Tipping Mousekeeping?

[rentayenta]

We'll get trash and towel service on each of our 4th days (we've got 5 nights each at THV and AKV) but I'm unsure how much to tip? In a regular hotel we do $1 per day, per person but thats when they make beds and clean daily. Do they run a vacuum or anything on T&T day? And then what about check out day as it'll be two days later? How much do I leave? They'll be 6 of us in a 2 bedroom; 2 adults and 4 kids.

I have no issue vacuuming or any of that, just curious what the standard tip for T&T day is and what to tip upon check out which will be two days later?

 

[erionm]

Housekeeping is not a tipped position. If you tip anything, it's at your discretion.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[rentayenta]

Housekeeping is not a tipped position. If you tip anything, it's at your discretion.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Really, not even on check out day?

 

[Deb & Bill]

Really, not even on check out day?

Really. It's a non-tipped position.

All they do for Trash and Towel is take out the trash and leave you clean towels and replenish your supplies. No vacuuming. No bed making. No dish washing. Trash and towels is it.

On check out day, we strip the beds, gather up the trash, put the towels in the tub to make it easier for the housekeepers. Make sure the refrigerator is empty and load the dirty dishes into the dishwasher.

 

[jekjones1558]

Really, not even on check out day?

This subject comes up regularly here on the DIS. If you do a search you will find many threads. Tipping DVC housekeeping is a personal decision. Some do, some don't. I am one who always tips mousekeeping for trash and towel and at checkout. I think the work is hard. I have seen some of the rooms as I walk down the hall and it is appalling the condition of some of the rooms when guests leave. If I were going to work at WDW, housekeeping would NOT be on my list. Starting pay is $8.50/hr. I like to think that my tips let the housekeepers know that I notice their efforts and maybe tipping helps a little to reduce turnover in staff. Off my soapbox. JMHO.
P.S. I do as Deb does and leave the room as clean as possible. My tip is not an apology for a dirty room.

 

[rentayenta]

I can't imagine not tipping, I was just wondering when and how much....interesting. I wouldn't want that job either.

I'll run a vacuum I'm sure but I'm not going to clean clean before we leave. I'm not going to leave a mess either. I'll tip more for a happy medium.

Now for how much?

For those who tip, how much do you normally tip? Do you use a per person/per day calculation? Or how do you decide?

 

[jekjones1558]

DH and I stay in 1 bedrooms. I usually do $10 for trash and towel and $20 at checkout. When we bring my BFF and we have a 2 bedroom, I do $15 for trash and towel and $30 at checkout. Sometimes I leave more, like when a housekeeper makes the bed or loads the dishwasher on trash and towel day or does something extra. I have often called and written notes to the housekeeping manager about good service because I have heard that the housekeepers like this as well. I know that tips are much appreciated because when I have called the manager and asked that the housekeeper stop by for an extra tip (we had a SUPER one when we had a GV last October), the housekeeper shows up quickly!

 

[rentayenta]

DH and I stay in 1 bedrooms. I usually do $10 for trash and towel and $20 at checkout. When we bring my BFF and we have a 2 bedroom, I do $15 for trash and towel and $30 at checkout. Sometimes I leave more, like when a housekeeper makes the bed or loads the dishwasher on trash and towel day or does something extra. I have often called and written notes to the housekeeping manager about good service because I have heard that the housekeepers like this as well. I know that tips are much appreciated because when I have called the manager and asked that the housekeeper stop by for an extra tip (we had a SUPER one when we had a GV last October), the housekeeper shows up quickly!

Thank you! That's very helpful. With 6 of us and 3 bathrooms, I'm sure the tip will be appreciated.

I can see leaving more for better service too. This is good info.

Is there a standard that DVC mousekeeping expects with regard to stripping beds etc?

 

[Caren90]

I always tip and usually at a rate of $5 per day whether I stay for 3 days or 10 days.

Stephen

 

[rentayenta]

I always tip and usually at a rate of $5 per day whether I stay for 3 days or 10 days.

Stephen

Thank you Stephen. I was thinking along the same lines, maybe a little less as its not daily service. On the other hand, the villa will be far less clean after 5 nights of no service vs a daily clean. And there's 3 bathrooms instead of one.

Not that I won't rinse toothpaste down the sink or anything. We're not heathens.

I'll tip the T&T person and then leave that person more if they do more. I'll also tip at the end.

Do they leave a card so I know who to give the extra too?

I can't believe it's not a tipped position.

 

[com_op_2000]

I was told by mousekeeping, that if they receive a tip; they are required to turn it in for a CM party.

 

[rentayenta]

I was told by mousekeeping, that if they receive a tip; they are required to turn it in for a CM party.

Really???? A local restaurant here does that. I won't even go into how unfair I think that is. I can't imagine DVC mousekeeping is a coveted position.

That bums me out.

