DVC Mousekeeping Gratuities??

[jekjones1558]

I know most non tipped positions are not allowed to accept tips in Disney World. For example if you want to tip a hostess at a restaurant they are required to tell their manager and he or she determines what will happen to the money. I am pretty sure it works the same for housekeeping. So they may not even be able to accept the tips that you leave.

You are right that Disney considers some positions as non-tipped. One time a few years ago a front desk person at BWV went well above and beyond to fix a problem for us. We were very grateful and tried to tip but were told that tips were not allowed. Mousekeepers ARE allowed to keep their tips. That is one reason I do not buy the statement I often read on these boards that "Disney does not consider mousekeeping to be a tipped position."

 

[Dean]

I think I would rather leave an extra $10 on departure than see our annual dues go up lol

That's not an issue or concern on the table with the current question. Now DVC could institute cleaning fees for shorter stays but that's a different set of issues that still doesn't deal with how much housekeeping gets paid, only who and how it's paid for.

You are right that Disney considers some positions as non-tipped. One time a few years ago a front desk person at BWV went well above and beyond to fix a problem for us. We were very grateful and tried to tip but were told that tips were not allowed. Mousekeepers ARE allowed to keep their tips. That is one reason I do not buy the statement I often read on these boards that "Disney does not consider mousekeeping to be a tipped position."

It used to be on the Disney website. You might want to contact guest services or check with a resort manager when you're at a resort. Also, if you look at the job listings for the position it's clear they are not tipped.

 

[jekjones1558]

It used to be on the Disney website. You might want to contact guest services or check with a resort manager when you're at a resort. Also, if you look at the job listings for the position it's clear they are not tipped.

I have looked everywhere on the Disney website and can find nothing. Where should I be looking?
I will ask a manager when we are there in May.

Here is what the Disney World employment site says about Bell Services (no mention of tips, though everyone seems to consider it a tipped position):

"Whether arriving for the first time or the fiftieth, Guests look forward to checking into any of our Walt Disney World® Resort Hotels. Making sure their Resort vacation experience begins the minute they arrive, Bell Services Cast Members work to provide a warm welcome and a seamless arrival experience.

Bell Services Cast Members work at our Resort Hotels, greeting and welcoming Guests, assisting Guests with luggage storage and retrieval and dispatching bellman and valet Cast Members.

Bell Services Cast Members receive a starting rate of $7.45/hour to $8.25."

Here is the quote for housekeeping (again, no mention one way or the other regarding tipping):

"For many of our Guests, staying at one of the world famous Walt Disney World® Resort hotels is a dream come true.

Our Housekeeping Hosts and Hostesses help bring those dreams to life by creating special memories and a home-away-from-home experience for each of our Guests every day.

As a member of the Housekeeping team, responsibilities include, but are not limited to, overall cleaning of Guest rooms, including stripping and making beds, vacuuming and dusting and replenishing items such as linens, amenities and various supplies. Housekeeping Cast Members also interact with Guests daily, responding in a timely manner to their requests, assisting with directions and sharing information.

Housekeeping Hosts and Hostesses receive a starting rate of $8.25/hour."

 

[Dean]

I have looked everywhere on the Disney website and can find nothing. Where should I be looking?
I will ask a manager when we are there in May.

Here is what the Disney World employment site says about Bell Services (no mention of tips, though everyone seems to consider it a tipped position):

"Whether arriving for the first time or the fiftieth, Guests look forward to checking into any of our Walt Disney World® Resort Hotels. Making sure their Resort vacation experience begins the minute they arrive, Bell Services Cast Members work to provide a warm welcome and a seamless arrival experience.

Bell Services Cast Members work at our Resort Hotels, greeting and welcoming Guests, assisting Guests with luggage storage and retrieval and dispatching bellman and valet Cast Members.

Bell Services Cast Members receive a starting rate of $7.45/hour to $8.25."

Here is the quote for housekeeping (again, no mention one way or the other regarding tipping):

"For many of our Guests, staying at one of the world famous Walt Disney World® Resort hotels is a dream come true.

