How much do you Tip?

[raidermatt]

Ted and Holly is/are correct (at least for me), I'm not trying to make anyone feel guilty. If you feel guilty, there's a reason, and you can't peg that on me. If you don't feel guilty, you've got no worries and my tipping shouldn't bother you in the least.

Again, if you don't want to tip, don't. My personal reason is pretty simple:

They are handling our bedding, our used towels, cleaning up any messes we made, etc. To me, this is a personal service worthy of a couple of bucks.

Maybe they get paid the minimum wage or a little more, but last I checked, this isn't exactly going to send little Jimmy to college. Somebody getting paid minimum wage may not be a reason to tip, but its definitely not a reason to NOT tip either.

Also, if I'm at WDW, and I'm going to miss that small amount of money that much, from my point of view, I probably should be vacationing elsewhere. (again, doesn't mean YOU should go elsewhere, because that's up to you. It just means I would.)

For the original poster, who asked how much we tip, my answer is $3-5 per day for our family of three, depending on service.

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

Thanks Raidermatt. I don't normally tip housekeeping if I'm only staying for 1 night or by myself. But this trip will be 11 days with the whole family. My original post was not - whether to tip or not - but how much seemed appropriate. I've already been accumulating $5 bills in my "mousekeeping" envelopes to take with me.

It's definately an individual's decision - for me, I can afford the $5 per day. Maybe it will brighten somebody's day to get that little something extra...

 

[WDW2002]

They are taxed 8% of their guest checks as tip income wherether they get a tip or not. So if you stiff the server, they have actually lost money by serving you

Housekeeping is considered NOT to be a tiped position, any tip they do receive I am sure is not reported or taxed. And servers (in my experiece) make 15 - 20 % average of their guest checks (even when someone "stiffs" them) in tips, so over half is not taxed, so they are making out like bandits when it comes tips & taxes.

I will continue to tip as I see fit. I do tip most of the time at restaurants, I will not tip housekeeping, and I prefer to handle my own bags, so I will not be using bell service.

Someone asked about bus drivers, and I did see quite a few people tiping the driver of the shuttle driver from our hotel to Disneyland.

I am not going to tell someone how they should be spending their money, but I don't want someone how to spend mine either.

 

[Ityldu]

I few years back I cleaned rooms at a very upscale resort for the summer. After 3 months I think I remember getting only 1 tip. I didn't even know until reading the DIS, that it was expected to tip. Now I just learned that I'm also supposed to tip if they bring us extra towels or an extra blanket.

When I waitress, I'm a very big tipper, usually 20%+. I waitressed and some weeks actually ended up owing money. It was a rest. visited mostly by seniors on a very tight budget thus very little tipping. (I didn't stay there long)

I do tip when I'm at Disney, mostly b/c I feel so fortunate and happy, that I want to spread the cheer. I do get resentful of the non-stop tipping. We rarely carry much cash. We use debit cards for everything. If we have cash it's usually a $20 bill. I hate having to feel like I need to have a wad of singles in my pocket constantly when on vacation. I would much rather park my own car and bring up my own bags. I truly don't feel that I'm cheap, I love doing things like going through a toll and paying for the stranger behind me. Even now I feel like I have to justify how I spend my money. I know no one here is trying to make me feel guilty, I just always do.

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by Bob NC
It seems that a lot of posters are trying to make folks feel guilty by talking about not 'begrudging' housekeepers their tips; Mentioning how hard they work, etc...And I have yet to see one of these arguments that makes economic or logical sense. If you bring up the fact that they don't make much and work hard therefore they deserve a tip, well, logically wouldn't that person also be tipping the landscaper, or every other hard working, low wage earner they come in contact with during the day? Another common thing mentioned is that they are required to handle nasty, disgusting dirty clothes, towels and such. A lot of jobs, many low wage, have that exact same requirement. Ever hear of anyone tipping the minimum wage cleaner at the hospital?...I'm guessing they run acroos stuff cleaning hospital rooms that Disney housekeepers never run across.

