Tipping.....

[scottny]

i thought it was worldwide that tipping is just done. they come in and clean for you and you tip them for that. the hotel does not have to have to them clean up after you, they could clean up after you leave.
I try to tip $5 a day when I go to hotels.
Even leaving a dollar or two is better than nothing.

 

[scottny]

when i was offered a job at WDW they offered me $6 an hour, I think they need tips to live if they r making that amount.

 

[scottny]

also i use the use the envelopes but just the letter size envelopes with designs on them and out names on them.

 

[MiaSRN62]

from passporter : Walt did not want guests "bribing" employees to receive preferential treatment, such as getting a table by tipping a dining room host/hostess, a better room by tipping a desk clerk, or bypassing a line by tipping a ride attendant. He wanted all guests to have the same high level of service, regardless of financial means. As a result, most Disney employees are expressly prohibited from accepting tips, and can be terminated for doing so.

I highly doubt this applies to disney housekeeping. I've gotten good treatment (and towel animals) whether I tip or not. I've never known a mousekeeper (in over 40 trips to wdw) that didn't clean my room because I didn't tip ?!And the times I did not tip, it was because I forgot or the maids beat me to the room before I could leave a tip. So, no, you don't "have" to tip the maid, but it is greatly appreciated I'm sure. I have no doubt, that anyone making $6-$7/hr would appreciate it and could certainly use it. I don't think any of the disney mousekeepers "bribe" anyone

They're adequately compensated and don't need or even expect a tip.

"ADEQUATELY" compensated ?!? Don't "NEED" a tip ?!? Wow.....the last I heard they make in the $6-$7/hr range. Why is it perfectly acceptable to tip a belhop and not a housekeeper ? I know my hairdresser is compensated "adequately" to quote passporter, but I would never walk out and not tip them ? They are performing a personal service for me, same as housekeepers who clean my dirty sinks and toilets and empty my trash.
I know the valet are now subcontracted out by disney so I'm sure they're paid as well....yet people think nothing of tipping them ? I don't get it.

Some people will look for any excuse not to tip (not insinuating that anyone here is like that........) So I figured I'd dig up a couple sites and quotes myself :

http://www.disneyzone.net/tipping.htm

Hotel Housekeeping Housekeepers (Mousekeepers) are often forgotten about when it comes to tipping because they typically do their work when you are not around. For stays of more than one night, $1-$2 per night is standard. The tip should be left in the hotel room in a marked envelope, if you choose to leave a tip for the Housekeeping staff.

http://www.findalink.net/tippingetiquette.php

Maid service - $1-5 per day typically, up to $10 per day depending upon how much mess you make. Tip daily because there might be a different maid each day. Leave the tip on your pillow. Err on the side of being generous, and tip on the last day also.

 

[MiaSRN62]

More info on tipping in wdw :
http://reviews.ebay.com/Guide-to-Pl...ney-World-Vacation_W0QQugidZ10000000000700099

Tips are appreciated at Disney World with the same gratitude the are everywhere else. Keep in mind however that many Disney cast members in certain positions are actually not allowed to accept tips so don't be offended if they refuse the gratuity. Generally speaking, rule of thumb tip guide follows. Obviously adjust as you feel necessary.

Luggage assistance at the hotel and at the airport - $1 per bag. 15% given for cab, limo and towncar drivers
Valet Parking - Depending on the speed of service $1 to $2 upon retrieving your car (not dropping it off) is appropriate. Most hotels including Disney charge for valet parking; keep in mind the charge is pure hotel profit the valet attendant is only compensated for anything additional you offer for exceptional service.
Housekeeping - Great service is appreciated with $1 to $2 per night.
Full Service Restaurants - 15 to 20 percent (excluding tax). Keep in mind some places automatically charge gratuity to larger parties.
Room Service - Generally a gratuity is already applied check before you tip twice. Otherwise 15 to 20% is appropriate.
Room Deliveries - $1 for deliver of items such as housekeeping requests (extra towels), package delivery etc.
Spa treatments - 15%
Concierge Service - Depends on the service given and the time spent. At the time of this writting Disney Resort concierge staff are one of those positions that are not allowed to accept gratuities.

http://www.sidestep.com/travel-info-g101276-t30071-fast_facts_walt_disney_world_fl

Tipping-- Tips are a very important part of certain workers' income, and gratuities are the standard way of showing appreciation for services provided. (Tipping is certainly not compulsory if the service is poor!) Service in the United States generally tends to be good, and gratuities are increasingly being added automatically to some services, particularly those in restaurants, so check the bill closely before adding a gratuity -- service is seldom good enough to double a tip.

