Do you tip Mousekeeping?

[GBBT]

We tip $5 a day and usually have the same housekeeper for the week.

[Young@Heart]

We tip $1/person each day....so $5. We try to tip daily since the same person doesn't always come each day. (although, I'll admit there are times we've been running late and I've rushed out of the room forgetting the tip. In those cases, I left extra the next day)

We actually enjoy making envelopes as part of our trip planning activities. One year, we decorated little gift bags and taped the envelope on the outside, and left them, with a little maple candy (we live in MA) in the bag, each day. This was fun, though probably a little overboard.

We've always had good luck with things like towel animals and little surprises when we return to our room each day, but even if we didn't, I'd still feel better leaving a tip.

[peemagg]

We used to tip $1 per guest everyday of our stay, but since we have been staying at DVC resorts the past 3 trips that has changed.

Our first trip to Sarartoga we found dirty towels in a basket in the bathroom and a dirty spoon on the floor. Yes we complained and got a free total clean. We still tipped at this time.

On our second trip to Saratoga, we found dirty dishes in the cupboard. There was coffee in the cups, macaroni in the pot lid, lipstick on the glasses. It was this trip that we decided no more tipping. They just plain didn't deserve it.

On our past trip at Kidani, we again found dirty dishes in the cupboard and a glass must have broken in the dishwasher, but they didn't clean the glass out of there. I had to do it.

Seeing as how we are DVC members and that 3 times our room wasn't clean, mousekeeping will NOT get a tip from us again!

[merlinmagic4]

We stay in a timeshare and we tip 15.00 for our midweek cleaning and 15.00-20.00 at the end of the week for a total of 30-35.00. If I can afford to go on vacation, I can afford a little something for the person cleaning up after us

[BelleLovesTheBeast]

1) We do not leave tips at WDW for housekeeping.
2) At most hotels, maids are poorly paid.
3) At WDW, the maids are paid well, and in a NON-TIPPED job classification.
4) In fact, they are paid more than many other WDW jobs.
5) WDW maids (per union contract)
. . . make up to $12.47/hr
. . . leave 45-minutes early and be paid for it
. . . make up to $1.00/hr in Flex bonus
. . . make up to $22.00/room incentive pay
. . . make up to $35.00/room incentive pay for DVC rooms
. . . work very desirable schedules versus other CM's

No I do not tip Mousekeeping. For the reasons listed above. And if you ask if I tip servers... YES! 20%+

Servers are required to claim tips. Most companies have it set up that they must claim a minimum of 10% during their clock out proceedure.

Housekeeping does not claim tips. It's all unreported to the government.

In addition, I have found housekeeping at WDW to be less than most places. Even La Quinta has better housekeeping.

[Iteachpc]

I have always tipped Mousekeeping, but the last time I read a post on this subject has caused me to rethink my actions.

Someone said Mousekeepers don't get to keep their tips. Someone else has said they make a large amount per hour.

I don't mind rewarding someone for good service, but I am not a wealthy person. I work hard for my money and scrimp and save for our Disney vacations. I don't like the idea that I am giving money to folks who don't really need it and don't even get to keep it.

I'm leaning towards not tipping on my upcoming trip. That extra money ($4/day) could be used for treats for my family.

[animalkingdomguy]

The one problem we have is the housekeeping staff sometimes does not take their tip even when it is in an envelope clearly marked 'Mouse-Keeping Tip'. Next trip I'm going to try a multi-lingual envelope; english and spanish. With the increasing use of spanish in the southern tier of the USA, may be including spanish would be helpful.

[DisneyFan1979]

We always tip daily and generally notice better service the day we've left a tip (like extra towels, towel animals, or extra shampoos/lotions). I don't do research on the wages of the housekeepers at the different hotels I stay in when I travel - my upbringing and the etiquette books generally tell me that a tip is in order when I'm provided a service and the person who has given me that service is allowed to accept the tip. Some guests leave their rooms in a disgusting state and the housekeepers do not have an easy job. We feel that if we are fortunate enough to afford to stay in a deluxe Disney hotel and take a vacation there that the people who are making our trip more easy and enjoyable deserve a little something to say thanks.

