Tipping at Disney resorts question

[OurBigTrip]

Once again, Wow. Just wow. And NOW, the flames.

Off topic, but I must respond:

OurBigTrip, you have NO idea what happened with the "loved one" who died on June. Our vacation had been planned and saved for, for over a year. The "loved one" had been a vegetable for the entire time. In other words, she was GONE over a year ago not to mention she was 96. The fact that she passed 18 hours before our trip was unbelievable. Some might feel the same way. Clearly, not you, because you are too busy thinking about who not to tip so you can keep more dollars to swim in.

In any case, it was tragic and we had the funeral and mourned and obviously cancelled our trip to do so. If we still went on the trip and ignored the death, I could understand your insult, but clearly you lack the emotion of empathy. I made one post about how upset I was that our trip was cancelled and you have been jumping down my throat ever since.

So go on your merry way. Make sure you stiff people at every turn, and enjoy your life. If you have a next one, and i obviously don't know how that works, you will probably be an untipped maid, if karma has anything to do with it.

Goodvibes and all that stuff!!!!!!

Not sure where you get the idea that I'm swimming in dollars, but you're certainly entitled to your opinion. If you choose to tip Mousekeepers, by all means, have at it, since for a non-tipped position, it is purely a personal choice. But I'm not going to tip someone making well above minimum wage just for doing their job.

I'm still curious about whether or not you tip everyone you encounter that doesn't make great wages.

 

[declansdad]

Honestly, I do not see flames here. Everyone on these boards seem to behave with at least a modicum of civility as opposed to newsvine or any other threads I could name. This is just an admittedly spirited debate and i don't think anyone here has been disrespectful to any other person, personally. I have nothing against any person on here. We all love Disney, and therefore we all have a bond. But there are always going to be disagreements and this is one of those cases.

We, like you, tip Mousekeeping; but that is a personal choice. We don't feel that anyone should feel they have to tip the maids. I do feel that you have been rude to some posters who disagree with you when they have done nothing except tried to explain their point of view. WDW considers housekeeping to be a non-tipped position, if people do not want to tip they should not be guilted because they don't.

 

[minnie mum]

Well, the day after you have worked 8 hours cleaning rooms, get back to me and we will talk again. Until then, please feel free to enjoy the last word, because I am done. Engaging with closed minded people without empathy for their fellow human beings is not something I enjoy. Have fun not tipping.

Attacking the character of the person you were replying to was really uncalled for, don't you think? What happened to all the talk about civility and respect?

I have to agree with the posters who point out that just because a person makes a low hourly wage, they are not automatically entitled to tips. Be as sympathetic to them as you like. Tip them if you want to or feel some need to. But there is no need to insult people who choose not to. This is not a tipped position, according to Disney policy. But they choose to allow it. Again- a perfect indicator of why this is an individual decision and shouldn't be up for argument.

I do choose to tip hotel maids (in countries where this is appropriate), and will tip more if I see that they have done a superior job. However I do not look down or frown at anyone who does not feel that this is necessary.

 

[AliceIn]

I never said they were doing well for themselves, I said they weren't making poverty wages, and they're not.

What no one seems to want to answer is why it is vital to the survival of the Mousekeepers that they be tipped. There are many, many people making much less that serve us in different ways - do you tip all of those people?

As I've said, it makes no difference to me whether or not people tip the Mousekeepers - it's a personal choice. What I do think is ridiculous is the idea that 1) people should be guilted into doing it because the work is hard and 2) that somehow a Mousekeeper that makes more than the kid at McDonalds should be tipped, but the kid at McDonalds shouldn't be.

There's also the point that it's customary to tip hotel housekeepers. It's been that way for years. Tips for bell services, housekeeping, waitstaff is listed in most company expense policies as well. Etiquette says that you tip certain positions.

http://www.emilypost.com/out-and-about/tipping/89-general-tipping-guidelines

http://www.aarp.org/money/budgeting-saving/info-11-2012/tipping-guidelines-and-etiquette.html

http://hotels.about.com/od/hotelsecrets/a/tipping-etiquette_2.htm

http://www.businessinsider.com/a-complete-guide-to-tipping-etiquette-2013-6

Many people are unaware or uneducated about etiquette and tipping customs. My company runs a business etiquette class for interns and new hires. They give out sheets with recommended minimum and maximum tips for travel.

Ultimately, it's each person's individual choice on whether to tip or not. For me, I prefer to err on the side of doing the polite thing.

