Tipping Mousekeeping

[Dean]

What???

For years I have heard about this list of positions that Disney considers "tipped" positions. I have tried multiple searches on the internet and cannot find this list. Can someone point me to it?

Here is what I found for Bell Services job posting and salary:
http://www.disney.go.com/DisneyCareers/wdwcareers/hourly/bellservices.html


Here is what I found for mousekeeping:
http://www.disney.go.com/DisneyCareers/wdwcareers/hourly/housekeeping.html

I do not see much difference in pay nor any mention of tip expectations.

It used to be listed directly on Disney's Website a few years ago, I haven't seen it in maybe 5-6 years. As noted, it's been in the handed out info at times over the years but not always.

 

[JerJan]

 

[Donald is #1]

Disney hands out information sheets when you check into a resort. They have a section on "Gratuities" which lists the positions for which a tip is customary at the WDW Resort. Housekeeping is not one of them.

I guess that I have never read the material that they had out at check-in, because I don't remember reading that part. Of course that could be because prior to buying into DVC, I was always running off to a park as soon as I checked in.

 

[Donald is #1]

Well, if I counted right, then we are running 50%. I guess that explains why I am so confused over whether to tip or not.

I have always tipped at the non-DVC resorts, but I am still trying to figure out whether to tip or not at DVC. I guess that I will determine based upon how much they have to do.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

So basically you'd like their pay to be cut so you can then tip them. Go figure.

No.... I don't want their pay to be cut. I want them to have rewards for doing a good or great job. I want them to make more than they do now based on their job performance. I am a manager in a factory that has no basis for rewarding people for doing a... forget it. I'm like a moth heading for the flame sometimes.

EDIT: Ok, I've gotten a broken night of sleep and not feeling so grumpy. A couple points.

Federal minimum wage for tipped workers = $3.50/hr. Straight minumum wage = $6.55. I would be surprised to find that DVC pays much if any more than straight minimum wage to their room cleaners. Seems very likely a room cleaner could make $10 to $15 per hour with tips. However, when we the customers leave tips on the table when we check-out it is whoever sees it first that gets it, and we're likely not really rewarding the person we want to be rewarding (as Deb points out). Wouldn't surprise me if you told me supervisors go around a check the rooms before sending in the cleaners. I am a share the wealth kind of person and will tip or reward those who are likely struggling to make ends meet, and will tip more for a better job done. In this case though I can't do that because it is a non-tipped position, but if the person who prepared my room left an envelope and I could actually deposit it in a tip box, I would be happier and I'm betting the room cleaners would be happier.

That said, I agree with Dean about the passing on of cost of business to the customer. I dislike it when a business tacks on an automatic 20% gratuity. I am divided on this issue to say the least. However, in this case, we're the owner and the customer at the same time, and the costs (or savings) come out of one hand are passed to the other.

So bottom line in my ideal situation... the costs/savings are a wash. We are able to reward the one we intend to. The people doing good jobs are making more in general and more than the ones who don't. And we end up with better service. Cleaner rooms. Ready sooner.

JMHO

 

[Deb & Bill]

When you are in a tipped position, it is expected that you will receive X% of your wages in tips. And you are taxed on that percentage. Valets, table servers are right there when you are provided services and it's difficult to leave without tipping that position. But with housekeeping, you aren't there when you receive their services so that you can pay them the wages (tips). I wonder how many housekeepers would be paying taxes on non-received tips. Perhaps that is why housekeeping is a non-tipped position.

Many years ago (sometime after the Ice Age), when I was in college (the first time) I worked as a waitress in a restaurant during the summer time. I was paid $0.80 an hour and the rest of my pay was tips. I had to fill out a sheet every week declaring the tips that I had earned that week. Minimum wage at the time was nearing $2.00 an hour. So it was expected that I earned at least $1.20 an hour in tips.

 

[jblrn2b]

Sorry but more confused than ever.

 

[dbriggsq]

Sorry but more confused than ever.

I can see why you are confused.

There are people here ( well meaning I'm sure) who will tell you that they tip housekeeping and imply that it is the 'done thing'.

Housekeepers at Disney are not employed in a tipped position and therefore you should not feel that you are required to tip them. If you feel you would like to then you are at liberty to do so.

I do feel that if it becomes customary for people to tip housekeeping there is a danger that Disney may see this as an opportunity to freeze or even reduce housekeeping wages and turn it into a 'tipped' position which I think would be disadvantageous to the people involved.

 

[keishashadow]

non DVC i tip housekeeping every day, couple $s per guest ($10 minimum)

DVC, once or twice during typical 4 - 6 day stay,amount depending on cleanliness of room; approx same i'd leave for housekeeping for 2 day period @ standard hotel

consider ourselves to be neat/easy with studio usage, if we made a mess would leave more kwim?

from moonlighting in the service industry years ago, trust me; tips r always welcome

 

[shellybaxter]

I can see why you are confused.

There are people here ( well meaning I'm sure) who will tell you that they tip housekeeping and imply that it is the 'done thing'.

Housekeepers at Disney are not employed in a tipped position and therefore you should not feel that you are required to tip them. If you feel you would like to then you are at liberty to do so.

I do feel that if it becomes customary for people to tip housekeeping there is a danger that Disney may see this as an opportunity to freeze or even reduce housekeeping wages and turn it into a 'tipped' position which I think would be disadvantageous to the people involved.

I live in California. We don't have a sub minimum wage here. Servers receive at least the regular minimum wage and tipping is customarily 20% of the total. Here in California I tip servers, taxi drivers, bell services, valet, and housekeeping (just off the top of my head). I don't worry about who gets less money or who gets more money - I tip based on the fact that I appreciate the services provided and want to say thank you. So when I go to WDW I don't get hung up on who is supposed to be tipped and who isn't - I just tip the people I want to thank for the services they provide. Mousekeeping is once of those departments that I usually tip

Yes, I tip Mousekeeping!


1) Trash and Towel Day usually about $1 per person.

2) & 3) Are pretty much both full cleanings so I will tip anywhere between $5 to $20 depending on the size of the unit (stuido to GV)

I also tip Mousekeeping when they deliver extra towels or bring things that I request. This happens much less frequently at DVC, but we sometimes add nights on at non-DVC WDW resorts.

This is pretty much how much I tip as well.

 

[Kiderak]

I tip based on service and never feel obligated to tip. Really poor service deserves no tip, exceptional service deserves a higher tip. I don't see the cleaning of the rooms as a customer service position any more than the counter worker at a McDonalds or Burger King.