Tipping Mousekeeping

[Disney Lovin' Grammy]

During our trip to AKL last November, I made all the cutesy envelopes for mousekeeping and had my grandchildren put the money in and sign them; however, no matter where we placed them in the room, mousekeeping never took them. Perhaps when we checked out I should have attempted to leave an envelope for mousekeeping at the desk, but in all of our confusion I did not think to do so at the time.

 

[mom of princessx2]

I, too, would be interested in hearing what WDW has to say regarding this very hot topic. I personally do not tip because I would expect to always have a clean room at any hotel. It should be included in your room price. But if I was to tip I wouldn't leave it daily. You always have different people so the person that doesn't vacuum may get the tip and the person the following day, that does her job properly, is being left out. Don't understand that method. Would be nice if it could always be left with the manager at end of trip.

 

[chezdion]

When I was a housekeeper at hotel for a summer job, I never expected a tip but was happy when I got one at the time of checkout!
I have never tipped on a daily bases and have done so at the end of our stay based on how well our stay was maintained.
I am not sure how Disney works, but where I worked we had a set number of rooms we were in charge of every day we worked, so we would understand the needs of the guests in the rooms. If we gave exceptional service(over and above the standard), while it wasn't mandatory, it is always appreciated to get a tip.
It is a personal decision whether you tip or not. While many non tipped employees may get tips, I highly doubt they would turn it over to their manager...That's just human nature.

 

[lovepurple]

Re: Mousekeeping Tips

1) We do not leave tips at WDW for housekeeping.
2) At most hotels, maids are poorly paid.
3) At WDW, the maids are paid well.
4) In fact, they are paid more than many other WDW jobs.
5) WDW maids (per union contract)
. . . make up to $12.47/hr
. . . leave 45-minutes early and be paid for it
. . . make up to $1.00/hr in Flex bonus
. . . make up to $22.00/room incentive pay
. . . make up to $35.00/room incentive pay for DVC rooms
. . . work very desirable schedules versus other CM's

I find it hard to believe that the mousekeepers are making that much money. I know some are kids doing the college program and are paid around $7/hr, I guess that falls in with the "up to $12.47/hr" and they aren't union. I think I would like to switch careers if I can make that much money. I wonder how long it takes to clean each room.

 

[Disfamguy]

I think tipping should be allowed for several reasons. But basically, it's a show of gratitude for the service they provide over and above what they normally get paid.

If we are all honest with ourselves, all of us would like extra recognition on our jobs if we are doing well. Sometimes that results in a pay raise. But when you get that recognition, you tend to feel better about yourself and your job.

Further, for those who say, "We can't afford to tip" how in the world can you afford to make the trip to Disney, stay on site, pay for the food, but can't afford five or ten dollars over the course of your stay?

You spend that much by accident at Disney. Seems if that is the reason you don't tip, then you probably can't really afford to go in the first place.

I just think it is a way to justify not tipping, IMO.

Also, I think as much as the tipping, also important is letting not only the maid know, but also the manager of the hotel and also the corporation know how good of a job they did. If they are recognized among their peers then this will also create more of a positive attitude within the ranks of the employees.

 

[househunter]

Not by tipping or not tipping though. This is my first trip to the World but have stayed in many hotels. Why would you tip daily? The proper etiquette is to tip when you check out. That is why they give you one envelope in the hotels that give you envelopes. I do think it's funny though that someone on here thinks in today's economy 12.45 is a good paying job.

I have never tipped upon checkout at any hotel anywhere. For me, the proper etiquette is to tip daily. Most hotels give you one envelope AT A TIME. When you use the first one, they leave another one for the next day.

 

[spider0215]

I have never tipped upon checkout at any hotel anywhere. For me, the proper etiquette is to tip daily. Most hotels give you one envelope AT A TIME. When you use the first one, they leave another one for the next day.

I didn't say proper etiquette for me. This is the proper hotel etiquette, doesn't mean everyone has to do it. Use to know the ex wife of Steve Wynne so i'm very versed in hotel etiquette. It doesn't mean everyone follows or has to follow, just the way it suppose to be done.

