Problem with Tips

[DarlingDumbo]

Has anyone else had the problem of the Mousekeeper not taking his/ her tips?
On my last stay at the CR I made up the cute envelopes for the mousekeepers and turn down service but every time I returned to the room the room was clean and the tip was still there.
Some days I even taped the envelope to the mirror or pillows but still no luck.
Should I just chuck the envelopes?

 

[maxiesmom]

I had the same problem at POR. Some days the tip would be gone, other days it would stay right where I left it. I'm wondering about the envelopes too, because I was thinking of having my niece decorate a few to use. but maybe that is a bad idea?

 

[skipperkim]

I ended up taking mine to the front desk because our maid never take his/hers either. I have no clue whether it made its way to our maid.

 

[dddisrunner]

I am not sure if you had done this but, I have read on the DIS that you need to label the envelope "For Mousekeeping" so there is no question that it is for them!

This is an example of ours:

 

[diane358]

great info. Thanks

 

[skipperkim]

Labeling them didn't help. I've tried that before to no avail.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

It also depends on where you leave them. If they're on the nightstand or table along with other papers, they may not notice them. Before our trip, I read a tip that was useful to us. Leave a pillow in the middle of one of the beds and leave the envelope on the pillow. They will have to move the pillow when they make the bed so they're sure to see the envelope. Also, make sure the envelopes clearly say "For Mousekeeping" so they'll know it's OK to take them. The pictures on the post above are great!

 

[samiet620]

Those are too cute!!! We will most definitwely be making some like these. Thanks for the idea!

 

[skipperkim]

It also depends on where you leave them. If they're on the nightstand or table along with other papers, they may not notice them. Before our trip, I read a tip that was useful to us. Leave a pillow in the middle of one of the beds and leave the envelope on the pillow. They will have to move the pillow when they make the bed so they're sure to see the envelope. Also, make sure the envelopes clearly say "For Mousekeeping" so they'll know it's OK to take them. The pictures on the post above are great!

I agree the above was wonderful. I loved the artwork. I've even left them on top of the closed toilet seat along with a envelope that clearly states "For Mousekeeping" and has not been taken. I wonder if that's because I also include other things for them, put it in a bag, and attach the envelope to the outside. Do you suppose that's the issue?

 

[IUHoosiers]

One other thought...

During our February stay - I always left the tip on the night stand (a $5 bill). Using the Disney hotel stationary, I just wrote a quick note (i.e. Thanks - have great day!) and wrapped the note around the $5 bill so that the money was still visible. The tip was picked up everyday. I had read that some other DISers had receieved notes back - we never did, although one day there was a smiley face on the backside of the note I left.

On the last day of our trip, we met our mousekeeper - she didn't speak any or maybe very limited English. Very friendly and smiling, but we were unable to communicate.

Maybe your mousekeeper couldn't read the outside of the envelope and thought it was something personal???

 

[Gymbomom]

Maybe we need to know how to write "mousekeeping" in spanish!!

 

[DarlingDumbo]

Thank you do much for your replies

I tried putting it in a spot where it couldn't be missed so that wasn't the problem.

Maybe because I used some pretty script fonts it might not have been large or clear enough to read.

I had the most problems with turndown service they never took the envelope but one day I was lucky enough to catch the mousekeeper.

Keep the advice comming!

 

[DarlingDumbo]

these are the envelopes I used

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

 

[EnnEss]

I leave money out and put a folded paper over it that says "tip for housekeeping".

Housekeepers can be very honest and not want to intrude on your vacation by shuffling through and reading papers. Everyone sees money though, and if its got a piece of paper on top of it that essentially says "take me" there will be no confusion. Also, mousekeeping isn't a word, and if english isn't your first language, you have a job, you're not going to risk getting fired trying to decipher slang in a language you dont know. What if its envelopes for the children and they take it and the guest goes crazy.

Ive written "TIP " with the little smiley face on a folded piece of toilet paper if I have no paper on me. They take it every time.

Last time at CBR the housekeeping went crazy and made 2 or 3 towel animals the first day, but then stepped it up to 5+ per day. We were there for 10 days, they covered the window, the area around the sink, and the table by the time we left. We didn't tip big (2 bucks a day for 2 people, maybe 5 once or twice when didnt have change). Im not sure if it was related.

 

[RMAMom]

I always gather all of the dirty towels, and wash clothes and I pile them on the sink/vanity area. I put my mouskeeping envelope on the pile and it was taken every day.

 

[Caglehead13]

When we were at POR last year, I put the tip under the thing in our room that said your housekeeper today was "Maria" or whatever - I also wrote a short thank you note with each tip.

One day I forgot to leave the tip and when we returned to the room, it was obvious that about the only thing she did that day was make the bed.

 

[skipperkim]

I always gather all of the dirty towels, and wash clothes and I pile them on the sink/vanity area. I put my mouskeeping envelope on the pile and it was taken every day.

That's a good idea. I always through them in the bathtub so they are out of the way, but in one location so they can be picked up quickly. But then I also have folding baskets I put my dirty clothes in.

 

[mkbroas]

We downloaded envelopes from a website, they had the following phrase in English and Spanish on the bottom along with Thank You Mousekeeping and a Disney picture.

(For Our Maid)
(Para Nuestra Criada)

Mousekeeping has taken our tip envelopes every trip. We leave the tip on the bathroom counter between the sinks.

 

[Tam1067]

Spanish wouldn't work if the CMs were from the Caribbean (where many of those at the Poly seemed to be from!).

They always took mine. I wrote "Housekeeping" (I think Mousekeeping is cute, but I always think that's a Dis thing and not a Disney thing), and also "thank you" and "for you." I left it on the bed. And no envelopes--just cash with the note.

 

[ChelleinNC]

I have heard several reports that mousekeepers have not been taking the tips because mousekeeping/housekeeping is not a tipped position and that they don't want to take the risk of getting fired.