Tipping at hotels

[dbriggsq]

Thanks Julie!

It's probably going to be the last time we every go away all together as a family and we'll be celebrating our 30th anniversary so I'm looking forward to it.

 

[Lori2816]

Housekeeping is a non -tipped position at Disney - the cost of housekeeping is included in your room rate - the housekeepers are not supposed to accept tips so by offering them you are putting them in a difficult position.

I saved you the dime and spent the morning calling various WDW hotels. Same response from ALL! Disney has NO position on tipping Mousekeeping. It is stricktly up to the guest. Not one person I spoke with could verify the "whole non-tipped / putting them in a difficult position" theory.

Tipping is what it is! We tip our waitstaff for bringing us food. We tip housekeeping for cleaning up after us. The OP just wanted to know what was appropriate. She said she already tipped but just wanted to know what everyone else was doing.

Not quite sure what a fair wage is in the UK, but earning $7.00/$8.00 per hour is not going to make ends meet here!! My daughter makes more money at her summer job operating kiddie rides at a local park than she would in Disney.

Nobody ever said that you HAD to leave a set $ amount. Please stop acting as though it's all or nothing. You leave what you can, when you can. Whether that be on a daily basis or end of stay. Remember, no matter how neat your family may be, someone has to clean that room for the next family.

The day that a Mousekeeper approaches me or a family member and says, "thanks, but no tips allowed" is the day we will stop leaving a tip for the person that cleans up after us.

I stand by my statement...it's just cheap not to leave something for Mousekeeping!!!

 

[Lori2816]

Housekeeping is a non -tipped position at Disney - the cost of housekeeping is included in your room rate - the housekeepers are not supposed to accept tips so by offering them you are putting them in a difficult position.

I saved you the dime and spent the morning calling various WDW hotels. Same response from ALL! Disney has NO position on tipping Mousekeeping. It is stricktly up to the guest. Not one person I spoke with could verify the "whole non-tipped / putting them in a difficult position" theory.

Tipping is what it is! We tip our waitstaff for bringing us food. We tip housekeeping for cleaning up after us. The OP just wanted to know what was appropriate. She said she already tipped but just wanted to know what everyone else was doing.

Not quite sure what a fair wage is in the UK, but earning $7.00/$8.00 per hour is not going to make ends meet here!! My daughter makes more money at her summer job operating kiddie rides at a local park than she would in Disney.

Nobody ever said that you HAD to leave a set $ amount. Please stop acting as though it's all or nothing. You leave what you can, when you can. Whether that be on a daily basis or end of stay. Remember, no matter how neat your family may be, someone has to clean that room for the next family.

The day that a Mousekeeper approaches me or a family member and says, "thanks, but no tips allowed" is the day we will stop leaving a tip for the person that cleans up after us.

I stand by my statement...it's just cheap not to leave something for Mousekeeping!!!

 

[sjaakie]

You are from UK right? I think there may be a cultural difference here in that it is understood that tipping is viewed differently over in Europe.

No tipping is also customary in Europe.
The difference is that in Europe a waiter, housekeeper, bellboy,ore valet parking guy earns a "normal" wage so they don't "need" a tip.
Very often they save the money and take a nice Day Out if the Piggy bank is filled.

Tipping 5 Euro's is very normal and highly appreciated.

 

[dbriggsq]

I stand by my statement...it's just cheap not to leave something for Mousekeeping!!!

So why isn't it cheap not to tip other cast members on the same hourly rate - the person you see sweeping up all day in the park, or the nice lady that cleans the toilets at the park?

 

[ols386]

dbriggs.....that' a good point.

 

[Lori2816]

I stand by my statement...it's just cheap not to leave something for Mousekeeping!!!

So why isn't it cheap not to tip other cast members on the same hourly rate - the person you see sweeping up all day in the park, or the nice lady that cleans the toilets at the park?

If we did YOU would never get out of the house!! Why do you insist on getting off topic!?!?!?!?

Someone wanted to know how much: people told how much.
You chime in: non-tipped/possible trouble

This post was about tipping mousekeeping on this person's next vacation. It wasn't to tip or not to tip!!!!!! If your family of 10 feels it not necessary to tip, by all means don't! But please don't try to rationalize it.

