Tipping- How much and to whom

[chimilady]

It is noted in travel books, blogs, and etiquette books too. I really don't understand how people can claim ignorance?

Again I am 43 and have been tipping since I was a kid.

Yup, and I wonder why people think Mousekeepers are not a tipped position? My friend managed the Mousekeepers at one of the resorts and they certainly do receive tips! (though not often enough because people like those on here don't think they should)

I'm 36 and my parents always tipped a small amount when I was a child at every hotel I stayed at. If you didn't know you should tip housekeeping at a hotel, I'm shocked.

 

[momto2inKC]

Yup, and I wonder why people think Mousekeepers are not a tipped position? My friend managed the Mousekeepers at one of the resorts and they certainly do receive tips! (though not often enough because people like those on here don't think they should)

I'm 36 and my parents always tipped a small amount when I was a child at every hotel I stayed at. If you didn't know you should tip housekeeping at a hotel, I'm shocked.

While they do receive tips, Disney does not consider it a tipped position. Like previously mentioned, it's even on the literature at check in.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I have never heard of tipping housekeeprs until I read it here, either. But, then again, we never stayed in hotels much if we traveled when I was a child, and I am almost 39.

As someone on the first page posted a policy from WDW, a housekeeper could possibly be terminated for accepting tips.

I do however tip, if I call and ask for something specific be brought to our room, because they have gone out of their way to do fulfill a request. I also tip bell services, valet, and waiters/waitresses

I also don't leave outgrown clothes, bottles of half used hygeine products, bags of leftover snacks/drinks, or other such non-sense. Nobody wants your left over bag of crap.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

While they do receive tips, Disney does not consider it a tipped position. Like previously mentioned, it's even on the literature at check in.

I have NEVER seen it on any literature at any hotel we have ever stayed at, and Dh and I travel quite a bit. I do tip if I call and ask for something extra be brought to the room.

 

[disneychrista]

I also don't leave outgrown clothes, bottles of half used hygeine products, bags of leftover snacks/drinks, or other such non-sense. Nobody wants your left over bag of crap.

If I was a maid I would see this as trash and deal with it appropriately. I would NEVER use somones left behind toiletries or eat left behind food.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

If I was a maid I would see this as trash and deal with it appropriately. I would NEVER use somones left behind toiletries or eat left behind food.

Well, I agree with that, but there are people on this board that do it and think it is perfectly acceptable.

 

[momto2inKC]

I have NEVER seen it on any literature at any hotel we have ever stayed at, and Dh and I travel quite a bit. I do tip if I call and ask for something extra be brought to the room.

It was in our packet when we checked in a Animal Kingdom Villas a few years ago. Another poster mentioned getting it at AKL in this thread.

 

[Acklander]

I'm not sure if it's regional - but some people were raised that it's common to tip housekeepers and some were raised that it wasn't done. So it seems to follow a family tradition, not a regional one.
I was raised to believe that you leave tips for those who do a personal service for you directly. That's why I tip wait staff, hair stylists, bell hops, tour guides, and hotel housekeepers.
It makes no sense comparing a hotel housekeeper with a ride operator or someone cleaning a public bathroom (though I have seen tip jars in places that have a bathroom attendant, where they are giving you more of a personal service). They are 2 different things. That would be like saying I don't need to tip the hotel maid because I didn't tip the airline pilot. One has nothing to do with the other. Being the number of people who were raised to tip housekeepers, even if you're not one of them, can't you open your mind to the fact that others feel differently without throwing in non issues like don you tip the ride operator?
Tip or don't tip - that's a personal choice that seems split about 50/50. But if you choose not to tip, stand behind your decision based on the merits of you don't feel the need to tip housekeepers. Don't try to make yourself feel better about your decision by throwing in a list of other people who you don't tip - they are 2 completely different things.

 

[ValpoCory]

I was raised to believe that you leave tips for those who do a personal service for you directly. That's why I tip wait staff, hair stylists, bell hops, tour guides, and hotel housekeepers. ...

Tip or don't tip - that's a personal choice that seems split about 50/50. But if you choose not to tip, stand behind your decision based on the merits of you don't feel the need to tip housekeepers. Don't try to make yourself feel better about your decision by throwing in a list of other people who you don't tip....

and likewise ...

