I really need to understand this mousekeeping tipping business.

[searlproudbottom]

Searlproudbottom offers a handshake to Safetymom

 

[>>^..^<<]

Originally posted by searlproudbottom
Dear >>^..^<<

I am not interested in another debate.

Thank goodness for that ~ I'm not as sweet as safetymom

>>^..^<<

 

[michygoomy]

The geek in me feels the need to correct this:

TIPS mean "To Insure Proper Service"

TIP
From Claire McBain, Thomas Lusk, Donna Guindon, and others: “What is the origin of the word tip as in the tip you would give a waitress at a restaurant?”
Could I first dispose of the odd belief that it is an acronym for the phrase To Improve Performance? Modern folk etymology has a curious idea that the source of almost any short word lies in an acronym (perhaps because we’re surrounded by them), but the truth is that few such inventions are found before the 1930s.
Actually, this is a most interesting word. There are three distinct senses of tip in English: the one for an extremity probably comes from Old Norse; the one with the sense of overturn possibly also comes from a Scandinavian language, though nobody is sure. The one you’re asking about may derive from the German tippen, or possibly also be connected with the idea of an extremity, though authorities in language history are hedging their bets through lack of evidence.
It turns up first in the thirteenth century, meaning to touch lightly (as in the game tip and run). By the early 1600s, it had become thieves’ cant with the sense of handing something over, or passing something surreptitiously to another person. This may derive from the idea of lightly touching somebody’s arm in order to communicate. (This is supported by other appearances of the word in phrases like tip the wink and tip off and the noun tip for a piece of inside information, say on a horse race.)
One specific thing that was passed was a small sum of money. By the beginning of the eighteenth century it had taken on its modern meaning of giving a gratuity for a small service rendered; the first recorded use is in George Farquhar’s play The Beaux Stratagem of 1706 (“Then I, Sir, tips me the Verger with half a Crown”). By the 1750s, it could also mean the gratuity itself.

 

[glo]

I think that we can all agree that tipping is an individual decision, and is not required, but something you do if you feel that it is warrented. I think we can all agree to disagree....

 

[dpic]

The US has become a country where tipping is now prevalent in many places and for positions that would never be considered in other parts of the country. I see tipping jars at so many places now that it is becoming a tad ridiculous.

We just returned from a vacation in Yellowstone. At one of the park gas stations, after I pumped the gas and cleaned the 1,000 bugs off the windshield, I went into the office where the young attendant waited for me on a nice padded stool. Next to the cash register was a tip jar. I thought, "maybe if you had helped with a couple of those bug splatters...."

That said, I tip the mousekeepers. Part because it's Disney, and I lose all sense of financial reason. Next, I worked my way through college as a custodian, and I sympathize with people who clean toidies for a living. It still sticks in my craw that I never got a nickel from any of those 10 year olds...

 

[ScarletIndigo]

Originally posted by peachgirl
Housekeepers at WDW are paid no better or worse than many CM positions. Frankly, I can't think of a harder job than standing out in the Florida heat dealing with sometimes difficult guests. Yet no one thinks the park CM's should be tipped, nor are they allowed to accept tips.

As I said, I tip, but I can't possibly tip every low paid employee of WDW or any other business for that matter.

Peachgirl, bless your heart -- you seem to be one of the few folks here who truly understood my point.

I would love to "sprinkle some extra magic" on every single underpaid and overworked person in the ENTIRE world, not just Disney's. But it's impossible and unnecessary to think that just because we are recipients of a service (even an excellent one) that we are expected to tip -- most importantly when the service provider is making minimum wage or better. That's why the analogy of waitressing vs. mousekeeping doesn't hold up. Waitstaff are paid LESS than minimum wage, and are expected to make the rest of their earnings through the kindness of their customers. I tip waitstaff generously, because they work hard and rely on tips to earn a living. But where other service professions are concerned that are NOT tipped positions, it seems a bit odd to me that you'd choose to tip your maid $5 but not the minimum wage retail clerk or customer service rep or the many other underpaid workers you come into contact with every single day. Just because they don't have to pick up your dirty towels or remake your bed, it doesn't mean they don't work just as hard to provide you with efficient service!

