More tipping questions from an international visitor…

[StarCruzer]

I would say tip housekeepers based on how much work they need to put in for your room.

Even outside of Disney, we usually decline housekeeping services. We make sure all of the trash is in the trash can before we leave, put all the towels in a single spot, etc. and usually only leave a small housekeeping tip.

If we leave somewhere in a rush and there's more of a mess, we'll usually just give a $10-20 tip, regardless of how long our stay was (since we don't use the service during the stay).

Basically, if we not using their services, low tip. If we know it will take extra time to clean the room (or in the cases where housekeeping staff has helped us more directly with extra towels, amenities, etc.) we'll give a more significant tip.

As per PPs, if I drop off my luggage at bell services we usually give smaller tips ($1-2) versus when we pick up ($5+, depending on how busy it is) because finding and retrieving the luggage takes more time and effort than carting it into a room for storage.

As many have said, it's a personal philosophy thing generally.

 

[ozliz]

Bell services are tipped positions. I give 5-10$ on both ends. I don't tip if I drop them off myself, but you could, I suppose. I'd also tip the bell services person who helps you to/from the Uber. I get a bunch of $5s at the bank before I go to Disney. I can see that being harder at an Australian bank, but maybe not?

I always leave some money for housekeepers in any American hotel, usually $20. And I decline all housekeeping, so it's just at the end. I read a book called Nickel and Dimed a long time ago that ingrained that in me. I leave it at the end, not this couple bucks daily or whatever. This is also smart, because the maid is the person who would note damage or something like that.

Yes, always hard to get the small change. Luckily last trip to USA I withdrew cash from the ATM so I have mostly 20’s rather than the 50’s our money changers often provide. I also always keep my 1’s and 5’s towards the end of a trip so I can have them for the next trip. I have however landed in USA before with no small notes for tip money which is embarrassing until you get a chance to change some - probably why I’m always so careful these days. I like the restaurant option as I can just put it on my card. The fact that I need cash in USA is still unusual. The only place I use cash at home is the local farmers markets. Otherwise I’m more likely to encounter businesses that only take card payments than ones that only take cash.

 

[Eastern]

Otherwise I’m more likely to encounter businesses that only take card payments than ones that only take cash.

Interestingly, a lot of businesses by me (restaurants, vet, mechanic, landscaper!) are now charging an extra 2-3.5% of bill if you are using cc vs cash. So I am using cash more now. And some salons will no longer let you put tip on cc bill: you have to tip in cash.

 

[RoseGold]

Yes, always hard to get the small change. Luckily last trip to USA I withdrew cash from the ATM so I have mostly 20’s rather than the 50’s our money changers often provide. I also always keep my 1’s and 5’s towards the end of a trip so I can have them for the next trip. I have however landed in USA before with no small notes for tip money which is embarrassing until you get a chance to change some - probably why I’m always so careful these days. I like the restaurant option as I can just put it on my card. The fact that I need cash in USA is still unusual. The only place I use cash at home is the local farmers markets. Otherwise I’m more likely to encounter businesses that only take card payments than ones that only take cash.

In the US, I almost never use cash except for travel tips, beauty tips, maybe something like parking and a snack at a concert, and mom stuff like giving Jessica $20 for whatever. (Spa protocol will be to tip in cash.) Oh, and I guess I used to tip bartenders, back when that was relevant, LOL. To go to Disney, I have to actively go get cash. Some of the bank ATMs now let you pick smaller bills, like the bigger ATMs actually in the bank lobby, probably not the ones at the airport. Maybe an option if you happen to be somewhere urban when you land. You tip in the app with your card on Uber, food delivery, grocery, restaurants.

I have been able to ask for smaller Euros and Pesos and CAD$ at the bank, and they have them for me in a few days at a normal conversion rate. (Mexico and Canada both have some tipping culture as well.) I would imagine that's possible in dollars, a very common currency.

Any front desk, not just Disney, will also break your $20s/$100s. No problem.

 

[ozliz]

Interestingly, a lot of businesses by me (restaurants, vet, mechanic, landscaper!) are now charging an extra 2-3.5% of bill if you are using cc vs cash. So I am using cash more now. And some salons will no longer let you put tip on cc bill: you have to tip in cash.

In Australia we have rules about credit card surcharges so businesses are required to demonstrate to the regulator (if asked) that the surcharges are reasonable and represent actual costs. They recommend no more than 1-1.5% for mastercard and visa (more is allowed for American Express as they have higher fees but some businesses just don’t accept Amex to avoid that). This gives everyone a clear idea of how much is reasonable so there’s no excessive fees.

