Tipping....

[kimsuenew]

This made me think... what about buffets? I've only eaten at buffets during free dining when the tip used to be included, so I honestly never even noticed if a tip is expected at a buffet restaurant or not. Growing up, my parents never tipped at buffets and I didn't even know it was common practice to tip at buffets until I was in my 30s!

If a tip is expected at a WDW buffet, do they still expect the same 18% as at a TS? It seems a little much since the servers really don't do as much work as at a TS, they just seat you, fill your drinks, and bring the bill and a busser clears the table -- it's not nearly as much service as you'd get in a full-service TS restaurant.

I hope I'm not coming across as stingy, I just really don't know how to budget now that we have to pay our own tips during free dining and I'd rather find out now than look like a tightwad when we're there.

You are not, don't worry!

Yes, you definately are expected to tip at a WDW buffet! We tip 20% everywhere (doesn't matter if it's buffet or if we are served), more for superior service and a bit less for inferior (theoretically, it would have to be really bad). If you are in a party of 6 or more (including babies) an 18% gratuity will automatically be added to your bill at any TS location (buffet or not), otherwise it will be at your discretion as to how/what you tip.

The tips not being included this year added a whole new dynamic to planning, didn't it? We bouncedback last September, and since September I have saved all my change in a jar (just mine, not DH or DS). I have cashed in $207.00 (deposited into vacation account) as it began to fill up, and have about another $100.00 worth of change in there now. I am guessing the change will equal about $320.00 or so before we leave (total, all year) and that is what I have planned to use towards tipping this September!

Have a fantastic vacation!

 

[ptcbass]

Ok we have used ME in the past and if I remember when we got on the bus the driver wasn't even around. Who do you tip, when and how much? I know to tip mousekeeping or bellhops but I haven't heard of tipping the ME driver. Any suggestions on what everyone does. I am not trying to be stingy but I also don't want to tip if it isn't the normal thing to do.

 

[imthatgirl]

while we are there we only tip servers, table service or buffet, they get the same from us.

i dont use the other services, but if you do i would think mousekeepers, anyone that touches your bags and any drivers you use would be the people you tip.

 

[lyzziesmom]

Maybe I just don't pay attention or people are very sneaky, but I don't recall ever seeing anyone tip the ME drivers and I've used ME about 5 times. I do recall seeing people tip the guy who you can call to come bring your bags from your room to the lobby. Also when we've had Luggage Services hold our bags between checking out and getting onto the evening ME bus, I've never seen anyone tip those guys for bringing their bags out either. I'll have to pay more attention (and bring more cash) next time!

 

[ptcbass]

Maybe I just don't pay attention or people are very sneaky, but I don't recall ever seeing anyone tip the ME drivers and I've used ME about 5 times. I do recall seeing people tip the guy who you can call to come bring your bags from your room to the lobby. Also when we've had Luggage Services hold our bags between checking out and getting onto the evening ME bus, I've never seen anyone tip those guys for bringing their bags out either. I'll have to pay more attention (and bring more cash) next time!

Me neither. Do you tip the ME driver at first or when you are getting off the bus? Also we use the baggage check at the hotel for our carry on so we can head off to the parks. I haven't seen anyone ever tip those guys either.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Me neither. Do you tip the ME driver at first or when you are getting off the bus? Also we use the baggage check at the hotel for our carry on so we can head off to the parks. I haven't seen anyone ever tip those guys either.

We tip the ME driver when we are getting off the bus. We tip them because they are handling our stroller. If the driver doesn't handle and bags/strollers, I don't think a tip is necessary.

 

[PISCESANGEL]

How much do you usually tip Mousekeeping per day?

 

[peanuttrip]

we have also been saving change to help pay for some of the xtras on our trip this oct.. one way to make tips unique is to get $2 bills. $75 worth and $25 worth of dollar coins. makes tipping easy

 

[ptcbass]

How much do you usually tip Mousekeeping per day?