My father works in building maintenance at an apartment building that houses primarily elderly people. And growing up I used to get so frustrated with the tennants who would call my father in the middle of the night about a leaky faucet, or who would make my dad interrupt our Thanksgiving dinner because they smelled something funny in their kitchen. I always thought they owed him something for doing his job as efficiently and pleasently as he did. But as I got older (and wiser!) I realized that my father had made it his mission to do his job to the best of his abilities, regardless of any thanks or tips he might get from the people he attended to. And yes, he did receive the occasional tip from time to time. But he always told me that it meant more to him when someone gave him a genuine "thank you" or wrote him a note of appreciation. $1, $5, or even $20 couldn't compare to the feeling that he was appreciated for what he did for the tennants at his building. And I suppose I took on that belief system as well. A genuine "thank you" says volumes more than a few dollar bills. So I fully intend on using my mousekeeping envelopes this fall, but I plan on writing notes of thanks and appreciation for the service provided. If that makes me stingy, so be it. But at least I can hope that my Mousekeeper gets the same glow of satisfaction from a thank you note as they get from a monetary tip.

There are many ways to "share the magic", especially in WDW. Showing your appreciation and thanks to ALL the CMs, instead of giving a few dollars to a select few, just seems like the right kind of magic to me.

 

[safetymom]

There are many ways to "share the magic", especially in WDW. Showing your appreciation and thanks to ALL the CMs, instead of giving a few dollars to a select few, just seems like the right kind of magic to me.

I mentioned that I do exactly that when I am in WDW. But I tip housekeeping no matter where I go. I know it isn't a tipped position but I feel good doing it.

I also try to be very nice to any CM's that I encounter. It always amazes me when at WDW how little I hear thank you when guests ask questions, receive food, etc from a CM. When I come back from a visit and I received great service at my hotel or in the parks I write a letter with their names to Disney.

I still don't understand why if I choose to give a tip to the housekeeper that is a bad thing. It is totally voluntary on my part. It is a very small part of my Disney budget.

I am sure that housekeeping realizes they aren't a tipped position and appreciate the notes and tips they receive.

 

[ScarletIndigo]

Originally posted by safetymom
I still don't understand why if I choose to give a tip to the housekeeper that is a bad thing.

Just to clarify, safetymom ... I, nor anyone else here, ever said that tipping Mousekeeping is a "bad thing" at all. Much to the contrary, I think your generousity is great. I only said that people who choose NOT to tip should not feel obligated to, and should receive the same level of service and touches of "magic" as folks who DO tip receive.

Whether it's a thank you or a tip, anyone who goes out of their way to make a CM or Mousekeeper feel appreciated is A-OK in my book!

 

[safetymom]

ScarletIndigo, I agree with you. This is my last post on this subject because for some reason the written word does not translate well with the feelings behind it. If we were talking about this in person I am sure almost all of us would agree about how to handle tipping.

 

[lisadam]

The custom of tipping has always amazed me. Why for instance, do we tip postal delivery folks at holiday time , but not the person who sells us stamps. Its confused me because they're government employees and that's usually forbidden - but its done.

I tip my newspaper delivery guy - but not my utility meter-readers. ITs just customary. Garbage Collecters get a tip at the holidays... they're certainly not low on the wage scale.

I tip my hairstylist who removes hair from my head - but not my dentist who's removing plaque. I guess in that case its low-wage vs higher wage.

I tip a cab driver - but not the subway conductor.

I guess what I'm saying is that there are professions where we in the US tip and others where we don't and it isn't always logical.

SO I tip housekeepers in hotels everywhere - its just one of those things that I do - but because its all so illogical I don't think less of people who don't.

