DVC tipping for mousekeeping

[dvc_bwv]

My DH and I recently spent 4 nights/5 days in a 1 BR at BWV, usually we stay 7 or 8 days. We checked in on Friday, had T&T on Monday and were checking out on Tuesday, so no full cleaning. We usually leave a tip equal to $1 per person per day.

Since there were only 2 of us and we didn't have change, we left $10 for mousekeeping on the T&T day (more than the $1 per person per day). Then when we went to check out the next day a thought occured to me that if we left only the typical $1 per person per day (which would have been $2 for the last night) it didn't seem right that the person who did the T&T got a larger tip than the person who would be doing a full cleaning after we checked out and it may not be the same person who did the T&T the day before. We ended up leaving $5 because we felt a little guilty.

Usually we aren't in the room when mousekeeping comes, but I happened to be there when they came for T&T and saw the lady and we had a nice conversation while she was changing towels, etc. When we were leaving on check out (we had a standard view facing the tennis courts so a long way from the elevator), the same lady happened to be in the hallway closer to the elevators and she said good morning and told us to have a safe trip home. I was pleasantly surprised by this as I never told her we were leaving the next day when we were talking the day before, and a little surprised that she remembered me and knew we were checking out. With that I felt a little better, thinking that she was the one who was going to be cleaning the room and would understand the smaller tip (at least I hoped that).

Sorry this is a little long, but my question is this....how do you tip in a situation like this? Do you leave a minimal tip for T&T day and then the larger tip the next day when checking out? Any information will be greatly appreciated as I'm a bit puzzled on this one. Thanks!!!

 

[OKW Lover]

Actually, I don't tip at all at DVC. Its my home and I do the housekeeping.

 

[Maria395712]

yes I leave small on trash and towel and more on check and I do my own clean up while I am there any tip is good they don't get paid much
maria

 

[MrsNick]

Wow, thanks for posting! I haven't made my first trip "home" yet, and so had not even thought about this. I guess I would leave a small tip for TT, and a more substantial tip for checkout.

Does this sound right?

 

[dvc_bwv]

yes I leave small on trash and towel and more on check and I do my own clean up while I am there any tip is good they don't get paid much
maria

Don't get me wrong, there are usually only my DH and I and we aren't very messy and do clean up after ourselves so there isn't much "cleaning" to do other than changing the linens, etc. I even run the dishwasher the morning we are checking out. I just suddenly was confused as to how much of a tip to leave on T&T day when you are checking out the next day.

Actually, I don't tip at all at DVC. Its my home and I do the housekeeping.

To this I say that we also clean up after ourselves, but mousekeeping cleans the rooms before we check in and again after we check out and they deserve to be tipped for what they do as they don't make much in the way of wages and the tips are appreciated.

 

[Wendy1953]

Well, I found not tipping to be most obnoxious...its your home, but other's live in there before and after you....the people who clean up the mess and sanitize it before anyone goes in there deserves to be tipped.

Sounds like all other replies regarding the TT day being less and check out being more is good advice. Heading down on Wednesday, and never even thought about TT day...would have when the day came, but glad you mentioned it here. Knowing how Disney employee's shifts and duties change, I certainly wouldn't want to short change anyone!

Forgot to mention that this will be my first trip HOME! Can't wait, and thanks again for the tipping advice!

 

[DVC-Don]

I usually try and cancel the T&T day and tip $10 at the end.

 

[DVCconvert]

We usually try to tip $10 for T&T and $20 for full service and on our checkout day from a 1 Bedroom. My mom (back in WW2 days) worked in the service sector and we feel that those who are doing these jobs at WDW today are under paid and are usually very nice people who would/do appeciate our expression of appreciation.

 

[jekjones1558]

We also tip less for t&t and more on checkout. Here is a link to mousekeeping tip envelopes. I put money in them before we leave for WDW and then I don't have to worry about having the right bills when we're there.
Mousekeeping envelopes

 

[rocketriter]

You'll hear many opinions on DVC tipping. I personally consider it a worthwhile way to motivate low-paid staff, so I always leave something, particularly if the rooms were spotless when we first arrived or if housekeeping went out of their way for us. But I don't leave as much as I would at a hotel with daily full maid service.

 

[bicker]

Keep in mind that unlike at many West Coast-based hotel chains, Disney housekeepers are non-tipped personnel, so tipping is strictly optional. I'll tip for a housekeeper going far out of the way for us, but that's never actually happened.

 

[Pluto 2]

when i was there in july at ssr, they didnt want to take my tip. 2 times they did not take the 10 dollars that i left, maybe i was leaving it in the wrong spot. the third time i left the tip i wrote a note saying this is your tip.

 

[jekjones1558]

when i was there in july at ssr, they didnt want to take my tip. 2 times they did not take the 10 dollars that i left, maybe i was leaving it in the wrong spot. the third time i left the tip i wrote a note saying this is your tip.

The very reason to use the tip envelopes (see above post)!

 

[crazywig]

flame away but i don't tip T&T either.

 

[Beca]

jekjones1558 - First of all...."Hello"!!! I think about you a lot!! I hope all is well with you!! Secondly, thanks for the link...I have been looking for that.

As for the tipping question....I am like DVC-Don. I really don't like having anyone come into my room while I am at WDW. I do a pretty good job of cleaning (vacuuming and doing at LEAST a load of laundry a day), so I generally cancel the T&T and then tip on the day of check out. However, we have not really stayed in studios. If we were staying in a studio....I would keep T&T and then tip smaller for that day.



Beca

 

[poohj80]

the people who clean up the mess and sanitize it before anyone goes in there deserves to be tipped.

We have always tipped upon checkout as well when not staying long enough to receive T&T, but admit we thought twice about it on our last stay when our room was not very well cleaned upon check-in. We kept asking ourselves if we would we tip bad service elsewhere? Then why do it at DVC?

 

[Lori in CNY]

My hubby and I are both neat freaks. We keep our room very clean but are always happy to have clean fresh towels and other supplies delivered. While we do tip more on the day we're leaving, we always leave a tip on Trash and Towel day. (we have our envelopes pre-marked and pre-stuffed from home). On our last trip, we were left with more than an ample supply of towels, soap extras, dishwasher detergent, laundry soap extras, towel animals, and a very sweet note written in Spanish. Then because she took out our trash and saw the Happy Birthday plates that were in there from our friend's celebration with a cake, they dropped off a balloon bouquet and a bithday card autographed photo of Pooh and the gang and tied it to our door handle.

They truely are appreciative when you do something for them, but you should always do what you feel is the right thing!! aw:

 

[wildernessDad]

I am considering leaving a 20 % tip to mousekeeping based on what they would charge for the service if you ordered it.

Example, they currently charge $15 for a trash and towel service for a studio, so I would give them $3 when they do it during the course of my stay. What do you think?

 

[Dean]

I am considering leaving a 20 % tip to mousekeeping based on what they would charging for the service if you ordered it.

Example, they currently charge $15 for a trash and towel service for a studio, so I would give them $3 when they do it during the course of my stay. What do you think?

But it's only worth $2.50 19 months later, LOL. It is your personal decision. Technically mousekeeping is not a tipped position at Disney so I only tip if they do something extra which they frequently do.

 

[Margie J]

I always tip well and leave a thank you note even when I'm staying alone in a Villa. Last week Mousekeeping gave me tons of extra supplies also. If they have made my trip better I'll make their day better (and easier by cleaning myself). It's the least they deserve.