 

[TiggerCat]

Further, for those who say, "We can't afford to tip" how in the world can you afford to make the trip to Disney, stay on site, pay for the food, but can't afford five or ten dollars over the course of your stay?

You spend that much by accident at Disney. Seems if that is the reason you don't tip, then you probably can't really afford to go in the first place.

I just think it is a way to justify not tipping, IMO.

So what are you trying to say about the people who choose not to tip? Doesn't sound like you think too highly of them. I see that you have made your own decision to tip staff in what is considered an "un-tipped" position. I respect your decision so please allow everyone else the same courtesy without the lecture on what they can or can't afford.

TC.

 

[Tiki Room Fan]

I still don't understand - do you leave a tip in the morning based on the previous days service? If so how do you know that it will be the same housekeeper?
When I'm on holiday I don't want to have to monitor whether or not the housekeepers are doing their job and whether they 'deserve' a tip. That is the hotel management's job, and I think housekeepers deserve a proper wage from their employer and shouldn't have to rely on handouts from guests.

I don't know what Disney's policy is, but usually during our stay, I've noticed that we tend to have the same person cleaning the room most of the week, as if they are assigned certain buildings and/or floors. They leave a card with their name on it in your room. As in the case with Jose that we had one year, he was our housekeeper until the last 1 or 2 days of our stay. The new person took his card away and replaced it, but forgot to write their name on it.

I've never seen management at any hotel inspecting rooms after housekeeping has cleaned them. Personally, I can do my own monitoring on whether or not my hotel room is clean enough to my standards and liking. I also enjoy expressing my gratitude in the form of leaving a note and a tip. To each his own.

My reason for starting this thread wasn't to debate and argue with other Disers how and why they do and don't tip. It was simply to find out if anyone, perhaps a current mousekeeper working at Disney, could confirm whether or not tips are pooled.

I will post my reply from Disney when I receive one.

 

[Tara922c]

I did the college program a few years ago, and was told non-tipped employees are not allowed to accept tips. If someone offered me a tip, I was supposed to say, "thank-you, but I can't accept" (or something to that matter). I was supposed to decline the tip twice, and if the guest still insisted, I was to take it, and turn it into the manager. I just looked through my old Disney college program stuff, and the handbook said, if a tip, whether it be monetary or not, is left for the cast member, they must turn it into the manager. If that doesn't happen, it could result in termination. It is to insure non-tipped employees do not solicite tips. I know that servers, bartenders, pizza delivery, and bell hops can accept tips. (the servers in TS only make 3.15 an hour, so they depend on tips) For the life of me, I can't remember about mousekeepers. I would think, if they couldn't accept tips, then the wouldn't take the envelope, unless the guest had already checked out, or if the guest tried to hand them a tip, they would decline. For these reasons, I am going to assume that they can accept tips, but I wouldn't be suprised if it went to a pool for them to share. The way I feel about tipping a mousekeeper is, if you want to great, and if you don't want to great. It is up to each individual guest. I still think your room should be cleaned up to par no matter if you tip, or not.

 

[Tiki Room Fan]

I did the college program a few years ago, and was told non-tipped employees are not allowed to accept tips. If someone offered me a tip, I was supposed to say, "thank-you, but I can't accept" (or something to that matter). I was supposed to decline the tip twice, and if the guest still insisted, I was to take it, and turn it into the manager. I just looked through my old Disney college program stuff, and the handbook said, if a tip, whether it be monetary or not, is left for the cast member, they must turn it into the manager. If that doesn't happen, it could result in termination. It is to insure non-tipped employees do not solicite tips. I know that servers, bartenders, pizza delivery, and bell hops can accept tips. (the servers in TS only make 3.15 an hour, so they depend on tips) For the life of me, I can't remember about mousekeepers. I would think, if they couldn't accept tips, then the wouldn't take the envelope, unless the guest had already checked out, or if the guest tried to hand them a tip, they would decline. For these reasons, I am going to assume that they can accept tips, but I wouldn't be suprised if it went to a pool for them to share. The way I feel about tipping a mousekeeper is, if you want to great, and if you don't want to great. It is up to each individual guest. I still think your room should be cleaned up to par no matter if you tip, or not.