 

[jekjones1558]

I was told by mousekeeping, that if they receive a tip; they are required to turn it in for a CM party.

Here is the response I got when I contacted Member Services about whether mousekeepers can keep their tips:


Hello Jean,

Thank you for contacting DISNEY VACATION CLUB®.

We appreciate your interest in a DISNEY VACATION CLUB Resort.

Although they are not required, Members may feel free to leave
housekeeping tips as a form of recognizing their gratitude for the
service provided. Housekeepers are able to accept any tip that is marked
for Housekeeping. Members may, also, leave any unopened foods that they
do not wish to take with them for housekeepers as well.

Please let us know if we can be of any further assistance.

Sincerely,

Donna

Member Services | Online Communications
DISNEY VACATION CLUB

 

[rentayenta]

Here is the response I got when I contacted Member Services about whether mousekeepers can keep their tips:


Hello Jean,

Thank you for contacting DISNEY VACATION CLUB®.

We appreciate your interest in a DISNEY VACATION CLUB Resort.

Although they are not required, Members may feel free to leave
housekeeping tips as a form of recognizing their gratitude for the
service provided. Housekeepers are able to accept any tip that is marked
for Housekeeping. Members may, also, leave any unopened foods that they
do not wish to take with them for housekeepers as well.

Please let us know if we can be of any further assistance.

Sincerely,

Donna

Member Services | Online Communications
DISNEY VACATION CLUB

Do you think they're pressured at all to put tips in the kitty? I sure hope not. I like the idea of them keeping them better. It's hard work and people can be slobs. So maybe the key is marking it specifically for housekeeping? That way there's a paper trail vs cash just laying there? I'd think it would be for their protection.

 

[jekjones1558]

These are the envelopes I use for my tips:

http://www.themouseforless.com/downloads/trip/mousekeeping.shtml

 

[rentayenta]

These are the envelopes I use for my tips:

http://www.themouseforless.com/downloads/trip/mousekeeping.shtml

Thank you Jean. Those are darling and there's no mistaking who the recipient is meant to be.

 

[Dean]

I can't imagine not tipping, I was just wondering when and how much....interesting. I wouldn't want that job either.

I'll run a vacuum I'm sure but I'm not going to clean clean before we leave. I'm not going to leave a mess either. I'll tip more for a happy medium.

Now for how much?

For those who tip, how much do you normally tip? Do you use a per person/per day calculation? Or how do you decide?

The housekeepers are officially in a non tipped position. The standard for the US for timeshares is not to tip housekeeping, it's actually hit or miss for hotels as well. I can't think of another job that is not routinely designated as a tipped position that ever gets discussed for a possible tip. Plus there are many more positions at WDW that do just as much to make stays magical and are paid as low that don't come into the discussion.

 

[rentayenta]

The housekeepers are officially in a non tipped position. The standard for the US for timeshares is not to tip housekeeping, it's actually hit or miss for hotels as well. I can't think of another job that is not routinely designated as a tipped position that ever gets discussed for a possible tip. Plus there are many more positions at WDW that do just as much to make stays magical and are paid as low that don't come into the discussion.

I'm sure there are all sorts of low wage jobs at Disney and other places that deserve tips. I wonder if turnover is high?

Hotel housekeeping is hit and miss too? I thought tipping a hotel maid was standard practice. Interesting.

 

[disneynutz]

We normally don't tip Mousekeeping unless something really special happens beyond their normal responsibilities. They are paid a higher wage because it is a non tipped position and those terms were agreed on by the employees, Disney and their union.

Another issue that we have is about 60% of the time, there are lack of cleaning issues with the room and we find this unacceptable. Our T&T days, if they even show up, often consists of the the towels being left on the table and not even put where they belong.

We average around 7 DVC resort stays per year so we have significant experience with Mousekeeping.

Bill

 

[rentayenta]

We normally don't tip Mousekeeping unless something really special happens beyond their normal responsibilities. They are paid a higher wage because it is a non tipped position and those terms were agreed on by the employees, Disney and their union.

Another issue that we have is about 60% of the time, there are lack of cleaning issues with the room and we find this unacceptable. Our T&T days, if they even show up, often consists of the the towels being left on the table and not even put where they belong.

We average around 7 DVC resort stays per year so we have significant experience with Mousekeeping.

Bill

Thanks Bill. I appreciate the varied experiences. They're paid more than Mousekeeping at the hotels? I'm not into tipping for poor or unacceptable service either but it would have to be horrible or have them not show up for me not to leave something. How can they not show up? If you called, did they send someone over? We're going to need T&T for sure. Is the lack of cleaning when you arrive? I won't tolerate a dirty room either. It frogs me out to even think about it. I know they can't get every little spec up but I expect it to be clean- especially the bathrooms. Don't even get me started on the bedspreads. Have you found the poor cleaning to be resort specific? We'll be at the THV and AKV.