[Dana]

Here it is by request and many posts on this subject, the tipping thread. Here are suggested tipping amounts for everything you may encounter at WDW. Tips are what you want them to be and you give what you can afford of course,but many people have no idea who to tip and what they should tip, so here is a small clue.

Anyone who handles your bags for you, and I mean anyone no matter what the reason is, should get $1 a bag. This goes for skycaps, ME drivers, bellhops, etc.

Mousekeeping: You can do this two ways. Either leave $1 per person in the room or a flat $5 like I do for me and my DD. Your tips should be left out daily CLEARLY marked for housekeeping( on the pillow of one of the beds). I usually either leave a decorated mousekeeping envelope with the money inside or a thank you note with the money inside. They will not touch money laying around not clearly marked for obvious reasons.

mousekeeping at DVC: because they bring towells etc and it's not every day, you should tip according to how many people you have in the room. I never got the towell service and had to beg for them when I stayed there, so they go nothing for the acutal day. At the end of my stay, I left $10 in the two bedroom and $10 in the studio. Keep in mind that I clean every day..lol

If mousekeeping brings you something out of the ordinary for you room such as extra blankets or pillows, it's nice to show appreciation with a small tip of a few dollars. If they are bringing you something you should have already had in your room, it's optional to tip.

Bartenders: I never, ever give less than $1 per drink for multiple drinks if I am a walk-up customer getitng multiple items. For 3 and over drinks, I tip $5. If I am sitting at the bar or "running a tab" I tip according to the bartender and how fast they get me my refills. If I am there for an hour, I never leave less than $10 for a great bartender....Crappy ones can get as little as $5. If there is a big party with me, I tip more and sometimes up to $20 depending on how long we are there and what we get. If the bartender makes you "cash out" after every drink served (happens often in WDW), I tip $2 per drink and leave $5 when I am done.

Servers at a sitdown: no less than 18% ever, more if they are awesome.

Servers at buffets: $1 per plate per person they remove and $1 per drink refill. I usually leave a flat rate of $10 regardless of refills and total bill while at WDW.

Concierge: I have never stayed concierge, so I have no advice on this other than you should tip anyone that goes out of their way to make your vacation special and run smooth. That's just my opinion.

towncars: $10 to your resort and $10 back to the airport.

Taxis around the world: I tip $5, more if there is luggage they help carry.

Room Service - At least $2 (same rules apply as when you have a pizza delivered home) if they set it up for you then a minimum of $5.(thanks lisalovesmickey)

When someone brings you an out of the ordinary request from housekeeping you must tip based off the request.(thanks lisalovesmickey)

In the case of the soap or items that "should" be in the room, I will give $1 to the person bringing something that should have been there, odds are they were not the person who "forgot" to leave the soap etc. (thanks lisalovesmickey)

[Jen]

Thank you. Great post and some good tipping advice.

[Dana]

Originally Posted by Jen

Thank you. Great post and some good tipping advice.

Thanks!

[jo-jo]

Thanks Dana. Like I said in another thread, before ME and DVC, we usually took care of our bags at both the value resorts and the airports. We only had the housekeeping tips to think about. And since WDW is the only place we ever travel to, we had no other experience to fall back on,so I didn't know what was the proper amount for bell hops and such. Thankfully we were pretty much on target. Question though, one trip the sky cap walked us from ME to southwest, then waited with us for about 15 mins until we got to the front of the check in line. How much extra ( if any) would you have tip him?

[asp8tis]

This is very helpful. Thanks, Dana!

[Dana]

Originally Posted by jo-jo

Question though, one trip the sky cap walked us from ME to southwest, then waited with us for about 15 mins until we got to the front of the check in line. How much extra ( if any) would you have tip him?

I would have gave him $10 for the above and beyond service and for the luggage.

[jenbarnwell]

What geat advice, Thanks Dana!

[smee57]

Good stuff, Dana! Thanks!

(So what should we tip YOU for passing this info along to us?? )

[jaljayjar]

I wish everyone thought of service the way you do...I am a retail manager for my main job but am also a part time server at a local restaurant...it amazes me how people will stiff even though you gave great service...or we have regulars that we know are going to stiff you anyway as they do it daily. It is not easy job in any service industry...glad to see you acknowlege great service!

[lisalovesmickey]

I hope you don't mind me adding a few tipping tips!

Housekeeping will only take a tip if it is left on the bed pillows, any other money left lying around the room they are not allowed to touch and they will not take it, even with a note. (This happened to me in WDW during my '99 trip and when I inquired as to why this is what I was told, I also found this to be true in Vegas)

I completely agree with Dana and $1 per bag is mandatory any time someone moves one of your bags.

When people Bring things to the room:

Room Service - At least $2 (same rules apply as when you have a pizza delivered home) if they set it up for you then a minimum of $5.

When someone brings you an out of the ordinary request from housekeeping you must tip based off the request.

In the case of the soap or items that "should" be in the room, I will give $1 to the person bringing something that should have been there, odds are they were not the person who "forgot" to leave the soap etc.

I hope this answers some more questions.

Thanks Dana for starting this thread!

Lisa

[Boss Mouse]

"Don't take a full soda (in a cup w/out a lid) on the ToT"
- That's a good tip, huh?

[Dana]

Originally Posted by lisalovesmickey

I hope you don't mind me adding a few tipping tips!

Housekeeping will only take a tip if it is left on the bed pillows, any other money left lying around the room they are not allowed to touch and they will not take it, even with a note. (This happened to me in WDW during my '99 trip and when I inquired as to why this is what I was told, I also found this to be true in Vegas)

:

I absolutely do not mind. Matter-of-fact, I am adding them to the original post with your name.

As for the on the pillow thing, I have never heard that and have never left a tip on the pillow. I do leave it on the table in an envelope with "housekeeping" written on it. There have been a few times they have not taken it and maybe it depends on the the keeper...I will be sure to leave it on the pillow from now on.

[Dana]

Originally Posted by Boss Mouse

"Don't take a full soda (in a cup w/out a lid) on the ToT"
- That's a good tip, huh?

excellent tip

[ranedrops]

Housekeeping will only take a tip if it is left on the bed pillows, any other money left lying around the room they are not allowed to touch and they will not take it, even with a note.
I've always left the tip on the nightstand under the tv controller and housekeeping has always taken it.

I'll have to remember to bring envelopes and leave it on the pillow.

We've offered tips to housekeeping when they brought up extra towels, etc & most of the time they decline and won't take the tip.

Thanks for all the great tips on tips!

[emamasa]

we left a tip with a note on the bed, or on the nightstand, and they took it every time.

thanks for the tips thread - great idea!!