Tips for Mousekeeping??

[huggiebear23]

We are staying at Pop in May, what do you think is appropiate for tipping each day. I would like to get the envelopes ready before we go.

Thanks so much.

I stayed in Dec and got no towel animals. So I am hoping for some this time.

 

[skipperkim]

I normally tip a dollar per person per day. But tip or no tip will guarantee towel animals. I have read that a note from your child might help.

 

[huggiebear23]

I normally tip a dollar per person per day. But tip or no tip will guarantee towel animals. I have read that a note from your child might help.

Thanks I will do that. My children are too young to write the letter but I could translate for them.

 

[10_Kyle_10]

I normally tip a dollar per person per day. But tip or no tip will guarantee towel animals. I have read that a note from your child might help.

I agree with this 100%. Its standard I think to tip $1 per person per day. I hate to admit this but my last trip we arrived with a towel animal and I was super excited to get another each morning but nope nothing for the remainder of the trip. I stop tipping half way through the trip because first and foremost they weren't cleaning the room just partially and second I was rather saddened by them not taking the time to make the towel animals...The room next to our had about 6 of them in their window so I don't know what it was about our room. I have read that writing a note may increase the chance of a towel animal as well. We will try that next time! Regardless its a pillow and a shower, IMO.

 

[skipperkim]

Thanks I will do that. My children are too young to write the letter but I could translate for them.

I'd print it out, in English and Spanish, and have the kids decorate them. Something like "On our last stay at whatever resort the towel animals were the highlight of our stay. Have a magical day." Then if you get them have a note saying thank you for the towel animals they made our day extra magical. There's no sure fire way to get them. If you do get them be sure to take pictures of them with your kids for next time you go. You know what they say "One picture is worth a thousand words."

 

[carol-lamb]

I tip mousekeeping $1.00 per day per person. I don't tip for towel animals (though I love getting them)!! I tip for good service. I have never had a problem with not having a clean room during any of my many stays at Disney resorts.

 

[creativeamanda]

I think we tipped the $1 per person per day--we did not get any towel animals, but that was fine--with a child with a latex allergy, it was best not to have rubber bands in the room, anyway. We were actually real clean guests--we had to straighten up before we left every day or I couldn't live with leaving like that.

My bil and sil who were next to us in the adjoining room, well, they had I'll call it organized chaos. They had just so much stuff, it was hard to organize like I was organized. They kept the fridge in their room, the cooler of *ahem-beverages*, the additional food. It was just too hard for them. I think they tipped the Mousekeepers a little higher. (I'll have to add, they did not use the dressers at the resort. I had each and every outfit separated into a Ziploc bag so I did use the dressers--that may have been the organizational difference)

 

[praline3001]

I wanted to post a quick thing I learned about mousekeeping on my Feb trip... it may be useful to you...

We stayed the GF and before we left my DD6 made all the little cards and decorated them adorably. She is a budding artist and it kept her busy before our trip.

We get to the GF... wonderful AMAZING mousekeeping but they were NOT taking the envelopes with the tips

I tried laying them on the bed, at the sink...everything!!!
In big bold letters it said TO: MOUSEKEEPING

After the 3rd day it was starting to hurt my DD's feelings So I called the mousekeeping hotline and tried to figure out why they were not taking the tips as the service was wonderful. The operator kindly explained that many mousekeepers are not for the US and many times do not read English. I felt like a total doofus at that point!
The poor mousekeeper thought she was cleaning up our mess when it was actually our tips
The operator assured us he would let our mousekeeper know that my daughter had made special cards for her and all that good stuff. The cards disapeared after that!!!

Anyway... for those that make cards, be careful and make sure your poor mousekeeper knows they are for her. If you notice they are not being picked up, call mousekeeping and let them translate it for you.

We did get a little towel animal almost every night of our stay... but this is not the norm so don't count on them.
What WAS WAYYYY cuter than the towel animals was how they would arrange my DD's stuffed animals in adorable positions. We would come back to the room and Mickey would be sitting with the remote in his hand watching TV There was always some cute set up with her stuffed animals! Make sure to leave a couple out and about and it might double your chances of coming back to the room to something cute... either a towel animal or having your own animals in funny poses!

 

[Wonderlandmom]

I think "mousekeeping" is an internet word.

Don't tip thinking it will buy you towel animals, it won't. Those are just luck of the draw, regardless of whether you tip or not. This board makes it seem like a lot of people get them, but it is only because the ones that get them are vocal in posting about them.

 

[praline3001]

I think "mousekeeping" is an internet word.

Don't tip thinking it will buy you towel animals, it won't. Those are just luck of the draw, regardless of whether you tip or not. This board makes it seem like a lot of people get them, but it is only because the ones that get them are vocal in posting about them.

Hmmm the guy I spoke to on the phone called them mousekeepers. I am not sure if it started out as an internet word but it seems at least some of the staff call them mousekeepers too

 

[gramto2boys]

When we stay at motels we are very maticulous ! I also do not let anyone in my room until we check out. ( I do not want anyone in my room while we are away ) we take all the wet towels , and garbage out the door and find a house keeper to give them to each morning or leave the towels by the door and take the garbage to the lobby where the desk clerk takes it for us.. our room always looks like the day we check in. the day we check out we put all the towels in a neat pile in the tub, and all the packaged garbage ( we bring our own extra trash bags) by the door. we then leave 10 dollars to the housekeeping girl.

