To Tip or Not To Tip (long)

[kaytieeldr]

Well, first, while I did eventually read your post stating that what you said originally didn't come out the way you intended, I had responded to that post when I read it - not after reading the entire thread.

While your bosses feel it's not necessary to provide convenience calculations on your customer meal checks, Disney does. They have a large number of Guests from countries where tipping is not common. Even among Guests where tipping is customary, many won't or can't be bothered doing calculations on vacation (despite the ubiquitous cellular phones pretty much all coming complete with this basic feature, if my barebones TracFone is any indication).

 

[mwatson011]

I would like someone to explain to me the difference between:

1) the woman behind the counter at a donut shop boxing you a donut and taking your money

2) the woman behind the counter at JCPenney boxing you a pair of earrings and taking your money

And since I am fairly sure the only difference is you walking away with a donut vs. a pair of earrings, why would you tip the donut lady?

I am still looking for an answer to this one from those who feed the tip jars...

Really, if someone goes above and beyond, and you want to tip him/her, you can hand over the cash, instead of having this cup staring you in the face saying - "hey, right here, drop your change in here...I sold you a product, and maybe even smiled and said thank you...we all know people aren't polite for the sake of being polite anymore...I deserve a tip for it..."

My change goes into my jar at home and adds up for my vacations.

 

[wenrob]

Look in any travel guide and it will tell you to tip the maid. If you're making your calls on etiquette then you have your answer right there.

As a former maid I can tell you that while I made more then minimum wage I wasn't raking in cash either. I never expected tips but I sure appreciated it. Maid work is back breaking and frankly disgusting. At least where I worked we didn't just tidy up we cleaned every room every single day. Doesn't matter how neat you are, we still:
Scrubbed your toilet
Scrubbed your shower (if there was even a single spot we were sent back)
Scrubbed your sink and cleaned the mirrors
(hair on the floor? go back and redo it)
Strip and put fresh sheets on all beds even if they appeared unused (or risk losing your job because a supervisor decided to test you)
Dust every surface
Vacuum
Empty all trash and then tidy things up

Now times all that by 16-20 rooms and being looked down upon as "just a maid."

I live in a tipping town and truly believe to get the tip you need to do the job. I would never say you have to tip. But think about this, bell hops and maids make along the same wage. Bellhops bring in your bags and take it out once, maids are literally cleaning up all your "crap" every day.

 

[goofy4tink]

Look in any travel guide and it will tell you to tip the maid. If you're making your calls on etiquette then you have your answer right there.

As a former maid I can tell you that while I made more then minimum wage I wasn't raking in cash either. I never expected tips but I sure appreciated it. Maid work is back breaking and frankly disgusting. At least where I worked we didn't just tidy up we cleaned every room every single day. Doesn't matter how neat you are, we still:
Scrubbed your toilet
Scrubbed your shower (if there was even a single spot we were sent back)
Scrubbed your sink and cleaned the mirrors
(hair on the floor? go back and redo it)
Strip and put fresh sheets on all beds even if they appeared unused (or risk losing your job because a supervisor decided to test you)
Dust every surface
Vacuum
Empty all trash and then tidy things up

Now times all that by 16-20 rooms and being looked down upon as "just a maid."

I live in a tipping town and truly believe to get the tip you need to do the job. I would never say you have to tip. But think about this, bell hops and maids make along the same wage. Bellhops bring in your bags and take it out once, maids are literally cleaning up all your "crap" every day.

But....the difference is this...at WDW, the housekeepers don't even come close to doing all that. They straighten the beds, empty trash, provide fresh towels and wipe down the sink area. I have yet to have my toilet cleaned or the bathtub/shower area cleaned. And dusting? Not on a bet. Same with vacuuming. I consider myself lucky if my room is thoroughly cleaned when I first checkin!! It takes about 10 mins, if that, to 'do' a room at WDW....not a villa but a regular resort room. I have stood there, watching to see how long a housekeeper has spent in my room. No, not right there, but across resort....at some you can stand along the railings and see your particular room...I've done that at Pop and POR. The average time is 9 mins. No way are they doing much more than a sink wipedown, trash empty and bed making. And they are not paid minimum wage. To the best of my knowledge, they have been making around $10 an hour, if not more.

