Do you guys tip your mousekeepers?

[G8r4evr]

I'm curious about something from the posters who don't tip mousekeeping because they aren't "tipped" positions being paid a sub minimum wage. If you travel to California do you tip your restaurant servers? California has no sub-minimum wage and pays its servers minimum or better. It is still custormary to tip here even though servers are paid by the same rules as everyone else. I'm curious how non-tippers of non-tipped position feel about that?

If wait staff in California is clearly defined as an untipped position, no I wouldnt leave a tip. Unless someone goes above and beyond, the only time I feel the need to tip is when the person providing the service is paid below minimum wage.

 

[G8r4evr]

Minimum wage in Florida is now $6.79. Mousekeepers have salaried, union positions that start around $11.50 an hour. Don't encourage the myth that mousekeepers are like indentured slaves - they are probably thrilled to have a good union job. Tipping is okay, but Disney doesn't want anyone to HAVE to tip housekeeping to get good service. You're supposed to get good housekeeping regardless.

WOW. I graduated from college with a 4 yr degree in 2002 and was hired in (my field of study) at $10.20 that year....there certainly werent any tips for me. Looks like I may have gone into the wrong field.

 

[clownfish1452]

We had this same thing happen with our mousekeeper at the AKL! We came back to see my sister's clothes drawer looking 'messed up' with my DD8's baby Stitch looking as if he had done it. Unfortunately I didn't take a picture of it. Another day we came back to see Stitch controlling the remote and all of her plushes watching TV.

I usually tip $5 per day for mousekeeping but that's just my personal preference. My daughter likes to decorate the envelopes. Our mousekeepers always seem to have our rooom looking so nice and take the time out to pose my DD's plush Disney babies and other plushes she's bought from the parks. One day we had the DND sign on the door and didn't leave our room until late afternoon. We came back to find out we'd been given 'turndown service' without even asking.

And before anyone mentions this may be partial to deluxe resorts, we tipped at Pop and they did an awesome job. We didn't get towel animals but they arranged all of my daughter's 'plushes'.

Like you said I dont know if it was cause of the tips, but no matter what it is a very nice surprise when you come in from a long day at the parks. I dont know why I just feel lucky to have the surprise and my sister felt the same way.

Sarah

 

[kimsuenew]

We are tipping daily this trip (we did a large lump sum on our last day for our 2007 trip, but in hindsight realized we more than likely did not have the same mousekeeper daily).

We are decorating envelopes and leaving $3.00 a day ($1.00 per person in our room) UNLESS we have an exceptional room (eg towel animals or room decorated) and then we will tip $5.00+.

We always "clean" our rooms before leaving every day and keep them very organized and tidy, however I appreciate a clean RR and sink and the re-stocking of supplies!

The mousekeepers probably do very well when tips are counted in, but it is such a "ugh" job (I mean who really wants (not me) to clean oodles of toilets, sinks, and tubs every day... bless their hearts). As Disney does not consider this a tipping position, they are paid at least minimum and up. If we all tip at least a little I am sure it helps to bring a minimum wage job up to at least a fair wage one!

 

[Br'er Soap]

Whether mousekeeping is a "tipped position" or not, they still deserve one if they did a good job. I don't tip because I have to, I tip because they deserve it!

Same thing with restaurants...if the waitress/waiter did a bad job, they get no tip. If they do an adequate job, 15%, if they do a great job, 18-20% and so on.

 

[G8r4evr]

The mousekeepers probably do very well when tips are counted in, but it is such a "ugh" job (I mean who really wants (not me) to clean oodles of toilets, sinks, and tubs every day... bless their hearts). As Disney does not consider this a tipping position, they are paid at least minimum and up. If we all tip at least a little I am sure it helps to bring a minimum wage job up to at least a fair wage one!

Im not sure how accurate it is, but another poster above stated mousekeepers are paid above minimum wage. Either way, there are tons of undesirable jobs out there that pay employees minimum wage and are not tipped. My thinking is if you tip one position (Mousekeeping) you should tip all of them...I mean really, where should you draw the line?

 

[G8r4evr]

Whether mousekeeping is a "tipped position" or not, they still deserve one if they did a good job. I don't tip because I have to, I tip because they deserve it!

Same thing with restaurants...if the waitress/waiter did a bad job, they get no tip. If they do an adequate job, 15%, if they do a great job, 18-20% and so on.

So does everyone who provides you a service receive a tip? (ie your mechanic, the clerk who folded your clothes and bagged them at the mall, your dental hygeniest...I mean really, I fail to see where to draw the line. IMO, Mousekeepers are doing their job and they are paid by Disney (partly through your room rate) to do so.