In hotels, tip bellhops at least $1 per bag ($2-$3 if you have a lot of luggage) and tip the chamber staff $1 to $2 per day (more if you or your kids have left a disaster area for him or her to clean up). Tip the doorman or concierge only if he or she has provided you with some specific service (for example, calling a cab for you or obtaining difficult-to-get theater tickets). Tip the valet-parking attendant $1 every time you get your car.

http://www.luxurydisneyguide.com/news11_06.htm

An Orlando Visitor's Guide to Tipping

There is no universally accepted version of the history of the practice known as “tipping.” Some experts trace the practice all the way back to the Middle Ages when lords of the manor gave servants extra coins in appreciation of a good deed. Others trace it to 16th century England when urns labeled “T o I nsure P romptitude” were placed in coffee houses and patrons tipped in advance to get quicker service. Regardless of its origin, the practice of tipping to reward good service raises interesting questions, particularly among travelers.

Here is a general run down of who you should consider tipping, when to do so and how much to leave:

Restaurants

Table-service Wait Staff
15-20 percent of the bill before taxes

Buffet Wait Staff
No tip is expected for fast-food buffets. However, if you have a waiter/waitress who takes your drink order and checks on you, a tip of $1-2 is appreciated

Bartender
$1 per drink for beer and wine, $2 for mixed drinks

Wine Steward or Sommelier
15-20 percent of the wine bill before tax


Transportation

Taxi or Limo Driver
15-20 percent of total fare

Hotel Courtesy Shuttle Driver
No tip is expected if the service is free

Paid Door-to-Door Shuttle Driver
15 percent of the fare plus $1 or $2 per bag if driver helps with luggage


Hotel

Bell Man or Bell Captain
$1 per bag, $2 for heavy bags

Housekeeping
$3-5 per day depending on the length of your stay and the state of your room. For higher-end hotels, $6-10 per day may be appropriate

And last one : http://hotels.about.com/od/hotelsecrets/ht/tip_hotel_maid.htm

 

[beattyfamily]

More info on tipping in wdw :
http://reviews.ebay.com/Guide-to-Pl...ney-World-Vacation_W0QQugidZ10000000000700099

http://www.sidestep.com/travel-info-g101276-t30071-fast_facts_walt_disney_world_fl

http://www.luxurydisneyguide.com/news11_06.htm

So it does appears that it IS 'customary' (but not mandatory) to tip housekeepers. : I thought I was in the twilight zone yesterday.

Thank you for the links.

 

[solfan68]

Just returned from a week at CSR. Pre-made the envelopes so I could just pull one out each morning. No towel critters, but the room was always clean with plenty of the things one needs to enjoy a comfortable week in the warm Florida sunshine.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Thank you for the links.

You're very welcome....there were MANY more websites I could have listed (and many disney specific). I chose the handful that I did, because I thought they clearly made the point.

So I'd agree, while not mandatory, it is customary.
I think there are very few tipping situations that are mandatory anyway.

 

[Disney lovin' senior]

Thank you so much for the site of the Mousekeeping envelopes! I will definitely use them.

 

[MiaSRN62]

sunee says :Housekeepers are less enthralled with Mickey Mouse than we are. They appreciate the dough, but couldn't care less about the packaging.

Not sure I agree with this.....the mousekeepers that I have encountered and who speak English seem really into the idea of disney. They often stop to talk to us....engage the kids in talk of what they're doing in wdw today etc......I've had housekeepers say how they "love" their job. This was most recently experienced at our stay at the WL in Oct '06. We were checking out, and two mousekeepers were saying, "oh no....you're leaving so soon ?" "Come back and visit our happy place soon !" They seemed genuinely happy to work there. I've run into a few CM's (resort check-in staff, restaurant servers, retail CM's who actually engage us in conversation about their favorite hotel etc. Some are even DVC Members and they work there every day.

So, while I'm sure there are a few who could care less (this can be said of just about anyone's job/profession)......I think alot really do value the concept of disney and the fact that they are employed by them.

But I do agree with you that they do appreciate the tip.

 

[Allensfan]

I am not sure what others spend on a Disney Vacation but we dropped about 5k between airline tickets, hotel, tickets to the parks, meals and spending money.

I would be surprised if people spend $2,000 to 7,000 on a vacation and have a problem giving these "Service" employees $2.00 to $3.00 per day. We stayed 6 nights and there were 3 of us and I left envelops everyday with $3.00 in them. I spent a total of $18.00 on that, and another $3.00 to have my bags sent and picked up from my room. $24.00 in total for the hardest working...again...Service people in the area.

We got towel animals and they moved around my sons stuffed animals all the time. I am not sure if that was because of the tips or not...but they earned them anyway.

I did not even spend 1% of my spending total on these people. I honestly thought everyone tipped, this is a big surprise.

Of course I do not want to tell others what to do, because if everyone here ganged up on the people that don't tip...they still won't tip...because they do not believe in it as a practice. I am just trying to make the point when you add up how much you really spend on tipping and bringing an extra smile to someone's face that is trying to bring smiles to your face...it is a small % of your trip.

I would rather give some hard working cleaning woman a $3.00 tip...than stuff my face with yet another $3.00 mickey ice cream bar.

 

[Nancyg56]

I just factor the gratuity into the price of my trip. DD makes envelopes for each room and we fill them prior to leaving, and then leave one each day. We keep money aside for tipping the driver to the airport, the Sky Cap, the bell hop, and then the wait staff.