[MidnTPK]

I'm astonished at the mental gymnastics people will go through to justify stiffing their maid. But I'd still like to help you out. So here are some other unfounded and false statements you can use if the future. You can then truthfully say that 'Someone said' and provide some lame excuse to try to justify rude/irresponsible/cheap behavior:

- The speed limit in Florida is 95 MPH everywhere
- The moon is made of cheese
- If you don't vote for the winning President, you don't have to pay taxes
- WDW maids drive to work in chauffer driven limousines
- The food didn't come as fast as when I order at Wendy's so the server doesn't deserve a tip
- We don't have a working chimney so Santa Clause can't bring us presents
- Babies are delivered by storks
- Most people win the lottery eventually, so I don't need to save for retirement
- The next (insert elected official here) will change things and make everything better

Hope this helps.

[Disney Doll]

I don't mind rewarding someone for good service, but I am not a wealthy person. I work hard for my money and scrimp and save for our Disney vacations. I don't like the idea that I am giving money to folks who don't really need it and don't even get to keep it.

I'm leaning towards not tipping on my upcoming trip. That extra money ($4/day) could be used for treats for my family.

I'm not a wealthy person either, but I am thankful that my job does not include cleaning toilets. Because they do the "dirty work" I show my appreciation with a tip. It costs me maybe an extra $25 bucks per trip to tip the mouse keeper each morning. That's not going to break the bank.

[renecat]

We tip 1.00 per person everyday. We make up envelope with mousekeeper on them for each day before we leave home. Put monday, tuesday ect. on them and leave one everyday.
You may not get the same mousekeeper everyday so that is why we do it this way.

[Jeff G]

I'm astonished at the mental gymnastics people will go through to justify stiffing their maid. But I'd still like to help you out. So here are some other unfounded and false statements you can use if the future. You can then truthfully say that 'Someone said' and provide some lame excuse to try to justify rude/irresponsible/cheap behavior:

- The speed limit in Florida is 95 MPH everywhere
- The moon is made of cheese
- If you don't vote for the winning President, you don't have to pay taxes
- WDW maids drive to work in chauffer driven limousines
- The food didn't come as fast as when I order at Wendy's so the server doesn't deserve a tip
- We don't have a working chimney so Santa Clause can't bring us presents
- Babies are delivered by storks
- Most people win the lottery eventually, so I don't need to save for retirement
- The next (insert elected official here) will change things and make everything better

Hope this helps.

This is crazy logic when you consider "maids" are a not considered a tipped position by Disney.

For those who say that the pay, starting at $8.00/hour, is very little and they deserve a tip what about the people working in other areas of WDW cleaning up after us, working the shops, standing in the hot sun for hours selling drinks, etc.? Do we walk a round tipping those people as well? Housekeepers at WDW are paid as well and in some cases better than those positions. And when it comes to pay in general, my DW loves kids and has always wanted to work in a day care setting. The pay she is able to make is not much better than those in housekeeping at WDW yet she is entrusted with the lives of our young. We don't walk around expecting tips because she makes so little. It is her choice. All of us have choices when it comes to our employment including those working at WDW. If the pay is to little there are other jobs available. The fact is WDW doesn't consider this a tip position so the job that is done in each room should be the same regardless o a tip or not. I tip well at restaurants, to my hair stylist and to others who are paid based on tip but in this case I don't tip. It is a choice I make just like those of you who chose to tip. I respect the choice you make so please respect mine.

[DNS]

We tip $3 to $5 each day for the two of us. We do this at all hotels, not just Disney. To me, it's like tipping in a restaurant. The only time I would not tip is if we received noticeably bad service.

[twinboyz]

We always do.. We tip $1 per person per day. We've never had trouble with mousekeeping and they have always (knock on wood) done a great job for us. Besides..It's great fun getting the envelopes ready before our trip .. $$ and all so it's a no-brainer when we get down there.

[dfamasb]

I tip simply because I have been a housekeeper before and know how hard I was worked. I don't know the policies for housekeepers at WDW, but I know that it is not a fun or easy job and I want to show my appreciation.

[MidnTPK]

This is crazy logic when you consider "maids" are a not considered a tipped position by Disney.

