Does mousekeeping expect to be tipped?

[disneyfor3]

I always tip mousekeeping without expecting anything such as towel animals or the like. When we were at the Polynesian the end of January I left a $5.00 tip every morning and the first morning I left a short scribbled note thanking her for keeping the room so clean and saying how much my 3 year old son loved the Mickey soaps. Every day after that when we got back to the room there was a huge stack of soaps and other toiletries in the bathroom. My son is still using them at home - can't have his bath without his mickey soap! We were celebrating my son's birthday and he thought this was the best gift.

 

[Aimeedyan]

My thoughts as to the original question is no, they probably dont because Disney doesn't consider it a tipping position. They don't take the job expecting tips like others listed as such...

That being said, I've never heard of tipping housekeeping (or mousekeeping) until I started to read this site. And I am not an unexperienced traveler, either. I have stayed in numerous resorts in numerous places with numerous people and have never seen anyone do such a thing. I do think its a nice thing to do, esp when a housekeeper has been esp helpful. Certainly not saying its a bad thing! Just nothing I've ever encountered. I think the tipping bit can get really out of hand, we found this when at Vegas! Every person we encountered wanted a tip, it seemed. You can lose ALOT of money in a short amount of time in tips... I do tend to agree that the price you pay to stay includes housekeeping things, but sometimes they do go above and beyond. Since I didn't even know people tipped, maybe from now on I will bring stuff to do so in case we really get great service...

This is an interesting thread... I think I'm going to ask around and see what others IRL do! Maybe its a regional thing, like so many other things?

 

[colleen costello]

Oprah had a great show on a few years back about tipping. It was very helpful. She had an etiquette lady on, explaining how much to tip and when. THis expert specifically mentioned housekeepers and I think it was the "$1 per person per night" rate. What I can't figure out is why Disney doesn't mention housekeeping as a tipped position? I suspect they don't want us to feel that we have to pay the extra dollars on top of the "$300 a night." So tipping is not REQUIRED.

My 2 cents? If I can afford the room at Disney, I am blessed, and Heaven help me if I am so broke someday that I can't afford another few bucks for people who work at a nasty job for minimal pay. Lots of the mousekeepers I meet are not native English speakers. If they have moved here and are working hard to "make it," more power to them. It makes me feel good to leave them a few extra dollars every night. I always just leave a little note that says "thanks housekeeping." Again, just my opinion.

 

[lillygator]

When we stayed at POP in 2/04, we never left a tip but we did receive towel animals and DD's stuffed animals in arrangements each night. That must have been one of the only things they did because they never completely made the beds nor did the floors.

As for tipping....I guess I could be on the *inexperienced* list......mind you I have traveled all over the world, mainly when I was younger so my grandparents took care of all the monetary things, but I had no clue as to all the tipping that goes on....and I can tell you right now my DH is CLUELESS.
We went to Sandals in 2000 for our honeymoon...had suite conceirge service, went on several excursions and NEVER tipped anyone!! I am suprised we weren't hunted down....

From now I will tip depending on the service....we are relatively neat people and don't leave messes....most of the time.....and as one poster said....after paying $200+ a night for a room it is kind of hard to swallow paying more $$ for tips.....

now, too, I will be thinking about how much.....is $1-3 enough? will they think I am cheap if I don't leave more?

 

[#1hockeymom]

You're not allowed to tip at Sandals! We have been there twice, in 95 and 97. We tried to tip both times for fantastic service and weren't able to.

I have always tipped in hotel/motel rooms. for maid service, where I have stayed. I usually won't let anyone out the door until we clean up a bit, too.

Debbie

 

[zalansky]

I have to agree with Vhoffman. Not looking to debate anyone on the subject, but I am a pretty experienced traveler and have never heard of tipping a maid...with the exception of cabin stewards on a cruise. The first time I saw anything of this nature was on this site as well. I agree with the point that everyone is getting tip happy. If I tipped everyone I come in contact with (who get paid to do what they do and are not included on the tip list) my vacations would get too expensive! Now I agree bellmen are way over-tipped for what they do. Houskeeping has the dirty job-they should get paid more or put on the tip list.
JMHO

 

[kahiko]

I tip to get Great service It tends to work.

