Mousekeeping Tipping Question

[poohbear22]

Considering you are quoting my post and therefore responding to what I said, I don't recall saying it was a way to "scrimp and save". Just wanted to point that out.

What I don't understand is why is it that only some jobs are automatically deemed tip-worthy simply because of the job and not for going "above and beyond" that job? It completely boggles me mind.

I agree. I don't see anyone tipping the guy who cleans the pool...but it does make your trip more enjoyable because you have clear water to swim in. There are many other minimum wage & thankless jobs at Disney that make your trip more enjoyable but don't receive tips. That is why I prefer to write individual letters of thanks for an employee who goes above and beyond for me; this typically translates into raises with is a long term benefit to the employee.

 

[cgh]

I think it is because it is so personal by nature-cleaning your room. Cleaning a pool that A LOT of people are using is very different. I also think the level of work probably varies a lot so you take that into account (just as I would do with any service). If it is raining/inclement weather I tip the delivery driver more (and have tipped more since gas prices escalated), if my toddler makes a royal mess at a restaurant, I do my best to clean up and tip more.

It's just sort of one of those thankless jobs, that I think its nice for them to know that we appreciate their service.

 

[RedRosie]

I think it is because it is so personal by nature-cleaning your room. Cleaning a pool that A LOT of people are using is very different. I also think the level of work probably varies a lot so you take that into account (just as I would do with any service). If it is raining/inclement weather I tip the delivery driver more (and have tipped more since gas prices escalated), if my toddler makes a royal mess at a restaurant, I do my best to clean up and tip more.

It's just sort of one of those thankless jobs, that I think its nice for them to know that we appreciate their service.

I am with you! I thought the rule of thumb was to tip for personal services, i.e. waiter/waitress, hair dresser, housekeeper. Those industries are built on assuming tips so the staff salaries often designed accordingly. I always tip housekeeping, especially when I am paying thousands on a trip. $15 isn't going to break me, but it can sure bring some pixie dust to someone else.

 

[Mickeyflower]

I never knew that it was good manners to tip housekeeping until well into my 30's! I have found that when I do, I NEVER have housekeeping issues of any kind. I also found this web site where you can print out Mousekeeping envelopes ahead of time. What I did was print out one for each day, placed the tip money in it and wrote a little note inside "Thank you for your hard work! We really appreciate you!" and always left it on the stand between the beds. I have heard if you just leave cash out, they are not supposed to take it. These envelopes say "FOR MOUSEKEEPING" on the outside. Here is the link to the web site (they are FREE by the way)

http://www.themouseforless.com/downloads/trip/mousekeeping.shtml

 

[Minnie Loves Mickey]

I never knew that it was good manners to tip housekeeping until well into my 30's! I have found that when I do, I NEVER have housekeeping issues of any kind. I also found this web site where you can print out Mousekeeping envelopes ahead of time. What I did was print out one for each day, placed the tip money in it and wrote a little note inside "Thank you for your hard work! We really appreciate you!" and always left it on the stand between the beds. I have heard if you just leave cash out, they are not supposed to take it. These envelopes say "FOR MOUSEKEEPING" on the outside. Here is the link to the web site (they are FREE by the way)

http://www.themouseforless.com/downloads/trip/mousekeeping.shtml

I will admit I do not always tip house keeping, but I just did a search and a couple of sights recommend $2 - $5 per day. Also for the bellhop, they recommend $1 - $2 per piece of luggage. I do usually tip the bellhop and will start tipping the housekeeper. Also I want to comment on leaving money out for them, on more than one occasion my DH or myself have left money on the dresser...after we emptied out pockets or for whatever reason. I have never had anyone take the money or anything else for that matter. So I guess the envelopes are the way to go.

