How much should we tip mousekeeping?

[lovebug33]

I just want to apologize for starting this thread. I didn't know people felt so passionately about it. I tried to delete it, but I couldn't figure that out!

 

[TPCShauna]

I'm not sure I understand the difference in not tipping mousekeeping (which I plan on doing) and not tipping the waiters after a meal. Those who tip mousekeepers, do you also tip the waiters and those who don't, do you not tip after a meal? Hopefully this doesnt open a can of worms that doesnt need to be opened.

Disney categorizes some positions as "tipped" and some as not. Positions that aren't "tipped" get paid better than their counterparts. The justification behind paying "tipped" positions less is that their wages will be made up by the tips they receive.

Mousekeepers are not considered "tipped" positions along with Guest Relations and Concierge staff in resorts, and therefore are not officially allowed to accept tips from guests. Servers ARE considered "tipped", so they rely on your tips to make up the rest of their income. Yes, some feel Disney should just pay those "tipped" cast members more which is a whole separate argument, but for now they don't so would receive a tip.

To answer your question, I don't typically tip mousekeeping, and when I do, it's for above and beyond service and I don't leave much. I do however tend to tip servers anywhere from 18 to 25% standard and sometimes leave more. The two positions are apples to oranges and I treat them accordingly.

 

[summerlady]

I just want to apologize for starting this thread. I didn't know people felt so passionately about it. I tried to delete it, but I couldn't figure that out!

Awwww...this is nothing compared to some threads that become heated. Some leave tips, some don't, just do whatever you feel is best for you personally.

 

[jgates]

If you do tip (and I do but that's my desire), leave it in a mousekeeping envelope, put it right on the pillow, etc. Some hotel chains have rules that they can't take it off the table, etc. So I always leave it right on the pillow. If I don't have an envelope, I write a note that says 'Thank you' from a small notepad, so they know it is for them.

 

[Disneyhenry]

I usually tip $2 pp but more is my 2 year old leaves a cracker or cereal mess LOL
But also I am huge at picking up after ourselves as much as I can, so that it makes housekeepers job easier

 

[Disneyhenry]

I just want to apologize for starting this thread. I didn't know people felt so passionately about it. I tried to delete it, but I couldn't figure that out!

Oh it's ok, I myself enjoyed reading what others had to say and I just got a good laugh at the rude peeps, thanks for starting this thread

 

[aubriee]

As for us, we tip $5/day each day. In December we'll be in a 2 BR villa with 3 bathrooms, 4 adults and 2 toddlers with crumbs, sticky stuff, dirty diapers and I plan to tip $10/day.
I printed out cute "mousekeeping" tip envelopes. Heidi here on the boards is kind enough to share her DISigns. http://www.arwolff.com/heidi/.

This is the same site that I use for our mousekeeping evelopes. I already have them printed and stuffed for our upcoming May trip We always tip $1.00/person/day or $2.00/day if I'm solo.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

We travel as a party of 5. Even though we are very neat I tip $5.00 per day to mousekeeping. I make up and fill the envelopes before we leave.

I also tip $2 a day to the turn down service mousekeepers.

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm not sure I understand the difference in not tipping mousekeeping (which I plan on doing) and not tipping the waiters after a meal. Those who tip mousekeepers, do you also tip the waiters and those who don't, do you not tip after a meal? Hopefully this doesnt open a can of worms that doesnt need to be opened.

Well, wait staff routinely get paid about $3 an hour, or something like that. They depend on tips to make a decent living. But housekeepers at WDW make much more than that....around $13 an hour. Is that a huge amount of money? No of course it isn't. But, it's high enough that Disney feels that they aren't to be considered tippable.

I just want to apologize for starting this thread. I didn't know people felt so passionately about it. I tried to delete it, but I couldn't figure that out!

I don't think anyone here has been rude or upset. Yes, people do get passionate about it. And no matter what is said, people will still do things the way they want to. It's always good to have discussions, out in the open, so that others can learn something new. As long as things are polite..which they have been so far.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Everyone should do what they are comfortable with. I personally like to tip the maids cause their jobs arent the most exciting. I normally tip $2 pp per day.

Just wanted to mention to those that have left a tip but notice the maid didnt take it.....as someone mentioned above, if the money isnt clearly indicated that its for the maid, they will not take it. They cant take tips lying on the table. If you leave it on the pillow they might take it? I left a tip on my pillow but the maid didnt take it....i ran into her after and asked her why she didnt take it, she said she had to leave in a hurry cause her boss was calling her and she forgot.

