Tipping your Mousekeepers

[aml3679]

It is customary to tip housekeepers in the United States. Disney Housekeepers are no different. We leave between $5 and $10 each day for 2 of us. If you don't want to tip or feel like you should, the don't. Also, there have been enough treads on this subject not to get into a big debate. We appreciate good service and feel that the amount we leave is a little extra to say we appreciate it.

 

[kaytieeldr]

There's no need for any individual to take a trip to Walt Disney World. It does quite well on its own. But people go. I don't think there's any criticism over not tipping hotel housekeepers.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

RE: TIPPING RESORT ROOM MAIDS

1) We do not leave tips at WDW for housekeeping.
. . . under normal circumstances and conditions
. . . changing towels, makig beds, cleaning bathroom, straightening, re-stocking
. . . but, if we REALLY mess up the room, that is a different matter
. . . for creating mega-maid-work, I would leave a couple of bucks that day
2) At most hotels, maids are poorly paid.
3) At WDW, the maids are paid well, and in a NON-TIPPED job classification.
4) In fact, they are paid more than many other WDW jobs.
5) WDW maids (per union contract) can
. . . make up to $13.48/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

NOTE: The whole idea of Walt is that everyone gets treated the same,
whether they can afford to tip or not. Plus, he did not want people to have
to tip everywhere they went or for every service they received.

 

[goofy4tink]

It is a non-tipped, union position. There's no need to tip them; they do quite do well on their own.

RE: TIPPING RESORT ROOM MAIDS

1) We do not leave tips at WDW for housekeeping.
. . . under normal circumstances and conditions
. . . changing towels, makig beds, cleaning bathroom, straightening, re-stocking
. . . but, if we REALLY mess up the room, that is a different matter
. . . for creating mega-maid-work, I would leave a couple of bucks that day
2) At most hotels, maids are poorly paid.
3) At WDW, the maids are paid well, and in a NON-TIPPED job classification.
4) In fact, they are paid more than many other WDW jobs.
5) WDW maids (per union contract) can
. . . make up to $13.48/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

NOTE: The whole idea of Walt is that everyone gets treated the same,
whether they can afford to tip or not. Plus, he did not want people to have
to tip everywhere they went or for every service they received.

Absolutely agree!!! I just checked the employment opportunities for WDW...part time housekeepers make $8.50 to start. Is that a huge amount? No. But, there are many other positions at WDW that get paid a lot less. Lifeguards, for instance. Or those working the watercraft.
Do I tip? Sometimes. Disney tells us, up front if asked, that housekeeping is not considered a tippable position at WDW. Housekeepers here are paid at a higher rate than a lot of other places.

And the argument that if you don't tip, you are going to get crappy service?? I have to tell you that if that happens to me, I am going right to the front desk, looking for a manager and reporting it. I don't leave a messy room...there is little trash, the beds are usually made, the vanity area is neat and wiped down. So basically? All that has to be done is trash emptied, fresh towels/toiletries brought in. And if they want...a swipe of the bathroom area. Shouldn't take more than 15 mins.
But, I have been told my room is ready, and when I tried to enter the room, found the door locked, with a sign on it saying it is being serviced?? So, then used room key and entered, only to find the housekeeper sitting there, watching tv?? And she tells us that she is just hanging around for a bit until her shift is over?? And we find trash on the floor and the toilet is broken??? Ah, no.
Or the time it took until 4:30 for our room to be freshened. I left at 7:30am, and when we returned at 3, found the room still untouched. And the housekeeping cart was 4 doors down from us. So, went off to eat something, only to return an hour later with the cart moved one door!!! We sat, down below and watched our housekeeper amble around....took her close to 30 mins in each room. Then? the shift ended and someone else moved in to pick up where the first one left off....my room!!!

Now? I usually just hang the 'privacy please' sign out on the door. That way, no housekeeping is going into my room. They usually just leave a bag of clean towels and toiletries by the door. And that's just fine with me!!

 

[ManyMinnie]

Maids are well-paid at Disney. We do not tip them.

We still get towel animals, soap, towels, shampoo, etc.

 

[dansamy]

We're DVC & usually only stay 4-5 nights. So we usually only get a trash & towel day. This last trip, they literally only pulled the trash cans & put out fresh towels. No restock, nothing. I'm not tipping for that.

 

[wdwmom3]

I tip housekeeping $4-$5 a day. I do that because I know my kids can make a mess. So I feel they deserve a little extra. I also appreciate all the extra touches like towel animals and how they arrange my kids toys (kids love that). That said I don't think it's something that everyone needs to do. I don't tip when it's just me on a business trip somewhere.

 

[goofy4tink]

We're DVC & usually only stay 4-5 nights. So we usually only get a trash & towel day. This last trip, they literally only pulled the trash cans & put out fresh towels. No restock, nothing. I'm not tipping for that.

That's pretty much how we feel. Now, I have seen some rooms that they have had to clean...and it was pretty horrifying!! I can't imagine what kind of people stayed in some of those rooms!! So, I can only imagine that it took a good hour or so to put each villa back to rights. But, villa housekeeping is vastly different than regular non-villa housekeeping.