 

[JB2K]

If we all tip at least a little I am sure it helps to bring a minimum wage job up to at least a fair wage one!

kimsuenew - what part of this earlier post did you miss??????????

Minimum wage in Florida is now $6.79. Mousekeepers have salaried, union positions that start around $11.50 an hour. Don't encourage the myth that mousekeepers are like indentured slaves - they are probably thrilled to have a good union job.

Let's do some math - mousekeeper makes at least $11.50 an hour - probably makes (at least) that much more an hour in tips from those feeling inclined to do so.

If mousekeepers are making $25 an hour, and less than half of that $$ is non-reportable to the IRS, I want that job (or at the very least, to work the "East Coast Wing" of the resort).

Seriously, I am beginning to understand this is most likely an East Coast thing. I recalled getting in an argument with a lady (when I lived in New Jersey, several years ago) who tipped her gas station attendant, which struck me as surreal, given that full service was the law in that state.

Back to the spirit of the OP...I am more likely to pay attention to replies from "gardenia" and others who are much closer to the source year-round, rather than the rest of us, who make the occassional annual journey...

As for me, if any housekeeper starts expecting tips for routine services, I'll gently remind them that I live a thousand miles west of Disney...

 

[G8r4evr]

kimsuenew - what part of this earlier post did you miss??????????



Let's do some math - mousekeeper makes at least $11.50 an hour - probably makes (at least) that much more an hour in tips from those feeling inclined to do so.

If mousekeepers are making $25 an hour, and less than half of that $$ is non-reportable to the IRS, I want that job (or at the very least, to work the "East Coast Wing" of the resort).

Seriously, I am beginning to understand this is most likely an East Coast thing. I recalled getting in an argument with a lady (when I lived in New Jersey, several years ago) who tipped her gas station attendant, which struck me as surreal, given that full service was the law in that state.

Back to the spirit of the OP...I am more likely to pay attention to replies from "gardenia" and others who are much closer to the source year-round, rather than the rest of us, who make the occassional annual journey...

As for me, if any housekeeper starts expecting tips for routine services, I'll gently remind them that I live a thousand miles west of Disney...

If it makes you feel any better, I was born, raised and still live in Florida and I do not feel compelled to tip Mousekeeping.

 

[Sugardimples]

According to the current Disney contract, Housekeepers earn between $7.75 and $12.15 per hour.

Also, please don't tip just because you want towel animals. You might not get them and then feel you were short-changed. Not every housekeeper makes them and they are a nice surprise when they are in your room. You're not buying them with your tip.

 

[JB2K]

If it makes you feel any better, I was born, raised and still live in Florida and I do not feel compelled to tip Mousekeeping.

Guess I should clarify...when I said "East Coast thing", I was speaking of those states in the Mid-Atlantic region and points north.

Once upon a time, I, too, lived in Florida, and from what I recall, no "locals" I knew was tipping housekeeping services for the routine stuff...

I'm really trying not to pick on particular states -- honest!

 

[carmie3377]

So does everyone who provides you a service receive a tip? (ie your mechanic, the clerk who folded your clothes and bagged them at the mall, your dental hygeniest...I mean really, I fail to see where to draw the line. IMO, Mousekeepers are doing their job and they are paid by Disney (partly through your room rate) to do so.

I agree completely! I provided customer service at bank. I NEVER expected a tip and no one ever expected to tip us. I was salaried at less than mousekeeping per hour and I have a college degree. Guess I could have spent that $30,000 on better things! Anyway, tipping is way out of hand. Tipping the mailman (those guys make good money!) or tipping the trashman (they make more than teachers in some states!)??? I tip servers in restaurants and hairstylists (if they don't own their salon), but that's about it. If we provided a tip for everyone that performs customer service, we'd be tipping more than we make!

 

[mpbs]

Since there is 4 in my family, I tip $4 aday. If I ask for something special I leave $6. I write a thank you note daily too.

 

[Gillian]

We are tipping daily this trip (we did a large lump sum on our last day for our 2007 trip, but in hindsight realized we more than likely did not have the same mousekeeper daily).

The mousekeepers probably do very well when tips are counted in, but it is such a "ugh" job (I mean who really wants (not me) to clean oodles of toilets, sinks, and tubs every day... bless their hearts). As Disney does not consider this a tipping position, they are paid at least minimum and up. If we all tip at least a little I am sure it helps to bring a minimum wage job up to at least a fair wage one!

I know we had at least 2 different people cleaning our room last trip. We just happened to be at the parks less and noticed these things.

I agree with the "ugh" factor! We're neater at hotels than at home, but they still have to clean the sinks, toilet, dirty towels, etc. It's physical, sometimes icky work.

