How much to tip Mousekeeper??

[ncbyrne]

DH and I tip $1-$2 per day on average. One time I stayed at ASMu and the mousekeeping was horrendous! The "maid" was a Spanish speaking male, and he had NO clue! In a week's time he did no more than very poorly make an attempt at straightening the bed...the bathrooms were never touched nor was the floor vaccuumed. I came very close to complaining, but since we were only there for 6 nights, we did our own cleaning and just enjoyed our time in WDW. I left no tip.

 

[txgirl]

Yep I am cheap. I also don't tip other non-tipped positions, the counter service folks, the CM's who work attractions, the characters who spend all day in hot costumes so we can see them in person etc etc etc.

I have never tipped at a hotel before for housekeeping and we have never stayed where they carry our bags but after reading these boards for months I assumed EVERYONE did and therefore I should, but the above quote raises a really good question? Who decides what kind of minimum wage workers get a tip? What about the cleaning staff at the hospital where I stayed for several days after the birth of my children? or the cleaning staff at my husband's workplace? There are thousands of jobs where people are underpaid and overworked and they are never tipped

I'm not saying we are not tipping. I think it sets a good example for my kids and I also love to bring a little joy to someones day. We are good tippers for restaurants, hair-cuts, luggage handlers, etc. I just think it raises an interesting topic in regard to who deserves the tip???? I don't think it makes someone cheap to not tip mousekeeping because if I had not read these boards I would have never considered it.

What do ya'll think?

 

[Maybelle]

I ALWAYS tip houskeeping staff no matte where I stay. I have never considered not tipping until I read this thread...not that I am considering it now. I have always thought $1 per person per day or $5 per room per day was apppopriate, but would leave more if I felt the housekeeping staff did a really great job.. I also try to leave a little nice note if they have been really good.

 

[Figaro's friend]

We are a large (tidy) family of 8 and we always tip. I cleaned ofc. as a college student, and people are just downright nasty and gross. I suspect tourists aren't any better. So, i hope to make a housekeeper smile when she earns that extra $20 a day. Hopefully it goes toward her child's college fund, or at least makes bill paying day a little bit easier. It doesn't blow our budget, and I like to teach my kids that it is better to give to those in need than be selfish any day of the week.

 

[pdchris]

When we were there in May, I tipped $3 per day; $1 per person per day. That came to a total of $18 for the time we were there. Considering what I spent while we were there, including room, it was pretty inconsequential.

 

[disneymac]

Do you leave $ each day or do you wait until the end of the week to leave it all? I was wondering if you have the same mousekeeper everyday or is there a different one each day. I'd hate to leave all the money at the end of my week and have it all go to someone who only worked one day and the one who did the first six days get nothing... I think I just answered my own question!

 

[MelodyMack]

Sorry...anybody have a link to where I can print those THANK YOU notes / Mousekeeper envelopes?

And consider skipping a Mickey Ice Cream bar, and TIPPING YOUR MOUSEKEEPERS....just for karma sake if not for the sake of perpetuating the very Disney magic you're trying to find on your vacation (leaving my flame suit on the hanger, afterall what's right is right)!

Mel
- "a man only needs so much fortune, and the rest is just for showing off"

 

[disneychrista]

And consider skipping a Mickey Ice Cream bar, and TIPPING YOUR MOUSEKEEPERS....just for karma sake if not for the sake of perpetuating the very Disney magic you're trying to find on your vacation (leaving my flame suit on the hanger, afterall what's right is right)!
"

How is it "right" to tip someone who is not in a tipped position? Does that also mean you tip those other people you encounter that are also not in tipped positions? Do you keep a pocket full of ones to tip counter service, Mickey Bar venders, Bus drivers, Janitorial Staff. And I hope you tip the "big guy himself" since he is the one in the hot heavy "uniform" all day long.

 

[beattyfamily]

They ARE a tipped position on the Disney cruise ships, that's for sure!!!

I tip mousekeeping myself; $1 per person per day but I usually end up leaving $5 for my family of 4.

The paperwork you get from Disney is ONLY a guideline. Do what you feel you should do. No need to attack each other.

I tip mousekeeping and all housekeeping maids at all hotels and resorts. That is how I was raised. I would feel guilty otherwise. Plus part of my enjoyment in the trip planning phase is printing out the mousekeeping tip envelopes!

 

[beattyfamily]

Sorry...anybody have a link to where I can print those THANK YOU notes / Mousekeeper envelopes?

envelopes

 

[pamouselover]

Ok I am a tip beliver! But I usally tip everday. But we have tip at the end of our stay at the beach becuase we knew the same person was cleaning the room. Disney has differnt people cleaning everday, so I would tip everday.
I dont tip my first night there but the next night I leave a tip after I have seen that the room was tidy up! If you room is not I would not tip and complain, that is the only way they know who is not doing there job to keep the magic alive!

 

[Debbie Jean]

How is it "right" to tip someone who is not in a tipped position? Does that also mean you tip those other people you encounter that are also not in tipped positions? Do you keep a pocket full of ones to tip counter service, Mickey Bar venders, Bus drivers, Janitorial Staff. And I hope you tip the "big guy himself" since he is the one in the hot heavy "uniform" all day long.

