Tipping - DVC'ers - who do you and dont you tip

[BostonDisneyKid]

Another thread (online check in disaster) got me thinking about this question. Who exactly do the majority of DVC owners tip and not tip for.
Feel free to write explanation or not when answering the poll... Check all that apply

 

[PatsMom]

We tip bell services if we utilize their services (which we usually do at least to store luggage on our last day). We do leave a tip for housekeeping just because that is what I am used to doing. I know that housekeeping is not considered a tipped position but I always feel like they do a great job for not much salary. And we tip the magical express driver if he has to handle our luggage (usually only going back to the airport). And of course servers in any sit down restaurant.

 

[Liljam]

I'm glad you started this thread as I want to see how it goes too. I tip just about anyone who provides us services like Valet, Bell Services, Wait Staff, Bartenders... I didn't think to tip some of the other people listed until that thread, but I may now. Now, I doubt I would ever tip at the stores unless there was a designated tip jar, same for counter services or dessert carts. During the holidays, I would probably tip those people too. I was raised to tip well and with the notion that "you get what you pay for." As you stated in the other thread. We come from a small town and if we tip well at a restaurant and have the same wait staff over and over, we are treated better - sometimes, we get a nice dessert brought to our table or appetizers or drinks... At SSR, Bell Services were always right outside our door it seemed to golf cart us around any time we needed to go somewhere. We didn't as for that, but we always tipped them nicely. We we're also very friendly to them too though which is just as important as the money to me. We own a business and I will say that I bend over backwards for our customers who are nice to us. Those who throw their cash at us but also swing with an attitude really don't impress me and they know they will NOT get any better service than the person who doesn't have "tip" money so to speak. I just attended the funeral of a man who was our customer and he was a wealthy man who always wanted to tip when I ordered him a part. Over the years, I stopped taking his tips and started buying his parts at cost (to save HIM money) because he became so close to us as a customer. Hope I didn't get OT too much but I wanted to share why and how we tip.

 

[rkwier]

We always tip anyone who assists us with our luggage - Valet, Bell Services, Bus/Shuttle Driver, etc. We also tip servers at sit down restaurants and the Conscierge if we use their services. One time we received an appetizer that was sent compliments of our Conscierge who we used to book our reservation. We were very pleasantly surprised, but would have never expected such a thing. We are just grateful that they could assist us with our needs.

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

Liljam - You bring up some good points...

To say it is only "you get what you pay for" was an error on my part. Dont get me wrong, money talks but it is also the way it is presented. If I were to throw money at someone and say do your job I would expect a back hand from the service staff, from my gf, parents and or anyone else within arms reach. That is not what I meant at all but can see how it may have been perceived as such... But if I were to politely hand someone money and look them in the eye with a pleasant smile while asking for their services I would then expect them to "attempt" to accomodate me, if they could (attempt being the key here). I certainly wouldnt expect them to cause someone else grief or inconvience by accomodating myself either. I happen to run a service department for a large IT organization within a large health insurance company in a big city. This environment is one where money doesnt talk. What talks is the services themselves and how they are provided. But- Those services and how they are performed is how I will reward my staff in monetary forms (and extended time off) when possible as that is what makes them happiest and allows them to enjoy the time when they are not working more so.

 

[Liljam]

Liljam - You bring up some good points...

To say it is only "you get what you pay for" was an error on my part. Dont get me wrong, money talks but it is also the way it is presented. If I were to throw money at someone and say do your job I would expect a back hand from the service staff, from my gf, parents and or anyone else within arms reach. That is not what I meant at all but can see how it may have been perceived as such... But if I were to politely hand someone money and look them in the eye with a pleasant smile while asking for their services I would then expect them to "attempt" to accomodate me, if they could (attempt being the key here). I certainly wouldnt expect them to cause someone else grief or inconvience by accomodating myself either. I happen to run a service department for a large IT organization within a large health insurance company in a big city. This environment is one where money doesnt talk. What talks is the services themselves and how they are provided. But- Those services and how they are performed is how I will reward my staff in monetary forms (and extended time off) when possible as that is what makes them happiest and allows them to enjoy the time when they are not working more so.

Aww, I knew you didn't mean it that way to begin with! But, yes, it's very good to have this description here because some can misconstrue what we are talking about.

 

[WDWMom]

We always tip anyone who handles our bags and wait/bar staff. I would never think of tipping at the store or front desk. We have never tipped housekeeping either.

I have read on a resort thread the conceirges are not to except tips at WDW. They are supposed to decline but at a third attempt they may take it but can not keep it. Not sure where the money goes, but they can be fired for keeping it. They may except gifts under $75 though.

 

[wildernessDad]

I tip mousekeeping 20% of what it would cost me to have them do it based on the member's website.

I don't tip the front desk.

 

[5forDiz]

In addition to valet, bell services, mousekeeping, table wait staff & bar staff

we have tipped CMs when our 2 DDs have had hair wraps

done over the years.

 

[kdepot]

Bartenders / waitstaff, mousekeeping, bell services

don't use valet

 

[DVC Grammy]

I always tip the DME driver, too.

 

[RLRDA]

We tip Bell Services, restaurant and bar servers, and Mousekeeping (from the poll list) and DME drivers, too. I've read that Mousekeeping's not a "tipped position", also, but I'm not sure why? Are they getting compensated at a higher rate than the average housekeeper would?

 

[Anal Annie]

In addition to lounge and restaurant wait staff (if the gratuity is not already included) we tip Mousekeeping a few dollars on T & T and more at the end of our stay because they're the ones who are really doing the work. We also tip anybody who touches or handles our luggage so that includes DME bus drivers and bell services. (With the way those tips add up per bag [by the time you figure in any other shuttle drivers or skycaps] you would THINK that I would learn to pack less! )

 

[patsal]

I never tip untipped positions, though I do occasionally tip mouskeeping if I have a special request (need for additioanl things like diswasher detergent, etc) or they go above and beyond.

 

[patsal]

We tip Bell Services, restaurant and bar servers, and Mousekeeping (from the poll list) and DME drivers, too. I've read that Mousekeeping's not a "tipped position", also, but I'm not sure why? Are they getting compensated at a higher rate than the average housekeeper would?

Yes, thus tips are unreported and therefore untaxed.

 

[Mississippian]

I try not to tip too much, because I've found that any money I don't tip I get to keep for myself and my family's needs.

I tip where it is expected, and am usually generous. But I do not create new ways to tip, such as leaving huge sums of money for the hotel maid. If I leave the room in a mess, then I tip. If I straighten and clean up before I leave, then I leave nothing, and the maid ought to tip me!

 

[DVC-Don]

Valet
Bell
Restaurant servers
Bar tenders/servers

That's it. The first two I hardly ever use.

 

[Entropy]

I didn't know that we aren't expected to tip Mousekeeping.
And I just found out in another thread that if you "tip" the check-in staff that you have a better chance of getting your requested room. Whoda Thunkit? Now we're that much closer to being a third-world country.

 

[gkrykewy]

I try not to tip too much, because I've found that any money I don't tip I get to keep for myself and my family's needs.

What a surprising finding.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I don't feel any special need to tip mousekeeping unless I ask for and recieve special service. We gather up all the trash and take it out, strip the beds, put all the towels in the tub, clean out the fridge and start the dishwasher when we leave. I figure I have already given the mousekeeper my "tip" in that way.