Do you tip the housekeeper?

[NAS]

We are staying at the Coronado Springs for nine nights in March (yipee!). We, sorry to say, don't usually tip the housekeeper at any hotel although we've never stayed this long in one place before. It appears from this site and others that most people do tip while in WDW. It sounds like the housekeepers that get tipped go above and beyond their duties. Is that always the case? Do you tip and what have your experiences been either way? Thanks!

[Impatient Disney Fan]

Funny thing...before I read these boards it never crossed my mind to tip the housekeeping...I guess I thought it was their job and they already get paid to do it :). But I guess you can say the same for a waitress or bartender! Regardless...we tipped our maid at CBR in June...she did a very nice job even on the day we forgot (oops! we did make up for it the next day). She didn't do anything that I would call "special" though. And we did have plenty of toys and stuffed animals around. I think it depends on the maid, not the tip

Faith

May 1992 FW Home
June 2000 CBR
April 2001 CSR!!

[WishUponAStar]

rarely do i even use the housekeeping. i shower at night so the sheets are clean when i get in bed, spend only minimal time in the room anyway so there is not much mess except for our dirty clothes which should not be a housekeepers job anyway. so instead of giving them a tip i give them less work for the same money. just keep your do not disturb sign up and they will usually drop off more towels, soap, etc. anyway. also not crazy about people being in my room with my stuff (yes i lock valuables in the safe) does anyone else not use housekeeping?

[Beverly Lynn]

actually before reading these boards I never tipped either. and I can't say that I really care to either. if I am staying in a room that i scosting me over 200 a night I think that housekeeping should be included in that rate. if they go and do something special for me then yes I can see the tipping but if they are just replacing my towels and making the beds then no I don't see any reason for tipping when they are getting paid to do this(and yes it is more than a waitress) and I don't think that people should be made to fell bad or be put down for not doing it either.

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Beverly

[jaccceee]

My DD has already decorated and wrote housekeeper on the envelopes that will hold their tips. BTW I heard they don't change the sheets daily any more. I'm OK with that.

[Disneydenise]

I have slways tipped the mousekeeping. Our room is always immaculate and our sheets are fresh and lovely. I am happy to have someone else picking up the towels and tidding for the stay.

[ZerasPride]

I agree with DisneyDenise! You couldn't pay me (any amount) to pick up after other people. It is a service I really appreciate and I show my appreciation to the housekeeper (or mousekeeper as the case may be) by tipping an appropriate amount based on whether it is DH and I alone or we are traveling with our son.

We have had occasions where our stuffed animals have been displayed in funny positions or hidden in the room when we returned from a hard day of playing at the parks and have even received written thank you notes from mousekeeping before. There have also been times when the tips have been taken and nothing out of the ordinary was done. But we don't tip in the hopes of having something special done - its just to say thanks, your efforts are appreciated!

Lisa

CBR - 10/98
BC - 10/98
BC - 6/00
GF - 9/00
Dolphin - 6/01

[peppersugar]

If you do tip the housekeeping how much is appropriate? Is is appropriate only if you really make a lot of mess in the room or even if you just basically sleep and shower there?

[Disneydenise]

I tip a dollar per person per day. I would advise you to leave the tip each day as houskeeping may change during your stay.

[Lynn CC]

I do tip the housekeeping. They really work hard to keep the rooms clean. They don't get paid very much. I feel they really need the extra money, and it must "make their day" when they get tips!

I always ask for a lot of special requests on the first day. I leave a note with what I will need daily,with $10.00.
My requests are always more than met each day. I again leave money each morning if the job is well done.(it usually is).....usually $3-$4 a day.
We sometimes get to meet the maid during our stay, if they are nice I usually buy them a gift to leave in the room on check-out day.

I know it's a little extreme, but we like to tip well in the housekeeping and restaruant dept :D

I hope everyone leaves atleast $1 a night in their rooms, if they are aware that the maids do really appreciate the tip.

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[jctwizzer]

here is what the Service Directory at Old Key West has to say about tipping "...it is customary to tip the following positions for exceptional service: bartender, bell services, cocktail server,food and beverage server and valet parker"

Since I'm sitting in room 28xx typing this, it is fairly up to date. IMO, any tipping over and above that set out is up to the individual

[fkj2]

I am not consistent about tipping housekeeping but I did tip at the Contemporary last Spring. We had a wonderful housekeeping maid, who was more than willing to accommodate some special requests that we had; we had to use the handicapped rooms for my arthritic mom. Anyhow, we would get to chatting with her and she was so sweet. I'm never good at knowing what to tip, but since there were four of us (two juveniles) I would give her $5 a day. She was so appreciative and I'm not sure which of us enjoyed her getting that little extra the most. The day she was off, our room was horrible. I gave the $5 that day to her as well, because she had twice the work to do when she came back. Another poster had mentioned the cost of the Disney rooms; that certainly isn't filtered down to the staff as far as I could see. I understand every $ matters when a trip to Dis is planned but when a housekeeping maid works hard to make your room enjoyable, a couple of $$$ a day isn't much to show your appreciation

[Gretel]

Nope............