 

[dalayney]

During college, I worked for a super 8 for about 6 months. Housekeeping is a tough job. You have so many minutes to clean a room, etc. Heck yes I tip. $5/day and then I leave $10 the last day, as a room change over is alot more work. Our room at all star sports was spotless, and the everyday cleaning was impeccable.

 

[SA mom]

My grandmother worked housekeeping for many years. You better believe we tip. It may be union work, but it still isn't great pay.

 

[gwynne]

Thank you all very much. $5 a day is what I had been thinking, so it was nice to hear that same amount from many of you. I like the decorated envelope idea as well. Helps keep track of things!

We always tip $5.00 a day, as well. The envelopes are a cute idea.

I tend to just use post it notes, though. I stick half of the note the bedside table, the half on the $5. bill. I write "For Housekeeping, Thanks" on the note. Works well, easy, keeps everything in place.

 

[poofiesdream]

I always tip. These housekeepers really have to put up with a lot. $5.00 daily for my husband and I. We are not messy but I bet some people who are don't tip. Its our way of saying thanks for taking the time to make sure our room is clean!

 

[ArmyVet80]

We tip but the amount depends on the resort we are staying at. Sounds a little odd but you tend to expect more from the more expensive resorts. We start at $5 a day at the value resorts and top out at $15 a day at the Deluxe or Deluxe Villa resorts. That being said we have never had a problem with any room we have stayed in at WDW. It is just my wife and I so we are not messy people at all. We usually consolidate what little trash we have and try to have the used towels readily available for when Mousekeeping comes into the room. I guess we are really just tipping for the awesome towel themes we come back to after a day at the parks.

We also tip 20% or more at the eateries go to. Both my wife and I were servers while in college so we know what it is like. We have also had friends that have worked at WDW so we have heard some pretty crazy stories. All in all if they supply us with a service we tend to tip.

 

[lbv7]

RE: TIPPING RESORT ROOM MAIDS

1) We do not leave tips at WDW for housekeeping.
. . . under normal circumstances and conditions
. . . changing towels, makig beds, cleaning bathroom, straightening, re-stocking
. . . but, if we REALLY mess up the room, that is a different matter
. . . for creating mega-maid-work, I would leave a couple of bucks that day
2) At most hotels, maids are poorly paid.
3) At WDW, the maids are paid well, and in a NON-TIPPED job classification.
4) In fact, they are paid more than many other WDW jobs.
5) WDW maids (per union contract) can
. . . make up to $13.48/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

NOTE: The whole idea of Walt is that everyone gets treated the same,
whether they can afford to tip or not. Plus, he did not want people to have
to tip everywhere they went or for every service they received.

The current starting salary for a housekeeper is $ 8.50 an hour. The current union contract call for a 20c / hr increase each year, so if this trend continues it would take a housekeeper 25 years to reach the the maximum of $13.48/hr.

Yes they can leave 45 minutes early if they complete all their assigned rooms, but doesn't this benefit all guests? If a housekeeper is able to work fast, it just means that guests can access their "clean room" sooner.

See the web site below which is the contract for all WDW union employees.
Go to the chart showing wages for all union positions, and my guess is that salaries for housekeepers are in the bottom 25%for all employees.
http://www.uniteherelocal737.org/wp-content/uploads/Full-Time-STCU-Contract-2010-to-2014.pdf

Yes they can get a flex bonus of $ 1.00, but only if they clean more rooms than they were assigned. This is extra pay for extra work, no different than employees who work overtime and get paid time and a half.

The incentive pay you quoted is grossly overstated. At DVC checkout it is $ 13.00 for a studio, $ 22.00 for a 1 bedroom, and $ 35.00 for a 2 bedroom. I don't know the exact breakdown but my guess is the majority of DVC units are studios and 1 bedroom, not 2 bedroom.

A single occurence of poor quality (see union contract) may result in disciplinary action. So you get a guest who is a chronic compainer and is never pleased, and the housekeeper could be disciplined.

According to the Disney web site showing current job openings, housekeepers need to be available to work 365 days a year, any shift (morning, afternoon, or night). If that is a very desireable schedule versus other CM's, I would hate to see the work schedule for these other CM's

 

[TDC Nala]

I always thought it was a non tipped position but read an article this morning that listed tipping by country and in America it is listed as customary to tip them. And I have been over tipping taxi drivers, they say 10% and I tip 20%

Wdw itself says it is a non- tipped position as they are doubtless paid at least minimum wage. And no, you do not HAVE to tip them anything.

But the vast majority that post here prefer tipping the housekeepers, so can you if you wish to. It seems to be a widespread practice, at least here.

And it is not excusable to get crappy housekeeping service because you didn't tip.

 

[Disneytwinsmom]

I believe in tipping the housekeeping staff. They deserve it!

