Staying In a Deluxe, Need Advice About Tipping

[Disneylvr]

DH and I rarely stay in a deluxe Disney resort. In 17 trips to WDW, we have staying in the Contemporary twice, Wilderness Lodge once (for a few days) and the Polynesian. While staying at the deluxe resort we never took advantage of the extras like room service, turndown service, valet parking etc....

We are staying at the AKL in September/October and this time we want to use the extras! It will probably be a loooooong time before we stay in a deluxe again so I want this trip to be special. How much is a standard tip for:

Valet Parking?? I know it costs $6. Do you tip when you drop the car off AND when you pick it up?

Room Service?? I believe they already add a gratuity to the bill. Should we tip over and beyond that?

Turndown Service??

Housekeeping??? We usually leave $2-$3 a day in the value and moderate resorts. Is this an appropriate amount for two adults at a deluxe?

Sorry to ask such stupid questions, but we are deluxe resort novices and this kind of service isn't something we are used to.

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by Disneylvr
DH and I rarely stay in a deluxe Disney resort. In 17 trips to WDW, we have staying in the Contemporary twice, Wilderness Lodge once (for a few days) and the Polynesian. While staying at the deluxe resort we never took advantage of the extras like room service, turndown service, valet parking etc....

We are staying at the AKL in September/October and this time we want to use the extras! It will probably be a loooooong time before we stay in a deluxe again so I want this trip to be special. How much is a standard tip for:

Valet Parking?? I know it costs $6. Do you tip when you drop the car off AND when you pick it up?

Room Service?? I believe they already add a gratuity to the bill. Should we tip over and beyond that?

Turndown Service??

Sorry to ask such stupid questions, but we are deluxe resort beginners and this kind of service isn't something we are used to.

I tend to tip on drop off and pick up of the car. A buck each time, more if the weather sucks or they do something above and beyond.

Room service, if there is an 18% gratuity added I do'nt tip anything else unless they do something really above and beyond the call of duty.

Turndown service, I leave $2 per night.

Anne

 

[Minnie's Mate]

It is not considered necessary to tip when droping off the car, but $1.00 is considered appropriate when picking up the car. And, as was stated before, $2.00 if raining. If the valet helps unload packages, etc., when you drop off the car, you may tip if you would like.

Always check the room service bill when you sign for it. If tip is added into the bill, it is not necessary to tip again, unless something extra is done.

Don't forget the bell person: $1.00 per bag is considered appropriate unless you have extra heavy bags or unusual items like golf clubs or other items that need special handeling. The door person is also given a tip for helping unload the bags. Again $1.00 per bag should be adequate.

If you feel more is appropriate, there is no reason you can't tip more, but these are typical and more isn't expected unless you are in a larger city (NY, LA, SF, Chicago, etc.)

 

[Disneylvr]

Thank you so much Anne and Minnie's Mate for your replies. This is a whole new experience for me and I don't want to do it wrong! It will be awhile before we can visit WDW again and probably our last stay in a deluxe for quite awhile so we want to make the most out of it!

 

[Greg K.]

I never tip for turndown service. More often than not, when they come around and ask if we want turn down, we say no and they leave us towels and chocolates and that's that.

But we do leave $3 per day in an envelope each morning for housekeeping. I leave it near the sink in the bathroom with HOUSEKEEPING written on the front. Subtle, huh?

And, as mentioned, you generally don't tip when dropping off the car, just when picking up. A dollar each time is fine. (Some give $2, but I'd only do that if the weather was bad...)

 

[Gagebre]

I'll be staying at AKL for the first time in Nov (also first deluxe) and was very interested in this thread since I also didn't know about the tipping. Also how does this work? Do you drive to the front upon check-in and let them help you with bags before checking in and then park your car yourself if you want?

 

[TammiMcMan]

Just returned from RPC at the GF and looking at this thread, I guess I tended to be a bit over-generous. Yes, valet is $6 per day and we paid $2 to the driver both on pick up and drop off. Bags were $1 per bag, mousekeeping was $1 per person, per day, so that was $5 per day. We left $3 per night for turn down service on 2 beds and the daybed.

Tammi

 

[Michelle]

I tend to tip when dropping off and picking up the car, not always (if there is not someone there when I drop it off I don't tip, but I always do when picking it up, usually a couple of bucks).

We didn't get turndown service at the AKL when I was there.

I did tip the maid $2 per day for the two of us.

I also added a couple of bucks for room service even though the gratuity is included.

The bellman got lots of tips, we moved rooms after the first hour or so and they got tipped twice.

Gagebre, if you want to self park you can, just tell the valet when you pull up that you want a bellman and to self park and they will help you.

 

[lvs_eeyore]

I usally only tip when the valet brings me the car not on drop off and I tip 2.00. I tip mouskeeping 5.00 per day. I tip the bellman 1.00 per bag. I have never done turndown service but the concensus on the boards is 2.00 for that. I dont tip room service beacause that tip is usually always included in the bill. I make sure to check the bill and/or the little menu that they put in your room to check and see if it is included.

 

[WeLoveDisney]

Gagebre,
When you check in just drive your car up front to where the valets are. Someone will come to the car for your bags, and give you a card with a receipt number on it. If you want to park your own car, you can drive it to the parking lot after they take your bags, or if you want to valet if just tell them that.

When you check in, tell them you have luggage, show them the number on the receipt, and they will call to have it delivered to your room.