In my home, I am the chief cook and bottlewasher, as well as the Mousekeeper, so for the time I am away from home enjoying a reprieve from cooking, cleaning and waiting on my family I am going to tip those who are pampering me.

 

[heavenleigh412]

We always prepare envelopes for Mousekeeping before we leave home... usually about a month before we leave, I start throwing singles and a few fives in a jar.
(That way I am guaranteed to have change) We stuff mousekeepings evelopes the night before... it gets my daughter in good spirits to know that the next day, we will be starting to hand them out.

Even with the dining package, I always tip my servers if they have been good to us.

I was bartended for a while, and I am very concious of tipping! (it has always gotten me incredible service)

 

[Thinktinknpixiedust]

Last year our daughter fell slightly ill one evening and vomited on her blankets, etc (sorry its gross...) anyhow... i bagged everything up in the trash bag and left a note just so the mousekeeper knew NOT to just take the blanket out (obviuosly we cleaned most off.. but, well you know) and left it in the bathroom with the note attached the next morning. When we returned to our room that evening there was a note for abby from Mickey hoping that she got better real soon and that she should take it easy on the mickey ice cream bars. There was also a 16 oz gingerale from "Mickey" and THREE new towel animals!!!!! We had been tipping anyhow... but you know what... our daughter still talks about the get well note and gingerale!! talk about a magical moment... and the tips got better!! she really deserved it!!

 

[jpaulgor]

Housekeeping is NOT a tipped position, although it IS customary to tip them. I personally do not. Nor do I tip my hair dresser. Dumb if you ask me. I get charged $12 for a hair cut that takes 15 minutes. Do the math....this person makes $48 dollars an hour(way more than I make) off of me. No, they are not getting a tip.

 

[LBelle]

Housekeeping is NOT a tipped position, although it IS customary to tip them. I personally do not. Nor do I tip my hair dresser. Dumb if you ask me. I get charged $12 for a hair cut that takes 15 minutes. Do the math....this person makes $48 dollars an hour(way more than I make) off of me. No, they are not getting a tip.

To each his own of course BUT.....you don't honestly think that your hairdresser keeps all of that $12 for your haircut, do you????? Obviously, the $12 haircut places you go to (MagicCuts, SuperCuts, whatever they're called) are not going to make $0 from the clients!!! I don't know what percentage the 'stylists' make there but I can guarantee you that they are NOT making anything CLOSE to $48/hour!

Personally, I/we ALWAYS tip to service industry workers. I can't even imagine going on vacation and NOT tipping the people who truly make it an actual vacation for us.....HOUSEKEEPING and SERVERS!!!!

As I've said...there is no real right or wrong but I think most people are aware of the fact that these are, generally, quite low-paying positions and that most service workers DO depend on their tips.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Housekeeping is NOT a tipped position

This is your view I guess jpaulgor. To each his own as LBelle said. But according to just about every single site I googled on the subject (see my previous posts for all the links/info), it is a widely acceptable practice to tip. That hair dresser most certainly does not make $48/hr ???? Do you think they just pocket that $12 haircut ? They get paid hourly---and most likely minimum wage or slightly more. And as far as tips....they have their busy times and their slow times. I've gone into my local Great Clips and been told I was the first customer they had had in 2 hours. So that's no tips for 2 hours and most likely just minimum wage. I have no idea where you think hairdressers make this much ? But if that's your way of thinking, most likely none of us are gonna make u see it any differently.

I sure hope those that don't tip are in the minority.........

 

[Lewisc]

In general housekeeping is a "tipped" position HOWEVER WDW IS AN EXCEPTION. Disney pays housekeepers more then minimum wage and when Disney lists the cast members that are generally tipped for exceptional service housekeeping is always omitted.

Tipped employees such as valets,bellhops, waiters and bar tenders derive the majority of their compensation from tips. Guests that don't tip those employees are literally expecting them to serve them for free.

That is not the case with housekeepers. Some guests chose to tip them but guests who chose not to aren't being cheap and aren't doing anything wrong.

So it does appears that it IS 'customary' (but not mandatory) to tip housekeepers. : I thought I was in the twilight zone yesterday.

Thank you for the links.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Lewisc says isney pays housekeepers more then minimum wage and when Disney lists the cast members that are generally tipped for exceptional service housekeeping is always omitted.

About three years ago, I had a conversation with someone who had a relative who worked as a housekeeper at Disney (POR) and they were indeed paid minimum wage or a tiny bit more ? Respectfully, wondering where you are getting your info ? I have a coworker who's dd is presently working in wdw.....I'm going to ask her if she knows. Because unless things changed from 3 years ago, they were in the minimum wage category.

So for now, until I get more proof, I'm going to disagree with you.

 

[scottny]

i was offered $6 an hour when I was offered a position there. that is not much over the minimum wage. I could not live on that and I was offered a job where tipping would not even be considered.

Really is $1 or 2 dollars a day that much I do not think so for people cleaning up your mess.

Maybe you would like Disney to go without mousekeeping and have the guests clean up and get there own towels. they r doing there job so we have a great time on out vacation so give them a little gratitude.