GF Gratuities - one more time with feeling

[disneyispi]

Apparently, my thread did not print for whatever reason, so I will try again.

I am supposed to leave for Florida tomorrow and have a couple of questions re: mousekeeping gratuities.......

As I am going solo to the GF, the $1/person/day seems like it would not be "normal" or the accepted practice. I don't want to short-change (no pun) the mousekeeping staff that clean my room every morning.

2ndly, do I tip the turn-down service at night? If so, what would be appropriate for me?

Other than the bellman, valet parking, and car-door opener, anybody else?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Greg K.]

Since it's the holidays, $2 or $3 a day would be a nice gesture, even for just one lonely person.

I would not tip the turn down people. Their work is over and done in a matter of moments. But the housekeeping folks do a lot more work and it takes a lot more time (and, in some cases, fortitude) do empty trash, remove used glasses, clean showers and change filthy towels every day.

Others to tip: the valet parking person ... though it's a matter of personal preference whether you tip the person who picks up, the one who drops off, or both. I usually tip both, a dollar each time. (Hell, it's the holidays! Spread the cheer! )

Tip the bell guy a dollar a bag, when dropping off and picking up.

 

[Wendi]

When we stay at the GF we always tip the turndown service.
We are a family of 3 (now 4) but we always leave $2.00. You would not believe how much over and above they where to us.
They would leave extra chocolates, extra towels and just overall seemed to be a little bit nicer.

There service is to remove any towels that you have gotten dirty,
fill the ice bucket, turn down the beds, close the drapes, sometimes turn the tv on and leave a light on for you to see when entering the room. I think that they deserve a little tip. I had a talk with one of the ladies last time and she said that on the pay scale, they are one of the lowest paid "Non Tipped" employees. I told her that I didn't understand why they were not considered a "Tipped" service, and she said that it was only because you are not being waited on "In Person". That's pretty bad. Even though most of us don't leave our rooms too bad off, next time you are there glance in an open room while housekeeping in there. My husband and I stopped one day and stood there in Complete Shock. The housekeeper caught us and I asked if the people had checked out and she told me "NO". It looked like a BOMB went off. She said that about 1/4 of the rooms she cleans are that way and it goes up closer to the holidays. The SAD thing is that she said that those are usually the people that DO NOT tip. They have one of the worst jobs, picking up our trash and cleaning our rooms. I think that is worth the extra $. I do know they appreciate it.

Sorry to go on, I just thought I would share the info.
Wendi

 

[disneyispi]

Thanks for the advice Wendi. I agree with you, that turn down service should be a "tipped" service.

Well here I am in Fla, with 8 days to go to WDW.

Before I left VA I downloaded the mousekeeping envelopes - 1 design for mousekeeping and 1 design for turn down CMs (both get a little extra on Christmas Day and New Year's Day).

I even copied a 3rd design for the 4 days I'll spend at Universal before my WDW trip (sssshh, don't tell Mickey I'm visiting the enemy first). Then I stuffed all the envelopes with the appropriate tips - once less thing to worry about.

I CAN'T WAIT!!!!

 

[Eljay]

Don't forget to tip the mousekeeper daily since there may be a different one each day. I used to tip at the end of the stay until this board taught me differently! Silly me!