 

[OurBigTrip]

There's also the point that it's customary to tip hotel housekeepers. It's been that way for years. Tips for bell services, housekeeping, waitstaff is listed in most company expense policies as well. Etiquette says that you tip certain positions.

http://www.emilypost.com/out-and-about/tipping/89-general-tipping-guidelines

http://www.aarp.org/money/budgeting-saving/info-11-2012/tipping-guidelines-and-etiquette.html

http://hotels.about.com/od/hotelsecrets/a/tipping-etiquette_2.htm

http://www.businessinsider.com/a-complete-guide-to-tipping-etiquette-2013-6

Many people are unaware or uneducated about etiquette and tipping customs. My company runs a business etiquette class for interns and new hires. They give out sheets with recommended minimum and maximum tips for travel.

Ultimately, it's each person's individual choice on whether to tip or not. For me, I prefer to err on the side of doing the polite thing.

It's certainly your right to tip Mousekeeping, and I would never criticize anyone for doing so. However, Disney doesn't consider it a tipped position, and therefore, it is a personal choice.

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

I just thought I would put this out there...for what it's worth...maybe nothing lol...

Anyway...here goes! I worked for a local bank up until a few years ago. While I know this may not be a glamorous job, it also is not say McDonald's (not down-playing fast food industry, just going with the previous example). I was not EVER tipped and if I was offered I was to turn it down or be fired. You are still connected to the FED. Anyway, when I worked at said bank, we were robbed once at gunpoint. I knew that when I got the job that was a possibility. I also knew that my duties were to keep up with training, serve the customers, empty atm machines and refill, handle coin, monitor the armored trucks, etc. Upon my hire, I was explained all this and more. I also was then told what my pay would be. I was not minimum wage, but I can say 100% that it was considerably lower than the WDW housekeepers. Like several dollars an hour. Now, I accepted the job and it's expectations and responsibilities AND it's pay. I know I was not going to be tipped. To add, in our area, if you can find an apartment for $800 a month you are doing pretty well!! My point is, when the housekeepers get hired, they know the job they are expected to do (whether it is glamorous or not) and they know their pay. They can decline the work. Also, we should not assume that these people are single parents with 5 children. There is a good possibility that many are married and have a second income in their household. I agree that each person can do as they wish, but we should not pass judgment on someone else for what they choose to do. And we especially should not do this based on assumption. In all reality we don't know the individual circumstances. Just my two (or maybe more) cents Not trying to offend anyone. I am just saying all situations are different. When I worked, I did it to get out of the house. I am fortunate enough to have a DH with a very good job so my pay wasn't crucial to the household. That is certainly a possibility with some of these people.

 

[AliceIn]

It's certainly your right to tip Mousekeeping, and I would never criticize anyone for doing so. However, Disney doesn't consider it a tipped position, and therefore, it is a personal choice.

Do you check with a salon on their employment policies before you tip your hairdresser? How about at a restaurant? Do you ask if the server is being paid salary or via tips?

I'm not sure I understand how a Disney housekeeper is any different from any other hotel chain.

Do you not tip housekeeping at any hotel, or do you just not do it at Disney because you are aware of some official company policy?

 

[OurBigTrip]

Do you check with a salon on their employment policies before you tip your hairdresser? How about at a restaurant? Do you ask if the server is being paid salary or via tips?

I'm not sure I understand how a Disney housekeeper is any different from any other hotel chain.

Do you not tip housekeeping at any hotel, or do you just not do it at Disney because you are aware of some official company policy?

Everything you mentioned, i.e., salon, food servers are personal services, just as valets, sky caps and bell services are personal services. In addition, people in these positions are often paid lower wages because it is expected that tips will make up a portion, perhaps even most, of their income.

I don't consider a hotel maid at any hotel, not just Disney, to be performing a personal service for me, so no, I don't tip housekeeping anytime I stay at a hotel.

 

[anmickey]

Please name the personal attacks, if you can.

I'm not sure if you intended it that way or not, but once you started posting on the thread it took a real downward spiral into heated debate rather than informative post.

As a new visitor to the DW planning forums, I don't have any prior feelings towards you or anyone else, and I did feel like you were personally attacking the other poster.

That being said, I was really pleasantly surprised to see your post about how we all love Disney.... so I think maybe that's just your way of talking and you didn't intend it to come across as confrontational it did....

 

[AliceIn]

Everything you mentioned, i.e., salon, food servers are personal services, just as valets, sky caps and bell services are personal services. In addition, people in these positions are often paid lower wages because it is expected that tips will make up a portion, perhaps even most, of their income.

I don't consider a hotel maid at any hotel, not just Disney, to be performing a personal service for me, so no, I don't tip housekeeping anytime I stay at a hotel.

The etiquette guidelines I quoted above also include the hotel maids though. One could argue that cleaning up after you IS a personal service, especially if you make special requests like extra towels or toiletries.

 

[OurBigTrip]

The etiquette guidelines I quoted above also include the hotel maids though. One could argue that cleaning up after you IS a personal service, especially if you make special requests like extra towels or toiletries.