 

[ttfn2u2pooh]

I will admit I do not always tip house keeping, but I just did a search and a couple of sights recommend $2 - $5 per day. Also for the bellhop, they recommend $1 - $2 per piece of luggage. I do usually tip the bellhop and will start tipping the housekeeper. Also I want to comment on leaving money out for them, on more than one occasion my DH or myself have left money on the dresser...after we emptied out pockets or for whatever reason. I have never had anyone take the money or anything else for that matter. So I guess the envelopes are the way to go.

Yes, the envelopes are the way to go. One posted had a link but there are also many who will do a personalized disign of envelopes on the Disign Boards where you can have them put on the envelope something like thanks, from the "smith family". I just printed off some today that just have Mickey Mouse on them. I'll get them filled prior to our trip so I don't even have to think about it. A little bit of pixie dust is always fun to sprinkle around and if we receive a little pixie dust back int he form of a creative towel or additional soaps, even better.

 

[skiingfast]

Studies are around. Tipping housekeeping at hotels of all dollar ranges is not a common practice.

If you want to tip it's up to you but don't feel stressed that it's nessecary.

I guess not many people read my post. Don't feel like you have to tip housekeeping. It's not common.

 

[Boardwalkin]

I don't tip anyone! Mousekeeping, Bell services, waitsatff, etc.. It is their job to wait on me. It is up to their employer to pay them a decent wage and if they do not perform an exceptional job they should be fired. Why should I acknowledge someone who actually makes my vacation more enjoyable?

 

[aliceindisneyland]

I am with you! I thought the rule of thumb was to tip for personal services, i.e. waiter/waitress, hair dresser, housekeeper. Those industries are built on assuming tips so the staff salaries often designed accordingly. I always tip housekeeping, especially when I am paying thousands on a trip. $15 isn't going to break me, but it can sure bring some pixie dust to someone else.

Exactly.

I don't tip anyone! Mousekeeping, Bell services, waitsatff, etc.. It is their job to wait on me. It is up to their employer to pay them a decent wage and if they do not perform an exceptional job they should be fired. Why should I acknowledge someone who actually makes my vacation more enjoyable?

You're joking, right?

 

[disneydreamer74]

Peter, I could not agree with you more. I am amazed at people that will spend $300-400 per night on a room, but bulk at the idea of leaving a few measley dollard for the overworked/underpaind housekeepers!! I just left a job working for a major hotel chain and this topic was discussed frequently. Now, while it is NOT mandatory to tip, it IS a courtesy for a service, just as we tip our waiters/waitresses. There is no standard calculation for how much to tip.I have always left $2/per bed per day. Sometimes more depending on the service. I have noticed that when I tip regularly the housekeeper goes above and beyond, which is worth it to me. I have to admit that the MAIN reason I tip is because I happen to know that most housekeepers earn a low wage for their strenuous work. I am talking a few cents above minimum wage, and most don't get health insurance. Those few dollars really help them out!! I hope people will reconsider when staying at a hotel next. I do realize that some people are not even aware that you can tip housekeeping, so that is understood!

People will make up all kinds of excuses for not tipping (even at hotels costing these 'poor folks' $300.00 per night) so it's great that you see the correctness and honor in doing so. $1.00 per person per day is good, extra if extra is warranted.

 

[Saylan]

When we stayed at WDW this past Feb, it was our first trip and we learned from the days we spent there that our Mousekeeper was the same woman so we opted to tip at the end of the week. She was even there to greet us as we left our room.

My father used to tip (and I had a similar illness experience on one trip as well as a PP described) and so I used his advice of 5$ a day if the service was good (which it was) and 2 or so a day if it was average.

We'll be staying offsite at DL this year and I was wondering is it still ok to use the Disney-style envelopes linked here? I mean they're not Disney employees so they're not technically Mousekeeping but I'd like to keep the theme since we are there only for Disney and we're in the AR area.

 

[ttfn2u2pooh]

We'll be staying offsite at DL this year and I was wondering is it still ok to use the Disney-style envelopes linked here? I mean they're not Disney employees so they're not technically Mousekeeping but I'd like to keep the theme since we are there only for Disney and we're in the AR area.

