What all do you tip for????

[hrj01]

We are going to WDW and staying at Pops in June of this year 2006. It will be DH, DD9, and myself. We will be staying a week. We are flying and using the Magic Express to and from the airport.

I know that we will need to tip for "Mousekeeping" and I have read on this WONDERFUL BOARD that you do a dollar a day per person for mousekeeping. Please correct me if I am wrong.

I was wondering what all you tip for at WDW? I am trying to save as much money as I can for everything like shopping and for the tipping. We have the meal deal (can't remember the correct name) for all three of us for our food. I am sure that I will need to have some money for more food also.

Thanks so much for the help and WONDERFUL board and people too.

Counting down until our vacation


Heather

 

[lauralana9]

I thought the "going rate" for tipping mousekeeping was $2 per person per day. It will be me and my DB going down and plan on leaving $5 a day for the both of us maybe an extra dollar or 2 if I get any of the towel animals. I figure the extra dollar wont kill me but a five allways looks better than four ones. This being said I am a waitress and tend to err on the side of caution when tipping. My DB always teases me when we go out because I never leave less that 20%.

 

[DeterminedOne]

In addition to mousekeeping plan on tipping bell services, sky caps (since you're flying), taxi and town car drivers,and if you're on the DP any extra tips you may want to give to the servers. Oh!... and the ME drivers.

 

[Bounsty]

In addition to mousekeeping plan on tipping bell services, sky caps (since you're flying), taxi and town car drivers,and if you're on the DP any extra tips you may want to give to the servers. Oh!... and the ME drivers.

Sorry if my question seems stupid but I'm planning to go to WDW in October, this will be my first time in the States also. I live in France and we never tip, so I was wondering if in the States you really have to always tip everywhere, because I don't want to make any "mistake" when I'm there...
Thanks for you advice on this matter

Sandra

 

[lauralana9]

I live in France and we never tip,

I just had to respond to to this. Since this is text and you can't hear my tone I am not being sarcastic at all when I say I am glad to hear you say it. I did not know this, I have worked as a server in the US for a long time now. For 3 years I worked in the Grand Canyon, lots of foreign tourists. A lot of servers, myself included hated being sat with a party of French people (other nationalities as well, but since you are French I am wording it this way) for the simple fact that we knew that we would receive a $1-$2 tip, if we were lucky most times it was nothing.

With the exception of 2 states employers are not required to pay servers/bartenders minimum wage. Aolt of people that live in this country don't even know that. The most I hve been payed by my employer is $2.50 thats below half minimum wage. However they take taxes out of 15% our sales, not what we make in tips (or say we make ). I have not received an actual paycheck in a long time. Also depending on where you work, I have had to come in to set up for the shift 1 and 1/2 hrs before opening and stay for an average of 2 hours after closing for clean up making $2.50 an hour.

15 - 20% is standard. As a server I always tip at least 20%. And thats just for adequate service, making sure I get a refill if I want it, clearing empty plates etc. 15% if the server doesn't do a great job, and I have only stiffed a waitress once. She was just flat out rude, I still have guilt over it though.

Sorry for hijacking and making this about server tipping but since thats what I do it's what I know. I would actually be interested in hearing from people that have worked in housekeeping, car service, or anyother line of work that tipping is done. Get their view, and maybe learn something

 

[Bounsty]

Ok, I now understand why it is important to tip.
Sorry if my compatriots are not generous, it's just that we don't know that, it's really different from our system because of all the laws we have which protect workers. In France, you give a tip only if the server was exceptional, and you'll never give more than 5 dollars whatever the amount of the bill is.
Thank you for your answer.

 

[mlwear]

Bounsty-- DH LOVED his first trip to Europe because he didn't have to concern himself with tipping as we do here. He thought it was great that he could just leave a little change that was left over from his dining bill. It was funny because I think he went on more about that than anything else about his trip.

Some people will tip for most everything. Some for just what Americans considered required. Then, there is everything in between. There are a lot of threads on the board about tipping. That will get you well versed with the range of American expectations.

To the OP: You don't NEED to tip Mousekeeping. Some do and some don't. That is your decision and those that do use different formulas. Many use the $1/person/day. There are 4 in our party and I choose to tip $5/day. I tip $2-$3 for turndown service. If there was ever a big mess I would add a little, personally.

You will need to tip for those who handle your luggage. Standard is $1/bag. I'm sure others do other amounts.

If you use valet parking, that is another person you will need to tip.

Transportation to and from the airport requires a tip.

Of course, servers for TS must be tipped. You wrote you are using the DP. A tip is included in the plan that you have pre-paid. If you choose to tip in addition to what the DP has already paid, that is entirely a personal decision. But, if you order additional items (cocktails, kids meals paying OOP), you will need to tip for that separate bill.
That's off the top of my head...

 

[beattyfamily]

Actually you do not "NEED" or "MUST" tip anyone for any job. It's all up to you and there are only "guidelines" out there for us to follow if we choose to. Of course, if you are a big party of 8 or more, then you MUST tip in a restaurant (it's included automatically).

I choose to tip Mousekeeping, and all hotel/motel housekeepers, because that is what I was taught to do. I also choose to tip valet, bellhops (if I ever use them), skycaps, waitresses etc...because that is what I want to do.

