Leaving Magic for MouseKeeping

[VillainFavs]

You're right, not envelopes at Disney as all other hotels, but they do have those little note cards that we just tuck the money in there. I know there's always been a way to leave a tip that's clearly marked because we've never had an issue and we've never brought our own.

And if the kids like making the envelopes, that's great. I just think some people go through all the trouble thinking they're doing something extra special. And, honestly, just leaving the tip is what counts. Not to sound horrible, but I'm sure the housekeeper couldn't care less about how it's left!

 

[AngiTN]

You're right, not envelopes at Disney as all other hotels, but they do have those little note cards that we just tuck the money in there. I know there's always been a way to leave a tip that's clearly marked because we've never had an issue and we've never brought our own.

And if the kids like making the envelopes, that's great. I just think some people go through all the trouble thinking they're doing something extra special. And, honestly, just leaving the tip is what counts. Not to sound horrible, but I'm sure the housekeeper couldn't care less about how it's left!

When DH and I travel without DGD we don't use envelopes. We have about half our stays without the card. There wasn't one in our room at WL last month. So I no longer assume that will be in the room.

 

[Alfredo68]

We stayed at AoA Lion King suites. I made little baggies that included our $5 tip/day, along with a small Hawaiian Chocolate Covered Macadamia Candy treat. I put a label on them that said "Thank You to our Mousekeeper!", along with a Disney sticker, just to finish it with that "Disney touch". Here is a picture of my baggies, before I placed the labels/stickers on them. I had fun making these, and I am pretty sure our Mousekeeper liked her tip baggies. She gave us excellent service daily. We are a family of 4 (youngest is 15 y/o), and we are not very messy at all. In fact, I tidied up every morning, before we headed out for the day. We had one of those rooms that the mousekeeper could get in and out quickly. I don't mind, because my mother was a hotel maid (her actual title) in Waikiki long ago, and I know how hard she worked, especially when the tourists were messy.

I love your envelopes and your gesture. I say, if you feel good about doing this, you should totally keep doing it. My only concern is that I don't know Disney's rules for housekeeping. It may be they are not allowed to keep stuff given to them like food (because I am sure that there are always some crazy people out there up to no good leaving stuff they should not). They may only be able to keep the money. I would ask at check-in if it is OK to leave gifts. If they say yes, then definitely. In fact, you seem to do double duty: a wonderfully tidy room AND candy! lol.

 

[AngiTN]

I love your envelopes and your gesture. I say, if you feel good about doing this, you should totally keep doing it. My only concern is that I don't know Disney's rules for housekeeping. It may be they are not allowed to keep stuff given to them like food (because I am sure that there are always some crazy people out there up to no good leaving stuff they should not). They may only be able to keep the money. I would ask at check-in if it is OK to leave gifts. If they say yes, then definitely. In fact, you seem to do double duty: a wonderfully tidy room AND candy! lol.

I don't know about Mousekeeping but I know the CL CM can and do accept gifts. They are not allowed to accept money so most guests give them trinkets/food instead. Matter of fact, it's reported food is much preferred as they share and snack on it throughout their shift. I always grab a box of mini Moon Pies for our CL stays (a local made treat)

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Cash is magical.

In 2011 I let the kids decorate envelopes with Disney stickers. They got a kick out of it and it kept them occupied one afternoon.

 

[Alfredo68]

I don't know about Mousekeeping but I know the CL CM can and do accept gifts. They are not allowed to accept money so most guests give them trinkets/food instead. Matter of fact, it's reported food is much preferred as they share and snack on it throughout their shift. I always grab a box of mini Moon Pies for our CL stays (a local made treat)

I know some CM accept pins, but then I'd want one in exchange! LOL. Which brings me to a whole different debate: pins, but that should be in different thread...

 

[Sagginit]

I think the only thing with gifts is it matters what the policy is for the staff. In my office building our housekeeping cannot take any items from us, even if we offer, without a signed and dated letter on company letterhead to indicate that they are not taking something without permission. I know this as there was once this beautiful but large vase that someone left in the break area with a note that it was free. Our housekeeper on the floor saw it sit there a few days and asked, so we were kind enough to provide her a letter so she could take it home. If the housekeeping shows up at the end of their shift with random items a supervisor would have no way of knowing if they are gifts or were taken or some sort of mix up. In that case if I had to deal with that hassle I would just leave the trinkets behind.

Since they can accept cash I would just leave cash, a nice note, and tidy up. We always leave towels in a pile, trash goes in the trash bin (including doing a quick scan for tissues or receipts that were left out that might be seen as trash), nothing on the beds and the floors/vanities/dressers are as clear as possible. I used to clean houses and I can tell you nothing eats up your time and energy more than when people just leave their stuff everywhere for you to pick up (and the reality is it's not really their job anyway, they are there to take care of linens and do a light cleaning). They will take a tidy room over a chocolate bar any day. If you want you can leave an extra $2 in your tip for a "candy bar" each day

 

[frisdis14]

I don't know about Mousekeeping but I know the CL CM can and do accept gifts. They are not allowed to accept money so most guests give them trinkets/food instead. Matter of fact, it's reported food is much preferred as they share and snack on it throughout their shift. I always grab a box of mini Moon Pies for our CL stays (a local made treat)

You must be a fellow Tennessean!