I think it's a wonderful idea to use a Disney themed envelope even staying offsite. Disney is still in the air and I can only assume that the staff of offsite hotels right next to DL know their guests are staying there because they're going to DL.

 

[Saylan]

I think it's a wonderful idea to use a Disney themed envelope even staying offsite. Disney is still in the air and I can only assume that the staff of offsite hotels right next to DL know their guests are staying there because they're going to DL.

That was my thought as well. We're down for the half marathon and I'm sure it'll be very obvious very fast what our purpose is based on our stuff so I thought it would be nice to treat them the same as the mousekeepers onsite. They've giving me the same service (for cheaper) so I don't think it's unreasonable to treat them the same way.

 

[ttfn2u2pooh]

That was my thought as well. We're down for the half marathon and I'm sure it'll be very obvious very fast what our purpose is based on our stuff so I thought it would be nice to treat them the same as the mousekeepers onsite. They've giving me the same service (for cheaper) so I don't think it's unreasonable to treat them the same way.

So true. And who can't use a dose of Mickey Mouse, even if in the form of clip art on an envelope containing a few bucks, in their day to day jobs. I know anything to do with Disney or Disneyland puts a smile right on my face.

 

[snoangel]

I'll start off by saying that I am typically a tipper. However, if I find waitstaff is rude or inattentive (I'm talking outside of Disney-never have had rude service there) I will drastically reduce tip or not tip. I might even write a note stating why I didn't tip. Why should I tip someone who doesn't make my experience great when their job is in service? I don't think people should EXPECT a tip. It needs to be earned. I will also leave large tips for people who do an exceptional job.

 

[AustinTink]

Just a quick response for the posts that mentioned the swanky $300 a night hotels. Many of these hotels now charge and extra daily service fee that covers gratuities for housekeeping, etc. I've seen it in writing at several resorts. So don't be too quick to judge those who don't tip the maid at the Ritz.

 

[rentayenta]

Mousekeeping changes daily so it's best to leave something every day vs waiting until the end. Before DVC we left $1 a day per person. More if the kids were extra messy.

 

[Caseystigger]

I never knew that it was good manners to tip housekeeping until well into my 30's! I have found that when I do, I NEVER have housekeeping issues of any kind. I also found this web site where you can print out Mousekeeping envelopes ahead of time. What I did was print out one for each day, placed the tip money in it and wrote a little note inside "Thank you for your hard work! We really appreciate you!" and always left it on the stand between the beds. I have heard if you just leave cash out, they are not supposed to take it. These envelopes say "FOR MOUSEKEEPING" on the outside. Here is the link to the web site (they are FREE by the way)

http://www.themouseforless.com/downloads/trip/mousekeeping.shtml

Thanks for the link. I really like the special envelope idea. Will be using these next month for our trip.

 

[skiingfast]

Just a quick response for the posts that mentioned the swanky $300 a night hotels. Many of these hotels now charge and extra daily service fee that covers gratuities for housekeeping, etc. I've seen it in writing at several resorts. So don't be too quick to judge those who don't tip the maid at the Ritz.

If you read my pervious posts. Even at top end hotels like a Ritz tipping is not and was not common.

Also I've known people who worked in housekeeping. The rate of thier pay way always proportional to the room rates of the hotels. 2 star was getting minimum wage, 3 star about a dollar more, 4 star about 3 dollars more, and 5 star was getting about twice minimum wage.

Consider this before you pitty the low wages of housekeepers. Where else can someone get a job, with no previous working experience, little education and not know the native laungage but still make twice minimum wage?

 

[Saylan]

I liked it as well and have decided to make my own along the themes of DBF and I's favourite Disney movies/characters and putting the Disneyland Half Marathon logo on the back. I'll try to get some pics of them once they're done.