I am not trying to make anyone feel guilty about their choice to tip or not tip housekeeping. (Servers are a different story, unless you have really bad service, IMHO it's just wrong to stiff a server) I was simply pointing out that many people think all they do is make the beds. They do a lot more than that. And despite that, they still take the time to make towel animals and greet you with a friendly smile.

In my part of the country, hospital housekeepers make upwards of $10 per hour, while hotel housekeepers are generally paid a touch above minimum wage (our state minimum is slightly higher than the Federal, but it doesn't keep up with our much higher cost of living.) The hospital folks are also given a very lucrative benefits packages, hotel housekeeping generally does not get similar benefits. I've seen some really trashed hotel rooms. There was one at the GF the last time I stayed there that was so bad thye had to clean the carpets and replace the drapes before they could use it again.

I have tipped or given a token gift to other generally non-tipped positions when I felt that the person went out of their way to assist me or somehow made my trip more magical. People such as desk clerks and yes, even a grounds keeper once. Why not? I enjoy giving them a litle something. It makes me feel good. I also take names and write letters after each trip, making sure to mention by name the people who made my trip particularly memorable.

If anyone chooses not to tip housekeeping, that's their perogative. I do choose to tip. I feel very fortunate that I can afford to travel to WDW regularly. I think that the cast members add much to our visits. I'd hate to see them leave for other (better paying) jobs and be replaced with people who don't care about making magic. So if a couple bucks a day will help keep a good cast member happy so they continue to make the magic, it's worth it to me

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by WDW2002

Housekeeping is considered NOT to be a tiped position, any tip they do receive I am sure is not reported or taxed. And servers (in my experiece) make 15 - 20 % average of their guest checks (even when someone "stiffs" them) in tips, so over half is not taxed, so they are making out like bandits when it comes tips & taxes. [/B]

Regardless of the tax implications, they are only making $2.50 an hour pay in most states. The government has decided that there is reasonable expectation that they will receive tips, and therefore taxes them. They aren't taxed on the full amount because they are already being paid less than the minimum wage.

Anne

 

[WDW2002]

Originally posted by ducklite

They aren't taxed on the full amount because they are already being paid less than the minimum wage.

This is incorrect. They are suppose to report 100% of their tips and be taxed one 100% of them. The government imposed the 8% rule because most do not do this.

 

[Patrick IL.]

I am going to step in once and only once here. This was not intended to be a debate. Should you wish to have a debate on this subject feel free to start a thread on the debate board.

 

[WDW2002]

Continue to debate this Here

 

[DMDSTPRGIL]

Tipping is all about how you feel really.If you think the housekeepers have done a great job and gone beyound in there effort,well take care of them.Make sure you leave it each day.If you leave it at the end of your visit it might be picked-up by a maid who only worked on your room that one day.I will usally give $5.00 a cleaning. I think about the work they are doing,how much they might be making(it's Orlando after all,they mostly make $6.00 to $10.00 an hour) and I even get into conversation with them at times about there familys.Most if not all of these workers could never afford to stay in the rooms we are staying in. I drive my wife nuts because I love to talk to people and I learn alot by doing so.From talking to the bar tenders and other service personel I have learned over the years that the people who can most afford it,are usally the ones who tip the least if at all. They always have the excuse that they paid alot for what ever.They are also the ones who complain the most.So tip what ever you want,but the going rate at a place like the Boardwalk and Beach Club is $5.00 each cleaning.(how do you think rich people get rich,they keep it all for themselfs)

 

[HoosierFantasia]

You make that sould like a bad thing!

I am curious if the people on here that tip housekeeping have a maid or cleaning service at home clean up after them or not. And if you do, do you pay them for the job they do and then tip them?

Did I get anyone really fired up with that question?

Bill

 

[Patrick IL.]

As I mentioned earlier in the thread, this one has gone as far as possible. A link is available in the thread should you wish to debate the subject. This topic is closed-
Patrick