So does everyone who provides you a service receive a tip? (ie your mechanic, the clerk who folded your clothes and bagged them at the mall, your dental hygeniest...I mean really, I fail to see where to draw the line. IMO, Mousekeepers are doing their job and they are paid by Disney (partly through your room rate) to do so.

Mechanics & hygienists are paid well. Better than $12/hr. The clerks I see for maybe 5 minutes so that's not really relevant. Cleaning a hotel room by yourself takes quite a while. If they do 2 an hour and one family tips, that's only adding $5 to their hourly wage. The housekeepers have other jobs (ie prep work) that won't earn a tip.

It's certainly not worth arguing about. I don't care if anyone else tips. We tip because we want to. And when I see a difference in the level of service received and the attitude of the staff then it's worth it. If we don't, or if we're not around to see it, I'll tip anyway because I think it's a tough job.

 

[G8r4evr]

Guess I should clarify...when I said "East Coast thing", I was speaking of those states in the Mid-Atlantic region and points north.

Once upon a time, I, too, lived in Florida, and from what I recall, no "locals" I knew was tipping housekeeping services for the routine stuff...

I'm really trying not to pick on patricular states -- honest!

I didnt feel that you were picking at all. Im just happy to read that Im not the only one who fdoesnt feel morally obligated to tip Mousekeeping. =-)

 

[G8r4evr]

I agree completely! I provided customer service at bank. I NEVER expected a tip and no one ever expected to tip us. I was salaried at less than mousekeeping per hour and I have a college degree. Guess I could have spent that $30,000 on better things! Anyway, tipping is way out of hand. Tipping the mailman (those guys make good money!) or tipping the trashman (they make more than teachers in some states!)??? I tip servers in restaurants and hairstylists (if they don't own their salon), but that's about it. If we provided a tip for everyone that performs customer service, we'd be tipping more than we make!

I couldnt agree more. I provide a service to patients at a hospital and with a college degree I was not making $12 an hour. I sure didnt see anyone feeling sorry for me or offering up any tips.

For the most part, servers and my hair stylist are the only ones who get a tip from me.

 

[G8r4evr]

I know we had at least 2 different people cleaning our room last trip. We just happened to be at the parks less and noticed these things.

I agree with the "ugh" factor! We're neater at hotels than at home, but they still have to clean the sinks, toilet, dirty towels, etc. It's physical, sometimes icky work.


Mechanics & hygienists are paid well. Better than $12/hr. The clerks I see for maybe 5 minutes so that's not really relevant. Cleaning a hotel room by yourself takes quite a while. If they do 2 an hour and one family tips, that's only adding $5 to their hourly wage. The housekeepers have other jobs (ie prep work) that won't earn a tip.

It's certainly not worth arguing about. I don't care if anyone else tips. We tip because we want to. And when I see a difference in the level of service received and the attitude of the staff then it's worth it. If we don't, or if we're not around to see it, I'll tip anyway because I think it's a tough job.

If I see a clerk for 5 minutes, that is 5 minutes more than I see my Mousekeeper on any given trip. Frankly, the only time I have ever seen a Mousekeeper is out in the hall, chatting it up with other Mousekeepers. I cant speak for mechanics, but I do know hygeniest who started out making less than $12 an hour. I agree, it is not worth arguing over. I just happen to believe that I pay Disney top dollar to stay at their hotels and it should be their responsibility to compensate their staff fairly, not mine. But then again, maybe Im just bitter because I have never once received a towel animal.

 

[ElizabethB]

I'd be more relaxed about it, but DH is a committed tipper! So, for us, it's $7-8 per day for a one-bedroom villa with two guests plus another $5-$6 per night for turndown service!

And, we don't even care about towel animals!

 

[RoosMomKanga]

Yep, We always leave $1/day/per person. Just got back from a trip without the kids, so I forgot to make envelopes. I just left the mousekeepers tent card (In your room when you arrive; has your mousekeepers name on it) ontop the bills on the bed.

 

[JB2K]

I didnt feel that you were picking at all. Im just happy to read that Im not the only one who feel morally obligated to tip Mousekeeping. )

Same here -- with all this tipping going-on around here, I was beginning to feel a little Scrooge-esque.

Instead, I now feel...validated.

And now, someone out there in DISland is talking about tipping the mailman???? Just in case anyone forgot, postal employees are civil servants who do quite well (financially speaking), on their own. Unbelievable!

Seriously, my last word on this subject is tipping any hotel housekeeping operation (i.e., mousekeeping) should always be the exception (e.g., extenuating circumstances) -- never the norm!