There are 3 of us and I try to make sure we don't leave the room in a mess so we tip $1 for each of us per day ($3 per day).

 

[Lovin Mickey]

There is no reason to tip an ME driver unless they handle your bags or stroller. It's usually $1-2 per bag. You wouldn't tip a public bus driver would you so why tip a ME driver? Hope this helps. You could also check a manners book. I usually refer to Emily Post.

 

[anne0866]

Last december - our son got very sick while on our trip and we were stuck in our room for 3 days. The mousekeeper totally and completely cleaned our room. really she fumigated it for us when he finally was feeling better! She went above and beyond. She gave us clean blankets, bedspreads and new fresh pilloes also. My hubby tracked her down specifically and gave her $45. We wanted to make sure that she got the tip and not the person the next day. But usually we tip daily about $2-$3.

BTW she even came to check on us a few days later even when our room was not assigned to her!

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

How much do you usually tip Mousekeeping per day?

We tip $5/ day for the 3 of us. And we definately tip daily because the rooms are cleaned by different staff daily.

 

[bdiddy]

I'm so glad I saw this thread! It never occured to me to tip the housekeeping. This is our first trip and we leave in 26 days and I'm still learning so much

So - in regards to tipping Mousekeeping. Do you just leave the money on the table in the room with a note? Or how do you do it?

 

[DisneyWalle]

I make mousekeeping envelopes with characters on the front that say "THANK YOU for wonderful service!" I believe the Creative DISign forum has some examples that you could use.

And I also put the envelope on the table or bathroom vanity each morning. We tip daily because you may not have the same mousekeeper each day.

It has been my observation that when we tip the mousekeeping service is better - more towels and towel animals.

 

[JoanieS]

I'm so glad I saw this thread! It never occured to me to tip the housekeeping. This is our first trip and we leave in 26 days and I'm still learning so much

So - in regards to tipping Mousekeeping. Do you just leave the money on the table in the room with a note? Or how do you do it?

I made these envelopes:

Close ups:

 

[terbethk]

I made these envelopes:

Close ups:

so cute! I just did mine tonight, and they look a lot like that...I put stickers of the characters on them with a "thank you"


I have a question....so if you're not supposed to tip the ME driver...who can I tip for getting the bags to the room? Do we need to be there when the bags get delived and a bellhop will bring them up? and we tip him then? We weren't planning on staying at the hotel when we get in right away, we were going to head out for a day at the parks and not get back until around 10:30ish. I want to make sure I'm tipping the appropriate person.

 

[lyzziesmom]

Since the bags being brought to the room is part of the ME service, and the bags will arrive even if you're not in the room (usually for us they arrive when we're off enjoying the parks) I always assumed this was not a tipped position.

 

[bdiddy]

Those are cute! Thanks for posting the pics and for the ideas. My husband is a graphic designer so I'm going to have him make something up for us!

 

[mickeyfan1226]

I am glad I stopped by this thread. I never think about tipping until it is too late. I have my envelopes ready this time and am starting to fill them. This way I don't have to worry about having the money all at once. We will be there for 14 days so that is quite a bit of money. Now for mousekeeping do you give 1$ per person in the room or what. I know that tips at the restaraunts are % atleast I think so.
Thanks for the assistance.
Michelle

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

I am glad I stopped by this thread. I never think about tipping until it is too late. I have my envelopes ready this time and am starting to fill them. This way I don't have to worry about having the money all at once. We will be there for 14 days so that is quite a bit of money. Now for mousekeeping do you give 1$ per person in the room or what. I know that tips at the restaraunts are % atleast I think so.
Thanks for the assistance.
Michelle

We give $5/day for Mousekeeping. There are 3 of us. Tips at the restaurants are only 18% added in if you are a party of 6 or more. If you have less than 6 people, you will chose your own tip. We tip 20% at sit down restaurants and a little less at the buffets.