Has anyone done this for Mousekeeping before?

[tone.def]

Okay, maybe I'm too much in the holiday spirit, but around Christmas, has anyone left a little gift as well as a tip? I'm afraid if I just left the gift, they wouldn't take it.

I'm not talking about a big gift, but some small bottles of maple syrup from here (Ontario) and maple icewine tea bags and candies...

Should I just straight tip?

Tip smaller amount with gift?

Just small gift?

 

[Marimar]

I say you go for any type of generosit that your heart feels like sharing! More power to you. Sounds like you will be making someone's day!

 

[MariettaC]

I've never done that but I'm sure they'd appreciate the thoughtfulness.

 

[BYC]

Here is something I have always wondered about tipping housekeeping at a hotel. Say you have been very happy with your housekeeper, and you want to be sure she gets a nice tip. But, what if the day you leave is her day off? Does that mean the person who just comes on that day will get the tip? Or, are they supposed to be honorable, and pool the tips? Anyone know how it works?

 

[bicker]

It depends on the hotel, of course. At Disney resorts, housekeepers are non-tipped personnel, so there no expectation of tips, so no system to ensure they're distributed fairly.

 

[webray]

Okay, maybe I'm too much in the holiday spirit, but around Christmas, has anyone left a little gift as well as a tip? I'm afraid if I just left the gift, they wouldn't take it.

I'm not talking about a big gift, but some small bottles of maple syrup from here (Ontario) and maple icewine tea bags and candies...

Should I just straight tip?

Tip smaller amount with gift?

Just small gift?

Honestly, if I were on the receiving end of a tip..cash is always best. During the holidays, we just tip more of it.

Please though...before you tip your mousekeeping staff, make sure your room was clean when you arrived. We haven't really had a "clean" room, not one I would check people into for years at disney. They seem to neglect the mirrors, there are always hairs on the bathroom floor and in shower (and not hairs from peoples heads), this past weekend the carpet wasn't evened vacuumed when we arrived. The dust build up around the mop boards is ridiculous.

Yes, we complain, and have been for years, both in person and via letters. They have changed our room, next one not much better..lol. Whoever is managing the disney housekeeping staff is doing a horrible job.

 

[dixiedizfan]

If you leave a gift, remember that sometimes there will be more than one housekeeper. When we stayed at POR our housekeepers came in pairs of two.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

We did this once at the BC. Our housekeeper, Carmen, was the best we ever had at Disney. We had the opportunity to meet her one day. On the day before we checked out, we left our tip plus a small gift for her with a thank you for making our stay so magical.

 

[#1DizGal]

I always leave an envelope I decorate with Mickey ears with $1 or $2 (I travel solo). I will then place 2-3 Double Bubble wrapped bubblegum for the Mousekeepers. I figure, there's no gum on property, that might be a treat for them!

 

[tone.def]

But, what if the day you leave is her day off?

Just for this reason I tip daily.

I think what I am going to do is leave $1 + bottle of syrup and or/maple tea bags and/or maple candy. Then if there is more than 1 mousekeeper that comes in that day, they can divide it up on their own.

 

[solferino]

I was thinking of doing origami bills for tips... kind of a creative way to do it. It'll give me something to do on the plane, LOL. 3 bills gently taped will do a crane beautifully. I think there's a book for origami for single bills but since I know the cranes from memory that's what I'll stick with.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

Just back from AKL and I left the housekeeper a small gift and a tip in a holiday card everyday and yes they took both of them.

Since you mention that you are from Canada as well, might I suggest some Canadian chocolate bars - Caramilk, Dairy Milk, Coffee Crisp, "good" Kit Kat bars, etc. along with any maple products. Also Red Rose tea is not available in the US (Only in Canada? Pity.) so that makes a nice small gift - of course there are always packets of Tim Horton's coffee

 

[monica31671]

I stayed at CBR in June and left a little gift and money everyday. I tied "Thank you, Mousekeeping!" tags on the gifts and set them on top of the money. The first two days the gifts stayed there but the money was gone. The third day, I left all three gifts with that days money sticking out of the top of the third gift. That seemed to do the trick.
I am a Mary Kay rep, so I took little "gifts with purchase" sort of things. Body sprays and hand lotions.
We saw our mousekeeper almost everyday as we were coming and going. When she saw us lugging our bags out, she patted me on the arm and told me thank you several times. She was very sweet.
Everybody loves a little gift of appreciation.

 

[dthogue]

We live near Hershey and will be at PO-FQ during Christmas. I am planning on bringing several bags of Hershey's candy and will leave that along with my tip on Christmas day. I was also planning on dropping off some candy at the front desk. JUst a way to thank them for working to make my holiday enjoyable.

Tammy

 

[drp4video]

Leave Smartees!

 

[iliketoby]

IMHO -- A gift is nice, but cash is king!

Housekeepers make very little. They need all the money they can get. Would you rather have money to pay rent and maybe buy your kid a Christmas gift, or a bottle of syrup? You wanna pay the rent.

People who work in tipped positions will appreciate the money more than anything.

 

[pampam]

I like the maple syrup idea. So many people down there have never tasted the real thing. I think that is a lovely surprise. I know, when I visit friends from out of the area, many times I will bring maple syrup, and is is treated like gold.

 

[curiouser]

Leave Smartees!

*will start working for Mousekeeping if people start leaving real Smarties as tips*

 

[Tink215]

I didnt read the whole thread but I was thinking of the same thing. We are arriving at the Pop on Christmas Day and I just feel real bad for those who have to work that day.....SO I was going to leave a little extra saying Merry Christmas........Glad I wasnt the only one who thought of this.......

 

[Tink215]

Princess Trisha If you dont mind me asking what is Red Rose tea, Is it actually a tea product made of roses. Dont laugh, I just got real curious and I love trying new teas, I have a freind in Canada and will ask her to maybe send me some....Thanks for your help!!!