[SamSam]

I generally tip a dollar a day per person in the room. So when it's just dh and I, I tip $2 a day.
We barely mess the room up, so I feel that's enough. The housekeeping staff does a great job and I like to let them know I appreciate the job they do.

[deno2]

if the housekeeper has a good job with the room. As a Motel owner, I see this issue from a the other side. We do not expect our guest to subsidize our housekeepers wages through tips, but we do expect our staff to always go above and beyond and we pay them accordingly. Because of our standards and theirs, they usually do get tipped well.
So, when we stay someplace, I always tip for a job well done. I clean rooms about once a month and know what hard work it is. It's so nice to feel that a guest really appreciates all of your efforts. Just adding my 2 cents!
deno

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[dianeschlicht]

I do notice more hotels have little beg sheets for maids to encourage tipping, but my husbands business discourages them from tipping housekeeping. When you tip a wait person or any service individual, it should be for performance. Since there should be standard performance practices for preparing a room, and if it is clean (as it should be), there is no way to know if this was an "above the call" performance or not. I guess I am of the school that says this is their job and not a personal service job like a waiter. Besides, I have stayed in many hotels where instead of waiting for you to leave a tip, they help themselves to something of yours in the room! :(

Disneydiane

[travelcoupons]

Here's the way I feel...
If we tip housekeeping that cleans up after us, shouldn't we tip the custodians at our childrens schools who chase around cleaning up after our kids?
Same difference, isn't it?

That's why I don't.


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[Bob NC]

I have yet to hear a convincing reason that housekeepers should be tipped. The logic most folks use in determining that housekeeping should be a tipped position would also dictate that you should tip almost everyone you come across in the course of a day. The hourly workers down at the drugstore keep the store clean and the shelves neatly stocked for my shopping pleasure. Should I slip them a few bucks? The service that cleans my office does a pretty good job. Do they deserve a gratuity be tossed their way? Waitpeople/valets/bartenders, etc. ARE paid less because tips are customarily given to them and I have no problem with that, and I tip them very well.
I have seen posts where folks say the "rule" is to tip 1 or 2 dollars per person per day, and I think some guilt is being tossed towards the non-tippers. Having said all that...lol....I have tipped housekeeping before, but only when I have asked for something above and beyond the housekeepers normal job.

[SusanD]

I also tip housekeeping. It is something that I have done since college. This is not just something that happens at WDW but is a common practice whenever staying at hotels.

[TinkerTell]

After reading what everybody had to say about tipping "mousekeeping" on this board, I tipped them on our last visit. But my problem with this practice is that they are not considered to be "tipped employees" so nobody is looking for them to pay taxes on this income. It is simply not the nature of the housekeeping position.

Waiters/waitresses make less than minimum wage because of the expectation that gratuity will more than make up the difference, but the IRS insists that they report this money as income. If they don't, they are allocated tips based on either the gross sales per individual for the year (if they track it - most do) or per the restaurant for the year (to be divided amongst all tipped employees). Evidently, the IRS expects to see at least 8% of sales reported as additional income by the tipped employees. Been there, done that.

That said, you should not be expected to automatically tip housekeeping. If they want a job where their performance is consistently recognized/rated by a gratuity system, they can go wait tables. If their wages are too low, Disney should address that issue. I feel like they are simply doing their job. If, however, somebody goes above and beyond to meet special requests, then tip them.

[n2mm]

I don't tip. Housekeeping makes the same salary as other resort employees, especially the folks picking up the trays from guests' tables in the food courts, or the guy outside sweeping up cigarette butts around the lounge/bars/pools, or the folks emptying the trash cans. These folks do a wonderful job at keeping the parks and resorts clean and no one seems to care if they are getting tipped. Why would you tip the person getting paid to keep you room straightened and doing a great job just like the majority of Disney Housekeeping Employees do, whether they are in your room or in the lobby. I guess I'm not staying at the right resort. I've only stayed at all values, all moderates, and WL and I've never had my sheets changed daily, actually management told me that they change the sheets every 3 days, but I could dispute that on many stays and a few calls to the front desk.

