Do you tip Mousekeeping?

[HolidayRoad]

I'm sorry to those that are becoming upset by the people that feel like they are being looked down on for not tipping...but if you feel comfortable that the $6.79 an hour these people are making is plenty and therefore don't deserve anymore money for wiping up your toilet seat after you than it must be a nice little dream world some of you live in. Like was said before, $14,000 a year! Disney says you don't have to tip so you don't. It's funny how a lot of people take the advice of people when it suits them. We tip a few bucks a day, we get those mousekeeping envelopes over on mousesavers.com and the kids pick out and alternate turns which ones they want to leave each day. We actually put the money in before we leave the house so we just toss one on the table before we leave. The kids even have a good time cutting out the envelopes and taping them shut with the money in.
To me it goes further than just tipping these people. How about saying "Good morning" or hello when you pass them in the hall. I don't know how many times I've seen people just walk past these people like they don't exist. They are people.
Let's see $14,000 a year, where do you think they own their DVC?
Keep in mind, you have no problem turning over thousands of dollars to WDW every year you go there, but at $2 or $3 a day maybe $14 -$21 for the week well that's just not necessary.
Justify it anyway you want.

 

[huntconn]

We tip $1 per person in our family per day ($4/day). Only if the housekeeping is satisfactory..we're not picky though. However, I have no interest in telling others what they should or should not do in this matter.

 

[bicker]

But to almost never change, I found it interesting!

It is a bit strange that it started out pretty steady... normally it would oscillate a bit for a while, and then settle down.

 

[GoofyTraci]

We always tip. I think we do it because we're afraid to see the cleaning job each day if we don't.

 

[Princess Michelle]

.

 

[mmmears]

We tip $1 per person in our family per day ($4/day). Only if the housekeeping is satisfactory..we're not picky though. However, I have no interest in telling others what they should or should not do in this matter.

Great comment! It is the same for us, but if we get horrible service (ie. no towels or beds not made) there is no way I would tip. We've always had great housekeeping service at WDW, even before we started tipping. I dont think anyone should feel obligated to tip anyone in a non-tip position if they dont want to, just because one may or may not have more money than the other.

 

[mom-mom2three]

We make up tip envelopes with disney characters on them one for each day of our stay! Just something that we enjoy doing

 

[declansdad]

We do. That is one thing I love about a cruise, they tell you who to tip and what the standard rate is. I love it nice and easy.

Tina

We tipped mousekeeping everyday but doesn't being told who to tip and how much defeat the purpose of tipping?

 

[HolidayRoad]

I say good morning to everyone I encounter in the hallway, housekeeping or otherwise but I don't tip them. Good grief, do you know how many people in Florida make that wage? If I tipped every person because they only make 6.79 an hour I would be broke.

As for cleaning the toilet, it's their job! It's not like they have to do it with their bare hands.

I don't make a lot more than the people who work in these resorts, I don't own DVC, if I'm lucky I'm able to go on a week long vacation once a year, some years I don't get to go on vacation at all. I'm not complaining I just don't see why people feel like the housekeepers are so impoverished when there are plenty of other people working in other jobs making the same money and no one even thinks about tipping them.

If you feel like you should tip then do it, there's nothing wrong with it but why do you have to look down on people who choose not to tip someone who is not working in a tipped position?

Listen I don't want to blow this out of proportion lets just agree to disagree. If you ever get the chance try reading - "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich. You just may be surprised.

 

[declansdad]

we tip $1.00 a person a day
I think the majority of people who go to Disney are nice and polite and then there are those who... well we've all run into those people..

Are you saying that those who do not tip are not nice people?

Sorry if this has been asked but I am just reading throught the thread.

 

[mmmears]

We make up tip envelopes with disney characters on them one for each day of our stay! Just something that we enjoy doing

Oddly enough, my husband really got into this (I am the creative one at home). He even did this on our recent trip (not to WDW) and I think the housekeeping staff were surprised, but thankful. I dont think it is as common for housekeeping (in the US) to get tip envelopes outside "the world."

While I do think the tips are appreciated, I also think that a face-to-face acknowledgment of "thank you" is almost more important.

(For those of you who keep score, we actually received many more towel animals on our earlier trips, when it never occurred to us to tip housekeeping!)

 

[bicker]

Since there is no right and wrong with regard to this issue, saying that "those who do not tip are not nice people" is just like saying "those who believe in Judaism are not nice people". I truly hope that we're not seeing people judging other people in that manner.

 

[DizzDoll]

Tipping the Mousekeepers is at one's own personal discretion. Some people do, some don't, some tip a lot, some not a lot, but it's the individual's choice. There's no right and there's no wrong. It's discretionary. Just as it's discretionary for the Mousekeepers to TAKE the tips. Some do and some don't. If you would like to tip by all means do. If it makes your day, and someone else happy, then that's a good thing.