I've heard that 3x rule, too, and I've used that while at Disney and sometimes the person would then take the tip, but the last time, when a CM dropped something off to me in my room, she wouldn't take the tip, even though I asked her about 5x. She ended up turning and walking away with me standing there holding the money. It was a package I had had delivered to the hotel, and in my opinion, delivering a personal package to me to my room is above and beyond her job duties. I appreciated her hauling it to my room and not calling me and telling me to come get it from the lobby. It was also raining at the time.

It's both interesting and confusing that Disney has this no tipping policy, but they seem to keep it a secret. I'm a bit surprised it's kept so quiet. I don't recall seeing anything in the room or in the lobby about tipping mousekeeping not being allowed. Why so secretive?

 

[disneycrazy2004]

We have stayed at Disney property twice now and going for third time. At both places we never tipped daily for the simple reason that we had different mousekeeper every day. Our room has always been very clean with new towels, soap, shampoo, ect. And there was always a towel animal every day. Kids just loved it. The service we have gotten has always been great, but that what I would always except from Disney. I don't think is right to judge people why or why not tipping. It should be at ones personal discretion and I don't think people should feel pressured to tip. If I would tip I always tip at the end of my trip for the hard work of everyone over my stay, but I have never felt pressured to to so.

 

[Disfamguy]

So what are you trying to say about the people who choose not to tip? Doesn't sound like you think too highly of them. I see that you have made your own decision to tip staff in what is considered an "un-tipped" position. I respect your decision so please allow everyone else the same courtesy without the lecture on what they can or can't afford.

TC.

I'm sorry. Obviously you didn'y read the entire thread. I was referring to those who said they can't afford to tip. It' strikes me as odd that someone can afford a trip to Florida, stay on property, buy the food, souvenirs et al, and yet use the excuse "I can't afford to tip." It's either a lie or cop out that they can't afford the 5 or 10 dollars.

Now if they choose not to tip because it's an un-tipped position, that's fine, I don't think anything about it one way or the other. That is their choice. Either way it doesn't matter to me.

I just posted my thoughts on tipping. The first part of the post was why I felt it was good.

The last part was about people saying they couldn't afford it.

That's different than saying I choose not to.

 

[TiggerCat]

I'm sorry. Obviously you didn'y read the entire thread. I was referring to those who said they can't afford to tip. It' strikes me as odd that someone can afford a trip to Florida, stay on property, buy the food, souvenirs et al, and yet use the excuse "I can't afford to tip." It's either a lie or cop out that they can't afford the 5 or 10 dollars.

Now if they choose not to tip because it's an un-tipped position, that's fine, I don't think anything about it one way or the other. That is their choice. Either way it doesn't matter to me.

I just posted my thoughts on tipping. The first part of the post was why I felt it was good.

The last part was about people saying they couldn't afford it.

That's different than saying I choose not to.

Disfamguy,

I appreciate what you are saying but I have never bought into the theory that if someone can afford to stay at a Disney Resort that they should be able to afford to tip. That, frankly, is none of my business. If someone feels that, for whatever reason, they cannot afford to leave a tip behind for staff in an untipped position than who are we to judge? You tip and you feel good about it. That's great! Let's leave it at that without being judgemental of others.

TC.

 

[Disfamguy]

Disfamguy,

I appreciate what you are saying but I have never bought into the theory that if someone can afford to stay at a Disney Resort that they should be able to afford to tip. That, frankly, is none of my business. If someone feels that, for whatever reason, they cannot afford to leave a tip behind for staff in an untipped position than who are we to judge? You tip and you feel good about it. That's great! Let's leave it at that without being judgemental of others.

TC.

I'm just saying it's not true. Unless they made the trip on their last dime it's just patently untrue. And I'm not judging anything other than the statement. They would just be better off saying, I choose not to. And that's fine.

Like I said, it really doesn't matter. I was just adding my opinion on a discussion board.

Maybe I should just refrain from doing that.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

I do think it's funny though that someone on here thinks in today's economy 12.45 is a good paying job.