I agree

 

[noodleknitter]

If any of those guys have to clean up after me personally, you can bet I would tip!

 

[jmminarik]

How is it "right" to tip someone who is not in a tipped position?

How is it wrong? In the US, Disney World may be the only non-tipped housekeeping position in the industry.

-Joe

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Good point about the other non tipped CM's!
One additional idea, though: some people *do* tip those types of CM's too. I can say this from experience as an Attractions Hostess. I was offered five dollars from a middle aged woman after I had spent some time getting to know her party on line during super soap weekend. I would often escort people if they were lost and I was able. I escorted a pair of elderly ladies to their PS at Mama Melrose and they tried to slip me three dollars. I did not keep either of these. However, I did have a rather memorable encounter with a family from my hometown of NJ and on the last day of their vacation they found out where I was working and brought me a tshirt. My manager told me to keep that since they had actually gone out and bought me something.
Although these events were quite uncommon and I wouldn't have *ever* expected them, they certainly did make me feel awesome. So, if I meet someone at Disney in *any* position who goes above and beyond- outisde of mousekeeping or tipped positions I *may* tip if not with money, at least with a kind word to them or their manager. Even if it's the CM who gives me my mickey bar! People say money makes the world go round, but kindness and love is what makes it worthwhile!

 

[LoveWDW]

I always tip a maid but have always done it at the end of the stay. From reading the above, I am thinking it should be every day instead, since different people may do the cleaning.

We also leave the room reasonably tidy.

Last time, a few years back, that we were at WDW, there was the option of calling to get fresh sheets every day, and I did request this. I figure that we are paying enough for the room that I wish the luxury of daily fresh sheets. Does anyone know if we can still get this service?

 

[disneychrista]

How is it wrong? In the US, Disney World may be the only non-tipped housekeeping position in the industry.

I never implied that it is wrong to tip someone in a non-tipped position. But to say it is only right to tip them imply's that it IS wrong to NOT tip, which it is not.

If you want to tip that is your business. But please do not imply that it is wrong to follow the rules (guidelines).

If any of those guys have to clean up after me personally, you can bet I would tip!

The Janitorial stafff that sweeps up your dropped popcorn or the toilet that you just went to the bathroom in ARE cleaning up after you. As are the foods CM's who wipe the tables that you just ate at.

So, if I meet someone at Disney in *any* position who goes above and beyond- outisde of mousekeeping or tipped positions I *may* tip if not with money, at least with a kind word to them or their manager. Even if it's the CM who gives me my mickey bar! People say money makes the world go round, but kindness and love is what makes it worthwhile!

I agree completely. Tipping should be reserved for those who do go above and beyound. Not simply given out of "duty" because you feel you have to.

 

[pdchris]

Do you leave $ each day or do you wait until the end of the week to leave it all? I was wondering if you have the same mousekeeper everyday or is there a different one each day. I'd hate to leave all the money at the end of my week and have it all go to someone who only worked one day and the one who did the first six days get nothing... I think I just answered my own question!

I left the money everyday for the reason you quoted.

 

[jpmom]

We have stayed in Deluxe resorts for the past several years. I expect that for an avg. cost of $300 per night, the room should be impeccably clean. On that same thought, regardless of cost of the room, Disney has a squeky-clean repuation to uphold. So, any Disney room should be spotless.

However...

For half of my stays in a DVC room, the units have been less than perfect. Aside from some major wear & tear issues, bathrooms have been substandard, kitchens have crumbs, sofa beds not checked for leftover popcorn and M&Ms.... I could go on.

And, to top it off, on our most recent stay at AKL (two weeks ago) in a Savannah room, my husband stepped on shards of glass within an hour after check-in. The glass was found on the carpet between the bathroom vanity & the closet. Thankfully, he was not hurt. But what if he, my two boys, or myself were injured? This could have ruined a great vacation.

Anyway, how a vacuum cleaner could miss 4-5 good size pieces of glass is beyond me. Leads me to believe that if the room "looks" okay, some mousekeepers may just skim the surface.

We did report these experiences to management. We were taken care of adequetly. However, I'd much rather walk into a spotlessly clean room than to stress out about who's leftover dirt I'm vacationing with.

And, by the way, we don't tip mousekeeping. Never have, never will.

 

[MelodyMack]

You don't have to do anything you don't want to, and no matter what anybody types on a discussion board that will never change. If you strongly believe that it is OK to not tip a hard working TRADITIONALLY tipped service employee, that's your call.

Having said that, let me just further ignite the peanut gallery by saying that I think it's comparing apples to oranges by saying "well, we don't tip the guys in the park wearing the big Mickey head". Well they are not a TRADITIONALLY tipped service. When you go to a restaurant you tip (or do some of you? ) the wait staff, not the cook.

I think it's pretty sad that people are trying to justify stiffing hard working people who provide a service that is traditionally tipped. Quote the brochure...sing me the song...but we all know you should tip your housekeeping staff if they're doing a good job.

So enjoy your Disney vacation...or your vacation to anywhere really. I hope the housekeeper/maid service you receive is exactly the kind you no-tippers deserve.

Mel