Our Housekeeping Hosts and Hostesses help bring those dreams to life by creating special memories and a home-away-from-home experience for each of our Guests every day.

As a member of the Housekeeping team, responsibilities include, but are not limited to, overall cleaning of Guest rooms, including stripping and making beds, vacuuming and dusting and replenishing items such as linens, amenities and various supplies. Housekeeping Cast Members also interact with Guests daily, responding in a timely manner to their requests, assisting with directions and sharing information.

Housekeeping Hosts and Hostesses receive a starting rate of $8.25/hour."

It hasn't been on the website in a few years. We've had others ask people who should know and report they were given the same answer as we've given you. Regardless, in the absence of a statement in the affirmative from Disney on Tips, the timeshares standard is no tips for US timeshares without daily maid service.

 

[hacknsuit]

Regardless, in the absence of a statement in the affirmative from Disney on Tips, the timeshares standard is no tips for US timeshares without daily maid service.

I agree...just from a "deserve" point of view. Always tipped at GF...great service...every day! Although...stayed at AKL in Dec and had service on day 3...? didn't complain...wife has a hard time rationing towels! I left them a tip...but normally don't.

 

[Tigger1]

I tip if they bring me something extra or just want to make them happy, but do not feel obligated.

 

[Dean]

I agree...just from a "deserve" point of view. Always tipped at GF...great service...every day! Although...stayed at AKL in Dec and had service on day 3...? didn't complain...wife has a hard time rationing towels! I left them a tip...but normally don't.

I tip if they bring me something extra or just want to make them happy, but do not feel obligated.

As I've tried to convey on this and similar thread's, there are really 2 questions. One is whether a tip is appropriate just for doing their job, the other is whether tipping is appropriate for special services like extra towels, etc. My opinion is no and yes. It is also my experience that OFTEN they do things that are above and beyond like towel animals, bringing extras, etc and in this case a tip is preferable. I guess one could add a third variation, that of delivering items that should have been present but weren't, or weren't acceptable. I generally haven't tipped in that situation in the past, I'll have to ponder on that.

OTOH, when we go out of the country, we often have daily maid service and I do tip in that situation if service is acceptable. Some timeshares, esp in MX, will formally encourage tips.

 

[tidefan]

As I've tried to convey on this and similar thread's, there are really 2 questions. One is whether a tip is appropriate just for doing their job, the other is whether tipping is appropriate for special services like extra towels, etc. My opinion is no and yes. It is also my experience that OFTEN they do things that are above and beyond like towel animals, bringing extras, etc and in this case a tip is preferable. I guess one could add a third variation, that of delivering items that should have been present but weren't, or weren't acceptable. I generally haven't tipped in that situation in the past, I'll have to ponder on that.

OTOH, when we go out of the country, we often have daily maid service and I do tip in that situation if service is acceptable. Some timeshares, esp in MX, will formally encourage tips.

Agree with this completely. There really are two questions, and I agree with Dean on the answers on both counts. I think that if gratuities are expected, then Disney (or whomever) should explicitly state this. I think that a problem comes when employees start to expect the tip, especially if most visitors do not know that they should tip.

Think of the issue that Disney could have with this. As a corporation, rooms are expected to be kept up to a certain level. Now, people start to leave tips, lets say 30% of the time and lets say over time that increases. OK, human nature will then start to kick in. At first, employees will go out of their way to do a better job for those that tip, but as time goes on, they may do less for those that don't (if you think that this isn't true, go wait tables for a week...). From the corporate view, I doubt that Disney wants anyone to receive a lesser level of service, especially for something that they may not know that they are supposed to do.

Now think of a cruise, for instance. It is clearly stated beforehand which positions are expected to be tipped and what the guideline for tipping them is. That way, a clear expectation is laid out and you don't end up with something like this:

http://www.elliott.org/blog/tip-your-hotel-housekeeper-or-else/

 

[tidefan]

Excellent, well-reasoned post. I detect a sound understanding of free market economics....

Long live Adam Smith...