 

[Disneyadore]

But....the difference is this...at WDW, the housekeepers don't even come close to doing all that. They straighten the beds, empty trash, provide fresh towels and wipe down the sink area. I have yet to have my toilet cleaned or the bathtub/shower area cleaned. And dusting? Not on a bet. Same with vacuuming. I consider myself lucky if my room is thoroughly cleaned when I first checkin!! It takes about 10 mins, if that, to 'do' a room at WDW....not a villa but a regular resort room. I have stood there, watching to see how long a housekeeper has spent in my room. No, not right there, but across resort....at some you can stand along the railings and see your particular room...I've done that at Pop and POR. The average time is 9 mins. No way are they doing much more than a sink wipedown, trash empty and bed making. And they are not paid minimum wage. To the best of my knowledge, they have been making around $10 an hour, if not more.

Sorry no offense but I have to disagree. We have always got more than excellent service and cleaning.

Every day new sheets ,a spotless room, more shampoos and stuff we could use,vacuuming and so much fresh towels we could shower three times. Again the same service for turn down.
Clean bathroom,new shampoos,new towels,clean bins and fresh ice for the night and as a special little thing a stamp in our toilet paper.
We always put five dollar on the night stand and a little note saying:'Thank you for taking so good care of us".

 

[wenrob]

But....the difference is this...at WDW, the housekeepers don't even come close to doing all that. They straighten the beds, empty trash, provide fresh towels and wipe down the sink area. I have yet to have my toilet cleaned or the bathtub/shower area cleaned. And dusting? Not on a bet. Same with vacuuming. I consider myself lucky if my room is thoroughly cleaned when I first checkin!! It takes about 10 mins, if that, to 'do' a room at WDW....not a villa but a regular resort room. I have stood there, watching to see how long a housekeeper has spent in my room. No, not right there, but across resort....at some you can stand along the railings and see your particular room...I've done that at Pop and POR. The average time is 9 mins. No way are they doing much more than a sink wipedown, trash empty and bed making. And they are not paid minimum wage. To the best of my knowledge, they have been making around $10 an hour, if not more.

Seriously in a fancy resort? That's crazy. Who knew an average Vegas hotel (we're not talking the least bit swanky) had higher standards then a WDW resort? For the record I can still strip and make a bed with hospital corners in under 3mins. My average time in a room doing all I listed was 15-20 mins, you had to be FAST or risk missing your lunch and breaks to catch up. And the average occupant was not neat and tidy, the human race is down right nasty especially if they have someone cleaning up after them.

Like I said I don't think anyone deserves a tip, they should be earned but the amount the bias against housekeeping seems really unfair. Yeah, it's their job but so is every position that earns a tip. Maids make a little more then others but they're also cleaning up other people's vomit, loogies, crap...and those are the only Dis friendly things I can mention (use your imagination.) Not to mention finding dead bodies, naked people answering the door and old men making you "offers."

If all they're doing is providing towels then I'll agree it's no biggie but that certainly wasn't my experience in the 7yrs I was a maid. I'll admit I have a bias against bell hops as they got tipped very well and then stole the rare tips we did get while delivering the bags.

 

[wenrob]

Sorry no offense but I have to disagree. We have always got more than excellent service and cleaning.

Every day new sheets ,a spotless room, more shampoos and stuff we could use,vacuuming and so much fresh towels we could shower three times. Again the same service for turn down.
Clean bathroom,new shampoos,new towels,clean bins and fresh ice for the night and as a special little thing a stamp in our toilet paper.
We always put five dollar on the night stand and a little note saying:'Thank you for taking so good care of us".

