Does mousekeeping expect to be tipped?

[Beca]

WOW!!!

 

[Disney753]

To Tip or not to tip...how much to tip or how little...It is up to the individual based on whatever she/he feels. Some people even feel better about themselves when they make others happy.....One should do as they wish...my thought is this ..why should being on the Disney Cruise where they suggest a tip be any different then staying at a Disney resort.....my opinion is that cruising use to be done mainly by the richer and they could well afford the tip. Maybe we should turn the tables those of us who cruise Disney and stay at Disney tip the land mousekeepers and not the seamousekeepers. Im just kidding ...really I am.

 

[disneyberry]

Originally posted by Tiffany
"Tipping
We are often asked about gratuities. At the Walt Disney World Resort, it is customary to tip the following positions for exceptional service: bartender, bell services, cocktail server, food and beverage server, and valet parker."

<font face="times" size="+0">i have seen this paragraph printed on other Disney Resort newsletters as well (other than AKL). one year i also noticed a card in my room at AKL that indicated specifically that housekeeping is NOT a tipped position.

in any case, i do usually tip housekeeping the standard $1 per person/per night at all hotels i stay at (Disney or non-Disney). but, since Disney considers housekeeping a non-tipped position, and specifically excludes them from their list of tipped positions, i haven't been that comfortable tipping Disney housekeeping. i worry that it might be unfair to the employees in real tipped positions. but this is JMHO. i haven't had to worry about it so much since i became a DVC member (we have short stays and never even get around to having housekeeping services since they only provide services if you stay 4 nights or longer)

i would guess that the positions that are officially tipped positions (such as bell services) pay a very small hourly wage. at least as far as my knowledge of restaurant wait staff goes, the hourly wage is probably <i>much less</i> than minimum wage (something ridiculous like $2/hr) because those positions are expected to make tip income. so, those employees truly need those tips to make up for their less-than-min-wage rate.

but if housekeeping is NOT a tipped position, then they are probably making a higher hourly wage that is at least minimum wage, if not higher. (this is all speculation on my part)

so the bottom line regarding the OP's question: i don't think Disney housekeeping <i>should</i> expect tips... since technically they aren't supposed to get tips. but, whether they <i>do</i> still expect tips regardless, we will never know unless someone actually takes a survey of them and asks them whether they expect tips.

a better question is also, if they do accept the tips (and we know they take them at least half the time), is that legal, and are they required to report the tip income? IIRC, luggage services at the value resorts are also NON-tipped positions. so i wonder how they deal with tips, and if it's the same for housekeeping. </font>

 

[Disney Debbie]

I never knew about tipping until I read these boards either. And I'm talking except for a waitress and a bag handler I had never tipped ANYONE. My excuse is I grew up and live in a small town that just didn't have "tipped" positions. I also was raised by pretty frugal parents and we didn't go to nice resorts or spas back "in the olden days"

There are still some positions that are considered tipped that I personally have a problem with - so I don't tip them - but housekeeping isn't one of them. I always want extra towels because we are one shower taking, bath lounging family! - so I usually leave a tip with a note requesting more towels. I've never had them leave the tip - and I always have tons of towels!

I don't feel the least amount of "guilt" about not tipping the people I don't feel I should have to - so I suggest that if you don't think housekeeping should be tipped that you don't worry about it! It's your choice. Ideally NO ONE would EXPECT to be tipped - it would be a nice "surprise". But I know that's not how the world works here in the U.S.!

 

[yohomatey]

I have always tipped be it a moderate or Grand Floridian resort.
I don't know what the mousekeeping pay rate is but many times I have received a wonderful thank you note at the end of the week. Just two dollars left on the sink each night seems to make a difference in special requests!!

 

[Amberle3]

Originally posted by yohomatey
Just two dollars left on the sink each night seems to make a difference in special requests!!

I don't have any direct experience with WDW resorts (since I haven't stayed there yet) but I have a great Las Vegas example of tipping & special requests! I did a trip there last year with my fiance and my mother, staying at the Monte Carlo. We really, really liked the shampoo and conditioner used there (Gilchrist & Soames) so my mother left a note for housekeeping asking for a few extras and $5 as a tip. Later that day the housekeeper saw us and asked my mother if she had found the extras she had left. In the TV armoire there was a bag full of little bottles - shampoo, conditioner, bubble bath, mouthwash and oatmeal soaps. Over 70 items in total! The thing weighed a ton. I have to attribute the generousity to the tip!

 

[KIMHELMS99]

We always tip $1 per day per person. We are very neat, I make the bed and always have everything picked up. The dirty linens/towels I put in the tub so they can just scoop and go.

The tip doesn't seem to reflect the towel animals or the service.
Sometimes it's good sometimes it's not, regardless of the tip. Even though I leave a tip I did notice that Disney did not list it as a tipping position so I can understand why people don't always realize that they should leave a tip.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

We usually tip housekeeping/mousekeeping $1 or $2 per person for our room per night. It's no big deal and I know how much every little bit means to them.

My Mom is a housekeeper and I know how little she is paid. I also know how hard she works to please guests and how appreciative she is of a tip here and there. It makes her day just as I think it would anyone else who is in this mostly thankless position.

Bless you all who show your appreciation this way.