Tip or don't tip - that's a personal choice that seems split about 50/50. But if you choose to tip, stand behind your decision based on the merits that you feel the need to tip housekeepers. Don't try to make yourself feel better about your decision by throwing in a list of other people who you do tip....


That being said, I tip because I think it's the right thing to do, but can understand and respect both points of view.

 

[rdsx28]

I do tip as I realize that cleaning rooms is a hard job. One I myself am thankful I do not have to do. Although my family always staightens up, throws our trash in buckets and try to keep things neat. I have walked by many rooms that look like a bomb has gone off in them. I have also seen many room service trays thrown in the hallways in the resorts. Someone has to pick these things up. (Happens to be a pet peeve of mine). To sum it all up I guess I put myself in their shoes and would appreciate a small tip to show my hard work was appreciated. But it is certainly everyone's choice to tip or not.

 

[pumpkinmomma]

I agree completely with Acklander.

We do tip the housekeeping. We leave it every morning. We leave $3-4 a day.

As far as the OP's budget goes, definitely just tip in cash if you plan to tip. It's easier. Have some small bills on hand before you leave for your trip. Fancy envelopes are unnecessary IMO, but by all means bring them if you feel like it. We also tip bell services- usually $1-2 per bag. we are having a grocery delivery so we will tip the bell services accordingly for bringing it up to our room.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

It was in our packet when we checked in a Animal Kingdom Villas a few years ago. Another poster mentioned getting it at AKL in this thread.

Actually, if you read it correctly, it said mousekeeping is NOT a tipped position.

Well, we are about to go on our second trip this year, here in 3 weeks, I will be sure to check it out. We have been 16 times in the past 7 years and I have NEVER seen it in the literature and we have stayed at almost every resort, including Deluxe and DVC. We have even stayed on rented points at BWV and didn't even have housekeeping during our stay there, as we weren't there but few days and they have limited housekeeping services.

 

[pediatric-rnp]

Tipping housekeepers is not just a "Dis thing". This may be the first place some Disers have heard about the practice, but it has been around for many years. As I mentioned in a previous post, in the 1960s I grew up in a rural area of upstate NY, and worked as a chambermaid to save for college. This was an era in which tipping wasn't an exaggerated practice as it is now........ie not everyone who did something for you expected a tip like is the practice now. BUT, I did receive tips for cleaning the motel rooms. They were small, but I was ever so grateful.

I don't equate it to being the same as any other work position in WDW. Entirely different type of relationship. This is much more personalized, even if you never actually meet your mousekeeper. This person is in my room, cleaning where I sleep, bathe, store my belongings and relax for the week.

I think each side of this topic will just have to agree to disagree. I don't expect to convert someone who thinks otherwise to see or understand my reasoning. I do what I believe to be the right thing. I was raised by a single mother due to the death of my Dad, and vacations never existed in my childhood. There was no money for such. But what did exist in my childhood was kindness and being taught life lessons, such as it isn't all about money, something which has served me well into adulthood. I don't tip because it is expected, but if I can afford the luxery of a wonderful vacation, it makes me feel even better to be able to put a smile in another person's heart while on that vacation. Don't get me wrong - I am a coupon clipping, sale hunting frugal Mom, but leaving a few dollars to someone not expecting it always makes my heart smile. Especially when I recall my high school days, and that this is what helped put me through college. It's called "playing it forward".

 

[momto2inKC]

Well, we are about to go on our second trip this year, here in 3 weeks, I will be sure to check it out. We have been 16 times in the past 7 years and I have NEVER seen it in the literature and we have stayed at almost every resort, including Deluxe and DVC. We have even stayed on rented points at BWV and didn't even have housekeeping during our stay there, as we weren't there but few days and they have limited housekeeping services.

I'm looking for it right now so I can take a pic, it should be in the DVC folder from that trip. I did find the sheet with the housekeeping charges if we needed the services, I was certain that's the sheet it was on. I've never seen it any other times we've been there either, and we've stayed at all resort levels too.

 

[momto2inKC]

Actually, if you read it correctly, it said mousekeeping is NOT a tipped position.

Well, we are about to go on our second trip this year, here in 3 weeks, I will be sure to check it out. We have been 16 times in the past 7 years and I have NEVER seen it in the literature and we have stayed at almost every resort, including Deluxe and DVC. We have even stayed on rented points at BWV and didn't even have housekeeping during our stay there, as we weren't there but few days and they have limited housekeeping services.

