First off, I continue to love this site, second, Tipping Magical Express?

[Hazyworld]

Hi there,

For people that have used Magical Express for luggage anbd shuttle to the hotel and back, did you tip and if so, how much? I only ask because I know some things tipping is oncluded and since I did a package I was not sure if this was as well. Can anyone elighten me please? I usually tip anyways however my wife hates it when I do when not needed heh. So I guess I am wondering if I need to tip the driver of the Magical Express shuttle as well as the person who brings the luggage to my hotel door. (is that how they do it or do they just call you down to the desk when luggage arrives?)

Thanks all. I really love this site, so much info, so little time to read it all!!

I leave in 2 days, Thursday morning the 26 - 31st! Lots of Wonderful packed disney fun! I even prayed to the no line gods for this trip, however they told me "yeahhhhhhh right it is Memorial day and you are screwed"

 

[SnowWhite5669]

From what I gather the drivers and baggage handlers are not allowed to take a tip but if they could I would tip at least a $1 a bag and per person. Have fun!!

 

[JPVonDrake]

Hi there,

For people that have used Magical Express for luggage anbd shuttle to the hotel and back, did you tip and if so, how much? I only ask because I know some things tipping is oncluded and since I did a package I was not sure if this was as well. Can anyone elighten me please? I usually tip anyways however my wife hates it when I do when not needed heh. So I guess I am wondering if I need to tip the driver of the Magical Express shuttle as well as the person who brings the luggage to my hotel door. (is that how they do it or do they just call you down to the desk when luggage arrives?)

Thanks all. I really love this site, so much info, so little time to read it all!!

I leave in 2 days, Thursday morning the 26 - 31st! Lots of Wonderful packed disney fun! I even prayed to the no line gods for this trip, however they told me "yeahhhhhhh right it is Memorial day and you are screwed"

Please do not tip your DME driver. If your driver displays a gratuity sign or is soliciting gratuities in any way, please notify Disney's Magical Express Guest Services at 1-866-599-0591 as this is a violation of Disney's contract with Mears.

An automatic gratuity is included for Bell Services for the delivery of your luggage to your room upon arrival, since in most cases, your luggage will be delivered before you get to your room.

Gratuities are not included if you elect to utilize Bell Services for assistance with their luggage from your room to the motor coach pick-up area upon departure. Common gratuities is about $1-2 per bag, and is completely optional.

Hope this helps! :sohappy:

 

[Hazyworld]

Great, thanks! I was not sure if included with Magical Express or not, now I know This is like the Disneybible!

Thanks again both of ya

 

[TURKEY]

Just so you know, even though gratuity is included in the service, no one at the value resorts see any unless you give it directly to them, as the value resorts aren't considered bell services.

 

[WhenYouWish]

Oooooh...thanks for asking this, Hazyworld! I was just wondering about it myself, as we'll be using the service for the first time in July. Thanks to JPVonDrake, too, for the info!

 

[Scrump]

Interesting. We came home yesterday, and when we got off the bus, I wasn't sure if I should tip or not, but the driver was standing by the door with a big wad of bills in her hand, so I gave her $1 (we only had one bag). She just said thank you, she didn't try to give it back or anything.

Wasn't sure what the protocol on that was either. Thanks!

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Please do not tip your DME driver. If your driver displays a gratuity sign or is soliciting gratuities in any way, please notify Disney's Magical Express Guest Services at 1-866-599-0591 as this is a violation of Disney's contract with Mears.

An automatic gratuity is included for Bell Services for the delivery of your luggage to your room upon arrival, since in most cases, your luggage will be delivered before you get to your room.

Gratuities are not included if you elect to utilize Bell Services for assistance with their luggage from your room to the motor coach pick-up area upon departure. Common gratuities is about $1-2 per bag, and is completely optional.

Comprehensive update - thanks

 

[ypcat]

An automatic gratuity is included for Bell Services for the delivery of your luggage to your room upon arrival, since in most cases, your luggage will be delivered before you get to your room.

This is great to know. I wondered about this since usually you aren't there for delivery.

 

[Dwarful]

hey JP, thanks for the info. We didn't tip for our drive to the resort, and tipping was the last thing my husband was thinking about when they were banging on our door at 220am to deliver our luggage. On our trip back to the airport however, the slightly rude bus driver had a big sign up pretty much asking for tips, which I felt was wrong. Then when we got off the bus he was out there counting out his money and people were handing him cash. We didn't as the service that day was so bad and we were running so late to our flight that tipping was a priority for us. But I will let Disney know, I know our bus ride date and time and we left directly from Pop to the airport.

 

[Becky]

. On our trip back to the airport however, the slightly rude bus driver had a big sign up pretty much asking for tips, and we left directly from Pop to the airport.

Our (very nice) airport return driver had a large commerically made sign facing the aisle as you got off with his name on it and "Gratuities Appreciated".