[fkj2]

I read one of the more recent posts and I think that some of the differences of opinion arise from the word "automatically". I'm not saying one should "automatically" tip the housekeeper, but I've walked past some rooms in which they are working and I wouldn't want a week to try and straighten up some of them, let alone 1/2 hour. My personal experience was that our housekeeping maid not only cleaned the room but organized our stuff to make it more "liveable". Many people go on vacation and throw their clothes and shoes and souveniers everywhere in the room and expect housekeeping to make the room presentable every day.

[pdzabe]

Wow! I was quite surprised that most people addressing the issue of tipping housekeeping don't tip. The reason I tip housekeeping, especially when the room is kept exceptionally clean, is so that the staff is reinforced with the idea that people appreciate a clean, fresh room, beds and bathroom when they are away from their own home. Some housekeepers are better than others and really keep the rooms immaculate! They should be tipped to keep up the good work. You can't compare it to other types of jobs because you are likely to be returning to that same room night after night. If a waiter, busboy, hairdresser, etc. doesn't do the job right, believe me you won't be going back there.

[kbeverina]

I do tip, but not because I feel obligated to. I leave the room pretty neat, always have everything picked up, always make up the beds, hang the towels over the shower rod, etc. But when I walk in the room after a long day, it just feels like a whole new room and at that moment I appreciate the work that was done there. Tipping is a way to say thank you, well worth the $30 or so when I'm spending thousands on the vacation as a whole. It gives me peace of mind that I'm able to say thanks because I normally don't see anyone from housekeeping face to face.

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2/00 Swan
12/01 BWI/Poly Concierge

[f-LORI-da]

It's refreshing to see so many people who don't tip. Personally, I think it's a racket. What will the next tipped position be? :rolleyes: I wonder if I could work that into my job, too LOL. As someone else said, I too, wouldn't want the job.... that's why I'm not a housekeeper. It's a choice. :)

[noel]

We just got back on Wed of this week and tipped the housekeeper $5.00/day at both the Poly and AS Movies. Our rooms were immaculate, especially at at the Poly when we checked in, and was kept up very nicely during our visit, so I was more than happy to leave a tip for her.

'95 Lodge/Contemporary
'96 Lodge/AS Music
'99 Caribbean (March)
'99 Dolphin Concierge(Dec)
'00 AS Sports & Lodge
<font color=#990033>January 2001
AS Movies & Poly</font>

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[Lynn CC]

We are leaving in 10 days and now I'm going to have to tip double to make up for all the non-tippers LOL :rolleyes:

I like to tip them just for the fact that it makes me feel good to put a little sunshine in someone else's day. That's all

I even give the paper boys or girls a tip, the one's who hawk papers at major intersections. I already get the paper delivered and don't buy a paper from them,.......

but it's nice to see their face when you give them a tip without buying a paper. They are so appreciative!

I know I'm not the only one who does these random acts of tipping :D

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[eva]

I like to tip housekeeping at most hotels I go to. I feel that they really appreciate it. Most every time I get fantastic service. I feel that extra buck or two is well worth the extras (soaps, shampoos, coffee, ect.)I receive. One time I tipped $2 at a Hilton and asked that housekeeping leave only regular coffee and she left me enough coffee for a month stay plus a nice little note. I guess that I like to be pampered so I tip.

[Disneydenise]

They must think we are slobs at the resorts and I guess that is why we never got a cute little towel pool because I think that the best part of staying at a hotel is that I can go out without making the bed. I hate to make the bed. such a little thing and I hate it. So that is why I tip also the bathroom cleanup each morning after 4 people is such a soggy mess. I wish all of you people lived at my house because maybe then my family would start to pick up alittle. Maybe they should live a tip for me. :)

[Patti PB]

because of where I live.

I wonder if non-tippers do so across the board? Do you not tip your waiters/resses, hairdressers, nail person? Cleaning and straightening a room where my family is "living" even temporarily, is way more personal, IMO, than delivering pancakes to my kids at IHOP, or dropping us off at the airport in a cab.

One statement was made that housekeeping at WDW makes the same hourly wage as every other resort employee. Can someone verify this, because it certainly isn't the case here! Housekeeping is considered a tip job and wages are adjusted accordingly. There is a discrepancy between front desk wages and GRA (guest room attendant) wages.

There was also a comment about the IRS and tips not being taxed, and I wonder if any Florida resident can verify that information. Here in Vegas casino/hotel tip jobs are taxed according to IRS Regs right out of your paycheck.