 

[DrTomorrow]

How about this:

When I am at WDW, if I want to Spread the Magic to CMs, I will remember that there are many ways to do it. A sincere thank you and a kind smile will often make their day. If a CM is in a tipped position, I will remember that they depend on tips to survive and take that into account when I tip. If a CM is not in a tipped position, I will remember that they owe the same level of service to all paying customers; so if I choose to tip them, it's just that - a personal choice.

I pledge this in the name of Walt, Mickey and Tinkerbell,
Amen.

 

[DrTomorrow]

This thread has given me a great idea!

As ScarletIndigo sagely pointed out, there are a lot of non-tipped employees other than Mousekeeping. So this fall, I'm going to be tipping some of them! I can't wait to see the look on the Turkey Leg guy, or the girl who takes your 3-D glasses after HISTA, when I give them a couple of bucks and say "Here, this is for you."

He he he. I think I'll wait in line to see Ariel, and after DW takes our picture, I'll slip her a $5 and say "Thanks!"

Of course, I won't do this until I have checked what the official Disney policy is (harrumph, harrumph) - wouldn't want to break the rules, don't ya know.

 

[Puffy2]

Some people won't take the tips - I tried to tip the monorail driver when he let us ride up front and he said he wasn't allowed to accept tips.

I've also seen where mousekeeping at disney hasn't taken the tip left.

I've also had mousekeeping (Poly concierge) take the tip on the first day and do a TERRIABLE job of "cleaning the room" (dirty towels left , etc...) I did NOT tip again after that on that visit.

And, it's unusual for me to tip the housekeepers at a hotel at all- since sometimes it's related to good service at Disney - I do (kind of like when the baggage handler at the airport says "and can I do anything else for you mam?" which really means "do you want your bags to arrive in Atlanta or Alaska?")

 

[peachgirl]

But he always told me that it meant more to him when someone gave him a genuine "thank you" or wrote him a note of appreciation.

This made me recall our experience with our mousekeeper at the WL last Christmas.


She was so sweet our entire stay that I practically felt like I knew her. We had exchanged notes several times during the stay. On our last day, while we were packing to leave, our mousekeeper stopped by to say goodbye. What did she thank us for? For the "nice" notes we left. She said several times how much she appreciated them and how much it meant to her. I'm sure she appreciated the tips, but what she thanked us for were the words of appreciation!

I always start my first post on the tipping issues with the opinion that tipping mousekeeping is a personal choice with no right or wrong. I have to say though, that I find more often than not the ones that don't tip are given a tougher time on these boards than those who do.

 

[>>^..^<<]

Originally posted by DrTomorrow
He he he. I think I'll wait in line to see Ariel, and after DW takes our picture, I'll slip her a $5 and say "Thanks!"

This from the guy who gives a quarter to the valet and a buck to the buffet waitress

>>^..^<<

 

[cindywhitall]

I will probably leave some kind of a tip, assuming our room is well-kept. Therefore, I am wondering about these envelopes I have seen mentioned. What are they and where do I get them?

By the way, I think the key words from the brochure I have seen quoted (but not seen yet in real live) are "exceptional" service. Apparently basic service is expected and included. Kind of like you might normally leave a 15% tip at a reastaurant if the service was "ok" but leave 20-25% if the wait staff went above and beyond.......

ANyhow, still wondering about the envelopes. Thanks

 

[DrTomorrow]

I'll leave the "where" to others.

The "what" is simply a [possibly Disneyfied] envelope for the tip; that way Mousekeeping knows it is a tip for them, and not just cash left lying around.

 

[sjw4870]

I spend close to 100 nights be year in hotel rooms (admitedly, mostly for work). I always tip the housekeeper whether it's business or pleasure. I look at it this way, you tip the valet who brings you your car and it takes him about 2 minutes; the housekeeper has to clean up after you and it probably takes her 30 minutes of labor. In my opinion, it is the same as the luggage guy, he ALWAYS gets a tip for minutes of service; yet the housekeepers get nothing 85% of the time. I read somewhere that another reason people tip valets, servers, etc. more than housekeeping is that you may not SEE your housekeeper, where the valet guy is someone you interface with. Out of sight, out of mind with the housekeeper, unfortunately.