To the OP, just because I tip you don't have to. Just because dbriggsq won't tip doesn't mean you can't. You will not be putting a Mousekeeper's job in jeopardy if you leave a tip!!!!!!!!!!! Please enjoy your vacation and feel free to tip if you like or don't.

 

[Buckeyemouse]

This is a red flag topic, that has gotten off topic. Do what you will with your will. It all Karma

 

[dbriggsq]

If we did YOU would never get out of the house!! Why do you insist on getting off topic!?!?!?!?

Someone wanted to know how much: people told how much.
You chime in: non-tipped/possible trouble

This post was about tipping mousekeeping on this person's next vacation. It wasn't to tip or not to tip!!!!!! If your family of 10 feels it not necessary to tip, by all means don't! But please don't try to rationalize it.

To the OP, just because I tip you don't have to. Just because dbriggsq won't tip doesn't mean you can't. You will not be putting a Mousekeeper's job in jeopardy if you leave a tip!!!!!!!!!!! Please enjoy your vacation and feel free to tip if you like or don't.

OK I stand by my statement too and believe I have given some evidence to show that it is more or less correct - if the OP thought they HAD to tip then this was a different point of view nothing more nothing less - and as for not getting out of the house - I haven't spent all day on the phone

Anyhow I'm done - it's obviously not possible to have an objective discussion on here without getting slagged off - I can get that at home!!

 

[Carlyzmom]

I had never heard of tipping housekeeping until I came to the DIS. It does make sense to me though, and really, $5/day for 7 days is only $35. Whether or not I tip is not going to make or break my vacation. It's the cost of one CS meal for my family of 4, or one night out at a local restaurant at home. But for a housekeeper making $8/hr, an extra $35/week from us may help pay for the gas to get to work, or buy groceries that week.

I am the same way. I have never tipped at hotels before - honestly, I have never heard of it. Is this common everywhere?

I don't have a problem tipping mousekeeping. I had just never heard of it before. The only thing I can compare it to is tipping your room steward on a cruise - which we always do. I guess it is kind of the same.

 

[L&Lfan]

My boyfriend and I always tip $5 per day and our envelope says Thank You and Muchas Gracias! I guess it's also how you were raised. My Dad always left a tip for housekeeping whenever we stayed in hotels/motels, so I've always just assumed it was the proper thing to do. My guy's family too.

jon

 

[mhconley]

I am the same way. I have never tipped at hotels before - honestly, I have never heard of it. Is this common everywhere?

Business men have tipped for years. I have tipped hotel maids since I first began travelling on business in the 1980's. My father taught me - he began travelling in the 1960's. We also both tipped when on personal vacations. This advice was published in 1999.

Martin

 

[archcrb]

First , let me start by saying that I consider myself a very good tipper...at restaurants. I usually start at 20%, unless the SERVICE is horrible. Now that being said, on my first family trip to WDW in 2000 at ASM I had no idea I was expected to tip Mousekeeping, in fact I didn't even know that's what they were referredto as. Everyday of our stay they did a good job on our room and decorated with the towels and characters or stuffed animals, it was very cool and we looked forward to it. Like I said I didn't know I was supposed to tip (call me uncivilized, I just hadn't gone on vacation at a resort or hotel as a family where I was the head of house) so I didn't and we received the same service. Friends who were in the same situation as us did the same, except there service was considerably less satisfactory. On our last trip, 8/07, I had read about tipping the Mousekeepers and planned to do so. The first day I forgot to put out an envelope and nothing extra was done to our room. The second I did put out a tip and our room was decorated with the usually flare. I decided I would alternate tip days just to see what would happen. Wouldn't you know it I was paying for entertainment.
My long winded point is, while it was cute and appreciated to have our room decorated, it took away from the magic that I was paying extra(tips) for it. And that's not what Disney Magic is about, so I would say tip if you want, but you know what, I'm not sure what I will do in sept. on our next trip. I guess I'll know when we get there.

 

[mhconley]

Here and here are two good tipping guides...

Martin

 

[TagsMissy]

I am the same way. I have never tipped at hotels before - honestly, I have never heard of it. Is this common everywhere?

I don't have a problem tipping mousekeeping. I had just never heard of it before. The only thing I can compare it to is tipping your room steward on a cruise - which we always do. I guess it is kind of the same.