This is a chicken and egg thing:

As to why housekeeping might not be considered a tipping position: because so many people don't tip their housekeeper!

My guess is that WDW probably pays it's housekeeping staff somewhat more than a typical hotel maid because so many people who go to WDW don't know that its a standard convention to leave a gratuity for one's housekeeper.....like foreigners that don't know that in the U.S. you leave 15-20% at sit-down restaurants and bars.

It's not about respecting choices...that's a given...there's no requirement to tip. But most of us do because it's an accepted convention of politeness, generosity, thanks, and civility.

[Minnie4me]

It's not about respecting choices...that's a given...there's no requirement to tip. But most of us do because it's an accepted convention of politeness, generosity, thanks, and civility.

I like the way you think!

Tipped position or not, I leave them a tip because I want to say Thanks, but more importantly, to make their day a little nicer.

Heck, like an example I have used before, they have a tip jar at Starbucks and all they do is give you a cup of coffee...that you are paying for anyway. The least I can do is leave a tip for someone that...

Makes my bed
Folds my extra blankets
Provides clean towels
Provides clean glasses
Dumps my trash
Cleans my tub
Cleans my sinks
Cleans my toilet
Refills my toilet paper
Vacuums my carpet
Dusts my furniture
and on occasion...leaves me towel animals

[julie0282]

i never tipped before but i was 23 and didn't know any better.i will be tipping this aug.its only me and my daughter going you think $2 is enough per day???

[KAT1811]

Your question will, undoubtedly, start a firestorm of replies...this question usually does.

LOL! That is exactly what I was thinking as I opened this thread!

Wouldn't tipping Mousekeeping be like tipping a Waitress/Waiter before you are seated since you are giving a tip before the service has even been done or do you usaually get the same Mousekeeper during the stay?

After our last trip I have started tipping after the first clean. Here is why. . .

On our last trip the children began their love affair with strawberry milk. Needless to day our youngest two, 4 and 2, sometimes spilled. I always cleaned it up but one morning our youngest happened to spill some on the bed while watching cartoons. So I left the sheets pulled back enough so you could see the spot. Naturally I figured mousekeeping would change the sheets. Upon our return we found that the sheet was removed, the bed was made (without a sheet), and the clean sheet was folded on top of the bed, not on the bed. How fun it was to have to unmake the beds, when I still had to bathe all three children, 5 months pregnant after a very long day in the parks. Figuring it was a fluke I just went about our trip, mildly irritated. I tipped inbetween because at one point we had a great mousekeeper that did some really great things with the children's stuffed animals. For example, one night they were all propped up on pillows watching TV when we came in. The kids went nuts! But then the tide turned and we got the "other mousekeeper" back. Another night we came back and the sheets were folded on the bed! Now I was irritated. Like I previously stated we were in WDW with three children and I was 5 months pregnant with #4, at the end of the day I was tired! I have this this thing with doing your job correctly and to the best of your ability and this wasn't the case. So I went to the front desk and spoke with a manager. She offered me one day park tickets for each member of our family (5 of us) I declined once but she insisted I take them as an apology from WDW (not that I don't appreciate the gesture but we get length of stay park hoppers on our trips). She offered to have a mousekeeper come down and make the beds for me. I thanked her and explained that I was more than capable to doing the job but I didn't feel that I should have to since this was a service that was supposed to be provided to WDW guests (I did make the beds myself). As a business owner I would want to know if it were one of my employees. She was very gratious but after the experience I tip after they clean the rooms.

. . . I am thankful that my job does not include cleaning toilets. Because they do the "dirty work" I show my appreciation with a tip.

Me too! I hate cleaning my own toilets at home never mind someone else's! Yuck!

[greengeen]

... do you wan the person who has access to some of your most intimate things to like you or think you are a donkey?

Okay, this is why I HATE these threads. Folks who are so proud of the fact that they leave a few bucks a day for a NON-TIPPED position want to make the rest of us, who know it is a NON-TIPPED position, feel bad. Shame on all of you "I make special envelopes and seal them with a kiss and you should too" people. It's perfectly okay and normal not to tip a NON-TIPPED position, and no one is going to get gold-plated towel animals because they left $1.50 on the counter, so get over that one too!