 

[Disneyadore]

No please no harts. I don't get the entitlement that some people here expose.
I have to clean my house every day so the person that is doing that for me is is a hero.

We always clean up our own mess in our room, no personnel dirty laundry,no mess,no stinking left over food.
Passing some rooms with open doors I saw some pig stalls you could not imagen in your worst dreams. People threat housekeepers like there own personnel slaves. Give them a whip and they will use it.

WE feel ourselves very humble looking at all the mess these housekeepers have to deal with every day.
As an example. We used the toilets at the GF. The shi... was smeared out on the floor,tiles,the toilet itself and the inner door. The urine was spread around the toilet. Guess ho has to clean it ?

 

[dbriggsq]

Interesting discussion.

One of the arguments brought forward for keeping the status quo with regards to tipping - especially in restaurants - is that the price of food would go up and the standard of service would go down if tipping was abolished.

My question would be that this doesn't seem to be the case in parts of the world were there is no tipping. We were recently in France on a long weekend and ate in 3 different restaurants - all were 'service compris' and the price for a 3 course meal varied between 17 - 25 euros. The food in all of them was very good (in fact the one where the prix fixe menu was 25euro was excellent). This pricing is very similar to what one would pay in the US. The most noticeable thing though was the standard of service - in all cases excellent. The waiters were more than happy to spend time with us explaining the menus because of our slightly rusty schoolboy French - they were professional in the extreme and we had very relaxing enjoyable meals.

Some people leave a token euro per person on the table but if I think if you left any more they would be offended.

 

[wdwfan16]

I know this has been discussed before, but I wanted to start a fresh discussion and share my thoughts. Our family is taking a trip in June, and I just want to feel prepared and do what is right.

Let me preface this discussion by saying that I've held several jobs in my lifetime where I depended on tips to pay my bills. I've waitressed and spent 7 years in young adulthood working in a casino as a card and dice dealer. In each of those jobs the company paid me minimum wage with a pitiful yearly raise even with stellar employee reviews. Were it not for my tips, I simply could not have made a living.
Having said that, when I believe service warrents it, I am a very good tipper. However, I also believe that there are now some folks who either think they deserve tips, or even ask for them (tip jar at the register) who shouldn't necessarily receive them.

A good example is in an ice cream store where the employee scoops my ice cream. How does that warrent a tip? How are they providing me with beyond the call of duty, excellent service. Frankly I find tip jars to be extremely offensive. This is true in a coffee shop as well. Why am I tipping somebody who pours me a cup of coffee? If you disagree with me on this one, I'm interested to hear the argument. I might be missing something.

Now..my list for Disney World employees:

Tip Worthy

-The bus driver who loads and unloads my luggage for the Magic Express ride. He/She is doing extra work so that I can relax. And it is common knowledge that this is a tipping job. Some of those drivers go out of their way to make our first Disney experience extremely pleasant. 1 dollar a bag? or more?

-Cocktails at an bar/pool lounge etc. This is a no brainer. Bartenders work for tips. I generally tip .50-1.00 per drink.

Waiters in a restaurant/AND buffet. This is also a no brainer. I'm not sure the buffet folks always get tipped. My husband and I always leave something on the table for the person who served our drinks and cleaned up.

-Cab Drivers. We don't really use this service, but if we did, we'd tip about 10 percent of the fare.

Bell Hops. This too, is a no brainer. They work for tips. I'm not certain of the proper tip, though. $1 per bag? or $2? Just not sure.