 

[Tigger1]

What if tipping for all positions, everywhere became a thing of the past and restaurants, housekeeping, bell ect. became a full wage position. Would service go down?

 

[a742246]

Every few months we have a discussion on tipping.

I always say "If you want to tip then Tip, if you don't want to tip then don"t".
But keep in mine these workers probably have families and min wage doesn't cut it.

 

[Dean]

I also do believe this IS a slippery slope, in spite of someone else saying earlier they didn't believe it wasn't. Look at where we've seen restaurant tipping go in the last 20-30 years (from 15% to 20% as the standard) plus groups being considered that you should tip that weren't even discussed in tipping conversations years ago.

It is also an inconsistent approach. There truly are many others at the resorts and WDW in general that make the same, or less, and who impact our vacations just as much in a potentially positive way. The only REAL difference for housekeeping is that our paths cross more directly and that they at times have the opportunity to do something extra directly for the members. Another issue, one I've posted before, IMO is a lot of people feel guilty and this is a way of soothing their conscience. I'm sure that's not everyone and even the one's where it's true will say it's not, but I believe it to be true in general terms across a fairly large section of the DVC membership (and the country in general).

What if tipping for all positions, everywhere became a thing of the past and restaurants, housekeeping, bell ect. became a full wage position. Would service go down?

Likely not, if anything it might go up overall but I'm sure yo'll get answers for all possible variations. The system of transferring labor costs under the table to another group is a horrible one. What happens when an employer has to pay the bills, they pay a little more attention to their training, supervision and expectations than if they don't as do the supervisors at each level. That's not to say they'll put up with bad employees but the overall expectations go up across the entire group of employees. Our CEO made a statement years ago that essentially said "Just OK, isn't good enough any more". The root was that we had nice people, often with families, that weren't performing but weren't horrible and had been carried along for years. Those type of people drag systems down, we all know some of them. Basically we established objective criteria and divided groups into low, medium and high performers. We then set up goals to move low performers to Mid and Mid to High. Those that couldn't perform at least to a certain level after enough help and encouragement, could not stay on in that position. The company, other employees and customers are all the better for it but one did feel for the few people you liked that couldn't cut it. Amazingly, there were quite a few of them that I felt wouldn't make it that actually did. Another approach I've seen is hiring new employees through a temp agency/hiring firm so that if they don't work out, you have no obligations and can put it back on the temp agency.

 

[tidefan]

What if tipping for all positions, everywhere became a thing of the past and restaurants, housekeeping, bell ect. became a full wage position. Would service go down?

Actually, Housekeeping is currently a full wage position. Wait staff/Bartenders, etc. are not...

 

[Deb & Bill]

Plus it also comes down to taxes. Tipped positions are expected to declare their tips as income. Non-tipped positions may not be required to declare them. I'm not sure because I don't receive tips as part of my income.

 

[Dean]

Plus it also comes down to taxes. Tipped positions are expected to declare their tips as income. Non-tipped positions may not be required to declare them. I'm not sure because I don't receive tips as part of my income.

They would be expected to but there would be no enforcement mechanism since the government wouldn't know unless there were pooled tips that were distributed and thus one would receive the appropriate tax form from Disney.

 

[dismichael]

We had stayed a single night at the all star movies when we got into the world our last trip. We had got in late, and a day earlier than anticipated, so rather than spending a ton of money on a deluxe, we decided to try the Movies. We have done this a few other times at the All Star Music's Family Suites, and it always worked out cuz there is 6 of us. However, this last time, the room was disgusting... The showers had brown streaks, the floor was never vacuumed, the garbage wasn't taken out from the room's previous inhabitants... not exactly Disney magic ...The rest of the trip we were in our DVC room at Boardwalk and BLT. The difference was crazy. With that said, we didn't leave a tip for the night at the ASM. However, we made sure we tipped decently for the rest of our stay. I'm not sure if different hotels get different caliber of maids, but on vacation I do not want to clean up after other people. I don't mind leaving a few dollars if my room is perfect. Has anyone else had bad experiences with mousekeeping?