Tip the Mousekeepers?

[dianeschlicht]

Well, if that is the criteria then why is everyone tipping bell services? If you go to the Disney employment website, you will see that starting wages for bell services is well above the minimum wage and about the same as mousekeeping. I know that in some states "tip credit" laws for wait staff allow employers to pay less than minimum wage because tips are assumed. AFAIK bell services is NOT a tip credit job at WDW (and the Disney employment website confirms this) but they expect tips (and everyone tips them). Why should mousekeeping be any different, since their starting wages are the same as bell services?

It's not an essential service though. It isn't essential to the operation of the resort. It's there as a SERVICE to the guests. In my book, that makes it a tipped position.

 

[Dacky619]

It's not an essential service though. It isn't essential to the operation of the resort. It's there as a SERVICE to the guests. In my book, that makes it a tipped position.

Agreed.

We only tip housekeeping if we leave a mess or if there is exceptional service, but that's us.

 

[Tamar]

I don't know about m/housekeepers, but I know when I waited tables (no, not at Disney) I had to "claim" tips and pay taxes on them--had to claim a minimum of 8% of guest checks assigned to me. That would be my guess of what constitutes a tipped position. Whether the government assumes tips for tax purposes.

Having said that. I leave a few $$ on trash and towel day, and $5 at the end of our stay. I do not do any more than I would in a hotel. We don't leave a big mess.

 

[magickingdommommy]

Great question.

I am leaving for my first DVC stay soon, and I have been wondering if I need to leave a tip.

I am staying at 2 different resorts, neither stay long enough for T&T.

I guess a few bucks doesn't really make a big difference to my vacation budget and might be appreciated.

DH never likes tipping at hotels, but at restaurants he usually leaves a big tip (even when service is only OK). It drives me crazy!

 

[disneynutz]

Disney recruits most of the Mousekeepers from outside of the United States to reduce labor costs and many are classified as seasonal and/or temporary and are not represented by a union. The average daily room load is 10 to 14 rooms per Mousekeeper, up from 8 to 12 two years ago.
They do take items home that are left by Guests, if you watch the employee parking areas around 3:30 everyday, you will see them carrying bags home.

Inside Bell Services at all of the resorts except the values are Disney employees, some union and some not. According to the Unions, this is a tipped position and Disney goes out of their way to help them get tips. That's why you are required to be in your room when Bell Services brings you your luggage.

The Valets and car unloaders are contracted from the same company that provides DME and RAC.

Bill

 

[bumbershoot]

Bell services at VGC will say "no, this is a full service hotel" when we try to tip them and they refuse to accept cash, so we started bringing chocolate covered macadamia nuts instead and they always accept that!

Good gravy, I didn't meet any of those Bell people at the Grand! Wish I did. NOr did I encounter them at AKL Jambo, OKW, or Royal Pacific Resort...I had a whole category in our budget for tips....got exhausting. (I hate tipping and wish it didn't exist as an expectation)

 

[drakester]

These are people who clean up after my family. We to never leave much of a mess but these people have to vacuum, wash my sheets, clean the shower and scrub the toilets after we have used them. I would never consider not tipping them. We are not wealthy people but we do tip well. Maybe it is because I spent ten year waiting on tables putting myself through college that I take tipping very seriously. We tip $10 on t and t day and $20 on checkout.

 

[CMOORE185]

That's why you are required to be in your room when Bell Services brings you your luggage.


Bill

I have to disagree with this statement. When we us ME our luggage is put into our room if we are not there. I believe bell services are the ones that bring it.

 

[erionm]

I have to disagree with this statement. When we us ME our luggage is put into our room if we are not there. I believe bell services are the ones that bring it.

This is from the Disney Convention website:

Q: Are Bell Service gratuities included for luggage delivery to my Resort room?

A: Yes, but only for inbound service if we handle your pre-tagged luggage. If you hand-carry your luggage onto the motor coach, gratuities are not included. Upon departure, gratuities are not included if you elect to use Bell Services for luggage assistance.

 

[disneynutz]

I have to disagree with this statement. When we us ME our luggage is put into our room if we are not there. I believe bell services are the ones that bring it.

The contract for DME includes a provision that Bell Services will deliver the luggage to the room without a tip so that the luggage holding area doesn't get too crowded. I was told that they are paid a fee per bag as recorded by the bar scanner that they use.

Bill

 

[jstarcze]

I tip because the Mousekeepers have either cleaned up someone else's mess for me or they will clean up my mess (not that I leave the room messy) for the next DVCer. So they have done a service for me which I appreciate and show by leaving a tip.

 

[wbl2745]

Bell services at VGC will say "no, this is a full service hotel" when we try to tip them and they refuse to accept cash, so we started bringing chocolate covered macadamia nuts instead and they always accept that!

I've never had Bell Services at the VGC or GCH turn down a tip. I usually tip every time they have to handle our luggage, from the car, storage, to the car.

 

[ToddyLu]

We tip mousekeepers....even left it out for her on our last trip and she did not take it....then I found her name card in the bathroom and left it under that..she took it then. We also gave our cold water and Cokes to the Bell boy after tipping him. They left use some really cute towel characters and DH even commented on a towel candle centerpiece they left. It is hard to get a comment out of him.

I like to believe that they work hard for their money and appreciate it...just like I appreciate getting a "thank you card" from a patient. It is just NICE.

 

[quirty30]

I've never understood how bell services can be a tipped position and housekeeping is not....I believe their salaries are in the same appx range, and as far as I'm concerned, the housekeepers have a much more difficult and strenuous job. I wouldn't think of not leaving them a tip.

 

[PSC]

We always tip Mousekeeping on T&T day as well as when we check out. We also tip Bell Services - especially when they have to carry our Owners Locker around. We never considered not tipping.

 

[nolanboys]

I openly admit I never thought to tip... until I read about it here on The Dis Boards!

Now we tip all (well, most of) the time, even when we are not at DVC.

Agree. I guess I had never thought about it. I guess we'll have to start on our next trip.

 

[6mouselovers]

I am just a little confused by the discrepancy in dvc vs. hotels. I ALWAYS tip on both T and T day and on full housekeeping day, the same as I do in any hotel that I stay in. Most websites that list tips have 3 - 5$ per day for luxury and 1 - 2$ per day for "other" hotels. I feel like if I can stay in the hotel, tipping should be given to the people working to make my stay more enjoyable.

 

[Sandisw]

We leave a small tip when we leave, but more so for having our room ready and clean when we arrived and not so much for the way we left it.

Now, if we ever get a room that has issues and they are not taken care of pretty quickly, we won't be tipping that trip. Luckily, that has not happened yet!!!

 

[SamSam]

We always tip at T&T, at full housekeeping, and when we leave. We leave the room very clean, but still, they are cleaning out toiliets etc. and their wages our simply not that great. I feel that if I can afford to vacation, then I can throw in a few extra dollars to tip.

 

[sssteele]

I am so fortunate to be able to afford DVC. I would be embarrassed, no - humiliated, if I ever encountered a "mousekeeping" employee who remembered me , and I had not left a few dollars for them. My big problem is determining who prepared my room before arrival, and making sure that they receive the gratuity, or are the same person who did T&T, or the person who prepared the room for the next family after I left. Most of these people work harder than "we" have ever done in our lives. Flame on.