No Tip

(unless provided with exceptional service above and beyond the call of duty)

-Housekeeping. This is the one that I think may raise the most eyebrows. We don't generally tip and I'll tell you why. Housekeeping comes in, cleans my room and leaves. This is their job. They don't interact with me and generally my family is pretty clean and does not leave them any extra mess. I'd be curious to hear info about their hourly wage as this might change my mind on this issue. But if they are getting paid 7 to 10 dollars an hour as are most other non tipped cast members, I don't believe this should be a tipping position.
-Bus drivers that take folks from resorts to parks. I don't believe this is meant to be a tipping position. There is one example, however where my husband tipped one gentleman. We had arrived at MK and realized that we left our park entry tickets in our room. DH had to catch the next bus back and retrieve them. The nice fellow who picked him up actually waited for him at the bus stop while he ran to our room to get our tickets. DH tipped him 10 dollars and was very thankful for not having to wait for the next bus.

-Food court employees. Please correct me if I'm wrong on this one.

-Restroom attendents.

If anyone wants to add to either list, I'd be interested to hear what you have to say. Thanks for any input.

So when you got paid minimum wage you needed tips to make a living wage yet when a WDW employee is paid minimum wage you think they get enough and offer not tip.

Sorry I would be tipping the housekeeper way before I tipped a card/dice dealer.

 

[HMGar]

Once again, I have to ask. What are the mousekeepers making? Is it minimum wage?

After reading this entire discussion, I've made a decision to leave a small tip each day for our mousekeeper. If I get less than stellar service, however, I will be deeply disappointed.

In the case of leaving a tip for this service, you are leaving money BEFORE you receive the service. It's different than a normal tipping situation.

As far as tipping your casino dealer *shrug* do it or don't. I always provided my patrons with a good time, a friendly face, and a sympathetic ear when they lost. I did this every day whether I felt like it or not. After 7 years employed I still made less than 5 dollars an hour.

Tipping is a personal decision and I certainly wouldn't try and convince anyone one way or other what they should do. I was merely looking for some input before our next vacation.

Thanks everyone for the thoughts.

 

[dbriggsq]

Once again, I have to ask. What are the mousekeepers making? Is it minimum wage?

After reading this entire discussion, I've made a decision to leave a small tip each day for our mousekeeper. If I get less than stellar service, however, I will be deeply disappointed.

In the case of leaving a tip for this service, you are leaving money BEFORE you receive the service. It's different than a normal tipping situation.

As far as tipping your casino dealer *shrug* do it or don't. I always provided my patrons with a good time, a friendly face, and a sympathetic ear when they lost. I did this every day whether I felt like it or not. After 7 years employed I still made less than 5 dollars an hour.

Tipping is a personal decision and I certainly wouldn't try and convince anyone one way or other what they should do. I was merely looking for some input before our next vacation.

Thanks everyone for the thoughts.

Housekeepers earn the same wage as cast members who work in retail, on attractions, counter service etc. - so really people who tip them on the basis that they earn a minimum wage should consider tipping these other workers too. Also people who tip based on the fact that they clean up after them could also consider the people who work in the park restrooms or clean up the trash. It really doesn't make any sense.

You should be able to expect to have your room serviced properly without feeling you have to leave a tip. Housekeeping is officially a 'non-tipped' position and again if people leave tips regularly management might take that as an opportunity to keep wages at a lower level than they might have been.

 

[declansdad]

Housekeepers earn the same wage as cast members who work in retail, on attractions, counter service etc. - so really people who tip them on the basis that they earn a minimum wage should consider tipping these other workers too. Also people who tip based on the fact that they clean up after them could also consider the people who work in the park restrooms or clean up the trash. It really doesn't make any sense.

You should be able to expect to have your room serviced properly without feeling you have to leave a tip. Housekeeping is officially a 'non-tipped' position and again if people leave tips regularly management might take that as an opportunity to keep wages at a lower level than they might have been.

I haven't read anywhere that people feel they have to leave a tip for mousekeeping but rather they want to do it for the personal service they receive. The washroom attendant at MK doesn't not provide a personal service.