I use the Mousekeeping envelopes at WDW. The part that says for the maid is printed in both English and Spanish so there is no question that it is for the maid not loose money I dropped or put in an envolope for something else.

I tip at all inclusive places like Mexico's Riviara Maya. Hey, it's a vacation and I want pampered. Tipping is included in the trip cost but a green back here and there gets me extra super service and attention.

Tipping is an individual choice and I support those who do and those who don't. The only thing I disagree with are those that use the cost of the trip to justify not tipping. If that is the case you should not tip at a super expensive restaurant where the $8 steak costs $30 and if you want a potato it is another $5. If one can spend thousands on a trip to WDW then $3-5 a day for the Mousekeeper is not going to break the bank. If it will stay at the All Stars rather than the $300 a night I see on some of the posts.

 

[lillygator]

kahiko

" If it will stay at the All Stars rather than the $300 a night I see on some of the posts."
?????????????if what will stay at the All Stars?





I am not using the cost of the trip to justify tipping....it just seems the expenses never end. You pay for valet parking and then you have to tip.....I mean really......I work for a community hospital we offer complementary valet parking and pay the valet guys very well and if someone tips them it is a bonus......I am not sure, but would think that the valet parkers at Disney make minimum wage or more I'm sure.....




No $3-5 is not going to break my bank but....go ahead and charge me $5 more a night so you can better pay your employees and I don't have to worry about how I leave my room and whether or not I need to tip and if it was enough to satisfy the mousekeeping staff.

One shouldn't have to tip to get great service......great service is what Disney is all about and I expect great service whether mousekeeping gets a tip or not.


tipping to get great service...... WOW......to me that seems like I would need to pay someone to treat me well....how would you do that in a restaurant?

but then I guess you could look at it like *you get more flies with honey??!!*


in any case I think I know have a clue to the answer to my original question......more than likely, most mousekeepers expect a tip to be left in the room....

 

[AdventurerKat]

I usually put my tip under the little card that tells me who my mousekeeper's name is. I have never not had a mousekeeper take my tip when I have left it there.

 

[Bojangles]

Originally posted by lillygator


in any case I think I know have a clue to the answer to my original question......more than likely, most mousekeepers expect a tip to be left in the room.... [/B]

Even 10 rooms X $5/day X 5 days/week = $250/week tax free income on top of their salary. No wonder they "expect" it.

 

[KIS]

Does the Dolphin have the mousekeeper cards, envelopes, etc.?

KIS

 

[lillygator]

So it is best to leave the tips in enevelopes? Does every room have a mousekeeper card? If I remember correctly at Pop it was on teh tv....but I could be mistaken.......

 

[mco-missy]

I also had never heard of tipping housekeepers until I read it on this site- and yes I have travelled a lot! But, I started tipping mousekeeping after I read it here. Then, I met my husband and the first trip we took together to Disney he was suprised that I was tipping them. My husband owns a commercial cleaning company in Orlando and employs many former hotel housekeepers (and many former "mousekeepers") and he said he had never heard of that position being tipped. Of course if you want to tip- feel free. But to answer the OP's question- No, I don't think they expect to be tipped based on first hand conversations with former mousekeepers.

 

[Amberle3]

I hadn't heard about tipping housekeeping until about 5 years ago. I believe in fact we covered the subject briefly in my TA course, and there was some surprise by my fellow students that housekeeping would be tipped.

Apparently it's a "should be done" though - here's a quote from Frommer's on tipping at hotels:

"In hotels, tip bellhops at least $1 per piece, $5 or more for a lot of baggage, and housekeeping $1 to $2 a day. Tip the doorman or concierge only if he or she has provided a service (for example, calling a cab or obtaining difficult-to-get theater tickets). Tip valet parking attendants $1 or $2 each time they get your car."

Someone mentioned not tipping housekeeping because they're doing what they're paid to do. The only analogy I can provide is restaurant staff in Canada. I know that in the US waitstaff are allowed to be paid less than minimum wage on the assumption that the tips will make up the difference. Unless things have changed recently that's not the case in Canada. So since waitstaff here is paid a salary, does that mean that I shouldn't be tipping them?