The amount I tip depends on the level of service I get. I usually tip mousekeeping $1 per person, per day and my family of 4 we usually end up leaving a $5. bill. I tip valet parking a couple of $$ BOTH ways. I tip bellhops and skycaps $1. per bag.

I leave a little extra on the dining plan because they only include 13% or 15% % I think. I can't remember off the top of my head. So I usually leave enough to make it 20%...of course, depending on the level of service I received.

When using the DDE card discount of 20% for meals, I end up leaving the discounted amount I got for a tip. Works out perfectly!

 

[mlwear]

Of course, you don't need or must tip for anything. Perhaps I should have worded better.

That being said, you don't need to participate in many of the expected courtesies of anyone's culture for that matter.

My point was providing a list of services that are very commonly considered tipped postions and I believe the person providing the service would feel slighted if he/she did not receive a tip for performing at the very least adequate service. (The exception to that I believe is mousekeeping as I have read on this board that many do not tip, so I would assume that they don't expect to find a tip in every room they service. I believe that was clear in my post.)

You MAY substitue the words "if you want" for my use of the words "need", "must", "require" if that provides a better explanation for you.

 

[beattyfamily]

Of course, you don't need or must tip for anything. Perhaps I should have worded better.

That being said, you don't need to participate in many of the expected courtesies of anyone's culture for that matter.

My point was providing a list of services that are very commonly considered tipped postions and I believe the person providing the service would feel slighted if he/she did not receive a tip for performing at the very least adequate service. (The exception to that I believe is mousekeeping as I have read on this board that many do not tip, so I would assume that they don't expect to find a tip in every room they service. I believe that was clear in my post.)

You MAY substitue the words "if you want" for my use of the words "need", "must", "require" if that provides a better explanation for you.

No need to roll your eyes at me or be so defensive. I only posted my opinion on tipping.

FYI...HERE's a DIS poll on whether DISERS tip Mousekeeping or not. Results are very interesting.

 

[mlwear]

No need to roll your eyes at me or be so defensive. I only posted my opinion on tipping.

FYI...HERE's a DIS poll on whether DISERS tip Mousekeeping or not. Results are very interesting.

Truce. I did feel that you attacked my post by using all caps and bold. But, it doesn't matter.
Regarding, mousekeeping as I stated earlier it is not a service with an expected tip, but some do. So, we argree on that.
Have a great day.

 

[beattyfamily]

Regarding, mousekeeping as I stated earlier it is not a service with an expected tip, but some do. So, we argree on that.
Have a great day.

Actually, based on the poll I linked to in my previous post, most DISers do.

...only bolding to show what I was replying to.

 

[mlwear]

OK. You can be right.
Again, have a great day.

To the OP, so sorry about that interruption. This is my last post on this thread hopefully, the thread will get back on track and you can get the info. needed

 

[Hoosier Mom]

Someone mentioned tipping the magical express driver. Is that right? Do most people? The driver won't be handling our luggage because it will be taken direct from the airport to the resort, right? It won't necessarily be that driver that is bringing our luggage?

We've not been to WDW since 1991 and there was no ME then. I think we took some sort of airport shuttle to WDW. Can't remember.

Just wondering.

 

[rabx5]

Someone mentioned tipping the magical express driver. Is that right? Do most people? The driver won't be handling our luggage because it will be taken direct from the airport to the resort, right? It won't necessarily be that driver that is bringing our luggage?

We've not been to WDW since 1991 and there was no ME then. I think we took some sort of airport shuttle to WDW. Can't remember.

Just wondering.

I would like to know this too.

Thanks,
Jodi

 

[Stitchfans]

stupid question. I thought that you didn't have to wait around for your luggage. how do you tip for that if you don't see them? leave an envelope marked for that? would it be seperate people one at the airport and another at the resort? someone might get slighted--

 

[Hoosier Mom]

That's why I asked. I do not believe the ME drivers take our luggage. I noticed someone said they tipped their ME driver. I was sort of surprised by that. That's why I was wondering if many people do this or perhaps the poster is just being extra nice to their driver.

When we go on cruises, we tip the skycabs and taxi drivers, but I've never tipped the motorcoach driver who takes us to the pier. He doesn't handle our luggage either.

I guess it's just left to our discretion.

 

[HunnyPots]

We tip our waitperson, unless service is really bad. We carry our own luggage and drive ourselves so no tipping there. I do not tip housekeeping at Disney or anywhere else, as it is not a tipped position. They are paid an hourly wage that is at least miniumum wage, unlike restaurant waitstaff.

 

[stahshee]

last year we stayed at then days inn universal. we had to BEGG them to make our beds The blankets were nasty and the fridge broke and no one came in to clean. We called and called to have our room cleaned. After begging they came around to it. we left them 2 dollars and we had to rooms. The service was so BAD!!!!!! we also begged for soap and shampoo that place was a DUMP!!!! I would have tipped much better if I had service.......

 

[Andrea]

i just typed this long thing out about how we tip and i realized that we tip $5.00 for everything.

it's just my hubby and my self and we tip mousekeeping $5.00 a day, valet $5.00 a day,
bell services normally around $5.00 but that depends on how many bags we have lol