 

[AliceIn]

The current starting salary for a housekeeper is $ 8.50 an hour. The current union contract call for a 20c / hr increase each year, so if this trend continues it would take a housekeeper 25 years to reach the the maximum of $13.48/hr.

Yes they can leave 45 minutes early if they complete all their assigned rooms, but doesn't this benefit all guests? If a housekeeper is able to work fast, it just means that guests can access their "clean room" sooner.

See the web site below which is the contract for all WDW union employees.
Go to the chart showing wages for all union positions, and my guess is that salaries for housekeepers are in the bottom 25%for all employees.
http://www.uniteherelocal737.org/wp-content/uploads/Full-Time-STCU-Contract-2010-to-2014.pdf

Yes they can get a flex bonus of $ 1.00, but only if they clean more rooms than they were assigned. This is extra pay for extra work, no different than employees who work overtime and get paid time and a half.

The incentive pay you quoted is grossly overstated. At DVC checkout it is $ 13.00 for a studio, $ 22.00 for a 1 bedroom, and $ 35.00 for a 2 bedroom. I don't know the exact breakdown but my guess is the majority of DVC units are studios and 1 bedroom, not 2 bedroom.

A single occurence of poor quality (see union contract) may result in disciplinary action. So you get a guest who is a chronic compainer and is never pleased, and the housekeeper could be disciplined.

According to the Disney web site showing current job openings, housekeepers need to be available to work 365 days a year, any shift (morning, afternoon, or night). If that is a very desireable schedule versus other CM's, I would hate to see the work schedule for these other CM's

Yep, doesn't sound like the housekeepers are making a wonderful living without tips. I figure if I can afford to spend thousands on a vacation, I can afford to tip, too.

 

[goofy4tink]

Yep, doesn't sound like the housekeepers are making a wonderful living without tips. I figure if I can afford to spend thousands on a vacation, I can afford to tip, too.

'Wonderful living'? Guess it depends on what you consider a wonderful living. You don't even need to speak English to get a job as a housekeeper, you don't need any higher education. There are many housekeepers who know no English so you have to leave thank-you's in Spanish!!! Or they won't take the tip.
There are a lot of jobs at WDW that are paying quite a bit less than housekeepers. A lifeguard for instance. I would rather tip a lifeguard for doing a great job than a housekeeper.
I refuse to tip someone who does a minimum of work. Like I said, if I'm staying in a regular, non-DVC room, my beds are made before we walk out the door. Things are left very neat. ABout all they have to do is empty the trash and possibly swipe down the toilet. And leave more toiletries and towels...even though I usually hang my used towels up to dry so I can reuse them, but housekeeping usually takes them down and replaces them with fresh. I don't get that since there is a note from Disney asking us to conserve water and reuse towels!!!
So yeah, I have a hard time thinking that someone needs a tip for that 10 mins of service!!! And no, not every guest leaves their room that tidy...I get that. But in all reality??? If housekeeping has little to do in my room, am I now expected to tip to make up for someone else's lack of tidiness??? Nope, not doing it.

I'm not saying that guests can't tip if they want to. I just don't want them thinking that housekeeping is making $5 an hour!!! Tip away if that's your choice. Just know that Disney says that this is not considered a tipped position!! I hae actually had housekeepers refuse a tip...just left it sitting there. When I asked them about it, in the hall?? 'Oh no, I don't take tips. That's not proper!!!' Go figure.

 

[patsal]

RE: TIPPING RESORT ROOM MAIDS

1) We do not leave tips at WDW for housekeeping.
. . . under normal circumstances and conditions
. . . changing towels, makig beds, cleaning bathroom, straightening, re-stocking
. . . but, if we REALLY mess up the room, that is a different matter
. . . for creating mega-maid-work, I would leave a couple of bucks that day
2) At most hotels, maids are poorly paid.
3) At WDW, the maids are paid well, and in a NON-TIPPED job classification.
4) In fact, they are paid more than many other WDW jobs.
5) WDW maids (per union contract) can
. . . make up to $13.48/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

NOTE: The whole idea of Walt is that everyone gets treated the same,
whether they can afford to tip or not. Plus, he did not want people to have
to tip everywhere they went or for every service they received.

I agree totally with this. Plus there is no way for someone in an untipped position to pay taxes on what they make in tips.

 

[AliceIn]

I'm not saying that guests can't tip if they want to. I just don't want them thinking that housekeeping is making $5 an hour!!! Tip away if that's your choice. Just know that Disney says that this is not considered a tipped position!! I hae actually had housekeepers refuse a tip...just left it sitting there. When I asked them about it, in the hall?? 'Oh no, I don't take tips. That's not proper!!!' Go figure.

If you don't want to tip, don't tip. I get it that people feel that housekeeping is not deserving of a tip because it's posted somewhere. That's not me, though.


If $5 per day from me goes towards making someone's life a little better, I'm happy to do it. I want to do it. I think housekeeping is hard, physical labor and it's a job that you have little opportunity to feel good about. Giving a tip makes me feel good in a pay it forward sort of way.