 

[tkldisney]

I have tipped in the past, but not anymore. I make my bed before I leave, clean up around sink area and if I require new towels I put them in the tub. I know they are supposed to change bedding every 3-4 days. I just stayed 5 nights and the bedding was not changed the entire time. Was it because I made the bed? shouldn't matter that's what Disney says they are supposed to do. Bathroom floor was not cleaned either during our stay. I used my own clorox wipes to clean it couple times. On the trips I did tip, I got no different service, so figured why tip when they are actually not suppose to take anyway.
The $5 day I was tipping for 5 nights, pays for couple CS meals or souvie.

 

[dissybroad]

Yikes! I'm conflicted now. I tend to tip if in doubt, but as a nurse I can't accept tips/gifts of any kind. I wouldn't want to put a WDW employee in a position to break a rule even if "everybody else does it". I may have to rethink my position.

 

[Chicago Mo]

beside the mousekeeping. what else should you tips.. Beside the normal of restaurants?
thanks for whoever gave the little print outs! are there more print outs

 

[goofy4tink]

beside the mousekeeping. what else should you tips.. Beside the normal of restaurants?
thanks for whoever gave the little print outs! are there more print outs

You say 'besides mousekeeping' but again, Disney does not consider them to be a 'tippable position'..so do what you want, with that policy in mind. You can tip Bell Services, Valet CMs, hairdressers, barbers, tour guides (to the best of my knowledge anyway), cab drivers/car service drivers, Mears bus drivers if they handle luggage for you. Room service CMs.
Any others???

 

[chrisw127]

We generally leave $5 a day and there are 3 of us. The reason we tip daily is that I've read here on the DIS that some days you get different mousekeepers than on other days. Have fun!

Same here.

 

[iluvdoombuggies]

I have left tips for housekeeping in the past but 90% of the time they do not take it. I put it in an envelope specifically stating housekeeping but it is usually still there when I get back to the room at the end of the day. I gave up on leaving the tip after our last stay. It makes a little more sense to me now as to why they have not taken it. I was wondering what was up.

 

[Lewisc]

You say 'besides mousekeeping' but again, Disney does not consider them to be a 'tippable position'..so do what you want, with that policy in mind. You can tip Bell Services, Valet CMs, hairdressers, barbers, tour guides (to the best of my knowledge anyway), cab drivers/car service drivers, Mears bus drivers if they handle luggage for you. Room service CMs.
Any others???

Bartenders are generally tipped. People who you use for spa services. edited to add waiters are typically tipped.

Outside of WDW. Some hotels consider housekeeping to be a tipped position. $1-$2 /guest/night is a normal tip.

Some locations, Las Vegas is a good example, guests tip the front desk clerk $20. Frequently the tip results in a complimentary room upgrade. That's not done at WDW hotels. The clerk will either refuse the tip or ask if you want the $20 applied to your room account.

 

[Pugmalion1]

When I'm on vacation, I like my bed made everyday, I like my towels refreshed when necessary, and I like the area around the sink to be tidied up when necessary, I also want all garbage removed daily.

Since I'm not going to do this myself, I will tip the person who does it for me. I really couldn't care less how much that person makes. It's a non-essential service that I am choosing to use, and one that requires a laborer to clean up after me. As far as I'm concerned, that is worth an extra $5 on top of whatever their hourly wage happens to be.

That's my prerogative, though. It's none of my concern what anyone else does. However, if it's your desire to do the same, somewhere between $3 and $5/ day sounds reasonable to me.

 

[MickeyNicki]

We leave $5 a day for DH and I .... sometime you do not get the same cleaner every day so it is good to tip by the day and not the end of stay

 

[Chicago Mo]

Thanks I get the fact that is is just IF YOU WANTED TO but not necessary I didn't last time around and i feel bad because every time we came back to the room is was spotless and my Triplets toys were arranged so cute, The kids really thought they came to life in Disney just like toy story. Every bit of my trip was "magical" we did the pirates league and tipped them. they deserved every dime in how they just took over the two of my kids and it was like watching a comedy show. i believe if they do a great job then they should be rewarded to know of your appreciation. Ya never see them to SAY thanks good job!
we shall see how the funds are this time around as well!