Does everyone tip Mousekeeping?

[mudman]

Just a question regarding Mousekeeping for those who tip and those who don't.

If you tip is it because you have received service above your expectations? Or do you tip just becasue you feel it feel it is expected/necessary. Do you feel tipping gives you perks over non-tipping? How much do you tip?

We are visiting ASmu in 3 weeks and I had never thought about tipping until I started reading these boards.

For those who don't tip, why? and have you felt that your room service was less than magical in any way.

Thanks for the information.

 

[ducklite]

I tip. I feel that it recognizes the hard work of housekeepers, who are generally on the bottom rung of the ladder.

I don't expect anything additional except a clean room for it.

If the room is not clean, I'll complain to management, but will still leave a tip, unless I know for SURE that it will be the same housekeeper.

I tip $3-5 per day for general housekeeping (depending on how many are in the room, the type of room, and how much work will be required to service it), and $2 per day for turn-down service.When staying DVC I leave $5-10 on T&T day (depending on the type of room) and $10-20 for full cleaning days, again depending on the type of room.

Anne

 

[yankeerose]

I can only speak for my family, if we come into a nicely cleaned room, then we leave a tip the next day. If we come back from a day of touring and the room is not only clean but some creative little touch (animals arranged in cute positions, towels made into animals, etc.) is done, then the next day we leave our standard tip plus alittle extra. We have come back on two occasions and the beds were made, some clean towels left but that was about it, we did not leave any tip. It was amazing how quickly things turn around when no tip is left. While in college I was a housekeeper, and I learned that if you want good tips, you need to do your job and do it well. I can say, that was probably the best "life lesson" I ever received.

 

[eeyore0062]

You know, until I worked as a housekeeper in a beach resort the summer of 1983, I had never really thought about tipping. Obviously, those who were staying there hadn't really thought about tipping either...lol! Believe me, the housekeepers don't make very much money, considering the amount of work that they do. And many go so far above and beyond, especially at WDW!

We usually tip $1-$2 per person, per night... there are usually 3 of us in the room. We may increase that amount by $1 per night if special things are done, such as the washcloth animals, stuffed animals arranged in amusing ways, or (and this was so sweet) the maid noticed we were filling the sink at the Caribbean Beach Resort with ice to keep our beverages cold and brought in a styrofoam cooler for our use... yes, she was WELL compensated for that!

We also always tip each morning, that way if one housekeeper has the day off, everyone is compensated.

Hope you have a wonderful time at WDW and the All Star Resorts!

 

[safetymom]

I agree with Anne. I like to recognize the service and if it isn't done correctly I would complain. I haven't had to complain yet.

 

[donnamerry]

wE ALWAYS TIP! THESE HOUSEKEEPERS HAVE A FULL DAY'S WORK AHEAD AND I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT SOME PEOPLE MAY DO OR LEAVE TO THEIR ROOMS. WE REALLY ALWAYS KEEP OUR ROOM PRETTY PICKED UP BUT STILL LEAVE A $5 TIP FOR A STANDARD ROOM.

 

[HoosierFantasia]

Never have tipped housekeeping. We do however keep the room straightened up and organized and if we make some kind of mess we clean it up. we treat it like our house!

 

[Kaycee]

I had never heard of tipping housekeeping until we started planning our family's first WDW trip. Now that I know about it, we leave a tip.

We usually tip $5/day for our family of 4. Since it will just be DH and me this trip, I'm planning on tipping $3/day.

I don't expect anything extra, just a clean room and towels. I tip because I know it's a hard, underpayed job. And I want to acknowledge the fact that we've always had a clean, well-stocked room at WDW.

 

[khawk]

but after reading these posts I think I didnt tip enough. We always came back to a clean room. I only tipped 2 dollars a day. Now I feel bad, I should have tipped more. Our room was always clean when we came back and once they arranged the kids animals on the bed.
Kim

 

[DrTomorrow]

One more YES vote!

My parents always tipped, so I always tip; just the way I was raised. Also, I view it as a pay-back to the Universe; I'm doing well, so I pass a little along to others.