 

[LovinDisneyWorld]

We were just at WDW for a week and we tipped our Mousekeeper. I think they should get tips. Yes, it is their job, but why do we tip valet drivers or waiters and waitresses or bartenders or taxi drivers?? OUr MK was excellent, our room was always clean and she left our little one's animals everyday and our kids enjoyed coming back to our room everyday to see what was left for them. I guess it is at your own discretion.

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

We were just at WDW for a week and we tipped our Mousekeeper. I think they should get tips. Yes, it is their job, but why do we tip valet drivers or waiters and waitresses or bartenders or taxi drivers?? OUr MK was excellent, our room was always clean and she left our little one's animals everyday and our kids enjoyed coming back to our room everyday to see what was left for them. I guess it is at your own discretion.

I think it has been shown, that those positions are tipping positions and they make much less than minimum wage...that is why.

 

[declansdad]

To me it goes further than just tipping these people. How about saying "Good morning" or hello when you pass them in the hall. I don't know how many times I've seen people just walk past these people like they don't exist. They are people.

I believe that Disney has a policy where cast members are suppose to acknowledge guests. At least they used to.

 

[declansdad]

Tipping the Mousekeepers is at one's own personal discretion. Some people do, some don't, some tip a lot, some not a lot, but it's the individual's choice. There's no right and there's no wrong. It's discretionary. Just as it's discretionary for the Mousekeepers to TAKE the tips. Some do and some don't. If you would like to tip by all means do. If it makes your day, and someone else happy, then that's a good thing.

Tipping anyone should be at your own personal discretion.

 

[Island Mouse]

I say good morning to everyone I encounter in the hallway, housekeeping or otherwise but I don't tip them. Good grief, do you know how many people in Florida make that wage? If I tipped every person because they only make 6.79 an hour I would be broke.

As for cleaning the toilet, it's their job! It's not like they have to do it with their bare hands.

I don't make a lot more than the people who work in these resorts, I don't own DVC, if I'm lucky I'm able to go on a week long vacation once a year, some years I don't get to go on vacation at all. I'm not complaining I just don't see why people feel like the housekeepers are so impoverished when there are plenty of other people working in other jobs making the same money and no one even thinks about tipping them.

If you feel like you should tip then do it, there's nothing wrong with it but why do you have to look down on people who choose not to tip someone who is not working in a tipped position?

I couldn't agree more. Tipping is a personal decision and nobody should be judged for doing it or not. If someone wants to tip everyone that makes minimum wage, they are free to do it. It doesn't mean I do, or will, but anyone who wants to can. I don't tip the guy at the burger place that makes my burger for me even though he provided a service for me. He was hired to do a job, and gets paid a wage to do so. If he doesn't like it, or the wage, he can change the situation. Housekeeping is the same way. If they don't want to make $14,000/year they should change the situation. I don't understand the logic that they deserve a tip just because they only make $14,000/year. Housekeeping is not a charitable organization so I don't treat them like they are. If they don't earn the tip, they don't get one from me.

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Food for thought for those who have been justifying not tipping Mousekeeping because they hold a "non-tipping" position

An average server at WDW makes $72,500 in a year. A friend of mine worked as a server at Le Cellier for 4 months and made on average of $200-300 per NIGHT.

Let's say a server works 5 days a week at a pay wage that is "half" of that of non-tipped staff, $3.45/hr, that means their base salary is approx $7000/year....I agree that is EXTREMELY low. However, when you add the average of $300/night. You can also ask servers at the California Grill, Yachtsman Steakhouse, Chefs de France, pretty much any table service on WDW property. A server working an 8 hour shift at California Grill for example. A party of 2 adults both order 4 drinks, 2 appetizers, 2 entrees and 2 desserts, that comes to $175, with a 15% tip ($22). A table for 4 would tip approx $40. In 8 hours a server can turn 12 tables, that gives them $372 in tips, even with tipping out that would give them $200-300. The low average of tips per night is $200. This means servers make $60,000 to $85,000/year.

A Mousekeeper working 5 days a week being paid $6.80/hour makes approx $13,000 per year. Each room takes 30 minutes, that is 16 rooms per shift. Based on our survey 70% tip....i would figure the national average to be closer to 50%, but we'll go with 60% tippers to be generous. So they get tipped around $4 for 9 rooms per shift....that is $36 in tips per day....or just about $10,000. So the person who cleans up after you is making $23,000/year.

I'm thinking the "tipped" staff are doing pretty well.

That being said, I tip servers, 15 to 20% and i tip mousekeepers $5 regardless of the number of people in the room.

 

[clownfish1452]

Yes, I always do. My sister and I are messy and I think they work hard.

Sarah