luggage to be unloaded, etc) actually more of a bellman than a parking valet? I seem to recall when we stayed at the Poly the fellow who unloaded our bags was NOT the valet who eventually parked our car. Instead, he was the same fellow who took our luggage to the room--somebody else parked the car.
And in any event--do you guys tip the "non-luggage" valet the same $5.00?? Like when you just go in/out for dinner, etc?

 

[Desnik]

When we were at the GF in Nov. there was one guy who took our bags out of the car, one who asked if he could valet park our car(we declined and DH parked it in the lot)and then a different guy who took our bags and us to the room. We tipped the guy who took our bags out of the car and all he did was load it on to the cart thing with mine and my DH help, so we only gave him $2, trust me, he should have tipped us! Anyway, the bellhop, took our luggage, waited for us to check in, then drove us around showing us where everything was, took our stuff and us to our room and showed us around and made sure everything was to our liking. We tipped him $10. I do think $5 for just parking a car is alot, am I crazy? We usually tip well and try to be fair, but I think $2-$3 is sufficient if all he/she is doing is parking the car. I would also like to know if those who tip valet $5, do you tip the same for in/out like for dinner?

 

[DC7800]

I would also like to know if those who tip valet $5, do you tip the same for in/out like for dinner

Once arriving in WDW, it's rare for us to move the car until we depart for home, so this has never really been an issue. Yes, if all I'm doing is picking up/droping off the car without any luggage, the tip might best be in the $2-$3 range.

When we were at the GF in Nov. there was one guy who took our bags out of the car, one who asked if he could valet park our car(we declined and DH parked it in the lot)and then a different guy who took our bags and us to the room.

I assumed the same person who removed the luggage also parked the car, now I'm not sure. I know it was the same person several years ago at the Wilderness Lodge, but typically (last summer at the Polynesian) I am inside before the car is moved, so I don't really notice who does the parking. I give the $5 tip to whomever takes my car keys and removes the luggage; and upon leaving I tip $5 to whomever gives me the keys back.

Of course, I also tip the person who takes the bags to/from our room. Last time at the Polynesian, the man who showed us around and delivered the bags to the room was not the same one who removed the luggage from the car (actually, he just happened to be the one who pulled up in the "golf cart" after we were finished with check-in). Perhaps this was unusual (?), but that wasn't my impression.

 

[shannonandtom]

To DC7800 and Desnik,

About the $5.00 tip, we usually never get back in our car until we check-out so we are only tipping the valet twice.

We are a family of four and have about 15 to 20 items that come out of our car. We Tip the valet who parks and unloads the car $5.00. Then the bellhop who takes our luggage to the room and shows us around usually gets $15.00 to $20.00. He will always ask if we need anything before he leaves and I ask for a fridge to keep the kids juice cold. It's usually in our room in about 5 minutes and I never have been charged for it. From what I understand, you are supposed to be charged $10.00 a day. Maybe I'm lucky or maybe it's the $20.00 tip....

Tom

 

[ukcatfan]

If you are worried about theft from your car, valet would not be any different from the self parking. It could even be worse IMHO b/c you have no guarantee the valet locked your doors correctly. There are no limits to accessing the valet lots by foot and the valet lot is not always any closer to the resort.

If you are worried about dings and scratches then I would say yes valet would be better. There would not be as may people getting in and out cars near yours. Everywhere I park, I prefer to park next to an island or on and end so there is only one car beside mine.

 

[Desnik]

ukcatfan
I am worried about dings and scratches as well as some other things. You see my DH has some very expensive things in and on his car(it is going to be used in car shows and magazines, we have multiple tv's and dvd, playstation2, suround sound etc,etc!!) We would feel more comfortable with it in valet.
Thanks to all who responded. I guess we should just tip the valet $5 and ask if he could put it in a "good spot". Thanks again!