(Just as an aside - I've long heard complaints from Americans that Canadians are lousy tippers. The above paragraph explains why. Most Canadians are unaware that US waitstaff are paid so poorly, and in fact when I tell my clients they're horrified. Here a tip is just a bonus, and many older folks in particular think $1-$2 total tip is appropriate regardless of meal cost.)

 

[kahiko]

Originally posted by Bojangles
Even 10 rooms X $5/day X 5 days/week = $250/week tax free income on top of their salary. No wonder they "expect" it.

Yes, that would be nice but this is more realistic:

10 rooms, 5-6 don't tip, one leaves $5 the other 3-4 leave $2-3= $17 a day or $85 a week.

I worked at a large airport for a few months. The Sky Caps at curbside check-in took your luggage, put tags on it threw it on a conveyer belt and gave you a boarding pass (if you didn't already have one). Total time 2-3 minutes. Average tip $1 per bag. Many of those Sky Caps went home with an extra $250-300 a DAY. They were also payed by the airlines and much more than Mousekeepers make.

I tip Mousekeepers not because they expect it but because I want to do it. I know what the average service industry pay is, I wouldn't work for it unless I was a server in an upscale restaurant.

Someone suggested that Disney simply add $5 extra per room and give it to the Mousekeeper. Never happen. First of all everyone on these boards is complaining about room rates now. Disney is not going to jack them up $5 and tell you it is going to Mousekeeping. Most people would have a cow if that happened. The second reason it isn't going to happen is that many companies use those add ons and the money never seems to go to those it was intended for.

Tip or don't tip. Your choice. I can't be talked out of tipping and most that don't can't be talked into tipping. Niether person is right or wrong just personal choice.

 

[McCall]

Originally posted by AdventurerKat
I usually put my tip under the little card that tells me who my mousekeeper's name is. I have never not had a mousekeeper take my tip when I have left it there.

Yeah to all those who have never tipped a maid, that is the real reason those name cards are in the room. it is a gentle reminder that a real person is there serving you.

 

[Tiffany]

Originally posted by lillygator
Does the mousekeeping staff expect daily tips?

I would have to say that they do not based on the following that is printed in the "Habari". The resort "newspaper" that is given to the guests at the AKL when you check in.

"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."

People do tip housekeeping. We have in the past. But officially Disney does not consider them a tipped position and therefore the housekeeping staff should not be expecting tips.

 

[skiwee1]

I have never heard of NOT tipping housekeeping until I started reading it on these boards. We grew up with my mom and dad tipping the maids at all hotels we stayed at. I tip even if I'm just staying one night on the way to WDW. I can't imagine someone that says how well traveled they are has never known to tip the maid. I thought everyone knew it. LOL!

 

[Beca]

Tip or don't tip. Your choice. I can't be talked out of tipping and most that don't can't be talked into tipping. Niether person is right or wrong just personal choice. [/B][/QUOTE]


ditto!!

Beca

 

[chloe2827]

I don't know whether most mousekeepers expect a tip but years ago we had one that definately did. We were staying at AS Movies and at that time I left one tip at the end of stay (now I tip daily for reasons mentioned above). On the morning we were checking out the mousekeeper stopped us and introduced herself and let us know she had been the one cleaning our room all week and what a good job she had done. I saw her do this with several people that were checking out that day. I have had several housekeepers introduce themselves and wish me a nice stay, etc. but that was not what she was doing. She was definately asking for a tip without asking directly. It worked, noticed most people handed her money after their conversation. I was a little annoyed by it but still left the tip. Then again, it was a few days before Christmas so maybe this wasn't her usual behavior.

I'm another one of those that had never heard of tipping housekeeping until reading this board. Now I always tip unless I feel housekeeping did a very poor job, this only happened one stay. I've also had housekeeping not take the tip I left for them. This happened several times while staying at the Dolphin. Does anyone know if they have a different policy on accepting tips?

I will say I don't really think there is any relation to tipping and towel animals and stuffed animal arrangements. Years ago when I didn't know about tipping or left tip at the end of the stay we would always come back at the end of the day to find the kids stuffed animals in clever arrangements in the room. Some of the mousekeepers are very creative. One even played hide and seek with the animals and left notes on where to find them. Now we tip daily and only occasionally receive towel animal or arrangements. I think it may depend more on the specific mousekeeper and how much time they have.