I was once told by someone who worked as a maid service , that a lot of times the ladies go thru things and take "peeks" I do not want anyone taking a peek at any of my things :lol:

 

[bicker]

Don't tip thinking it will buy you towel animals, it won't. Those are just luck of the draw, regardless of whether you tip or not. This board makes it seem like a lot of people get them, but it is only because the ones that get them are vocal in posting about them.

Yes, definitely. We haven't tipped since we learned that Disney's housekeepers are non-tipped employees, and we've gotten towel animals with increasing frequency since then (probably simply because more housekeepers are "doing it", without any regard to gratuities).

 

[praline3001]

Yes, definitely. We haven't tipped since we learned that Disney's housekeepers are non-tipped employees, and we've gotten towel animals with increasing frequency since then (probably simply because more housekeepers are "doing it", without any regard to gratuities).

Can I ask you where you got this info? I always thought you were supposed to tip housekeeping at any resort? NOT TRYING TO START ANY DEBATES HERE
I am curious as maybe I am tipping and I shouldn't be tipping

 

[bicker]

Can I ask you where you got this info?

From the General Manager of the BoardWalk resort, during an online chat with him a few years ago. This was also confirmed several times when the job openings were posted publicly. The housekeepers are classified (and have the same hourly rate) as the theme park custodians (you know -- those people who clean up other people's poo in the hot, humid and sticky theme park restrooms).

At Disney resorts, the tipped employees are the bell staff, the restaurant servers, and the valets.

I always thought you were supposed to tip housekeeping at any resort?

Born on the east coast, that was my impression as well. What I later learned was that it depends on the hotel chain, and generally tracks to where the hotel chain originated.

NOT TRYING TO START ANY DEBATES HERE

Don't worry... someone who doesn't like it will almost surely turn it into a debate for you.

 

[praline3001]

Well shoot I learn something new everyday!

I will let you in on a little secret though....

My DD6 spent HOURS AND HOURS on her own making these adorable little cards ... and she put $2 in each card for our june trip.... as it kept her entertained all those hours I find it money well spent

 

[bicker]

I think that's part of the reason so many folks lean towards tipping the housekeepers -- because they enjoy making a fun arts and crafts project out of it. It is important to remember that you are allowed to offer a gratuity to any service worker you encounter, even the housekeepers. The issue is only a matter of who you are expected to tip (bell staff, restaurant servers, and valets) versus who you are welcome to tip (if you wish) (other service workers). Personally, I think the custodians deserve it more.

 

[Freyja]

We always tip $1 per person and considerably more on our last day, since we tend to leave quite a mess (in terms of endless empty shopping bags, cardboard boxes from various things, etc).

 

[praline3001]

I think that's part of the reason so many folks lean towards tipping the housekeepers -- because they enjoy making a fun arts and crafts project out of it. It is important to remember that you are allowed to offer a gratuity to any service worker you encounter, even the housekeepers. The issue is only a matter of who you are expected to tip (bell staff, restaurant servers, and valets) versus who you are welcome to tip (if you wish) (other service workers). Personally, I think the custodians deserve it more.

There is a correction to this. I have booked a VIP tour guide for my daughter and I.

#### NO DEBATES PLEASE on if you think its worth it or not.. it is for us and that's all that counts ###

When we booked it, they emailed me a nice welcoming questionaire and information all about the service. In it, it says in very clear letters that these guides are not allowed to accept gratiuties. I just thought I would add that so I could look all smart

 

[gramto2boys]

Well shoot I learn something new everyday!

I will let you in on a little secret though....

My DD6 spent HOURS AND HOURS on her own making these adorable little cards ... and she put $2 in each card for our june trip.... as it kept her entertained all those hours I find it money well spent

and you have taught her to bless others which is always something wonderful. godd for you hon
I always tip on our last day to the maid , I was a maid when I was young and starting out. Its a hard job, you deal with stuff you can not imagine. I was so happy to find a few dollars at the end of someone stays, it bought me a snack or lunch! many people did not tip, so when I found money in an envelope or under a note I always thanked them in my mind and was thrilled. I was a youg single mom, making ends meet was almost impossible on my own but I wored hard and did come across wonderful generous people. once I got a 10 dollar tip and flipped out !
These are the people who clean garbage, dirt towels to the ceiling, towels some used on there babies butts
You may have left your room cleaned, but the last person could have vomited on the floor Tipping won't kill anyone, just make there day a lot brighter working i a crap job for crap pay .
I am a single gramma now, taking my grand kids to the WDW resort. I am not by any means rich, but by god I will tip who ever comes in my path that does something for me.

 

[bicker]

There is a correction to this. I have booked a VIP tour guide for my daughter and I. ... When we booked it, they emailed me a nice welcoming questionaire and information all about the service. In it, it says in very clear letters that these guides are not allowed to accept gratiuties.

I'm sorry if my earlier message was confusing in that it didn't mention this, but you're absolutely correct. What I said (specifically) was that patrons are welcome to "offer a gratuity". You are absolutely correct that those other service workers, housekeepers included, are technically required to decline such gratuities. Some managers let that slide, but the policy is clear, just as you outlined it.