Yes, and it's "up to" 12.45 and hour, which means that you probably have to work there 10 years to make that much.

The "can't afford to tip" gets to me. If someone can afford to go to Disney, they can afford to tip. Just say "I don't feel like tipping" rather than "I can't afford to tip."

Re: mousekeeping not taking their tips that people put in envelopes--somebody on the DISboards mentioned that a lot of the mousekeepers don't speak English and probably can't read what's written on the envelope and don't know what a "Mousekeeper" is.

Leave the money on your pillow with a post-it note that says "Thanks" and they will take it.

 

[TiggerCat]

The "can't afford to tip" gets to me. If someone can afford to go to Disney, they can afford to tip. Just say "I don't feel like tipping" rather than "I can't afford to tip."

Why does this bother you? Housekeeping is not a tipped position so how does this affect your vacation? Will this anger the Housekeeping Gods to the point where they will forget to give you some extra Mickey soap? Will they short sheet your beds? Not following the logic here. An individual's reason for tipping or not tipping is their own and should not be yours or my concern. As I previously stated, let's not be judgemental of others.

TC.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

Why does this bother you? Housekeeping is not a tipped position so how does this affect your vacation? Will this anger the Housekeeping Gods to the point where they will forget to give you some extra Mickey soap? Will they short sheet your beds? Not following the logic here. An individual's reason for tipping or not tipping is their own and should not be yours or my concern. As I previously stated, let's not be judgemental of others.

TC.

You are apparently being judgmental of my statements and reading many, many things into them that are not there. Did I say anything about short-sheeting or extra Mickey soap? No, I did not. That's more than a bit silly.

I stand by my statement that somebody who can afford a Disney vacation can afford to tip. Whether they tip or not is their decision. If it's not any of your concern,feel free not to read or reply to threads about tipping.

I, too would like to hear a response to the OPs question about whether or not mousekeeping tips are pooled.

 

[loonytoony]

Simple solution. Don't tip. My room better be clean also. If not they may join the group of the unemployed.

 

[goofy4tink]

Not by tipping or not tipping though. This is my first trip to the World but have stayed in many hotels. Why would you tip daily? The proper etiquette is to tip when you check out. That is why they give you one envelope in the hotels that give you envelopes. I do think it's funny though that someone on here thinks in today's economy 12.45 is a good paying job.

Funny, that's what my dd, 33, makes in a daycare facility.
You would tip daily because your housekeeper can quite possibly change over the lenght of your trip.

Where is this information made public or how did you know becuase i would love to get a job seeing I am a housekeeper up here in MI and i only make 8.00 per hour ......

Rustyscupper, if I remember correctly, was a CM on the resort level...hence the knowledge regarding pay. I have also heard this pay rate posted...by someone also in a position to know.

I find it hard to believe that the mousekeepers are making that much money. I know some are kids doing the college program and are paid around $7/hr, I guess that falls in with the "up to $12.47/hr" and they aren't union. I think I would like to switch careers if I can make that much money. I wonder how long it takes to clean each room.

Believe it or not, WDW housekeepers are paid fairly well considering what others in their profession are making. Is it a huge amount of money? No, absolutely not. But, it is what it is, whether or not you want to believe it.


This is about what housekeepers make on an hourly basis. This is why Disney has said that housekeeping is not considered a 'tipped position'. As someone else said, Disney expects all guests to have well cleaned, and maintained rooms....no need to tip. Everyone should be getting the exact same excellent service.
Now...before anyone questions me on how I know, for sure, that is it not a tipped position...I have asked management at BW, POP, BC, POR...they all said the exact same thing. Now, perhaps it's time they put signage up that says that...but maybe there is a reason they don't......
Do I tip??? Sometimes, if I have received extra good service, or if my housekeeper has gone out of his/her way to make my stay nicer. As a rule though, I stopped tipping years ago. And no, I have not noticed any decrease in service. In fact, some of the worst housekeeping I had was when I had started tipping on a daily basis...that came to a stop really fast!!!

Not to mention, there are many other countries where tipping is unknown..at least as far as hotel housekeeping goes. And sometimes in restaurants as well.