If I had special requests, or if we left the room a mess, I could see your point, but we don't.

One could argue that making a bed is a personal service, but I would disagree.

I still don't get why some of the Mousekeeper tippers are so bothered by people that disagree. You choose to tip, I choose not to - who cares?

 

[liftn]

I guess its just a difference in peoples attitudes. I feel if you want to clean your room like your house..... Oh wait let me start over, some people may not keep their house clean. If you are a family on the go and waste no time picking up anything or cleaning up any of your junk, then you should tip them very well. If you keep all you clothes in draws and just expect someone to empty your garbage, clean the bathroom and make the bed, then you should give a medium tip. If you are family that get up, ready and clans the room before you go, then you might only have to tip minimal. Their job is to clean the room, but that doesn't mean that neatness should be any less when you are away from your home.

 

[lbv7]

Just to clarify:
The $ 13.62 hr salary quoted by the Disney "insider" is just wrong. That might be the salary of a housekeeper with 25 years of service. The starting salary is $ 8.70, so let's assume that with 5-10 years of experience the average housekeper is probably making $ 10-11/ hr.
Disney does not have an official policy on tipping housekeepers. Housekeeping is a non tipped position according to the union contract, but there is nothing in writing from Disney about tipping or not tipping housekeepers. In fact if you think about it wouldn't WDW want guests to tip housekeeping - this would surely be an argument in their favor when negotiating wage scales for housekeeping when the union contract needs to be renewed..(e.g. why give them a raise when they receive tips?)

 

[BuddyThomas]

Great! Give yourself a gigantic pat on the back and stop bragging about not tipping people who are making wages that put them at the poverty level. It is not your obligation to tip them. So continue not to do so. I will continue to overtip on your behalf.

 

[OurBigTrip]

Just to clarify:
The $ 13.62 hr salary quoted by the Disney "insider" is just wrong. That might be the salary of a housekeeper with 25 years of service. The starting salary is $ 8.70, so let's assume that with 5-10 years of experience the average housekeper is probably making $ 10-11/ hr.
Disney does not have an official policy on tipping housekeepers. Housekeeping is a non tipped position according to the union contract, but there is nothing in writing from Disney about tipping or not tipping housekeepers. In fact if you think about it wouldn't WDW want guests to tip housekeeping - this would surely be an argument in their favor when negotiating wage scales for housekeeping when the union contract needs to be renewed..(e.g. why give them a raise when they receive tips?)

As I said earlier, I don't tip hotel maids at any hotel. I don't consider it a personal service, and they are being paid to clean the rooms. If we left the room a mess, needed additional or special services, that would be different, but we don't.

It is a personal choice, and I choose not to tip, while others choose to tip. I don't get the personal investment in how other people spend their money.

 

[liftn]

If I had special requests, or if we left the room a mess, I could see your point, but we don't.

One could argue that making a bed is a personal service, but I would disagree.

I still don't get why some of the Mousekeeper tippers are so bothered by people that disagree. You choose to tip, I choose not to - who cares?

Oh I should bite my tongue......if its not personal, who does it for you at home?

 

[AliceIn]

If I had special requests, or if we left the room a mess, I could see your point, but we don't.

One could argue that making a bed is a personal service, but I would disagree.

I still don't get why some of the Mousekeeper tippers are so bothered by people that disagree. You choose to tip, I choose not to - who cares?

It's more of a debate now, and I do love debates.

I'm trying to understand the logic of not tipping if someone is otherwise a tipper. Some people don't tip anywhere at all. Others follow different rules. I'm curious more than anything.

Once upon a time I didn't know that you are supposed to give tips to the garbage men at Christmas time. When I found out that it was customary to do that, I began leaving them something.

Who knows, maybe somebody who doesn't tip might start tipping, and somebody else who always hated it will stop doing it.

 

[OurBigTrip]

Oh I should bite my tongue......if its not personal, who does it for you at home?

Not sure what's so funny, I clean my own house..well, DH does laundry, but other than that, it's me, because it's my home and my responsibility to keep it clean. In a hotel, it's the maid's responsibility to keep it clean, and the maid is paid for doing so. Not paid enough, but that's between the union and Disney.

 

[OurBigTrip]

Great! Give yourself a gigantic pat on the back and stop bragging about not tipping people who are making wages that put them at the poverty level. It is not your obligation to tip them. So continue not to do so. I will continue to overtip on your behalf.

Who's bragging? The question was asked, and I answered. Sorry you don't like the answer, but that's the risk you take on a discussion board.

Don't feel that you have to do anything on my behalf - tip all you want - it's a personal choice.

 

[Lynne M]

We're done here. I'm not sure what's so difficult to understand about the 'no arguing' and 'no personal attacks' rule on the DISboards.