Erick

 

[Lewisc]

I tip, BUT housekeeping is not a tipped position (per the Disney booklet you get when you check-in). The few dollars a day doesn't add much to the total cost of my vacation and I think they deserve the money. Sometimes my wife and daughters like extra towels. We get all we want (no we don't take them home).

That said since housekeeping is not a tipped position the tips are truly OPTIONAL. Failing to tip is OK.

 

[jaysue]

OK, so we probably go over the top a bit - we print out envelopes with Disney Characters Mousekeeping logos on them and leave a tip in the envelope somewhere obvious like the bathroom sink - usually $2 to $3 on all days but checkout/move days (ok so I am cheap on some days)

Sometimes we get "extra" magic in the form of animal towels etc. and sometimes not - I figure the $2 or $3 per day is not significant for me but can make a difference to the housekeeping staff.

At the CR, when we came back one day, there was a massive Mickey Mouse towel animal complete with the Mickey Mouse paper coasters. My DS (3 1/2) could not stop laughing that Mickey Mouse had been in his room.

At the end of the day, we leave a tip to share the wealth and hopefully bring a little magic to someone's day who normally does not get thanked.

http://www.wdisneyw.co.uk/mousekeeping.html

http://www.wdisneyw.co.uk/mousek2.html

http://users.adelphia.net/~heidiw/maid_envelopes/index.html

http://www.passporter.com/articles/tipping.htm

Thanks
jaysue

 

[BeauMec]

I'm with Erick/DrTomorrow. In my case, I always tip the maid because that's what my father told me when I was little.

And no, I certainly don't do it for any "perks".

Now that I'm a "grown-up" I understand that housekeeping is hard work and not an easy way to support a family. I admire those that do the work that helps make our vacation extra special.

Although my dad is no longer... I still try to follow his advice.

 

[DisneyMim]

I'm with DRTomorrow, my parents always tipped very well and my husband and I do the same. We tip regardless of where we are, Disney or any other hotel. We leave $5 a day for our family of 4. We are very clean, don't leave a mess, and pick up after ourselves. Our children have learned from us and do the same. When we stay DVC we leave tips on trash and tidy day and full cleaning day, more than $5 because we stay in a 2 bedroom villa and it is a lot of work for mousekeeping. When we stay concierge in addition to tipping mousekeeping every day we tip for turn-down service and the concierge staff. These people work very hard and usually do not make a lot of money. I also feel (as DRTomorrow also said) that we are extremely fortunate to travel as much as we do and like to give back some "magic" whenever we can. Certainly if your budget is tight you could scale back on the tips, but I really think housekeepers everywhere appreciate anything people feel they can do.

 

[caitycaity]

no we don't.

and we've still gotten towel animals.

 

[daannzzz]

I never knew about tipping housekeeping until i was planning my first WDW trip in 1996!!! Think of all those years of traveling and I didn't know!!! My parents nor anyone I ever traveled with, in the 35 years before that, ever tipped housekeeping. I do now though not to extreme. Alone I tip $2 a day every day unless I have no service or really bad service. for two people I tip $3 and if the great Nephews come along it goes up a bit more depending on how messy we are and the service they give.

 

[splashmountain31]

This is how the housekeeping staff make their living. They only make minimum wage (if that). I'm not sure what the "going rate" is, but we usually tip $10 per day.

It's only my opinion, but I feel housekeeping is similar to a restaraunt server who rely on their tips.

I'd have to say that cleaning up after complete strangers has got to be one of the worst jobs on the planet...they totally deserve the thanks with a little extra $$$.

p.s. - our room is ALWAYS spotless!

 

[CEDmom]

We leave a tip for the room cleaning staff (mousekeeping, housekeeping, whatever) whenever we stay at a hotel. To me it's a courtesy to an individual who works hard and doesn't get paid that much. It's the same as we do for any waiter/waitress.

 

[AndBsmom]

Would you suggest leaving a tip daily or at the end of the vacation.

 

[CEDmom]

We leave the tip each morning because like others have said the mousekeeper we had for all of our stay might be off the day we checkout and wouldn't get the tip.