Mousekeeping Tipping Question

[skiingfast]

I determined that this is the only way to do this after a trip with my family to All Star Sports at WDW, we left a tip every day fo the first few days. They never left a towel animal,

I made a poll on this very subject. Does tipping = towel animals?

There was only a slight indication that is did.

 

[cmwade77]

I made a poll on this very subject. Does tipping = towel animals?

There was only a slight indication that is did.

No, I hadn't tipped prior to this trip or after it and I always got towel animals, this is the only time I didn't and the only time I tried tipping all the time.

 

[DizMe]

Sometimes I do, but generally I don't. First of all, I'm one of *those* who doesn't ask housekeeping to come in and clean every day. I don't want them to. We make our beds and head out for the day. All I want is clean towels and empty trashes if necessary. I don't change my sheets every day at home--don't need it at a hotel.

I think we've been guilted into (a) thinking it's our responsibility to pick up the slack for employers who don't pay well, and (b) that we ought to help cover the expenses of those who don't make enough money. While I sympathize very much with those in low-paying fields, I can't afford to subsidize them all. We already pay taxes to assist those in need and I would be quite open to increasing what we do on a societal level. But tipping ought to be for excellent service, at the discretion of the giver, and not a Help the World fund for service workers that enables employers to pay less.

Who gets a tip? I'm still fuzzy on the criteria for that. Low paid service workers? What about the groundskeepers, trash emptiers, handypersons etc? Provides personal service? Ok, how about the bathroom cleaning crew in DL? Anyone leaving them a tip? What about all the crew that go in after hours to make DLR fresh and ready for a new day by cleaning gum off sidewalks and getting dirty diapers out of the bushes? The list goes on and on. Although it would be wonderful to be able to tip everyone who 'deserved' it or needed the extra money, it isn't feasible. So...tip if you like, tip if it makes you feel good, tip if you appreciate excellent service, heck--tip if you are having a wonderful expensive vacation and feel kind of guilty that others are slaving away, catering to your hedonism-- but DON'T tip because you feel pressured by what others think of you if you don't.

ETA: When I tip, I tip well. I've never noticed an iota of difference in the service I received.

 

[nana50]

I always wondering about tipping also. i resent those cups they put out at donut shops...give me a break. I also wish they would just pay their servers a decent wage so I wouldn't feel obligated to help support her for doing her job. In the old days when gas station attendants would clean your windows, pump your gas, and check your oil, we never tipped them. We probably should have because they were going above and beyond. That being said, I'm a good tipper. i almost always leave 20%. I even tip above the service fee on room service. However I do resent being made to feel guilty by society.

I believe a tip should be for above and beyond. Not bringing my meal to the table. What about the chef who is only doing his job, where is his tip. I think they all share now, but they didn't used to.

As to housekeeping, if they clean up your mess, tidy your room, I would tip. I usually only stay one night. I am a retired elementary school library clerk. My pension is a $1,000 a month. I save most of the year to stay at a onsite hotel. So no, I don't feel that I should be forking out tips left and right just because I saved all year to spend one night. I am married and my husband works so we aren't destitute, but we only have so much expendable income. We vacation at my families cottage once every other year, so my Disneyland trips are my treat to myself. By the time I add up the meals out, the room, the tickets, and all the other little expenses I am broke. But I do tip and tip quite well.

 

[Malcon10t]

I am a tipper. I generally tip 15% at restaurants for acceptable service, and it goes up for anything above and beyond. If I am leaving less than 15%, I will also be speaking to the manager to explain why. Leaving less than 15% without an explanation will not correct problems. I will tip as high as 25-30% for excellent service. Buffets, I will start at 10% and go up or down based on service. An example of a young man who worked a buffet and received an excellent tip from me: He refilled drinks before needed, cleared off all plates and refolded napkins, always replaced silverware without being asked, then when I went to the dessert area, and took a piece of chocolate cake, he had a glass of milk for me without my even asking commenting "Everyone needs milk for chocolate cake..." Uh,, yeah, he got a huge tip....

I generally tip $3-5 a night for the maid service. I have tipped as high as $20 for a Christmas Day service.

Bellman - Generally $5-8 depending on what they do and attitude.

Valet - $3-5.

A lot of it depends on how the server makes my kids feel.