Does everyone tip Mousekeeping?

[KaterBell]

You know, I never thought that the housekeeper may change from day to day. We just left the Poly for a 7 night stay and we left an envelope upon checkout for the Mousekeeping ladies... I just assumed it was the same person.

Maybe for our DVC stays upcoming, we'll make sure to make envelopes ahead of time to make sure.....


But yes - I also come from the background to tip the housekeeping staff - they do a good job, and it's hard work - they're always moving!!!

 

[sunking]

i'm not sure if everyone does it but we sure do...when we come "home" to a clean and well looked after room, it make it that much nicer...also, you have to remember that these people are working very hard to make sure the your vacation is good...i believe that you should tip them as you would bell services or a valet parking attendent....
just my 2 cents...
have fun!!!
sunking

 

[SpikeLover]

We tip...$1 per day for each person in our group. However, when we had 7 people in 2 rooms one time (In-Laws) we kept our connecting door open & were so happy with the maids we tipped $5 for each room, per day. This was at the Dolphin.

 

[Kimickey]

DH works in Hotel Management so he and I understand the hard work that housekeepers have to go through. DH say you would or could not imagine the mess they have to clean up. With that said, DH and I tip because we know how hard these men and women work. While in Disney or at any hotel we leave a tip and a nice cold bottle of water as our way of saying thanks for your hard work not because they are expecting it.

 

[Mad4Mickey]

I just wanted to thank everyone for NOT calling me names like"Hick " and the like , just because I choose to tip .I would also like to thank you guys for not calling me Donald Trump LOL .....
I think it is wonderful that so many people can think different things about the same subject and not be mean .


Wishing everyone a Disney Day !!!

 

[KaterBell]

Originally posted by Mad4Mickey
I think it is wonderful that so many people can think different things about the same subject and not be mean .

Wow, you mean like following simple forum posting rules? Yeah, crazy when it all works out huh?

This is a good thread - I've learned a lot, and I'm sure others have too.

 

[diznee25]

I tip housekeepers, but as others have said, it isn't a tipped position and there's absolutely nothing wrong with not tipping.

We stayed at POFQ last July and we had no intention of tipping but did so because housekeeping left us a towel animal one day. Of course, we left the tip at the end of our trip, so the person who left the towel animal probably wasn't the one who received the tip. (Go figure!)

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

One, I don't feel obligated to tip because housekeeping isn't a tipping position. No, my room service has always been 'magical' and met my expectations. But I like to tip when room service has exceeded that. (Housekeeping going out of their way to do something special and is not required as part a regular duty, like towel animals or arranging our souvineers around the room.)

I do feel stongly about tipping housekeeping over the holidays. We will be there Christmas eve and Christmas day; I will leave tips in the morning so the person(s) cleaning those days will get the tips.

I know my opinion is in the minority, but I believe this post is tasteful.

Diznee25

 

[Pixie_Dust]

Originally posted by caitycaity
no we don't.

and we've still gotten towel animals.

We're just the opposite. We always tip well, but have never gotten towel animals (even when I left out a few stuffed animals as a hint).

 

[Darian]

Originally posted by Mad4Mickey
I just wanted to thank everyone for NOT calling me names like"Hick " and the like , just because I choose to tip .I would also like to thank you guys for not calling me Donald Trump LOL .....
I think it is wonderful that so many people can think different things about the same subject and not be mean .


Wishing everyone a Disney Day !!!

Now if only the same courtesy could be given to those who don't tip....

 

[JodyTG]

I always tip the mousekeepers. They always seem to do something a little extra. The last trip in July 2002 my daughter brought her favorite doll and sometimes when we went back to our room she was put in a made up tent, sometimes she was in a sleeping bag made from towels, etc... We had wash cloths made into toothbrush holder and soap holders... The best was the day we checked out and our mousekeeper made a special trip to our room to let us know what a pleasure it had been serving us for our trip.

 

[bravestwj]

I read this whole thread, because I was captivated. I have to admitt that I didn't tip until after our first cruise in 1997. After that, I began to notice that when I tipped after the first night in a hotel room, I felt service was better. We usually travel with our DD, now age 8. She almost always travels with a stuffed animal, and her favorite pillow case, that we put on the pillow on her bed. I have to say, the housekeepers that are tipped will always place her animal in cute places, make her bed with her "own" pillow, and even write her notes. We were just in Hilo, Hawaii, and the maid at the Hilo Hawaiian hotel wrote back to her, thanking her for her nice note, and telling her she hoped her stay was enjoyable. That's the little things that a $2-3 dollar tip get you, a smile and a happy feeling. By golly, that's enough for me!

(BTW, once we left her pillow case by mistake at a hotel, and the maid found it, took it to the front desk, and they mailed it back to us. I'm positive this wouldn't have happened if we hadn't let the housekeeper know we appreciated her work!)