We tip the bellman $1 per bag for luggage (or round it up to $5). We thought until a trip last year that it was proper to tip the valet only when you pick up your car, not drop it off. But, one of the valets when we dropped it off was very obvious about looking for a tip so my husband asked him if most people tip when they drop their car off, too. Of course he said yes. (My husband aksed this very innocently, he's a pretty generous guy and was actually embarrased and didnt want prior valets to think he stiffed them.) We usually tip $1-$2 each time, a little more in bad weather.

 

[queenofhearts]

Great thread Disneylvr! I was wondering the same thing!!

So, here's what I've compliled so far from reading the boards:

Valet Parking: $6.00 fee + $1-2 tip for drop off and $1-2 tip for pickup (or, some just tip for pickup)

Bellman: $1-2 per bag for taking bags to your room

Door Person: $1-2 per bag for helping to unload the bags (if they help)

Room Service: Check your bill to see if gratuity was included. If so, no additional tip is necessary unless the service was extra magical.

Mousekeeping: (This one varied the most from the different threads that I've read) $0-10 per day
Many people base this tip off of how many people are in the room (i.e., 2 people in the room=$2 tip) However, others based this off of how messy they are (that's where the $10 tip came in ) Still, others just determine what they think a nice tip is, or they base it off of the service they've received.

Turndown Service: $2-4 per night

Concierge (if you are staying on the concierge floor): This is also a hard one to nail down. Supposedly, the concierge is not allowed to accept tips. However, some generous Disers report leaving a nice box of chocolates or other gifts for the concierge that made their stay really magical. Other Disers have reported that the concierge has to refuse a monetary tip 3 times. On the fourth time, they can accept it. I haven't found any $ amounts for this one.

Have I forgotten anything?

 

[gepetto]

Tell the bellman you are concierge and he will call one of their staff members to take you up to the lounge to check in.

I only leave $2 for turndown.

AKL concierge has really good food offerings. When it runs out they continue to bring more until 8PM.

 

[ZowmanmeetsMouse]

Wow, now I know why they started charging for valet service. You people are cheap. $1.00 and $2.00 tips?????????????? OMG. That barely pays for a soda. Have you ever seen where these guys have to park cars and how far they have to run, yes run, back to the bell or valet station? And for what, a whole one dollar. Wow, I guess I would be real happy to serve. Here we go on tipping.

1. With valet parking, $3.00 minimum on both pick up and drop off.
2. Baggage - $2.00 per bag. Tip the bellman up front and I will bet you wont forget the service.
3. Housekeeping - $5.00 per day minimum. If for some reason you see the housekeeper cleaning your room, kindly give him/her the tip with a smile.
4.Turn down service -- dont know because I never had it on a regular basis. Staying at the GF on the Grand Plan about 8 years ago, I think we had it. However, I would tip about $3.00 if I were using it.
5. Room Service - 18 percent is on the bill, How much of that is going to the server? If I had to guess, they are lucky to get 3 percent of it and the resort pockets the rest. Just my guess. This one is a loser.

Just an after thought, I was tipping what people are suggesting here 10 years ago. Enough said.

 

[Kimkimba]

Originally posted by ZowmanmeetsMouse
Wow, now I know why they started charging for valet service. You people are cheap. $1.00 and $2.00 tips?????????????? OMG.
Just an after thought, I was tipping what people are suggesting here 10 years ago. Enough said.

I'm sorry everyone, but I can't help but say this. Zowman, since we live rather close, maybe you can drop off the extra $$$ for tips on my upcoming Disney trip. And for everyone else on these boards who is "cheap." Sorry, that is one thing I have not been called and I think I am in general consensus about tipping when I agree with most people on these boards.

 

[Gillian]

Zowman, instead of calling others cheap, perhaps you could just call yourself generous?

 

[Disneylvr]

Originally posted by ZowmanmeetsMouse
Wow, now I know why they started charging for valet service. You people are cheap. $1.00 and $2.00 tips?????????????? OMG. That barely pays for a soda.

If a valet can park or bring back about 12 cars per hour (allowing 5 minutes per car) that would give him or her $36 in tips in an hours time, by your standards, plus a per hour salary! Sounds like I am in the wrong business! That is allot more than I make per day. I prefer to think that the others who have posted their tipping amounts are closer to what is considered the norm in the travel industry. I am glad you can be so generous and I am sure the housekeepers, valets, servers etc. are very appreciative. I am, unfortunately, not in a position to be that generous.

 

[Gillian]

$36/hour is what a large pharmacy chain around here pays their starting pharmacists (other chains pay more). They go to school for 6 years. I'm thinking valet parking is a better way to go!

The only thing with the above calculation is that they probably do not park an average of 12 cars per hour. And many people do not tip at all. Still, if you figure on half, $15/hour for an unskilled position is pretty good, IMO.

 

[indigo]

There maybe two or three hours a day (not a shift, a day) where a Valet does that much running. The rest of the time they're lucky to get 3 or 4 cars an hour, and not all those cars will tip. Only the most senior valet attendants get the good shifts with the high volume, the rest have to wait around until someone dies, retires, or moves on. Similar for the Baggage Handler and Bellman positions.

 

[Disneylvr]

Okay so maybe my numbers aren't realistic, but that doesn't mean I should tip well over and beyond what the average guest tips for valet/luggage service etc to make up for it... They do earn an hourly salary as well, which I know isn't much, but it isn't each guest's personal responsibility to make up for it. My goal is to give a fair but reasonable tip.

 

[RAV]

While I agree with many of the amounts discussed on this thread as a starting point, I would also like to add that tipping is something that should be based on the level of service received. If a cast member does something that makes our stay more magical, we compensate them for the extra level of service they have provided. On the same note, if a cast member has provided mediocre service, I would not hestitate to adjust the gratuity accordingly.