 

[gr8tdame]

Last year we had water delivers to our resort (6 cases). The Front desk phoned and asked if we wanted it delivered to our room.
The CM delivered the water and we tried to tip her but she said cm's were not allowed to accept tips and if she did she could lose her job.
Food for thought.
Also europeans and other foreigners are not accustomed to tipping.
It is considered demeaning.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Once again, I have to ask. What are the mousekeepers making? Is it minimum wage?

After reading this entire discussion, I've made a decision to leave a small tip each day for our mousekeeper. If I get less than stellar service, however, I will be deeply disappointed.

In the case of leaving a tip for this service, you are leaving money BEFORE you receive the service. It's different than a normal tipping situation.

As far as tipping your casino dealer *shrug* do it or don't. I always provided my patrons with a good time, a friendly face, and a sympathetic ear when they lost. I did this every day whether I felt like it or not. After 7 years employed I still made less than 5 dollars an hour.

Tipping is a personal decision and I certainly wouldn't try and convince anyone one way or other what they should do. I was merely looking for some input before our next vacation.

Thanks everyone for the thoughts.

Mousekeepers make $8.25 hr amd the hours have been being cut every week
my good friends work at POP and GF

 

[dbriggsq]

I haven't read anywhere that people feel they have to leave a tip for mousekeeping but rather they want to do it for the personal service they receive. The washroom attendant at MK doesn't not provide a personal service.

Cleaning toilets in a room doesn't seem to be any different to cleaning toilets in a restroom - I know which I would prefer. If people want to tip the housekeeper perhaps it is to help assuage the guilt they feel for someone doing a personal service for them. Housekeepers are paid to do that job - if people feel guilty about it perhaps they should put the 'do not disturb' sign on their door.

 

[Halbleib1]

Most empoyers do NOT follow that rule........ They say that the good day's make up for the bad.....

I am aware that this goes on but it is only allowed to go on because the employee does not do anything about it. If the employees turned them in they would have to pay up.

 

[MIGrandma]

Cleaning toilets in a room doesn't seem to be any different to cleaning toilets in a restroom - I know which I would prefer. If people want to tip the housekeeper perhaps it is to help assuage the guilt they feel for someone doing a personal service for them. Housekeepers are paid to do that job - if people feel guilty about it perhaps they should put the 'do not disturb' sign on their door.

I have done the "do not disburb" thing in some hotels. Not at WDW, but if we're staying somewhere for just 2 nights I really don't want housekeeping coming into the room. We don't need our beds made up, or if I want them made up I'll do it myself. And we re-use our towels so there really is no need for housekeeping services.

I am aware that this goes on but it is only allowed to go on because the employee does not do anything about it. If the employees turned them in they would have to pay up.

And risk losing their jobs? I waitressed for 12 years and I remember one time we were talking to the boss and someone mentioned they thought if we didn't make minimum wage on our shifts they were supposed to make up the difference. The boss just said the good nights make up for the bad. And it's true. In the winter you might go home with $15 in your pocket, but the rest of the year you went home with $75 - 100 or even more. But I'm sure that if any one of the waitresses turned them in for not paying us minimum wage in the winter that waitress would have been fired. Maybe the reason given would not be for turning them in, but they could find any reason to fire them.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I haven't read anywhere that people feel they have to leave a tip for mousekeeping but rather they want to do it for the personal service they receive. The washroom attendant at MK doesn't not provide a personal service.

On the other hand, I have gone to Guest Services and filled out a compliment card for a Cast Member responsible for cleaning some bathrooms. We were talking, and the ladies room was particularly clean, and she was proud of her work.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Cleaning toilets in a room doesn't seem to be any different to cleaning toilets in a restroom - I know which I would prefer. If people want to tip the housekeeper perhaps it is to help assuage the guilt they feel for someone doing a personal service for them. Housekeepers are paid to do that job - if people feel guilty about it perhaps they should put the 'do not disturb' sign on their door.

I don't feel the least bit GUILTY about someone cleaning my (rented) bathroom. I appreciate that someone who's not me is doing it, and I CHOOSE to tip.