 

[Disneyhanna]

I tip when dropping off bags for stowing (around $1/bag) and again when picking up (again around $1/bag). If I am having them delivered to my room, I usually tip $5 for just my bags or if I am also having them bring me a grocery order, $10 if my room is really far away or if you have lots of bags for a family. If my room was next to the lobby or something I would probably just stick to $5 or I'd bring them myself. If anything I consider it good karma as the day I forget to tip will be the day my bags get lost, that's just how the world works for me .

Housekeeping is very personal and I have no idea what % of people tip nor what the "average" is. I imagine any tip is appreciated but since you are generally not face-to-face with housekeeping like you are with bell services, I imagine a smaller % of guests will tip. I skip the daily housekeeping but as long as I have cash I will leave a small tip on checkout. Even a few dollars per room would add up very fast I imagine. I don't think anyone would look down on you for not tipping especially if you aren't a total slob, as I said I imagine many if even a majority do not tip housekeeping. But if you're a big family that leaves a mess I would certainly leave something since the job is dirty work with minimal compensation. Agree I will have a few $1 bills for a tip if I call to request something specifically that they hand to me.

 

[TheHulamuffins]

I think I probably tip on the high end of the range. I tip for bags both when bell services picks them up and when I collect them. When my nephew was in the DVC college program, he spent most of the time at the Bell Services desk at Jambo. He said that he was almost never tipped. I will sometimes tip at the Bell desk as a result, but not always. We stay via our DVC ownership, so we just have mid-week housekeeping and housekeeping at the end. I usually tip about $10 per day for housekeeping. They seem to appreciate it. My university's travel regulations allow for $5 per day for hotel housekeeping to be reimbursable, so I don't think $5 per night would be excessive. Obviously, we are not being reimbursed by the university for our Disney travel! I am just mentioning it as an indicator of what is thought to be a "reasonable" tip. We have not used valet services lately, so I can't really make a suggestion about that. Due to my tipping practices, I think, and the comparatively slow turnover of staff at a hotel in Chicago where I stayed three or four times a year, the hotel staff (doorman, valet, etc.) generally greeted me by name and seemed very friendly. Many Disney personnel change much faster, so I don't recognize them when we go and vice versa.

 

[Mle8308]

I think I probably tip on the high end of the range. I tip for bags both when bell services picks them up and when I collect them. When my nephew was in the DVC college program, he spent most of the time at the Bell Services desk at Jambo. He said that he was almost never tipped. I will sometimes tip at the Bell desk as a result, but not always. We stay via our DVC ownership, so we just have mid-week housekeeping and housekeeping at the end. I usually tip about $10 per day for housekeeping. They seem to appreciate it. My university's travel regulations allow for $5 per day for hotel housekeeping to be reimbursable, so I don't think $5 per night would be excessive. Obviously, we are not being reimbursed by the university for our Disney travel! I am just mentioning it as an indicator of what is thought to be a "reasonable" tip. We have not used valet services lately, so I can't really make a suggestion about that. Due to my tipping practices, I think, and the comparatively slow turnover of staff at a hotel in Chicago where I stayed three or four times a year, the hotel staff (doorman, valet, etc.) generally greeted me by name and seemed very friendly. Many Disney personnel change much faster, so I don't recognize them when we go and vice versa.

If he worked the desk, as the dispatcher for bell services, that is not a tipped position. He technically could be terminated for accepting a tip. If he was a bellman, then that is different.

 

[TheHulamuffins]

If he worked the desk, as the dispatcher for bell services, that is not a tipped position. He technically could be terminated for accepting a tip. If he was a bellman, then that is different.

Interesting; he was the bell dispatcher. Knowing my nephew, I am sure that he would not accept a tip if it were offered. I feel as though I have tipped the person at the bell desk, though. Perhaps the person staffing the desk at the moment was a bellman?

 

[Mle8308]

Interesting; he was the bell dispatcher. Knowing my nephew, I am sure that he would not accept a tip if it were offered. I feel as though I have tipped the person at the bell desk, though. Perhaps the person staffing the desk at the moment was a bellman?

Maybe? Or a bellman may have shared tips. A good dispatcher can be hard to find, and if bell services has a good and organized dispatcher, they can make better tips. So sometimes a bellman will “tip them out”. In this case, since it’s coming from a CM, they could accept it. But if from a guest, since it is a non tipped position, they are supposed to refuse it. Just like a FD or guest service CM can’t accept tips.

 

[TheHulamuffins]

That is interesting to know, Mle8308. It all makes sense. My nephew was in the Disney college program. I think he was probably pretty good as a dispatcher, but we were not there while he was working. He did seem to be quite well-liked by the more permanent employees--they seemed happy to see him when he returned as a guest (traveling with us) in later years.