I have always tipped, same as my parents, grandparents, my hubby's side of the family and any friends I have traveled with. My parents are from Europe, my husband and his family is from Asia... I have grown up in Canada... so it seems common place in at least the areas we all come from to tip...

 

[ICF]

earning $7.00/$8.00 per hour is not going to make ends meet here!! My daughter makes more money at her summer job operating kiddie rides at a local park than she would in Disney.

Lots of people, in lots of jobs make less than that. Guess what, if a couple of 2 adults each make $8/hr and work 40 hour weeks that is $33K for the family. You can live on tha, not well perhaps, but you likely won't starve. You can get also get a 2nd job if needed, go to school to get a better job etc.

There are LOTS of jobs in this country that pay = to or less than a housekeeper in a hotel. Tip or don't tip, that's up to you but again these are not waitstaff making $2-$3 an hour due to the "tips" they receive.

What about the person that gets your popcorn / drink at a movie theatre? Guess what...before somesays it, they often end up mopping floors and things of that ilk too during the down times (I should know, I worked as one years ago)....and cleaning a bathroom is no worse then cleaning up a theatre full of crap after a packed show.

What about the person getting your fries at McDs?

What about the person at the store that helps get an item down for you or move something thats heavy out to your car?

It could go on and on.....

 

[Lori2816]

Lots of people, in lots of jobs make less than that. Guess what, if a couple of 2 adults each make $8/hr and work 40 hour weeks that is $33K for the family. You can live on tha, not well perhaps, but you likely won't starve. You can get also get a 2nd job if needed, go to school to get a better job etc.

There are LOTS of jobs in this country that pay = to or less than a housekeeper in a hotel. Tip or don't tip, that's up to you but again these are not waitstaff making $2-$3 an hour due to the "tips" they receive.

What about the person that gets your popcorn / drink at a movie theatre? Guess what...before somesays it, they often end up mopping floors and things of that ilk too during the down times (I should know, I worked as one years ago)....and cleaning a bathroom is no worse then cleaning up a theatre full of crap after a packed show.

What about the person getting your fries at McDs?

What about the person at the store that helps get an item down for you or move something thats heavy out to your car?

It could go on and on.....

Again..................................we are talking about HOUSEKEEPING positions. Dear Lord, if you don't want to tip, don't tip. What about the policeman that helps the little old lady across the street, what about the fireman who helps the little kitten out of the tree...how ridiculous....It could go on and on...

 

[DiszyDean]

I tip everyone I meet at WDW.

Of course, housekeeping and my food servers...but in addition:

I throw some spare 20's at the guys manning the turnstiles as you enter the park...I mean, they made my kid laugh...That is worth at least $20 right?

The person who sweeps along mainstreet..left him a tip too...hope he didnt sweep it up...

The guy who almost pushed me down on his way to the bakery. Gave him a tip. I mean, at least he didn't push me down all the way.

The lady selling DVC memberships....tipped...she looked like she needed something to drink.

and finally....

I tipped Mickey Mouse as he was taking a picture with my child. I hear cheese is very expensive these days.



Seriously, I believe in tipping food servers and will tip mousekeeping as well but more out of guilt than obligation, to be honest. Actually, more for my wife's guilty conscience who would have to kill me if I didn't and then might feel guilty about it.

Anyway, if you call Disney and ask them, they will tell you that mousekeeping is not a tipped position. Bottom line. If you want to leave a tip, feel free but don't necessarily feel obligated...and no one should be looked down upon if they are just following the guidelines that Disney puts forth.

 

[goofypooh]

Again..................................we are talking about HOUSEKEEPING positions. Dear Lord, if you don't want to tip, don't tip. What about the policeman that helps the little old lady across the street, what about the fireman who helps the little kitten out of the tree...how ridiculous....It could go on and on...

I think the point is that no one should feel like they are obligated to tip just because of the amount of money housekeepers make (Or don't make). I do tip mousekeeping b/c I appreciate what they do while I am staying at WDW, not because I feel obligated because of what their paycheck might be.

 

[disneyfan4u]

Ok, so after reading through this thread, I have to ask, does anyone currently work there? And is the tip included in the room charge? And do you expect one? Tipping is such a touchy subject, it kind of gets out of control. You feel like youhave to tip anyone who helps you from the airport to and the airport back. And now that tips aren't included in the Dining plan, I think sometimes I pay more tipping then shopping!