You updated you post while I was responding...I guess I don't get why you're arguing with me? I read it just fine, Housekeeping is NOT a tipped position. That's what I said? I'm confused
And FWIW...we have tipped the Housekeeping at Disney, only because it's what I thought you were supposed to do from what I read on Dis. Then when we stayed in the AKV we learned it was not a tipped position according to Disney.

 

[Lemurone]

Don't we all work really hard? I was a zookeeper, and BELIEVE ME that was hard work, and no visitors ever tipped me (even if, for example, I had to get a snake off your son's arm because he wouldn't listen to me and leave the wildlife alone). I work really hard right now even though it's not manual labor, but no one tips me. Where do you draw the line? I am all for agreeing to disagree, but saying that and then saying "I was brought up to have good manners" is just insulting those of us that don't think hotel housekeeping is a tipping job. I have great manners and don't tip. I think tipping is done for a reason--a holiday bonus, or people who have to turn over most of their wages to their "parent" company (stylists, servers, contract housecleaners, etc).

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

You updated you post while I was responding...I guess I don't get why you're arguing with me? I read it just fine, Housekeeping is NOT a tipped position. That's what I said? I'm confused
And FWIW...we have tipped the Housekeeping at Disney, only because it's what I thought you were supposed to do from what I read on Dis. Then when we stayed in the AKV we learned it was not a tipped position according to Disney.

Sorry, apparently I'm confused too, I mis-interpreted what you said; no harm, no foul.

Oh, I tipped them as well for a few trips, then I read something that was posted here by a CM about what a mousekeeper made and there was no way I was tipping after that.

 

[SaraJayne]

Tipping housekeepers is not just a "Dis thing". This may be the first place some Disers have heard about the practice, but it has been around for many years. As I mentioned in a previous post, in the 1960s I grew up in a rural area of upstate NY, and worked as a chambermaid to save for college. This was an era in which tipping wasn't an exaggerated practice as it is now........ie not everyone who did something for you expected a tip like is the practice now. BUT, I did receive tips for cleaning the motel rooms. They were small, but I was ever so grateful.

I don't equate it to being the same as any other work position in WDW. Entirely different type of relationship. This is much more personalized, even if you never actually meet your mousekeeper. This person is in my room, cleaning where I sleep, bathe, store my belongings and relax for the week.

I think each side of this topic will just have to agree to disagree. I don't expect to convert someone who thinks otherwise to see or understand my reasoning. I do what I believe to be the right thing. I was raised by a single mother due to the death of my Dad, and vacations never existed in my childhood. There was no money for such. But what did exist in my childhood was kindness and being taught life lessons, such as it isn't all about money, something which has served me well into adulthood. I don't tip because it is expected, but if I can afford the luxery of a wonderful vacation, it makes me feel even better to be able to put a smile in another person's heart while on that vacation. Don't get me wrong - I am a coupon clipping, sale hunting frugal Mom, but leaving a few dollars to someone not expecting it always makes my heart smile. Especially when I recall my high school days, and that this is what helped put me through college. It's called "playing it forward".

I never said it was a "Dis" thing. I said I had never heard of it until I became a member of this board and started reading about people that tipped housekeeping at hotels.

 

[Hannathy]

Don't we all work really hard? I was a zookeeper, and BELIEVE ME that was hard work, and no visitors ever tipped me (even if, for example, I had to get a snake off your son's arm because he wouldn't listen to me and leave the wildlife alone). I work really hard right now even though it's not manual labor, but no one tips me. Where do you draw the line? I am all for agreeing to disagree, but saying that and then saying "I was brought up to have good manners" is just insulting those of us that don't think hotel housekeeping is a tipping job. I have great manners and don't tip. I think tipping is done for a reason--a holiday bonus, or people who have to turn over most of their wages to their "parent" company (stylists, servers, contract housecleaners, etc).

My point exactly. They are paid an hourly rate to do their job, a rate that does not count on tips.

Positions that are tipped positions make less hourly because they are expected to be tipped, like waitresses.

Believe me if Disney expected everyone to leave tips they would be paying them less an hour (Disney would love it) and expecting them to declare them on their taxes.-something I bet never gets done.

 

[disneychrista]

]expecting them to declare them on their taxes.-something I bet never gets done.

It may not be done, but the IRS still expects them to do it. Anyone who gets more than $20 in tips in a single month is expect to claim their tips on their taxes.