 

[momtotaryn]

It could be that your housekeeper gave you excellent service because she was just an excellent housekeeper. Or, as you said, that you tidied up yourself and didn't leave the place a mess for her.

Not just aimed at this poster, but as many have said, I'm sure the thing most appreciated is cash and leaving the room tidy for them. Plain and simple. As much as people spend all the time and effort making all the fancy envelopes and special ways of giving that cash, I'm willing to bet all that ends up in the trash before they leave your room. Not that they're ungrateful--it's purely an efficiency thing. Take the money out, slip it in a pocket, get rid of the rest of the "stuff". We tip every day, leave it in the envelope provided by Disney (or whatever hotel we're staying in), and leave it in on a conspicuous place. Our towels are all in one pile in the bathroom. There's nothing left on our beds. Our bathroom vanity area is kept tidy--we like it that way! And we've always had great service! No special treats, no handmade envelopes, nothing over the top.

I think the idea is a good-hearted one. But I think it's probably more for the giver's sake than the receiver's.

You are right, leaving the tip baggies may have been more for my sake than the mousekeeper's. It certainly made me feel good, knowing that I could show my appreciation for their hard work. I like making the effort to do something special. It doesn't matter to me if she took the cash and dumped the candy, as long as my mousekeeper felt my appreciation.

As a side note, though, as mentioned in my previous post, my mother was a hotel maid in Waikiki many, many years ago. I recall her occasionally bringing home goodies/treats that the tourists left for her, I'm assuming with their tips. Any "larger" gift could not be accepted, according to her hotel's policy. Of course, even back then, you'd check to make sure the food items were not tampered with, before enjoying them. I don't really know about my mom, but as a young child, I sure appreciated those goodies ~ LOL!

 

[maxiesmom]

I'm sorry but in this day and age no way would I accept a gift of food from a stranger. Too many wackos out there.

 

[kimieko]

I did custom envelopes (pic is in my sig below). They were cute and it was easy to have them prefilled with the cash before we left. Then just left one out everyday.

 

[mousefan73]

Officially housekeeping is a non-tipping position. They are paid well ( when compared to other non-tip jobs such as food service) Bellhops are a tipping position not being paid well ( they live from tips) . Bellhops do bust their butts. Not all resorts have elevators. I would not want to carry heavy bags upstairs in the heat. POR/CBR etc.

Housekeepers have the luxury of working in a cool room. We tip if they are good or on check out day when we leave a disaster ( excess garbage) where they go beyond their normal duties.

As many said one of the best tips is leaving thenroom tidy. Especially sink area. They are under a lot of pressure getting all rooms done in time.

 

[mousefan73]

I'm sorry but in this day and age no way would I accept a gift of food from a stranger. Too many wackos out there.

I think it depends. Many times we left our beer/ drink bottles out with some cash and any wrapped snacks. Stuff on check-out we cant take with

 

[mousefan73]

I still think that the best tip they can get is people keeping their room in good order and as tidy as possible so that the cleaning staff can Tinkerbell their way in and out quickly, without having to spend an hour cleaning up after you. Some people can be total slobs and I would hate to walk into one of those rooms having to clean it.

This is why when when we tip, it's usually on check-out when the garbage situation is bad. We do a lot of shopping as we are from overseas. So we leave all boxes, packeging behind.

 

[BookGirl305]

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[AngiTN]

I'm sorry but in this day and age no way would I accept a gift of food from a stranger. Too many wackos out there.

I think it depends. Many times we left our beer/ drink bottles out with some cash and any wrapped snacks. Stuff on check-out we cant take with

Same here. I don't think many of them are worried about guests doing them harm with free food. We have foods (unopened) left on many of our trips. Staff always takes it off our hands, gratefully. The said the bottles of water, sodas, beers, snacks are always eaten. And I know for sure the CL staff enjoys food gifted to them. Now, not talking homemade treats but packaged things. I think most don't assume they are a danger. I know I sure wouldn't. But I don't think the worse of folks, even in our current world

 

[Mom2Stitch]

We use to make the envelopes when DS was smaller, it was a fun, trip related project that we would use to pass time as we were counting our days down. Now we leave the money with a little hand written thank you note on the pillow each day.

I keep the room neat and tidy because 3-4 people in one room can turn into chaos in a hurry if not. It only takes a minute to pick up after ourselves. Out of habit I wipe the counter and sink as I'm getting ready, just because that's what I do at home, lol. We hang towels up just like at home and when we want fresh ones we pile them in the bathtub so they are in one place.

I agree with others that cash and tidiness are the best things you can do for housekeeping.

 

[laenfante]

My husband and I are planning to leave Disney thank you cards (bought from a dollar store) and cash folded origami style inside. Is it permitted to give tips to the desk staff as well?

 

[Lynne M]

My husband and I are planning to leave Disney thank you cards (bought from a dollar store) and cash folded origami style inside. Is it permitted to give tips to the desk staff as well?

If you mean the front desk, no, they're not permitted to accept tips.