 

[awatt]

I always tip housekeeping and have done so for the last 15-20 years. It is not a practice that is either new or unique to WDW. I was taught it is the right thing to do

I do not expect special treatment in return.

Does anyone know if housekeeping even makes minimum wage? I assume its either minimum or less. These people need the money. Last week I went out in the AM without leaving the envelope. I forgot,was in a rush. When I came back I didn't have the right change,so I found the housekeeper and gave her a ten dollar bill. You should have seen the relief and gratitude on her face-obviously she needed that tip.

Finally,compared to all that you spend on hotel,airfare,transportation, park tickets,meals,drinks and souvenirs the daily tip for housekeeping is miniscule.

 

[peachgirl]

Does anyone know if housekeeping even makes minimum wage? I assume its either minimum or less.

It can't be less than minimum wage, but I don't know what the exact pay is. Housekeeping isn't a tipped position so they have to be paid at least minimum wage.

Technically, at least at WDW, tipping housekeeping isn't the "right" thing to do as they tell you it's not a tipped position. I don't think there is a right or wrong on this one, just a personal choice that each guest makes.

I tip at the beginning of our stay and continue to tip if the service is what I consider above and beyond minimum standards.

 

[missypie]

I grew up staying at Motel 6 quality motels, almost always for one night at a time and I never saw my parents tip. Our family probably had an annual income roughly equal to that of the housekeeper. I try to remember to tip now, but it's not ingrained in me.

Slightly off topic question: This summer we are staying at a B&B (non-Disney trip) that has a grand total 3 rooms. No idea whether the owner will clean our room or if she has a housekeeper. What to do, tip wise?

 

[PartyOf5]

And we make a family project out of it before we even arrive to Disney! We make up our envelopes using the various clip arts I've found over the years and put the money inside and seal it. That way we don't have to look for money for tipping once we are on vacation. We also bring a roll of scotch tape with us and tape the envelope to the bathroom mirror each morning prior to heading out to the parks. Last year at POR we always got a thank you note back. The mousekeepers appreciate the tips and I appreciate them!

 

[blessedby3]

No, we dont tip maid service. I figure if we are paying $2000 for a weeks stay at a Disney Resort then that is plenty. Cleaning rooms is a maids job- they know that going into the job. Just like cooking is the cooks job. They are both paid wages and you shouldnt feel like you have to tip everyone. I get disgusted when I am at the malls now and order ice cream for my kids and there is a tip jar on the counter??!! What? a tip for putting a scoop in my kids cone and walking to the cash register?? It seems like now a days everyone is looking to have their job changed to a "tippable" position. We still had excellent maid service when we were at Disney, but I shouldnt expect any less than that considering how much we were paying- cute "things or no cute things"- it should be the same for everyone. Not just for people who are willing to slide some extra money for it. Everyone should get the same top quality service because like it was stated earlier- housekeeping is not a tipped position.

 

[ceecee]

We always tip as well.....never got a towel animal either, the toys were usually neatly piled on DD's bed.

 

[ilovefh]

Does anyone know if housekeeping even makes minimum wage?

They definately do make minimum wage. I can tell you starting pay when I was FT was $6.50/hr as a seater.

I don't tip Mousekeeping. What they do is there job, and although they do it well can I really afford to tip EVERYONE I encounter who does their job well? Custodial has a gross job too, and make the same pay, however I cannot afford to slip some $$ to every custodial person I see. Mousekeeping makes the same pay that everyone else does. I can tell you that there are college program students who do housekeeping and make $6/hr, but so does the guy who works outdoor foods, and the custodial CM, the girl flipping burgers at Pecos, and the CM at the front desk. They all work hard and they all do their job well, so if I cannot afford to tip everyone who does a good job, then I don't tip anyone (who is not in a tipped position), it wouldnt be fair to the other CM's I encounter.

I know I certainly worked hard on my college program, as hard as my boyfriend who was in custodial and my friend who did housekeeping, but I was not tipped neither was my boyfriend and we made the same amount of money.

This is only my opinion!!

And Disney guidelines state that if you are in a non tipped position and a guest offers you a tip you must refuse 3 times then if they still persist you are to take it and give it to a manager who will then donate it to a charity. Not that most people do this, but that is what WDW policy is.

 

[ilovefh]

They may get minimum wage but they are paying for their own insurance

This is not correct. Disney offers very nice benefits!

 

[Michelina]

I found this thread and didn't read the whole thing but I've never considered not tipping, I really never thought of it as an option. I guess I figure that if I can't afford to leave at least a dollar or two for the person who cleans up after me then I can't afford to go on vacation. I'm not saying that it's WRONG if you don't tip, it's a valid point that maids are paid at least the minimum wage unlike waitstaff, I guess it's just your own way of doing things.
As a side note a friend of mine was once a hotel housekeeper and she said that the more expensive the room the worse the tips... I wonder if that's because people who are wealthy got that way by not throwing a dollar or two around everywhere? (her theory was of course that they were just cheap!)