 

[Dwarful]

Thats exactly what ours had as well, so maybe this is something that Disney needs to address. Especially since the drop off area is located where you still have quite a way to schlep your luggage, is the tip for the man to remove the bags from the bus? Many on our bus did that for themselves as we were all running for our flights. Many of us were left off the 12:10 bus and had to wait for the 12:40 bus which left Pop closer to 12:50

 

[JPVonDrake]

Thats exactly what ours had as well, so maybe this is something that Disney needs to address. Especially since the drop off area is located where you still have quite a way to schlep your luggage, is the tip for the man to remove the bags from the bus? Many on our bus did that for themselves as we were all running for our flights. Many of us were left off the 12:10 bus and had to wait for the 12:40 bus which left Pop closer to 12:50

To aid Disney in addressing the "Mears" issues, please feel free to report your driver for displaying or requesting tips, rude behavior, showing non-Disney movies, etc. by contacting Guest Comunications after your trip. Also, any positive feedback (especially for those hard working castmembers at the Airport) is always greatly apprciated!

To contact Guest Comunications:

Walt Disney World
Guest Communications
P.O. Box 10040
Lake Buena Vista FL 32830-0040

wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com

Please always include your name, address, e-mail address and a daytime phone number and Disney will always respond to your comments. (Due to the volume that they receive, they will send an acknowledgement in about a week, then a full responce in about 1 to 2 months.)

:sohappy:

 

[AEfx]

Please do not tip your DME driver. If your driver displays a gratuity sign or is soliciting gratuities in any way, please notify Disney's Magical Express Guest Services at 1-866-599-0591 as this is a violation of Disney's contract with Mears.

Are you positive about this, JP? I'm sure you are, but I am just checking.

From MCO to WDW I took an "offical" magical express bus and there was a sign attached above the driver seat (not just taped up, but attached to the bus) saying gratuities are appriciated.

On the way back they had to send a Mears bus because of overbooking ME, and there was also one.

I know for a fact there was one on the first "offical" bus because the person I was traveling with and I debated about it until we saw the sign.

This was a couple of weeks ago - perhaps they have removed them now. But I'm positive it was there.

AEfx

 

[wannabeBelle]

Please do not tip your DME driver. If your driver displays a gratuity sign or is soliciting gratuities in any way, please notify Disney's Magical Express Guest Services at 1-866-599-0591 as this is a violation of Disney's contract with Mears.

An automatic gratuity is included for Bell Services for the delivery of your luggage to your room upon arrival, since in most cases, your luggage will be delivered before you get to your room.

Gratuities are not included if you elect to utilize Bell Services for assistance with their luggage from your room to the motor coach pick-up area upon departure. Common gratuities is about $1-2 per bag, and is completely optional.

Hope this helps! :sohappy:

As per usual JP you are wonderful!!!! Thanks for the number which I will be using as my driver on the return trip of DME was displaying the sign that they had previously had in all of the Mears busses indicating that tips are welcome! I Am sure by now you read my review of the service and the return trip bus driver I had was just appalling. I predict that Disney will soon be taking over the hirig and training of the drivers as well to eliminate that sort of nonsense. Belle

 

[JPVonDrake]

Are you positive about this, JP? I'm sure you are, but I am just checking.

From MCO to WDW I took an "offical" magical express bus and there was a sign attached above the driver seat (not just taped up, but attached to the bus) saying gratuities are appriciated.

On the way back they had to send a Mears bus because of overbooking ME, and there was also one.

I know for a fact there was one on the first "offical" bus because the person I was traveling with and I debated about it until we saw the sign.

This was a couple of weeks ago - perhaps they have removed them now. But I'm positive it was there.

AEfx

According to the SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) the displaying or soliciting of gratuities is not allowed by Mears Drivers.

 

[dme_driver]

Please do not tip your DME driver. If your driver displays a gratuity sign or is soliciting gratuities in any way, please notify Disney's Magical Express Guest Services at 1-866-599-0591 as this is a violation of Disney's contract with Mears.

An automatic gratuity is included for Bell Services for the delivery of your luggage to your room upon arrival, since in most cases, your luggage will be delivered before you get to your room.

Gratuities are not included if you elect to utilize Bell Services for assistance with their luggage from your room to the motor coach pick-up area upon departure. Common gratuities is about $1-2 per bag, and is completely optional.

Hope this helps! :sohappy:

and why wouldnt people be ALLOWED to tip? hate to say this folks but tipping IS allowed tipping is allowed at all of the resorts....it it mandatory ... no but it is allowed.... if someone has given you good service tip them if and only if you feel like it.

 

[dme_driver]

According to the SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) the displaying or soliciting of gratuities is not allowed by Mears Drivers.

i must have missed the understanding that "gratuties appreciated" is solicitation....

 

[lawyergirl77]

i must have missed the understanding that "gratuties appreciated" is solicitation....

Legally, it would in fact be considered soliciation... If Mears' contract with Disney provides that drivers shouldn't be "soliciting" gratuities, then a sign like that would be in violation of the contract in both letter and spirit.

 

[wannabeBelle]

Legally, it would in fact be considered soliciation... If Mears' contract with Disney provides that drivers shouldn't be "soliciting" gratuities, then a sign like that would be in violation of the contract in both letter and spirit.

Well put there Lawyer Girl!!! I saw that sign as well on my return trip on May 26th and found it to be in bad taste. Gratuities Welcome is a blatant invitation to tip someone as far as I am concerned. Belle