My tipping practices have changed in the five years I've lived in Vegas since I understand the system much more clearly, but I ONLY tip for good to exceptional service. I never advocate tipping for mediocre service, but I've never gotten mediocre service from housekeeping at WDW. I wonder if people who don't tip housekeeping have ever "stiffed" a waiter who served the wrong entree, cold, or a hairdresser who cut your hair so badly you had it redone several days later.

Patti

[Lewisc]

Patti--I tip housekeeping, however if you read the resort booklet houskeeping is not listed as a postion that Disney suggests tipping. Disney pays housekeeping enought so that not leaving a tip is not considered the same as stiffing a waiter, bellhop etc.

[shirleyb]

Patti-
I consider myself a pretty good tipper, but why would I tip a hairdresser who cut my hair so badly I needed to have it recut? Isn't that the idea behind a tip? To thank someone for a job well done?

As far as WDW, I think tipping the housekeeping is a nice idea. They are very pleasant in my experience, and help to make my stay a great one.

Shirley

Shirley

CBR Jan 2000
Next Trip Jan 2002 Where to stay?

[Patti PB]

Does anyone know exactly how much Disney housekeepers make versus front desk personnel or the food court people? I'd be curious to know. I just checked the "Resort Guest Answer Book" and couldn't find the list of who you should tip. I can't remember exactly, but wasn't there an envelope left on the table each night? If so, that is a clear indication that it is a tip position.

Shirley - My point was that I personally wouldn't tip someone who gave bad service, but I know people who will tip someone who they think "should" be tipped regardless of the job they do.

It's an interesting topic---really no right or wrong.

Patti

[big dadda]

I have never been before. I thought after reading some of these replies, that I should tip. I will be staying at the PO. Does mousekeeping do that much at this ressort since it is a moderate? I would love to leave notes for the mousekeeper to do special surprises for my kids, but I was not sure if this would really happen or not. I thought maybe that you had to stay at the deluxe resort to get special treatment like surprises.

I would love to hear a response.

[2badcats]

Unless we receive poor housekeeping service, my husband and I always tip, either when travelling for pleasure or business. Not a lot, just a couple bucks for each night. Especially at WDW, where 99% of the time they do a great job and take time to "arrange" my kids stuffed friends (we've stayed at CR, DxL, CBR & ASMo and experienced equal treatment at all).

As someone said above, I enjoy not keeping house on my vacation so whoever picks up after us deserves a little extra. Also, if you leave a mess anywhere (food court, etc.) don't you always leave a little something for the person who cleans up

[Kaa]

It has been reported several times before that housekeeping at WDW is paid at least minimum wage (full minimum wage) if not more for their work. Whether that matches the wages of the front desk staff, I don't know. I think that tipping the housekeeping staff at WDW is a highly personal matter. It has been my experience that tipping at WDW does not necessarily get you the towel creations or toy arrangements, but it has happened on occasion. It is not just at deluxe resorts, as I have had this happen at value and moderate resorts. If you leave a note for the housekeeper asking for specific surprises, I would definitely leave compensation for that. Disney does not leave an envelope in the room to facilitate tipping the housekeeper and I have seen the list of recommended employees to tip in the resort newsletter given out when you check into a resort and housekeepers are not on that list.

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Tammy aka Kaa
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[DixieDreamer]

I tip $2 per person per night (so for the three of us it is $6 a day). I do this anytime I stay at a hotel for anymore than one day (sorry I don't get the benefit of seeing the clean room when I am just overnighting!). I know this is a minimum wage job, and not everyone has the ability to choose to work in more lucrative positions. I am grateful for those who do this kind of work and make my life more pleasant. If it were me and I had to do that kind of hard manual labor - I know the burden would be lighter if I knew it were appreciated. Tipping is a personal choice. I choose to be generous because I have found that you reap what you sow. Generosity and kindness have a way of finding their way home to you. I never "expect" it, but it does happen.

Because part of the tip is to acknowledge the housekeepers - we also do the tip envelopes complete with different clip art for each day. If the service was poor - I would not hesitate to note the problem on the envelope and withhold future tips if not resolved... but by and large I have NEVER had that experience at WDW or DisneyLand.

We do everything in our power to plan ahead of time to cover these kinds of costs (they do add up). One way we do this is to make the tip envelopes up way in advance and stuff dollar bill change at the end of each week into them. Surprisingly this adds up very fast and make the cost painless. I wouldn't feel right not tipping.

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[MalificentMe]

I always try to tip the housekeeper if they do a nice job. We have all stayed at places where the room condition is less than perfect and the housekeeping is inadiquate. When we go to a place where the room is tidy and soap and towels are replaced at a reasonalble time we thank them by a small tip about 10dollars or so for a week. I don't know if this amount is an insult to them or not but that is what we do. :rolleyes: